Guess we skipped April

It's getting hot friends. And as you know I have a lot of fur, yet, for some reason, I still enjoy cooking myself on the pavers 

so Dad tries to furminate me every so often, more often recently, and I'm not a fan.

Crafty

Mom bought stuff to make a wedding scrapbook back when they got married, and finally made it this past week+.

 

During the creating 

Cover of the book, she got it for her shower from her registry 

Here are some examples of the pages she made. Not the whole book but a good sampling.

Houdini

A week or so ago mom let me out to roam around like usual and then like 15 minutes later went to check on me and I was NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. She started screaming my name and then in the house again just in case then got my leash and started to walk down the sidewalk no knowing where to start, a minute or so later her phone rang and a guy with a British accent asked her "Are you looking for Rupert?" She said yes yes yes I just noticed he was gone so went out to look. Mom is not sure exactly what happened but somehow I got out and was down near a yard with dogs in it when this guy walked by with his two dogs who I decided looked fun so I started following them. He figured I seemed nice enough so looped me into one of his dog's leashes and checked my tags and first called Dad who was at work and left a message but then called the second number which was Mom. I was right down the road so Mom ran down to meet me. She thanked him profusely and he told her that above information. Mom and Dad were still trying to figure out how I got out because I have a wide chest. They decided to be safe and a few days later went to get some chicken wire, which they put up on the fence along the carport and the front gate. When Mom was out getting the wire ready and Dad was inside she looked over and saw me halfway out between two of the pieces of wrought iron and yelled my name then went out the gate to get me, I was apparently trying to get out to pee/mark in front of the house. Mom isn't sure but it might have to do with the cats that come in the yard or the people that come and stick menus in the gate. Once I had marked who knows maybe I'd have gone off exploring again. The wire is up now (you can't see it probably but it starts at those horizontal bars part way up the gate and goes to the bottom) and sometimes she catches me doing this. She thinks maybe since I can't mark right in front I need to be there to ensure there are no solicitors or cats.

Hiding

I have also started hanging out in a new place in the house...mainly when mom is in the shower.

Other Stuff

Mom and Dad also drove to Ras al-khaimah (a different emirate) on Dad's last weekend to go stock up on alcohol as it is 30% cheaper out there. Worth it if you're buying a lot. They saw a whole camel drive on the side of the road but Mom couldn't get a pic so she just enjoyed it. They also saw a handful of other ones along the road in other places. 

Dog Out,
Woof

Coffee, Ducks, Patio furniture, Lights, etc

Mom did something crazy. There is a Jumeirah Village Triangle community group on facebook and Mom decided to post on it and see if any other 'housewives' wanted to get coffee at a place that she can walk to in the community since she doesn't have a car when Dad is at work. She got a decent number of responses so she started her own group and set up a coffee meeting. 10 people came. She was nervous but it was successful. No other Americans and everyone was older than her but it was fun for her anyway.  Here is a picture of their first meeting.

  Coffee meeting at the local coffee and french pastry shop. 

 

She did it again last week and had a few new people and some from the first week could not come so she had 9. She felt pretty successful. One lady's husband works in aviation for aircraft airworthiness so she is going to invite them over sometime for wine. The 4 UK ladies are the ones Mom can tell like to have fun.

There was a car show last weekend that Mom and Dad went to. There were lots of cars, from Chevys and Fords to old Bentleys and MGs. Even a few Triumphs, which Dad has one of. It had to stay in the US though, it costs a lot to ship a car. Mom and Dad walked 4 miles that day because the cars were all along a road. By the end they were speed walking ready to go home. 

A few more things have been hung around the house. 

 Photo booth picture uncle David made for our wedding.

 

 Something Marcus's coworker got for him before he left from the Air Force One pilots.

The other day one of the cats that comes to the garden came back. This time Mom decided to let me out there. It is a housecat you can tell because it wears a GPS collar. I was walking all around and didn't see it, so Dad was trying to get me closer to it, apparently I got about 1.5 feet away and still did not see it. Dad told me I am not a good yard protector. Then I came back in and Mom picked me up and showed me the cat out the window, I started flailing and knocked over one of their airplanes and the stabilizer broke off, then I ran out and over to the cat, got pretty close before he took off. Now Mom and Dad have to figure out how to fix the airplane.  

