One year ago today

At exactly this time last year I was interviewing for a job, over the phone, in the UAE. After being offered the job on Thanksgiving I was unable to eat my yummy dinner because I was so distracted/freaked out by what to do.

I think it's safe to say I made the right decision.

No pushing food around my plate this year.

George Michael + us

It's official.

Wes and I are going to the George Michael and Alicia Keys concert Dec. 1.

Apparently this will be Michael's last show EVER.

Leave it to the UAE...

Sex on the beach couple free to.. be deported.

The famous couple who were caught having sex on a Dubai beach while intoxicated (and who also assaulted a police officer) are free from their jail sentence and the UAE. Click HERE to read all about it.

Screw you Duabi! We'll show you!

Dubai just recently had the grand open of the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm. Needless to say, it was huge. They invited many Hollywood stars such as Oprah, Mary Kate Olson, Lindsay Lohan, Robert De Niro, Michael Jordan... the list goes on and on.

They also caused champagne shortages in the world. No, I am not joking. They tried to buy up EVERY bottle of Crystal in the WORLD.

Then there were the fireworks.


AMAZING. Really. The hotel cost $1,441,00,00 to build. The celebrate TO OPEN THE HOTEL was $80 million US dollars! And for a cool $36,000 you could spend the night there.

Back to the fireworks.
The display, as seen in the above video, is now labeled by Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest. EVER.

But Abu Dhabi will NOT be outdone. And on Dec. 2 Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi is said to be ready to break the record... becoming the new record holder. We'll let you know how it goes.

Either...

Facebook's Web site has been down for 24 hours or the UAE has finally blocked the site.

UAE National Day 2008!

The UAE is preparing to celebrate its 37th National Day December 2nd, and of course that means doing things on a grand scale. The fireworks display along the Corniche is to be the largest fireworks display ever done. One full hour of fireworks launched from a whole bunch of different locations over the Emirates Palace and the surrounding Arabian Gulf waters.

I am very excited! I love fireworks!

Watch a video at this website that shows what we have to look forward to! And be jealous.
UAEfireworks.com

Now I just have to figure out where the best place to watch will be and get there early!

A Google Video Chat first

Last night Wes and I had our first Google Video Chat encounter!

It's still blows my mind that it "works" and that from the Middle East to Washington state we can see and hear somebody for free.

Krissy, my derby sister and teammate, was brave enough to heed my call to get a Gmail account, download the application and chat us. Again, all for free.

So this brings me to trying to guilt trip the rest of you into doing the same. If you don't know what I'm talking about go HERE and follow the instructions.

Google Video Chatting will keep us sane.

First rain of the season!

I was a bit confused when I came out of my apartment this morning and noticed water all over the car. My first thought was, "Someone threw a bucket of water on my car." That was seriously my first thought.

Then I looked around and noticed puddles on the ground and water spots on everything.

IT RAINED!

Thankfully my deskmate Mathew woke up at seven this morning to catch the rain with his camera. I, on the other hand, was still in bed. Pictures above by Mathew Kurian

We have launch, part 2

Today is the official launch and first day of The National's Saturday paper & new glossy magazine. We're now the full 7-days! And then some!

*Oh, and for those wondering... Saturday here is like America's Sunday. While Friday is the holy day (and the first of two days off for most people), Saturday is people's lazy day. Except for mine. I work.

Michigan (amongst other places) in January

Pretty sure Wes and I will be back in January. It'll be time for us to tie up the loose ends that are the wedding since we won't be back until May. Beside that we have to remember to:

1. Get new Michigan driver's licenses: If we don't we have to take a ROAD TEST upon our US return!
2. File taxes
3. Do all that wedding stuff (especially thrift for the centerpieces!)
4. Celebrate on Jan 20th both Bush leaving office and my friend Kelly's birthday.
5. Pat and cuddle Cassie (like I even have to list that).
6. Fly to Tennessee for a few days to see the nephew and fam.

The I would like to do include:
1. Frankenmuth! I kinda miss that place.
2. Go to Cincinnati for the night to see my aunt/uncle.
3. Pig out on food.
4. Visit the MGM in Detroit.
5. Stay a night at the Book Cadillac.

Have a Web cam? DO THIS NOW!

Wes and I discovered the AMAZING plugin that is Google's Video Chat!

If you have a Web cam built into your computer (that's you MacBook users) or if you have one to accompany your computer then you must download this HERE*

*You must create a Gmail account if you don't have one already to use this feature. It's free though, so do it!

Anyway, after downloading and installing this (super easy and quick) you can video chat us! FOR FREE. It's amazing (and better than Skype.. since Skype is often blocked here). No need to spend tons of money to call us when you can see us and chat us for free! Really really exciting.

To add us to your chat list:
revolutiontoast@gmail.com (Wes)
elysia.a.smith@gmail.com (Elysia)

Say what???

Today, while Wes is at work, I'm going to Dubai to check out the newest UAE "largest" structure addition: Dubai Mall. The mall, which opened on Nov. 4, is that heavenly place which is home to the Taco Bell (Wes and I have already discussed how I will bring back about 10 bean burritos which we will then freeze). While I will be gorging on some TB, I also plan on spending the day checking out the sights of the mall. There's a ice skating rink, a HUGE and amazing aquarium and a lot of gourmet food stores.

But since the mall is so new not everything is open yet says their Web site. Stuff like the movie theatre won't be ready until mid 2009. Bummer. Another place that isn't ready yet is the Sega Republic. While I am just as puzzled as you, I was curious to see what the hell that is.

Checking out the Web page for Sega Republic gives a picture of an almost-constructed American Gladiator-looking structure.

The given description for Sega Republic is even more baffling:

Enter a nation addicted to adrenalin. The region’s first SEGA indoor theme park is a mind-altering, visually-stimulating, adrenalin-pumping attraction. SEGA Republic is where you create your own rules. Rebel against the senses and go into overdrive. Get addicted.

Two things come to mind after reading this. My experience with living here thus far says:

1. They don't even have a CLUE on what it is that they are building. One night, over shisha, this concept emerged and some sheik said, "BUILD IT!"

2. They love American Gladiators so much (yes, it's shown here in the UAE) that they want to start their own UAE Gladiators. I can see it now, little Pakistani boys being whacked off the tall podium in the Joust by some grinning locals. And the crowd goes wild.

Whatever it is I'm sure I'll check it out when it opens.

"Snow?! We're still hoping for some rain!"

Today my mother updated me that Michigan, at least where she's at, got it's first snowfall today.

Bummer.

So I thought I'd rub in one of the good parts about being here. Feast your eyes on our forecast for the week:

Let me emphasize, for those who may have not read a lot of our summer posts, how COOL this is. I mean, cool as in PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING FOR COATS. No, I am not joking. The stores are FULL of winter coats and people are buying them! No one is actually wearing them (in public) yet but I think that will change when the temperature hit somewhere in the 70s.

Yes, I am still being serious.

I will be at the mall this Friday. Shopping... but not for a coat.

Actually, I'll be shopping for a bean burrito minus onion plus sour cream. OH YEAAAAAA... Taco Bell! (Sorry. Still excited about the TB!)

And we're still lacking quality music

Concert season is upon us. With cool weather comes outdoor venues opening their doors. And yes, here come the announcements. So far we've had: Christina Aguilera, Fergie, George Michael w/Alicia Keys, Kylie Minogue and now...



Shoot me now.

I am still holding out for hope that this year's Desert Rock Festival will be decent.

Best news since the election!

THE

FIRST

TACO BELL

IN THE UAE IS

OPEN!!!