Saturday. Last night in Dubai before I continue onto my final destination: Hong Kong.

I will miss Dubai. This city has been good to me. I’ve met so many interesting people from all over the world. I’ve learned new things and questioned narratives I’ve been taught. I’ve had to examine myself and my own beliefs about people and the world. I feel completely different after two weeks in the sun, living my best beach club life. I could and would definitely live here. I will definitely be keeping UAE in mind for my next teaching job.

I’m having a lot of anxiety. Both about the war here and the impending war I left behind back home. I do not have a good feeling about today at all. It’s already starting and I’m just sitting here, helpless to stop any of it.

Trying to keep my mind off it. Alas, if only I was cool enough to party. I am definitely not, lol. I clearly need a chaperone to feed me tequila shots so I can enjoy it. Seems like a lot of work just to dance. Oh well. At least I got to have fun for one night…

One thing I like about Dubai? All the men are so good-looking. They’re all well-groomed, well-dressed, working good jobs, driving nice cars, wearing expensive cologne. It’s like a dream come true. It’s raining men! Hallelujah it’s raining men! I am so here for it, especially after living in South Dakota, home to some of the ugliest men on the planet. Not only do they look sloppy and smell gross, but they also dress badly AND have terrible personalities as well. You can’t win.

So many fish in the sea! Taste the rainbow, lol!

I’ve learned that my best self is definitely a Buffet-sampler kinda dater. I like to collect my Pokémon cards. I want something different every night. In hindsight, it seems crazy that I would even consider having Indian for dinner every night for the rest of my life. I can’t live like that. I need spice. I need variety. I need to have all the options layer put in front of me so I can choose exactly what I’m in the mood for. This is me.

This is something I wanted to do with my writing. Subvert the slave-dog-on-a-leash garbage with my rainbow of characters. Ugh, SD knocked me down hard. Wrong place to be writing that kind of thing. Luckily, it doesn’t matter anymore. I’m far away and free of it now. I also have a million rough drafts I can recycle into new and better shit. Someday I will make my dream come true.

Seriously stressing out about my home country right now. I already had a bad feeling about today, and now two Democratic lawmakers have already been shot in their homes. It’s only morning there. The day will be long. The night here will be even longer. I don’t want to be glued to the doom box all night.

Oh, I just want to go out and party right now. Where is the Jordanian when you need him? Answer: with his “ex-wife” and kid, lol. Aren’t they always?

Anyway, whatever. I wore a funeral dress out tonight. I look like I’m going to pray at the mosque. Someone needs to intervene before this goes too far. I need fun, now!!!!

Love the city, love the vibe. Just wish I could go out and enjoy it. Alas…