It's the Most Wonderful...

What's wrong with this picture?

David ~ Doha
Shea ~ North Carolina (tomorrow Afghanistan)
Dustin ~ Austin
Kayla ~ Nacogdoches
Kristi ~ France
Sybil ~ Kyle

It is the most wonderful time of the year!
It is, isn't it?

It's the Most Wonderful Time ~ Andy Williams

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Birthday Wishes

Happy "85th" Birthday, Dad!

Mom, Dad, Shea, Kayla, & Dustin

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Thanksgiving Celebrations

My Texas arrival last Monday night was to 80F degree weather making me feel as though I never left Doha. Two days later the temps dropped to the 30's reminding me of the cliche on our weather, "If you don't like the weather in Texas, wait a minute". That saying held true as it was from AC to heat in just that, a matter of minutes. Welcome home. We had our traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year with an added bonus of boudain balls. I ate my fair share since I don't think we'll see those anytime soon in Doha. While I was having my dinner, my hubby was celebrating a supposedly traditional dinner with some of our new Doha friends. I asked him how it was and his response was, "Well, it would be like eating dinner with Shea (our oldest son~age 27) and his friends". Instead of following up dinner with football, it was drinking games. Lol. One old man and a bunch of 20 somethings. Sounds quite "untraditional" to me or maybe just same same, but different. Hoping you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving, as well.

A Mexican food outing with Dustin, my mom, and Kayla.

(Shea was with us, but missed the pic,
while Miss Kristi is still in Angers France.)

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You Make Me Want to Shout!

...dedicated to whatever that fruity concoction was!

Please accept my apologies for letting Rome get in the way of me organizing some of our company party pics. For your viewing pleasure (wink* wink), I've thrown together a quick slide show that gives a pretty good overview of the festive gathering held at The Doha Golf Club right before the Eid holidays. Sorry, there was no time to download music or add witty "thought" bubbles. It's a shame, because they would have been, oh, so good. Without further ado, here's the "I had to skimp and it's killing me" version.

Shout~ The Isley Brothers

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You Know You're in Doha When...

You know you're back in Doha when you feast your eyes upon this spectacular piece of architecture. I'm sorry to share what seems to be a fixation with this building, but if I gotta look at it, I may as well have a little fun with it.








David and I accidentally ran across some boat races while driving down the corniche this morning. We missed whatever round was going on then, but made it back to to the finals of the Oryx Cup hydroplane boat races this afternoon. "The Spirit of Qatar", navigated by Dave Villwock, won the championship to bring home the trophy.

So, what's next? I'm heading home to Texas on Monday and will be doing the "spread me thin" tour visiting family and friends over the holidays. Exciting and fun, but stressful at the same time trying to be everywhere. Doha, keep the light on for me, I'll be back January 1, to capture all your quirks delights!

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Where the Roman Road Ends

Our Roman holiday is coming quickly to a close, but not before David and I had more than our fair share of food and sightseeing this week. We had great weather for most of the week with a bit of rain rolling in today. It dampened our bodies, but not our drive for that one last pasta dish, topped off with a tiramisu and cappuccino. Heavenly. Sadly, we're out of here in the morning, back to the reality of Doha and Burger King delivery. True confession: I love BK delivery, what can I say? Anyway, we're leaving Rome with the promise of returning one day as we tossed our coins into Trevi Fountain. Who argues with magical legends? Not me. Check out my Facebook Album if you'd like to see more of our holiday pics. See you on the flipside.

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AWOL in Rome

Change in plans. David and I have decided to spend our entire Italy stay in Rome instead of training on to Venice this morning as planned. We felt a bit rushed and the whole idea of this vacation was to take everything at an easy pace...sort of like the gentleman in the pic on the right. I think we have hit every square inch of Rome by foot. We toured St Peter's Basilica and The Vatican yesterday and my gosh, I have never walked so much in my life. So much for leisure. Since we obviously hadn't walked enough, we took an alternate route on the way back and ended up, let's just say, no longer on the map. The positive side, burning up more calories and making more room for pasta, gelato and tiramisu. Bon Appetit!

