Since most of you are aware of the past year Dan and I have had, I thought you would be interested in what's going on right now...
After a couple months of interviewing for a new position Dan has FINALLY secured one...in SAUDI ARABIA!!! Today the 38 page contract was signed and they sent him the list to prepare from. He'll probably leave in about a month. That's about how long it takes to secure his work visa. The contract is for two years and they have already talked about extending it. The company is Parson's. They have a local office but Dan will work for the Saudi spin off. The city he'll be in is called Yanbu. It's located about 4 hours north of Jeddah on the Red Sea. The project is building an industrial city (oil and gas). They have a port and are working to diversify the Kingdom. The city is largely conservative...Jeddah is on the other hand is more liberal.
Parson's would have moved all of us but, at this time Patrick and I are not going. Also the cats are staying here. Saudi's aren't big pet lovers and Yanbu doesn't have a vet. The nearest one is 4 hours away..The Parson's compound isn't real big and I would not be able to work, drive, go to the beach or even leave the country without Dan saying it was O.K. Oh, and I'd have to wear an Abaya (black robe) and Hijab (head scarf) are encouraged (but not mandatory)...Somehow I don't think I'd fit in. They have limited shopping and I couldn't go without Dan. Everything outside the compound is segregated so not much fun for women. We are already planning for Patrick and I to meet Dan somewhere this summer, maybe London (Patrick is hoping for Egypt). Otherwise he would have to wait 6 months to see Patrick and I'm not sure he would make it. We do plan on daily "Skyping" and I hope that helps to ease some of his and Patrick's loneliness. We all recognise the opportunity but the decision for him to go has been hard. We also know there really wasn't a way to say no. It was go or lose everything we have worked for...
So far Pat has been great. Last night he said "It'll be different having Dad gone, I'm going to have to make dinner every night". Don't I wish...That can only happen if I develop a fondness for chicken nuggets - YUCK! I'm glad he seems to realize that the two of us are going to have to work together. I'm so blessed he's a great kid! Patrick ruled out moving very quickly when he heard that the city only had one McDonald's. I thought maybe though, when I heard the company would pay for boarding school...Can you say Switzerland? - LOL!!!
Soooo, that's our big news. Dan and I are having to learn some important skills right now. Our learning curve is steep and we are sorta old but given the current choices we are trying to do what must be done... Stay tuned to further chapters. I'll e-mail as we morph the household...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
My bucket list starts with: Visit Italy
This is a small segment of a long list. I need to live for a long time...
Visit Italy
Beautiful art, food, people, history and language...
Be on the Oprah Winfrey show
You'll know you really made it if you invited to be on Oprah...
Dance with my son at his wedding
I'm old, it may not happen...
Make a noteworthy contribution to a charity
Giving feels so good.
Hit someone in the face with a pie
Childhood dream or too many Three Stoges shows
Friday, March 20, 2009
President Obama - 2
Good Evening Everyone,
Sorry for the delay in sending this out, but I was so tired at the end of yesterday I couldn't think straight. Who knew waiting in line could be so exhausting...LOL! I hope many of you were able to watch some of the president's visit...Sorry I didn't make the T.V. cameras. For everyone who may be curious; the following is my experience of his visit and a continuation of my last e-mail...
While most people received their ticket on Monday and I knew I was getting one, I didn't actually have it in my hand until late Tuesday morning. The city counsel woman (Katrina Foley) who graciously shared one of her tickets with me wasn't able to meet until about 11:30. Consequently, I didn't line-up early because I thought I needed the ticket. I was actually dressed and ready to go at 8:30, I hated waiting (you know what a POOR waiter I am), but the confusion around the ticket caused it... FINALLY, I left for the event. I got there and was pleased to see plenty of crowd control and that the line wasn't too bad. Stepping up the security definitely helped, but created a lock-down feeling. Law enforcement had totally cool Segway's and the vehicles being driven were covered in Kevlar. City buses were placed end to end around the perimeter of the fairgrounds. O.C. Sherrifs were everywhere. As we walked inside, sharpshooters assembled their rifles on the roof. Local police were friendly but I can't say that of the Secret Service. Those guys (and they were all guys) are huge and good looking but not fun. They didn't talk or smile. They did have the obligatory ear piece and sunglasses. Another "unfun" group was the press. I sat across from NBC's Patrick Healy and a familiar yet unknown guy from ABC. Neither engaged the crowd and the ABC fellow talked during Obama's Q and A period...I thought he was rude.
