tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218354882024-03-12T23:24:26.852-07:00kblifeoniceLife in Antarctica and beyond...a glimpse into some of my adventures and travels.KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-9964366921562402132010-01-08T04:05:00.000-08:002010-01-08T04:47:42.252-08:002010<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">I guess I am in an updating mood...</span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;">Happy 2010!!! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Its a whole new year and for the 2nd year in a row I am in the same place on the map that I started in last year. That doesnt happen for me all the time. I am still in Doha, Qatar and guess things are going ok. Still feeling like its my big girl life with big job, apartment, car, cable bill and dining room chairs. Its all very very different to me but so far so good. I feel like I am kind of sort of figuring out living here as much as a western female is allowed to figure out. I still dont know if I like it or if after 2 years I am still just confused by the whole place. When living in the islands and people would ask, do you like it....well thats an easy YES, but when people ask me that about living here....I guess I still dont know.</span> </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">Things I know for sure that I like about living here: </span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); ">working with people from 70 different countries</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); ">having more of a real job with nice benefits</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); ">being close to other places...as in not at the bottom of the planet or a remote island</span></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">Things that make me crazy and want to move away: </span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204); ">driving</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204); ">being constantly stared at and often followed</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">difficulty of the most basic things...getting something fixed or delivered is impossible</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204); ">the sense of "entitlement" that I guess only the super rich have...and this is a country full of the super rich. It definitely bugs!!!</span></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXuW9xWQlZsJzSXRr-FbH-uJihGgEIHzv48UjdAE_jeeYoFvRSihiDM7WjXTbfYtIfpzwQwhjj2x7twkWNXB-aWnanNX9gF5_RPnygQDEGhj0sWq8lzr76F7xBQsU_hqaqLBH/s1600-h/IMG_6829.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXuW9xWQlZsJzSXRr-FbH-uJihGgEIHzv48UjdAE_jeeYoFvRSihiDM7WjXTbfYtIfpzwQwhjj2x7twkWNXB-aWnanNX9gF5_RPnygQDEGhj0sWq8lzr76F7xBQsU_hqaqLBH/s320/IMG_6829.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424339143631820274" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Its has seemed in the past that at New Years times, I was usually getting ready to make a big move of some sorts. This time I am feeling kind of settled and am thinking more about vacations than actually moving continents. Its just different.....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">So for 2010, I am hoping to take a couple of trips....possibly a live-aboard dive trip, maybe another swim trek and probably a trip to the US at some point. I know those are not boring things but I guess its the being sort of "settled" thats feeling a bit boring at the moment. </span></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-69664231677530311582010-01-08T03:55:00.001-08:002010-01-08T04:02:10.694-08:00Quick trip home<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Got to make a quick 2 week trip home to Oregon</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaFuAPN9gJ7vizFbZjL5rhNO1dGIS-uqWkx-bYN-Rqs7nqhhMFUE8_-rezRQyuWSyIOT4bIBkLEzKXw8LOBfOGv3hHxO0E4IKLCt2h2gjJPaYJbQ0pEl1qyQ-ePKJresmSprU/s1600-h/IMG_0619.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaFuAPN9gJ7vizFbZjL5rhNO1dGIS-uqWkx-bYN-Rqs7nqhhMFUE8_-rezRQyuWSyIOT4bIBkLEzKXw8LOBfOGv3hHxO0E4IKLCt2h2gjJPaYJbQ0pEl1qyQ-ePKJresmSprU/s320/IMG_0619.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424337216745243954" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxTY7EHw4Gjy12R92KI7kE3NMPh27Uv0IaOxdXLYXBUD-G1JdgAJPHo_7jIHAA5klkqotr_yLqoP1n1fku4V2N1VnWVxavGV2OufuKK2SrICSS7CTtkzkUdZxq2nLRTThzAUG/s1600-h/IMG_0618.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxTY7EHw4Gjy12R92KI7kE3NMPh27Uv0IaOxdXLYXBUD-G1JdgAJPHo_7jIHAA5klkqotr_yLqoP1n1fku4V2N1VnWVxavGV2OufuKK2SrICSS7CTtkzkUdZxq2nLRTThzAUG/s320/IMG_0618.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424337213707331746" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Mt. Bachelor<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2l3Cv0T1mu8ta4pQAz-If_MV7HYRsGWf9uZEx87awCyLiPlUWv6u8bibzDXBr9AC5kTy_yCFPYQZtv-HMA4XqRp7YtI5Qt943M3TRxk_c-CjBAMTvlYutrWNFmejmjCFtymJ/s1600-h/IMG_0617.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2l3Cv0T1mu8ta4pQAz-If_MV7HYRsGWf9uZEx87awCyLiPlUWv6u8bibzDXBr9AC5kTy_yCFPYQZtv-HMA4XqRp7YtI5Qt943M3TRxk_c-CjBAMTvlYutrWNFmejmjCFtymJ/s320/IMG_0617.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424337053547423522" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Happy to be skiing on a real mountain and not in a Dubai mall!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlUSuZSqPhPlM82nyUuC78aYILZ8ooF3AbGqbp7Y0iAxUNfd-6aTLMM86h-4hh7z0QFWcNprPiV1ZzWpFA89nC3bppdRB23es6Z7CAPdSr5sg_9wfgBCoDtgiCLR9sxTI1wfr/s1600-h/IMG_0607.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlUSuZSqPhPlM82nyUuC78aYILZ8ooF3AbGqbp7Y0iAxUNfd-6aTLMM86h-4hh7z0QFWcNprPiV1ZzWpFA89nC3bppdRB23es6Z7CAPdSr5sg_9wfgBCoDtgiCLR9sxTI1wfr/s320/IMG_0607.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424337048831397074" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWLIIrXsyTf1FqC4Hd8UpnhkSOKV53a8RNgCA_DB4qPk_zWzJhrKLir69kPQHA6iHemaki0s_ZgspEaSovjEO7qF_uCDcoIQGxzwt_0F6CmZriy23gb-opc8qx1lr0NUMI6Nm/s1600-h/IMG_0602.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWLIIrXsyTf1FqC4Hd8UpnhkSOKV53a8RNgCA_DB4qPk_zWzJhrKLir69kPQHA6iHemaki0s_ZgspEaSovjEO7qF_uCDcoIQGxzwt_0F6CmZriy23gb-opc8qx1lr0NUMI6Nm/s320/IMG_0602.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424337042765996610" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Got my peeps to represent!!!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln5sUGHRLrCHFrGjyz_7xINZ2-XZQI51EUiMU9rtoJYSeQpGM0V78naIEv2eSsB_858aPORPym8y7hu4qep8ylc2DFclHFf9XRmWF7MYxW5A2XlG0YSlNa4AQTesTf68x9HFR/s1600-h/IMG_0579.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln5sUGHRLrCHFrGjyz_7xINZ2-XZQI51EUiMU9rtoJYSeQpGM0V78naIEv2eSsB_858aPORPym8y7hu4qep8ylc2DFclHFf9XRmWF7MYxW5A2XlG0YSlNa4AQTesTf68x9HFR/s320/IMG_0579.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424337034644786562" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">4 year old Ray Ray showing me how to use my computer!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecMCXRZ5AbBevuE_LBuLPXMalfi0i4T5YZyLLwSW4IYTqPAXaCMkjFcHgz_Jb_lkf3sZJsweQ9niwx_usX1XFnN-VdiJh1p9HiS9LRRK3ZP9OnXHI1MSQN5gzBw3pcqJsqAa2/s1600-h/IMG_0551.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecMCXRZ5AbBevuE_LBuLPXMalfi0i4T5YZyLLwSW4IYTqPAXaCMkjFcHgz_Jb_lkf3sZJsweQ9niwx_usX1XFnN-VdiJh1p9HiS9LRRK3ZP9OnXHI1MSQN5gzBw3pcqJsqAa2/s320/IMG_0551.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424337029694106690" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">The family celebrating Christmas Eve at the local Irish bar!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7Bx0KDH1HXmof78CJLvh3BsaXkjPIUEz3DvpNJ9ho0MW-UlTQ1wauXxz7HtPenzUCiKYXj4yMHqj4p5O1tjVa8kFUh0MBpn653ygpFwZt9XQW_Cs78aRyboF3Bax7yw3Ry0K/s1600-h/IMG_0550.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7Bx0KDH1HXmof78CJLvh3BsaXkjPIUEz3DvpNJ9ho0MW-UlTQ1wauXxz7HtPenzUCiKYXj4yMHqj4p5O1tjVa8kFUh0MBpn653ygpFwZt9XQW_Cs78aRyboF3Bax7yw3Ry0K/s320/IMG_0550.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424336696127117442" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOnqyoBqagGvPSOoHtJyukvAI0NPf2j-qoUSCtD80FtXkILkXBWRrhZJDULO7N6e_8jjvojzNzcCFomB-ETetoV71-kli7lXMBywM_4M5s4ytOtRLWo42Mo2YeOZAB9VEAq3K/s1600-h/IMG_0548.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOnqyoBqagGvPSOoHtJyukvAI0NPf2j-qoUSCtD80FtXkILkXBWRrhZJDULO7N6e_8jjvojzNzcCFomB-ETetoV71-kli7lXMBywM_4M5s4ytOtRLWo42Mo2YeOZAB9VEAq3K/s320/IMG_0548.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424336693527821858" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Dad and his annual work of art, the "pole tree"<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHW-SBdXK22768gO_kFcx8aG0lRXfvuk-K_q_2_hyphenhypheni2xFR4qmrm1USQjS3QLakjPQBf_62VrBVQc0Bs96lD4osonnAB-mNDv4y4TEv5klefb00AOuClfC8Q4cS9Y1X-nFAFJJ/s1600-h/IMG_0545.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHW-SBdXK22768gO_kFcx8aG0lRXfvuk-K_q_2_hyphenhypheni2xFR4qmrm1USQjS3QLakjPQBf_62VrBVQc0Bs96lD4osonnAB-mNDv4y4TEv5klefb00AOuClfC8Q4cS9Y1X-nFAFJJ/s320/IMG_0545.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424336684104829202" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYWuOau_CJhskbqGCk4XnjkJqwd46_s5VC_i19bXwD5fkJO5Su9ucrRLW-4vw52p6U-BLnbqD4OQo3cf-F-ygXiuuJB1X_Kekop6IK3IzeyRWP5aX-uU4sp3GwSqUVxW198rW/s1600-h/IMG_0540.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYWuOau_CJhskbqGCk4XnjkJqwd46_s5VC_i19bXwD5fkJO5Su9ucrRLW-4vw52p6U-BLnbqD4OQo3cf-F-ygXiuuJB1X_Kekop6IK3IzeyRWP5aX-uU4sp3GwSqUVxW198rW/s320/IMG_0540.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424336679615955618" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">I used miles to upgade to first class and I was really suprised when I was the ONLY one up there!! I had the whole cabin all to myself!!!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRVhCmEz_Wpdu4E5WIyrbvxcROeiGjE7gBodCQTnXVAfQio9juaL2u_EzI3w-rScVUdpYDD_aG_xytUZ9FhyphenhyphenKxAdwkHTfg_5A9XOEiAN3U37j38sjjQFMtQ8-OS00vQzXEdOl/s1600-h/100_1114.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRVhCmEz_Wpdu4E5WIyrbvxcROeiGjE7gBodCQTnXVAfQio9juaL2u_EzI3w-rScVUdpYDD_aG_xytUZ9FhyphenhyphenKxAdwkHTfg_5A9XOEiAN3U37j38sjjQFMtQ8-OS00vQzXEdOl/s320/100_1114.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424336674392109858" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Momma and her 65 balloons!!!</span>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-82308993936936894282010-01-08T03:38:00.000-08:002010-01-08T03:54:02.877-08:00Coconuts, Camels and Cheetahs!