How Hot Is It! and Flash Driving

Hello all! News flash- Dubai is in the desert and the desert gets hot in summer. Actually this has been a relatively mild summer by Dubai standards. The temps average 37 celsius/100 fahr. to 44 celsuis/110 fahr. However when you consider the humidity the heat index goes up by 10 degrees. Pretty dang warm by Bama standards but not so bad for the desert. Today the temp was 40 celsius/ 104 fahr. and I decided to try car cooking. Car cooking is exactly what it sounds like. You put something in direct sunlight, like on the front dashboard of your car, and see if you can cook it. I bought a pepperoni pizza at the supermarket in the refridgerator section- not frozen. I placed  the pizza on a piece of foil and set it on my front dashboard. Check out the results-

Refridgerated pizza at 9:30 in the morning. Outside temp 40 celsius/104 fahr.

Two hours later the pepperoni is curled and dried up and the cheese is a melted gloppy mass. Not exactly bubbling hot out of the oven- more like a warmed over unappetizing frat party reject. I wouldn't even consider eating this because it has meat and ecoli is no ones friend! 

Next week I am going to try car cooking a batch of cookies. That is a much safer bet and has better results. And hopefully it will be hotter and I will be able to enjoy warm cookies. Stay tuned!

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about driving in Dubai but I needn't have worried. Driving here is alot like driving at home. The biggest difference is that in Dubai drivers actually use their blinkers and not just for turning but for changing lanes!  At home using your blinker is a sign of weakness! If you let other drivers know you intend to merge ahead of them in traffic they speed up so no one gets "their spot". And in Dubai if you are in the far left (fast lane) you are passing a vehicle and then you move over so other faster traffic can keep moving. Not like that at home. Drivers stay in the fast lane whether they are passing or not and may not even be driving the posted speed limit. Very frustrating! The highway I drive to work everyday is a 5 lanes  and trucks, buses and other such larger vehicles must only use the two far right lanes. Cars mostly use the 3 left lanes but they can use any lane they want. That keeps traffic moving smoothly.  The posted speed limit is 120 km/hr (74 mph) but get this- there are numerous large signs stating that traffic cameras are used to enforce the speed limit and will take your picure ("flash") if you are driving faster than 140 km/hr. What?! The speed limit is 120 km/hr but you don't get "flashed" unless you are driving 140 km/hr! That leads me to explain "flash driving". Speed cameras are easy to identify from far enough away to slow down if you are driving faster than 140 km/hr. So many drivers pass a speed camera going below 140 km/hr and step on it speeding like crazy until they see the next camera and slow down to 140 again in time not to get flashed then start the cycle again. It can get a little freaky sometimes but I seldom am in the fast passing lane and I stay out of the way!

One more interesting tidbit. Back home some people get vanity tags with cutesy sayings or names like 2LTL2L8 or JOYZRID. They don't have vanity tags in Dubai like that. Here most every car has a random five digit tag number- no big deal; you're not special. Some cars have a four digit tag number and sometimes you see one with 3 digits. The deal is the closer you get to number 1 the more you have paid for that tag. So if you see tag number 982 that person is special and has deep pockets. I've never seen a two digit tag but I know they are out there! Same number combinations are also coveted - like 777. The most expensive license plate in the world was purchased in 2008 for $14.3M- tag number 1. Next up is tag number 5 purchased for $6.8M in 2007. Both in Abu Dhabi.

So that ends another post. I hope all is well with my friends and loved ones. I miss you bunches and think of you every moment. Congrats to Ashley on her band performance and extra special positive energy to Dara. I love my babies so very much. Oh- best wishes to Jacob & Jeremy starting a new school year. I know you guys will rock! Much love- peace, love & happiness- M&J



I'm Back!!

Hello All! Sorry it's been so long since my last post. The past couple of weeks have been so busy! I went home to Alabama for a short visit and to do some shopping. So many tears of joy to see and hold my daughters again and to see my mother and sister and my best buddies. The timing was great because I got to be home for my mothers birthday- what a special time to be with my family and loved ones! I was kept very busy with catching up and shopping and unfortunately household repairs and maintenance.  AC was out when I arrived and several other repairs were required. I got everything done but was literally finishing up until the last minute before I had to get to the airport to return to Dubai. My daughter Dara kept me especially busy with a full agenda of mommy & me time to include an art class. I enjoyed every moment with her and Ashley and Tara. Tara has been studying abroad all summer and came home only 2 days before I had to leave but I was grateful for every minute.  I didn't get to visit with my former co workers as much as I wanted and didn't get to see some of them at all. I hope to make up for that when I return again at Christmas. I want to say a very special thanks to my beautiful sister, Pam. She has her own family to tend to, spends time every week with mother, helps out my daughters and oh by the way works a very demanding full time job. No wonder she stays so thin; I just want to know where she hides the fountain of youth she obviously has discovered and is keeping from the rest of us! You are amazing, Pam, and I appreciate everything you do so very much. She and her son, Jacob, made a special effort to stop at my house for one last hug goodbye the day I had to return . Once again, tears flowed copiously. Jacob said I'm sad when I'm in Dubai because I miss everyone and I'm sad when I'm home because I miss Dubai. I could only hug him tight and tell him it's not easy being me!

But I am home in Dubai and glad to be back! I have lots of pretty new dresses for my new job and I am so ready to get started. I have already begun in processing and will begin working full time very soon. I've seen my work station and have met a few new co workers but because this is Ramadan the work hours have been shortened and many employees take time off to be with family and participate in Ramadan traditions.

Ramadan is a very special time in the Muslim culture. It is a time of fasting and reflection with much emphasis placed on family and the community. Ramadan began 1 Aug and lasts until 29 Aug (I believe). I won't go into specific details about Ramadan- you can Google that. I intend to share my personal experience and observations. It is proper for women to have thier legs covered and at least shoulders, but not arms, covered. I have seen many non Muslim women with legs exposed but not short dresses; I believe I have enough long dresses and skirts so I can adhere as strictly as possible to the modest dress code expectations. Fasting begins at 4:30 am and ends at 7 pm. This changes by a few minutes every day but that is the general time frame here in Dubai. You cannot eat, drink or smoke in public AT ALL. Not even in your own car. At the facility where I work they have provided a refridgerator in an isolated area upstairs for non Muslims to have a drink or a snack but it is out of sight. They have also provided roof access for smokers. The day time temps hover around 110 degrees fahrenheit and that is before the humidity heat index is factored in- add at least another 10 degrees. I am a smoker and went up there a couple of times- it feels like you are about 3 inches from the sun when you are on a roof top in the middle of the dessert! I am appreciative of their consideration however I doubt I will go out there very often! Part of the purpose of fasting is to make one feel compassion and empathy for those who must go without due to poverty. While you are hungry and thirsty you are to be mindful of the less fortunate who must face everyday without the comfort of cool water and regular meals readily available. Muslims bring donations of food and money to thier mosque to be distributed to the less fortunate in thier area. I like that the donations are made and distributed within thier own community.

I want to speak with some of my new co workers to get more information about Ramadan before I write too much more. I don't want to provide incorect information!

Look for another post very soon. I got some great ideas for new posts while I was home and am looking forward to re connecting to my blogasphere buddies! Much love to all!! M&J