tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7384850199629802622024-03-05T08:40:55.806+03:00Sybil & Kristi's Qatari AdventuresJust Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.comBlogger1029125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-8719298942836521222012-07-07T23:55:00.012+03:002012-07-08T00:43:21.569+03:00Made Maid in the USA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9HNk11uO7cHH9Qv8j15asW6_vzsh64-BaIeOfCtolfkFqcyNyWCGIjklySAt3USDPzK-wFRCHNyAiChfUvMAHIB1rJsPeK4xuXIURp_DuUdMPeW1Jo6nXUnnkTkQ4ZcKdQIVEB5skrLb/s1600/david+vacuum+photo-40.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9HNk11uO7cHH9Qv8j15asW6_vzsh64-BaIeOfCtolfkFqcyNyWCGIjklySAt3USDPzK-wFRCHNyAiChfUvMAHIB1rJsPeK4xuXIURp_DuUdMPeW1Jo6nXUnnkTkQ4ZcKdQIVEB5skrLb/s400/david+vacuum+photo-40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5762534235144181826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">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. </span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Now that's some sucking up. </span><br style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"></div><center><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I bet he doesn't come cheap! </span></div><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-4554338234996868462012-06-25T20:21:00.004+03:002012-06-26T06:14:12.119+03:00So, 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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">purty darn</span> quirky, itself! <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">And</span> that ain't no bull, hmm, <span style="font-style: italic;">or maybe it is</span> as I <a href="http://qatariadventures.blogspot.com/2012/06/howdy.html">previously reported</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Case in point...</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DUDE, where's my <strike>car</strike>...WINE?</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLe3NYldFkT0mw18wW01BRizJpLx2Jt8WI9_35Sr1eW4_2fce9OQCHBJNFbisqGaTOdZ-MaetnX2JTXrabp1v6BXO8JqzvvmSEKCoJ_8aJ6bYab-46cKAjVGD_F9U76vOCyvcU2FQMuruE/s1600/three+dudes+winery+san+marcos+DSC_7232.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLe3NYldFkT0mw18wW01BRizJpLx2Jt8WI9_35Sr1eW4_2fce9OQCHBJNFbisqGaTOdZ-MaetnX2JTXrabp1v6BXO8JqzvvmSEKCoJ_8aJ6bYab-46cKAjVGD_F9U76vOCyvcU2FQMuruE/s400/three+dudes+winery+san+marcos+DSC_7232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5758055470388861026" border="0" /></a>No, this <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">is not</span> 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, <span style="font-style: italic;">does it really matter?</span> I mean <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CF0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthreedudeswinery.com%2F&ei=gCTpT7q7EorW2AW7osSQAg&usg=AFQjCNGmFvTL0ivayXIliQjtFLrIRtlP-A&sig2=hfmkYMve1b1DSQMH7xmPkg"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three Dudes</span></a> was enough to catch my eye.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQmXId0EYgCQkfVcT5tbNZV-X4xTuU5IuO-2A1gMSfjTbrSow1OguEI59VmhVnlzepQzfHbicR2NgUiNLdQaJkrp6ET3eiF4gF0BJx7hRxyOrnqrIFHoehMNdMJfz6EAF901nWn6R38w6/s1600/three+dudes+winery+DSC_7230.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQmXId0EYgCQkfVcT5tbNZV-X4xTuU5IuO-2A1gMSfjTbrSow1OguEI59VmhVnlzepQzfHbicR2NgUiNLdQaJkrp6ET3eiF4gF0BJx7hRxyOrnqrIFHoehMNdMJfz6EAF901nWn6R38w6/s400/three+dudes+winery+DSC_7230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5758174927820424610" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Cheers!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'll have to leave the wine tasting to you. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Confession:</span> I don't like wine. I've had the honor of picking grapes on a vineyard in Tuscany, but <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">still</span> have never been able to develop a taste for it. However, a margarita every blue moon...hmm, <span style="font-style: italic;">hey dudes?!</span> <br /></div></div><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-1801531210031702162012-06-07T18:30:00.000+03:002012-06-07T18:30:21.518+03:00Howdy...From TEXAS, Home Sweet Home...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrzo9K7cNRSAe6G7YypN9TBrrb0Z-lwBb7dFLVKU_XVcGorOFCQjyX-2iIQvEirL0MNzK5iq90F21zcMPT0N057ABV3jlzFRnpqSduEiLTd8QLH3yVAZI9eXgUG6YjciMfbyHJ_9qhRhj/s1600/bullshit+blvd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrzo9K7cNRSAe6G7YypN9TBrrb0Z-lwBb7dFLVKU_XVcGorOFCQjyX-2iIQvEirL0MNzK5iq90F21zcMPT0N057ABV3jlzFRnpqSduEiLTd8QLH3yVAZI9eXgUG6YjciMfbyHJ_9qhRhj/s320/bullshit+blvd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And you thought I could only come</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
up with "<i><b>Only in Qatar</b></i>" moments.</div>
<br />
This <i>"<b>Only in Texas</b>"</i><b> </b>moment is brought to you from my dear old mom's neighbor in Groves, Texas. <i>Thanks, Buddy</i>.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></center>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<center> </center>
<a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 60px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />
</a> <span style="color: #996633; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: #339999;">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span>
</div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-47491747724573282662012-06-01T05:00:00.000+03:002012-06-01T07:17:25.714+03:00Over and Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_Ib3ALLP3LqUSHvYn_mqRTzFVQgfsmEMUq2DxwY5aZueKxzDy4Oo58IXj5ngOHbPNXYhsXppMlRraI9gHCKmPABPEfCPuNSFGopu-fT7eX5N0cOf06YIq1TPiseglRAfvWUUePgbE6LU/s1600/camel+sybil+DSCN7308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_Ib3ALLP3LqUSHvYn_mqRTzFVQgfsmEMUq2DxwY5aZueKxzDy4Oo58IXj5ngOHbPNXYhsXppMlRraI9gHCKmPABPEfCPuNSFGopu-fT7eX5N0cOf06YIq1TPiseglRAfvWUUePgbE6LU/s400/camel+sybil+DSCN7308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>It's been a helluva ride, Qatar.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7sc-pd9XYiRMj1wHdDzjJ1gwO4vadE2sTidxvDLZegs4Ngwzt1YsuY5zoFYeulJOI0I6-MlAmiHmeKjmDRHKm_DrAdIDdMu0vOHJKYJScq-afY-e6Ubn04XfAPASwUy7s7MO22RMCFvv/s1600/dukhan+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7sc-pd9XYiRMj1wHdDzjJ1gwO4vadE2sTidxvDLZegs4Ngwzt1YsuY5zoFYeulJOI0I6-MlAmiHmeKjmDRHKm_DrAdIDdMu0vOHJKYJScq-afY-e6Ubn04XfAPASwUy7s7MO22RMCFvv/s320/dukhan+sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dukhan Beach</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And I wouldn't have missed it for the world...</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<center> <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></center>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<center> </center>
<a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 60px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />
</a> <span style="color: #996633; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: #339999;">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span>
</div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-20736638920204057932012-05-29T14:40:00.000+03:002012-05-29T14:40:49.216+03:00Villagio FireDevastation hits popular Villagio Mall leaving 19 dead...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20120529/content.asp?section=first1_1" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKluf1bDI-DWvli066fd3gCFsEzsc2NOwt01jXR9cX1OCseeG5mRUGq_pPoBEaZRDRWrlM3gVS8v30g2o7TVOomxBKDgnjX4DPVH6_4CsYChUPGGiFJI-fnykmiLFazfmaxsPjyZkVWeR2/s400/qatar+tribune+fire.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_13681821"></span><span id="goog_13681822"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> Read the Tribune's report <a href="http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20120529/content.asp?section=first1_1" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Sending out my heartfelt condolences to all that have been affected by this tragedy and utmost respect for those that courageously responded. </i></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-5431551365403286662012-05-25T18:16:00.000+03:002012-05-25T18:55:58.955+03:00Will the REAL Qatari Women...<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><i><b>please stand up!</b></i></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/business-it/tech-tea-parties-help-women-stay-in-touch-with-the-world-20120522-1z3jt.html" target="_blank">write up</a> 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. <i><b>Newsflash</b></i>, even though shopping and mobiles seem to take up quite a bit of their time, their engineering degrees take up more. Get real, people. <br />