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">I dont know how it gets to be 2 months later but...here is a brief update!!!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Still in crazy old Doha which I think I have said before is half in 1810 and half in 2010. My good friend Julie came to visit for a couple of weeks and below are some of the things we got into to.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpa6PHbtY7vSsY0mPzwSi6G9F1l5UTHBukIEnIoM0t66waAtP6OTC06kWpjdggR5xHl4LbYZRiu5kuh62yJU_SNlDFnONgdy3KDNfg4m0s-GHqffmB9GChLwwOyDy5I38w39M/s1600-h/IMG_7119.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpa6PHbtY7vSsY0mPzwSi6G9F1l5UTHBukIEnIoM0t66waAtP6OTC06kWpjdggR5xHl4LbYZRiu5kuh62yJU_SNlDFnONgdy3KDNfg4m0s-GHqffmB9GChLwwOyDy5I38w39M/s320/IMG_7119.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333659037695266" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Local man at the old souqs, old men sitting in wheel barrows is a very common sight there!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAxh3uKAXRrj8KYXuL7LqZ9sjP_NwxklWlCkSZuz8Sf1ATqmcqLL7N4OaVxuc7lj86BseqZDA6bzTz4Gq5xO92RIM7uugEmToaCSZIsN-IABbBW6gqdxDytVnS-y0Fjog7bSZ/s1600-h/IMG_7054.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAxh3uKAXRrj8KYXuL7LqZ9sjP_NwxklWlCkSZuz8Sf1ATqmcqLL7N4OaVxuc7lj86BseqZDA6bzTz4Gq5xO92RIM7uugEmToaCSZIsN-IABbBW6gqdxDytVnS-y0Fjog7bSZ/s320/IMG_7054.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333657227116466" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">gold, gold and more gold and then some gold!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5ZFiV49i5xvJFaC8_l2vNoYKL97NvHbHm2nbg2g3_xERrxQlFlWlUyC1UEUGGS6Holc4AJjjTE8y93uJf3RjrQVyBlvGF6nE5hRj8ds1bv0I6IxpnmkWfCYwNYKert7RnmEl/s1600-h/IMG_7045.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5ZFiV49i5xvJFaC8_l2vNoYKL97NvHbHm2nbg2g3_xERrxQlFlWlUyC1UEUGGS6Holc4AJjjTE8y93uJf3RjrQVyBlvGF6nE5hRj8ds1bv0I6IxpnmkWfCYwNYKert7RnmEl/s320/IMG_7045.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333652189936130" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">We found a Christmas tree!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYc0Lxm8ilwLwgx7hn1cc-f1Dp6FG48vuaM9dK_cPdzsMSi7d3q5zP_pdYUxKqIYTYEwYFIelbuBNCT9aJ6R5FRZW0WFX_l1k86g2JiW28Xs7KCyTZVG7_j6LmmEIYLLfbyna/s1600-h/IMG_6636.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYc0Lxm8ilwLwgx7hn1cc-f1Dp6FG48vuaM9dK_cPdzsMSi7d3q5zP_pdYUxKqIYTYEwYFIelbuBNCT9aJ6R5FRZW0WFX_l1k86g2JiW28Xs7KCyTZVG7_j6LmmEIYLLfbyna/s320/IMG_6636.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333645509847890" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Got to spend a night in Dubai catching up with Rudy<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzBDyTBe83s_GdJHbIfkOjXXyYs5l8bKYdmpGunJ1Xe3W8uGa1Sjt006K5QekL7IyLGaZcoOl5ogsQl6ggKfuQiz8uAKRhJsakNUCJrJgNwntkfWKZOPV2uOKkmQZKYju5T2N/s1600-h/IMG_6599.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzBDyTBe83s_GdJHbIfkOjXXyYs5l8bKYdmpGunJ1Xe3W8uGa1Sjt006K5QekL7IyLGaZcoOl5ogsQl6ggKfuQiz8uAKRhJsakNUCJrJgNwntkfWKZOPV2uOKkmQZKYju5T2N/s320/IMG_6599.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333419973025154" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Me & Julie out in the sand<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1GOtXWoeeJJYxd8dBg_EV2UdlkBfbQDIRZQ2LEI8XBVt73Hzr4jH1cjRVgu0AOxPnE2Lkt_xCkReF_9xc7wk9qJroGP7BnhJF3brl8rUxbZ4Ox8b_1tI-2joP75hLHaBKtuo/s1600-h/IMG_6503.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1GOtXWoeeJJYxd8dBg_EV2UdlkBfbQDIRZQ2LEI8XBVt73Hzr4jH1cjRVgu0AOxPnE2Lkt_xCkReF_9xc7wk9qJroGP7BnhJF3brl8rUxbZ4Ox8b_1tI-2joP75hLHaBKtuo/s320/IMG_6503.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333305373638130" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt0eD3FluGFnym3gqVLaJX_CrFmsSvl0AQEm2yatIbi0HmnC03xDtVzjUYICuwMf7HEbBQjn5hykuYytUvGEj4X26kA2swkNvgWZwj0V6T4h2tIJbVKAJ-5IXWOVNz5eHZ2YA/s1600-h/IMG_6379.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt0eD3FluGFnym3gqVLaJX_CrFmsSvl0AQEm2yatIbi0HmnC03xDtVzjUYICuwMf7HEbBQjn5hykuYytUvGEj4X26kA2swkNvgWZwj0V6T4h2tIJbVKAJ-5IXWOVNz5eHZ2YA/s320/IMG_6379.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333301450895618" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgt2NolLHVuyLHk-9qDwco4vhOkxwcOJPACgUw29lwww0wAX-zaAmVo2ltuMCbCg7HRO1fElqsfLDEV6o4csD_NhuvvrhPaC-cMz2kd6U12Uknw8SReHyO9AEKUwYRpN6G39D/s1600-h/IMG_6318.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgt2NolLHVuyLHk-9qDwco4vhOkxwcOJPACgUw29lwww0wAX-zaAmVo2ltuMCbCg7HRO1fElqsfLDEV6o4csD_NhuvvrhPaC-cMz2kd6U12Uknw8SReHyO9AEKUwYRpN6G39D/s320/IMG_6318.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333291850226642" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">a cheetah...seriously!!! Just driving by in the locals land cruiser. The guy then decided to actually follow us to my apartment. Then the security guard gets distracted by the cheetah so the crazy man gets to come into the building. Quality!!!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GE9dReTvOa2KpifEYyKzKzbTxZ7x3NYv0Pi-tIpYJO2qsT5yC_EFUQQrlHUbqvmBlpcbt3vSm12ImstChin9baaMxlELC8V4xFM2Eomwz8Xs1jLGJ8JqcKcNHkw2XiLzAeV8/s1600-h/IMG_6306.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GE9dReTvOa2KpifEYyKzKzbTxZ7x3NYv0Pi-tIpYJO2qsT5yC_EFUQQrlHUbqvmBlpcbt3vSm12ImstChin9baaMxlELC8V4xFM2Eomwz8Xs1jLGJ8JqcKcNHkw2XiLzAeV8/s320/IMG_6306.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333288172692034" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">McDonalds....same same in every language!!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTGNLNmIPmPvYQFzwGvGbHJo7mZJDq1sGAsSgnfjl_o8zh5yU20N4KEx1F9uGkMnZCgxw1voy9egiNrfTnj_WOVWy3SqSjZZwnVY9MKIEFuYPUYCIfGplQIAd6bLrkPFMW4T8/s1600-h/IMG_6288.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTGNLNmIPmPvYQFzwGvGbHJo7mZJDq1sGAsSgnfjl_o8zh5yU20N4KEx1F9uGkMnZCgxw1voy9egiNrfTnj_WOVWy3SqSjZZwnVY9MKIEFuYPUYCIfGplQIAd6bLrkPFMW4T8/s320/IMG_6288.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424333277145352306" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Where I work<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM1oNuabwlJv-cgQLA59No0x3A7r0bTbuYEBbwid5hc2-IcCwtjkVcsUOz28LAPzIuOVJJb7ahnAPj-coEVEbyylA3XaVAruHmYI63lZKJPkdozqtFVmdvn8YiUhgv6_VH86d/s1600-h/IMG_0516.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM1oNuabwlJv-cgQLA59No0x3A7r0bTbuYEBbwid5hc2-IcCwtjkVcsUOz28LAPzIuOVJJb7ahnAPj-coEVEbyylA3XaVAruHmYI63lZKJPkdozqtFVmdvn8YiUhgv6_VH86d/s320/IMG_0516.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332968756192386" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">JoJo & Bits at the Saudia Arabia border<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmUhyKdvKpLlDFOxTPvyaFhGeO1JkfjXuIUE6wU_wIsxXZIVqRB2lTm7Mirw2DnhzpaOcr70gSVAFlRQ39vIosbkI2UWmzfq0ML-aLEDIBgt_tfUszARayxyZli-K5uZ3fxzx/s1600-h/IMG_0486.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmUhyKdvKpLlDFOxTPvyaFhGeO1JkfjXuIUE6wU_wIsxXZIVqRB2lTm7Mirw2DnhzpaOcr70gSVAFlRQ39vIosbkI2UWmzfq0ML-aLEDIBgt_tfUszARayxyZli-K5uZ3fxzx/s320/IMG_0486.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332958573699666" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">So the Burj Arab is "the worlds first 7 star hotel"....or something like that. We figured out a way to get inside and this is the pool we found.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aHsoJUXQvCuJ25UfuHZZ3ytwAlk8zhEuZDdh1GTM5iy7FR_G5Mxr3p5pOMBydVcjPLQdB0mx4rGtk_2C2sNfcnwEi6muaT8AZ8A89z0FPYrKiRqwRRtkNl5fH-c_5cS-3HTg/s1600-h/IMG_0451.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aHsoJUXQvCuJ25UfuHZZ3ytwAlk8zhEuZDdh1GTM5iy7FR_G5Mxr3p5pOMBydVcjPLQdB0mx4rGtk_2C2sNfcnwEi6muaT8AZ8A89z0FPYrKiRqwRRtkNl5fH-c_5cS-3HTg/s320/IMG_0451.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332952001532834" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnP8radiKNko7Fz2YqACrYAckv7L5D-NVaM3vfNMlDBfJihrdRIMtlMbhPaH5KtcFB5jeJxnV2ltVX90etW5MQcJGNJ4z4s5VYTwh6A7vSsgmnq2aWh-pwiJpeFygBzl__G84/s1600-h/IMG_0429.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnP8radiKNko7Fz2YqACrYAckv7L5D-NVaM3vfNMlDBfJihrdRIMtlMbhPaH5KtcFB5jeJxnV2ltVX90etW5MQcJGNJ4z4s5VYTwh6A7vSsgmnq2aWh-pwiJpeFygBzl__G84/s320/IMG_0429.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332947333729298" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">We are mall skiers!!!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTvzfPSBziA18A-RlcDXeTR6ENQ3ox-C6bjYOn490uuBkTGYQ_I0uFxPEbg6rSOJuUdb7fBAZFhi-AnLaPtuSEf4WKp_NNn0HYfb8bztdfRJK2Lup-zEkM-BW1H-4buqXAOgO/s1600-h/IMG_0420.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTvzfPSBziA18A-RlcDXeTR6ENQ3ox-C6bjYOn490uuBkTGYQ_I0uFxPEbg6rSOJuUdb7fBAZFhi-AnLaPtuSEf4WKp_NNn0HYfb8bztdfRJK2Lup-zEkM-BW1H-4buqXAOgO/s320/IMG_0420.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332941724779890" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Just curious if Ikea is the same in Dubai as it is everywhere else...it is.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DXNUrcCmEL2_N7lqrvufE1w24Ok7tCXnQtrAVQxurk_vgT_ACgrMrvgr6lemkGOhNkluqn8Gukz-v6FbDN8_yxQ8m8bDK-q9ESlY-qxJ70h5mLSd6dSIJh3BHCXMjhr1w6ZQ/s1600-h/IMG_0419.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DXNUrcCmEL2_N7lqrvufE1w24Ok7tCXnQtrAVQxurk_vgT_ACgrMrvgr6lemkGOhNkluqn8Gukz-v6FbDN8_yxQ8m8bDK-q9ESlY-qxJ70h5mLSd6dSIJh3BHCXMjhr1w6ZQ/s320/IMG_0419.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332625961006626" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE-xoRodRdFSHoNzqOfth3v8TyRguWK06pLo6QL_RSfMy1sgQGFvW5bzbj2JqUVaQYZRWdm9WmmfqRW8czIWCZqN7B440lh3T8JZ3kCmPNEp9DEOuBdBQrNnWclJU9gSxDA9A/s1600-h/IMG_0416.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE-xoRodRdFSHoNzqOfth3v8TyRguWK06pLo6QL_RSfMy1sgQGFvW5bzbj2JqUVaQYZRWdm9WmmfqRW8czIWCZqN7B440lh3T8JZ3kCmPNEp9DEOuBdBQrNnWclJU9gSxDA9A/s320/IMG_0416.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332619097419730" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cqQvfRHJX2gNzd6SM1GAOAnLxM7rXg7VxjuQtoL9B52LCOOB2_XkJ4mT74WlUnfhi8f0KZ_6nqLJsXOkRnBkTjfRS78CP_RD7rBLuC14Ddd7aEceC5r91pUvzUS5qrBVawJL/s1600-h/IMG_0401.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cqQvfRHJX2gNzd6SM1GAOAnLxM7rXg7VxjuQtoL9B52LCOOB2_XkJ4mT74WlUnfhi8f0KZ_6nqLJsXOkRnBkTjfRS78CP_RD7rBLuC14Ddd7aEceC5r91pUvzUS5qrBVawJL/s320/IMG_0401.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332618439454898" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSubILnhbZmcTIuuhCGxysKwRT_PNqzvlOe36kV9tZxFcgUYBwitfFP0CGncQVUWedaQJqsLrxUdulthZYfvopLfCaPwrgghouNtOltoNuo1hK9nhJHGGRM-tiT7vag6u6diX/s1600-h/IMG_0386.