Lately: I'm still here

I'm still here, I just haven't made time to post anything.  It's been a busy 4 weeks - Sven and I flew to Vegas (via London), visited our 3 Vegas families for a week, then hopped up to Reno for a weekend to round-out family time, then packed a moving van full of stuff and drove to Seattle, moved into my new apartment, put Sven back on a plane to Dubai, I unpacked for 3 days, then flew to Atlanta and spent my first week working in Peach State, and took the late flight back on Friday so I could visit the Georgia Aquarium after work.

I tried to spend most of this weekend recovering.  It was not enough.

But I have some pretty cool photos and I'll share over the next week or so.  In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of what my days are like right now.

Every morning starts like this:

But somehow, I manage to pull myself together for work:

And then I come home, where I can let my true feelings show:

I am so tired.

Dubai Life: Freeze Frame

I'm leaving Dubai in 3 days (!!!) and it still hasn't quite sunk in that I won't be living here anymore. There are at least a dozen things I should be doing right now but I've temporarily hit the pause button. Our daily life is exactly the same as it's always been, at least in Dubai.  Now that I have a job and things are falling into place (albeit a little differently than we planned), we're so much more relaxed and everything is a little better/easier/more enjoyable.

And with long-distance looming ahead of us, everything also seems a little more precious than it did last week/month/year.  I know I'll pay for my procrastination with a dizzying, nonstop task-list on the last day, but right now I don't care.  I'm still savoring every moment of togetherness and I want to keep these moments with Sven and Phoebe forever.

Even the yoga mat thief appreciates sunset magic.

Oh yeah, I haven't even packed.

Today: Drape Me in Blue

Today, John Moreland is filling up my melancholy heart.  These songs, this voice, and this heaviness talk directly to me.  I feel sad and full at the same time.

Phoebe: All About Steve

Lately, Phoebe has grown really attached to Steven.  Of course she's always loved him, but for the last week or two there's been a new urgency in her affection for him.  She used to refuse to go anywhere without me, even when Steve tried to bribe her.  But now she's all about Steve, all the time.

Waiting for Steve to come home from work

And while Steve is certainly fantastic (I'm crazy about him too), it's still a fairly abrupt change.  At first, I joked to Steve that maybe he's sick and we need to go to the clinic because dogs "know things" and her level of clinginess was unreal. (I haven't entirely abandoned this train of thought.)  But I think it's just a natural reaction to all crap I've been subjecting her to lately.  She's developed allergies in Dubai (we think) and the new rules are no fun.  And I think it may have clicked for her last week - Steve's still the same, but I'm a meanie now.

But it's okay.  I know this is normal and we'll go back and forth in closeness with her over time.  I also recognize that treating her allergies is absolutely mandatory.  So even though my heart is aching, she's still not allowed to eat those treats, she's taking all the pills, and she's getting that antibiotic bath.  Even if it means she likes me a little less.

However, I do admit the two of them together all the time is pretty cute.

Those tiny bottom teeth are my favorite

What it looks like when a 90lb dog passes out and snores on you.

Moving to Seattle: An Apartment in Ballard

In the wee hours of this morning, I signed the lease for an apartment in Seattle.  Yep, even though I'm still in Dubai.  Here's the story...

I accepted the job offer about a week and a half ago.

My start date is in early December, so this gives me 5 1/2 weeks to pack all my Dubai stuff, find an apartment in Seattle, fly from Dubai to Vegas and Reno to spend Thanksgiving with our 4 families, drive a Uhaul with Sven full of stuff from storage in Reno to the new apartment in Seattle, move in and unpack the basics, get a new drivers license, put Steve on a plane back to Dubai (cry), and then be ready to travel to Atlanta GA for my first week of work.

It's a lot to do in a relatively short period of time, so I knew I had to cut corners somewhere.  Finding an apartment online instead of in-person was a natural choice since it could be done early from Dubai and take off some pressure towards the end.

Sure, why not?  I already had a couple neighborhoods in mind from our previous time living in Seattle, and I'm an old pro at finding housing online anyway.  I knew if I did my research well and picked carefully, it would be fiiiiine.  And if the carpet isn't the same color as the photo, or the room looks smaller in person, or the counter tops look a little older than some other place across the street - meh.  That doesn't really bother me.

