MORE EGYPT

Temple of Philae

Internet is faster this morning so uploaded a couple of more pics from Egypt. An outside and inside view of the Temple of Philae. Philae is near Aswan - this temple complex was flooded by the (Russian built) Aswan dam. After a few years the United Nations and nations of Egypt, US, France and Great Britian funded building a dam around the temple site, dismantling the temple, and moving it to an island close by. The US and France were given some antiquities as a Thank You gift (a small, but complete, Egyptian temple that is in a NY museum) - Britian got nothing as they already have lots of stuff from Egypt. To get to Philae we had to go by boat to this island. Saw the Aswan dam the same morning - very interesting!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

At the Pyramids

Had a great Christmas, hope you did too. Returned from Egypt on Dec. 21 - had a great vacation! Only have one picture up as Middle East internet access has been dicey since 3 underwater cables were cut on Dec. 19. No one will say when our internet speed will return to normal, but last time this happened it took about 2 weeks. Took a long time for this one picture to load.

We were in Egypt 13 days and had a great time! Started off in Cairo, took the overnight train to Aswan (visited the dam, much bigger than Hoover Dam), then a cruise down the Nile to Luxor (my favorite part of the trip) seeing monuments and the Valley of the Kings, then flew to Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea where the kids and I enjoyed the beach and Andy went diving. We visited these camels our first full day in Egypt. I wasn't going to ride but the guide literally picked me up and put me on the camel. Riding a camel isn't so bad, it is getting off the camel that is terrifying (ask Grant to tell you that story!).

Will try to get more pictures up later.

ONE MORE POST

Khalifa Stadium Tower under gray skies


Flooding in the streets

before we head to Egypt! Had to put up pictures of yesterday's rain and the aftermath. Blue skies today.

RAIN!

Wow - the first rain at our house since February! Actually had a short thunderstorm (maybe 30 minutes). Erin and I went to the mall towards the beginning, the streets were already flooded. Inside the mall (which is only about 18 months old) stores were closing due to flooding - in those stores! In a few places we could see water dripping from the ceiling - but in other spots there were huge lakes - looked like the water was coming up through the floor.
Glad to see this rain, maybe it will knock some of the dust down. Andy and I are on allergy medicine full time now. No pollen - just lots of dust with the natural winds and all the construction going on around us.
I will not be posting until just before Christmas. We leave Monday for a 2 week vacation in Egypt. Will be nice to get away and see something different!

CAT RETURNED HOME

"Caramel" has been returned to his home! He lives in the neighboring compound, where I had a sign up. The owner was VERY glad to get him back! Turns out he has a bit of a pedigree - he is half Persian and half Domestic Short Hair. He is not netuered yet because they are searching for a white Persian for breeding (those will be lovely kittens!). He had been missing about a week. The owner went door to door in his compound looking for him - but didn't think the cat would have crossed compounds. We are, of course, a bit sad to see him go but are happy for his owners.
Oh well - I will go back to being the designated cat sitter! Sophie, the 15 year old, very sweet cat, should be coming between Christmas and New Year's.

The Bird, the Cat, and the Rain

What a great looking bird!


"Caramel"




Caramel close-up

The cat came first - Tuesday night. He was yowling to get in a friend's house. They already have a cat so they sent him down here to spend the night (yes, they all know the soft touch around here). He is a very smart cat - has been sitting on our laps and purring since his arrival. I put up "Found" signs with his picture in our compound and the 2 neighboring compounds but no one has claimed him. Somebody probably moved and left him behind. As you can see, he has made himself at home!

Thanksgiving at our compound was very nice - about 60 people and 5 turkeys. Lots and lots of food! Ate way too much. Then, the day after Thanksgiving it rained! Just for a few minutes, but it was precipitation. Cold today - only about 80. We put up the Christmas tree and decorations today. Got a new tree - it's upside down!

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

AMERICAN SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL BUFFET

Grant at the buffet


North American table

I am at the far left

was today! Lots of food again this year. Not many decorations this year, we were asked to come in our "national dress" instead - which was a great excuse to wear my colonial America costume. At the North America (Canada, US, Mexico) table we had the usual: hot dogs, meatloaf, brownies, choc chip cookies, maple leaf cookies, pancakes and syrup, popcorn, jello, cornbread, cupcakes, KFC, hamburgers, etc; Other continents represented: Europe (where the Belgians made fresh waffles with strawberries and whipped cream), Northern and Southern Africa, Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc; - lots of sushi!), Middle East, Central and South America, Australia/New Zealand (I had to make a brownie delivery to these ladies at one point), Antartica (where the kids picked up bottled water). Lots of great food! So much food that the school construction/maintenance workers ate lunch as well. All together we fed over 2,000 people.