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSubILnhbZmcTIuuhCGxysKwRT_PNqzvlOe36kV9tZxFcgUYBwitfFP0CGncQVUWedaQJqsLrxUdulthZYfvopLfCaPwrgghouNtOltoNuo1hK9nhJHGGRM-tiT7vag6u6diX/s320/IMG_0386.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332613229066690" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Salalah, Oman</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ypsQMd18ZjEjnSeoDQfeG3FS6Hu6bsOANQ1ZdKtLUH0yLiAsEwzTfgm9a67huTZd8hPyxkuf_3AewTpb2REuJ-RJKWWXdN6pWE_rLX58EjcCUD4I2ZlkO6IR1DdyUbeFblXs/s1600-h/IMG_0383.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ypsQMd18ZjEjnSeoDQfeG3FS6Hu6bsOANQ1ZdKtLUH0yLiAsEwzTfgm9a67huTZd8hPyxkuf_3AewTpb2REuJ-RJKWWXdN6pWE_rLX58EjcCUD4I2ZlkO6IR1DdyUbeFblXs/s320/IMG_0383.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424332602988202562" /></a><br /></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-8060807605816302182009-10-03T03:57:00.000-07:002009-10-03T04:45:45.828-07:00Swimtrek in Malta!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">Just had an awesome trip to Malta with Momma where I got to do a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Swimtrek</span>.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Swimtrek</span> is a company that organizes long distances swim and provides all the boat support and guides. We were based on the island of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gozo</span> and then each day would swim to other islands or around the coastline. There were 7 swimmers from all over and over 5 days of swimming we swam 15 miles and crossed and 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">channels</span>.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvsxzJmzu__j7nTH6O6OEQqd9GNvUMfzHV1ItdG0m8cxHCymF9ny1ZDd9KoOvKAiSWEYJtdpwcvxTaPWCdXZ6RT0cKeuBP9nN2xDeCTbqtEmf4fRg8J-OgbM3ida2a0HjD7AY/s1600-h/IMG_0207.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvsxzJmzu__j7nTH6O6OEQqd9GNvUMfzHV1ItdG0m8cxHCymF9ny1ZDd9KoOvKAiSWEYJtdpwcvxTaPWCdXZ6RT0cKeuBP9nN2xDeCTbqtEmf4fRg8J-OgbM3ida2a0HjD7AY/s320/IMG_0207.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331827193369394" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">Mom & I on the ferry back to Malta, covering the same 5 miles I had swam just a couple days earlier!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAKA_ypgi217YqWLqQzdLmq9tBEf7FXzqWFt-fMDWR5ET_Cy3DMwWwdqObqa6oruutMP1xQehZrQBNV_dmY047LyP-lOvXuH8eZM96sOGtMgUKbPsbUh6ssM0yIOmvGY2h2Lz/s1600-h/IMG_0186.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAKA_ypgi217YqWLqQzdLmq9tBEf7FXzqWFt-fMDWR5ET_Cy3DMwWwdqObqa6oruutMP1xQehZrQBNV_dmY047LyP-lOvXuH8eZM96sOGtMgUKbPsbUh6ssM0yIOmvGY2h2Lz/s320/IMG_0186.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331710586834914" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">The uniform<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkBXmRcV3mf23qagx7X8XqTLZ2qnGquIiX3s9A2RzjRXd698j5kpZvnDX_OhhpUEUAqbTTFvayyJG0m-ojwZbXfVr9IHsdAuZaPwkOKWZ-VcFDokdr5rOFoyvXQTs53642pLQ/s1600-h/IMG_0181.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkBXmRcV3mf23qagx7X8XqTLZ2qnGquIiX3s9A2RzjRXd698j5kpZvnDX_OhhpUEUAqbTTFvayyJG0m-ojwZbXfVr9IHsdAuZaPwkOKWZ-VcFDokdr5rOFoyvXQTs53642pLQ/s320/IMG_0181.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331704867156258" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">Local fishing boats<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsvBT-ZM2l9VmWT-f8MmCubAFQ1h5D8LOcaVbWFN8eLs3dPMJUVBcMoHy6c_wfICTgDeFLJ0q3EAdMj-MLG_HLDiRmAqDLJt1TKmqYNQesn2AP-pRuH3sVtcK9lLtmZKPOdyu/s1600-h/IMG_0139.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsvBT-ZM2l9VmWT-f8MmCubAFQ1h5D8LOcaVbWFN8eLs3dPMJUVBcMoHy6c_wfICTgDeFLJ0q3EAdMj-MLG_HLDiRmAqDLJt1TKmqYNQesn2AP-pRuH3sVtcK9lLtmZKPOdyu/s320/IMG_0139.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331697893849410" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">One of our swims we swam into "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Popeye's</span>" Village. Its the town that was built for the movie, it was fun to swim in and its this whole crazy looking town.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj30BrrpBIyE1EtIeCU-LN98Pu3X_uGSVrUmLla0DNCoeeZuNwDnpTTSrniMEx0FaCAE8KB83LoAf2Uzzqz-HWpfuRgodWUjEgs_CNXwWk6bPsbRY63jFTHHK3eetYlOzD8mE5/s1600-h/IMG_0111.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj30BrrpBIyE1EtIeCU-LN98Pu3X_uGSVrUmLla0DNCoeeZuNwDnpTTSrniMEx0FaCAE8KB83LoAf2Uzzqz-HWpfuRgodWUjEgs_CNXwWk6bPsbRY63jFTHHK3eetYlOzD8mE5/s320/IMG_0111.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331692969802706" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">The "Crystal Lagoon"<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqiT5IgwglWjSSvqsIKEMpPd22WXVP45-TbDlJ2q7XkYQYfkzAUTV9vt0PrdOteaDJ4fgWn2iQSjtbkk06AXwgNbPxxhVsJsOma46iOA51H-kU63IoI68LuNzFs9LeVywZTvs/s1600-h/IMG_0109.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqiT5IgwglWjSSvqsIKEMpPd22WXVP45-TbDlJ2q7XkYQYfkzAUTV9vt0PrdOteaDJ4fgWn2iQSjtbkk06AXwgNbPxxhVsJsOma46iOA51H-kU63IoI68LuNzFs9LeVywZTvs/s320/IMG_0109.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331690251369378" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdeYCrff-jaIdtW4yDptFJSV-HbgEFJPB7BnZOnTPxP6ozBsZ1lRFT1ENQbiKQU7PALuTWx6qkRS6dIEZJ7rcvYSsTGX21l3zC9_cOkfbAbNYWZjY_G9BWbHQC_XYDMJY40h_/s1600-h/IMG_0095.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdeYCrff-jaIdtW4yDptFJSV-HbgEFJPB7BnZOnTPxP6ozBsZ1lRFT1ENQbiKQU7PALuTWx6qkRS6dIEZJ7rcvYSsTGX21l3zC9_cOkfbAbNYWZjY_G9BWbHQC_XYDMJY40h_/s320/IMG_0095.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331303266652898" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">We had 3 groups based on speed, I was a yellow (slowest)...but no matter to me, I was just happy to be out there swimming!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULjKlnZCoLzvJvzPfbmt0z_EoLuK7Q8ahUxOS1AF3J4FWYXWN0MoDN0h77OhqlXybMgIxPceHbroIuk-uGoRzTJ2YKyw1_cd_BGMQLTQZzBWhjJVJWyHrRSPcAM99YXG3H0Es/s1600-h/IMG_0075.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULjKlnZCoLzvJvzPfbmt0z_EoLuK7Q8ahUxOS1AF3J4FWYXWN0MoDN0h77OhqlXybMgIxPceHbroIuk-uGoRzTJ2YKyw1_cd_BGMQLTQZzBWhjJVJWyHrRSPcAM99YXG3H0Es/s320/IMG_0075.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331298601566178" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDewJMQz2_KT91H5FrHtz6R3HbpXKBiA55NZ4gXepN3QF4nW8qGaUsl3Ybh7TLJlBJ6KpCNiK-F279RaaxfgjrNUCzHyGST7KX_7Ma5IDUTNDj7TVcyW6nyMAl0lIkrPY1dEKe/s1600-h/IMG_0066.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDewJMQz2_KT91H5FrHtz6R3HbpXKBiA55NZ4gXepN3QF4nW8qGaUsl3Ybh7TLJlBJ6KpCNiK-F279RaaxfgjrNUCzHyGST7KX_7Ma5IDUTNDj7TVcyW6nyMAl0lIkrPY1dEKe/s320/IMG_0066.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331294462398210" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">The islands around Malta have numerous caves that we were able to swim in and some of them we could swim through. Really awesome!!!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1P6Ke7cDiw862fbzAuUfenfw8_3yK617V9uOCnEVcdFEyBTwykluwWlu-QU_JVdUDJpgPwEr48bEY_AV0ZQEjyiVYNhLkpLwJh0-RTTsk1YhJC7AIHuusah54zT_CzZNZ0-k/s1600-h/IMG_0053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1P6Ke7cDiw862fbzAuUfenfw8_3yK617V9uOCnEVcdFEyBTwykluwWlu-QU_JVdUDJpgPwEr48bEY_AV0ZQEjyiVYNhLkpLwJh0-RTTsk1YhJC7AIHuusah54zT_CzZNZ0-k/s320/IMG_0053.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331288033009362" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">This was the end of our first swim and then we would eat lunch on the boat and jump back in to swim another section of the coast.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3vKHb-5BnGf2wzjDblWu5MTYc7dHrChsazeOIpa3VDffhfbIfHyupmbENdBfCEoArfJgP8HUyeL3MWoSBCeLtv-tKP6lmY83Ie6xpvJV1kgHlwdkPUIUBNxFapuNL6ezr4rO/s1600-h/IMG_0035.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3vKHb-5BnGf2wzjDblWu5MTYc7dHrChsazeOIpa3VDffhfbIfHyupmbENdBfCEoArfJgP8HUyeL3MWoSBCeLtv-tKP6lmY83Ie6xpvJV1kgHlwdkPUIUBNxFapuNL6ezr4rO/s320/IMG_0035.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388331286293470562" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8v956Y_Ja9AY2NLiBy8QqoFAMWPpN1x72yDcsK755glyaoRxTzdQ8xsAdyPnjq3dVeV1h-z4v4ONH_rE4zdFCJjpaUQ30YFnCvMt9YShLiJKGbWyQPw-4W1IhzccCOqzfxMNQ/s1600-h/IMG_0080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8v956Y_Ja9AY2NLiBy8QqoFAMWPpN1x72yDcsK755glyaoRxTzdQ8xsAdyPnjq3dVeV1h-z4v4ONH_rE4zdFCJjpaUQ30YFnCvMt9YShLiJKGbWyQPw-4W1IhzccCOqzfxMNQ/s320/IMG_0080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388330355309838914" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">A nice place to spend my birthday!!!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlW01D4GDbzg6YLoOOUz-iDZcbbiLSeJ1cdOQ0Ee99KaZwm4W4FU2BOwjzquJBnSsQs5_OsDnmkP55BkP5BTsnkE0_6eSEkqtcvSZrMD4OJYZmvStS0MpOYGzhEaL5-wIFtB4/s1600-h/IMG_0061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlW01D4GDbzg6YLoOOUz-iDZcbbiLSeJ1cdOQ0Ee99KaZwm4W4FU2BOwjzquJBnSsQs5_OsDnmkP55BkP5BTsnkE0_6eSEkqtcvSZrMD4OJYZmvStS0MpOYGzhEaL5-wIFtB4/s320/IMG_0061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388330343924723090" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rxoxw2kRSpuvHo7pMTCw4BhTWHGsbJ7RPSGUIMGuzcpcsoGfCIOr3nVR8y0HHJl97HCj_dQ-Q8YNCPDylRpHAxbOyhR_tGnNK0XZyTRt6q-d9yNbETndORqQZE1YKZfuvS5d/s1600-h/IMG_0130.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rxoxw2kRSpuvHo7pMTCw4BhTWHGsbJ7RPSGUIMGuzcpcsoGfCIOr3nVR8y0HHJl97HCj_dQ-Q8YNCPDylRpHAxbOyhR_tGnNK0XZyTRt6q-d9yNbETndORqQZE1YKZfuvS5d/s320/IMG_0130.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388330338782157858" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">Our base hotel in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gozo</span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv6SKPN3kDQkzQQw1pERpYHWIxERa__-HPf0P30Nqwa3HelSxDBuZzRW1geN9GLCTv-Hvi4D50CGisY5AyG7H-fv0s6b6CdeRdeX3l48kQd6BfS-D1GcO9jSrW9H5RARk93hJ/s1600-h/Gozo+Birthday+Cake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv6SKPN3kDQkzQQw1pERpYHWIxERa__-HPf0P30Nqwa3HelSxDBuZzRW1geN9GLCTv-Hvi4D50CGisY5AyG7H-fv0s6b6CdeRdeX3l48kQd6BfS-D1GcO9jSrW9H5RARk93hJ/s320/Gozo+Birthday+Cake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388330324312280722" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">2 of us had a birthday!