Feeling Like It's Christmas

This is going to be my 1st Christmas in Saudi Arabia. And, I'm totally feeling the spirit of it; this week. But...it took a minute at first. I was in the states until the 3rd of December, and if you've ever been in the states anytime after Halloween you know, you can't not know it's the Christmas season. Now, personally, I refuse to get into Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I mean really, I'm gonna spend some money...no need in trying to rush me out shopping. Anyway...I went to a friends last week and on the ride home I was telling Rolle how I wasn't feeling like it's Christmas. Then I walked through the front door and while I was out socializing, he had put up the Christmas tree, and it's lights were twinkling. I was so happy and thankful for the "kick into the season". See...the deal is....I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Christmas season, and I really want to find myself attending festivities starting with Thanksgiving all the way up until the New Year.

Well...here we are it's the 21st, 4 days out. Today, I've been listening to Christmas music all day (everything from Classic to Pop, from Hip-Hop, to Elvis), wrapping gifts, and making sweet treats. I make this family fudge that I've been making for over 30 years, and about 4 years ago I added a newbie, a really good friend's family recipe for Peanut Brittle. This stuff is off the chain, ohmigod...i just hope I don't eat it before I deliver it. I've got 4 Christmas parties/gatherings that I'm going to this week...and the fun starts tomorrow. So....It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!

My Favorite Christmas Songs:

Joy To The World - Whitney Houston

All I Want For Christmas - Mariah Carey

This Christmas - Patti Labelle

Santa Baby - Kylie Minogue

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jackson 5

Wishing U Peace, Love, & Happiness this Holiday Season & Always!!

Good 2 B Home

It feels soooo good to be home and to not be living out of my suitcase. We've been on the road for 5 weeks which is the reason I haven't posted anything in over 6 weeks. LOL. We started out in Seattle, stayed there for 10 days...then we went on a road trip to San Diego (pictured), stayed there for 2.5 weeks, during that time drove up to

Los Angeles twice, flew back to Seattle, stayed there a day, then it was back to

Saudi. We did SO MUCH stuff, it was awesome. We went to concerts, historical tours, amusement parks, the beach, shopped, hung out and celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends. We went to the American Music Awards!!! I could hardly believe I was there. That shi*t was crazy! crazy!! I have a lot to share, but since I'm trying to be a "travel writer", and I have to work on my story telling skills...

I'm going to use this past trip to write a few travel articles. In fact, I have 4 planned articles from this trip. They will be posted on my travel blog, Black Chick On Tour.

Even with all of that...I was ready to come home, and settle down. The thing is, I've been back 6 days and I feel "normal". Not like, "I'm back in Saudi"; as I have in the past. That's cool. The jet lag is still getting me, but that will pass. Now...the funny thing is...I'm

still living out of suitcases...Hehehehehehehehehe....

P.S. In celebration of what will be my 1 year "Living in Saudi Arabia" anniversary that's coming up in a few weeks, I'm working on a video post in which I answer some of the questions that I have received over this year from family, friends, and people who have viewed my videos and have stopped by my blog. =) So stop back by in a coupla weeks to check that out.

Peace!!

Airport Security - Saudi Style

When you leave SA for any destination, you have to go through immigration or security...where they check your passport, and "other stuff". Well...in them checking the "other stuff"...they found a problem with my passport. Well...really it wasn't a problem, but it meant I had to wait while the guy got a supervisor to correct the problem, blah blah blah blah *eye roll*. Apparently the problem was that I went to Bahrain the weekend before, and my passport is registered as leaving SA, but not that I ever returned; which clearly was not true, since here I was at 2:00AM in the airport trying to get on a plane to Amsterdam/Seattle.

