Too Funny...The Vacuum Cleaner

Before I moved to SA (10 months ago); I made a few purchases. One of them being a new vacuum cleaner. I picked up one by Dyson, which is suppose to be one of the best. Well...about a week ago, my mom asked me how I liked it? I started laughing. She was wandering what was up...and then she said..."Terri, have you even used the vacuum cleaner" (she knows I HATE to vacuum, i think it's the noise). And, then I told her, that the vacuum cleaner had been used, and I guess I like it, but how I personally have never used it. Then I went on the relate how when it was 1st used, our 1st house helper didn't know how to turn it on, and he came to me...but the funny thing was, I didn't know how to turn it on either. Inside I was laughing, because here I was with K (not his name) and we're both looking for the on switch. How this must have looked to my house helper, that I didn't even know how to turn on my own vacuum cleaner. And, my attitude is like, "don't know, don't care". We eventually figured it out. But, then when my 2nd house helper started, I had the same problem, when he wanted to know how to use the hose. Again, I didn't know. LOL...how soon we get spoiled. But...I tell you...this is something I may have to deal with when I move back to the states. It's like, I know this will sound so bad, but we need to import some Indians (not being any kind of way, but they are the cheap labor force in Saudi Arabia). LOL But, then I think we have...they're all Engineers, Computer Programmers, Analyst, IT Project Managers, etc. LOL...No house cleaning for them.

Officially I'm considering Myself a Travel Writer

So...officially I'm considering myself a travel writer.  LOL.  Have I sold any articles?  No.  But, you don't have to sell anything to be a travel writer.  You just write about your journeys and what you discover.  I am taking some travel writing courses.  It has already help me with my writing, how I view my vacations, and how I plan them. Now...I've always been a planner, and I LOVE all the prep work involved in planning a vacation.  So...these are just added tips.  I've created my Black Chick on Tour blog to showcase my writing, but I also will be sharing travel tips, along with photos and videos of the various destinations.  Right now, I'm planing some of our activities for our upcoming vacation.  Well...actually, it's our repatriation trip, but still...it's a vacay from our daily lives.  We're going to spend a week in Seattle and 4 weeks in San Diego, with a side trip to Los Angeles.  We're driving from Seattle to San Diego (about 1200 miles).  I plan on writing about our activities on this trip, but hopefully it will come across in a fun and informative way that will make people want to visit that place.  While on vacation, I will probably not be writing much in my BCIS blog.  So...if you wanna see what I'm up to...check me out at Black Chick on Tour.

Peace!!

Had a Blast @ The Ball

What can I say but that we had a blast at the Ball.

I love to dance...got to do that.

I love to hang out and eat good food and have drinks with friends...did that.

I love to party as hard as possible for the given situation...did that.

Closed the party down at 5AM...did that.

Going to The Ball

One of the things you learn while living in SA is that you have to "make your fun".  In the US we are used to have many forms of entertainment from which to choose.  Not so in SA.  Socializing comes in the form of gathering at people's homes, and organized events (typically a party, that may have some theme) put on my various organizations.  Some of those organized events can turn into the highlight for your week.  I happened to have one that I'm attending tomorrow.  And, guess what..it's the highlight of my week.

We're attending the Commodore Ball.  LOL.  It's a freakin' ball!  I've been to fabulous formal parties, but nothing that is officially called a ball.  This is the first event of this kind that I'm attending in SA.  Well, actually, it's happening in Bahrain.  We got a room and we're hanging for the weekend.   I love this kinda stuff.  Working the whole look for the evening from head to toe.  I love it!!  I ordered a dress from Nordstrom's.  Online, it was beautiful, a rich vibrant red, what I got was dull red with a cheap looking mesh material over matte jersey.  Ugh!!!!!!  On the other hand, the shoes and accessories I ordered are fabulous, and go perfect with a dress I already had, and that no one here has seen me wear.   So...it's all worked out.  My nails are done and my hair is fierce (the line from an old 1986 song titled "the men all pause" my a female group called Klymaxx).  =)  I've spent the week getting hair, nails, feet, facial, and my dress altered (i've lost weight since I last wore it).  I'm so so ready.  And, I'm excited.  Roland got a tuxedo made.  He's gonna look really handsome.  I'm looking forward to another great weekend in Bahrain.

