Friday, May 25, 2012

First Friday in Doha

The view outside our window this morning - my first Friday back in Doha:
 
 
Like fog on a California beach morning, the sand keeps rolling in.  Difference: the sun won't burn it away…only time does that.
 
Noses red and bloody. Chests sore.  Anybody still wondering why locals wear scarves and long, loose, robe-like clothing?
protecting my face from the elements (thanks for the scarf, MA)
Today is Bob's one day off.  We'll hit the Villaggio Mall (named for its Las Vegas mother), where we'll peruse shops like Footlocker, The Athlete's Foot, Claire's and Sephora.  We'll skip McDonalds and Baskin Robbins and head instead to Zaatar wo Zeit a popular Lebanese restaurant at at the entrance to the souq's alley maze.
 
We'll share a platter of fried cheese (jubneh halloumi) - salty deliciousness served with a plate of warm pita bread and a bowl of tomatoes and lettuce.  Make-your-own-cheese-sandwiches:  Yum.  Aheb ("I love").  If I can talk Bob into it, we'll wander the souq and see if we can find someone…anyone…who speaks Arabic before returning to our little apartment and a movie on Dubai 2 tv.
 
If lights are blinking across the bay we might enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace, where we'll watch people promenade the stone and brick pathway below.  Ahhh, Doha. Nice to be back.



 "Welcome Back" flowers from hubby…isn't he great?
 

Saturday, May 12, 2012

The Hot and the Hottie

America, I love you.  But doggone you keep me so busy:  house, yard, taxes, cars, plumber, tile guy, yard guy, banking, mail.  Doctor appointments, cleaning… shopping, shopping, shopping to fill boxes, boxes, boxes.

And the weird stuff: Hilary Clinton’s signature on my (our) marriage license.  The bathroom that caves in, ant home invasion, tree funeral.

craaaaaack

It isn’t all toil: happy hour. Arabic tutor. My piano, garden, gym. Garrison Keillor, Shrek-the-Musical, family time, soccer match, Hunger Games, Billy’s house, robins nesting in my downspout and… babies.


(Pause for heart swelling toenail curling squeezy cheesy absorbing encompassing love-dote-adoring…)

Sniff.  Ahem.

It’s been grand, America. But it’s time (again).

First…a pause in Pennsylvania (Eileen Spinelli! Highlights for Children!), Buffalo break (KATIE!!), DC layover (MARYANN!!).

Then:  back to the beach, my writing table, Corniche, Fanar.  Four hour loads of laundry, chewable dust, blistering sun.  Boiling water and burning sand.

Back to the hot…and the hottie:


More soon…