We're Stumped

Ok, so it may not be an apple tree and I don't particularly want to sit under it, but for Pete's sake did the villa people have to butcher it? You know, it is a bit hot in this country and it is a rare source of shade for the house and the small patch of grass we have beneath it. Look closely. the flowers above the tree do not belong to it. Can you believe this is the same tree that Sykes used to climb up and hide from us? And then we'd have to get the ladder out to get him down. I think our yard people got their training from "Supercuts", the home of the $6.95 haircut.



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A Typical Day in the Life of a Doha Dame

I woke up this morning stretching into reality, oh, I do still live in Doha. Making my way drearily down the stairs, I head straight to the coffee that David has so lovingly prepared for me. Oops, not today. I have to take that dreaded Sally Fields pill, aka Boniva. If you only knew how much I disdain that pill. It's only once a month, but no drinking or eating for an hour after taking it. Do you know how long an hour is in Doha time? I down the dang pill and look longingly at my awaiting coffee while setting my timer. I think about going to workout. I turn on Fox news to see what late breaking earth shattering news I'm missing. Another live broadcast of a plane with a faulty tire circling the L.A. airport only to land thirty minutes later smoother than any landing I've experienced. Hmm, the V.P. nominee elect's daughter is pregnant. Oooh, that is a bit earth shattering. I think about going to workout. I check my email...Aunt Marge must still be evacuated. Looks like all my email buddies are evacuated. Yoohoo, Grandaddy in Tennessee...did you evacuate, too? No exciting emails, unless Viagra is your thing. I think about going to workout. I check the obituariess from my local online newspaper. That's so sad. Is that what old people do, check the obits daily? Everyone seems to be alive and well. Well, not actually, I just didn't know anyone listed. Ahh, the buzzer is buzzing signaling coffee time. I savor my first cup, and then have my toast and eggs with the next. I think about going to workout. I try to think of what in the world can today's blog be about. No brilliant musings come to mind, so I give into that pesky little exercise monitor screaming in my ear. Later, y'all. I'm gone to workout.

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Syb's Top Ten

I've been back a week and I can definitely tell that I'm in Doha. If yesterday's pharmacy run didn't confirm that fact, here are a few more.

Top Ten List of How I Know I'm Back In Doha:

10. I'm screaming out loud in the car, again.

9. No hurricanes in sight

8. My washer takes exactly 1 hour and 55 minutes to wash a load

7. Kumar, my gardener, is heisting plants from empty villas and selling them to me at a premium.

6. No bacon or pork roast to be found

5. Gas is 80 cents a gallon.

4. My name has been changed back to "Madame"

3. I'm back to saying, "Excuse me, I was here before you."

2. I never hear, "Thanks, Mom...that was delicious!*

..........and the #1 reason that I know I'm back in Doha......

(JUST SHOOT ME NOW)
1. The temperature is higher than my weight.


*No matter what we have for dinner, this is Kristi's canned response. She can eat a bowl of cereal in the kitchen and walk through the den saying her usual, "Thanks, Mom. It was delicious!" She has done this without missing a beat, since kindergarten.

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Your Change, Madame

Just when you think you've seen it all, Doha begs to differ. I made a run to the pharmacy yesterday for some much needed antihistamine for my awful sleep pattern since arriving back in Doha. I don't sleep during the day, but I don't sleep at night either. Anyway, the cashier rang me up and gave me the price of QR 6.75. As I've informed y'all in the past, coins are rare in this country. Instead of coins, it's not unusual to receive gum or even a candy bar for your balance due. Well, guess what the pharmacy gives you? Yes, I got a pill. A pill, a random pill. A single pill in a foil and plastic wrap. What the heck is it for? Who, knows...no instructions included. I tossed it in my Arabic "Cialis" bag (yes, erectile dysfunction apparently has no borders) and was out the door. Now, I have new homework to do. I'm off to Google "Panadol" and see what I can do with my newly acquired pill.

Follow up:

Panadol is the GlaxoSmithKline brand name of the phamaceutical paracetamol (para-acetylaminophenol), which is administered to reduce pain and fever. There are many similar products marketed under other names. For example, in India, paracetamol is sold as Crocin and in Colombia it is marketed as Dolex. It is sold in more than 85 countries.^[1] However, in North America, Johnson and Johnson's Tylenol is the leading brand of paracetamol.^[2]

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I Take It Back

I have a retraction to make. Remember that bad
cat I wanted to give away. I know, you can't forget him because I talk about him so much. Since I've been back, Sykes has been such the model cat. His manors have been almost impeccable...no elbows on the table, paws only and his attack mode has been severely modified with only minimal outbursts. He actually lets me pet him and rub him without wrapping all of his appendages around my hand and chowing down. He's constantly curled up by my side with his chin resting on my thigh, if not in a full out sprawl across my upper torso. I'm not sure what's caused this 180 degree turn, but I like it. David was feeding me such propaganda while he was here in Doha and I was in Kyle. This precious kitty couldn't have done any of the things he was being accused of. Sykes and I are bonding quite well, thank you sir.

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