Dubai

D has been out of town on business travel since the day after our return from Munich. He has spent most of past two-and-a-half weeks in Dubai, where he's been very busy overseeing a large project which goes operational today. I've just returned from a 4-day trip to Dubai to spend some time with him. Because he's been so busy and because it is still very warm there (temps in the 90's, even at night) we largely spent the scarce free time he had relaxing at the hotel. The pool at our hotel was particularly inviting. One cool feature was the overhanging deep end -- made entirely from glass and open to the promenade below. It was surreal to swim there, as you could see people walking below you -- a little like being inside of an aquarium! On Friday night, D's colleague Mike, who lives in Dubai, invited us and two other co-workers to his house for dinner. It was a very "bachelor" evening -- steaks on the grill, lots of shop talk, and foosball! It was a fun way for everyone to blow off steam from the challenging weeks they've had. That's Mike in the red. His girlfriend is moving over from the US to join him in the Middle East at the end of this month -- and I can't help but wonder whether the foosball table will remain in it's position of prominence in the living room after she arrives...!