Oil country

Here is a picture we took along the corniche in Al Khobar. The structures like this one are always so dramatic out here in such a flat desert country.

Life has fired up again on our compound as Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr are ended. Today, Saturday, is the first day of a normal work schedule in a month. No more fasting and restaurants are now open for breakfast lunch and dinner, closing only for the prayer times. Still have to be pretty sharp and alert to know when to plan any eating out so we aren't met with locked doors.
Everyone on our compound who went out of country for the month is now back and cars are once again moving around the compound and I even waved to a friend who was walking on the sidewalk today as we drove to the clinic. I really realized what a ghost town our compound has been for a very long time.

Now that we are back on track with our normal schedule of work and running errands, I have a great feeling of moving forward instead of just being stuck.

It has been almost two years since we had a dermatologist on staff up at the clinic, and today we went to see the new Doc. Had a couple of skin problems taken care of. Next on the list is to set up getting our teeth cleaned. We will do this at the fancy modern Saad Hospital's Dental Clinic. We have been going there for years and we get a good discount. Our own compound dental clinic is ok for any emergencies, but Saad has all the state-of-the-art cleaning equipment and the same Filipino has been cleaning our teeth for many years. There has been a pretty steady flow of dentist through the Saad, but we have always felt in good hands under all the different ones that took care of us.

No doubt about it, there are going to be certain things I will really miss when we leave here. Like last night when I had to call maintenance and leave an automated phone request as the knob on our oven broke. Bita-bita-bing! A new knob was delivered and put on my stove first thing this morning. Ah, what luxury. Of course, the reason the knob fell apart is that my stove is ancient, but, it works GREAT!

It is still very hot outside here and not suitable for me, anyway, to go for any walks outside. So, I have been on the treadmill here in our home.

Oh dear, my driver is on his way home from his office to take me to the store for milk, veggies and fruit. Have to hurry, as sunset is not too far away and things will shut down for prayer time number four.
So goes my life.