Stepford Wives?

Recently (actually about a month ago) I was speaking to another "Aramco" wife...and she stated something like the following, "these single girls think that we're all Stepford Wives".  This is a loose quote, as these are probably not the exact words, but close enough.  The label "Stepford Wife" (based on the novel, circa 1972, by Ira Levin) is usually applied to a woman who seems to conform blindly to an old-fashioned subservient role in relationship to her husband, compared to other, presumably more independent and vivacious women.  Since I heard this, I had to let it marinate.   I mean really...was I a Stepford Wife?  At first I was like, "hell no!!" because I don't blindly conform to anything, and I accept no one as an authority over me.  Besides...I talk way too much shit to be a Stepford Wife.  =)  But...then on the other hand...since I've been in SA, my life does revolve more around my husband.  And, it did take some transitioning into since I'm an independent, vivacious woman, who is used to having a job, and her own money.  However, what is wrong with making sure I'm not looking all tired when my husband comes home from work, or creating a nice home environment, or having a meal ready?  Hell, he's been the one out there all day dealing with BS (and regardless of the job, I know every job has its BS, and people issues).

In fact, I think some (not all but some) of these single ladies need to take a lesson.  Being independent and making your own money is good.  Equal pay for equal work, I'm all for it.  But, thinking you don't have to do for your man, is a huge mistake.  Women need to be women, and embrace those unique abilities, and men need to be men, and harness those unique characteristics.  And, we need to respect each other for them.   I think that is a lot of what is wrong with relationships now.  Men and women do not know how to relate to each other.  So...you better learn how to take care of your man, or you may be without one.  And, please make sure he's a real man.  That means, he has the means and the desire to take care of you and your children, before you marry his ass.

So...after much marination, LOL, I've decided that if they want to think I'm a Stepford Wife, that's okay.

BTW:  The 1975 movie version of this book was actually pretty good.  The remake with Nicole Kidman...not so much.

Later

Another Monday....

Well, here I am on another monday catching up on my blogging.  What's been happening?  Lots of parties for some reason this month.  Went to Bahrain last weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday.  Did some shopping then had drinks at Senor Paco's.  That was fun.  Got another B-Day party this Thursday, then next Thursday there's a ball, and that's a 2 day event with beauty treatments, pre-funking, then the actual ball.  The ball is a annual event put on by the Yacht Club.  This will be my first time attending.  It's held in Bahrain at the Crowne Plaze. I'm not a member of the Yacht Club, but I sure do like a good party, with great friends...so I'm totally there.  And, also, I love getting all dressed up and pretty.  Roland had to get a tuxedo made.  We picked it up last week.  They did an exceptional job.  I provided the tailor with a picture of a tuxedo by Hugo Boss, and he duplicated it perfectly...down to the Hugo Boss lining in the jacket and the vest.  The cost...$200USD!!!  Which included the jacket, pants, vest, 2 shirts, bow tie, and cummerbund.  =)  Now that's a bargain.  I ordered my dress from Nordie's (my fav store), however, when I got it, I wasn't feeling it.  The color wasn't as vibrant as it appeared online, in fact the color is dull and the fabric looks cheap (and trust...the dress wasn't cheap) But, the shoes...are perfect (I love them!!), and they totally work with a gown I already have, so...it's working out.

I've been turned on to an organic produce store in Dammam.  Yea!!!  If you know me, then you know that I'm a complete food snob.  LOL

What else can I tell you about.?  Oh Yea...I'm studying travel writing.  Which already has me thinking of my travels in a different light.  I'm excited about that.  I'm still working on my travel blog.  It's sparse right now, but it's going to be full of good stuff hopefully by the end of the year.  Most of the stuff I want to put on it are on my Mac that is currently "under the weather", but hopefully once I get it to the Apple store in Seattle, they can make it better, and more importantly, save my data.

I think it's time I made an updated video blog entry.  I have a combined total of over 15,000 views to my videos, and the last one I made was 8 months ago.  Yea...it's time.  I'll work on that, and I should have it ready in about a week.

Peace!!