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQmYTB6Xgwk8_mbS6VLQBRjFqeZinuaHv3TuXJ8SZYNwrxWdn0-vkJppwc2Huqx31933BxXq_YbI_Z4dlW_aMkDUJL00oBK8Ultltu1TWNH_pyGV5UC6hC0l1xcnSusuABh-3/s1600-h/IMG_0016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQmYTB6Xgwk8_mbS6VLQBRjFqeZinuaHv3TuXJ8SZYNwrxWdn0-vkJppwc2Huqx31933BxXq_YbI_Z4dlW_aMkDUJL00oBK8Ultltu1TWNH_pyGV5UC6hC0l1xcnSusuABh-3/s320/IMG_0016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388330318964315954" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">Momma in Malta</span></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-86260378690002879602009-08-22T04:03:00.000-07:002009-08-22T04:51:12.967-07:00A little comparison<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><i>I was just thinking about the difference in the diving conditions in the locations I have been living for the past 10 years. Here is a brief comparison! </i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><i>Johnston Island</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Walk to marina</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Take very very short boat ride to dive site</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">as easy as it gets!!!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NlrjQFLoYI5M_FLGz45uMSmcmZZHG_0Lf953ir0fZ-qGiNGZ2a4CVBStnYE1Z31Cycdj8m5RoXn9vLXFGrizDuzZu2L-h-Jdx9dFynxoDUj3cS0tV4jWg4EGqeEo4E7bTisC/s1600-h/JI_040803_086_JI_aerial.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NlrjQFLoYI5M_FLGz45uMSmcmZZHG_0Lf953ir0fZ-qGiNGZ2a4CVBStnYE1Z31Cycdj8m5RoXn9vLXFGrizDuzZu2L-h-Jdx9dFynxoDUj3cS0tV4jWg4EGqeEo4E7bTisC/s320/JI_040803_086_JI_aerial.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372749211387070098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9diC-eu5pYPD2hmgU2MCK-1hdRL_KMi38sqDLmKIGxjHYfqd-RaGfQJPmmlUtPw0mSIdUa_QhjWlbzueeOIqroYHHLBECULCk1fTNqxrrIbBFOzvw-yjtN9QJFNMBeqLGVDyz/s1600-h/JI_040803_063_marina.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9diC-eu5pYPD2hmgU2MCK-1hdRL_KMi38sqDLmKIGxjHYfqd-RaGfQJPmmlUtPw0mSIdUa_QhjWlbzueeOIqroYHHLBECULCk1fTNqxrrIbBFOzvw-yjtN9QJFNMBeqLGVDyz/s320/JI_040803_063_marina.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372749203124782610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYwGIK3qqBKHjszcwKMfK4kgnYMMeM26dDMe9-HBCyJeA5o-5Nx3bSr-j54JdVy9FzaAWjVM1TqRz8fxOi1yokzOitPa78TQL6KDoOpmrOeuP8WRPCxGiRjTZQHlvN_BeydeL/s1600-h/JI_040803_017_johnstonatollphotos.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYwGIK3qqBKHjszcwKMfK4kgnYMMeM26dDMe9-HBCyJeA5o-5Nx3bSr-j54JdVy9FzaAWjVM1TqRz8fxOi1yokzOitPa78TQL6KDoOpmrOeuP8WRPCxGiRjTZQHlvN_BeydeL/s320/JI_040803_017_johnstonatollphotos.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372749198833317698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGy0XdeFRwBg-exhBZ_ZiuvBaoJgYiUp3Y8VwbVT4aYtJKL4cX4FjUNaMF0cOE606IJdLXxEYL6ZdssQzwCCYnCkdeygwIa4iH9xSqaOSGfK-8ePQ30yVXsAO5z_RpNwnxO8F/s1600-h/JI_012902_02_mc.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGy0XdeFRwBg-exhBZ_ZiuvBaoJgYiUp3Y8VwbVT4aYtJKL4cX4FjUNaMF0cOE606IJdLXxEYL6ZdssQzwCCYnCkdeygwIa4iH9xSqaOSGfK-8ePQ30yVXsAO5z_RpNwnxO8F/s320/JI_012902_02_mc.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372749192213030706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffjbrfTb9zkkZJdGZTM6qXtzp1vFZ5tv22xZC9vVyfFREeXJA3sZFGlLG02rsUwwNC6wEx4laS-xeFcb3DPa6hw1NO-oJ4bYvAPUFqMjSUJ4L8zcajMkSCHvE77WufjBOMs48/s1600-h/JI_012902_01_0kayak.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffjbrfTb9zkkZJdGZTM6qXtzp1vFZ5tv22xZC9vVyfFREeXJA3sZFGlLG02rsUwwNC6wEx4laS-xeFcb3DPa6hw1NO-oJ4bYvAPUFqMjSUJ4L8zcajMkSCHvE77WufjBOMs48/s320/JI_012902_01_0kayak.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372749185917288594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><i>Marshall Islands</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">Ride bike with dive gear to marina</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">drive nice boat out to a variety of choices...literally hundreds of choices on where to go for GREAT diving!</span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gGPcfFspZLErgWEFlLXDgQi1iBSUuHN85F6Lu9E6wVjhV5sdNHXDtPtPOUMxQQ0DceTp0BjokdecPjEADs_FbNaxhWm1jVnZh82twpgltnu-kakgct4xi6KX7fr5Hiq-nTA3/s1600-h/ebikes%2520n'%2520boats%5B1%5D.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gGPcfFspZLErgWEFlLXDgQi1iBSUuHN85F6Lu9E6wVjhV5sdNHXDtPtPOUMxQQ0DceTp0BjokdecPjEADs_FbNaxhWm1jVnZh82twpgltnu-kakgct4xi6KX7fr5Hiq-nTA3/s320/ebikes%2520n'%2520boats%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372747635643553154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY_XaZHZptHgDkHqEpt_ogJZQDPOjCM6Teu1mfmqXsb7GCREtC7QqZxiNBlKXlBwKfWroWnB8lY7eRy-aiP7A1R0UrgRM2lgy9_q6KuvtFgyI6kQMQXOt1xORvb_bdn79pq0-/s1600-h/west+reef+overhang.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY_XaZHZptHgDkHqEpt_ogJZQDPOjCM6Teu1mfmqXsb7GCREtC7QqZxiNBlKXlBwKfWroWnB8lY7eRy-aiP7A1R0UrgRM2lgy9_q6KuvtFgyI6kQMQXOt1xORvb_bdn79pq0-/s320/west+reef+overhang.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372747559607238866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXDiWX9LPVFCqUfuMh__mw1cdwwImVerPH_oD_KUlw84qZjM99cGL99CFkvXuo9kHheocCRfqdCusUn33iduZ9uyrMCJToIV1xnD5CxzMUEHoUxHYVAVzGEZxAwoFH266IPTG/s1600-h/under+the+boat.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXDiWX9LPVFCqUfuMh__mw1cdwwImVerPH_oD_KUlw84qZjM99cGL99CFkvXuo9kHheocCRfqdCusUn33iduZ9uyrMCJToIV1xnD5CxzMUEHoUxHYVAVzGEZxAwoFH266IPTG/s320/under+the+boat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372747514522818578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><i>Antarctica</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Drive a "pisten bully" to a little hut</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">scrape fresh ice off the dive hole</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">descend down an ice tunnel</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">see penguins on the way home</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzpON6X_CyBinq7kEsB8MHJDhuwOZwL-22vt5MbmjK3XbxXRjNkowKrmaxANyT4dyGbLg76T1nYe7t6SCIRHe_iEV2ZhocgTEk8geauCBlPS9hcX7KxOxB1kjY9yQCc6fLYo2/s1600-h/PICT0332.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzpON6X_CyBinq7kEsB8MHJDhuwOZwL-22vt5MbmjK3XbxXRjNkowKrmaxANyT4dyGbLg76T1nYe7t6SCIRHe_iEV2ZhocgTEk8geauCBlPS9hcX7KxOxB1kjY9yQCc6fLYo2/s320/PICT0332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372744516885751234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><i><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3JK3CEuIacNR_X_r1_24WuviHS0NsMoJZGTFMBQoRjj_H0jV0WW6YaSc5K4wR37xDP1T3OpsXshA5fWX2b-WosWmOC6EKcMTDQ9ZrO92W_bl33MdmK5PQNzqd_7MLEkJydFc/s320/PICT0327.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372753611464086322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); ">When divers done, take extra clothes and jump in ice water just for fun!</span></div></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dFOUDNshBBUVyprC76UcrZRy6JjcnocVwDhSY93NnFnCbr8zE3JRc03hymUCqtxTcLlzmFUseP8AjGXw2QeV7HAldQE33YcP0YmiV36z1c3jOD8RW9eImYPxlzC6wN0TcDm6/s1600-h/PICT0360.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dFOUDNshBBUVyprC76UcrZRy6JjcnocVwDhSY93NnFnCbr8zE3JRc03hymUCqtxTcLlzmFUseP8AjGXw2QeV7HAldQE33YcP0YmiV36z1c3jOD8RW9eImYPxlzC6wN0TcDm6/s320/PICT0360.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372744469849860562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; "><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8z-4oO0xxPGxKcu8FMrKUOvAJ2Fniku4yRMNXwUGwVyqq5yS_cKCfaPvjg7Aqj1PmRsbn4R0Q7LV8ea8ubQv13YxaMUzV6H6a0ChqWwE-6oKM1cu4mJ0Hd8hvNl3REo4sxhr/s320/Picture+048.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372751466044262514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><i>Qatar</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Drive SUV through sand dunes to dive site</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Walk through trash</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">See wild camels on way home</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXp6AqcGbsyXw3valuIpOfRo33-HpOU-4Gq90_xL14_oQoX60eVzv7PQbB8WW0lAdH0Rf6OYW81GcZvlMw1l6S6t8IllA3on_zfiZxDGgYITUQ-nsxClBPurOJs5In6SV4mTq1/s1600-h/IMG_2316.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXp6AqcGbsyXw3valuIpOfRo33-HpOU-4Gq90_xL14_oQoX60eVzv7PQbB8WW0lAdH0Rf6OYW81GcZvlMw1l6S6t8IllA3on_zfiZxDGgYITUQ-nsxClBPurOJs5In6SV4mTq1/s320/IMG_2316.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372744437850933730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWoK6-lKi2-pMVlsLgJYLSDoSkgu99KZhzaNmylfokj_lz4by2LwbaXBUMgqyu4ESo8hmOIqCQ3dDa8DCZ9IUblnx-supAguaHaoy56gvT0TRzVrxM7g_SMipoLHQI5qk4IU1/s1600-h/IMG_2323.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWoK6-lKi2-pMVlsLgJYLSDoSkgu99KZhzaNmylfokj_lz4by2LwbaXBUMgqyu4ESo8hmOIqCQ3dDa8DCZ9IUblnx-supAguaHaoy56gvT0TRzVrxM7g_SMipoLHQI5qk4IU1/s320/IMG_2323.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372744418690645394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgud6_3sXWUYebqgbpMfwak7u5om_8NFlPAKgAsW0KxAcAgCko9wvaK0xMmsuX16hCvRMq1zkRSHNzYuAuYMi2Y5y-AvMeOSQxVlpy6Ffx1NV86e6kZAah1sr4oxZ38NwmeG-0/s1600-h/IMG_2301.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgud6_3sXWUYebqgbpMfwak7u5om_8NFlPAKgAsW0KxAcAgCko9wvaK0xMmsuX16hCvRMq1zkRSHNzYuAuYMi2Y5y-AvMeOSQxVlpy6Ffx1NV86e6kZAah1sr4oxZ38NwmeG-0/s320/IMG_2301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372744402440546370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-54115139796683342122009-08-22T03:06:00.000-07:002009-08-22T04:03:13.542-07:00Suprising things I have recently learned...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK2sVkhyO1uhV5gj32HWK70zod3Y_-lH9axqM7cukLfllbTuVsLiAusoXbbOF-X8e4J-CXHAPYqK-5ZiWcBtHXym2gn8WC3SXfYBk7zT68-7EkMyVbs4Zvds2hE3Y69er4BCc/s1600-h/Photo+5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK2sVkhyO1uhV5gj32HWK70zod3Y_-lH9axqM7cukLfllbTuVsLiAusoXbbOF-X8e4J-CXHAPYqK-5ZiWcBtHXym2gn8WC3SXfYBk7zT68-7EkMyVbs4Zvds2hE3Y69er4BCc/s320/Photo+5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372741290339470322" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Wow, its been 3 months since I posted anything here....still in crazy Qatar, working and it seems like every day I learn something new that just about makes my jaw fall wide open.