Our five year adventure in Doha, Qatar ended June 1, 2012, but the memories will always remain. It's back to Texas where I have decided...Qatar isn't cornering the market on "quirky", as I once believed. Thanks for opening my eyes to the world, Doha!
Usually if I have a picture, I can write a story. These pics leave me speechless as to why these tenants in the Pink Villas feel the need to have their satellite dish so high in the sky. Your guess is as good as mine.
I wish Doha's traffic department would leave well enough alone. While I was out for the summer, more traffic lights have popped up at roundabouts that I travel. Yes, there was a time a couple of years ago when negotiating roundabouts terrified me. But now that I've gotten used to them, I love the challenge...sort of like the live version of Mario Kart. Before it's over with, there won't be a "manual" one in town to be found. I'm wishing that Qatar would never have found this
When I landed in Doha on Monday night, Ramadan was already in full swing. You know the drill...fasting from sunup to sundown. That would include no food, no water, no sex, and no cigarettes while the sun shines for 
practicing Muslims and others that choose to make the jump. Ok, that's the short version. It's much more than that, sort of like Lent for those in the Christian world. It started on the 22nd of August and will continue until the crescent moon is spotted, once again, around the 19th of September. David and I headed to Chili's at City Center last night to break our fast. He had been fasting since 4:30 that morning (not
by choice) and I, well, I had been fasting for every bit of two hours. To my surprise the waitress brought us a plate of dates, as that is the traditional way to break one's fast. An even better surprise was that she treated us t
o an order of egg rolls and a dessert just to compensate us for the plastic wear that they gave us because they were out of the real stuff. Give me plastic any day of the week if you're chasing it with dessert. After our "iftar" meal, we strolled around the mall (not to be confused with Doha's "THE Mall", as Gina so kindly pointed out in yesterdays comments :D) and 
checked all the decorations in place to mark the Ramadan season. There's a Christmas feel in the air, as long as you're in the mall and not out in the 112 degree temps!
decided I'd check out the upstairs first, before doing my grocery shopping and see what fun stuff they had in store for me. As I was coming off the escalator, I was greeted by a mob of security guards informing me that they weren't open. I'm acting all confused then realize that they were trying to inform me that they close from 11:30am to 1:00pm for Friday prayer. Hmm, could that be why the entrance door wouldn't open? Oh, and by the way... sorry creepoid, my bad!
Whew, skipping the jet lag is too good to be true! Maybe that's why it's setting in. I made it through the whole day yesterday feeling great. Last night I took my Chlorohistol (what we Americans call Benadryl) and headed to bed. That's my tried and sometimes true method to get back into a good sleep pattern. I crashed at 9:30pm only to wake up at 1:00am bright eyed and bushy tailed. I wouldn't play the game. I stayed in bed determined to return to my slumber. There's something about the sun coming up that knocks me right out. That's when those wild and crazy dreams set in to keep me from enjoying my much needed sleep. Unfortunately for me, I had to drag myself out of bed this morning to clean house. Yes, my new housekeeper was due at 11:00am, so of course, I had to have things sparkling for him. Somehow, I don't think I get it. I did make it through most of the day today, but felt myself zoning out while visiting the Pink Villa Quilt Guild aka Peggy's house. I forewent the ten minute power nap and opted for an all out one hour snooze. I'm good to go, again. We'll see what the sleep gods have in store for me tonight.
I arrived last night around 8:45pm. Considering all the time zones that I crossed in flight, I had a decent night's sleep. Now, I'm just keeping the fingers crossed that I can avoid the jet lag, but I fear the odds are against me. I'll be checking back in when the old noggin starts feeling creative. Don't hold your breath, people!
Unbeknownst to mom, she joined the social scene while visiting me in Kyle this week. I secretly made her a Facebook page and had friends and smart alec comments all in place, before she ever saw it. The unveiling of her new life in print was met with such great shock that I got a bit nervous waiting for her ultimate response. But then the cackling set in, and as my dad likes to say, "that's all she wrote". We convulsed with laughter as I read to her each new entry and comment that was manufactured on her behalf while she sat there helplessly. The entertainment value for Mom, Regina, and me was priceless (so, don't forget to "add" her!). We did do a little venturing while they were here. It had been years since mom had visited the Texas State Capitol, so we figured she needed a refresher. We also went by St Edward's to show her the university that the girls attend. We left the Texas Capitol and headed to the Texas Roadhouse for a little sustenance. How's that for transition? This morning we took to the hilly roads and landed in Wimberley for breakfast on the square. They left my house just a while ago, and I thin
k
er, she can roll with it. I called her and told her that Regina was picking her up and that was the end of that. After 82 years, she now does what we say instead of vice versa. Hang in there kids, just thirty something more years to go!
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