THINGS I MISS, AND WILL MISS

Things I miss: waxed paper, flavored decaf coffee beans, applesauce, stick margarine, walking around the block, BBQ pork sandwiches topped with coleslaw and melted swiss cheese, sliced honey ham sandwiches with mustard and mayo, Caribou Coffee, bleu cheese dressing, fresh peaches, looking out the window and seeing green, the library, Target, Kohls, Moosehead beer

Things I will miss: chicken shwarma, green apple yogurt (from France), Walkers Stem Ginger Biscuits (cookies, from Scotland), Hob Nobs (British biscuits), having both kids in one school, cheap gas, fresh pita bread, maid service, warm weather all year long

LAST WEEK

Andy, sitting in one of Saddam's thrones




Erin being "pinned" - she is now a Junior Girl Scout!





At the Marine Ball

Been a busy week! First, Andy took a short trip "up north" and sat in the throne that Yasser Arafat gave to Saddam Hussein. He came back in time to catch the end of the Marine Ball - celebrating the birthday of the US Marine Corp. We had our Girl Scout Investiture Ceremony, where Erin and the other members of Junior Troop 011 took off their Brownie pins and became Junior Girl Scouts. Also, another leader and I conducted a 3 hour Girl Scout training at our compound clubhouse (learning to put on this training was the focus of our trip to Dubai in October).

It's Friday morning here (Nov. 21). Andy and Grant are off on a Boy Scout campout at the Inland Sea. Erin and I were planning to go, but we decided to stay home and nurse our colds! This coming week is International Week at the American School - I am going to help with the International Buffet on Monday, dressed in my colonial costume. Wednesday I have a Girl Scout meeting and the International Ladies Potluck Group (Turkey - the nation - is providing the food. It will be the day before Thanksgiving - do you suppose they will serve turkey?). Thursday is Thanksgiving. My kids have school that day, but we will have our 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Potluck dinner at the compound clubhouse. I am roasting a Butterball (17 lbs) for the occasion.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

COMPOUND CONSTRUCTION

On October 26 everyone in the compound got a notice stating that the front of the compound gate would be dug up on Oct. 27 to install a new electrical cable, and that this would require a detour to get in the compound for one day.

In the U.S. that is a one day job - but this is Doha and EVERYTHING takes at least 3 times longer than it should.

Construction actually started on November 2, and we have had a "detour" like this for one week now! There is still a deep hole behind those barriers. Apparently they hit bedrock, for the past week they have been using a large jackhammer to break up rock - starting time 4:30 am. We wake up to that "beautiful music" every morning (well it does drown out the call to prayer!). When will it end? We have started a "pool" - for 1 QR (about 40 cents) guess the date that the construction will be finished enough so that we can drive straight out the gate. Winner to receive all the money. I guessed Nov. 18 - wildly optimistic. I'll keep you updated on the progress.

WHAT A DAY!

Just finished watching John McCain's concession speech, and Barack Obama's speech on CNN. This was a very rare election year for me - I thought both candidates would make excellent Presidents - the VP choice is what guided my vote. I thought about getting up very early this AM to see how it was going - but ended up getting up at my usual 6 am on Wednesday (that's 10 pm Tuesday on the East Coast). At that point Virginia hadn't been called yet. I am so glad my kids were awake and watching when their home state - Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy - went for Obama! John McCain's speech was excellent - he is a great American and I am glad he will remain in the Senate. Obama's speech was also excellent - kudo's to all the speech writers. I wish his Grandmother had lived to see this moment. Also loved it when Obama and Biden brought Biden's mother to the front of the stage. At this writing it looks like the Democrats will have a majority in the Senate - but not a filibuster proof majority. That's good too - feel it is best when the parties have to work together.

What a day!

HALLOWEEN 2008!

Erin


Grant and Friends








AWitch, Speed Bump & Land Cruiser

Happy Halloween! (from our $40 pumpkin!)

(First, just an update, we heard thunder the afternoon of Oct. 31, but no rain! No rain here since February.)