Finally after the patriotic stuff - Pledge, Prayer and National Anthem, President Obama showed up. The crowd went wild!!! My first impression...he's tall, thin and OH SO SEXY! His hair looked great. It is so refreshing to have a person who can construct complex sentences and deconstruct complex ideas. He's warm, engaging and very down-to-earth. He takes responsibility and wants others to do the same. He's COOL. He spoke for about 20 minutes and then opened the floor up to questions. Almost all the questions were well thought out. The exception was the first one...totally lame and I thought the woman should have been shot for wasting such an opportunity... Her question - Are you going to run again in four years...OMG! He has been president for 58 days and that's the question you ask him?...How completely dumb. One in 10 Californians have lost their job and this dumb woman is asking about four years from now. I hope she was just really nervous and forgot her real question. I mean come on, we had ALL day to think of something relevant, intelligent and deep...The president was very kind with his answer. I wouldn't have expected anything else.
I tried hard to ask my question but I was just too far back for him to see...I was interviewed by The Daily Pilot. The story and my answers are on their website, Alan Blank is the writer.
Too soon it was over...President Obama worked the entire front of the room. I heard woman say as they left, "he kissed me" or "he had a great handshake" (like he would have a dead fish handshake???). I tried to get up there but he had moved on to the other side. I'm thinking that seeing him up close, MIGHT(?) have been better than the time I met Barry Manilow - LOL! Everyone was in a celebratory mode as they left. I was left with the impression that people were very happy to be there. I certainly was. Although, I joked with a very nice young woman (shout out to Michelle) that the next time the president came to town I would be better prepared.
As with all major life events, I learned a few things:
Urban camping is great! Good to know you can get along with a blanket, pillow, two bottles of water, two tangerines, one banana and a PB and J.
Just about anybody will lend you their phone and everybody has one.
Always raise your hand to ask a question...even if you are in the back and probably won't get picked.
It's empowering to call The White House. The operators are here in the USA, they haven't been outsourced...I asked.
It pays to get to know your elected Representatives.
You should always have good hair, you never know when someone is going to interview you.
AND number one - Most of you know, I haven't been very spontaneous for the past few years and yet most of the past two days were unplanned. I have forgotten how much fun spontaneity can be. I hope to remember...
If you got to the end of this, thanks for indulging me. I did take pictures and will send them separately. I still marvel that such a great person wanted to be our president. And, that despite many obstacles we were able to see his possibilities and elect him.
Sorry for the delay in sending this out, but I was so tired at the end of yesterday I couldn't think straight. Who knew waiting in line could be so exhausting...LOL! I hope many of you were able to watch some of the president's visit...Sorry I didn't make the T.V. cameras. For everyone who may be curious; the following is my experience of his visit and a continuation of my last e-mail...
While most people received their ticket on Monday and I knew I was getting one, I didn't actually have it in my hand until late Tuesday morning. The city counsel woman (Katrina Foley) who graciously shared one of her tickets with me wasn't able to meet until about 11:30. Consequently, I didn't line-up early because I thought I needed the ticket. I was actually dressed and ready to go at 8:30, I hated waiting (you know what a POOR waiter I am), but the confusion around the ticket caused it... FINALLY, I left for the event. I got there and was pleased to see plenty of crowd control and that the line wasn't too bad. Stepping up the security definitely helped, but created a lock-down feeling. Law enforcement had totally cool Segway's and the vehicles being driven were covered in Kevlar. City buses were placed end to end around the perimeter of the fairgrounds. O.C. Sherrifs were everywhere. As we walked inside, sharpshooters assembled their rifles on the roof. Local police were friendly but I can't say that of the Secret Service. Those guys (and they were all guys) are huge and good looking but not fun. They didn't talk or smile. They did have the obligatory ear piece and sunglasses. Another "unfun" group was the press. I sat across from NBC's Patrick Healy and a familiar yet unknown guy from ABC. Neither engaged the crowd and the ABC fellow talked during Obama's Q and A period...I thought he was rude.
