Eid Mubarak kul 'am wantum bikhair (hope I got that right)

Had my first Manager shift yesterday.  It was an interesting experience.  It was day 1 training, so I did not really have to much in the way of responsibility aside from paying attention to the managers on duty as well as the flow of the restaurant.  We had plenty of hurtles to jump through, between our kitchen struggling to keep up, our dishwasher clogging up and our printers doing their wacky thing.

We did end up finishing with 121,000 AED or about 31,000 US (roughly) which was impressive for a weekday shift (It is a holiday week) but not the most the store has done on a shift, that will probably be later this week.

I think I may have a line on a studio apartment in Al Barsha.  I got their contact information and a reference so maybe these guys will actually respond to my phone calls (unlike the rest).  I want to find a reputable place without an agent so I can avoid paying fees I really can't afford at the moment.

Ah yes, the can't afford things thing.  I managed to stretch 300 US dollars for almost three weeks while still providing for all of my transportation and food.  I wish I would have known I would have to provide that for my first month before I got here, I would have pushed to sell my car for a bit more.  Here I am living in arguably one of the coolest cities in the entire world, and I am stuck in my apartment for most of the time (I know Mike, you said just give you a call, but I hate not being able to pay my own way).  Sean, Mike and Sarfaraz have helped out immensely this week, and as soon as I get paid I will be paying them back.

I may not be Xboxless for to much longer.  I found the part I need and it costs 199 AED, or about sixty bucks, so it looks like as soon as I get some money I will be getting Fable 3 and COD Black Ops.

I have been doing remarkably well as a hermit the last month.  I normally get really sullen, and while I have been sleeping alot it has been out of pure exhaustion (I don't normally work this many hours without caffeine) and not a general sense of wanting to avoid the world.  I think I may finally have this monkey on my back under control.  I have to give a shoutout to my friends, and my therapist Jake for seeing me through this.  It was money well spent.  I still miss Jess, and I feel I always will.  I consider it a curse and a blessing that when I do love someone, it becomes something eternal for me.  Every woman I have ever loved (all three) each have a part of my heart that no one will ever have.  I can only hope that there is a part of my heart I have not found yet, cause Jess honestly took everything I had up to that point in my life.

I am confidant though.  While romance is on the backburner in my life at the moment, I know that when the time comes to venture out in the debris filled world of courtly love I will be a better man than I ever was.

My son is going to be 9 years old.  My little big man, that sadly I never get to see (hopefully to change soon, now that I am making more) is the bravest and strongest man I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  He has hurtled practically every obstacle, literally looked death in the face and said "no, I am not done fighting".  And even though he still has his struggles today, he still goes on.  He has a wonderful mother and family, and I am very proud of him.

Well, it is time for me to get in the shower and dressed up in my suit for work (for the love of some guy named Pete I need better shoes).  Closing tonight, then a mid tomorrow.

See ya!