I do however, need to be within walking distance to a park for Phoebe, a gym for me, and public transit so that I actually use all them as often as possible.  One thing I keep re-learning about myself is convenience is key - when something is just right there I usually force myself to go regularly.

When the gym is within 4-5 blocks of home

When the gym is far

So I've spent a good portion of the last 10 days hunting for apartments.  After some hemming and hawing, I settled on a 1 bedroom in Ballard.  The apartment meets all of the criteria, and then some them.  Plus, the additional "pet rent" for PB is pretty modest.  I CAN have my cake and eat it too (minus the fact that Sven will still be in Dubai and I'll have a 40-90 minute commute).

Of course, I don't move in until the end of November.  But at least it's one more thing that's DONE!

Dubai Life: Dining Room Love

I realized the other day that our dining room (which also doubles as our office) might be my favorite room in our entire villa.

So, of course, I snapped a photo to share it.

It's not the prettiest room, and definitely not the most comfortable (those chairs are cheap reproductions) but I think I love it because so much happens in this small space.  This is the place where we share our meals and have endless conversations (though we eventually we move to the couch), and where I've stitched Sven's uniforms, ironed our clothes (poorly), started a new quilt, made calls home to family, interviewed for every job I've been contacted about over the last 6 months, written most of the blog posts, and where we tinker with learning new things on our computers while sitting side-by-side.

I've probably spent 25% of my entire time in Dubai sitting in this very room (so glamorous, I know).  And while I certainly won't miss those torture-device chairs, I will miss everything that happens while sitting in them.

Travel: Reno, Nevada 3 years ago

I was looking through some old photos yesterday and found a few from the same week 3 years ago.  The three of us were visiting family in Reno, Nevada and I remember it being such a great trip that I wanted to capture the moments and hold them forever.

When I found these yesterday, I stopped and stared for a long time.

Phoebe played so hard with my Dad's dog that she passed out all afternoon.

Oh you know, my Dad's neighbor had a pet bison.

Playing catch in East Lake - it was so shallow she could run through the middle of the lake (more like pond) and she loved it.

Pit stop while driving back to Vegas

So many memories, so many feels.

Dubai Life: Plan E

Life doesn't always work out exactly the way we hope, even when we make meticulous plans (I mentioned plans A-D last week).  And for our move to Dubai, the only thing that hasn't gone the way we hoped/expected/needed was my job (kind of a big thing).  We didn't anticipate that I would have this much trouble finding something comparable to the job I left, and it's been really frustrating.  Long story short - my options here have been limited and less...a lot less.  For a while, I tried to just relax and enjoy the oodles of extra free time.  And I even gave housewife-ing a bit of a go.  But it's been several months, and I think it's safe to declare that being a domestic goddess really isn't my thing (Steven agrees).

So after a lot of serious marriage talk, reviews of our current and future goals (because we are totally that couple), and lots of wine - we decided our best option is for me to go back to the states and for Sven to stay in Dubai.

*sigh*

But that's our Plan E - short for "Ehhhh we really hope it doesn't come to that."  And after hitting a big fat zero on plans A through D, it's where we're at.

But you guyyyyys - it's early but plan E is starting to work out!   I ALREADY HAVE A JOB!

Remember when I told you that my old company was acquired by a larger one?  Well, that bigger company made me an offer a couple days ago, and it was too good to refuse.  So in exactly 4 weeks time I'll be moving back to Seattle, Washington in the US.  And if all goes according to plan (it might not, but we're still hoping), Phoebe will join me in late January.  Sven has a really good job in Dubai, so he'll stay here for at least another year.  And when it's time for him to leave, Sven will join Phoebe and me in Seattle.

We know this isn't a conventional choice, but it's the one that works for us.  We know some of you will be worried/sad for us, and we appreciate the concern.  But we are 100% okay.  Bummed about being apart, but still okay.

We got this.

Dubai Life: 60 Days Until Christmas

It's almost Christmas!

Well, not really...it's 60 days away but that's close enough for me.  I looove Christmas.  It's the one time of year when I can really feel the magic.  It oozes out of everything - decorated stores, twinkly lights, Christmas songs, delicious baked goods, cold crisp air, warm homes, and the extra charity and kindness we tend to bestow on each other - all of it feels like Christmas.  And while it isn't all rosy and fun (with 4 families time is short and travel can be daunting) but I still love the whole dang thing.  There's just something "extra" about Christmas that makes us try a little harder to love one another, and I can't get enough of that feeling. 