<br />
The writer at the SMH has <i>his</i> vision of Qatari women, but I have another. <i>The realistic one...</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7h8sj-t-gJ86hcZ81TmnX69_O-mO6okWucwJtCrQQ6DwNOm_ycT_yl0uIkE8qtQoKXToU8cLBkQQ_vnf0HTPfZSRhsmXMp-bey5nfr3cmdKGC-nSSUHzIFC1G3gZ34Y1lFozcWM8a44t/s1600/Qatari+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7h8sj-t-gJ86hcZ81TmnX69_O-mO6okWucwJtCrQQ6DwNOm_ycT_yl0uIkE8qtQoKXToU8cLBkQQ_vnf0HTPfZSRhsmXMp-bey5nfr3cmdKGC-nSSUHzIFC1G3gZ34Y1lFozcWM8a44t/s320/Qatari+women.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>Please</b> feel free to go to the <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/business-it/tech-tea-parties-help-women-stay-in-touch-with-the-world-20120522-1z3jt.html" target="_blank">comment</a> section at the Sydney Morning Herald to put in your 2QR. <br />
<br />
Read responses from <b><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/MiranHosny" target="_blank">Miran Hosny's</a></b> in <b><a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/05/23/qatar-shopping-and-phones-permitted/" target="_blank">Global Voices</a></b> and <b><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/shabinakhatri" target="_blank">Shabina Khatri</a></b> in <b><a href="http://dohanews.co/post/23604204838/in-qatar-women-can-usually-communicate-only-with#.T7-aeszMS90.twitte" target="_blank">Doha News</a></b> with added twitter reactions from locals and expats.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></center>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<center> </center><a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 60px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />
</a> <span style="color: #996633; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: #339999;">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span>
</div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-37138826507668637632012-05-16T16:49:00.000+03:002012-05-17T11:04:41.432+03:00La Dolce Vita ~ The Sweet Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-waeq6Wb3C-clThRs3x1ZDUhnK325JNxFeykTA1-pSW1CFH4v4AEdcl7s6h-TXbf5sP7JOS9eRhx3kvF8qgabXPIT4zbr_KPvnMN95X22AWLvIIt-q6r0H3onBJrghfne-air_HThZmG/s1600/souq.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5742795029452879010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-waeq6Wb3C-clThRs3x1ZDUhnK325JNxFeykTA1-pSW1CFH4v4AEdcl7s6h-TXbf5sP7JOS9eRhx3kvF8qgabXPIT4zbr_KPvnMN95X22AWLvIIt-q6r0H3onBJrghfne-air_HThZmG/s200/souq.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 134px;" /></a>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, <span style="font-style: italic;">it just is</span>. 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<br />
<br />
..<span style="font-style: italic;">.which brings me to a mini review of <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g294009-d2264347-Reviews-La_Dolce_Vita-Doha.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">La Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant</span></a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souq_Waqif"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Souq Waqif</span></a>.</span><br />
<br />
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, <span style="font-style: italic;">I swear</span>, ate one of everything while kissing his closed tipped fingers with "<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">magnifico</span>" 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, <span style="font-style: italic;">we think</span>, 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 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8H05Ja7LJEI35kH_4K1FIHI0N3XEXGXOOhfv7RmUZdLw98oQYP9mVCh08qzn2FhkgrPDaSsZsox6ASGMpymUE4LBXsrqrspKEL9N67nA_8DUk0-W15AC-7iv2lc7BrfSejNoXxkL4EhM/s1600/souq+bw+DSC_7116.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5742795357429458578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8H05Ja7LJEI35kH_4K1FIHI0N3XEXGXOOhfv7RmUZdLw98oQYP9mVCh08qzn2FhkgrPDaSsZsox6ASGMpymUE4LBXsrqrspKEL9N67nA_8DUk0-W15AC-7iv2lc7BrfSejNoXxkL4EhM/s200/souq+bw+DSC_7116.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 134px;" /></a>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 "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_dente"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">al dente</span></a>", 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. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Buon appetito!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">I realize that I have failed you with no pics of the restaurant or food. Instead, you get some authentic Doha Souq Waqif. <span style="font-style: italic;">What can I say?</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<center> </center><a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 60px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <span style="color: #996633; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: #339999;">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-202569994534201392012-05-01T10:35:00.000+03:002012-05-01T10:41:30.975+03:00Drum Roll....Jeep For Sale :(<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHn9wj5qYaBMnJIOsI9Dq59-0DK9r-ZpAJHsGactZc7EiqRDc_t0ysJVAlF_IyKu6p_nTCocNxglU9moHHUkBU2Hn8RT2WI0DRrp-d_uZQBsysBTZCepkFMBWMncCVD52roDCbZxYZ7iwc/s1600/jeep+for+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHn9wj5qYaBMnJIOsI9Dq59-0DK9r-ZpAJHsGactZc7EiqRDc_t0ysJVAlF_IyKu6p_nTCocNxglU9moHHUkBU2Hn8RT2WI0DRrp-d_uZQBsysBTZCepkFMBWMncCVD52roDCbZxYZ7iwc/s320/jeep+for+sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>It's a sad day at the Knox Villa.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> The Jeep has got to go ~ Can't take it with me </i> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA 4 X 4</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Engine/Transmission:</b> 3.8L V6 ~ Automatic</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Mileage:</b> 33,000 km</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Full Option w/o Navigation System:</b> A/C (duh), CD player with Aux (iPod) jack, 18" alloy wheels, fog lamps</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Aftermarket Additions:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
~KC lights: 2x6" long range, 2.8" driving, windshield/bumper bar mounts</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
~Stone guards for head/tail lamps, mesh radiator guard</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
~Quick disconnects for doors, hardtop</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
~Premium titanium window tint</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
~All weather floor mats</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>EXPAT OWNED</b> ~ (another duh)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
All this for... </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Price: 70,000QR</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>But wait, there's more!</b></i> Sorry, got carried away. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_mays" target="_blank">Billy Mays</a> (RIP) was running through my head.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Email: sknox40@aol.com</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Phone: 6689 6613</b></span></div>
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></center>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<center> </center>
<a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 60px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />
</a> <span style="color: #996633; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: #339999;">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span>