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Off to Rome in Class

Greetings from Rome! Our trip started off with a big bump...a bump into first class, that is. Compliments of Qatar Airways. Seats laying out at 180 and eating off china, ah the life. David's like, "uh, don't get used to it". Hey, I'll take it when I can get it. Anyway, we arrived to our hotel around 3:00pm yesterday and were in the bed, lights out at 5:30pm. We were exhausted as we were out at the souqs until 11:30 the night before and I still hadn't packed. The picture above is the view from our hotel room. The pantheon is directly to the left but under major construction. We're off for the day. Arrivederci!

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Margarita, Please

My Bennigan's clock on the wall tells me it's time for a party. The company "winter" bash is tonight and it couldn't have come at a better time. I need a little stress release after making a simple bank run today that turned into a three ring circus. For the past three years I've tooted along in Doha getting money out of any and every machine that I came across, but then came our new and improved debit cards from our bank in Texas. Maybe new, but definitely not improved. Now there are only two machines, not banks, but specific machines in the land of odd that I can get money out of and it is totally hit or miss in other countries...mostly miss. Anyway, I went to our bank here in Qatar to get some Euros before heading out to Italy on Saturday morning, only to find out that we had more fun in France than I had even remembered. That and the fact that a check I deposited three weeks ago had not cleared left us with little moolah in that account. I panicked a bit, but then I realized I had another back up account that I opened for Kristi's France tour (that doesn't work in France by the way~don't ask), so I stepped outside to use their ATM to get cash with the idea that I would walk back into the bank with it and magically turn it into Euros. So with a spring in my step and song in my heart I popped my card into the machine. Well, it didn't sing back, instead it ate my card.I go back in the bank and am told, "no problem,no problem, you can get it back on Monday when security comes and opens the machine". Doha, we have a problem, I am leaving the country in two days and need my card AND money now. It's amazing the action five feet of pure hysteria can bring upon this land. Point, card in hand. Now, my only option to get money was to drive home, find a check book, and get back to the bank and find parking (aye, there's the rub) before closing for the day at 1:00pm and it was currently 12:23pm. Fast forward. I walked out of the bank at 1:03Pm with Euros in my hand and money in the bank. Margarita, please. Oh, and make it a double.

Yes, that clock really does adorn my wall
~a gift from one of our Bennigan's friends~
Now, aren't we special?!


Margaritaville~Jimmy Buffet

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They Say It's Your Birthday...

Very special birthday greetings being sent out to my first born, Shea, who arrived on my birthday 27 years ago today. It was the best birthday present ever and somehow, I don't seeing it being topped. Shea's starting a new adventure in the Middle East in a few weeks~a little different than our adventure, but an adventure, none the less. Take care, sweetie. Tread lightly.

Also, I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to Courtney, aka my Doha partner in crime, that is turning all of 29 today. May your Pink Pump Adventures be all that you dream they will be, Court!

And with no further adieu, a birthday song for all of us...

They Say It's Your Birthday~The Beatles

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Unofficially~Official: Winter is Here

It came, it saw, it conquered. Everyone has been waiting with bated breath for the arrival of the Doha rains that signal the official arrival of winter. The weather forecasters can rest easy now as their incessant predictions of impending rain have come to fruition. (I just thought my Jeep looked bad dusty!) Next announcement on tap will be to "get out your woolies". I'm going to be getting them out, but it won't be for Doha. It will be for our trip to Italy coming up this weekend. Yes, it's another Qatar holiday, so we'll exit the country as most expats do. How's it go...When in Rome? Yep, that's where we'll start and then on to Venice. Two days after we get back to Doha, it's off to the states for me, just in time for the Thanksgiving holidays. Hopefully, someone in the family is hosting a turkey dinner. Heck, I'll even settle for boudain balls at this point...hint, hint, Mark, Mike?? So, as usual, when I'm on the road, blogging will be hit and miss. So, what's new? Ciao!

Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain~The Cascades

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Play On!

We ran across this jewel while touring Doha topless this weekend. Beach volleyball or badminton? I'm not really sure, but it looks like they're ready for a little night action in case tournament play drags on. I'll be watching the local papers for info on ticket sales. I don't want to miss out on one of those VIP lounge chairs! Play on.

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