Finally after the patriotic stuff - Pledge, Prayer and National Anthem, President Obama showed up. The crowd went wild!!! My first impression...he's tall, thin and OH SO SEXY! His hair looked great. It is so refreshing to have a person who can construct complex sentences and deconstruct complex ideas. He's warm, engaging and very down-to-earth. He takes responsibility and wants others to do the same. He's COOL. He spoke for about 20 minutes and then opened the floor up to questions. Almost all the questions were well thought out. The exception was the first one...totally lame and I thought the woman should have been shot for wasting such an opportunity... Her question - Are you going to run again in four years...OMG! He has been president for 58 days and that's the question you ask him?...How completely dumb. One in 10 Californians have lost their job and this dumb woman is asking about four years from now. I hope she was just really nervous and forgot her real question. I mean come on, we had ALL day to think of something relevant, intelligent and deep...The president was very kind with his answer. I wouldn't have expected anything else.
I tried hard to ask my question but I was just too far back for him to see...I was interviewed by The Daily Pilot. The story and my answers are on their website, Alan Blank is the writer.
Too soon it was over...President Obama worked the entire front of the room. I heard woman say as they left, "he kissed me" or "he had a great handshake" (like he would have a dead fish handshake???). I tried to get up there but he had moved on to the other side. I'm thinking that seeing him up close, MIGHT(?) have been better than the time I met Barry Manilow - LOL! Everyone was in a celebratory mode as they left. I was left with the impression that people were very happy to be there. I certainly was. Although, I joked with a very nice young woman (shout out to Michelle) that the next time the president came to town I would be better prepared.
As with all major life events, I learned a few things:
Urban camping is great! Good to know you can get along with a blanket, pillow, two bottles of water, two tangerines, one banana and a PB and J.
Just about anybody will lend you their phone and everybody has one.
Always raise your hand to ask a question...even if you are in the back and probably won't get picked.
It's empowering to call The White House. The operators are here in the USA, they haven't been outsourced...I asked.
It pays to get to know your elected Representatives.
You should always have good hair, you never know when someone is going to interview you.
AND number one - Most of you know, I haven't been very spontaneous for the past few years and yet most of the past two days were unplanned. I have forgotten how much fun spontaneity can be. I hope to remember...
If you got to the end of this, thanks for indulging me. I did take pictures and will send them separately. I still marvel that such a great person wanted to be our president. And, that despite many obstacles we were able to see his possibilities and elect him.
President Obama - 1
Hi All,
Many of you know that President Obama is coming to Costa Mesa. I along with a friend, decided that we wanted to see him. Our original plan was to meet up about 6:30 am and wait until they started passing out the tickets at 10:00. Last night I saw something on T.V. about people camping out at the fairgrounds. At 10:00 last night (after I had taken a bath and was dressed for bed) I decided that I should camp out. So I quickly changed my clothes (Obama wear only) and grabbed a PB and J and left. I ended having a pretty good position in line. Until they changed where the line should be...I moved, got to know my neighbors,went to sleep and hoped for the best.
Here is the lowdown on the rest, the good, bad and ugly...(not in that order)
The Ugly and Bad - I'd consider the entire event until the end a NIGHTMARE...Once the line moved, I lost my original place, then they ended up cutting the line off about 15 people in front of me (I was wait listed). The crowd was beyond nasty and Dan (who joined my friend [she arrived at 6:30], he after he dropped Patrick off and couldn't spend the night was forced out of line. On top of all of this my phone fell out of my pocket into the toilet and was ruined...My friend also was forced out of the line - people were so UGLY! We finally left at 12:00, no tickets, no phone and I had the MOTHERSHIP of migraines... Additionally I was so upset that I borrowed a phone and called The White House...from the parking lot, to complain. The woman I talked to promised to give my message to the President.
