There is a Popeyes Chicken 15 minutes from where I will be living in Saudi Arabia. Even better, there is a Popeyes food truck inside the neighborhood that rotates to different locations. I bring up Popeyes because I have been asked to do a taste test to compare the biscuits in Saudi Arabia with the ones in the US. The US biscuits are made with lard. With pork products not available in Saudi Arabia, what will Popeyes biscuits taste like? Eating at Popeyes will be one of my first activities in the Kingdom.

There is no alcohol allowed in the country of Saudi Arabia. I have been working hard to finish off my whiskey and bourbon and pretty much all my alcohol before I leave. It didn’t help that Charlotte won a $700 collection of alcohol at a charity event in May.

Alcohol is banned, references to alcohol are banned, equipment to make alcohol is banned and directions on how to make alcohol are banned. Every loop hole is covered. I had to sign a paper stating I am aware of all the rules around alcohol.

Luckily Bahrain (45 minute drive away) and Dubai (1.5 hour flight away) allow alcohol. You can visit me on weekends at one of these two places.

One of my goals before leaving for Saudi Arabia is to visit as many new places as I can. My motivation to go out and see and do things is elevated and it feels great. The excuse of doing something later is out the door. I have walked and driven by this place many times, but have never entered. This is the oldest drug store in Texas – 1886. Old time counter lunch service with soda fountain. This building had over 6ft of water in it during Hurricane Ike in 2008. The tomato basil soup is killer.

Peloton is out of commission for 4 to 5 months. It is the stack of stuff being shipped by container to Saudi Arabia. As I write this, I’m hanging out in the garage because the house is empty. Waiting on some people to buy the furniture posted on the Nextdoor app.

House is cleanest it has ever been. Charlotte out of town all week. Guess this proves who the messy one is. House will be listed for sale this week. Been our home for 12 years. If you are looking for a townhouse close to downtown, I’ll make you a good deal.

Why I had some of this stuff, I dont know. Many of these things I had not seen or used in 10 years, but you never know when you want to dress as Ivan lendl and need a wooden tennis racket.

Quitting my job after 21 years on November 7th was the point of no return. The next month will be packing, planning and disposing of decades of accumulation. House, cars, furniture and most posessions are being parted with. I have already promissed myself to never buy this much stuff again.