To being where I set myself out to be. It is 5 to 2 in the morning and as usual before I fly anywhere, I find it hard to sleep. Tomorrow evening after work I will embark on what will be my first business trip. Just typing in the words now it seems weird to be going on a business trip, what is even harder to believe is that this trip will be taking me to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.!! I know at long last I get to see the city where I am meant to live for the next couple of years. It's a bit scary yet very exciting, probably explaining the lack of sleep at the moment. I am going to Dubai for the annual golf tournament the Dubai Desert Classic. http://www.dubaidesertclassic.com/index.php This year marks the tournaments 20th anniversary and the 6th year CNN has been a sponsor so it will definitely be an experience to remember. At the tournament I will be meeting clients and of course watching all the pro golfers earn their way to the prize 2.5M (man I wish I was a pro golfer) After many thrilling events in Dubai (mainly for clients- but I'm sure I will squeeze my way into sand dune bashing and sand skiing) I am off to Abu Dhabi with my boss to see the city I have been making all this hype about.
I will be flying out tomorrow night from Heathrow at 8:30 pm flying out to Qatar landing in Doha at 6 in the morning and flying from there at 7 am to Dubai landing at 10 am. From there I will be picked up (hopefully) and taken to the hotel where we will be staying at. Le Royal Meridien which looks amazing! http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1897
In case anyone is interested in the images those links are all I know about where I will be heading this week.
I am excited to experience the trip but most of all to see the city I've heard so much about and to experience the side of Ad Sales I've been waiting to be a part of, the personal relationship part, meeting the faces that go along with the names ( even though I can't pronounce many of them). It will ultimately be a good experience that will allow me to glimpse a bit into what the future could hold. I will be given a tour of Abu Dhabi and experience the city which I will soon call home.
I know this all sounds way too glamorous and good to be true, and while I admit I am blessed I am also aware of the huge responsability that it is to go on these trips and represent CNN and myself in the best manner possible. So I look forward to reporting back and of course to posting the hundreds of pictures which I am sure I'll be taking. From the Emirates Golf Course to the Sand Dunes to the glittering skyscrapers which I'm sure will be more than I ever imagined.
But for now I must try to get some sleep and prepare for what I'm sure will be another hectic, busy day at work... just one day before I set foot on the future country I'll soon call home!
Monday, 26 January 2009
Sunday, 18 January 2009
One day at a time
For now Sundays have become my wind down days. You know those mornings that turn into afternoons of sitting in your Pj's sitting around listening to random music, letting thoughts run through your mind, questioning the next hour of a lovely evening... well I decided to post a couple of pictures and a video of something that has been increasingly taking up part of my life. Not only because I work on a team that has been affected by this issue, but because it is a crucial part of our lives.. the Gaza conflict. Without getting too political I wanted to take the opportunity to display the importance of such a conflict. It's incredible how many protests have bee going on around the world, or how many people this has affected. From the moment this spiral started to turn I knew it would be a present fact in 2009. With a mini protest that I witnessed on a Santa Barbara corner, this issue has transgressed to the corner of my house with a massive peaceful protest.. and I think people just have to slow down, the major political heads have to pay attention to this problem, address it and the world has to get involved if even to say as John Lennon once said, 'all we are saying is give peace a chance'.
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Pictures
A disaster happened the night before I left Cali- ok- maybe not a disaster in the scope of worldwide disasters, but a very unfortunate incident indeed. In an effort to erase the one too many pictures I had that my niece cinnamon had taken of hersle posing in front of the mirror leaving a bright flash of a picture, I accidentally erased all images. That's right, ALL images of my Christmas break, my New Years, and my last moments in London before heading home. Such as my brief encounter with Amy Winehouse-
Yup. I met her on the street in front of the Piaf theater, she was on her way to the gym. It all started as a 5 hour adventure to find a Burberry sample sale I had been invited to by a boss of mine. So in hour three after we took a lunch break, lorena mentioned that a particular skinny girl walking by with a bright colored scarf on her head looked like Amy Winehouse. We were both on the phone at the moment and I did a double take. She WAS Amy winehouse. A much cleaner looking, less paparazzi drug looking Amy. So we approached her and her friend and politely asked if we could take a picture with her. There was another couple right in front of us who had asked so we didn't feel so bad. Anyway the proof was taken and erased on my sister's couch the night before I left San Fran. But just as well.
Anyway I digress. I will now post the few pictures (most of my adorable nephew Koby) that I was able to take in the hours before leaving my family.
