Rick Beeman

Those are awfully strong words I know. Emerging from the pits of despair and rebounding so poetically made the emotional elation all the more sweeter. Its kind of like when you go on a fast and the first meal you have is so delectable. I have said this a few times before but it bears repeating. It was July 09 and I was visiting my boys in Texas. It was a bittersweet visit. When I visit my boys it fills me with so much joy but also reminds me of the family that I lost. So I was somewhat melancholy when I was praying when I heard the Lord’s voice tell me very clearly that I’d be married within a year. I have heard this voice before so I could recognize it. I didn’t really believe it though. But just to make sure I told my good friend Darren in Bahrain, David my roommate in Texas and Isa in Bahrain. They all said…to who? I said, I don’t know. I wasn’t dating anyone so it was a complete mystery to me. Then last year right about this time I got matched on eharmon...

Its Christmas day and I just can’t help from admitting that it doesn’t feel like Christmas. Last night I was walking on the JBR promenade and I saw a stand for Santa that was going to be up from Dec. 23-Jan. 1. I thought, don’t they realize that Santa pictures are supposed to start in November? And what is the point of Santa after Dec. 25? It shouldn’t be a big surprise that they have Santa or that they celebrate Christmas. I heard the song “Away in a Manger” being blasted through the loudspeakers. That is a very Christian song. I have said this before but it bears repeating. Muslims believe in Christ, they think he was a great prophet. Only they don’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God. But strangely enough they do believe that Jesus is coming back someday for the rapture. Really the place it only feels a little like Christmas here is the malls. But when I think of Christmas in the US, I think of red and green everywhere. Here there are just not the promin...

We wrapped production today and Im exhausted but satisfied. We have been shooting all over Abu Dhabi the past week. Its about an hour drive between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Sheik Zayed highway however is quite an adventure. They have traffic cams about every 10 miles and if you are going over a certain pre-determined limit you see a flash and get a sick feeling. I’ve already had one ticket. Im told that anything over 90 mph (150 kph) gets you the flash. So I try to keep it around 85. But for most arabs the speed limit is only a suggestion and the traffic cams a nuisance. Traffic in the passing lane usually moves faster than 90 mph. Arabs like to drive fast. This is especially true in Saudi Arabia. One muslim once told me there is a certain type of invincibility with Muslims (Warning stereotype approaching). They explained some Muslims feel if you get in an accident it is Allah’s will…if you don’t get in an accident its Allah’s will. For me that’s a dangero...

I just love watching the Amazing Race. Its so much more edifying than trashy favorite show #2 Mad Men. I can download the entire season on Itunes for about $20.00. As soon as it airs I can download it. I like The Amazing Race so much because I can relate to it. In many ways it mirrors my life. Take today for instance. I had to travel downtown to a place called Deira. I had only been there once before. I was meeting my DOP (Director of Photography) and we were going to meet a production company to see their computer animation. We might keep all the production and post with this company. So Saji, the DOP, tells me its near the Sheraton Deira Creek. I think I know where that is. So I head out a little bit early as I had to make another stop. I looked for the Sheraton Deira Creek map on its webpage and tried to memorize it (My printer was out of ink—Road Block). Now Im looking at my gas gauge and its on E. I was a little worried. Surprisingly enough ther...

What a great day it was…in so many aspects. I mentioned yesterday that it is National Day today. I just didn’t realize how many Emiratis were out celebrating it. Nearly all of them!!! I don’t think that is much of an exaggeration. We got to the Marina area in Abu Dhabi early around 2:00 PM. Already there were families setting out chairs on the side of the road and setting up picnic barbecue areas. There was a sense of anticipation in the air. What they do for revelry here is to decorate their cars. So many Mercedes, BMW’s, and Corvettes among many others were covered with Emirati flags along with pictures of the leaders. The late Sheikh Zayed, the father of the country, is usually pictured with his two sons on each side. They still hold Sheikh Zayed in such high regard. His portrait is everywhere. I guess it’s a little like how the US treats George Washington. The atmosphere here is so incredibly festive. Its like the entire country goes to just cruise the...

Tomorrow in National (Dec. 2) in the UAE. It is their fourth of July or Cinco De Mayo. As a country the UAE doesn’t have a long history. They will be celebrating their 39 th year of Unity. Before they were governed by the British (who wasn’t?) But in 1971, Sheikh Zayed, a forward thinker united the Sheikhdoms (or states). The UAE consists of seven states, termed emirates , (because they are ruled by Emirs) which are Abu Dhabi , Dubai , Sharjah , Ajman , Umm al-Quwain , Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah . Dubai is the largest city and the most well known globally. The capital and second largest city of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi . It is also the country's center of political , industrial , and cultural activities. Abu Dhabi, according to CNN is also the richest city in the world. When Dubai was in trouble from the financial crisis, it was Abu Dhabi that bailed them out. Interestingly (at least to me and my father anyway) the UAE first invited Bahrain (a short 45 min. flight ...

Please keep in mind I’ve only gone through the first three seasons of Mad Med. I just recently downloaded season 4. So don’t be a spoiler. One of the things about living overseas is I don’t see broadcast television. I don’t miss it at all. Except maybe the sporting events, even then I subscribe to NFL.com, and MLB.com so I don’t miss much. When there is a particular tv series, I will go to the video store and rent the DVD. I watched LOST, most of 24, Heroes, Prison Break and a few others. I can usually go through an entire season in a week or two. I do stay abreast of the entertainment culture quite closely through the likes of Yahoo, and IMDB. So I heard about the buzz of Mad Men and have been waiting to catch up on it. I should confess enjoying Mad Men is a bit of a guilty pleasure as I will explain shortly. Those of you international readers that don’t know, Mad Men is an extremely popular TV show in the US that takes place in the early 1960’s out of an ad...