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Here are the most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">recent</span> lessons learned:</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></div><ol><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Some </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Muslim</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> men </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">don't</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> shake hands with females! This was the first time I have ever encountered that.</span></li><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">To some hardcore religous, its not </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> to sit next to a </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Muslim</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> guy if you are female....</span></li><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">The standard wages for a live in maid to work 12 hours a day 7 days a week are: $202 per month!!</span></li><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Its very common for families to be arranging the marriages for their daughters.</span></li><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Its impolite to open a gift in front of the person who gave it to you!</span></li><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">64 ounces of Tide laundry detergent costs: $31.92</span></li><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Momma camels are very mean if the baby is nearby.</span></li><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">A driver can actually refuse to drive females around and will put a sticker on his car if he wont take them.</span></li><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">I was asked what religion I wanted the guy coming to fix the TV to be. I had to have them repeat that to me a few times. They wanted to know if its <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ok</span> to send a Christian to fix the TV or should it be a Muslim. WOW! That one got me, I just said no matter to me...whoever knows how to fix the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tv</span> is fine.</span></li><li style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">You can actually go to jail for eating or drinking in public during Ramadan. </span></li></ol><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">and yes, I learned all of these (well not the jail bit) first hand and probably the hard/embarrassing way!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Here are a few recent pictures</span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzwWQFY18CC01h_JYFKMxhA305902_tbYWX74g33DY5Kp1nElK82YW25ob3r6qRu4LYTGuh-iIRGjl_Aukz8Bmr5sK9yjafEJrIDgGUx155hPeZGfdajKH_S61dl2ZRbd1dr8/s1600-h/IMG_2295.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzwWQFY18CC01h_JYFKMxhA305902_tbYWX74g33DY5Kp1nElK82YW25ob3r6qRu4LYTGuh-iIRGjl_Aukz8Bmr5sK9yjafEJrIDgGUx155hPeZGfdajKH_S61dl2ZRbd1dr8/s320/IMG_2295.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372739888228119218" /></a>Me the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">executive</span>!!! who <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">woulda</span> thought...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXsqIAlAr5bOyxph_GHEKha4PeTMuEMDx6KGORxqbEEAwTuHZBUIeZhdQJnwEDLqKD_GnlOxUNzYI97T2mXC5KIU2I9kf67XOpOG7D6OTli6rncZ-t7mfy1uSNR7W4e89jTgN/s1600-h/A284039-R1-07-29A.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXsqIAlAr5bOyxph_GHEKha4PeTMuEMDx6KGORxqbEEAwTuHZBUIeZhdQJnwEDLqKD_GnlOxUNzYI97T2mXC5KIU2I9kf67XOpOG7D6OTli6rncZ-t7mfy1uSNR7W4e89jTgN/s320/A284039-R1-07-29A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372739660415292866" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">JoJo</span> on his very first ever ocean dive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLF2S-c_5lcoxANbRVo4FQM67ZUk30n3DvqwnoXe9iFgq2GZK412LG92ifVGdilO17Ulj3FvYH6NdqRIkeVFGP0tLbm9-HGccFHj8caKEN5S5mcQ9OgNYZSrUEyC5xdooo37u/s1600-h/IMG_2202.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLF2S-c_5lcoxANbRVo4FQM67ZUk30n3DvqwnoXe9iFgq2GZK412LG92ifVGdilO17Ulj3FvYH6NdqRIkeVFGP0tLbm9-HGccFHj8caKEN5S5mcQ9OgNYZSrUEyC5xdooo37u/s320/IMG_2202.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372739651997540434" /></a>yes you sure can burn raviolis!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfx9qCQwfICp07v13nhtqaqjE7NNmoCIkOqD8xsVL9t6D7DAEyUMnovQZRN6zO1J3Eyr-JCm1rGg-eTv5gszwmR6zTI7LB6PxRicWz_T0W6zpPkEBt4IhhXqRAfSuTuy4cPKGL/s1600-h/IMG_2287.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfx9qCQwfICp07v13nhtqaqjE7NNmoCIkOqD8xsVL9t6D7DAEyUMnovQZRN6zO1J3Eyr-JCm1rGg-eTv5gszwmR6zTI7LB6PxRicWz_T0W6zpPkEBt4IhhXqRAfSuTuy4cPKGL/s320/IMG_2287.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372731442712689666" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "> the awesome pool <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">that's</span> just steps from my office!!!</span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxG1BVooN9nBEyF-bM4JEu0LroBhmjm9JHSdvf2UFLmp05Y_hteDnc4odU0VG8ksXKXsTLUgK1YkEh0MnYZNzWoKD_XqtAJGlLjBusrr7laff9Zn-0JS69msSw5MqBThzcy7Y/s1600-h/IMG_2314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxG1BVooN9nBEyF-bM4JEu0LroBhmjm9JHSdvf2UFLmp05Y_hteDnc4odU0VG8ksXKXsTLUgK1YkEh0MnYZNzWoKD_XqtAJGlLjBusrr7laff9Zn-0JS69msSw5MqBThzcy7Y/s320/IMG_2314.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372731434023364066" /></a>Parking lot of the beach....nobody cares, they just throw their trash wherever!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bH2K-4a2vmhm4Xe67IX9pmrgk3C0Y8anJ21IGQTO_PGfdUE34ggyxKSL6NFoIdjnXHyUhi5oj6cW2ilvLvEMEde-PFej4_CTesiUY2GQGMDBzTJSRoSGEdgCAOOJKV3CSDJH/s1600-h/IMG_2310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bH2K-4a2vmhm4Xe67IX9pmrgk3C0Y8anJ21IGQTO_PGfdUE34ggyxKSL6NFoIdjnXHyUhi5oj6cW2ilvLvEMEde-PFej4_CTesiUY2GQGMDBzTJSRoSGEdgCAOOJKV3CSDJH/s320/IMG_2310.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372731423901185858" /></a>Me and my new ride!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LOmZM4uh6hXYyhxaGCrBFUfow9LSOMxvFViNJXSICprIzIcWOOYDpi479yexzNKJ8t39cKFp4zKW4d0Y4OzWxn9Ye9uwEMrNThEb5aq_l5kINC2ygKRGhgasXK9sX9dOIop9/s1600-h/IMG_2322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LOmZM4uh6hXYyhxaGCrBFUfow9LSOMxvFViNJXSICprIzIcWOOYDpi479yexzNKJ8t39cKFp4zKW4d0Y4OzWxn9Ye9uwEMrNThEb5aq_l5kINC2ygKRGhgasXK9sX9dOIop9/s320/IMG_2322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372731412696828354" /></a><br />Momma & Baby Camel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nn3ugZoicACqTcL2RReHFXwVrl8iHhaNzMhznxr1GG3k2FdyvpKIqpNAfbbCc1JA8hucdj-LM6Vqj0XXmLJ7ukOpTvTEdh3QwLxlTgvF_dc_iXYf3-92h9mZ9qDMbaMbl3Qi/s1600-h/IMG_2306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nn3ugZoicACqTcL2RReHFXwVrl8iHhaNzMhznxr1GG3k2FdyvpKIqpNAfbbCc1JA8hucdj-LM6Vqj0XXmLJ7ukOpTvTEdh3QwLxlTgvF_dc_iXYf3-92h9mZ9qDMbaMbl3Qi/s320/IMG_2306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372731341206064626" /></a>The worlds most expensive laundry detergent!!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-87070372940536935002009-05-15T03:31:00.000-07:002009-05-15T04:21:22.749-07:00Thoughts on life in Qatar<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcjySIkDfrjFm9OqjF_QwOfaoFWTHGuQYDsHAUT5xsgd1qSnDSZC3BNtbgcA0aVyS7lpJjaTf8icKuQ5Iw8FsZTu4854mICet8fVpjfCn433j-yrjBqxblpa6U2AfqDoJdpIQ/s1600-h/qatar+map.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336000929314112594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcjySIkDfrjFm9OqjF_QwOfaoFWTHGuQYDsHAUT5xsgd1qSnDSZC3BNtbgcA0aVyS7lpJjaTf8icKuQ5Iw8FsZTu4854mICet8fVpjfCn433j-yrjBqxblpa6U2AfqDoJdpIQ/s320/qatar+map.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWW7nzkW0fXGdpEXu3RBOOo-y_dc7kfZ7R-uW79S8t9IeL87lbEoZeUek7Ksrn-W7UUeGFnUHEpjlE4af4-VU7p7yt9oVqTBbT3Pc9g60gYZ6bDtNkqquJDwb189hh45LwdSq/s1600-h/P1050366.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336000706349815362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWW7nzkW0fXGdpEXu3RBOOo-y_dc7kfZ7R-uW79S8t9IeL87lbEoZeUek7Ksrn-W7UUeGFnUHEpjlE4af4-VU7p7yt9oVqTBbT3Pc9g60gYZ6bDtNkqquJDwb189hh45LwdSq/s320/P1050366.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>I have been in Qatar for 16 months now and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">some days</span> I really like it and others I wonder what the heck I am still doing here. </div><div> </div><div>I started to list what I like and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">don't</span> like but then realized, they are the same thing! </div><div> </div><div>Here are some of my thoughts/observations on living in this country, its a mix of living in 2009 and 1809...most days are a combination of both. </div><ol><li>I like I am seeing Qatar being built up for the first time, this country is roughly 20 years behind most developed places I have been</li><li>I like that you can stay in a 5 star hotel but be served camel foot for dinner</li><li>I like that its part old world and part new world, often in the same buildings/businesses. However I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">don't</span> understand why government offices are still using typewriters!!!</li><li>I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">don't</span> like the driving, traffic, drivers...all that goes with that</li><li>I dont like the summer heat & humidity, May-October is INTENSE!</li><li>I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">don't</span> understand what to me seems like arrogance in some of the locals. If they have to wait for something forget it! It drives me crazy when you see them pull up in their land cruisers to a fast food restaurant that does NOT have a drive through. They will sit in their air conditioned cars and blare the horn until somebody comes out to serve them. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">don't</span> get it!</li><li>I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">don't</span> like that my apartment does not have an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">address</span> and if I want something delivered it takes hours of trying to navigate the non <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">English</span> speaking driver through a series of landmarks to my apartment.</li><li>I also <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">don't</span> understand why some of the streets have a name but not all of them. Seems to be about half and half. </li><li>I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">don't</span> understand how the answer "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Inshallah</span>" is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ok</span> for everything.....like is the plumber going to fix the sink? