Insert Good Title

I can always think of brilliant titles when I don't have to actually write them! That goes for posts too! I need a voice recorder, like Parker Lewis!

Anyway, I watched Euro 2008 Final last night at a place called NRG (yes, Energy). I was pretty fun, Spaniards were drunk and loud, as were the Germans! Football (soccer) is so much more fun to watch in countries that appreciate it. Plus, you'll never see people signing at an American Football game. Viva Espana!

I got the call from VW Dubai the other day! The R arrives in two weeks and I can pick it on the 20th!!! Hell yeah! Stoked! My next item on the list to be checked off!

Training...what is that again? So, Scott yelled at me the other to get off the couch, but "I just got it delivered!" It's nice and soft, sure beats tile! Yeah, yesterday was the last vacation day, but now today is... I promise to go to the Officers Club and sign up tomorrow - swim and lift. I plan to run in the morning, it's still 91 and super humid. Much nicer in the mornings. There is "Summer Sizzler" put on my the Dubai Tri Club. It's swim/run. I plan to head up on Saturday for that and meet some people. Friday will be a long ride, if i can get up on time. This week and next will be "easy" get into the swing of things for training again.

I've tentatively scheduled two IM and a Half next season. IM China (April 09) and IM Germany (July). The half is here in Abu Dhabi in January. There is also a 200km bike race November 14th across the peninsula from Dubai to Fujariah. AED 10,000 ($2700) to the winner! Who's coming over...long Thanksgiving? There's several more Summer Sizzlers, some 10ks, half marathon and marathon that I could very well do, we'll see.

I tried to order an Apple TV, but they denied me! Understandably so, but still, I'm using my iTunes US account, to a US address. My IP address is UAE and they obviously know the address in NYC is just forwarding address for people overseas. Smart bastards! Jen will buy one and ship it to me. They are over $100 more expensive, plus the store doesn't have the 160G version. H2Oaudio isn't as smart...I ordered the Natalie Coughlin iPod shuffle waterproof headphone set from them. Should be here soon. I figure the long sets in a 50m pool will be nice to have some tunes this time of my season, as I build again.

Everything at the Malls here is on sale. I bought a couple suits yesterday, 60% off, got a great deal. Went bowling the other day too! My knuckle and arm are still sore two days later. I bowled well though, even sober, a first for me! Another first, eating at a Fudruckers, never have until I came here!

Well, that's about it for now. I'll have more soon! I have the Internet again, and things are going well. 30 days til Jen arrives!

Car + Internet + Furniture = Happy Garren

I wrote this the other day, but today, I have a borrowed Land Rover Disco, all my furniture (assembled) and the Internet!!! I am so happy and so much more relaxed and settled in, it's great.

Prior to my bed arriving…I received a package from Jen the other day. One of the best things that I have ever received. There was a CD she burned for me. Lots of good beats, good lyrics, good feelings. iTunes just picked one of the songs randomly, I know every song, forever ingrained in my psyche. There have been a lot of moments like that over the last 30+ days. The moments in time that you will undoubtedly remember forever. Equal parts memory that I will most likely forget. Like this past weekend where I was basically immobilized from frustration. Patience, again, is not one of my virtues, whereas I have turned those moments into laughter, albeit quiet frustrated laughter, but laughter nonetheless.

Moments, like when I called my father on Fathers Day, it made his and my family’s day. I tear up as I even write that. My family has/is very important to me, granted it may not seem that way, but they have been a huge comfort over the years. Knowing they are always there and will always help, even when I don’t ask – that’s family. I really look forward to seeing them in December and when they come to visit. I’ve also thought a lot about my Grandpa Parker (rest in peace). It’s funny how the memories, the thoughts of the past creep in as you search for familiarity in a foreign place. He was the best, as I know my father will be to my kids and so on down the line.

I was, rather still am despite the tears, in a great mood as my bed and TV bench arrived from IKEA today. I also got the Land Rover Disco from a colleague to borrow until my R32 arrives. The Indians that assembled my bed and TV bench were good people, got in and out real fast, some good work. I’m so stoked to have a bed and not a blow up mattress…

I started writing this during halftime of the Spain v. Italy quarterfinal game of Euro 2008 and have continued on since the second half started. I watched Turkey and Croatia the other night til sometime after 2am… Lots of OJ and Absolute Mandarin later, the game was still on…went to penalty kicks for those not following. The Croatians choked, missing the goal twice and getting saved once to lose…

I also learned today that when you go faster than 120kph, a beeper goes off in your car as you have reached the speed limit on most highways, but in a VW…it never goes off…that’s not going to work for me driving to Dubai on a regular basis. I need to be going 140-160kph or else the drive becomes crazy boring. VAG-COM software should be able to cure it, just need to find someone who has one. I found a local VW group, I’ll post the question and get it resolved.