We have had an infestation of some bugs, so we called the bug guys and they came Tuesday, but they said when they sprayed we'd have to leave for 5 hours, so we went and sat in the car and tried to figure out what we would do. We had ordered patio furniture the day before but it wasn't going to be delivered until Wednesday, plus it was still pretty hot. We waited for the bug guys to leave before we left, but as we were thinking about going to the park by the Burj a truck pulled up that seemed as though it could deliver things of the furniture kind...and it was. So, we got our patio furniture! We waited while the delivery guys assembled it and by then had killed one of the 5 hours. Then we decided to go to this place called the Irish Village because it would take 40 or so minutes to get there and we had read there was an outdoor area that dogs were welcome on, and it serves alcohol...so we went and hung out there. Stray cats hang around but I wasn't bothered by them, BUT BUT BUT, there were these other creatures that kids were chasing around and trying to pet, apparently called ducks. I WAS VERY INTRIGUED.

Me staring down the ducks.

 

There were a few times where they were coming pretty close to me and Mom and Dad had to break my concentration. I was a pretty good boy and only barked a few times, but not too loud or scary. Still, they wanted me to settle. One time 4 of them came out of the water and started walking directly toward me, Dad told Mom to get up and shoo them away, they didn't know what would happen if they got right up in my face. It was really good food, and drink and other than sporadic screaming kids chasing and trying to pet terrified ducks it was enjoyable.

So today Mom and Dad rearranged the furniture and took the plastic of the cushions late this afternoon. 

 
And then we went out there this evening so I could beg Mom and Dad for some wine and cheese from my perch on the stool.
 

It was a pretty pleasant temperature and they brought out the bluetooth speaker and turned on the light Dad finally hung out on the back porch.  

 

 The next purchase will be an umbrella! 

Dog Out,
Woof 

Catching up

Well it's been a while since I blogged. 

Mom finally got her Emirates ID on March 3. Getting that was easy, she just picked it up at the indicated post office. But then she went to get her driver's license...that was a doozy. She thought she had all the paperwork she needed, copy of her Emirates ID, copy of her US drivers license, copy of her passport and residence visa, and letter of no objection from Dad saying she could drive. Well she got her number and went up, the guy said she also needed copies of Dad's Emirates ID and Residence visa, so they went to a copy place (luckily in same building, and then came back, well then that still was not enough she also needed Dad's passport copy, so they got that, then she finally had all the papers and get her license, it took forever and she was annoyed. But now she has it all and is done-done.

Lots of birds come to our yard and eat stuff out of the grass, we don't know what thought. Some look really cool.

I get excited when I see all the birds so Mom let's me out to chase them (she says she knows I can't catch them). They also like to 'bathe' in the sand/dirt between the plants, it is weird. Mom filled up a bird bath to try to watch more birds but sometimes I try to drink from it while outside playing so she may have to empty it. 

Let's see, what else, what else. Dad bought this fleece blanket and mini pillow once on a Virgin Atlantic flight and Mom brought it downstairs recently, and I am pretty sure that the pillow was intended for me, Mom frequently tries to tell me that it is not for me, but I lay on it nonetheless. 

I also went to the vet last week because I was due for a shot, and now I am registered with the municipality, and I have Arabic on my tag! I am such an international dog!

Mom and Dad have decided to take up tennis. There are a number of basketball and tennis courts in the neighborhood, but to get to a gym you have to drive, so Mom works out in the house and asked Dad to but he wasn't too interested, so she said we could play tennis. He agreed, they both kind of played when younger so they went and bought some rackets and balls and are playing. Sounds like they are not keeping score for now, just kind of trying to volley. 

Dog out,
Woof

Cats and Mom's Birthday

Hi guys,

Well, there are a LOT of stray cats in this country, and I am just not sure what I think about that. On day, I saw one on the back porch, and I barked at it. Then one day mom let me out and there was another one IN MY YARD, so I chased it out of my kingdom. Mom was really happy that it was fast because she says a stray cat will know how to fight and she doesn't want me to get hurt. Sometimes one also hangs out in our garage and meows, and Dad has seen it under the car a few times. Not sure if I just want to chase and play or chase and try to eat. I have an uncle cat but he is just really boring and will never engage with me when I stay with Grandma and Grandpa Nealley.