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Inshallah</span>.</li><li>I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">don't</span> understand the sponsorship system...it seems like slavery in many ways and your employers really own you and even keep your passports!</li><li>The price of gas is cheap but laundry detergent is super duper expensive...I guess just because we are sitting on a mountain of gas and not detergent. </li><li>Its funny that there is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Baskin</span> Robbins on every single corner!</li><li>I like that there are the old fashioned jobs, the people that ride the elevators with you, deliver groceries (if you have an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">address</span>), make photocopies for you, open the doors....that stuff all feels old fashioned to me.</li><li>I find it strange that they still advertise for arranged marriages in the newspapers and that if you read the classified ads for a car it will tell you if its been "lady driven". </li><li>I was shocked that when my friend I went to a restaurant, he had to ask in Arabic if ladies are allowed inside! (I was allowed in and even seated in my own air conditioned room!)</li><li>I have been very shocked at what you learn about our neighbor, conservative <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Saudi</span> Arabia. I was shocked to recently have read about an 8 year old little girl was denied a divorce from a 40 something year old man! Just this week I read this headline, "Saudi judge approves wife slapping". Something about if the wife spends to much money then its legal for the husband to slap her, this was actually in the same article as information about domestic violence!!!</li><li>I like the pride of the Qataris but I dont like how the Indians, Phillipinos, Bangladeshis & Sri Lankans are treated....they work for slave wages, many of them earn just a couple hundred dollars a month!</li><li>If you have money here then it could be a very cushy lifestyle, the locals have figured out the pampering lifestyle and I think really want Doha to become a 5 star destination. </li><li>I really like going to the movies here, instead of popcorn you can get a bowl of real hot corn.</li><li>I like all the different nationalities that are here, in my new job there are people from over 50 countries working there.</li></ol><p>Just my thoughts....I think one of the biggest things keeping me here is that still after 16 months I feel like I have no idea whats going on, like there is still more to figure out. </p><p>Come visit, its an interesting place!!!</p></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-29667317988990721492009-04-11T03:31:00.000-07:002009-04-11T04:26:41.142-07:00its really been 2 months??<span style="color:#000099;">Lots of changes since the last update!</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">The biggest is that I quit my job and have moved into downtown Doha. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">The last time I posted anything I was interviewing for a job with Qatar Foundation </span><a href="http://www.qf.org.qa/"><span style="color:#000099;">www.qf.org.qa</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> well I GOT THE JOB!! I am very excited about it and thrilled to be out of my other job. I have not started yet, the hiring process is a bit extreme. Its been nearly 2 months now and I think I am getting closer to a start date. I have felt like I was on the Amazing Race trying to get all the proper stamps, signatures, approvals etc...Definitely the hardest I have ever had to work to actually get the job. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn't</span> think anything could beat the hiring process for Antarctica but Qatar makes that seem like it was so easy. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">So for now, I am chilling in Doha car shopping, apartment stuff shopping and gearing up for the next step. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">I have even had visitors here in Doha! Jenn & Christina were here for 3 days on their way to Africa and then my Dad was just here for 2 days on his way home from Africa. So awesome to see them here and show them a bit of this very unique city.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323381613733489858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmIVrO-zDPxLnZjSrqq68al7mRWHs9igQ5JnGTH4kQQUyI7BHcwyBHIhPvaI884K8VNIcRWowzSXr85qzTVdJWSPrsnBKsxta9VeJkgC47ZirnudpnfyftGxvdD2eVx3968b3/s320/April+09+Doha+043.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Yesterday, I took a drive to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">KSA</span> (Saudi Arabia) border. I just wanted to see what it looked like...which was really just a heavily guarded border crossing. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">didn't</span> stay to long as I am sure that a girl driving with an expired residency would have gotten me in all kinds of trouble <br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmpn4qC3_wbzYgI2TyeoGNesPBbmFD1VSPwOG-sLaITYmOeAbu6R7BoyV3hf_Pbk1ZdIfcALuuRQWi1MQzfg4BB65UsAJa81NixgnUEGhTy8N5gTv0nOMHgL1vU79ANNu2sP7/s1600-h/March+09+Doha+007.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323381610942350658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmpn4qC3_wbzYgI2TyeoGNesPBbmFD1VSPwOG-sLaITYmOeAbu6R7BoyV3hf_Pbk1ZdIfcALuuRQWi1MQzfg4BB65UsAJa81NixgnUEGhTy8N5gTv0nOMHgL1vU79ANNu2sP7/s320/March+09+Doha+007.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> This is Jenn gone Arab<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33TGJoGUdgyl4Jx1uqnzHoZZTamH9utBMQjQTW6cpDyIYaE_5IyWx2N7eAlEbxcUNkTeuz-ERMwMtDKId8-K8QPShT2ceVG3AidhLrmTMfsSgSvU51N2YZKfZrqTiE1jDxPbe/s1600-h/March+09+Doha+008.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323381094081106866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33TGJoGUdgyl4Jx1uqnzHoZZTamH9utBMQjQTW6cpDyIYaE_5IyWx2N7eAlEbxcUNkTeuz-ERMwMtDKId8-K8QPShT2ceVG3AidhLrmTMfsSgSvU51N2YZKfZrqTiE1jDxPbe/s320/March+09+Doha+008.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> Had a lunch party for Jenn/Christina with my Bangladeshi & <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Filipino</span> Friends</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Moni</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Afsar</span>, Ali, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bastey</span>, Bits, Christina and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">JoJo</span><br /><br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4QqVL76sTSr52szbTdJJnr7tEbXiU7qiCyGZxD3Gcruh8KdOXEBhF5AMZMuxK7EZj4-Y2-VwufNQM4_xGw12LDZTmSx29RvddOQzTI19WabvWCaora4OEl9rnkE_8TKeq201/s1600-h/March+09+Doha+010.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323381095390922418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4QqVL76sTSr52szbTdJJnr7tEbXiU7qiCyGZxD3Gcruh8KdOXEBhF5AMZMuxK7EZj4-Y2-VwufNQM4_xGw12LDZTmSx29RvddOQzTI19WabvWCaora4OEl9rnkE_8TKeq201/s320/March+09+Doha+010.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs2esaw40EXkqxFMNDJbKuUqyyz3XszYuuVkkK-aiLoSUyziT3L_shjil-XQtaySmZzbqoTKGyvHwCuU2y54ZfBpFYqIlS2RLdnfl4G5MQywh8E8Aj7TM9meHMJGTybyN94I4/s1600-h/March+09+Doha+013.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323381089231511330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs2esaw40EXkqxFMNDJbKuUqyyz3XszYuuVkkK-aiLoSUyziT3L_shjil-XQtaySmZzbqoTKGyvHwCuU2y54ZfBpFYqIlS2RLdnfl4G5MQywh8E8Aj7TM9meHMJGTybyN94I4/s320/March+09+Doha+013.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> me and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">JoJo</span><br /><br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLv0JGOGZkUkSU7rz-Z98MCXSx2XXdPh8QWDsR4mPs7zms_u13Wi496MFrzVQU9cZxP5AfMRIYLBo2glcSFHLVkvVuztvHfdun3q9OAT-UNC0T0zhtnmfUMYEedQ-7b2RpX66/s1600-h/March+09+Doha+020.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323381088673838514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLv0JGOGZkUkSU7rz-Z98MCXSx2XXdPh8QWDsR4mPs7zms_u13Wi496MFrzVQU9cZxP5AfMRIYLBo2glcSFHLVkvVuztvHfdun3q9OAT-UNC0T0zhtnmfUMYEedQ-7b2RpX66/s320/March+09+Doha+020.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe2fVt6YWk-e0uxwt-TgaAyM4aYL5F72Bq1uujr-MFzjaj_kLVL04Kf4GOkrkJ_cbkOxUgiw8xjpfgAFRFo8V0PGCILMIONdGicxXx3iQVWIqGpQ2dv1BMsjwXppyatFwuGff/s1600-h/March+09+Doha+050.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323381085215431954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe2fVt6YWk-e0uxwt-TgaAyM4aYL5F72Bq1uujr-MFzjaj_kLVL04Kf4GOkrkJ_cbkOxUgiw8xjpfgAFRFo8V0PGCILMIONdGicxXx3iQVWIqGpQ2dv1BMsjwXppyatFwuGff/s320/March+09+Doha+050.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br />I had bought a bottle of water in the grocery store and the cashier <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">didn't</span> have change. So she gave me the gum instead of change back. I just thought it was funny!<br /><br />Hopefully now that I wont be working 84 hours a week, I will have more time to update this site. I would also like to start working on writing a book...I feel like I have a funny story in me that needs to come out.<br /><br /></span><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-56507823733347107742009-02-07T04:44:00.000-08:002009-02-07T04:50:47.516-08:00a little polish<span style="color:#009900;">I am trying to get a job with the Qatar Foundation.</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">I have had to 2 interviews with them and my very good friend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JoJo</span> has gone with me both times. He gets dressed up in his interview clothes and sits in the car while I am in the meeting. </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">While I was in the interview he drew this picture of what I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">looked</span> like going inside.</span> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb1riVsUqZsudgRcyTVke7zu2LjIZUgrlXmr_5tmqyp0R7RFwD4zawTlMMo9-mNy0pUijEDj_FG0YTgFdl0zrdV46w5ps5a3XCJtQ1hIiHPqkkwCvcoQ-j0iugNWLY0shLoI4/s1600-h/QF+Interview+picture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300035926587045042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb1riVsUqZsudgRcyTVke7zu2LjIZUgrlXmr_5tmqyp0R7RFwD4zawTlMMo9-mNy0pUijEDj_FG0YTgFdl0zrdV46w5ps5a3XCJtQ1hIiHPqkkwCvcoQ-j0iugNWLY0shLoI4/s320/QF+Interview+picture.