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.