All the other beautiful images of a fun Christmas break are living in my memories. They are mostly images of laughter. Of relaxing and lounging around Santa Barbara. Of Shane holding up a shiny sequence thong I gave him as my secret santa gift. Of Koby's shirt given to him by his buddy or tia tamara with the caption "my first Christmas on it". Pictures of going out for drinks at James Joyce and other random places.. ultimately ending up back at James Joyce. Pictures of Mom and Dad in the sunset... the sunset pictures on the beaches of Santa Barbara were the ones I regret losing. Images of orange and yellow surrounding us. A Picture of my dad on his knees proposing to my mom once again with the oceanand the sun setting in the distance. A picture of dancing with Tamara and Danica, of Danica being twirled around to salsa at a spped much to fast for heels. Of Boima dancing Head shoulders knees and toes with a drunk who jsut got mugged. Of Tamara and Boima dancing in their own private world. Of me receiving a great big hug from Tamara a great picture if I do say so myself. Great memories that perhaps don't need pictures to be remembered. In the end the pictures we keep in our minds and the memories we remember don't need proof to have existed. They reappear in random moments of consequence and we remember yet again those people, those places, those experiences that live forever in our hearts.
Yup. I met her on the street in front of the Piaf theater, she was on her way to the gym. It all started as a 5 hour adventure to find a Burberry sample sale I had been invited to by a boss of mine. So in hour three after we took a lunch break, lorena mentioned that a particular skinny girl walking by with a bright colored scarf on her head looked like Amy Winehouse. We were both on the phone at the moment and I did a double take. She WAS Amy winehouse. A much cleaner looking, less paparazzi drug looking Amy. So we approached her and her friend and politely asked if we could take a picture with her. There was another couple right in front of us who had asked so we didn't feel so bad. Anyway the proof was taken and erased on my sister's couch the night before I left San Fran. But just as well.
Anyway I digress. I will now post the few pictures (most of my adorable nephew Koby) that I was able to take in the hours before leaving my family.
All the other beautiful images of a fun Christmas break are living in my memories. They are mostly images of laughter. Of relaxing and lounging around Santa Barbara. Of Shane holding up a shiny sequence thong I gave him as my secret santa gift. Of Koby's shirt given to him by his buddy or tia tamara with the caption "my first Christmas on it". Pictures of going out for drinks at James Joyce and other random places.. ultimately ending up back at James Joyce. Pictures of Mom and Dad in the sunset... the sunset pictures on the beaches of Santa Barbara were the ones I regret losing. Images of orange and yellow surrounding us. A Picture of my dad on his knees proposing to my mom once again with the oceanand the sun setting in the distance. A picture of dancing with Tamara and Danica, of Danica being twirled around to salsa at a spped much to fast for heels. Of Boima dancing Head shoulders knees and toes with a drunk who jsut got mugged. Of Tamara and Boima dancing in their own private world. Of me receiving a great big hug from Tamara a great picture if I do say so myself. Great memories that perhaps don't need pictures to be remembered. In the end the pictures we keep in our minds and the memories we remember don't need proof to have existed. They reappear in random moments of consequence and we remember yet again those people, those places, those experiences that live forever in our hearts.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Star light star bright...
I wish I may I wish I might keep most of my new years resolutions..you know, those promises we make ourselves once December becomes January. I decided to start the year with an excerpt from my journal which hold my deepest thoughts but mainly just stream of consciousness.
January 3, 2009
Another year has come and gone in the blink of an eye. I'm glad I was able to spend the New Year with family after a long ass 15 hour trip I am finally back "home" or wherever home may be. I am in London. After flying through Frankfurt and traveling from Santa Barbara to San Francisco I am back with a fresh look at life and my situation. I am looking towards the future and taking the decisions towards the path I'd like my life to go in. And I'm experiencing a journey unlike any I've experienced before. I anticipate 2009 to bring change- like the rest of the world. And I am ready to face the new adventures ahead. As is custom in all new years I've thought about resolutions and I know that I want to complete the below..
1. Travel- to: Sweden, Paris, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Scotland, US.. suggestions?
2. Get healthy-by: signing up for the gym (because knowing how much I'm paying I'll force myself to go) walking to or from work EVERYDAY. (weather permitting)
3. Write more
4. Pen Pal with friends/sisters/family- this is where you come in people-
5. Get clear or clearer career/life path
6. Save up!!
7. Pay off all credit card debt.
8..........
That's where my thoughts began to race past the pages of a journal and as I sit now back in the UK for three days and back at work for two I know that some resolutions will undoubtedly be harder to keep than others but I know that no matter what I will try and remind myself of where I want to be going.
Home was amazing. Home- home- meaning family. I am pretty sure I was with family every single second I was there.. except for the bathroom although sometimes not even that could separate us! hehe comes from having a big family or as Dado used to say being 'one toilet Irish'- you're bound to share the bathroom :)
As I sit trying to list all the memories that will guide me through the cold London nights I listen to one of the songs that has given me comfort when I got my own case of the mean reds.-
"Hang on, help is on the way, And stay strong...Hold your own, know your name, and go your own way...and everything, everything will be fine. Everything...everything will be fine everything... in no time at all.."