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-48787715374379710642009-01-24T03:51:00.000-08:002009-01-24T04:04:29.532-08:00Burning Man....Bangladeshi Style<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbyDYoFobzOdh0ak00-3rbXneJrWR8g4WfFk1yfH4-o73A9CXcnogu48sZs9cZIoLEHkkSuQ154NofH-ylnuWPHBlfZWVSdCRVTS-qTm9RojXJYcD66rjc8H0uoVQXVNjz2Si/s1600-h/Oct+31+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294828963442157954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbyDYoFobzOdh0ak00-3rbXneJrWR8g4WfFk1yfH4-o73A9CXcnogu48sZs9cZIoLEHkkSuQ154NofH-ylnuWPHBlfZWVSdCRVTS-qTm9RojXJYcD66rjc8H0uoVQXVNjz2Si/s320/Oct+31+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7S0s7H6O9j0exy9aUxrJl_q12nmK8T_SMfz17fz7jBmBDrhrOFBhffSVpq4jradNUuRMvtwqHbT7-LUta9VxxGk9mDbOUmnsdtCN6ANvmTYwEp7l6GNKPKSSb7pdm8n-cGlTN/s1600-h/11162008117.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294828953024856690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7S0s7H6O9j0exy9aUxrJl_q12nmK8T_SMfz17fz7jBmBDrhrOFBhffSVpq4jradNUuRMvtwqHbT7-LUta9VxxGk9mDbOUmnsdtCN6ANvmTYwEp7l6GNKPKSSb7pdm8n-cGlTN/s320/11162008117.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">I have gotten to know 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bangladeshis</span> who work at the pool. Its a country I knew nothing about except that its to close to India and seems to have lots of floods. I have a had a great time getting to know these 2 guys, Ali & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Afsar</span>. They constantly crack me up with what they say. </span></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#006600;">Because of the big change in US politics this week, they have been very excited about Mr. Obama. The day after he took over, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Afsar</span> kept saying "today, Mr. Obama work and Mr. Bush sleep". Ali thoughts on it were "good job <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mr</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">obama</span>, happy day for world". </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">Anyways, this bit of information is out of the Burning Man newsletter but in honor of my 2 crazy broken <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">English</span> Bangladeshis I would put it out here. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">About Bangladesh--The Bangladesh Festival begins on January 29<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> and lasts one month. The theme is freedom and features a conference on Nelson Mandela and Noam Chomsky. This is an important event, as Bangladesh has suffered enormous repression in recent years and the EXPO is really oriented towards social commitments, peace, and political harmony in the world. Bangladesh is about 95 percent <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Moslem</span> and used to be known as East Pakistan. Freedom of expression will be an important part of the expo and Burning Man certainly represents a unique opportunity to demonstrate that. Bangladesh is kind of out of the way. There's very little tourism and travel there is not so easy, but I invite people to come and see it. </span></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-7932639496307119862009-01-15T04:41:00.000-08:002009-01-15T05:01:15.204-08:00a bit more Cayman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwE4SlMDZaLG3qEMwM7mRFNFLe95MzZXCWnPGcW9-FYUva8_xzZSLaj-PkvcC24pDUGAtDWgHcKVvkaiGJyio6pHga6cgo3bzQG4cQBJ7d8HVcQ4C8c3JD7Szlq-skpXI5w8z/s1600-h/the+waves.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291503322004137394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwE4SlMDZaLG3qEMwM7mRFNFLe95MzZXCWnPGcW9-FYUva8_xzZSLaj-PkvcC24pDUGAtDWgHcKVvkaiGJyio6pHga6cgo3bzQG4cQBJ7d8HVcQ4C8c3JD7Szlq-skpXI5w8z/s320/the+waves.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-ButwBnAEyIMzF5MGGC1WoB_lZeaL1C_5rtlRnAfbW6iwZWONxnLrBsiBCwoOsXZHmpkVibNoTcki3jjmQmkFKxN3rmKePzbHCZTKAsm0hGLxCYgRXSIG13hzEGHnoICkes7/s1600-h/sunset+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291503319735357970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-ButwBnAEyIMzF5MGGC1WoB_lZeaL1C_5rtlRnAfbW6iwZWONxnLrBsiBCwoOsXZHmpkVibNoTcki3jjmQmkFKxN3rmKePzbHCZTKAsm0hGLxCYgRXSIG13hzEGHnoICkes7/s320/sunset+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWER94vAyALE0A4nyxGu3i-nND3mieFNDvS9hPA9N2SCyT4p2ExsR6wciKx8JnAyx5KiGWMiz8UikMNTYStS_2Azv2I6tPjyZViUP5YfwyKuWo1pOtJhcPFw1-CAsQFtLIOnoy/s1600-h/stockings+in+the+closet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291503315604392002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWER94vAyALE0A4nyxGu3i-nND3mieFNDvS9hPA9N2SCyT4p2ExsR6wciKx8JnAyx5KiGWMiz8UikMNTYStS_2Azv2I6tPjyZViUP5YfwyKuWo1pOtJhcPFw1-CAsQFtLIOnoy/s320/stockings+in+the+closet.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#6600cc;">the closet was pretending to be the fireplace so we had a place to hang up the stockings.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW34NCmgg_Kjw02ffgKtidzCDsQcqn86UirXoBwofv_XJeyHJuKuLMZG9QqM9fhNU7emeJgVGKa8p9HUxDscfYsb5-huBOJ65WKiSpiJJjMXhnbpgCtb9NhDCbFFMDKFzNSBvo/s1600-h/stingray+6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291503310075363778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW34NCmgg_Kjw02ffgKtidzCDsQcqn86UirXoBwofv_XJeyHJuKuLMZG9QqM9fhNU7emeJgVGKa8p9HUxDscfYsb5-huBOJ65WKiSpiJJjMXhnbpgCtb9NhDCbFFMDKFzNSBvo/s320/stingray+6.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#6600cc;">Southern Stingrays<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzVjPhTsk6qCyk9M7UTQCJTeEycRi96w34RVDJ-N9VoaGmATmyib3S2W9sCStMQ9f9ZpfaCd_J9-s_-i77khla4eTXfIk8Y-IX6V4gUXu1p6rFpIvJmpjwkTO5x48rDhfSGKn/s1600-h/stingray+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291503307216632146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzVjPhTsk6qCyk9M7UTQCJTeEycRi96w34RVDJ-N9VoaGmATmyib3S2W9sCStMQ9f9ZpfaCd_J9-s_-i77khla4eTXfIk8Y-IX6V4gUXu1p6rFpIvJmpjwkTO5x48rDhfSGKn/s320/stingray+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qChlW77deoO7a44-1pEDJr_4UYx6hXUdDMPtbSQHXmhDT9iS8ph_axGJdHf8klVMz89aEJ6ZHFqc5tiBWntsDqhjYBb_EcHHeRNdV-KTI8O7qRqgArLmyivqQqD4SWtAjtxQ/s1600-h/SM+beach+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291501453868754434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qChlW77deoO7a44-1pEDJr_4UYx6hXUdDMPtbSQHXmhDT9iS8ph_axGJdHf8klVMz89aEJ6ZHFqc5tiBWntsDqhjYBb_EcHHeRNdV-KTI8O7qRqgArLmyivqQqD4SWtAjtxQ/s320/SM+beach+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#6600cc;">Seven Mile Beach.....so pretty!!!</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLWw7gWsIwV-tNzcQqvqhhyvU-VLDmdrqhjTFwZrdM_2imX39oCA1L6hyGPISkkKCcKfCRiyYhKEzxk_QU0kmf_unZi4v_B9uGa71VA8drUd5Ny1P-DD1-GfkZ1rcpowbdAnT/s1600-h/rum+point+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291501449982669602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLWw7gWsIwV-tNzcQqvqhhyvU-VLDmdrqhjTFwZrdM_2imX39oCA1L6hyGPISkkKCcKfCRiyYhKEzxk_QU0kmf_unZi4v_B9uGa71VA8drUd5Ny1P-DD1-GfkZ1rcpowbdAnT/s320/rum+point+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">This is Rum Point and where we spent Christmas Day<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgaZn9HXwDe22MitVrdHgYjSVqoAkk6XeYifrw5Fp5IP2u_oQeFiRBKJLhez_nz5INoI4_TN7pRBIOJLInAiwSajTDNH4lbFS47BORpdGKKyVFYgcpKJMtmhJPbdksiWDi79V/s1600-h/qatar+soccer+shirt.JPG"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291501443889126578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgaZn9HXwDe22MitVrdHgYjSVqoAkk6XeYifrw5Fp5IP2u_oQeFiRBKJLhez_nz5INoI4_TN7pRBIOJLInAiwSajTDNH4lbFS47BORpdGKKyVFYgcpKJMtmhJPbdksiWDi79V/s320/qatar+soccer+shirt.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#6600cc;"> Greg representing Qatar!</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE96obyiCpk2pgpJOleFYKpzP0DG3j_vlxQpvw5h7YlhS3CI_yhc5e1IiUDJAasFnPwxxbvgsN5VbvxaoqCDin3QKal6mgPy7UfHcTVTTgmMJqPdjh1CNULxahg1Xh4ekK5SN/s1600-h/our+fish+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291501446347267570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE96obyiCpk2pgpJOleFYKpzP0DG3j_vlxQpvw5h7YlhS3CI_yhc5e1IiUDJAasFnPwxxbvgsN5VbvxaoqCDin3QKal6mgPy7UfHcTVTTgmMJqPdjh1CNULxahg1Xh4ekK5SN/s320/our+fish+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">dad & greg fish<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQCQ1QPd4bakEjB3RBT7qRHILzu5KFfsBBtGPnT7X0ZmxxK13gSB8axog-bt3C8_RRH-wdK-8Si3beuCWBLftjK0_FaHmgIA9VrPqycZXMNi_PCgHOlTZ19966kCLnzfN_1f6/s1600-h/dive+team.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291501442803542210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQCQ1QPd4bakEjB3RBT7qRHILzu5KFfsBBtGPnT7X0ZmxxK13gSB8axog-bt3C8_RRH-wdK-8Si3beuCWBLftjK0_FaHmgIA9VrPqycZXMNi_PCgHOlTZ19966kCLnzfN_1f6/s320/dive+team.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">dont let the snorkel vest fool you, mom was out there kissing the stingrays!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-13774635609541020832009-01-12T05:11:00.000-08:002009-01-12T06:02:27.093-08:00Scuba, Sliding and Skiing in a Snow Globe!<span style="color:#000099;">Just returned from a fun filled vacation where I got to scuba dive, play on the water slides and snow ski! All 3 of my very favorite things. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Spent the first half with the family in the Cayman Islands.</span><span style="color:#000099;"> We swam, snorkeled, played with the sting rays, scuba dived, ate and drank well and really just had a great time. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1NsUH7i86f-xWjnCj6kQjcplgLCeXKWY9y4qfVpQ5zNVBXjsSRT52teVWFkfc2bWIRKoIzek78MdNNzNpGcKn61jUdX7CTT4c8OkX3ssyzrVQpeyCoFOez-fYaJO2HI1nnbi/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290401084586122402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1NsUH7i86f-xWjnCj6kQjcplgLCeXKWY9y4qfVpQ5zNVBXjsSRT52teVWFkfc2bWIRKoIzek78MdNNzNpGcKn61jUdX7CTT4c8OkX3ssyzrVQpeyCoFOez-fYaJO2HI1nnbi/s320/December+08+Vacation+025.