I wasn't too surprised that there was a problem, since most things don't seem to run smoothly in SA, but what was surprising was the really nice airport immigration security dude. He joked with my husband and I about Roland getting a 2nd wife...I just laughed, as Roland told him, "yea, no thank you. one is enough". The other security dude loved that, him and Roland high fived (i think I just made this word up) in agreement. After all of this banter, we were asked to "have a seat over there"...gawd...the worst words in the world when it's 2:00AM, and you just want to get to the freakin' gate. Well...as we were having a seat and waiting, the security dudes started offering us food, little snacks. I was completely surprised. It felt good. I tend to view the Saudi security people (all of them, regardless of where they're located) as stern and harsh. And, here you have this young man (who is on wife #1, but he can get another one in 2 years; apparently you have to wait 3 years in between getting another wife, IDK) serving us up food. We'd politely accept, eat that, and then he was coming out, offering a different plate of snacks. We were like, Wow; now this is the way to send people off, and it shows that just because you have a semi-serious job doesn't mean you can't be nice.

Can you imagine TSA, giving you some snacks while you wait? Yea...I didn't think so.

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!!

Doing Good & Feelin' Fine

Well...I survived Ramadan.  LOL.  Actually, it wasn't that bad.  I only had 2 instances in which I lost my head.  One of those occurred when I was trying to make common sense out of why I couldn't get an espresso, but I could go a few feet away and pick up a coke (BTW:  I don't drink sodas, I'm using this as an example)?  So...I got a little grumpy in my look at the poor clerk.  Oh well...  It's like sometimes things are going so well...it's almost like I lost my head and forgot where I was at. Hehehehehehe

But, mostly I'm doing good.  Today my house helper is here...so that typically gets me in the mood to do domestic stuff.  I'm not to the point where I trust him to leave him in the house alone for any extended period of time.  Therefore, I use that time to catch up on stuff; like writing in my blog.  I will leave him today for about an hour to meet up with a friend at her house in a little bit.  Hoping to give her some helpful information that will put her on the road to healthier eating and better health.  I have some excellent books and recipes I'm gonna share.   I know what it's like to have annoying and sometimes painful ailments.  And, medicine in these cases, almost always makes it worst,  since it is only treating the symptoms and not getting to the why of it.  I mean really; you can turn up the music in your car to stop you from hearing the knock in your engine, but the knock is still there, and in some cases it has made matters worse by not getting to the root of the problem.  I discovered his after doctors put me on medication in which I gained 40 effing pounds; 40 pounds!!!!  And, it was causing aches in my muscles.   What kinda sh*t is that?!!   But, as soon as I got off the medications, starting eating a strict diet of organic, and vegan; started eliminating stress (and NOT via prozac, zoloft, or any of that crap)...my symptoms slowing went away.  And, now I'm back to normal, my weight is good and I'm free from what was ailing me.  Whew...anyway...i've digressed.  LOL.

Anyway....

I'm working on a new travel article for my Black Chick On Tour blog.  It's on Amsterdam.  Have I ever mentioned that  "eyessssss luuuuuves me sum Amsterdam"?  LOL.  Then my day is complete, Roland will be home, and we'll commence with our evening together.

So...all n all. I'm doin' good and feelin' fine.  =)

Kind Words - Soooo Appreciated

I received this message on my FB Wall, from a new friend who has read some of my blog.  And, I'd like to share this.  I love people who motivate.  Very few people motivate people to that person's dreams, whatever they are...they judge and a lot of them just hate that you're trying to do something, anything.  So...Thanks Girl!!!  I will keep on...keeping on!!

 It takes courage to write honestly. -- true writers (honest ones) payed dearly..throughout history..I love your Black Chic In Saudi Blog..Its an Authentic True Voice.. It gives me Great Pride GREAT PRIDE! to support you and your writing!! I WANT to read what you write. and I Protect You. I know you'll never give up being true to yourself...and like the 'radio' song 'you liked me till you heard my shit on the radio' and 'you still curse the day I decided to Stay True to MY Self!" instead of just lovin.. :D We Own Ourselves We Are Power :D & WE USE IT! YAYAYAY!

My 100th Post!!