I know now that I was on a time line for myself a strict idea of where I was supposed to be at a certain time. London then Abu Dhabi, then LA or New York, etc. etc. however today as I left the office I was walked out by my boss who wanted to tell me that one of the Head Honcho's at CNN- said that the official launch of the office will be announced tomorrow and will be September 2009. My initial reaction was mute, blank, dissapointment. Not only does this go against my plans for London time but it leaves me uncertain about a couple of the numbers on the above list.. however as I walked home listening to music tring to figure out what to do. I remembered what a good friend told me just yesterday that every experience comes to us for a reason, wheather we plan for it or not, there are relationships, friends, eadventures that arise from every situation. I thought to myself what is the point of me being in London if not to get whiter by the second and realize that I need the sun more than anything. But then I turned back and looked up the moon was half lit shining right on top of me and beside it... I saw stars. I've always believed in the magic of astronomy, the stars, and the unparallel magnificence of everything bigger than us.. and the thing is that when I arrived in Santa Barbara- one of the first things I said before I even walked through the door was- Wow! I can see the stars. Santa Barbara's night was bright and crisp, the stars to me were a beautiful reminder that no matter how badly I felt before arriving, things were going to be just fine. My parents thought my comment was funny but after I explained that I hadn't seen the stars for three months while in London they understood my childlike amazement at seeing such beauty written in the sky.
Tonight I saw the stars while walking two steps behind my frozen breathe. I smiled as Frank Sinatra sang in my ear saying give me a chance. And I decided that perhaps I was being too quick to judge this city. It's hard to be without family, it's even harder to work somewhere you aren't sure you want to be, and with people who just don't compare to others you've worked with before. But no matter how hard I know that I am strong enough to find out what the next chapter will be... and God has a plan for all of us, tonight my plan was to follow the brightest star I saw all the way home. And I did.
January 3, 2009
Another year has come and gone in the blink of an eye. I'm glad I was able to spend the New Year with family after a long ass 15 hour trip I am finally back "home" or wherever home may be. I am in London. After flying through Frankfurt and traveling from Santa Barbara to San Francisco I am back with a fresh look at life and my situation. I am looking towards the future and taking the decisions towards the path I'd like my life to go in. And I'm experiencing a journey unlike any I've experienced before. I anticipate 2009 to bring change- like the rest of the world. And I am ready to face the new adventures ahead. As is custom in all new years I've thought about resolutions and I know that I want to complete the below..
1. Travel- to: Sweden, Paris, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Scotland, US.. suggestions?
2. Get healthy-by: signing up for the gym (because knowing how much I'm paying I'll force myself to go) walking to or from work EVERYDAY. (weather permitting)
3. Write more
4. Pen Pal with friends/sisters/family- this is where you come in people-
5. Get clear or clearer career/life path
6. Save up!!
7. Pay off all credit card debt.
8..........
That's where my thoughts began to race past the pages of a journal and as I sit now back in the UK for three days and back at work for two I know that some resolutions will undoubtedly be harder to keep than others but I know that no matter what I will try and remind myself of where I want to be going.
Home was amazing. Home- home- meaning family. I am pretty sure I was with family every single second I was there.. except for the bathroom although sometimes not even that could separate us! hehe comes from having a big family or as Dado used to say being 'one toilet Irish'- you're bound to share the bathroom :)
As I sit trying to list all the memories that will guide me through the cold London nights I listen to one of the songs that has given me comfort when I got my own case of the mean reds.-
"Hang on, help is on the way, And stay strong...Hold your own, know your name, and go your own way...and everything, everything will be fine. Everything...everything will be fine everything... in no time at all.."
I know now that I was on a time line for myself a strict idea of where I was supposed to be at a certain time. London then Abu Dhabi, then LA or New York, etc. etc. however today as I left the office I was walked out by my boss who wanted to tell me that one of the Head Honcho's at CNN- said that the official launch of the office will be announced tomorrow and will be September 2009. My initial reaction was mute, blank, dissapointment. Not only does this go against my plans for London time but it leaves me uncertain about a couple of the numbers on the above list.. however as I walked home listening to music tring to figure out what to do. I remembered what a good friend told me just yesterday that every experience comes to us for a reason, wheather we plan for it or not, there are relationships, friends, eadventures that arise from every situation. I thought to myself what is the point of me being in London if not to get whiter by the second and realize that I need the sun more than anything. But then I turned back and looked up the moon was half lit shining right on top of me and beside it... I saw stars. I've always believed in the magic of astronomy, the stars, and the unparallel magnificence of everything bigger than us.. and the thing is that when I arrived in Santa Barbara- one of the first things I said before I even walked through the door was- Wow! I can see the stars. Santa Barbara's night was bright and crisp, the stars to me were a beautiful reminder that no matter how badly I felt before arriving, things were going to be just fine. My parents thought my comment was funny but after I explained that I hadn't seen the stars for three months while in London they understood my childlike amazement at seeing such beauty written in the sky.
Tonight I saw the stars while walking two steps behind my frozen breathe. I smiled as Frank Sinatra sang in my ear saying give me a chance. And I decided that perhaps I was being too quick to judge this city. It's hard to be without family, it's even harder to work somewhere you aren't sure you want to be, and with people who just don't compare to others you've worked with before. But no matter how hard I know that I am strong enough to find out what the next chapter will be... and God has a plan for all of us, tonight my plan was to follow the brightest star I saw all the way home. And I did.
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