So, in the last two days I've gotten emails from some of the all stars of friendship: Amy, Deb, Margaret, and, after way too many years of us being out of touch, Divya. Thank God (and anyone else who'll listen) for these women. And for all female friends. Tell me, all you people out there, what would we do without those friendships we hold so dear? Deb, who inspires me with her compassion and passion; Amy, who dares to dive into the deep end of life's pool; Margaret who keeps me smiling by sending fun messages about math or international dancing men; and Divya-"amazing" doesn't even begin to cover it--who may just end up being a neighbor when I move home. Seriously, every time I've checked my email lately, the name of another amazing women has appeared. It's been truly awesome.

Something that hasn't been so awesome? My new, crappy cell phone. After an incident involving a friend and a glass of wine, my beautiful fuchsia phone is no longer working. Since I'm only going to be in Dubai another six weeks, there was no way I was spending any more money than was absolutely necessary, and so when I went into our Wal-Mart/Target equivalent, Geant, I was like, "I'd like the cheapest phone you've got." Seeing a Western woman (read: woman who could afford more than the cheapest phone), the sales guy was not impressed with my request or his potential commission. "Madam, I think maybe you prefer this one." It was 1200 AED ($325). "Or this one, on promotion for Dubai Summer Surprise. Has camera, has..." I interrupted him, "How 'bout this one," I pointed, "for 159 dirhams [$43]?" "This one, only 200 dirhams, much better quality." Still annoyed about my fuchsia phone, I just wanted to get this other phone and get out of there. "I want the one for 159." With a relenting head gesture to the side, "As you wish, madam."

I was pretty pleased--not going to lie--that I was able to snag a mobile phone for the equivalent of $43. So pleased was I with my bargain that as I passed a shoe store with Dubai Summer Surprise sales, I felt like I could drop a few dirhams on a new pair of shoes. My outfit was a little drab, and I hadn't bought a new pair of shoes in a while. (My husband, as he is reading this, is currently unimpressed with my economic logic.) With a new pair of shoes on my feet, and a new cell phone in my bag, it had been a good day and it was only 10:30 am.

Fast forward 24 hours.

Turns out this phone was 159 AED because it really wasn't worth much more than that. It's hard to hear when you're talking on it. I can't figure out how to text--the most reliable way to chat with Josh. And the more I look at it, the more ugly it is. It's so NOT fuchsia. Thinking back, would it have killed me to shell out another 41 dirhams ($11) for a phone that was sleek and silver, had a camera, and presumably didn't suck?

Instead, I have a crappy, un-cute phone.

But I do have a pair of kick ass shoes.

And doesn't that really make it all okay?