Author Archive

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Wolverine

May 4, 2009

Friday we went to the theatre to see XMen Origins: Wolverine. This was my first theatre experience here. Daddybird went to see The Watchmen, but I boycotted due to the fact that it had been substantially censored and I want to see the original as intended enough to wait until we get back to the States this summer or it comes out on DVD. But, I digress.

The theatre experience was quite pleasant. The seating is assigned when you buy your ticket, not general seating. So, we got the aisle seats in the third row, which sounds like it would be too close, but they don’t put seats right up to the screen like the theatres in the States. It was actually just right.

The corker is that the concessions don’t cost more than the tickets, as in the States. We got a large popcorn, water and a large Pepsi for less than the price of one ticket.

We, of course, stayed until the end of the credits, because we know there is usually a little extra, often important, scene at the end of the credits in these types of movies. I disdain all those who complained about Prof. X being killed in the last movie, because I know they didn’t have the good sense to stay to the end of the credits. This time the scene wasn’t very revealing or surprising, but it did open the possibility of a sequel set in Japan and involving Deathstrike, perhaps??? (Those of you who are not fans are probably not even remotely interested.)

As we left the room, I noticed that there were six men cleaning. It wasn’t that big of a room, but that is what cheap labor will get you.

It was nice to once again celebrate our anniversary with an XMen movie. They really should time them so there is one every year the first weekend in May, just for us.

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Baby birds

May 4, 2009

Here are some of the baby birds on campus. They haven’t been out of the nest long and are trying their wings at flying. It was difficult to catch on video because they are so small and they hurl themselves into the air rather unpredictably.

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Scarab

May 4, 2009

scarabWe met a new category of lifeform. This was around 8 pm, after dark in the parking lot. He was walking very fast. It was a challenge to get a picture.

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Fountain and Pool

May 2, 2009

waterfallA lovely waterfall fountain.
waterfall2The waterfall fountain from another angle. And, yes, that is a pool you see hanging off the side of the hotel. Daddybird thought this was cool, until he saw someone swim by. Not really a view you want to have of the average tourist.pool

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May Day

May 1, 2009

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After the last entry on flowers, Kazul wanted to know what I would do for May Day. Well, here is your May Day bouquet and I don’t think I had to repeat a single type of flower. All but the last picture were taken on campus.
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The petunias were quite amazing. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many blooms, so consistently, over such a long period. The temperature has gotten hot enough now that they will not last much longer.
02002104800110101And, here for you Kazul, is a Dr. Seuss tree in a purple pot.tree

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Scrabble

April 27, 2009
Dubai Scrabble Club - April 25, 2009

Dubai Scrabble Club - April 25, 2009

Daddybird played four games, won two and lost two.

Dubai Scrabble Club - April 25, 2009

Dubai Scrabble Club - April 25, 2009

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Miss Kitty says Hello!

April 27, 2009

Miss Kitty says “Hello” to everyone at home. If you listen carefully, you can hear her purr.

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Too funny not to share

April 27, 2009

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1173047/Chinese-fakeaway-After-copycat-Roller-products-got-lost-translation.html

These are hilarious, although most make too much sense. I particularly liked “McDuck” and “Unbelievable. This is not butter.” I got a good laugh, I hope you do, too.

In future, I hope to post a montage of strange signs we see here, but first I have to collect the pictures.

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Car Racing Again

April 26, 2009
#57 and #56 Al Owais Brothers

#57 and #56 Al Owais Brothers

We went to the races again on Friday. This was the last race of the season. legs1I’m at a loss for words. Apparently, you need a pair of legs and high heels to hold these signs.legs2

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I’m easily amused

April 25, 2009

I love WordPress and should have moved here earlier. I can see statistics of visitors to the site and if someone arrives at my site by doing a search, I can see what they searched for. Someone searched for “is kfc home delivery free in dubai?” I’m afraid they didn’t find the answer on my blog. However, I think most delivery here is free or for a very nominal fee. Everyone delivers. There are few drive throughs, but there is a lot of curbside service, where drivers just pull up to the curb in front of a restaurant, honk, the waiter comes out to take their order and later brings their food to their car. It causes a significant amount of traffic problems.

I haven’t had KFC in a very long time and I haven’t had it here in Dubai. (The one and only Burger King burger I’ve had here was very tasty and way better than any American fast food burger, so I suspect that the KFC might be better, too.) But, I say, screw KFC, I am hooked on Marrybrown chicken sandwiches. It’s not chicken patties, but actual chicken breast, breaded, on a bun with the works and HOT. So yummy. I haven’t had sushi in about two weeks because I’ve been distracted by Marrybrown chicken. Now that is saying something!

Now for something completely different.

Bus stop to nowhere

Bus stop to nowhere

I took this picture because it so aptly portrays the wonder that is Dubai. A bus stop bench in the middle of a construction area advertising the Mega Mall. It doesn’t get any more succinct than that.

Permanent sign about temporary road layout

Permanent sign about temporary road layout

This, too, is iconic of Dubai. This sign is metal and firmly planted in cement. Road diversions here seem to go on forever. With the economic crisis causing construction postponement and slow down, I’m not sure if there will come a time when roadways are stable and construction is rare. I hope so.

Results of a blow out

Results of a blow out

Unfortunately, another characteristic of Dubai is automobile accidents. We witnessed this one and pulled over to check on the driver. Amazingly, he had only one scratch on his arm. He was in the roadway you see in the background when his front left tire blew. He was in one of the left lanes and traveled all the way across to the right and then rolled and flipped when he hit the curb/flower bed. His car is wrapped in the irrigation hose. The temperature is heating up here and people are encouraged to have their tires checked because the increased heat of the pavement often causes blow outs like this one.

So, this entry ends on a not so amusing note. We are thankful that he was not badly injured and that he did not collide with other cars. It is amazing to me that more accidents don’t happen here, but most drivers are very defensive drivers constantly on the lookout. That makes all the difference.