Big Drama in UAE, I think I have survived...

        Yes, two posts within a week - the world is changing. First, let me start with the feel good for me part of this, as promised a picture from my office in Dubai taken this past Tuesday, for those who have known me less than 36 years (even Fred doesn't know this John)...

July 2016

        I have to admit, it feels funny to not be embarrassingly huge. Now to get in cardio shape. Fingers crossed....
         Work has been an extreme challenge. I don't think I have ever felt more stress in my work life. I have 170 employees that wake up and come to work each day, and the decisions I make determines their future in so many ways. God has blessed me with this responsibility - and I pray that the decisions I make secure the future of my company and the employees that I am blessed to work with. Things happen everyday, from an employee losing control of his car in the parking lot and hitting 6 other cars, to a driver missing his brake and hitting another truck before crashing into our property wall, to a driver rolling his truck into the medium of a round about, every week has its challenges.
           I heard this week from my good friend Officer Danny Messimer. He shared that retirement is probably waiting for next spring - so I was early....just be safe Danny. Ok, you got your short bonus blog with promised picture....see you back here very soon....

90 Percent humidity brings a heat index of 160 degrees to the UAE, is hell hotter?

       Some people think Thomas Edison or Leonardo Davinci are the greatest inventors in history. I think not, I now firmly believe that Willis Carrier, who on July 17, 1902 invented air conditioning is my hero. So on Sunday, I celebrated the 114th anniversary by attempting to stay cool in sweltering Dubai. The heat index actual reached 160 degrees this past weekend. It is scary walking just a few feet in the blistering sunshine. We have turned off the water heaters in our apartment, with the water heated in the dessert pipes being so warm that it will steam up the bathroom. I will be able to share heat stories as long as I live.
       Speaking of living, there is good news on the medical front. Most of you that have seen me in the last couple of years know that I have grown quite the belly. Last October, I weighed 231 lbs (107 kgs) and was generally in poor health. I changed my diet, got serious (and married) about dropping some weight. By the time I returned to the States in March of this spring, I was down to 205 lbs, yet the belly was still stubbornly present. Finally, the belly is gone...this morning I weighed 176 lbs (80 kgs). I now weigh less than I have since my sophomore year of high school. I remember seeing obesity charts saying at my height that I should be under 190, thinking I never would be able to get under 200 lbs again. Let's hope that I can keep it off and enjoy an old age in somewhat better health. My leg surgery to repair damaged blood vessels is scheduled for this Sunday...fingers crossed. I will try and find something that fits and post a picture next week....I hope I am not forever a "skinny" fat guy (someone that lost weight but you can only remember him as a fat guy...lol (like Al Roker or Al Sharpton).
           Watching all these police shootings, hardly a day goes by that I don't think of my good buddy Danny Messimer. He has served as a Marietta, GA police officer for over 30 years and is nearing retirement (I believe in August). How people can justify killing police officers to redress some wrong they feel, is sickening., Thank you Danny for your service and please stay safe. I am also blessed to call General Rodney Fogg a friend. He has served our country for over 30 years also. Men (and women) that devote their careers to keep us safe are special people. God Bless you both...
         God willing, I will see you here again shortly...Stay cool as only Willis Carrier would have you do....

Six years ago...

        As I enjoyed the 4th of July holiday (yes, just another day at work) I was reminded that 6 years ago, on the night of July 3rd, Bob Green and I boarded a plane in Atlanta, GA to begin our journey in the Middle East. We took off from Hartsfield Airport and could see the fireworks shows below as we headed to London to catch our connecting flight to Dubai. So many things have changed in the last 6 years - that very first fall in Dubai I met my future wife as she waited on me at a restaurant in Dubai Mall. Marriage can be tougher than a job, I am sure that my married friends understand, not sure that I do.
        The UAE is still a stable Kingdom with a very safe environment. The police (both secret and uniformed) are numerous, and keep the peace. The rest of the Middle East has disintegrated into instability and chaos. The United States has its fingerprints all over it. We encouraged the Arab Spring, first undermining our close alley Mubarak in Egypt supporting the Muslim Brotherhood's rise to power. After the people turned on the brotherhood as they enforced Sharia Law and burned Christian churches, the Egyptian Military stepped in to retake control and protect the people. Our US Government called it a coup and demanded the Egyptian Military turn back control to the Muslim Brotherhood - thankfully the military ignored our demands.
        Next we helped overthrow the Khadafy government in Libya (we know how well that's gone) - Then we encouraged Syrians to overturn their government. We abandoned Iraq, pulling everyone of our military personnel
out creating the vacuum that ISIS filled. We appeased Iran as they march towards becoming a nuclear state, bent on destroying Israel. The Middle East is a mess, and our governments fingerprints are all over it.
         The irony of the above rant, is this morning I have been watching the Dallas Police shootings and realize as I hear the divisive comments from our President in Poland, that as big a mess as I have here our government appears to be failing its leadership role not only around the World, but in our homeland. I think I am safer here right now.
          Quick medical update, going back to hospital tomorrow for one last procedure on my leg, surgery is tentavely scheduled for July 19. In the meantime, the busted blood clot behind my right eye is slowly dissipating, hopefully will be able to have that final eye "lazoring" later this month.
           We are in the beginnings of  the long hot summer, everyday it reaches between 115 and 125 degrees. The only thing hotter has been Rodz's perfume sells. honestly, she has been selling 20 plus almost every night, even reaching 44 one night. Quite the little selling machine.
            Thank you for taking the time to read my rant, back to lol's next time. God bless you and God Bless America!