Hope you had a good time (Halloween is for fun!). First, we went trick-or-treating at a larger compound. Kids had a good time - as you can see. Then Andy and I went to the Embassy Marine House party. Our costumes, a real Doha inside joke, were a hit! (Qataris generally drive white Land Cruisers. At night, usually while you are in the left lane doing the speed limit with 20 cars right in front of you, they will come up behind you and flash their high beams at you to tell you to get out of their way. That's generally how they treat people - all the time. They drive like maniacs - hence the tire marks on the speed bump.)

Take care!

QATAR'S FIRST BREAST CANCER WALK

Cutting the Ribbon to Start the Walk

Erin at the Starting Line

Erin, the Doha Sheraton is in the background

On Saturday Erin, Andy and I participated in Doha's first Breast Cancer Walk. The walk was held in the evening (still too hot during the day!) along Doha's Corniche (bay). It was a short walk, maybe 1/2 mile, that is all the organizers could get permits for! Andy and I got bright pink polo shirts (in the Arab world pink is not a feminine color - you see men driving pink cars here!)Anyway, it was a great time for a great cause.

"They" say we are going to have rain tomorrow - we'll see. "They" also said we would have rain on Friday and Saturday and we didn't get a drop. Rain will bring on an excited post!

The Qatari View on Queuing (standing in line)

From the Gulf Times, 18 October 2008: "Queuing is a good practice, but for a Qatari it is a disruption to his work. I cannot stand queuing more than ten minutes. As a Qatari, my daily routine consists of finishing work in more than one place so standing in line is out of the question. One, is that I hate it and second, is that I don’t have time so I just make contact with the senior official of the place where I have to stand in line if it is too crowded or slow. I do this to finish the business I came for, in no time. But if it is not crowded, or if the people in front are moving quickly, I just queue with the others.When it comes to queuing at road signals, I try my best to avoid it. I know most of the shortcut roads in Doha, sometimes they do not shorten the trip but I take them to avoid waiting in line at the signals. When I see queue jumping I become furious if the one who did not respect the line did not ask first, although I know sometimes I call my contacts to avoid this practice. But Qataris feel they are free to do anything they want, as it is their country."
At least this Qatari is honest. Shameless, but honest.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

"Ski Dubai" in the Mall of the Emirates

Pedestrian Overpass - we need in Doha!

Long Tube is Ski Dubai ski run at the Mall



World's Only 7 Star Hotel


Helicopter Landing at the Hotel







Just got back from a 3 day Girl Scout training in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is a one hour flight from Doha, and feels like a trip into the future! There is A LOT of money in Dubai! The Mall of the Emirates is beautiful, and contains Ski Dubai, with an indoor ski slope, ski lift, sledding run, snow boarding hill, and ski jump. It costs quite a bit to get in, over $50 for 2 hours. But, that includes all the equipment you need: boots, coat, hat, gloves, skis, sleds, snow boards, etc; The temperature is a constant -3 celsius. They have snow making equipment inside. The ski run is short but, as you can imagine, quite a novelty in the Middle East! I did not go in - I am not a downhill skier and will not pay money to be cold! But it was fun to watch. The last night I was there we had a group dinner at a restaurant that was floor to ceiling windows overlooking Ski Dubai.
I was fortunate to be hosted by a Girl Scout, American, family in Dubai. They live in a huge house (think palace, 6 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths and an elevator) - I had a beautiful room and a large marble bathroom with oversized tub. Super nice family, they have a daughter Erin's age and we have agreed that our 2 troops are going to be pen pals. The last day I was there they took me to the beach, and to lunch at the hotel next door to the world's only 7 star hotel (this hotel is on its own island and you can't go there unless you are a guest). I was so impressed that PORK was on the menu at this restaurant - wow! Dubai is a lot more open than Qatar.
Anyway, the purpose of this trip was Girl Scout training and I am so glad I went. The training was excellent - the Girl Scout program is changing and I think it is change for the better. Will be very busy here now as the other leader who went with me will be teaming up with me to train the other Doha leaders on this new program.
Other big news is that, while I was gone, Grant got his braces off! As soon as I can get him to stand still for it I will post a photo of his new smile. He looks great!

THE INLAND SEA!

Stuck in the sand



Our Day Camp


Driving the Dunes


Having Fun!


