I had a great weekend. Great friends, great times, great
experiences. The desert safari was a blast even though I had already been, I
was able to see it all again through new eyes. Especially the eyes of a special
4 year old who would now like a camel of her own. You can contact me for your
donation…I’m sure her mother would be appreciative!
I apologize for not posting my own pics yet, but I am sure
that Ryan’s surpasses them anyways. It was actually when I was downloading a
pic that he took to my phone so that I could post it as a profile pic on Facebook, did the whole story behind the desk begin. Still sleepy, I heard
buzzes from my charging phone. I crashed on a very comfortable couch in Al Ain
and I wasn’t about to move far. When I was posting the pic, one of the buzzes I
noticed was from a ‘swap and shop’ group that I belong to. I have purchased
most of my stuff new, but you never know when you can get a deal from someone
who is leaving town and has to sell their stuff. The item that caught my
attention was a desk for 400 dirhams. It was simple. It was white. It was going
to match my bed, I had to get it. I contacted the seller, told her I was in Al
Ain for the rest of the day and I would contact her when I got back to Abu
Dhabi. Not a problem. I was already starting to make my list of what to do when
I got back. Getting a tv was also one of those things as I have been paying for
the service, I might as well get a tv to enjoy it!
On the way back to Abu Dhabi, there is a long desert road.
There are little towns on either side, but the majority of the landscape is
sand dune after sand dune. It’s almost hypnotizing. It was a bright sunny day
out here (surprise surprise), and the radio was playing awesomeness such as
Shaggy’s “Shabba” and Snow’s “Informer”. Nothing like being a white girl
blasting those tracks and bee bopping away in her little roller skate of a car
doing about a buck thirty. About half way there, I notice a truck in the ‘slow
lane’. I was about to pass him, but then a shiny white Lexus SUV veered from behind
me to behind the truck. I was trying to slow down to let him in front of me,
but strangely, he wasn't’t moving. It was getting to the point where I would have
to pass both him and the truck. Fine. Motoring along I notice his window roll down
and horn starting to blaze. Going about 100 km/hr with your window down, there
is nothing you’re going to hear in a conversation. He tried to signal me to
move on and pull over to the side. Hmmm…I think I can assume by what he was
driving and what he was wearing, that he would definitely know the desert
better than I and wasn't in any dire need. I tried to ignore him. Passing the
truck, he tried again. I waved him on and tried to say I was sorry. After all, I
don’t think anyone would have been able to hear my screams in the barren
desert. He sped off and I was ok…a little weirded out but okay.
Getting into the city, I now made getting a tv a priority
before finally heading home. I found what I wanted and more at Marina Mall
along the Corniche. How independent I thought? White girl in the desert driving
from town to town, just bought a tv and was now going to install it all on her
own! It took a few trips up to the flat on floor #13, but eventually, all my
stuff was here. I tore open the box, excited with my new electronic, and begin
looking at assembly instructions and making sure it had all of the contents
that it said it was going to. Perfect. About a minute later I realized I was
stuck. Screw driver needed? This time a flat butter knife nor steak knife would
work. Luckily on my floor, I live next to a handy guy from the UK that came in
the group after me, surely he wouldn't mind? Of course not…the next thing I
realized I was making tea for him and I as he got down to business.
My phone went off. Oh yes…the desk that I noticed while I
was still in Al Ain. The seller let me know that she was on Reem Island as
well. Perfect. Wait…if she’s on Reem Island as well, it’s grand that it’s close…but
worth it to hire a moving company for a simple Ikea-ish desk? Nah. I asked my
handy friend. He suggested that he and Shakeel go and get it in the next day or
so. It really is only 2 buildings over…no sense in hiring anyone…right? I
messaged Shakeel later to let him know that his services had been volunteered.
The next day dragged on a bit, but no matter, I was coming
home to friends and a desk! Unfortunately, our handy friend could not make it
that day. So, it looked like Shakeel and I were upto our own devices to get the
desk. No matter, we’re strong enough for this, right? He brought his car around
(he lives with his family on the end of the island), and said that the desk
would probably fit in his newly rented Carolla. I looked doubtfully at the back…
We met the seller from the 12th floor in Beach
Towers. Simple enough. White, 2 shelves that can be taken out…easy peasy lemon squeezy. The
two of us carried that without a problem. I was convinced that we were going to
have to walk the desk back to Gate. Shakeel on the other hand, was still
convinced that this desk was going to fit in the back of the car as long as the
seats were down. Sedans are great with a lot of room…it’s the size of the doors
that presented the problem. We tried, 1, 2, 3, 4…maybe a 5th time
before Shakeel finally gave up. He parked his car again…and we were off lugging
this thing a few blocks. It was about 530 at this point. The sun was just about
to set, and the streets were full of construction and migrant workers.
“There, you see him? Why don’t you hire him?”
“Shut up, Shakeel.”
“There’s one with a truck, he can help you out. The back of
his truck actually says ‘for hire’!.”
“Shut up, Shakeel.”
Shakeel’s Melody: “White girl carrying a desk with a
Pakistani guy, from Beach to Gate, what were they thinking?”
When you’re carrying anything of weight, it just gets
heavier with laughter. Those of you in Gate, Beach, or Amaya towers and
happened to pass us on the way home, I’m sure it was clear what we were doing,
but I didn't wave as I was focusing on where we were going and not smacking
him.
So, I now have a desk. I have a working tv that sits
properly on a stand. And I stop my car for nothing in the desert outside of an
injured animal. Not sure if I’m down a friend or not, LOL. Nah, as I said, I
owe him one…he and his family still have furniture to get too…oh boy…I smell
another blog and it hasn't even happened yet!
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