I should start the next paragraph with and I… my English teacher in high school would be proud!!! I, there I go again, have to say that when the low is 30 (80ish) degrees, its not really low. Jen has tracked the lows here and the highs in PDX and they finally meet the other day. How fucking crazy is that?

Apple TV, anyone have one? I’m thinking I will order one so I can get HDish resolution for my high zoot 1080p TV I bought. Stupid, prolly, but whatever. It’s the Abu Dhabi way to do it in excess. There are HD satellite stations, but I don’t think I have a dish that will get those. I just want English really. I saw The Hulk the other day, it was good, but even better was the fact that I heard English for two hours straight. Undeniably, the best thing about the movie. Only appreciated in a foreign country. It’s not that Arabic and Indian and Pakistani is annoying, its just not my native tongue or in my language packet (Spanish and English). Shit, I would like to get a Spanish channel even! Again, I am stretching for anything remotely familiar.

At any rate, my flat is becoming familiar, and my borrow Rover will do wonders for my freedom. I plan to get a membership at the Officers Club and start swimming. Maybe even start running again and some biking.

Man, the Spaniards are a bunch of mariposas…diving all over the place in the game. Especially David Sevilla, skirt boy. Fabregas has not been a factor either.

I’ve been without internet for over a week now, not liking the discounted feeling. It’s be one thing if work allowed more access to gmail, etc, but it doesn’t, it crashes a lot and I don’t get a whole lot done before it does.

180 Degrees

Hey everyone! Im sitting here watching the second Euro 2008 game between Greece and Russia, loser is officially out of the tournment. Spain beat Sweden in the previous game tonight.


I am in a much better mood and state of mind today. I went to my flat and got my internet hooked up as well as discussed the cable option. I guess I can get over 2000 channels with a satellite reciever...only have to pay a one time fee of AED 900 (~$250). Doesn't sound like a bad deal, but it's seems pretty dodgey though. Oh well, I will buy a TV tomorrow and the guy will come and hook it up, if it sucks, I go with the standard cable, if not, I'm stoked! Should be lots of good shit on there!


I swam today at the Armed Forces Officers Club. Very nice 50m pool and very clean facilities. I'm pretty sure I will get a membership there, about 10k away from my flat. It's not cheap but not much more than I was paying at the RAC in PDX. And WAY nicer facilities. The treadmills have TV screens and the give you headphones, like the airlines. There is also cheap haircuts and dry cleaning available, not to mention the shooting range! You can even rent quads.


Roger Tallibert, French architect, designed the building...looks like a spaceship...supposed to resemble a falcon, the national bird.

Jen and I had a really good conversation this evening as well. It's alwasy good to talk to her on a regular basis. She has sent me a package, but I haven't recieved it yet. I finally picked up the package I sent myself before I left. They "say" they have been trying to get ahold of Jennifer, but they haven't... it is what it is.

I'm closer to deciding on an IM for next season. I think Lanzarote is the front runner, with Western Australia running a close second, but WA mostly likely a tune up for a later IM... Lanzarote is on my birthday, I like birthday races... Come to think of it, my last two birthdays have been spent in foriegn countries (Brazil and UAE). Who's in for what race?

The Weekend

It's the weekend finally. I had big plans to ride this morning at 3:30am, and even went to bed early. 2:30 came, didn't feel like going, 4:30 came, didn't feel like going to the 5:30 ride either. I've been in a bit of a funk the last couple of days. Things are in a bit of a holding pattern. I made big strides last week, yet this week was lifeless, so to speak. I have lots to look forward to, but at least I got out of bed and went to Starbucks. Nothing like $5 coffee to cheer you up!

Edit: I also got a massage today, it was decent. I also chatted with Jen, as I always do over Skype in the morning and afternoons, which has also helped me get in a better mood. Like I said, there is a lot to look forward to...internet at my flat tomorrow, furniture on the 22nd and 24th, car delivery mid-July and Jen arriving July 31st!!! These are the things that get me out of bed every morning.

In addition, I haven't spoke much of work, why? Well, it's been pretty slow, but I am very excited about the re-brand we are going through and what that means for the bank and for me. There will be lots of research to be completed once the re-brand is launched and I get trained on the BI software. As in any company, roll out dates are just a figment of imagination, so maybe by July I will see training. I've been going to the office in a suit everyday since I arrived in May. I need to go buy some more suits, need more in the rotation...

