Red Sheets at night, sleeping delight, Pink socks in morning....come on Rodz...

     Spring is right around the corner here in the UAE, which has to mean pitchers and catchers report any day now...I love baseball, will miss it so much again this year, although my Cincinnati Reds are rebuilding and should finish at the bottom, my fantasy baseball team is built to win this year, a tall challenge when playing half way round the world. Speaking of Reds, my lovely wife picked out bright red sheets to adorn our bed. Once again, she didn't understand my warnings about separating colors from whites, and the cooler water settings for bright colors - especially the first time you wash that colorful item. So now, I have nice pick t-shirts, and all my tan socks, are now bright pink,,,,sigh. I know, my little buddy washes and folds my clothes, so no complaining. Thankfully she finds my blog boring, so no fear of repercussions, lol.
         Work is a tremendous challenge. I love the opportunity to help steer a company the right way and to grow sales and profits, with the same opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives. On the other hand, I am feeling a great deal of stress with the responsibility for almost 150 employees livelihoods. Just this week, I worked until 10:30 one night and 9:30 another. By the end of this week, I was literally exhausted. We launched a retail sliced lunch meat line of products this week, and we are excited about the big growth opportunity. We are also having sales training every Saturday morning, and hope to make progress with the current team and the couple of guys I have added to the team. The first new salesman I hired was surprisingly enough Lebanese. He is the companies only Arabic speaking employee, and Yamen will certainly bring diversity and hopefully help us sell an entire segment of restaurants that our company traditionally ignored. I will keep my nose to the proverbial grindstone, and hopefully you will keep me in your thoughts and prayers...
           I am enjoying the politics back home, watch Fox news about half the time the tv is on. I will say that the populace here view the Trump run for President as a novelty. I understand it as more than that, but not my candidate of choice. We are watching American Idol, Rodz gets into it. I watched religiously last time I was here, and now am enjoying the farewell season, I will give you a favorite soon.

Texas Roadhouse Dubai Mall Feb. 2016
 

        Rodz's mom is visiting from Paris. We treated Rodz's sister in law and her mom to lunch at Texas Roadhouse today. It was 2 pm, and there was a half an hour wait for a table. Still hard to believe the tremendous success they have enjoyed in the Middle East and I am confident they have even exceeded their own expectations. Well aged, (70 day average)  mid-west grain fed Angus beef, is as big a hit here as in the states. They even import real American Idaho potato's, I never grow tired of a weekly treat.
         I sat down to this quick blog to help my long time college friend Danny Messimer pass the hours to retirement...lol, I get a regular email request for an update, I appreciate you Danny, and love that you look forward to reading my drivel. It is now time for momma Linda, Rodz and I to enjoy American Idol (remember I am a day behind you on episodes, so please no spoilers...) - Won't stay up to watch the Super Bowl this weekend, but I hope Peyton retires a winner.
          Take care, I will see you soon...