Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Roommates

I live in a hotel, essentially. It is a corporate apartment in a hotel complex. Generally, I love it.

Plus Side:
1) Hotel things: room service, free pool, gym, concierge, etc.
2) Maid Service
3) Restaurants/ grocery store within the complex
4) Underground parking

Negative Side:
1) Hotel things: when someone checks out we all need to get new keys. I hate that!
2) Everyone addresses me as "Ms. Kate" or "Madame"
3) Maid Service never comes at the same time- during the week, they come in the evening and on the weekends they come in at like 8am!!
4) ROOMMATES

Since this is a 3 bedroom apartment, other people come and live here while they are over here working for the company. They come for stays ranging 1 night to 4 months! Short timers, however, are almost on vacation. They have a huge amount of questions and want to do all the touristy things at the last minute. I try to appease them by stopping at the camel farm on the way home from work for them to take pictures and explaining things as best I can- but it becomes tedious. Then we have the special roommates that bring the drama.

1) The Hippie- he and his wife came here and and stayed for 3 weeks. They were crazy. They asked for a quiet room with lots of birds outside and greenery. We thought they were joking. They weren't. They complained when the bar downstairs was checking their sound system loudly at 5 pm! They filled the fridge with weird soy and tofu products and never really washed dishes- just rinsed them. They also left me a "Jesus Saves" DVD and directions to the nearest christian church. Apparently, they are worried about my immortal soul or something!

2) The Scottish Alcoholic- he came and was supposed to stay for a long time. He started divorce proceedings and went a little nuts. He drank most of the bar and started skipping work. He also racked up a $32,000 AED (approximately $8,700 USD) in international calls to Scotland to fight with his soon-to-be ex. He moved out in October and we are still finding empty bottles hidden around the apartment!!

3) The Tulsa OCD Gal- she was great! She would follow me around and pick up after me. However, when she had some beers, she would tweek out. We were planning a Halloween party and in 30 minutes in the car, she went over what we needed to buy about 45 times. I suggested that we make a list later and she couldn't let it go. That is annoying, especially when I am sober. Then, when we had plans, she would insist on inviting EVERYONE! I swear that total strangers were invited to get manicures with us. We all know that I hate people so this would piss me off to no end.

And most recently:
4) The Asian-Enthusiast from Oklahoma- this guy has been here for 2 weeks and leaves in December. I cannot wait for that day. He moved in last Friday and immediately went to the mall. He came back a friend, Yang Yang. (Think of Dubai as the Vegas of the Middle East- everything that happens in Vegas happens here but it is cheaper and the government turns a blind eye to the rampant prostitution and horrible living conditions of its labor and poor). He proceeds to bring this chick to a company BBQ... oh, and she speaks ZERO English. She spent the weekend here. As I type this, he has 2 new friends over for the evening. I am not even upset. Just shocked at the behavior. I know that all guys are not like this but here, they are allowed by the culture to do whatever they please, without repercussion.

If I were not here, I wouldn't believe this was my life either....

Saturday, November 24, 2007

**Happy Thanksgiving**

I know that it is very early on Saturday for most of you on the EST lifestyle- but I hope that you all had a great Turkey Day! Don't worry about me; Thanksgiving was hosted by my (British) Engineering Director, my favorite Software Development Engineer and me! We cooked for about 18 people... well, they cooked; I supervised and managed to provide an excellent desert menu. One cannot have a semi-traditional Thanksgiving dinner without Bourbon Pecan Pie. Mad props to Chad for such a great discovery!!

In other news, work has become mildly all-consuming. I cannot blame my slacker-ness on work alone. I will also blame it on my roommates (but that will be a separate post altogether- if I can even bear to type the drama out!) I did, however, manage to get tickets for Christmas in Madrid to see my family! Now, if I can find time to plan my vacation to Cairo with Duane-o, I will be making good steps toward the inevitable workaholic lifestyle!

I have started a million entries to this blog and have not finished a single one. Then again, I started my laundry a week ago and it still isn't done either!! For anyone who knows me, they understand that I get distracted by shiny things and have trouble finishing tasks. I have a million pictures that I need to post for y'all as well!! Please keep checking for updates to the blog and I will try to get a little less distracted. Also, if you have sent me an email; my average response time is around a month! I am sorry!

I miss you all!!!!