</div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-21084803600502272642012-04-22T15:37:00.005+03:002012-04-22T16:12:53.129+03:00Carved in Stone ~ Finally<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaevldmHhFXtM1m6AjHPoZW4jFLjQEAHDMopItXQE96oum_HQSCWFQL75mGzFCn-t7PfGxzvJAZPUHkyTePRPEczTnv3J4JVSTIEf-Dc0EzqTlM0qFuDhSLWOlDC7JP-QBntlPqXkrE72/s1600/texas+flag2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaevldmHhFXtM1m6AjHPoZW4jFLjQEAHDMopItXQE96oum_HQSCWFQL75mGzFCn-t7PfGxzvJAZPUHkyTePRPEczTnv3J4JVSTIEf-Dc0EzqTlM0qFuDhSLWOlDC7JP-QBntlPqXkrE72/s200/texas+flag2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734201557497798946" border="0" /></a>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 (<span style="font-style: italic;">I suspect</span>) will be filled with more emotion than usual. TEXAS bound ~ <span style="font-style: italic;">for good</span>. 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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">FAMILY</span>, Mexican food, AMERICAN food, civilized driving, American TV shown in real time, rain, bacon, flying old glory, Walmart, real radio stations, Cracker Barrel, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shea, Dustin, Kayla</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kristi</span>. It was fun while it lasted and wouldn't trade my Qatari Adventure for anything, but I'm going...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">home</span>.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/o9HUV2ZKWJw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">I'm Going Home ~ Chris Daughtry</span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i6LsmPgVn1g" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" width="420"></iframe><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;">Home ~ Michael Bublé</span></div><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-43523004384875279062012-04-02T13:02:00.003+03:002012-04-02T13:04:53.743+03:00AWOL in Italy<span style="font-weight: bold;">AWOL</span> ~ Yes, I have been and I apologize for that faux pas. Since we've last spoken, I met the not Kristi daughter, <span style="font-style: italic;">aka Kayla</span>, 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.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCblrFHdVa3BtAIB6LXNpU1OkiPPCMFVDkEcY6YeAk9FFGtHk6ng_h0X7DFiGNRTDcBiW7fzluvK5WaBtnF0QFbdA1WE7hh3U0naRfvgL6A9yRYeU4s7vMyrLJg0-PwozEUyW2B1giNZ9n/s1600/milan+DSC_5852.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCblrFHdVa3BtAIB6LXNpU1OkiPPCMFVDkEcY6YeAk9FFGtHk6ng_h0X7DFiGNRTDcBiW7fzluvK5WaBtnF0QFbdA1WE7hh3U0naRfvgL6A9yRYeU4s7vMyrLJg0-PwozEUyW2B1giNZ9n/s200/milan+DSC_5852.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726725000221677234" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a7qO86PmtIZ4vAsXyKfBKAz9vfx0jiCMOZeDU6tCItxn44ltnSZuFrbpD0o_Ondr3_n9SEugZGlNWVtYjr_5_MvZretm_9ZXGwOJeHD7tCrGW9ji2SjSHHO9AAY1QcKGsNmdMJOVe0UC/s1600/milan+DSC_5825.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a7qO86PmtIZ4vAsXyKfBKAz9vfx0jiCMOZeDU6tCItxn44ltnSZuFrbpD0o_Ondr3_n9SEugZGlNWVtYjr_5_MvZretm_9ZXGwOJeHD7tCrGW9ji2SjSHHO9AAY1QcKGsNmdMJOVe0UC/s200/milan+DSC_5825.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726725447058034962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">The Duomo in Milan</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpbMC4lGBuhnUqZtuEQJX4a61XvEf6EajNS3pFiT1Ix64feG6HOMErGU6-w3vGQzna24tqD-E-JfjdLINpsF4A3wHnuJJu6QJkkYkAzzukP_B5aevIyKpA0KA-QBXLUTQqH07uVw_fT-2/s1600/verona+DSC_6173.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpbMC4lGBuhnUqZtuEQJX4a61XvEf6EajNS3pFiT1Ix64feG6HOMErGU6-w3vGQzna24tqD-E-JfjdLINpsF4A3wHnuJJu6QJkkYkAzzukP_B5aevIyKpA0KA-QBXLUTQqH07uVw_fT-2/s200/verona+DSC_6173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726727219706722642" border="0" /></a></div><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dIjgYTsYTX8596ra6x4og0BC5ptmvpYFPjdkLrsYs2eqgIbG9HXajWKgX2UkwcULkjVkJVMYz36Z70fP5NuiO9qB0ncORlhKNs_ofuKhptf77NNURBVVH1rQEtFQlTiy2Gn09hyBGqgM/s1600/verona+DSC_6176.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dIjgYTsYTX8596ra6x4og0BC5ptmvpYFPjdkLrsYs2eqgIbG9HXajWKgX2UkwcULkjVkJVMYz36Z70fP5NuiO9qB0ncORlhKNs_ofuKhptf77NNURBVVH1rQEtFQlTiy2Gn09hyBGqgM/s200/verona+DSC_6176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726727735513834226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Verona ~ Juliette's Wall and Balcony</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-bj2TrZW56LEMkL3y2w47nb8MEdGzJ5jpFjMuS_XDjI6qwhQi63AdGr8WiOOPJ1elFCH8zewblrXxJ2RUxsNG0W3Ok6FgxEexlqHvYlnDXFztmxsjPKoe15lZXGBwgd0ffBlnFJPy1yo/s1600/venice+DSC_6419c.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-bj2TrZW56LEMkL3y2w47nb8MEdGzJ5jpFjMuS_XDjI6qwhQi63AdGr8WiOOPJ1elFCH8zewblrXxJ2RUxsNG0W3Ok6FgxEexlqHvYlnDXFztmxsjPKoe15lZXGBwgd0ffBlnFJPy1yo/s200/venice+DSC_6419c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726732756695390610" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcozoniBqOZszpgUzUYlhZfy-o7Y4_AiBSSeB51Nl8JBk_Eb99xoCkrOHvXsuz_PD0gIj5K1Vxn8HnwZvkKIO4TWliESrk5mrVugi4KPskMnPbdXtyMgwLJ1pv4rlWTufRC4z0yqkgJEU/s1600/venice+DSC_6464.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcozoniBqOZszpgUzUYlhZfy-o7Y4_AiBSSeB51Nl8JBk_Eb99xoCkrOHvXsuz_PD0gIj5K1Vxn8HnwZvkKIO4TWliESrk5mrVugi4KPskMnPbdXtyMgwLJ1pv4rlWTufRC4z0yqkgJEU/s200/venice+DSC_6464.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726733412043524162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQvo0aeom3VUbumAIxjX3zRPrUssqiGpCKFheZDlVBXnWNxnJtuoEe_9L8yYjSMGyocri_nvt4IXSjFNpA_EP0Hd_aBX3fe8CUBruNSKumuLNpu-5pbU0UDGUiab1DvYClI6JfveqdfmY/s1600/venice+DSC_6458.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQvo0aeom3VUbumAIxjX3zRPrUssqiGpCKFheZDlVBXnWNxnJtuoEe_9L8yYjSMGyocri_nvt4IXSjFNpA_EP0Hd_aBX3fe8CUBruNSKumuLNpu-5pbU0UDGUiab1DvYClI6JfveqdfmY/s400/venice+DSC_6458.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726731885371848738" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;">Beautiful Venice and Kayla</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0aAfwSjzEdPEPEowNgsigjDyzQbXo8YJRn0tqepdWrhRLv5t3NV5MET7Sl61G8WYfPGM_EtXPhfktCs89fPfh_tbIZtCmHArP4Iq0YrWGVa4kCb1DKdW9LHUuP1LF0Mez5vroPDMqU0H/s1600/bellagio+DSC_6536.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0aAfwSjzEdPEPEowNgsigjDyzQbXo8YJRn0tqepdWrhRLv5t3NV5MET7Sl61G8WYfPGM_EtXPhfktCs89fPfh_tbIZtCmHArP4Iq0YrWGVa4kCb1DKdW9LHUuP1LF0Mez5vroPDMqU0H/s200/bellagio+DSC_6536.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726734091573226994" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVtgrxkbYymupnw2yA86R7PaAqdQt026t8t_dOkro6NkIwkSSpP0eGWf-KYv6ZFVmJb0YtwqSQLYQLpQCsTaUccclzQ3Yu5GL0QDoqF-P9pJl1g3H3MXVZf2PAmiiJDjQrocq9XTF2V-i/s1600/bellagio+DSC_6538.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVtgrxkbYymupnw2yA86R7PaAqdQt026t8t_dOkro6NkIwkSSpP0eGWf-KYv6ZFVmJb0YtwqSQLYQLpQCsTaUccclzQ3Yu5GL0QDoqF-P9pJl1g3H3MXVZf2PAmiiJDjQrocq9XTF2V-i/s200/bellagio+DSC_6538.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726734526532178626" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXLaGRiwteIOmL4YfoHyKrG-9Y0TySRNyuvXWvYjrlHblYmens1VAy87eSJupMG6sgR1ygw3uqOXNKTb9ZXpkaHAEKgTDyoO0t2Xb5y-iRKnlRqZ9HXO3YK8WbWKY_WWNIJhwm54g2JV_/s1600/bellagio+DSC_6499.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXLaGRiwteIOmL4YfoHyKrG-9Y0TySRNyuvXWvYjrlHblYmens1VAy87eSJupMG6sgR1ygw3uqOXNKTb9ZXpkaHAEKgTDyoO0t2Xb5y-iRKnlRqZ9HXO3YK8WbWKY_WWNIJhwm54g2JV_/s400/bellagio+DSC_6499.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726735232636564994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Bellagio and Lake Como</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirect.jsp?token=6803957341105%3A244423519"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 98px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLMNGa0R3Drwm1AeZflfd99YBhHoKfysMFbJGHhDAlSaxMS2Ae85iIvLe-7dI9w5dVt6Kd-HJzoYnJGMnDAarPXHKwdjf27GD66H-8MCkYIKj1yNRUE8G3drVQNyB3-aSHup9zhycJhWx/s200/small+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726738648922466098" border="0" /></a>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 <a href="http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirect.jsp?token=7203957341105%3A1910135070">here</a> if your heart so desires.<br /><br />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 <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">YEEHAW?!</span><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-71623782352512022482012-03-07T13:41:00.002+03:002012-03-07T13:44:32.942+03:00YO, OSHA!