Even though I've had a not so great week.  And, I had a total relapse over the last few days (meaning I was hating the very sight and smell of this place).  I wanted to make my 100th post a positive one.  So, as I was going to update my FB status with how great it was to have help around the house, I decided to make a post on what I view as positive for me about living in SA.  I will NEVER think it's better than living in the US or Europe, but, hey..there are some positives, and they are as follows:

1)  Really cheap household help.  I'm on my 2nd house helper, and as the saying goes, "good help is hard to find", but they're so cheap, and they're a dime a dozen.  So, if you don't like the one you have, dump him, because you can have another one in no time at all.  

2)  Really cheap gardeners.  Now...I lucked out with my gardener.  He's awesome.  Not one word of complaint about this guy.

3)  Not getting up at 5:00AM to a blaring alarm clock. 

4)  Having time to do what ever in the hell I want (based on what's available to do, which is somewhat limited)

5)  Having the time off to travel, travel, and more travel.  Can't do that on the 3 weeks vacation a year that I got in the states.  

6)  I always lose weight when I get back into SA, after being gone.  And, that's just wonderful.

7)  Gas is cheap, cheap, cheap.  $5.00 to fill up!!

My Get Over Has Gone Kaput!

My MacBook Pro has gone Kaput.  Well not entirely.  It's been determined that either my hard drive or my OS is corrupted.  I won't know it until I get back to the states and can take it to the Apple store for diagnostics.  At least I'm still under warranty.  The good news is that I have a desktop Mac I can access the internet with and work on.  The bad news is every single file that I need to complete projects I am working on; are on the notebook.   These are projects that were going to sustain me until my next trip back to the states.  As I've stated before...I go in 10 week cycles.  LOL... I'm here 10 weeks, then I go somewhere for 2 - 4 weeks.  In between going somewhere...I work on projects, and this is what gets me through my time in SA.

I was working on a Raw Food cookbook (Working Title: Cooking In The Raw) for the past 2 months (I even worked on this project while I was on vacation in August!!); cooking and experimenting with recipes  All of this may be lost.  ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!  I was having this professionally printed, with hard cover, and they were going to be Christmas gifts.  The timing would have been perfect with my trip back to the states in November; I planned on bringing them back with me.  The video projects I'm working on are for my new travel blog (Black Chick on Tour ); the video footage, the text for the narrative, the whole nine is on this computer.  Video from my May 09 vacation; 9 European destinations.  Gawd!!  I hope it's recoverable.  The deal is this...if it's the OS then they will be able to access my files, put them on a disc, before they reload the OS.  If it's the hard drive...I'm pretty much screwed, unless I want to shove out close to $1000 to have the data/files forensically removed.  

These projects were going to get me over until my next trip back to the states in early November.  Now...I'm bored, and there is nothing I want to work on.  It could be that I'm just wallowing in self pity, because all of this just went down this past week, and I still haven't gotten over it yet.  

In other news.  We finally got a bed.  Gawd!!  Who knew it would be so hard?!!  The 1st place we purchased a bed...they tried to screw us out of an extra 1000 Riyal.  Even when they called back and stated that they would honor the price they gave us...we said no!  But, guess what...they charged our card anyway.  It took almost 4 weeks to get that money back!!!   We went to another store, and our new bed was delivered tonight.  WhooHoo!! No more sofa sleeper.

Ramadan is still in full effect.  I'm not feeling impacted too much...with the exception that I can't go and get my espresso in the AM.  But, other than that...nothing.  Even more shops than usual are closed in the daytime, and no restaurants are open.  But, I don't eat out in SA, so...I'm not really impacted there.  I do want to go to Bahrain next week...and I will feel it then, as I can not have lunch at my fav Italian restaurant; I have to wait until dinner.  But, hell...I can make that work...so...yea...not a big deal, for me.  Cause I'm eating as I always have.  LOL

Anyway...until next time.

Peace!

And, put out a good vibe that my baby (notebook) will be okay.  

1st Day of Ramadan

Today is the 1st day of Ramadan. It will be interesting to see how it celebrated/practiced inside of SA. I do know of Ramadan, and what it's about. However, my experience is limited to picking up my GF back in the day at sunset to hang out and get something to eat. I'm suspecting things will be a little different than that. LOL. For example, today, I have learned that most of these stores will not open until 5:00PM. Also, they request the "non-muslims" not to eat or drink anything in public during the day, during Ramadan.

