What I'll Miss Installment #7

I am a week behind in being grateful. It's not that I have found nothing to be grateful about; I just haven't had time to write about what I'll miss. That is the trouble of joining a book club. We exchange books so everyone is reading different things, and it is a lot of fun. This time I was bold and took two books by Michael Gladwell (Outliers and What The Dog Saw) and I am trying to finish. (Plus there have been other trips to Global Village, dinner with friends, and that one holiday that I no longer love.)

But in the past week or so, I have realized that I am really going to miss Chicken Tikka Inn--probably the best Indian food I have ever put in my mouth. The Chef and I have been ordering it for lunch quite often these past couple of weeks. For 26 AED, about $8, we can get one meal that is big enough to split. Our current favorite is the Handi Chicken Achari: chicken cooked in yogurt & their special pickle spices served in a clay pot. (Yes, that's the menu description, and when you order take out you don't get the clay pot.) It's spicy, rich, and melt-in-your-mouth delish. To accompany it we also get an order of the Tandoori Naan. Because seriously, what's an Indian meal without Naan?

Now I am hungry for lunch, and it's only 9:00 in the morning....

Pass me the tissues

I don't know what makes me more homesick: missing my family or missing the Olympics. I find the fact that this year the games are so close to home and I am way over here a little heartbreaking.

I love the Olympics.

Please, please French channel: show me a couple of events!

I am reminded of when I missed the Salt Lake Olympics. Finally they were being held in a place nearby and easily accessible for the likes of me, but I was in Italy.

Being in Italy is a pretty good reason to miss the Olympics.

What I'll Miss #6

I am having a hard time being grateful today--probably because I had to go to work. It was so crappy of a day that the opportunity to make all the music choices failed to lift my spirits. (Though I imagine my mood would be a kajillion times worse if I had to listen to that "Have a Baby By Me" trash and all of its cousins that attempts to call itself music. I digress.) I left work so tired that I didn't even want to work out. (But I did, I have jeans to look good in, you know.)

I have a gym membership at Fitness First--a gym that costs an awful lot of money for not very much equipment, classes, and uplifting lighting. I tried to quit in November, but then realized that I needed an outlet to see more people than just those that I work with. So I continue to go, even though the weather has been too nice to workout in a bland, dimly-lit gym.

However, once or twice a week (when I end up staying at work late) I work out at the beach. Sweet, huh? The beach near the bakery has a cushiony running trail that is about 1400 meters long. That's about .8 miles. It's not a very long trail, obviously, but walking/running that length 2-3 times makes for a worthy cupcake-burning workout. (Actually, I'm trying not to eat cupcakes at work. I've been doing pretty good. And no, I haven't taken any home.)

Plus, the view couldn't be better. I am not referring to Australian surfers, although that would be nice. The Gulf only gets good waves when it's windy. Most of the beachcombers are Middle Eastern or Filipino. I love watching the waves (no matter the size) come crashing into the sand. In the distance I can see the Burj al Arab, the World islands, various ships, and on a clear day I can see the Atlantis Hotel.

Usually I am there in time for a pretty nice sunset. Now, I know that you are thinking that Dubai is on the wrong side of the Gulf to have the sun set into the water, but because of all the money in the region they bought out the sun and told it to set over the Gulf and not the desert. Haha, not really, but it almost seems likely. The shape of the country and the situation of Dubai somehow manages a water sunset. And it is quite lovely, naturally.

One of these days I may actually put on that bathing suit that I have only worn once and go swimming or something resembling that. Until then, it will be my escape from crappy days at work.

Deliberations

Due to the uplifting encouragements of my good friend Toria, I have officially purchased my first pair of skinny jeans. Thanks to the excellent prices of the Dubai Shopping Festival, I was able to get a pair of tight pants for around $40.00, otherwise I would not have given into the peer pressure. Didn't I tell you Dubai was the place to do some shopping?

I would post a picture, but I am still deciding whether or not this new purchase will enhance or destroy my already fragile self-esteem. So far I feel positive, but that may change one that PMS-time rolls around.

So why did I get them? Well, it's time to update my wardrobe. When I was in London, I realized that I have been quite frumpy as of late. (If you can imagine it, in the presence of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York I wore oversized khakis, a baggy charcoal sweater, and a grey t-shirt. In the words of Tim Gunn: "Egads!") I can probably give several reasons for my bland wardrobe, but sufficeth to say it's time to feel better about myself and fashion is a good way to start. So is laying off the treats at work and going to the gym five days a week.

Retail therapy was a blast. I bought more than just the jeans, and could've happily purchased more. However I didn't buy that totally awesome blue/green Mulberry bag that was on sale for a mere 4000 dirhams. (That's about $1000--the equivalent of my rent.) I just drooled and started accepting applications for my future rich husband. Spread the word.

"Will look good in skinny jeans for Mulberry bag."

What I'll Miss #5

Alternatively titled: Yet another blog post with a video clip.

I've already posted my frustration about the music I am forced to listen to at the bakery, however there is at least one day a week when I win the music war: Mondays...aka the other icer's day off. Even though this day usually means more work for me, I am actually closer to being happy to be at work than on any other day of the week because I get to listen to my iPod, my podcasts, and the radio station I like.

Radio stations can be rather frustrating. Usually we listen to the Virgin radio station, which I am not making this up, plays the same songs every hour including the all-request segment. Seriously, some record company is shelling out the big bucks to get these songs played at least 24 times a day. And it goes without saying that all the songs are crap. (Grain of salt warning: you all should no by know that I may be a tad picky about my music choices.) Lady Gaga and Beyonce may be growing on me but it doesn't mean that I want to hear their music All. Day. Long.

When I get to choose, I turn the dial to Dubai 92 which is a pretty enjoyable radio station. My praise sounds rather underwhelming, but perhaps it will be better when they stop playing all those horrible songs Rob Thomas keeps singing. Even though I may not like all of the songs they play, they at least play variety. And interspersed with the mediocre tunes they will play songs that I really, really like....for the most part. There is a serious Camera Obscura, Ryan Adams, Andrew Bird, and Travis deficiency in the programming (to name a few artists. I could send them my iPod for assistance).

So why will I miss them? They have very entertaining presenters. The morning show hosts Catboy and his wife Geordiebird are very funny and personable. I think they would be fun to hang out with. I am actually a little embarrassed to admit this, but for a while I was mildly convinced that we were already friends. They had commissioned the bakery to do a cake for Geordiebird's 30th birthday, and a few weeks later we sent a cake for Junk Food Day. So emails were exchanged and I kind of felt like I had finally made some friends. (Pathetic alert!!) I have other friends now, so I have stopped daydreaming about the time we are properly introduced at Dubai Mall or some sort of event. Yes, there is a giant "L" on my forehead.

Even though I have bemoaned a lack of some of my favorite bands in the music line-up, I give them total props for including musicians and songs that I probably would have never discovered on my own--the A-ha song I blogged about for example. I know I am not going to hear this gem in the states:

For the record, if Dubai 92 wanted to play this song every hour I wouldn't complain.

P.S. I am now in the market for some good red lipstick.