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgdFy6TF8IiIHZ8oySc86GEdAEfEz5a5v-VfA5ykFjrP0Llt_bcET2hXx92zhn1g3CMuIwdGe_Q7W4eF7smpGDe_vYSKXHRJNMX30niHs6zKzAhEFiLyvVdR0Ny1sxZbwv0HkhlV7jlV5/s1600/osha+needed+qatar+DSC_5744.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgdFy6TF8IiIHZ8oySc86GEdAEfEz5a5v-VfA5ykFjrP0Llt_bcET2hXx92zhn1g3CMuIwdGe_Q7W4eF7smpGDe_vYSKXHRJNMX30niHs6zKzAhEFiLyvVdR0Ny1sxZbwv0HkhlV7jlV5/s320/osha+needed+qatar+DSC_5744.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717095502889458562" border="0" /></a>If Qatar ever consulted <a href="http://www.google.com.qa/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=osha&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CF4QFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FOccupational_Safety_and_Health_Administration&ei=ozRXT77WDdGJrAfRwfyBDA&usg=AFQjCNEh9GkUByzhHOxVjJjrwHdKoY49gQ&sig2=A2OdZBP1mzmn6gpPe5XxNw&cad=rja">OSHA</a>, 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 (<span style="font-style: italic;">imagine that</span>) and there it was striking a pose, <span style="font-style: italic;">daring me</span> to take its picture. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">What the heck?</span> As Ricky used to say (<span style="font-style: italic;">or not as I <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.quotecounterquote.com/2011/05/lucy-you-got-some-splainin-to-do.html">just found out</a>!</span>), "<span style="font-style: italic;">Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do</span>".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiM7AWjCimN5RBwfe0FU9XXNTrEOmG54SHaJknp683FJNxGzePG3Jjug3s2DMC7uW-gcucGl4NbsfhXcFe0-IovM7uWbz_wW64BXeNHsABj05qoRIvxdl9rusmjQS675LAehbgfp6fY8_/s1600/osha+qatar+DSC_5745.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiM7AWjCimN5RBwfe0FU9XXNTrEOmG54SHaJknp683FJNxGzePG3Jjug3s2DMC7uW-gcucGl4NbsfhXcFe0-IovM7uWbz_wW64BXeNHsABj05qoRIvxdl9rusmjQS675LAehbgfp6fY8_/s400/osha+qatar+DSC_5745.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717097281729784498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Hmmm...</span><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-11206293621224933152012-03-05T14:06:00.004+03:002012-03-05T20:21:40.906+03:00Oh, Wheelie?No need for Qatar's <a href="http://www.circuitlosail.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lusail International Circuit</span></a>, we have Khafji street right here in Duhail to accommodate those with a need for speed and <strike>showmanship</strike> <span style="font-style: italic;">suicidal tendencies</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjbfRGvti-kdxAc1bMKv3ArGse-oqQBRuG9nrviUxcmkiiZMbFWPGk4BxVQcDujmmDiZVVv4coA5CwUyTWc4NmWnIWnGd04i6bfS8H0xfFDnikFAdfgABURBLaPQ7qV2ua0Lew3YPkfC4/s1600/wheelie+2+doha+qatar+DSC_5730.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjbfRGvti-kdxAc1bMKv3ArGse-oqQBRuG9nrviUxcmkiiZMbFWPGk4BxVQcDujmmDiZVVv4coA5CwUyTWc4NmWnIWnGd04i6bfS8H0xfFDnikFAdfgABURBLaPQ7qV2ua0Lew3YPkfC4/s200/wheelie+2+doha+qatar+DSC_5730.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715979414033095250" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlf4KA3fFTSa-jYz_duhKm1piI0QcyB9UCij1nrilIkpdYvR6VAeLgSy49wUffLZbSNWNKfhpRNh7orRo8rHcNEPrPF8Tu4W-Hfbq8WhpxIU2KgfYfsyfYJhHr3Ew-30kLWsxTVJPpfM-/s1600/wheelie+4+doha+qatar+DSC_5740.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlf4KA3fFTSa-jYz_duhKm1piI0QcyB9UCij1nrilIkpdYvR6VAeLgSy49wUffLZbSNWNKfhpRNh7orRo8rHcNEPrPF8Tu4W-Hfbq8WhpxIU2KgfYfsyfYJhHr3Ew-30kLWsxTVJPpfM-/s200/wheelie+4+doha+qatar+DSC_5740.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715978886573154098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInIQUGWSxAqGRshJwJy2Nf93FTxE_n87jnPZq2BMuy0E0pxw-N6rL511waqm1VKMCkcTuPmRdaAdo7PS-6S082U_Y8s7pw1yWe_40OBek9fkD2kXH_BDfxUSaJ4Lyq9tV1MM531UvNA5f/s1600/wheelie3+doha+qatar+DSC_5736.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInIQUGWSxAqGRshJwJy2Nf93FTxE_n87jnPZq2BMuy0E0pxw-N6rL511waqm1VKMCkcTuPmRdaAdo7PS-6S082U_Y8s7pw1yWe_40OBek9fkD2kXH_BDfxUSaJ4Lyq9tV1MM531UvNA5f/s400/wheelie3+doha+qatar+DSC_5736.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715976543651772370" border="0" /></a>This was not a one time event as we've seen these <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">same</span> three guys on this <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">same</span> street performing these <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">same</span> stunts on every straightaway between the roundabouts, while the traffic builds behind them. One of them has a really sweet <span style="font-weight: bold;">hot</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">pink</span> bike...<span style="font-style: italic;">he can run, but he can't disguise that ride</span>. You will find these guys and others at any given moment at Landmark outside of TGI Friday's where all the "cool" bikes congregate.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dDOOrmxLFht7Xsbs_W-boVwu52ctQRupgFHyCBOlRjcJkyJclk1L_qwF43WlEqsZO8xT8dkAZsrw3Va15G2VX2cJFHMnYAAccLiuQCZgY6LzZ7_NOzcyhq5AYQhIQHL7db2VOVLXcet8/s1600/tom+%2526+jerry+qatar+bike+photo-32.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dDOOrmxLFht7Xsbs_W-boVwu52ctQRupgFHyCBOlRjcJkyJclk1L_qwF43WlEqsZO8xT8dkAZsrw3Va15G2VX2cJFHMnYAAccLiuQCZgY6LzZ7_NOzcyhq5AYQhIQHL7db2VOVLXcet8/s400/tom+%2526+jerry+qatar+bike+photo-32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715984589104972610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;">Tom & Jerry recently spotted at Landmark</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQ6wcnYj0OSsXV8sQMA5GpCr4ldQpWe7JS-5A6hw6RWBoOvHABxqM1sAjWDroXUA1TXYg1KurHM86SbgdFJq5uX6Ekj5HtIQ3d1-duWN5VUx_2VT_LKIn6BR8zDzke02gO7qyLOmZEUIi/s1600/pikachu+motorcycle+qatar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQ6wcnYj0OSsXV8sQMA5GpCr4ldQpWe7JS-5A6hw6RWBoOvHABxqM1sAjWDroXUA1TXYg1KurHM86SbgdFJq5uX6Ekj5HtIQ3d1-duWN5VUx_2VT_LKIn6BR8zDzke02gO7qyLOmZEUIi/s400/pikachu+motorcycle+qatar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715987210637940930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Pikachu spotted in the past</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pPnKDtA8x6yVqpqOtT-86NKsTZyMBtYe4QPBFQDspzHnEINu2NsDCGBYCkDgOzupdPaIK5TTgpntWbzBSOHcbWVnF2PiYYsmnG0kJssL6qDI-nuPiRzQndUVBe9jESbvp4cxMcto6Ihc/s1600/batman+motorcycle+qatar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pPnKDtA8x6yVqpqOtT-86NKsTZyMBtYe4QPBFQDspzHnEINu2NsDCGBYCkDgOzupdPaIK5TTgpntWbzBSOHcbWVnF2PiYYsmnG0kJssL6qDI-nuPiRzQndUVBe9jESbvp4cxMcto6Ihc/s400/batman+motorcycle+qatar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716446283150100306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Update</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">"BATMAN"</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(sent in by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://twitter.com/#%21/vallath"><span style="font-weight: bold;">@Vallath)</span></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thanks!<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span>Another friend sent me his blog post with<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://earsplease.blogspot.com/2012/01/fendi-branded-bike-along-with-spiderman.html">Spiderman and Fendi bikes</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span> 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.</span> Check out <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Kapilkb">@Kapilkb</a>'s blog at <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://earsplease.blogspot.com/2012/01/fendi-branded-bike-along-with-spiderman.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Earsplease</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"></div></div><center><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-37453383529112721812012-03-03T17:04:00.007+03:002012-03-03T22:18:18.128+03:00Presenting: WAAD<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdIhQ2sGkbwI4bE9P2zeMct7wjplQrgUP6zl8BEtotAJBrQ0FjhQeUdF7SbNOmlzxKJQVwJE7uF52jInsWvFmwx6pzJdlxJQec0AMPtVq-EKIVlUOl4_jZIB1J5ZeRsFMES0J0F3E_ROr/s1600/waad.