Anyhow, Mom's birthday was the 23rd, and her and Dad went to this bar called At.mosphere [sic] in the Burj Khalifa, which if you did not know, is the tallest building in the world. It was actually Aunt Martha that told Mom there was a bar in it so she had looked it up when she got here and decided it'd be a good place for a celebration, so she told Dad she wanted to go there for her birthday. They had to have a reservation even though they were going to the lounge part. Mom thinks it is probably because of capacity limits, and also so people do not just come on in to take photos. You take an elevator to the 123rd floor, then you walk down a flight of stairs to the restaurant and lounge on the 122nd floor.

Paid extra for the window table

 First two drinks

View

That island thing in the middle is where we took a walk to and I saw other dogs and was a good ambassador from a previous blog post. 

 Sunset

 The lights starting to turn on

Got a pic of part of the fountain show

Sunset

 

City at night

Later when they came home, that is when Dad frosted the gluten free funfetti cake he baked earlier and then they had some and I was really jealous. 

Dog out,
Woof 

Hanging stuff and new furniture

The other day Mom and Dad said they were going to the beach. As members of the Aviation Professionals Club they get access to beach clubs among other things. They went to the Ritz-Carlton.

 

It was the last day before Dad started on the floor of the control room so they decided to go have a nice day together before he started shift-work again. 

I figured I should update you on the stuff Mom and Dad have bought for the new digs. They have also been hanging things. Mom took the pictures since I do not have opposable thumbs. It is not done yet, but she felt you may be interested in seeing.

 

Corner of the living room where Mom is setting up her trinkets on her purple bookcase that got shipped over in the big box. Note they bought the curtains off the owners, it's a lot of windows and would have been hard.

 

A panoramic shot of the living room that is distorted because Mom is not good with that function, she promises the back wall is flat and not concave. Some wedding photos and their airplane figurine collection are on the TV stand. My toys and bed are over near the window.

 

 View to the backyard, that's my bed again, and also my house that doubles as a side table. 

 

The living room opens into the dining room, David Burton artwork is on the wall. 

 The sidebar with some pictures and bowl and plate from Grandma. 

 Kitchen. Figured it was boring and you didn't need multiple photos. However, this is one of my favorite rooms as I can sometimes steal snacks that fall to the floor.

 

Mom wanted you to see their "Cleared for Takeoff"chalkboard picture and their flag from Grandma. That in there with all the boxes is the Maid's room, which Mom and Dad say will be storage room. She could have shut the door but forgot.

More Dave Burton art, and a locally-made thing Mom bought here on her last trip. It is hand painted tiles, there is a palm tree, Hamsa, a Camel, and an Arabic coffee urn. This is the half bath downstairs.

 Front door, Mom's bird clock, and a David Burton print.

 Our SR-71 print.

 View down from the stairs. DB paintbrush on the left, Roger that down in the living room, Picasso's smile print on the right.

 Dresser and mirror with more things Mom brought. She says that doll is from when she was born. 

My new bed they got me, they shouldn't have. Oh wait, Mom is saying they didn't...

Curtains, they are leaves and are pretty, with a blue sheer underneath. They got them made for a good price. I like to lay out on that balcony. I enjoy viewing my kingdom from above and also relaxing, in fact, here was me last week. My eyes are closed too...

Terrace out front on the second floor.

Here is the front of the house.

 (that is Mom's new car she got a few weeks ago, it's a red Audi S3)

 

And here is a partial view of the yard from that balcony I like so much.

Other things not pictures include a second bedroom with suitcases in it, both of those bathrooms, and the landing area/study upstairs that will probably be where a desk goes. 

In other news, Mom has her residence visa as of this morning. She now is waiting for her ID card, and then once she gets that she can go get her diver's license. Then all her paperwork will be done (Dad's already is).

Dog out.