A day

You know those days you never want to end? Well, I was blessed enough to have one on the first day of the year. Though I was dreading New Years Eve, it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. Instead it was mellow and enjoyable.

However, it was waking up the next day that made me wish the day would never end. Everything was perfect... and not in the sense that it was perfect without flaws, mistakes, or imperfections. It was perfect because it is was a normal day with the people I love and care about surrounding me.

I got up late, I looked great after getting ready, I felt great (minus cramps).

I returned some clothes, didn't buy any new ones though there were amazing sales (good discipline).

Ate lunch, called my friends, and we wandered around trying to figure out what to do. We tried the movie but it was sold out... we were going to go bowling but found a 45 minute wait, so instead we went "home" to watch a movie. We split up so half of us could get stuff for root beer floats while the other half picked a movie. We got settled in, watched some funny stuff on YouTube, we laughed, we talked, we just were in the moment.

Some left to pick up the kids and walking them to the door and bidding them goodbye was almost too perfect. The singletons were left behind, but the night was so gorgeous (thanks to the 70 degree temps during the day) that we sat around the fire pit stargazing and talking. I don't think anyone wanted the day to end.

The music was turned up and absorbing the world around us was enough. I was so happy, I prayed it would never end... but the stars continued to make their way across the sky and sleep was to be had. It may be a long time before another day like that... but if things could be that "normal" on a regular basis, I think I would be in heaven.

Marriage

What is it with me that I seem to attract men who are not interested in marriage. I always thought I was marriage material. All my mom's friends push to set me up with their sons, but these guys aren't interested in relationships their mom's just want them to be.

Then during my dating years... lots of nice guys some longer relationships... and yet none were interested in marriage.

Let's not even get into my broken engagement. The boy is delusional and I wish he would just admit that marriage was never in any of his future plans.

I guess it is my fault. I fall in love with the idea of who these guys could be. Optimism isn't usually a bad thing... but I think when you are a singleton... it is. Optimism in the wrong relationship means you hold on for too long.

You keep hoping... even when you have the evidence against you.

What is love anyway? What makes people decide to get married?

I am starting to think that love has less to do with marriage than people think. Instead we wander around meeting people, going out, and there are people you meet who become your best friends or life-long friends but you never marry because: "it isn't time," "I am too young," "there is so much I want to do before getting married," "the point of marriage is to have kids."

So marriage I think is about meeting a person you like who wants to get married when you want to get married. No amount of love will ever lead to a marriage if the timing is wrong.

So what... should it matter if you really love someone... I guess it shouldn't but in the end it does. Because even though there is love, if there is no future... is it really a realationship?

I don't think so. The sad fact is you are not together and it is not a relationship if there are no hopes or plans for the future. So are you just wasting your time?

Walking around Abu Dhabi - Sunday

Waking up early in the morning I did what big sisters do and cleaned up for my sister just a little bit. Then I heded out the door by 9am, dropping off my sister's dry cleaning. I was determined to get the most out of my day so just kept going. I didn't really have too much of a plan but I figured walk around and find something to do.

Well, interesting enough, people do not wake up very early here. As I walked around, the streets seemed empty for the big city I am in. I also noticed the sidewalks were all wet. I was confused and just figured they "wash" the sidewalks each morning. (I later found out that I was lucky enough to be here for the very rare occasion that is actually rained.)

I decided to try out the Salons. I went to have my eyebrows and upper lip threaded. They look fantastic. It was the first time I had this done and it hurts less than waxing and I wasn't red at all. After some other maintenance that usually cost a lot of money back home... I was out of there for 100 dirhams (27 dollars) for all kinds of waxing.

After walking around a bit, I started taking some pictures. I took pictures of Dunkin Donuts and KFC. Then I saw Starbucks so I couldn't resist the urge to have a Starbuck's coffee halfway around the world. They didn't have the Chai Frapachino I like, and the menu was a littl abbreviated, but if you sat down at one of the tables inside, drank your coffee, and read a book, you would not know you were in a different country.

I walked all the way down to the Corniche. I took some pictures and met some nice men from the UK. They were funny because they were lost and asking me what to do. I told them about the mall and the Emirates Palace. They were just down for the day from Dubai. They were very nice. They even offered me a ride to the mall, however I met Tricia for lunch instead.

We went to this buffet where I tried a number of different foods. I didn't exactly like any of them, but it was intersting to try everything. I liked this Green sauce the best, even though it was vegetarian. I ate some mixed grill and lots of rice.

After lunch I was going to the Marina Mall. It was an adventure to get there. I had a Cabby tell me he wouldn't go there so I had to find another one who would. When I finally got there this mall is enormous. I don't think I am a fan of "HUGE" malls. You can't really enjoy shopping. There is too much to see. However, this place has a skating rink and a ski slope (both closed right now but soon to be open). The mall was three stories high (I only made it to two of the floors in three hours). Even though I explored the first two floors, I think I missed half of it and went in circles most of the time. I did find the Ikea where I bought my sister some things to make her place a little more like a home.

As I was sitting down to have some Baskin Robbins rainbow sherbert in one of the million cafes at the mall, my sister calls me to say her and her friends are meeting for dinner at 7:30pm. Well that left me about 45 minutes to find a shirt and get back to her place.

We went to dinner at this Thai restaurant at one of the hotels along the oceanside. It was a nice little place. The food was really good, however they have really really long dinners (3 hours)... just not my style, thus why I am not a "networking" kind of person like my sister. It was interesting though and when we got back, I was so tired I couldn't even stay awake to watch the football game on fox sports (Greenbay vs. Chicago).

Well, now that I have caught you up, I am going to take a shower and get going again. I am going to be about an hour later though.. Hopefully I will be out the door by 10AM.