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdIhQ2sGkbwI4bE9P2zeMct7wjplQrgUP6zl8BEtotAJBrQ0FjhQeUdF7SbNOmlzxKJQVwJE7uF52jInsWvFmwx6pzJdlxJQec0AMPtVq-EKIVlUOl4_jZIB1J5ZeRsFMES0J0F3E_ROr/s320/waad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715674302314505026" border="0" /></a><br />Hold the press, I, <span style="font-style: italic;">yours truly</span>, have received a special invitation to a Doha fashion event featuring custom abayas by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Qatar's</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">own designer</span>, <span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;" >Waad Mohammed</span>. <span>Exciting and scary at the same time, as </span>you don't have to remind me that I'm not a fashion aficionado<span style="font-style: italic;">. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Oh, <span style="font-style: italic;">was I really wearing flip flops when you spotted me</span>?<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span>Sorry, I <span style="font-weight: bold;">am</span> American</span><span style="font-style: italic;">, 'nuff said. </span>Note, it did take an eight thousand mile move to tiny Qatar for me to become somewhat schooled in the areas of world class tennis, soccer (<span style="font-style: italic;">the other football</span>), golf, kite boarding, symphonic orchestras, rally cars, power boating, etc, so now it's time for fashion. Looking forward to seeing what creativity and pizazz Waad brings to the region's traditional abaya. Did I mention that this special invitation also goes out to <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">you</span>?<br /><br /><span>Shhh, don't tell anyone</span>...<span style="font-style: italic;">tell </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">EVERYone</span><span style="font-style: italic;">!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOB8fKdZqyhwrF03vLb90anXytgXHTT2or4lJQ6pIF_uq9jPJb4ezNDk5KD72_i1asg-5OSCxk731Dl7J3_NL1LJ9zYr0E2TwN5XIDYZVVv2Rxexo_jDtXNUFQSxVBsfQLWE-D6R02DC2/s1600/waad+doha+fashion+invitation+the+w.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOB8fKdZqyhwrF03vLb90anXytgXHTT2or4lJQ6pIF_uq9jPJb4ezNDk5KD72_i1asg-5OSCxk731Dl7J3_NL1LJ9zYr0E2TwN5XIDYZVVv2Rxexo_jDtXNUFQSxVBsfQLWE-D6R02DC2/s400/waad+doha+fashion+invitation+the+w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715652417497047490" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Save the date:<br /><br /></span>Saturday, March 10, 2012<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Don't forget to RSVP to </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">waad.designs.events@gmail.com<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Follow WAAD on twitter for updates:</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="https://twitter.com/#%21/WAADdesigns">@WAAD.designs</a><br /></span></div></div><br /><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-53090328036963383082012-02-29T10:53:00.005+03:002012-02-29T11:22:08.094+03:00The Man in the Mask<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrjxhjQhuhlU-_3Fk-AGikus8liVXY5KoNylKE_hRBN9Pn3aori8tDOZC9OY7YYrzCfskK51ZZW2RDTnwm6P038fdYjYaXPmVIjDjndrl_cmZ9eBfU2HGxv1CLBSenTl7UHY9966Bb50A/s1600/qatar+cheerleader+mask+man+DSC_5053.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrjxhjQhuhlU-_3Fk-AGikus8liVXY5KoNylKE_hRBN9Pn3aori8tDOZC9OY7YYrzCfskK51ZZW2RDTnwm6P038fdYjYaXPmVIjDjndrl_cmZ9eBfU2HGxv1CLBSenTl7UHY9966Bb50A/s200/qatar+cheerleader+mask+man+DSC_5053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714460314128703138" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9r2UMbrluUOUmnmyFeY8C1f-yqF10Fg1btwEkOXYsheevUf4AtvPOERnDTECHFT3DNqwgy8CwLVKqhNVZSGc_C5hE1nD7xoLnuxDH2cnItEjSLIwe9Eoy8Dr74WqEfiCrkxWoanPpYqv/s1600/qatar+cheerleader+mask+man+DSC_0011.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9r2UMbrluUOUmnmyFeY8C1f-yqF10Fg1btwEkOXYsheevUf4AtvPOERnDTECHFT3DNqwgy8CwLVKqhNVZSGc_C5hE1nD7xoLnuxDH2cnItEjSLIwe9Eoy8Dr74WqEfiCrkxWoanPpYqv/s200/qatar+cheerleader+mask+man+DSC_0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714459412958004050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><br />Two things I'll never get tired of in this country,<br />camel sightings and<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">this man</span>...<br /></div>In the past you may have seen my posts about a mysterious local man driving his wildly decorated cars around the streets of Doha, or if you've been lucky, you may have spotted him yourself. The obvious great pride that this "<span style="font-style: italic;">Qatari cheerleader</span>", as I call him, shows by the barrage of patriotic flags plastered all over his car brings a smile to my face <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">AND</span> my camera out of the bag. His auto response "<span style="font-style: italic;">thumbs up</span>" is a sign of his upbeat positive attitude that, I for one, find so inspiring. A friend of mine sent me the following video that sheds some light about my local hero known in these parts as "<span style="font-style: italic;">the man in the mask</span>".<br /><br /><center><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2D3ydO8A0gU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe> </center> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Thanks for sharing, Naz!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwjKQ2YjJ8fJlB8eij6wuWcogqNsbekHjR3extj42l3O5sQFASTUPgvOpIHZ1SO4NnWZduXQpau40P-e10QR_YNFwuMelxmEgLnt6dyFZ3uHSehyGmCL6J58LPEoAttElPMJtklJZkFq0/s1600/qatar+cheerleader+mask+man+DSC_0500.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwjKQ2YjJ8fJlB8eij6wuWcogqNsbekHjR3extj42l3O5sQFASTUPgvOpIHZ1SO4NnWZduXQpau40P-e10QR_YNFwuMelxmEgLnt6dyFZ3uHSehyGmCL6J58LPEoAttElPMJtklJZkFq0/s400/qatar+cheerleader+mask+man+DSC_0500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714460818412017234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">Just a few pics I've captured around town...</span><br style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">Note the "thumbs up" in the top two.</span><br /></div><br /><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-80674900711679491362012-02-25T09:35:00.006+03:002012-02-25T09:46:14.850+03:00Ugly Issues in Qatar<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpnLb-w0T-usl8UehyWL1_6BzrlwjEQ-QxDeoFHzGL79K6AJaGWqD3hwJKC-X8cNlaQJKtnXhgrRDcxbfkcNFrKfvZNhVIkz74fMoDTV5OVcMaLJ-elmXjIt_Wx6H6XGJ6inqagbPzmrV/s1600/maid.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpnLb-w0T-usl8UehyWL1_6BzrlwjEQ-QxDeoFHzGL79K6AJaGWqD3hwJKC-X8cNlaQJKtnXhgrRDcxbfkcNFrKfvZNhVIkz74fMoDTV5OVcMaLJ-elmXjIt_Wx6H6XGJ6inqagbPzmrV/s400/maid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712959930720104466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;">ATTENTION: Pretty Women Need Not Apply...</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9roQesY5Dyhqd1JHn9cp0WDOv_Ar1KRUqWZKZPhZBVwXuQJOPtt_JoKIq2bzb9kxRMTZtNQCUHF6nr6vSJkq4IBxSQ4TQYkPI6iYSC7xBpy2TYg5wOnv4Y6kK0mvFHa0d81_5pyn_CCp/s1600/beautiful+maids+qatar.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9roQesY5Dyhqd1JHn9cp0WDOv_Ar1KRUqWZKZPhZBVwXuQJOPtt_JoKIq2bzb9kxRMTZtNQCUHF6nr6vSJkq4IBxSQ4TQYkPI6iYSC7xBpy2TYg5wOnv4Y6kK0mvFHa0d81_5pyn_CCp/s400/beautiful+maids+qatar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712956553232315042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">as reported in The Peninsula Feb 25, 2012</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"></div><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/184710-debate-rages-over-hiring-beautiful-maids.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">...Read on</span></span></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I mean, what humorous pithy comments could I possibly add to the conversation? It's already so over the top. <span style="font-style: italic;">Hmm, maybe...</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">"</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Wanted: Ugly Americans</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">"</span><br /><a href="http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/184710-debate-rages-over-hiring-beautiful-maids.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span></span></a></div></div></div><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-924467664119682822012-02-22T17:55:00.004+03:002012-02-23T21:22:41.349+03:00Behind the Scenes...Sort of<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwHGtwFt7eeavf6pLOA0jdWoBkbaFvxbkOM73NeoQ7UbS_krMoTDRc_dzSMXmmFPaZTF8g0eaXLy1si2aSnU3qvk1r_NyKlGckeTip7z_gkVQlCC6USZe9JUALefLUPtoPNfhXZWBozxa/s1600/shadow+lingerie+qatar+DSC_5417.