Andy playing in the Sand








Just saw a statistic that 97% of the 4 wheel drive owners in the US never take their cars off road, or use the 4 wheel drive. Not true here in Doha! We drive off road all the time. It is necessary even in the city! Yesterday, we went really off road and traveled down to the Inland Sea in the south of Qatar. Here the sea has a small inlet and makes a nice beach in the midst of sand dunes. The waves are very gentle. It's about a 1/2 hour trip over the dunes. We stopped at the end of the road, at Sealine Beach Resort, and let some air out of our tires. We did get stuck in the sand once, some nice people pulled us out. Going over the dunes is quite an experience, basically get a run up, go up the dune, then take your foot off the gas for the trip down the dune. Can be a wild ride! Got to the beach where the kids had a great time digging in the sand. On our return to Doha, had to stop where the road began to put air back in the tires. It was about 4:30 in the afternoon, on a Friday, and it was rush hour at the sand dunes! I couldn't believe the number of people heading out there for the evening.
All in all we had a great time - and will do it again sometime.

THE GOOD OLD DAYS!

when things were uncomplicated - NOT! I have a job transcribing obituaries from the Monroe County, Ohio newspaper The Spirit of Democracy. I am working in 1894, and the town of Woodsfield just got its first telephone system. Below is an excerpt explaining how to use the phone:

"Mr. M. M. Maloney, representing the Magneto Telephone company, has prepared a few instructions which will aid persons using the instruments, and he submits the following directions:
To call central for connections press the button on the left side of the phone, turn the crank on the right side of the phone three or four times, take the handles off the hooks, push back the switch on the left side of the phone as far as it will go. Put one handle to the ear and the other close to the mouth and speak in an ordinary tone of voice. If you should fail to hear distinctly (which will not often occur) put both phones to your ear. When through talking, throw the switch back into place, hang the handles up, press the button and ring two or three rounds. When called by central press the button and ring three times before commencing to speak and then follow the above directions. During a thunderstorm throw the switch on the top of the phone to the right as far as it will go. Do not get mad if you do not get the person you want; he may not be within reach of the sound of the bell."

As of this issue (May 3, 1894) there are only 15 phones in Woodsfield. With such a complicated system it is amazing the telephone went on to become a fixture in every household.

EID IS HERE

a day early! Just got the official word that the new moon (not the full moon, as misstated in my previous post) has been sighted. Ramadan is over and we are now in the Eid holiday. Got a text message that the American School is closed tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 1) - won't open again until Monday, Oct. 6. Hear fireworks outside as people celebrate the end of their month long, daytime, fasting.

(Grant and I went out and looked for the moon - we can't see it!)

ERIN'S 10TH BIRTHDAY!

Erin & Friends in Jacuzzi



Water Cannon!









They Got Me!




Showing off Their Bags

Andy at Party










Had a great time on Saturday with Erin's birthday party! Her actual birthday isn't until later this week. We had the party on Saturday because the Muslim Eid 5 day holiday starts on Wednesday (or maybe Tuesday!*) and lots of people leave town. The girls gathered at our compound clubhouse and pool to make a jeweled bag, swim, do a pull string pinata and have ice cream and cake. Everyone had a great time! Kids have Wed, Thur and next Sunday off school due to Eid. It's getting cooler now - more comfortable going to the pool during the day, so we will have that to do. Plus Eid marks the end of Ramadan so we will be able to eat and drink in public, and stores, etc; will be open during the day. I should be out of here before Ramadan starts next year (it moves forward by 11 days each year - so will start in mid-August in 2009).

*Ramadan ends and Eid starts with the sighting of the full moon. Astronomers can tell you when you should be able to see the moon with the naked eye, and they say Oct. 1 this year. But, if the powers that be spot the moon early then Eid will start early. We have an e-mail from the kids school asking us to check our e-mail on Monday night and early Tues AM, just in case the moon is spotted and school has to be called off on Tuesday.

RAMADAN FEAST!

Whirling Dervish

The Band

Dessert!

Have been to 2 Ramadan dinners now - one at La Cigale Hotel and one at the Ritz Carlton. La Cigale was first. The food was great (see the dessert photo) but the enterainment fell flat. The food was also great at the Ritz Carlton (the other photos) and the entertainment was fantastic with a whirling dervish (don't know how they do it - he "whirled" around for 15 - 20 minutes), a band and a magician. Atmosphere is terrific - they want you to feel like you are in a tent in the desert. Service (especially at the Ritz) was outstanding. Still, I will be very happy when Ramadan is over. I am a morning person, and having nothing open during the day is getting very frustrating.

We are having Erin's Birthday party this Saturday at our compound pool. She is very excited! Ramadan ends next week (Oct. 1) and the holiday of Eid begins. Kids will be off school Wed and Thur.

