Made Maid in the USA

Just when I thought my leisurely life of man maids was exclusive to Doha, a new one enters my Texas life. Move over, Pabell, Sakeel, and Babu, you have some serious competition.

Now that's some sucking up.

I bet he doesn't come cheap!

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So, There's These Three Dudes...

Upon moving to Qatar, I couldn't believe all the quirkiness and what was often referred to as "Only in Doha" moments. A corner wasn't turned without visions of blog snippets dancing in my head. Five years later and back in Texas, I realized that Doha had opened my eyes. Texas can be purty darn quirky, itself! And that ain't no bull, hmm, or maybe it is as I previously reported.

Case in point...

DUDE, where's my car...WINE?

No, this is not photo shopped. Cancel that trip to the Napa Valley and head on over to San Marcos, Texas to tickle your palate. Not sure where the dog comes into play, but hey, does it really matter? I mean Three Dudes was enough to catch my eye.

Cheers!

I'll have to leave the wine tasting to you. Confession: I don't like wine. I've had the honor of picking grapes on a vineyard in Tuscany, but still have never been able to develop a taste for it. However, a margarita every blue moon...hmm, hey dudes?!

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Howdy...

From TEXAS, Home Sweet Home...

And you thought I could only come

 up with "Only in Qatar" moments.

This "Only in Texas" moment is brought to you from my dear old mom's neighbor in Groves, Texas.  Thanks, Buddy.

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Over and Out

It's been a helluva ride, Qatar.

Dukhan Beach

And I wouldn't have missed it for the world...

 

 

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Villagio Fire

Devastation hits popular Villagio Mall leaving 19 dead...

 Read the Tribune's report here.

Sending out my heartfelt condolences to all that have been affected by this tragedy and utmost respect for those that courageously responded.

Will the REAL Qatari Women...

please stand up!

A write up on the Sydney Morning Herald Website caused quite a stir a few days ago amongst locals and expats alike. After reading the article, the takeaway would be that Qatari women are sequestered in a faraway cave with no technology or Louis Vuitton at their disposal. No shopping, no phones?  Really now.  Totally laughable to ANYONE living in or visiting Qatar. If anyone is missing out on the SHOPPING Qatari women or the  BLACKBERRY devices growing out of their ears, a trip to the ophthalmologist is most assuredly in order. Newsflash, even though shopping and mobiles seem to take up quite a bit of their time, their engineering degrees take up more.  Get real, people.

The writer at the SMH has his vision of Qatari women, but I have another.  The realistic one...

Please feel free to go to the comment section at the Sydney Morning Herald to put in your 2QR.

Read responses from Miran Hosny's in Global Voices and Shabina Khatri in Doha News with added twitter reactions from locals and expats.

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La Dolce Vita ~ The Sweet Life

I've been mentally checked out of Doha a few months now. Pretty sure it was an auto defense mechanism that kicked in to make the transition from the sweet life I've had these past five years easier. No mental investment, no loss. It's how I operate. It's not intentional, it just is. One caveat, though, awesome friends that are dragging me out and throwing me right back into the middle of things, experiencing a little of Doha that I hadn't already

...which brings me to a mini review of La Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant at Souq Waqif.

I didn't go prepared to review the place, I was too busy guffawing it up with one of our Italiano dinner mates. Yes, Angelo, learned to eat from his Sicilian grandmother who didn't let him off easy. The barely adult man, I swear, ate one of everything while kissing his closed tipped fingers with "magnifico" being spewed after every other bite. Ok, that may be a slight exaggeration, but it's the testament of how authentic the "Italian-ness" of this eatery was. It all began with the perfect Italian hostess/waitress/manager, Juliana and Angelo exchanging pleasantries, we think, in their native language. Oh, to be an Italian fly on the wall.  Thinking back, they were no doubt excoriating me for my heavy handed pepper grinding over my pumpkin ravioli, which apparently no respected Italian would do.  Another strike against the loud American.  Anyway, just suffice to say if you want a night out and feel like you've escaped the sand pit and landed in the middle of Tuscany, La Dolce Vita is the place to head. Word: make sure you like your pasta "al dente", which was a great concern to Juliana, as she repeated it to each guest individually. I'll take authentic pasta any way I can get it. Bring it on. Buon appetito!

I realize that I have failed you with no pics of the restaurant or food. Instead, you get some authentic Doha Souq Waqif. What can I say?

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Drum Roll....Jeep For Sale :(

It's a sad day at the Knox Villa.

