Revocable Living Trusts, Power of Attorney, Will- oh my!

So I'm sitting here getting together my legal documents and boy it's soooooo boring. Granted it's needed and honestly I should have had this stuff in place before leaving the US but hey, better late than never. As boring as it is though, I kinda feel like a grown up. Takes me back to the days when I first took care of myself completely- I was finally a big girl lol. I'm also more motivated than ever to grow my little seedling, and it is oh sooooo small lol, of an estate into a large one, worthy of the title ESTATE. When I go I want all that my parents worked for to mean something. I want to be able to leave something of value to the next generation-so it's time to leave my love alone for a couple months(Dubai *sniff sniff*) and focus. With the help of my girl Suze I think it can be done.

My fellow LTs who are coming over, just be sure to get your affairs in order before you get over here...I know it's another thing on top of the millions of tasks to complete before coming to the land of sun and sand but it's worth it.

Back to basics

So for years I listened to one of my favorite financial gurus. Listening to her advice got me through so much and now that I live in the land of excess I feel myself slipping. I cannot watch her show over here but thanks to Mr. Jobs I can access her on iTunes. The best part???? IT'S FREE!!!!! YAY!!!! I love listening to her straight no chaser advice which honestly rarely deals with the figures. Hopefully this will help me stay on track...afterall that's part of the draw working here.

Finally!!!!

I found a decent Mexican spot-Casa Maria! It's located in the Green Community which is located on the outskirts of Dubai. It's a world away from the Dubai I know so far. I've been craving Alero and Alamo(my two favorite spots from DC & MD). Now I'm good till I head back to the States for Christmas.

Overall the food was good. I've heard of a few other spots but they are far more pricey and seem rather upity. I like my laid back Mexican places but I've got YEARS to try those places out.

On a completely different note -drum roll please.....

I got my hood dryer!!!! Yay!

Now we'll see how well it works but for now I'm pleased.

We're back together, my love and I.

It's Eid break and while many I know have headed out of the country for a few days of adventure or rest, I am back with my old love-Dubai. This time I'm staying longer than ever before and I'm on the hunt. Anyone who knows me well knows my hobby is hair. So I'm on the hunt for products and equipment yay! Some get excited about sports, I get excited about the Izumani ITC,450, peppermint essential oils and henna. Yes it takes all kinds lol. So anyway, my plan is to gently force my companion out of bed so we can go shopping for these fun items. I'm also starting my christmas shopping since I have a fairly good idea of what I'll be getting folks this year..all in all I think my old love and I will enjoy our Eid break. I'll get lost and he'll show me more of him. Oh Dubai, how I miss you everytime I leave.

Time changes everything

One year ago I was so broken down I couldn't clearly see things ever coming around. One year ago I had quit my job, packed up my home and was waiting on my golden ticket to come to the magical land of the UAE. I waited 5months for this ticket. I was pushed to the edge of my sanity, patience and faith in people. Sleep was a rarity. Seeing people during those months was very painful. I felt like a fool. Honestly who gives up a steady job in the hopes of traveling to another country to work and not know if it will even work out? Especially after purchasing and renovating a home and having lived in it less than a year. Who does such a thing? As it turns out, there are thousands of us that do this all the time. We're all over the world. We pack up a few possessions, call up all the courage we have, kiss our loved ones good-bye and step out into the unknown. We faulter. We flounder. We cry. We laugh. We make new and amazing connections. We form new friends. We live. All the pain and anxiety I felt a year ago is far from forgotten but the sting isn't fresh as before. I am so blessed to have the family I do. My every supportive parents. My sister who was literally there no matter what. My older brothers who offered words of encouragement but new not to press for details 'cause it was far too painful to talk about. My Haven and Pops who were wonderful distractions in their little child way. My friends who let me be crazy and helped me to forget my situation from time to time. Time has changed so much. Things have improved and I am ever greatful to these people for pulling me through those long hard 5 months.

If you are not willing to risk, you cannot grow

and if you cannot grow, you cannot be happy

and if you cannot be happy,

what else is there?

-Les Brown

 (c/o William Hardrick)

Literacy-the gift that keeps on giving

I've taken up journaling again. I've started and stopped at various points in my life but it's always been helpful. Tonight as I was writing my latest entry I could not help but think about how great I feel when it's all out..everything that I keep bottled in and don't really feel the need to share with anyone. Then it hit me. This is part of the gift I am imparting to my kids. I'm giving them the opportunity to form thoughts, opinions and have private counselling sessions in two languages. These babies will be able to reach for words and concepts in English and Arabic. They will be able to express their thoughts, opinions and emotions on paper as well as orally. How wonderful is that? A whole world of knowledge and mode of expression will be open to them because of the gift of literacy.

Praise God/Alhumdulillah for the gift of literacy.

Goodbye Ramadan

We lost probably the sweetest guys I've ever met. One of our security guards at our school will no longer be there. His presence has been and will continue to be missed by all who knew him. I remember him helping me put up my kids work last year after everyone had left and I was there alone trying to prepare the physical environment for two classrooms. He always had a ready smile for everyone and pitched in without being asked. It is truly a sad day for the children and staff of Al Jinan.