Merry Christmas

Christmas is my favourite time of year. In fact, my birthday is the 23rd of Christmas!! New Years is typically a letdown (unless you're VIP at a Shakira concert)... but it's still a great holiday! Everyone has a different Christmas tradition, and the fun begins when you try to mix them all together. Most families try to get together, or at least are thinking about eachother during the holidays. I've spent most of my *27 Christmas' with my family. But for a few of them, I had to make new traditions with others. In 1997, Jo-Ben and Josh took me with them to Peru. We celebrated by eating at Orlandos 15 times.

Then in 2003 I celebrated in the Caribbean onboard a cruise ship. I dressed up as an elf and enjoyed another sunny hot day! 2004 I was also back on a ship cruising the warm Caribbean waters!

Royal Caribbean International

Navigator of the Seas

Onboard Skating Rink

December 25, 2003

In 2005, I found myself in the South Pacific with Raquel. Somehow, next to our wine rack Christmas tree, a new tradition was born. Hanno and Rocko Christmas Cards. Some of you were lucky enough to receive one of our first cards, I think we made postcards actually and shipped them off (costing us the equivalent of a months Starbucks budget... good thing Gloria Jeans was doing a free latte special)

Christmas 2005

South Pacific

One year later, we were fleeing Korea. However, we managed to muster some artistic creativity and sent out a Christmas CD along with our "Asian Starbucks" photograph. Even gave Stupid Charlie a CD and Card (I want the CD back, along with the $4,000usd he owes me... I know, I know... let it go Hannah) We advertised our Christmas Cards and the list expanded.

Christmas 2006

South Korea

Last year we were STUCK. We thought about photoshopping us together, but Raquel was freezing in Winnipeg while I was freezing in the Middle East. Dilemma. Until Raquel decided to come visit the United Arab Emirates. Problem solved, so long as people didn't mind receiving a Camel Christmas Card in March... (ok, ok, so maybe it was April by the time they were mailed)

"Christmas" 2008

United Arab Emirates

I know that you are all eagerly anticipating the 2009 card... I'm about to start traveling for nearly 24 hours of airplane time, yet I still won't be braving the cold winters where Raquel lives... even though they do have Starbucks. So I'm not sure what's going to happen this year... just wait, I'm sure it'll be good.

*nearly 28

This is the weather where I live. Nice and hot, but BLOWING SAND? I know cloudy, rainy, sunny, etc... but BLOWING SAND? I'm going to go home early from work because of the dangerous driving conditions. Current Conditions Abu Dhabi, ER (Airport) Updated: 42 min 13 sec ago 28 °C Blowing Sand Humidity: 42% Dew Point: 14 °C Wind: 35 km/h / 9.8 m/s from theSSE Pressure: 1011 hPa (Steady) Heat Index: 28 °C Visibility: 1.2 kilometers Elevation: 27 m Rapid Fire Updates: Enable Disable » Weather History for This Location Satellite Webcam Click Image to Enlarge WunderMap new! Trip Planner Select a source for your current conditions: Al Ain (OMAL) Abu Dhabi (OMAA) Raw METAR Aviation Weather Radio Flight Rule: LIFR (OMAA) Wind Speed: 19.0 kts. Wind Dir: 160° (SSE) Ceiling: Unlimited Full Report — Pilot Maps

working.

i have a job. requirements. and i can get fired.

but i haven't ever been paid.

this is lame.

December 2nd, 2009

38th National Day

UAE

I'm so glad to live in Al Masoudi. For the past 5 nights, every hour at night I've heard fireworks in the distance... My neighborhood has been full of fun, the best one in Al Ain. Lana and I dominated the carnival rides and the fireworks and fire spinning shows / acrobats were phenomenal!! I'm proud to live in the UAE and appreciative of the national pride!