Sunday after work I should have a car (late 90's Land Rover Discovery) from a collegue at work to borrow until my VW get here. For those who don't know what my R32 is...here's a photo. It will look exactly like the photo. I just need to figure out how to get Thule or Yakima racks for it over here. Nobody deals them here and the VW dealership will charge at least double to get them from Germany VW. I plan to email Rack Attack and see if they can offer to ship the Thule cross bars and two bike mounts. They are lighter than the Yakima bars/mounts. Shipping will then be cheaper, they are just an odd shape, so we'll see.

The car won't have navigation, but I plan on getting one, the RNS 510, VW version because it does a shit load of other things, bluetooth, hard drive, dvd player... I can get a euro edition online, but i may also be able to order one from the dealership in Dubai. Other that some tint, that's all I want to do to it for now.

I have been able to watch a lot of the Euro 2008 soccer on TV as well. That's been good, Croatia and Holland look good, i vote for the Dutch to take it.

I miss Sunday dinner at my parents with my brother, sister and Jen. You never realize how nice it is to see your parents and family on a regualr basis until you don't. Jen parents live in Ohio, she hasn't lived there for years. Must have been hard at first. Guess that is what I am going through now. Don't like it. It's not the same as when I went to college, I was only 90mins away and the same area code and time zone... try a half a world away and 11 time zones away... sucks sometimes.

I also miss riding my bike in Portland, with all my friends... the weather makes it hard, the lack of riding makes it difficult, but lack of training friends is the worst. That's a lot of you guys and gals reading this. I was never the most social of the group (would have never guessed that, would you?) but I was always glad you were there. The commeraderie is invaluable. My spell checking isn't working... At any rate, I wanted everyone to know I miss them.
Who's coming to dinner and training? Bueller...Bueller...Bueller...
Photo of Mt Hood from Clear Lake Fire Lookout on New Years 2007/8

My Flat Still Isn't Clean!

I went to my place again today to drop off bedding and a fridge and the place still isn't clean. I kinda laid into the watchmen to get his boss to get the place cleaned up. The granite guys made a huge mess on top of the dust everywhere and painting mess. We'll see what happens...the watchmen will prolly charge me double to have my car washed once a week...oh well...


Gas is somewhere around $1.50/gallon...it's gone up a bit recently.


Here's photo of some money and my license.
I forgot to mention my ride last Friday morning! Ya'll know it's hot as shit here, right, well in order to beat the heat we ride at 3:30am... That's right, 3:30am, meaning I got up at 2:45, rolled out the hotel lobby @ 3am to ride down the Corniche to meet the people by 3:30. He said it was a 150km, 32kph ride... not exactly on all accounts. It ended up being 170km (105miles) and 35kph (20mph) ride. It was 87 degrees at 3am...it was nearly 100 by 9:30 when I got back. That was too hot, plus a solid 40-50% humidity makes it that much more fun. That was too long and hot of a ride for my first long ride here. The roads were empty except in the beginning when there were several Mercedes and BMWs flying down the highway we were on towards the airport. It was a good ride though. Pretty sure I will ride this Friday am as well.

It's pretty "dusty" here today...blowing sand really. Which is good since the heat and humidity is lower, but it's like being in LA on a really smoggy day.

Apparently you guys can see my last post about shawarmas, but I can't any idea why?!?

Ok, 4 Shawarma Is Too Many...

So, to the left is the giant chunk of chicken that I got my shawarma from tonight. 5 dirham...~$1.40 each. They are relly good! They put mayo, pickle and a few french fries in them. I remembered to ask them to hold the mayo and pickle. There are three chunks of meat, not sure what the other one in the picture is, maybe lamb, but the one on the other side is beef.

I finally got my license and have been driving all weekend. Drove to Dubai twice already. The 200 dirham bill is a cool orange. So, about Dubai, holy shit there are a lot of building half built. I saw the tallest building, still being built. You can barely see it in the next photo. The second day you could see the Burj Al Arab (sail-looking hotel) from the highway. The Ski Dubai is right off the freeway as well, what an eye sore.

The first trip to Dubai was to the airport to drop off my director. She's headed to Istanbul for a few days. Really nice hotel on the water I guess.

The second trip was to good one...put a deposit on a car...R32 baby!!! So, yeah, the dealer in Abu Dhabi has two of them coming but dark colors and leather...not in the this climate. Dubai has a 2009 Reflex Silver, 4dr one coming in 30-45 days. No sunroof, leather or navigation, but everything else is golden - bi-Xenon lights, two zone climatronic, cooler glove box and killer Recaro seats. I was also looking at the GTI and Tiguan, but they are all gone for at least 3 months, can't wait that long, so I settled for an R32...oh well.