The Good - Last night, while waiting, one of our City Counsel members came up and talked to me. She talked to everyone but I happened to be the only one who lived in Costa Mesa. I saw her again today before the line was cut off and after. I complained to her about the Fairgrounds and their lack of preparation with the crowd... Then I came home looked up her e-mail and sent her another complaint. The additional complaint included "why I couldn't understand that the other members of the Costa Mesa city counsel would be attending tomorrow's event and they didn't even vote for President Obama (most don't like him and they certainly hadn't volunteered for his campaign). I didn't expect her to see the e-mail let alone read it...Included in my e-mail was the fact that we (Dan, Patrick and I have become the poster people for President Obama's programs - unemployed, uninsured and our house is going into foreclosure). Well she did read it and called me while I was out getting a new phone.
The GREAT - She got me a ticket. I feel like Willy Wonka with a "golden ticket". Plus, CBS had contacted her and they want to do a story on person/people who will benefit from President Obama's plans. She asked if it would alright if she gave my name and number to the reporter...YES!!! So there it all is. Tomorrow I'm going to see President Obama!!! The "Town Meeting" is on health care and I have what I think is a great question. Given any opportunity I will get to ask my question. My brother is loaning me his camera because it works better than mine so I can film and video this entire event. I'm sorry, Dan and my friends couldn't go but I can't wait. Patrick says I must wear my best clothes so I'll have him help figure out my ensemble...One thing I will wear is my "Blondes for Obama" button.
Many of you know that President Obama is coming to Costa Mesa. I along with a friend, decided that we wanted to see him. Our original plan was to meet up about 6:30 am and wait until they started passing out the tickets at 10:00. Last night I saw something on T.V. about people camping out at the fairgrounds. At 10:00 last night (after I had taken a bath and was dressed for bed) I decided that I should camp out. So I quickly changed my clothes (Obama wear only) and grabbed a PB and J and left. I ended having a pretty good position in line. Until they changed where the line should be...I moved, got to know my neighbors,went to sleep and hoped for the best.
Here is the lowdown on the rest, the good, bad and ugly...(not in that order)
The Ugly and Bad - I'd consider the entire event until the end a NIGHTMARE...Once the line moved, I lost my original place, then they ended up cutting the line off about 15 people in front of me (I was wait listed). The crowd was beyond nasty and Dan (who joined my friend [she arrived at 6:30], he after he dropped Patrick off and couldn't spend the night was forced out of line. On top of all of this my phone fell out of my pocket into the toilet and was ruined...My friend also was forced out of the line - people were so UGLY! We finally left at 12:00, no tickets, no phone and I had the MOTHERSHIP of migraines... Additionally I was so upset that I borrowed a phone and called The White House...from the parking lot, to complain. The woman I talked to promised to give my message to the President.
The Good - Last night, while waiting, one of our City Counsel members came up and talked to me. She talked to everyone but I happened to be the only one who lived in Costa Mesa. I saw her again today before the line was cut off and after. I complained to her about the Fairgrounds and their lack of preparation with the crowd... Then I came home looked up her e-mail and sent her another complaint. The additional complaint included "why I couldn't understand that the other members of the Costa Mesa city counsel would be attending tomorrow's event and they didn't even vote for President Obama (most don't like him and they certainly hadn't volunteered for his campaign). I didn't expect her to see the e-mail let alone read it...Included in my e-mail was the fact that we (Dan, Patrick and I have become the poster people for President Obama's programs - unemployed, uninsured and our house is going into foreclosure). Well she did read it and called me while I was out getting a new phone.
The GREAT - She got me a ticket. I feel like Willy Wonka with a "golden ticket". Plus, CBS had contacted her and they want to do a story on person/people who will benefit from President Obama's plans. She asked if it would alright if she gave my name and number to the reporter...YES!!! So there it all is. Tomorrow I'm going to see President Obama!!! The "Town Meeting" is on health care and I have what I think is a great question. Given any opportunity I will get to ask my question. My brother is loaning me his camera because it works better than mine so I can film and video this entire event. I'm sorry, Dan and my friends couldn't go but I can't wait. Patrick says I must wear my best clothes so I'll have him help figure out my ensemble...One thing I will wear is my "Blondes for Obama" button.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