  The Jeep has got to go ~ Can't take it with me  

2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA 4 X 4

Engine/Transmission:  3.8L V6 ~ Automatic

Mileage:  33,000 km

Full Option w/o Navigation System: A/C (duh), CD player with Aux (iPod) jack, 18" alloy wheels, fog lamps

Aftermarket Additions:

~KC lights: 2x6" long range, 2.8" driving, windshield/bumper bar mounts

~Stone guards for head/tail lamps, mesh radiator guard

~Quick disconnects for doors, hardtop

~Premium titanium window tint

~All weather floor mats

EXPAT OWNED ~ (another duh)

All this for...

Price:  70,000QR

But wait, there's more!  Sorry, got carried away.  Billy Mays (RIP) was running through my head.

Email:  sknox40@aol.com

Phone: 6689 6613

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Carved in Stone ~ Finally

Since we spoke last, David and I spent a week in Paris, and have even added yet one more exciting itinerary to the books. This particular trek is one we've made several times in the last five years, but this time (I suspect) will be filled with more emotion than usual. TEXAS bound ~ for good. Our five year reign of camel sightings, Bennigan's runs, construction zones, ghutra flipping, tweet ups, insane driving, man maids, amazing expats and locals, saloons, bendy straws, space invaders, call to prayer, Land Cruisers, "P" buildings, villa cats, sandstorms, queue jumpers, and all of the rest of the same same but different stuff is coming to a screeching halt on the first of June. I cannot tell a lie. There are so many things that I will be happy to leave in the dust, but so much of Doha will remain in my heart. It was bound to happen. I honestly thought I would be so sad for this day to arrive, but I am giddy with excitement about going home to FAMILY, Mexican food, AMERICAN food, civilized driving, American TV shown in real time, rain, bacon, flying old glory, Walmart, real radio stations, Cracker Barrel, Shea, Dustin, Kayla, and Kristi. It was fun while it lasted and wouldn't trade my Qatari Adventure for anything, but I'm going...

home.

I'm Going Home ~ Chris Daughtry


Home ~ Michael Bublé

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AWOL in Italy

AWOL ~ Yes, I have been and I apologize for that faux pas. Since we've last spoken, I met the not Kristi daughter, aka Kayla, in Italy for a covert Doha escape while David slaves away in Saudi. We met in Milan and made a mad dash to Verona, Venice, and Bellagio for a six day whirl wind tour. The weather and sites were spectacular withholding the rain in Bellagio on our last day that still couldn't dampen our fun.

The Duomo in Milan

Verona ~ Juliette's Wall and Balcony

Beautiful Venice and Kayla

Bellagio and Lake Como

That's a smattering of the hundreds of pics I got on our Tour di' Italy. I put a few together in a photo book for Kayla which you can see here if your heart so desires.

So what's up now? David and I are off to Paris tonight for one last hoorah. It's countdown for me in Doha and he in Saudi. It looks like our get out of Dodge ticket is tentatively set for June 1, give or take what the stars have in mind for us. It's back to the land of cowboys and pickup trucks. Can I get a big YEEHAW?!

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YO, OSHA!

If Qatar ever consulted OSHA, suffice it to say, havoc would be wreaked all over these fair lands. Scenes such as these are not rare in the least, but this one just consistently grabs my attention. I pass this rigged battery contraption scenario nearly everyday going towards D-Ring on Khafja Street. Yesterday, I was lucky enough for the traffic to be backed up (imagine that) and there it was striking a pose, daring me to take its picture. What the heck? As Ricky used to say (or not as I just found out!), "Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do".

Hmmm...

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Oh, Wheelie?

No need for Qatar's Lusail International Circuit, we have Khafji street right here in Duhail to accommodate those with a need for speed and showmanship suicidal tendencies.








This was not a one time event as we've seen these same three guys on this same street performing these same stunts on every straightaway between the roundabouts, while the traffic builds behind them. One of them has a really sweet hot pink bike...he can run, but he can't disguise that ride. You will find these guys and others at any given moment at Landmark outside of TGI Friday's where all the "cool" bikes congregate.

Tom & Jerry recently spotted at Landmark

Pikachu spotted in the past

Update: "BATMAN" (sent in by @Vallath)
Thanks!

Update: Another friend sent me his blog post with Spiderman and Fendi bikes. Yes, the brand, FENDI. People around here go to all lengths to strut their stuff. On a side note, if I ever see one in Burberry, I will throw up. Check out @Kapilkb's blog at Earsplease.

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