Getting a little cooler here. Only 111 degrees yesterday afternoon!

SCHOOL DAYS

Been a very busy week at the American School of Doha. Had a PTA Welcome for Newcomers, and back to back Back to School Nights for Grant and Erin. As you may recall, the start of school was delayed last year due to construction on the campus. Well, the High/Middle School and Upper Elementary campuses are now finished. The Lower Elementary (preK - 2) grades started 2 weeks later than the others this year - due to construction at their campus. Am very impressed by the High/Middle school campus. They have a nice gym with a climbing wall, all the newest machines in the workout room, beautiful theatre, running track around a grassy(!) field, and an indoor swimming pool. Elementary has a new cafeteria and new classrooms - no more trailers! As you may have gathered, of all the places I have lived Doha is not my favorite - but the school here is fantastic (my kids like it too!).

Big news here is that Grant has a small part in the High School production of West Side Story. He is one of the "Sharks" and his name is "Nibbles" (which is what we call him now). He is taking guitar at school (music dept. is very nice as well - sure beats the one at my high school) - he has an hour and a half lesson every other day so should be able to strum a bit by the end of the year. I am still working on getting Erin into a ballet class - her teacher from last year has left the country. We will start Girl Scouts soon - I am going to co-lead Erin's 4th grade Junior troop.

Friday night we are going to a Ramadan dinner with a few friends. Muslims fast all day during this month, and at night the hotels throw lavish banquets! Went to one last year and had a good time. Will try to get some pictures.

A little cooler here today. Its 1:30 pm and only 119 degrees.

HEAT AND BROWNIES

Setember 2, 2008 83 degrees indoors, 122.6 degrees outside, 36% humidity inside.

While in the US this summer I picked up this indoor/outdoor thermometer (had a long conversation with myself in the Radio Shack - do I really want to know how hot it is?). Well, I know now. The outdoor probe goes out my kitchen window, and, to be fair, is in the sun in the afternoon when this picture was taken. So, it was 122.6 in the sun (not much cloud cover here) - HOT!

The holy Muslim month of Ramadan has started. Muslims fast during daylight hours (no eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum). Restaurants (except for those at hotels - travelers are exempt from the fast) are closed during the day. No restaurant may serve alcohol during the month (most don't anyway - generally just the ones at the hotels where Westerners stay, but if you don't have a home supply of alcohol you are out of luck). Most businesses are open for a few hours in the morning, then closed during the heat of the day, opening again after sundown (example - I had to go to a framing place yesterday. It was open from 8 - 11:30 am , then from 7:30 - 9:00 pm). By law, people can only work 5 hours a day during this month. I am not Muslim so am not expected to fast, BUT, if I were to be caught eating, drinking, smoking in public during this month I could be fined and/or arrested. No kidding.

Anyway, I found a great brownie recipe which I will share! Have made this with Bailey's and with Kaluha - both are great. If you make it with egg substitute it is light (145 calories per brownie, figuring 16 servings in a batch). I can't get egg substitute here so can't vouch for how that tastes.

IRISH CREAM OR KALUHA BROWNIES

1 c. all purpose flour

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa

1/4 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1/3 c. semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 c. butter (I used stick margarine and it was fine)

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. egg substitute (or 2 whole eggs)

1/4 c. Baileys Irish Cream or Kaluha (coffee liquer)

1 t. vanilla extract

cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spoon flour into a measuring cup, level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a small bowl, stir with a whisk.

Place the chocolate chips and butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until the chips and butter melt, stirring every 30 seconds. Cool slightly. Add sugar and next 3 ingredients (through vanilla extract) stirring well with a whisk. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until sugar dissolves, stirring every 30 seconds. Fold in the flour mixture, stirring until just moist. Spread batter in a 9 inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out almost clean. Cool on a wire rack.

SUMMER SUMMARY

"Foamhenge" near Natural Bridge, VA






Kathleen, Erin and Dyson enjoying the lake





Grant and Erin in Lincoln Park Chicago








Andy on "The Snowbird"





Wheeling, WV bridge over the OH River







We’re back in Doha after a 2 month vacation in the US! It was difficult to come back, but we have lots of great memories to tide us over until we move back to Virginia next summer.
So what did you do this summer? We:

-visited 9 states (Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland), seeing 2 Great Lakes (Michigan and Erie), fields of corn and newly baled hay, cows and horses in rich pastures, rolling hills, valleys, lakes, crossing Mountains (Appalachians), Rivers (Potomac, Ohio, Allegheny, Chicago) and numerous streams. The green soothed my soul.