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwHGtwFt7eeavf6pLOA0jdWoBkbaFvxbkOM73NeoQ7UbS_krMoTDRc_dzSMXmmFPaZTF8g0eaXLy1si2aSnU3qvk1r_NyKlGckeTip7z_gkVQlCC6USZe9JUALefLUPtoPNfhXZWBozxa/s320/shadow+lingerie+qatar+DSC_5417.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711959398168017538" border="0" /></a>There are grumblings in the Doha air regarding the appropriateness of some women's choice of dress these days. The modesty police (offended local citizens) are watching, ladies, <span style="font-style: italic;">like it or not.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Doha News talks about it here...</span><br /><h2><a href="http://dohanews.co/post/18063572509">Questions arise over dress code in Qatar - where do you draw the line?</a></h2><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ro3Tp825xObuAeDA4DPs1p8-4v1GPiyyXNSpoFK9JOOH67TorZgAqn1fH39xp_fOJv475xXCdmU7bnl9HhA7_DPTfcSCfAzMuDnN2VSpGnuEOd3agu2uDM7MKM-f-B4rlfi6VnGfQU7S/s1600/intimissimi+qatar.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ro3Tp825xObuAeDA4DPs1p8-4v1GPiyyXNSpoFK9JOOH67TorZgAqn1fH39xp_fOJv475xXCdmU7bnl9HhA7_DPTfcSCfAzMuDnN2VSpGnuEOd3agu2uDM7MKM-f-B4rlfi6VnGfQU7S/s200/intimissimi+qatar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711962394040647618" border="0" /></a>You would think these same concerned citizens would be after some of the storefront windows around the malls. I've always been taken aback when I pass them by, but it's gotten even a bit more interesting as of late. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oF4hFA-81qPUgwyJWYb-ZMr6EE2fisOyTgWXPJ2Eb-B54c8XXbmIIKFwuKnVdzvODld6Wj5mREb-EyHsUw8a0P4fw4mbmtCbnErvqroZKelq-DlPjeEtCoYXiFR6VjwkJZQ3EgfQDPfG/s1600/yamamay+qatar.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oF4hFA-81qPUgwyJWYb-ZMr6EE2fisOyTgWXPJ2Eb-B54c8XXbmIIKFwuKnVdzvODld6Wj5mREb-EyHsUw8a0P4fw4mbmtCbnErvqroZKelq-DlPjeEtCoYXiFR6VjwkJZQ3EgfQDPfG/s320/yamamay+qatar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711961935969828834" border="0" /></a>I suppose I must keep in mind that what we wear in the bedroom and on the streets of Doha are apples and oranges (or <span style="font-style: italic;">handcuffs</span>?), <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">but</span> I feel sure that you, the readers, have a need to keep abreast of our current lingerie trends. <span style="font-style: italic;">No?</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqotstMCpwSpSG0Bm_rc-t0dc0ntt7G7MLY4x9zJA0pkK_YiJ_EVqjSI4nMAj_PWrzy70RZJSMwi0BgDrpayB1K7XAP2D_U1czpye5wcW5x-yllt-_XpULdVoPvteDdta0cJ5eAnn1OTBz/s1600/intimissimi+qatar+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqotstMCpwSpSG0Bm_rc-t0dc0ntt7G7MLY4x9zJA0pkK_YiJ_EVqjSI4nMAj_PWrzy70RZJSMwi0BgDrpayB1K7XAP2D_U1czpye5wcW5x-yllt-_XpULdVoPvteDdta0cJ5eAnn1OTBz/s400/intimissimi+qatar+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711969039364043522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Pics taken at a local mall in the last week</span><br style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);"></div><br /><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-30091491384891648862012-02-20T13:06:00.002+03:002012-02-20T13:33:41.702+03:00Doha Expat Wife<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmR4mBrS99gg63zGlVCOOgyI-EsXq23XumVARXbaZyY3rtP3kMhb6iPlqTmjrKmcnhae8z9rcVVqnk3KApwDcKpX8v6-RfO3iJo8b8AdRmGf3A6LqVhrdzEK7IC4np3fs93z1fqduHdeJ/s1600/doha+expat+wife+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmR4mBrS99gg63zGlVCOOgyI-EsXq23XumVARXbaZyY3rtP3kMhb6iPlqTmjrKmcnhae8z9rcVVqnk3KApwDcKpX8v6-RfO3iJo8b8AdRmGf3A6LqVhrdzEK7IC4np3fs93z1fqduHdeJ/s400/doha+expat+wife+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711157531635121826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Pretty spot on, no?</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Note:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> "Dubai Expat Wife" was circulating on twitter, and I tweaked it for Doha. I would gladly credit the original owner, if I only know who they were!</span></span><br style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"></div></div><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-38489320510244257812012-02-15T15:52:00.003+03:002012-02-15T15:54:45.476+03:00No Excuses<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5vlyxSXToOsPXr66RIybs5AKFquL_FE5xyBWSvrLtEoyYtef1l83BiI0Tmaes4KUZC6HNdHD184asCmf4_Ht0OABzAuWYAB7aQ27Duipy5U5tEx4BQwKF_HcA8C1eZwvTtgM7j-IAh67/s1600/slacker+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5vlyxSXToOsPXr66RIybs5AKFquL_FE5xyBWSvrLtEoyYtef1l83BiI0Tmaes4KUZC6HNdHD184asCmf4_Ht0OABzAuWYAB7aQ27Duipy5U5tEx4BQwKF_HcA8C1eZwvTtgM7j-IAh67/s400/slacker+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709340879058823666" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=slacker"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Urban Dictionary</span></span></a><br /><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-80686566839189292422012-02-09T14:29:00.001+03:002012-02-09T14:31:06.716+03:00Up in Lights<span style="font-style:italic;"> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEi1BF9q9oTkh26a_KfWiaxk8bACJWLEdIx-wmWdIbFKEiEKNpoinb2R7SvZDG_81s-sdKPhrJ8Rm3wum28Ge1OYyQuNhL90KfwpkPpz530ZFhuA16Jp2cvjB6d6VuVF6BxXbutigBuHfG/s1600/doha+night+skyline+DSC_5258.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEi1BF9q9oTkh26a_KfWiaxk8bACJWLEdIx-wmWdIbFKEiEKNpoinb2R7SvZDG_81s-sdKPhrJ8Rm3wum28Ge1OYyQuNhL90KfwpkPpz530ZFhuA16Jp2cvjB6d6VuVF6BxXbutigBuHfG/s400/doha+night+skyline+DSC_5258.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707090386104390162" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;">Doha's ever glowing & growing night skyline</span><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-17223909843308034882012-02-01T12:52:00.002+03:002012-02-01T13:27:42.160+03:00Doha's Breakfast Central<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Hide your coffee pot, hide your toaster, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" >and hide your fryin' pan, cuz...</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(for best results use your <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzNhaLUT520">Antoine Dodson</a> voice </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="st"><span dir="ltr">↑</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">)</span></span></div><br /><a href="http://dineatdawn.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Doha's Breakfast Central</span></a> has come to rescue us from banging those pots in the kitchen by removing the guess work of where Doha peeps can go for a <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">good</span> breakfast, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">OR</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> where to avoid</span>. Being that breakfast is my <span style="font-weight: bold;">FAVORITE</span> meal, I jumped on the <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/dineatdawn/followers"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">@DineatDawn</span></a> twitter bandwagon right away so that I wouldn't miss any of their review announcements. Yours truly was even bestowed the honor of accompanying them on a covert mission to a local diner, but I'm afraid my incessant chattering throughout the meal was a distraction and now they feel a "<span style="font-style: italic;">do over</span>" is in order. <span style="font-style: italic;">So how do burning ears affect taste buds?</span> I guess ears weren't the only thing burned...<span style="font-style: italic;">can you say bridges?</span> Anyhoo, give my twitter buds <a href="http://www.twitter.com/haniarif"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">@haniarif</span></a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Vallath"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">@vallath</span></a> a warm welcome by gracing them with a visit at their new tumblr site...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dineatdawn.tumblr.com/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 50px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9u44HlmxYaEm1OhMHTKR1B4g98tDbsEd6ZihyfWVK3f24Vg60hr4oaamJqxDjcFw3IvKKjXDGSwI01cksxP3cQh0kZVMmd2GnWxFjP1AEHzEmUgc4ApnO5udzmz4kyqONzLs_nIEaKutH/s400/breakfast.