You don't think I would neglect to send you all a Valentine do you? I mean, I know I've been a bad blogger but I would never let such a special occasion slip by without a peep!
In fact, it's been so long since my last post, when I logged on today, my headings were all in Arabic! They just introduced right to left languages onto blogger so I guess they assumed that since I was writing from Abu Dhabi I would like to see my blog in Arabic. It took a few moments to sort it out but all is right again, for now.
Ali is still a telly kitty.We have been experiencing something known as "weather" here in the Middle East, though nothing compared to what you guys have been going through. First we had rain, about a week or two of it. It happens every year but the builders tend to ignore it and many people spring leaky roofs. In Dubai the streets were flooded and they called off school and work. (Then Bush made his visit and everything was called off again.) I thought it was kind of fun. Then it was "cold" for the last few weeks. Temperatures all the way down in the 50's, fahrenheit. I think you can be used to cold weather or hot, but not both. Here, we are overwhelmingly hot weather people. Also, the houses are built to be cool in the summer so really we are living in tiled, stuccoed mausoleums. And there are no fireplaces and the a.c. is for cooling only, not for heating. So we've been freezing! I had to buy space heaters for our bedrooms. The cats have been huddled together in a pile. We've all had colds.
But today is warm and beautiful. I must immediately go out and enjoy it because very soon it will become unbearably hot.
I included this photo because it is an interesting interior view of my house and it proves I've finally learned how to rotate!So I will be the first to admit I've been a lazy girl and there is not much to report. I've been doing the usual suburban mom thing, helping my kid with midterms and boy scouts, cooking dinner and taking the cats to the vet. Except, I'm in Abu Dhabi. I'm even in a Bunco group! It's really silly fun and I'm all for purely social get-togethers. And we give prizes.
I have a pretty nice herb and vegetable garden started on my back patio, so with any luck I'll have tomatoes in a few weeks. My geraniums in front look very happy as well. My rooftop idyll however had the crap beat out of it by the winter "shamal" winds. The pavillion, which was bolted onto the floor, was pulled up and the covering ripped off. Plants didn't look terribly happy either so I moved most of the smaller ones to my bedroom balcony. It's a great space up there but the winds can be really wicked at most any time of year. I'll have to figure out what else I can do.
My little garden.Some of you have expressed a desire to visit. Well of course! You are always welcome and I have plenty of room for everyone. I would just die if anyone visited me here! From now until May is the best time to come; but if you can take the heat then just come on whenever you like. I will lend you a cat for the duration of your stay.
I am so getting one of these before I come home! (pronounced "keff" - sort of).To all of you, a very sweet and special Valentine's Day.
love,
Jaimie