Can you feel it?  Image from Jasmine Scott.

For Steve and I, this Christmas will be the first year away from family.  It makes me a teeny bit sad to be missing my favorite time of year with my favorite people, but I'm still grateful we get to spend 2 weeks together at Thanksgiving the month before.  From a practical standpoint, we only gets a 3-day weekend so there isn't enough time to fly back home.

There may, however, be enough time to fly somewhere in Europe.  Even if we can't be with family, it would still be lovely to spend it somewhere Christmas-y like Vienna, or Hamburg, or Helsinki (brrrrrrr). We're still figuring it out - i.e. I'm on the hunt for a great airline deal.

image from Roaming Lucia

In the meantime, I'm drooling over the simple Christmas imagery that fills my Pinterest feed.  We're trying really hard not to accumulate unnecessary "things" in Dubai so I'm sure Christmas decorations will be axed this year.

*sigh*

I'll just have to settle for saving these images in the "if we ever stop roaming" part of my brain.  This blog is probably the only place I can "decorate" for Christmas, and since I love it so very much, I'm starting in October.  :)

I love a good boxwood wreath.  This one's from Alexanda Elizabeth's Prepped-in-Pearls.

Simple pine boughs from Country Living.

Basically the best Christmas mantle ever, from Fresh Farm House.

I love this simple tree (Nordic pine?) from LapinBlu

Merry 60 days until Christmas!

Dubai Life: Photos or it didn't happen

It's been a bit quiet on the blog lately, mostly because I haven't been doing anything interesting (at least to anyone except me).  Just sittin' around reading, trying to get a new job, then reading some more, and then trying again to harass/negotiate/convince someone to hire me, and then going to bed to read some more.

But on Friday we actually got cleaned up and went to a friend's engagement party and it was so much fun.  It was such a friendly and diverse group of people and we really enjoyed meeting all the new faces and hearing how everyone 1) ended up in Dubai and 2) met each other.  The rest of the time we talked about our dogs (not kidding).  For a minute or two, I almost forgot we were in Dubai - the cute Pinterest-worthy decorations, good ol' American BBQ food, twinkly patio lights - it was all so familiar.  But of course, I forgot to snap a picture so as far as the blog is concerned it's like it never happened.  

But back to my reading...

Today: 20 Questions

For the last several years, I've been thinking a lot about how well we know each other.  To me, it's fascinating that over time, space, and distance we can love people so much no matter how well (or how little) we know them.

And now that we're on the other side of the world, I guess I think about it more often.  Historically, neither Steve nor I are good at correspondence (which is why I started this blog).  Our default behavior is not calling, not writing, not updating.  And over the course of several years, it has put a little distance between us and some of the people we love.  Even if the love is still as strong as ever, sometimes it's harder to relate/connect when we no longer know anything about the other person's daily reality.  Sure, we knew them really well 4 years ago...but that doesn't always mean we know who they are or what they're dealing with today.

This morning, I saw a Facebook post where someone I follow, but don't know very well, answered a list of 40 questions about themselves.  And while it wasn't riveting, I read it all the way to the end...and enjoyed it.  Because of those "menial" questions, I feel like I know her just a teeny bit more.  And I like that.

So before the idea fades away (or feels silly tomorrow morning), I'm doing the same thing with different questions.  I know most of these questions are not earth-shatteringly important, but I had to start somewhere!  I pulled most of these from a bank of questions on Psychology Today and LifeHack about "getting to know someone" (i.e. I was lazy).  Most of these are about random opinions, preferences, and personal taste -- because isn't that what changes over time?  Most of us are still the same person deep down, it's just the context that's changed.

So, without further delay - a bunch of random stuff that shares a little more of who Sven and I are, how we each think, and what we prefer.

1.   Would you rather watch Star Wars or Star Trek?  (This is a very important question.)
H: Star Trek, all the way.
S: Star Wars.

2.   If the content were equally interesting, would you prefer to read or watch TV?

H: Read
S: Read

3.   If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability, what would it be?

H: Eidetic (photographic) memory
S: Teleportation

4.   Would you rather win the lottery or find your perfect job?
H: Lottery
S: Lottery

5.   When was the last time you cried?
H: Last night, while watching a movie.  I cry a lot in movies.
S: Same movie

6.   Which is easier for you to withstand - very hot or very cold temperatures?
H: Very cold.
S: Very cold but they both f***ing suck.

