Eager for Winter

I'm tired of summer. Six months of it is way too long. But is a foregone reality of this showcase of a city we call Dubai.

Clothing is really a struggle during the summer months. I'm not really confident in showing some skin, even if it's just a simple sundress. Actually I did buy a short sundress - hoping the intense heat would force me to wear it.

It looks something like this, only it's light blue and white:
I did wear it one time when I visited my sister in Abu Dhabi. I wore it with a black shirt underneath though - couldn't bear baring my arms and shoulders for all the world to see. It's either that or look ridiculous. Not surprisingly I chose ridiculous.

I'm counting the days till winter time. During winter I can pile on the clothes and get away with it. I've been looking at some ensembles online (I'm that eager) and here's what I'm planning to wear when the thermostat goes down:

all images from www.delias.com

I've yet to buy the clothes - hopefully when the weather is cooler my closet will be adequately stocked.

I Miss My Dad

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
you tell me of the future that you planned;
Only remember me; you understand
it will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet, if you should forget me for a while
and afterwards, remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
a vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
better by far you should forget and smile
than that you should remember and be sad.

By Christina Rossetti.

When I was younger the thought of my dad dying was so unbearable that I refused to acknowledge the inevitability of it. I loved him so much, even with his faults and foibles. I feared that if I lost him I'd lose my mind. He was far from perfect but I was pleased when people see similarities between us, things that cement the fact that I am indeed his child. We walked the same way, the same scattered eyebrows, the same sparse light brown hair. When he stopped working due to illness I went to his house every weekend and just spent time together talking or watching TV. Sometimes if we had money we would go and eat out.

But now he's gone. When news of his death reached me in the early hours of the morning of July 5, 2006, I trembled in shock. Good thing I was far away in Dubai - the distance help cushion blow somewhat. I didn't go home to Manila for his funeral because I didn't want the memory of his death to linger with me. It would have crushed my spirit.

Sometimes I still think about him and I still feel the same sadness. I didn't lose my mind when he passed away but I know I will always mourn him. All I have to remind me of my dad is small dog-eared picture that I keep perpetually in my wallet.

Wherever you are dad, I miss you so much. Until we meet again.

A Day at the Beach

Last Friday, my colleagues and I went to Al Mumzar to enjoy the beach. It is summer after all. Had a lot fun although it was extremely hot.

Word of the Day: Moron

If I had the choice I would really prefer working with animals.

Alas, this world is overrun by humans so there is a 99% chance you have to interact with one - and chances are greater that that one is a moron. Worse, a self-important moron with delusions of grandeur.

I work with different kinds of morons, the worse of which I have just mentioned above. A few are morons who are really nice so it's kind of easier to forgive them. I won't rant about that. I want to talk about the worthless, pathetic loser who thinks so highly of herself/himself just because of the title they carry.

Sometimes I think, are they being insufferable because they know deep down inside they are incompetent fools? They bully people, throw tantrums, order others around and avoid helping others just because they constantly want to instill their superiority. And when they do something remotely nice, they trumpet it around to let people know that they are "special". If it didn't annoy me so much, I will actually find it sad. These people are driven by their need to be on top, to be recognized, to matter. If someone so much as threatens that, they bulldoze that person to the ground.

What an exhausting way to live! It is a bit of a comfort that people who treats others badly to assert their superiority will get their comeuppance. After all, in this imperfect world there is still some justice. The ridiculous, spoiled moron I work with has no real friends to speak of. I'm sure no one is patient enough to suffer all the abuse. Everyone has a limit.

It always pays to nice and to be of service to others. People don't look back fondly at memories of megalomaniacs who do nothing but assert their assumed prominence. They remember the ones who care, the ones who took time to smile kindly at them, the ones who help them in times of need.

Pompous fools are easily forgotten.

Songbird

I've been recently taken by the haunting song "Songbird" by Eva Cassidy. While browsing through the internet to know more songs sung by her I found out she already passed away last 1996 at the age of 33. 33! So young and yet so much to offer to this world.

Much as it is romantically tragic to die at an early age, I don't want to die yet. I want to live the rest of my life furthering the cause of animal welfare. I haven't even started. I want to help animals until my last breath.

Sort of at a Crossroads

I think I'm in a career rut. I'm not unhappy with my current job, it's familiar and comfortable - too comfortable though. I know I must make changes and improvements but I don't know where to start.



One one hand I'd like to pursue my life long dream of working for animal welfare. Like Tata, I want to be a hero for animals. To begin, I would have to start equipping myself for this because the only thing I have to show for it is my 3-year volunteer stint with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). If I want it to be my career, I have to start studying again - distance learning is an option.

For now though, the most practical thing is to continue the path to hotel administration. I have the commensurate experience, all I have to do is to start networking and start sniffing around for openings. Working for a hotel is good - but this is only second best.

I have to think about it and pray about it some more.

My Initiation into Indian Food

I never thought I'd say this but Indian food is good! Last night I had the chance to sample the offerings of Rasoi Indian Restaurant in our sister hotel, Coral Deira Dubai.

I've always had a narrow-minded notion that Indian food is nothing but spice and chilies and strong smells. After all, the only Indian food I'm exposed to is the funky, mysterious looking slop served in the cafeteria. In Rasoi, it was all pleasantly different.

I didn't bring my camera so I got these photos off the net.

First we were served baskets of poppadom to whet our appetite:

Munching on these were so addictive! I just couldn't stop - especially when you dip it in fragrant mint sauce. I also couldn't resist stuffing my face with baby pickled onions.

Then we proceeded to the starters. Since I am a vegetarian, I had to content myself with the cocktail vegetable samosas (below). The chicken and fish tikka looked really good that I had to consciously remind myself why I became a vegetarian in the first place.

By the time I finished my appetizers, my face and scalp felt hot and sweaty. It wasn't even that spicy. No worries - it was now time for a glass of lassi to cool our bodies down.

photo credit: www.myrecipe.com

Lassi is the Indian version of a sweet yogurt smoothie (although i was told that lassi can also be salty). It reminded me of thick Yakult. I love Yakult - ergo, I loved this lassi.

Ok! Now I was really full. But since fullness never stopped me from eating before, I looked forward to the main course: Biryani Rice, Dal Makhani and Palak Paneer with sides of Naan, Roti and Parata.

photo credit: www.angithi.com

I know the Palak Paneer looks like swamp sludge but it's actually a flavorful combination of spinach and cottage cheese. Best served with roti or parata.

Dal Makhani - I ate this with the biryani rice and I wiped the rest with warm roti.

photo credit: www.bombayclub.com

Indian breads:

photo credit: www.indovacations.com

The last touch in this fantastic meal is a serving of Ras Malai, an indian milk dumpling dessert with pistachios.

photo credit: www.indianfoodforever.com

Of course I had to have some green tea to settle my stomach. After all that, it was quite a chore to drag myself back home.

I look forward to my next Indian meal!