-attended 3 family reunions (Newcomer, Bennett, Martie) and a wedding.

-ate great German food in Illinois, sausage sandwiches at the Medina County (OH) Fair, Irish Food in Chicago, the best pizza on earth at Marie’s Pizza in Wadsworth, Ohio, great Amish Food at the Amish Door in Ohio, a pig roast at the wedding, great pies at family reunions, our favorite Chinese (Tau Tau in Burke, Virginia),fantastic chocolate fondue, dinner overlooking the Ohio River at the Riverview Restaurant, breakfast at a small café in Sistersville, West Virginia (complete with colorful characters), and lots of pork (chops, bacon sausage, roast) everywhere!

-did lots of genealogy research! My thanks to the friendly and helpful staff at the:
Fairfax County Regional Library, Fairfax, Virginia
Medina County Courthouse, Medina, Ohio
Monroe County Courthouse, Woodsfield, Ohio
Mt. Zwingli Church, Sharon Center, Ohio
Mt. Olive Church and Lee Township, Monroe County, Ohio
and the nice gentleman who, seeing me looking for a grave in the Sharon Center Cemetery, came out with a map and helped me.

-saw a great show (Blue Man Group in Chicago)
visited 2 zoos (Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and the Living Treasures Animal Park in Donegal, Pennsylvania)
sailed Lake Erie on “The Snowbird”
had pizza, and enjoyed a beautiful summer evening, on a brand new porch
stayed with two friends, two brothers, one sister, and two sets of parents – Thanks!
went diving at a Ohio quarry
visited 2 museums (Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois and Mound Builders in Moundsville, West Virginia)
stayed (and experienced a thunderstorm – complete with loss of electricity) at the Historic Wells Inn in Sistersville, West Virginia (kids thought it was spooky – I loved it!)
ran the river at Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania
crossed the Ohio River on the Sistersville Ferry
spent a great day boating and tubing in Tennessee (beautiful country!)
gambled in Wheeling, West Virginia
visited a Civil War Battlefield and a historic home (Stones River Battlefield and Oaklands, both in Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
attended a fantastic neighborhood 4th of July Celebration, complete with fireworks, BBQ, beer, and a bicycle parade
did lots of shopping (school supplies, clothes, coffee, hot chocolate, Girl and Boy Scout supplies, etc;)
visited 2 college campuses (Virginia Tech and the University of Illinois)
toured a cave, Natural Bridge, and “Foamhenge” (Natural Bridge, Virginia)
walked in the rain (we truly enjoyed it!) at the Holden Arboretum (near Cleveland, Ohio)
learned to play “Rock Band”
enjoyed cutthroat games of euchre and chicken tracks
got skunked! (skunk let loose very close to the house one night, our eyes were watering!)
had fun at amusement and water parks (Waldameer in Erie, Pennsylvania, the Steiner Rec Center pool in Wadsworth, Ohio and The Water Mine in Fairfax, Virginia)
attended the Medina County (Ohio) Fair, riding my first camel(!), seeing all the exhibits, a horse show, the swine judging and a demolition derby (think cars in a mosh pit, or Doha on a Friday night).

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone, who know who you are, who put up with us, put us up, and made the summer special for our family. We love you all, we miss you all, and we can’t wait to see you again.

COMING TO AMERICA!

In 2 days - can't wait! Doubt I will be posting this summer. Will be back in Doha August 14th - will pick it up then.

If I don't see you - Have a Great Summer!

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Our own Marine Guards with the Birthday Cake.

What a great party at the Ritz Carlton! A friend of ours was the volunteer event planner, and she did an outstanding job. The theme, as you can see, was "Route 66." There were vintage cars and Harleys scattered throughout the foyer and ballroom (loaned from Sheikh Faisal's museum). Food was representative of the states on Route 66 - tacos, hot dogs, steak sandwiches, corn soup, crab cakes, etc;. We had a great time - and even snuck in a photo on one of the Harleys.

Fortunately we were indoors. We are on day 2 of a wind/dust storm of Biblical proportions. I had a dream last night that I was near a volcanic eruption and my eyes were stinging, nose was stuffed and throat all scratchy from the dust. Woke up with those real symptoms - no volcano just dust blowing everywhere! I made the mistake of leaving our car windows cracked just a bit yesterday because it was so hot (115). Got in the car an hour later and there was a thin layer of dust inside - so nasty!

10 Days to the USA!