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704095324693889778" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and just because I've been thrown under the bus doesn't mean they wouldn't enjoy a bit of chatter from <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">you</span>. Let them know how they are doing and/or suggestions on whom to review.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Happy eating!</span><br /></span></div></div><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-70840381543185249382012-01-31T16:04:00.005+03:002012-01-31T16:18:14.776+03:00Arab in AmericaI ran across a few tweets from someone I met recently in Doha that has put a spin on my reporting. While Qatari Adventures gives my take on what it's like to be an American in Arab lands, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ramykhalaf"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ramy</span></a> flips that around by giving his take of America while on the road in L.A. ~ <span style="font-style: italic;">California</span>, that is. Ok, so Texans don't quite count California as a true representation of America, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">but</span> we won't tell Ramy any better. These witticisms, if you may, hit on a few striking differences in our cultures.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On with the tweets...</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.moi.gov.qa/site/english/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOYEUNlBilcCVIHY-Ur-V8l2KQiQihY_9r7YP-HZ4qIlzGzGDBotx4NVTsFtw7yp7GP0huUUgdfameRd74ukQBouAOLSA03z2NA-GDmP8VT40ScuRwV7lqC_1uoogS46niT1EbnKjo9YD/s400/petro+qatar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703694186553767474" border="0" /></a><br />One of the many things I'll miss about Doha...saying <span style="font-style: italic;">"fill'er up"</span>, just like we did in the olden days in America. No, Ramy, those gas stations were open. Now, get off your duff and do it yourself.<br /><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ramykhalaf/statuses/163837181436239874"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCa3yKbEeu6KW4LDC3RtxUebg1yQKNqB-5Eo3IdpIr-YAjSLDeDt-5xeeTwiGqpF5WHIZ2BUABmnkalhTIjHChnLaAsbpVfXTz5WDnNPX2bJHAjAKzcBAmcgRuzXFoDFkn3C1aa2FckPj/s400/american+culture.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703693542209079986" border="0" /></a>I love this one. This is truly one of my first complaints when arriving in Doha. <span style="font-style: italic;">Back off people, give me my space</span> is what my eyes were glazed with on my first trip to the local mall. In America, there is a transparent two to three foot buffer zone that envelopes us and <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">no one</span></span> crosses into that zone without an <span style="font-style: italic;">"Excuse me"</span>, or an <span style="font-style: italic;">"Oh, I'm soooo sorry"</span>....well, if you live in Texas, <span style="font-style: italic;">anyway</span>. Kudos for picking up on that quirk so quickly, Ramy, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">and</span> if you value that air that you breathe, I suggest you not breathe others', unless you've practiced up on your apologies.<br /><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ramykhalaf/statuses/163787779464101888"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNdSlW41syKtJWHj2xoVrECwvj1QyuJAjxHPAAIg7NiB5t4xYRohRJkdYNXPQwVxBKx_NIaeKW-1aYrtrNz4zgHEYve7azbEPqk1ftjBQi-wiW1y9Qksd_-oxrltjOuy0kAIrlVWucq4j/s400/horn+honking+in+qatar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703691784166456786" border="0" /></a>LOOOOOL, definitely a no fly zone here, dear. This tactic will fly <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">no where</span></span> in America, not even <span style="font-style: italic;">California</span>. Open your car door, get your lazy patooty out of your car and help yourself. Oh, if only that concept could catch on in Qatar.<br /><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ramykhalaf/statuses/163857962673246208"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 107px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmScdBeRCm9dXStmCqGoAy8bttSL3_n2ERN9uJaOxX65iDTjeA7eVH0QriBNKJRmrtJN5Dlh65wHEl4ZXiypZ45NJ-nKlvHYZ0paaXqNfmDbYga02RMLs7zt0zeE6BG7CB14ndkyKmy1pB/s400/flash.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703778718058036594" border="0" /></a>Yep, no interaction with the fuzz here. You better be checking the <a href="http://www.moi.gov.qa/site/english/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">MOI</span></a> traffic website to see if you've been flashed by the many cameras around town or you just might not catch that flight out of Doha as you planned.<br /><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ramykhalaf/statuses/164121208210722817"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5P983VxlPPjUTcoSrqg8_Ojxa6j3mDrExLQ7AAAk69bqb9uPKWIr6-m4LdR_v5WlH4MxFb4XC1ncK2S4Wc3Ph6G7Z5L68gIT8M4j9ESFylDZepeqG1C42smRWGOYHk642zA4lJ8vg_Tu/s400/criminal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703775183878797138" border="0" /></a>No reason to worry about hiring someone to close your criminal record here. Qatar will handle it for you. It's called <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">deportation</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">No doubt Ramy's running into as many quirky things in L.A. as I am in Doha. It's eye opening to see America through an Arab's eyes. Looking forward to more tweets as his trip unfolds. Safe travels!</span><br /><br />You can follow Ramy here <a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ramykhalaf"><span style="font-weight: bold;">@ramykhalaf </span></a><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-8180969958544067732012-01-17T16:49:00.000+03:002012-01-17T16:50:01.281+03:00Dashing DivaRan across yet another new salon under construction in Doha today. You read right, this one is NOT a sa<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">loon</span>. It's the Dashing Diva Nail Spa & Sa<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">lon</span>. Where do they get these names, anyway? Can't wait to dash through that hand and come out a diva. I'll be sure to post pics.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyC955aTQABEKG3R32y23WL2X4I3V5o3dZGy_hRkOK6CaUduMp7NbruKYK0n02CFUK5Kzye6MpdQvB5DGPKjHfwrE_X2NDrUNnV8CvRW14DEFHvku9P1zGZAhmZFWQhj5vdiHvdQzgCFm/s1600/dashing+diva+DSC_5251.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyC955aTQABEKG3R32y23WL2X4I3V5o3dZGy_hRkOK6CaUduMp7NbruKYK0n02CFUK5Kzye6MpdQvB5DGPKjHfwrE_X2NDrUNnV8CvRW14DEFHvku9P1zGZAhmZFWQhj5vdiHvdQzgCFm/s400/dashing+diva+DSC_5251.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698582500393779314" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">Dashing Diva ~ Environmental Road (Landmark Area)<br /></div><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-82515458361257288252012-01-16T12:26:00.009+03:002012-01-25T17:23:37.826+03:00Well, Don't Just Sit ThereIf you're sitting on your duff in Doha these next few weeks, it's not for the lack of scheduled events in the desert. To say that Qatar is shakin' these next few weeks is an understatement. <span style="font-style: italic;">Here are some of the highlights...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">January 18th</span></span> is <span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://www.facebook.com/DohaTweetups">Doha Tweetup</a></span> time, (<span style="font-style: italic;">not to mention </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">my mom's 85th birthday</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">~ </span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Happy Birthday, Mom!</span>) The venue is Al Tabkha Restaurant on The Pearl and EVERYONE is invited. Take a moment to meet the tweeps you stalk on a regular basis. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sharingtweetup-erecfb.eventbrite.com/?rank=0">Click here</a> to reserve your spot!