Brandt's Hedgehog

Who knew I had family in the Middle East?

Brandt's Hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas) is a species of desert hedgehog native to the Middle East and Middle Asia. Brandt's Hedgehog is approximately the size of the West European Hedgehog, but has distinctively large ears similar to the Long-eared Hedgehog and is a much faster runner due to lighter needle protection. It is a fast runner, but, unlike the Long-eared Hedgehog, predominantely nocturnal and uses cuddling tactic more often, although still employing "jumping" attack.

Brandt's Hedgehog prefers arid desert areas and mountains. It uses natural shelter a lot, although it is still capable of digging dens when absolutely needed. It hibernates during colder weather.

It is named after (and by) Johann Friedrich von Brandt, a director of the Zoological Department at the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

Cuddling tactic, what??? We are related.

Also, baby hogs are called hoglets.

The end of an era...

So, imagine my surprise today when I signed into facebook, looked over the 'groups' page and saw that 99X had been taken off the air. Immediately, I was brought back to high school, to the countless hours 99X had been the go to radio station in my car, how I woke up to it every morning, how it introduced me to bands I probably never would've listened to, Morning X with Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy, Live X, Organic X, the Pleasure Dome... Every visit home from the left coast, I would be happy to turn the dial to the familiar 99.7 and finally listen to some real music. KROQ in LA could never match the playlists and originality of my favorite home station.

When Eric and I left Atlanta in 2002, we departed very early in the morning, and tried our best to call the station - the Morning X - to try and get a song played. We were unsuccessful, but it was more that it seemed the appropriate thing to do. Like it was a way to say symbolically, "Hey, Atlanta, we're going to miss you." Arriving back in Atlanta with all our worldly possessions close to 5 years later, we called again, no luck, but it just seemed like the right thing to do, to announce to the city that we had returned.

Even here in Dubai, I would sometimes go to the home page and listen to the live broadcast - just for a slice of home.

Now, while the radio channel exists in cyberspace, it's not the same. What will the generation growing up in Atlanta listen to now?

In memoriam, 99X.

Things I love...

So, I'm in the mall today and like usual, the music is cranked in every store. Even better? No store makes any effort to put on tracks that are 'family friendly' or radio edited. My old friends S--- and F--- get used all the time...no matter what the store. Eric and I were in a home goods store and a song came on and casually dropped F bombs like it was going out of style. It's funny, there's conservative behavior everywhere else, but g*dammint, they are going to have their rap music.

Hershkins - be jealous!

So, this weekend, Eric and I drove the the highest point in the UAE - a place called Jebel Hafeet. It was a bit hazy, but we still had a nice time. It was made better by a few episodes of This American Life and no traffic.

Apocolypse...?

So, quite honestly one of the weirdest things I ever experienced in my life. The city of Dubai is completely shut down. The reason? President Bush. Eric and I woke up this morning to find the roads completely deserted (imagine if the 101, the 405, and I-85, 78, and all the Peachtrees in Atlanta were shut down. Add to that the constantly circling helicopters and you'll get a sense of where we are.

Dubai is such a vibrant busy city, that it's weird to witness this particular occasion. I'll try and add some picture that Eric took on his phone of us walking down the middle of a usually packed road. We walked down to the mall, only to find it totally empty. the public and provate sectors were all officially shut down today. Eric says it feels like Savannah after a hurricane.

I'm glad for the day off, but ready for it to be tomorrow.

A Pakistani Joy Ride

Umm...there is too much technology! Between facebook, blogger, and my digital picture frame, I have spent the better part of 4 hours updating everything. Oh well, I hope it's worth it.

So, when you live in a desert region, one of the things you have to do is go on an "Arabian Safari." Eric and I had held off on doing this activity, because, of course, it's way more fun to go with others. That's how me, B, Eric, Becky, Patty, and Paul ended up in a Land Cruiser with a Pakistani driver named Ali and on an adventure through the dunes on Christmas Eve.

We left Dubai at 2:45 in the afternoon, heading for the desert. Once there, we were definitely not disappointed. As we wound our way through the sand, taking pictures, posing for silly photographs, we finally found ourselves watching the sun dip below the horizon into the desert.

After dark, we went camel riding and then into a "village" for a delicious dinner, belly dancing, henna painting, shisha smoking, and star gazing. We were the last to leave, therefore allowing Ali to take the crazy route home. Driving faster and faster over dune after dune through the moonlight, my face actually hurt from laughing and smiling. After we filled our tires up with air, Ali cranked his own personal mix tape (Pakstani rap and R&B), and hit the roads of Dubai like we were still driving through the desert.

Somehow, we safely arrived home, and piling out of the car we ran into who else? Santa! Er, a weird version of Santa complete with blonde curls, but there he was in the parking lot. Not wanting to stop our party, Bridget, Eric and I went to the nearby "American Bar," the Boston Bar. Finding it loud and the drinks not as strong as we hoped, we left – but not without a parting souvenir.

That’s right, isn’t Christmas Eve all about stealing things? We had noticed party poppers on our way in, and determined to have our own, lifted two on the way out the door. Paper crowns in place and plastic whistles ready, we made our way to the Emirates Towers to a karaoke bar I had passed at least once a day, Harry Ghatto’s. There wasn’t much of a crowd, so we were able to (mostly) get down to the business of singing.

The night would’ve ended on a very high note here (pun intended) had it not been for Song Stealer. Basically, this guy refused to give up the mic to Bridget whose turn it actually was to sing. Now, December 24th might be about a little bit of thievery, but it is definitely NOT about hogging the mic and stealing someone else’s much anticipated song. Fortunately, one of Bridget’s super powers is a lethal stare. When the Song Stealer was done, he made the mistake of standing in B’s eye line. Shortly after, Bridget’s intense gaze proved to be too much and he busted out of the bar.

Ending around 2AM, altogether, it was one of the best Christmas Eve nights I’ve ever had.

Congratulations!

With both sneaking in before the end of the new year, I'd like to say a congratulations and welcome to baby girls Dodge and Chambers! I wish you and your parents all the best.