I've ordered a bunch of furniture from IKEA and Home Centre. The kicker is that it will all be delivered on the 22nd and 23rd... My flat remains empty still. I have no idea what I am going to do about a bed. It's part of the order, along with a couch, desk, TV stand, mattress, end table and dining room set (cool tall table with stools). I've been looking around at TVs...buying a TV sucks. I've settled on something around 40" LCD 1080p...just need to fgure how important the refresh rate and if the Samsung 6Hz is enough of only 10 will do for sports. I plan on getting every sports channel the cable company offers...Im getting my football (soccer) fill if it kills me! Haven't ordered cable yet, need to decide between two providers. The new kid in town, Du, is rumored to begin HD programmes soon. I might go with them for that, otherwise my 1080p TV is not worth it. I suppose if I get a PS3 it would be...

Here's a few photos of my flat...the living room/kitchen and the bedroom. If you look on google maps, my flat doesn't exist...so I guess it is new-ish. The roof is open to us as well, I need to get a BBQ and a foosball table!

Yes, my kitchen is pink as is the outside of my villa. The walls of my flat are yellow. Below is the street just before you turn onto mine. The sign is for the Kazakhstan Embassy! And since I don't have a photo of my car, not til 30-45 days, here's one of a Gallardo Spyder. And if you look at the background there's this giant tube directly over the car...that's Ski Dubai, a part of the Mall of the Emirates.

Getting Better Everyday

While there is a lot to tell about my first 13 days here in the capital city of Abu Dhabi, the most important thing is that I’m doing much better since my last entry. I’ve worked out a few times, accomplished a few critical tasks and I am slowly settling in. I still do not have my residency visa which is holding me up getting a car (insurance and license), postpaid mobile, liquor license, cable and internet. I seemed have worked around the visa part for getting my housing. I’m sure it’s because I paid so much for it. Apparently I broke the record for securing housing in 8 days of getting to the country. Occupancy rate is north of 98%.

Abu Dhabi police car...VW GTI, awesome! And no, no rides in the police car for me.

I’ve hooked up with another Ironman triathlete here and have swam and rode with him so far. We went for a ride last night at Jebel Hafeet, it’s a 7 mile climb up 4000’. Reminds me of Gibralter in Santa Barbara. Although much hotter even though we started our ride in the dark. All the roads here a lighted and after dark 80mins from Abu Dhabi in Al Ain, there are no cars, well very few. They all honked at us, but it was in support, not disgust. Go here to see Faris riding up the same road during a race earlier this year. They have duathlon that starts from the bottom and goes to the hotel, then runs the rest of the way to the top and back. I ran the same run course from the top to the hotel and back up last night after the ride. It was a good ride, 52mins and the record is less than 35 I think. My HR was over 170 the whole time and watts were less than 300…not in shape and the heat shoots the HR up. Rumors have it there a proper Ironman race is in the works for Dubai…see you all soon!

My first swim was at Al Jezira Club, local professional soccer club campus, public pool. It’s 50m and warm. There is a nicer pool at the Officers Club closer to my new flat that I will have to check out. It’s more expensive, like twice as, but we’ll see. The UAE Olympic team trains at Al Jeezira and some are barely faster than I Kevin said. They got a wild card entry to China.

My first two runs, since I am talking about my first workouts, were on a treadmill at the hotel. 30 mins of nothing. My run last night and ride were the first workouts outside since getting here. Wasn’t terrible, but definitely warm.

For the next three months ending in August, the weather gets progressively wamer and more humid. I need to get a digital gauge so I can report the craziness that goes on for you all. You cannot trust the papers or online since they under report it. When the temperature gets over 50 Celsius, they have to cancel all outdoor jobs. Workers die all summer in lessor weather, but since they do not want to slow progress, they report “cooler” temperatures.
I received a very good piece of advice last night from Kevin as well. He said, in similar words, don’t plan on accomplishing more than one task each day – like paying phone bill, getting license or whatever. If you do, you will drive yourself crazy – between the long lines, unhelpful staff, traffic, parking and random forms to fill out. Brilliant advice.

It was also interesting to hear an insiders take on the Tri Dubai team and the pros that come to train here. Faris is here often and they ride with him as well. Macca was here earlier this year as well. The winter could be very cool if those guys show up again. There is loads of other shit to tell, but I can’t remember everything. I’m going to swim again today, maybe actually do a workout. I need to get my laundry as well since yesterday they were closed when I stopped by even though it was after 4pm. Businesses close from 1-4.

The sunset photo driving home from Bab Al Shams the other weekend...