This is also my 1st day back in SA following 3 weeks in the states, I'm still jet lagged, and therefore have not gone out and about. But, I hear you will not see any Saudi's on the streets during the day...but that the evenings are crazy with activity late into the night. As soon as I get back on the SA time track, I'll get out and let you all know what I see/find

This is day one...I will report back on day 30, and give full Ramadan details.

Unless something interesting happens in the meantime...

Later...

Periodic Updates R Good!!

As most of you can see (or may have noticed)...I don't write in my blog nearly as much as I did in the beginning. That is really because, there isn't much to write about. I could write about my daily existence in SA...but I think that would bore you to tears. But, I think periodic updates are good.

My 45th birthday was 2 weeks ago. 5 friends got together, and we all went to Bahrain for Spa Treatments, Shopping...then they took me to wonderful dinner at Primavera's in the Ritz-Carlton. 6 months ago I knew no one and now these lades have come together to help me celebrate my birthday. Not to be all sentimenty (LOL) but I was really touched and we had a BLAST!! It feels really good to have hooked up with a great group of ladies, who are like minded. I'm still not getting along at RT the way I would have liked, but I'm okay with that. I just have to remind myself to look at the demographics. And, to be thankful for what I have...

I'm still going to Bahrain on an average of twice a month. Hubby and I went out to dinner and a movie a few weeks back. Saw Angels and Demons...it was pretty good. It was filmed in Rome and we had just gone to Rome in May...so we recognized a lot of the locations...we were all excited about that. Did I mention we loved Rome? And, that Bahrain is like a Savior?

Since I've been here...a lot of my posts have been kinda down and depressing (understandably, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. It definitely takes some "getting used to" to live here). So...I thought I would share an email I sent my family and closer friends back in the states. I have chosen not to upload all the pics I sent to family, but kept the reference as to not interfere with the context of the letter.

Hey Yall,

I thought I would share some pictures of where I'm living. Please note...my place is still a work in progress. I need curtains, which I'm buying when I come back to the states this time around. And, I think I'm going to paint an accent wall behind the couch...I'm thinking a sage green. I'm hanging pictures, which is making it feel more homey. In my long entrance hall way...I'm going to frame and put up some artsy photos I took when we were in Italy. It's coming together slowly but surely. That cord running from the entrance hall to the living room is my internet connection. LOL!! I like to sit on the couch (as you can further see) and have internet access, and we're hardwired, so I have a 50 foot cable stretch through the house. Sometimes when I'm cooking, I bring my computer in there....yea, yea, I know.

The courtyard is where I sit outside and talk on the phone or read a book. Sometimes, I just need heat on my skin because as you can imagine the air conditioning is running all the time. It's slowly coming together as well. Our gardener is awesome, he just keeps showing up with more and more plants. This morning I went outside, and there was a new ficus tree. And, that sandy portion will slowly start to fill in with the ground cover he's planted. When we moved here, both the front and back were sand pits, with sea shells in it. Who knew that you could eventually turn a sand pit into a lawn.

The color of the house is the same with all the houses. Ugh!!!!!!!! It looks like a big box from the outside, but inside the layout is pretty decent and the rooms are well sized. So, I can't complain about my accommodations at all. High ceilings, huge master bedroom, 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, storage galore. Oh Yea...did I mention they deduct $*** a month from his paycheck for these accommodations, and that includes, utilities and phone? So...whenever, I get too complainy, these are the things I keep in mind. And, actually, I've been doing really good lately. No complaining...I haven't been angry...I'm feeling pretty good. I've been getting up and walking on the beach 3 - 4 times a week; which I live across the street from. I've been getting out of the house (going to Dhahran) and meeting up with friends, so...

Oh Yea...and the other pictures are of Roland going to work. I walk him to the car when he goes to work, like a good lil housewifee. LOL. Doesn't he look handsome in his uniform?

Miss U All and See Yall Soon!!