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">January 21st</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ~ 23rd</span> is going to be a special treat at <a href="http://www.katara.net/english/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Katara</span></a> with the <span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Boys%27_Choir">Vienna Boys Choir</a></span> performing live. No need to travel to Austria when they'll be in our own backyard. I have my tickets. Get yours <a href="http://tickets.virginmegastore.me/index.php?event_id=557"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HERE!</span></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">January 25th-28th</span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Vroom Vroom!</span> It's the <span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.qatarmotorshow.gov.qa/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Qatar Motor Sports Show 2012</span></a></span> bringing you luxury cars, sports, cars, ridiculously EXPENSIVE cars, live demonstrations and so much more to the Doha Exhibition Center. Checkout <a href="http://www.qatarmotorshow.gov.qa/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">their site</span></a> for all the nitty gritty.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">February 2nd-5th</span></span> The <span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.qatar-masters.com/home.php">Commercial Bank Qatar Masters</a></span> is on tap. Meander around the <a href="http://www.dohagolfclub.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Doha Golf Club</span></a> and see your favorite golfers swing away.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >February 13th-19th</span> Khalifa Tennis Stadium will be buzzing with the <span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.qatartennis.org/tournaments/index/31"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Qatar Ladies Open</span></a></span>. If you haven't had the opportunity to watch the tennis greats of the professional world in action, now's your chance. I'll be there behind the players' bench. You can buy your <a href="https://dohatennis.sportec.es/dohaticketing/main.jsp?idioma=eng"><span style="font-weight: bold;">tickets here</span></a> or at the kiosks set up at Doha's main malls.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">February 16th</span></span> If all that is not enough, Yusuf Islam, who we all know as <span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Stevens">CAT STEVENS</a> </span>is coming to Doha. <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/qmamarkdept/press-release-11250527"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Details</span></a> are forthcoming. I hope to be able to hop on that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Train"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Peace Train</span></a>!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7sjSHazjrWg?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7sjSHazjrWg?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="315" width="420"></embed></object><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Peace Train performed live in 1976 by Cat Stevens</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">What are you waiting on?</span><br style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);"> Buy your tickets and mark your calendars now!</span><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-11235458156483873062012-01-16T11:00:00.001+03:002012-01-16T11:01:13.417+03:00Qatar in 60 Minutes<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >If you live in the states (or elsewhere) and didn't tune in to "60 Minutes" on CBS last night, you missed seeing my little corner of the world. What used to be an unknown, unpronounceable nation is becoming</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> a household word. Well, maybe that's going a bit far and <span style="font-style: italic;">yes</span>, it's <span style="font-style: italic;">still</span> probably unpronounceable to you and me both, but make no doubt about it...<span style="font-style: italic;">it's more than just a blip on the radar these days.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />QATAR</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A tiny country asserts powerful influence</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">...</span><br /><br /><center><embed src="http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/cbsnews_player_embed.swf" scale="noscale" salign="lt" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" background="#333333" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="si=254&&contentValue=50118378&shareUrl=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7395216n?tag=twitter" width="425" height="279"></embed></center><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738485019962980262.post-87509015023288394542012-01-13T15:58:00.000+03:002012-01-13T15:58:59.273+03:00Gender Bender<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br />I may never be able to show my face in</span><br style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Doha's <a href="http://qatariadventures.blogspot.com/2011/09/rogers-diner-doha.html">Rogers Diner</a>, again...</span><br /></div><br />As if things aren't already lively enough for me in Doha, I go and hatch one of those uh-oh moments that left me shaking my head. I shared it on my facebook page earlier this week, but instead of gaining sympathy from my so called "friends" they <span style="font-style: italic;">laughed at me</span>. I mean, I could be scarred for life, people. Nonetheless, I'm thankful that my mishap didn't occur at one of our usual hangouts and that no one I know was in sight, <span style="font-style:italic;">Mashalla</span>. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83svgVlexg9O_RihCzF33ShGNJWobQzE4_vj9sSibCB_CkDyS5n3YjBWPZF2Jk_I4mcebjUuATGPLjsK9swpfRFkAXXIMommANWk2gJ3sdQgaIhxNiD8p3gsfU4fsbW3wyq4sZmfE4Yz1/s1600/status.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 369px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83svgVlexg9O_RihCzF33ShGNJWobQzE4_vj9sSibCB_CkDyS5n3YjBWPZF2Jk_I4mcebjUuATGPLjsK9swpfRFkAXXIMommANWk2gJ3sdQgaIhxNiD8p3gsfU4fsbW3wyq4sZmfE4Yz1/s400/status.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696748393214897522" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge79_WHc0Si-HFPpM63JCsNUbCCAuiN0vvgjv4f9-2PlswtcH0ooXAp5bYNpZyqk1aF4llZpgfV8EuA-uJLVgAfiGWkHk2zBbsPXM5zd53M9Co649AjfcqXyI6UFSVOs5Yib4xc0hdCBbu/s1600/comments+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge79_WHc0Si-HFPpM63JCsNUbCCAuiN0vvgjv4f9-2PlswtcH0ooXAp5bYNpZyqk1aF4llZpgfV8EuA-uJLVgAfiGWkHk2zBbsPXM5zd53M9Co649AjfcqXyI6UFSVOs5Yib4xc0hdCBbu/s400/comments+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696748387176574754" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Nqv4RtTsN2wdjBCmVe6S8bbp8LWESWjvwRRkcj5Exly5EjUKXnstaLz7hWEVY-KRtLpK8le_Ce_55uGRF_qL1ByWw_KWlVJSjD9LJu9fiCbn_U6qpbCiYXdiF1mUDXubrE90XiIKFd-n/s1600/comments+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Nqv4RtTsN2wdjBCmVe6S8bbp8LWESWjvwRRkcj5Exly5EjUKXnstaLz7hWEVY-KRtLpK8le_Ce_55uGRF_qL1ByWw_KWlVJSjD9LJu9fiCbn_U6qpbCiYXdiF1mUDXubrE90XiIKFd-n/s400/comments+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696748382576266946" border="0" /></a>I<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> swear, they were foot washers!</span><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/30B100645398564BF7E74F6C24A109AA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><center> </center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverify?email=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Ee%3Fffid%3D2404326&title=Sybil+%26+Kristi%27s+Qatari+Adventures&loc=en_US"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUOZ8Sf9j8ifswT6Dgb0hOMGG3S3wK2s9VWc7OPlIh77IFf-P5SFNKsmVHIhQDVch6n1jYj7JLHPy0w3tQko-EN0xh1iZJIHyubtMQaIzuY-yLeTCkz4UgVYWL2nj1dGd9_lQvM33PQa5/s400/blog+sign+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291061608916448466" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >To read or leave comments, please <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">click on the comments link below</span>. Thanks!</span></div>Just Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802006723093743285noreply@blogger.com1