7.   Would you choose an all expense paid trip around the world or to be paid the dollar value?
H: Definitely the trip.
S: The money - I've been around the world.

8.   Would you like to be famous?  If you answered yes - in what way?  If you answered no - why not?
H: No.  Fame seems like a life-crippling experience.  You have no privacy and are constantly harassed by millions of strangers.
S:  No.  I prefer to be anonymous.

9.   What do you value most in friendship?
H:  Love, honesty, and forgiveness
S:  Loyalty and reason

10.  Cats or dogs or other?
H:  Dogs, duh
S:   Dogs

11.  Would you prefer to live in the mountains, a desert, grasslands, or the ocean?
H:  How about a forest by the ocean?
S:   Mountains

12.  Margarita, beer, wine, or whisky?
H:  Margarita and wine
S:   Whisky

13.  If you could do anything you wanted this very second, what would it be?
H: I'd go exploring in the forest with Phoebe
S:  Eat ice cream

14.  What is the one thing that should be taught in K-12 education, but isn't already?
H: Personal finance
S:  Source validity

15.  If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you choose?
H: I had to think about this one for a minute.  I think one of the best things about life is the development of your mind through age, learning, and experience, even if there's a chance of it slipping a bit as you age.  So I'd probably choose to retain the 30-year old body...just perhaps not my exact body when I was 30 years old.  ;)
S: I'd like to retain the mental acumen of a 30 year old.

16.  If you could travel backwards in time, what year would you travel to?

H: I don't really have an answer to that.  I don't think about things like that.
S: I wouldn't.

17.  Did you leave your hometown?  Why or why not?

H: Yes.  I left to experience the world.
S: Yes.   I don't have grand reason for leaving, it just seemed like the right thing to do.  It's silly to assume that where you happen to be born is where you're meant to be.

18.  What is your favorite holiday?  Why?

H: Totally Christmas.  I get infected with the Christmas spirit.
S: Holidays are bullshit.

19.  Do you want or have children?  

H: One day, just not today.  I read a quote recently that really resonated with me - "I'll have children when there is nothing else I want more."
S: I want them.

20.  Think of all the people you cherish the very most - are they mostly men or women?

H: Mostly women, by a large majority.
S: It's pretty even.

So there you have it - 20 random things you probably never wanted to know about us.

Do we feel closer yet?!?!

Dubai Life: Best Laid Plans B, C, and D

It's hard to believe that 2016 is almost over and that I've been in Dubai for over 6 months.  Several of you have asked for updates about my career/job situation and it's been so up/down/sideways that it's been 'meh' to talk about (i.e. not very interesting).  But tonight, I wish I had someone to drink wine and commiserate with so here's the whole story (mostly) in my favorite language.  

When we left Washington, we had a pretty good plan.  In a nutshell: Steve was going to take a fantastic job in an exotic city across the world, I would continue with my current career path remotely, we'd travel as much as we could, and build a sizable nest egg.  We spent 7 months meticulously planning and then leapt into the great unknown.

And for the first few months, it worked really well.  I started working from Dubai in May and we were slowly getting settled.  But in July my company/client was purchased by a large accounting firm, which for regulatory reasons meant I was suddenly out of a job.

But never fear, I would just get another one.  During our planing stages, we also laid out a Plan B, C, and D (I like to be very prepared).  So I leveraged my network in the US to drum up some more consulting work and I started applying to a LOT of jobs in Dubai.

And then we had another week-long holiday in the UAE, and we decided to go to Goa.

And while we were there, I realized waaaaaaay too late that I should have been submitting a CV instead of a resume to pretty much everyone.  

But when we came back from Goa, I got an interesting email from a friend about the possibility of a sweet job that was worth taking seriously. I aggressively pursued it, and along the way let myself get a little bit too optimistic.  But one month, 4 phone interviews, and about 50 emails later, the role/opening was absconded by another department.

And now I am this strange, nocturnal, housewife-in-waiting who keeps ridiculous graveyard hours to chat with prospective clients in the US, also tries to maintain day-time communications with people and companies in Dubai, and is writing her first a "Curriculum Vitae."

Eventually, something good will come through and all the effort and groundwork I'm putting in now will pay off.  I just have to be patient and try not to get too ahead of myself (the hardest part).

But in other news, I'm starting my open water/scuba diving certification too!