I think it happened on the way home from the metro. I was walking over the bridge over the marina on my way home. I had just seen a movie and celebrated thanksgiving by sneaking in a Turkey and Cranberry sandwich into “The Next Three Days” which prompted me to immediately text Jennifer to let her know if she’s every falsely imprisoned for murder I’d help her break out too. I had called my children to leave a message telling each one that I loved them and what I was thankful for about them. Then I even said I was thankful to their mom and stepfather that I was even thankful for them because I knew they loved them and were trying to raise the kids the best way they knew how. But what really got me…was that I absolutely meant it. I know in this blog I’ve complained about their actions and choices before, but Im trying to look past that. The message was given in all sincerity without the trace bit of sarcasm. As I walked over the bridge, a sense of overwhelming peace and...

What a great day it was. I had like four blog worthy items happen today. I knew that this was going to be a very busy week. But everything thus far has fallen together perfectly. I remember before the craziness started on Sunday (the first day of the work week) that I was so busy that it was essential that I had my time with God. So Ive been following my devotionally routine religiously (is that a pun?). So far everything has fallen together very nice. Last night was a late night at the edit facility. We had to finish and get a video approved. So the PR guy and I went over the project to what we thought was acceptable then sent it via youtube and waited. Keep in mind this was the end of the day, 6:00PM and we were both exhausted. Finally the word came back to make two changes. In video, when you make two changes essentially you have to do the project over again, remix the music, export files, compress, reauthor the DVD, reburn the dvd, etc. We finally got i...

It has been a very trying day. Actually it has been a really tough week. Im just filled with a deep deep sorrow today. I really miss my kids. Its tough because other than email I have no way of contacting them. I try to call, but my calls are not returned. I know they will see the truth of my heart someday, Im just not looking forward to the wait. What I can’t understand is that its been over four years since my divorce…why do they still harbor and teach so much animosity toward me over there? I have so much I can offer my children but Im just frustrated that I’ve been ostracized. I really miss being a dad. Alienation sucks. This is going to be a big week or month for us production wise. I was able to purchase a lot of broadcast production equipment from the US when I was visiting Jennifer. I can get most electronics about 40% cheaper in the US than here. So I came back with about $7000 worth of lights, mics, and edit systems. The light kit I purcha...

I have mentioned this previously but I believe it bears repeating. I believe that God uses this blog to bless and minister to other people. I believe that God speaks through me when I write this blog as well. That said, I am pretty candid about my pain and my ex wife of course objects to how she is represented. I only speak of my feeling and her actions/choices. I have never spoke of her character in this forum. But she does read this blog every day with her husband sometimes multiple times a day. When I write something disparaging about her actions she will have the kids read it and attempt to further alienate them. Its really quite tragic. I have become numb to the rejection over the years. It breaks my heart but I can't control it. That said, Jennifer has started a private blog. Where we can share heartfelt pain and struggles with our friends and family. The kids will tell you that I have never spoken bad about their mother. Yes I do talk about her choices and acti...

I tried to post this video about Eid earlier, but I couldn't do it. Here's the link on Youtube if you want to see it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRw3Pllg9vc

It is officially Eid now. The proper greeting is Eid Mubarak, which is similar to Merry Christmas. There are two Eids, Eid Al Fitr a three day holiday which commemorates the end of Ramadan and Eid Al-Adha which commemorates Abraham’s sacrifice of Ishmael on the altar. Its interesting to note that Jews, Christians and the Bible believe that Abraham attempted to sacrifice Isaac (son from Sarah) while Muslims and the Koran believe that Abraham attempted to sacrifice Ishmael. This is a festive three day holiday. While Dubai is only comprised of 12% Emiratis I think they are all out tonight. Looking out my window, I see a long trail of cars waiting to go onto the Jumeirah Beach Strip. I am going to walk down in a bit with my new roommate Harj as we’ll enjoy the spectacle of hundreds if not thousands of people all walking along the beach front. I posted the video since a picture is worth a thousand words I’ll keep this blog a little shorter tonight. The weather here right...

OK, I’ve been going on and on about God’s faithfulness and Im a living testimony. But now Im going to complain. Is it a sin to complain? Im not sure. Jesus got angry and there is something about righteous anger. I’ve held my tongue for the most part for the last year or so, but something happened that just got me mad. Whether or not I write about my ex-wife, the relationship with the kids just gets worse. No matter what I do, good or bad, the relationship just gets worse. Ive held out numerous olive branches only for them to come back disdainfully in my face. I have lost any and all types of relationship with my children. Im not sure if they hate me, but they intensely dislike me, well two of the three do anyway. Do I blame them? No. They are teenagers and teenagers are naturally angry to begin with. I still dearly love them. But the hostility and lack of respect they are showing not only me, but my family is inexcusable. A parent should train and model behavior for thei...

My flight landed about 4:00 on Thursday in Raleigh. It was an eight hour flight from London. I had the middle row to myself as the plane was about half full. I slept for 30 minutes at a time a few times on the leg. I was anxious to see Jennifer but I knew she wouldn’t be home from work til around 7 so there was no need to rush through customs. I got through immigration and gave myself a commuter shower which basically meant I washed my arm pits at the sink and put on a fresh shirt and deodorant. I rented a car and then I got worried. I had done such a diligent job of covering my tracks but then there was an unavoidable mistake. I had to rent a car. I couldn’t tell Jennifer to pick me up from the airport. So there was a slight chance she could look at the credit card and see Enterprise Rent a Car, Cary, NC. So that was a chance I was forced to take. Jennifer is really sneaky like that. Sometimes its too much for her own good. But she can find out anything a...