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#cc0000;">Christmas Day on Grand Cayman<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVIb3LNN6GsWwnhkMenamcZoJbN0KiIaYtfFGro2WfD9t0_9iAazgOXhWtCtGv-9ddAdlSBpR40QJVfbUul76ubBKkjVzsjY0YQUddGNxYSSNmr9utPCMYHlQGDKhdhvAo6rF/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290401085148518242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVIb3LNN6GsWwnhkMenamcZoJbN0KiIaYtfFGro2WfD9t0_9iAazgOXhWtCtGv-9ddAdlSBpR40QJVfbUul76ubBKkjVzsjY0YQUddGNxYSSNmr9utPCMYHlQGDKhdhvAo6rF/s320/December+08+Vacation+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH4A3ja5j56ZokvyJcgIHT2iEF1pgg41zmTSIjfAbXiozgLyXpdouqQ9CfQhNHNRJLdKzqRszInTuwwFbrwMX8BhB6FUaM5cb1a73XJSug7pdm5OjA4lPU6D6pDbH5rP25nfC/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290401078339305410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH4A3ja5j56ZokvyJcgIHT2iEF1pgg41zmTSIjfAbXiozgLyXpdouqQ9CfQhNHNRJLdKzqRszInTuwwFbrwMX8BhB6FUaM5cb1a73XJSug7pdm5OjA4lPU6D6pDbH5rP25nfC/s320/December+08+Vacation+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzA6F6odNPeHJVE4hnJ9k_Q-8S9sVCZ8ZuY9n09hyf1lA_4K2G1cTM3isRmwUDQt4ulS6XH_CgOixxNMqWWIfs7S16lrCzkd1l2UYEMTpUroHHBLswYUuQ4DrtgV-4aMspWQc/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290401073417421746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzA6F6odNPeHJVE4hnJ9k_Q-8S9sVCZ8ZuY9n09hyf1lA_4K2G1cTM3isRmwUDQt4ulS6XH_CgOixxNMqWWIfs7S16lrCzkd1l2UYEMTpUroHHBLswYUuQ4DrtgV-4aMspWQc/s320/December+08+Vacation+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">great to dive with my brother! </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">The diving in the Caymans is nice...very healthy coral, great conservation laws, mellow and easy. No insane currents, great visibility...made it hard to get lost underwater, no hungry tiger sharks....seriously easy. Not once did I get back on the boat just thankful to be back on the boat and also that the boat was there. I guess it takes some crazy and super difficult dives to appreciate the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">easyness</span> of diving in the Caymans.<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-w_nvts_dsRJ_QdHqgTysBJMbmSG1e7pDW5CXdDWmRzkSa-m_t9XdXZo5rEh-3xco-a8IfZ_IsDhgZd76YvmD9eeElHd6NNJpaC0SEa7XqBHC4EClkKisa8yCgGC9hhMXOnk/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290401072200623794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-w_nvts_dsRJ_QdHqgTysBJMbmSG1e7pDW5CXdDWmRzkSa-m_t9XdXZo5rEh-3xco-a8IfZ_IsDhgZd76YvmD9eeElHd6NNJpaC0SEa7XqBHC4EClkKisa8yCgGC9hhMXOnk/s320/December+08+Vacation+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">After a great time in the Caymans I came back to the middle east. I spent 4 fun filled days exploring Dubai.<br /><br /><br />This is the Wild Wadi <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Waterpark</span> which was really really fun! They have this slide that connects 11 slides together, so you are sliding for a really long time. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">In the back ground is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Burj</span> Arab which is the worlds only 7 star hotel. Dubai seems to have some sort of world title on just about everything.<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpK5_8_gr56WthuHlGTupsN0gdxnDhlxpVWhco2mkpMsw_1JzKrNOh-5legeFExWS903itBNmIEwotKwt-nfBg1UALVa129mZUg4_jEvkNS3jTt-86DWF2SPYdy6Sy3FRirsm/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290396924429331842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpK5_8_gr56WthuHlGTupsN0gdxnDhlxpVWhco2mkpMsw_1JzKrNOh-5legeFExWS903itBNmIEwotKwt-nfBg1UALVa129mZUg4_jEvkNS3jTt-86DWF2SPYdy6Sy3FRirsm/s320/December+08+Vacation+063.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Wild Wadi has 2 of these <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">flowriders</span>, so you can practice catching waves.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3VL4leCGnb7vxor2TO5xpeADDDPaKlNFWjY0IUYxa5i68o9QNroPqtitUj5zjFl81SAwqQVK-EdyXK5fytms851s1yeWOkBqW25iVESPAEoqXPr8XxsaLc131FS6Ohg2aJ_f/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290396927462649346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3VL4leCGnb7vxor2TO5xpeADDDPaKlNFWjY0IUYxa5i68o9QNroPqtitUj5zjFl81SAwqQVK-EdyXK5fytms851s1yeWOkBqW25iVESPAEoqXPr8XxsaLc131FS6Ohg2aJ_f/s320/December+08+Vacation+062.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Dubai has some insane shopping malls, in the "Dubai Mall" there was a very HUGE <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">aquarium</span> that had everything I had just seen diving in the Caymans and more.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAP3yQld3pPjjSUcjKQuTUHiVFqH9HN7qvx58JcSh1wyKvsdRXguXYvL33EEQ4Ct2X1IzmNmYTAv3cy6j3QN7qpjdUvxB5Nt33td8y8ytzZIVyW1jfooLKRF6HzzvFXsFlvqOO/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290396926965353858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAP3yQld3pPjjSUcjKQuTUHiVFqH9HN7qvx58JcSh1wyKvsdRXguXYvL33EEQ4Ct2X1IzmNmYTAv3cy6j3QN7qpjdUvxB5Nt33td8y8ytzZIVyW1jfooLKRF6HzzvFXsFlvqOO/s320/December+08+Vacation+057.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3zfRRFC-9SrJyWzB5AKRpDHlx1r39xQPIcAHeXBE7jLWz3jRTOfy8D550BifWjTzopYOEvQ72P2xnWdU0FYB-DoO24UeZ3qZ0b1sDxWQXrP4K6vwv8sPhbjFB1cv9Zb0FSDA/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290396920376782946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3zfRRFC-9SrJyWzB5AKRpDHlx1r39xQPIcAHeXBE7jLWz3jRTOfy8D550BifWjTzopYOEvQ72P2xnWdU0FYB-DoO24UeZ3qZ0b1sDxWQXrP4K6vwv8sPhbjFB1cv9Zb0FSDA/s320/December+08+Vacation+054.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaFiMjFJaqNxeVBoS0sAc5H66v5OBaPciRa_mns1kKrUwok8jRxrUNDoSsDWuaMyfh6MCGhPf6zyK3Wgkv1mjX3sPpMM8Dn4V7u4V8CrruxB0DckZ69fOWXZaxL0JplY384SA/s1600-h/December+08+Vacation+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290396918899490578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaFiMjFJaqNxeVBoS0sAc5H66v5OBaPciRa_mns1kKrUwok8jRxrUNDoSsDWuaMyfh6MCGhPf6zyK3Wgkv1mjX3sPpMM8Dn4V7u4V8CrruxB0DckZ69fOWXZaxL0JplY384SA/s320/December+08+Vacation+044.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000099;"> Ski Dubai!!!</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">Why not go snow skiing while in Dubai. This was really amazing, the "mountain" is in the shopping mall and very much like skiing in a snow globe. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">You seriously just cut through the food court and you are at the ski area. I had seen it on TV so thought I would just check it out, but once I got there I knew I had to try it out first hand. Then I thought I would do 1 run....well 2 hours later I was racing up and down the hill as fast as I could to get in as many runs on my lift ticket as possible.<br /></span><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYF5KP-WEsfvfqgu0665gST07z_KqPYnTydxZ8SM6vAjJrz5HjPsy1_OmoZ4VdHGFCeKrOsEkqcNBm4WrP-eJUFqI2RSHO9dKhb444ZtQS9TvEpiGea3OlAsgW4bq1exWByLIx/s1600-h/ski+dubai+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290395743202204818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYF5KP-WEsfvfqgu0665gST07z_KqPYnTydxZ8SM6vAjJrz5HjPsy1_OmoZ4VdHGFCeKrOsEkqcNBm4WrP-eJUFqI2RSHO9dKhb444ZtQS9TvEpiGea3OlAsgW4bq1exWByLIx/s320/ski+dubai+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">After you get your lift ticket, you move to the next line and they give you your ski suit which is pants, jacket, socks and gloves. Then you stand in the next line for boots and skis, they set your bindings while you stand there and then you are out the door. You ride an escalator with your gear to the entrance and collect your poles. Then you leave the warm desert air for a cold mountain slope. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">My favorite was seeing the local Arabs skiing in their long gowns with a parka over them. sorry...no pictures of that. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">The mountain had 2 quad chairs, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">poma</span> lift, rope toe, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">inner tube</span> hill and a snowboard park. You could get off at mid mountain or go up to the top for the "steeps". Good times!!!</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVfxYmUWVqMEMGgLzn4HMRWYYkj4lm3j1w0XAZIup1KR_7ry8VKwXhr2g8iN4xmquaF-MIwCfb_Dfzz3f8waVYLHzKS1pnLqSJZyh_pAkdBSOTMrF7cJt2HntHDAGG4d86_gj/s1600-h/ski+dubai+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290395740597826706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVfxYmUWVqMEMGgLzn4HMRWYYkj4lm3j1w0XAZIup1KR_7ry8VKwXhr2g8iN4xmquaF-MIwCfb_Dfzz3f8waVYLHzKS1pnLqSJZyh_pAkdBSOTMrF7cJt2HntHDAGG4d86_gj/s320/ski+dubai+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe3dGyoG529oCeCQ9iwaQmzNMldlXsWd9PMqIHho2LKv-6RnZVcp5tbxI5jgcMQMGEE332h3xR_Ft0BHdDs_xs-gfCggV_fhs1vUwxhAS_HDDU3NruK8EXFUaQv8K3avYs84v/s1600-h/ski+dubai+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290395732787794050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe3dGyoG529oCeCQ9iwaQmzNMldlXsWd9PMqIHho2LKv-6RnZVcp5tbxI5jgcMQMGEE332h3xR_Ft0BHdDs_xs-gfCggV_fhs1vUwxhAS_HDDU3NruK8EXFUaQv8K3avYs84v/s320/ski+dubai+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAyQ98skeTwQGlglFufIpyFmagZ8QTmk34G9O7OgI4VN-rneVgc7wNroGYek71Q4BUuxzQpGyztsfplIV8hI7xaV7_UeHGf48DSLP_O1imqYKcMocND4RBNBH_I6ogH_BMpxQ/s1600-h/ski+dubai+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290395731519446258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAyQ98skeTwQGlglFufIpyFmagZ8QTmk34G9O7OgI4VN-rneVgc7wNroGYek71Q4BUuxzQpGyztsfplIV8hI7xaV7_UeHGf48DSLP_O1imqYKcMocND4RBNBH_I6ogH_BMpxQ/s320/ski+dubai+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglksp9zyCJ3yWHYPVPOqc8jPd-skLTKq4NVkBiMu8tOBI_TvDuI92a6rLBS30DOnr2-GQYFWngCy3zGkw4MHZS3vr-XV4N3wqN89nY_dodmdfFggIqVhbq4Wq0A_GezOZjzMpN/s1600-h/ski+dubai+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290395730312829218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglksp9zyCJ3yWHYPVPOqc8jPd-skLTKq4NVkBiMu8tOBI_TvDuI92a6rLBS30DOnr2-GQYFWngCy3zGkw4MHZS3vr-XV4N3wqN89nY_dodmdfFggIqVhbq4Wq0A_GezOZjzMpN/s320/ski+dubai+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><em>I am back in Doha now and think the next adventure will be a safari in Uganda in March....stay tuned.<br /></em></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-47791480561170718382009-01-01T08:34:00.000-08:002009-01-01T08:41:48.421-08:00little local<span style="color:#000099;">This little guy was all business! </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">He was all dressed up and on the phone. I think he was about 3.</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4fAasraoiXCNnwfCSOWbWJ3dhUaWi8OO5FFSyTg7W4SwBGaC2NSvpg3epj-x8MCDHuGidln1i8NIJZk98QdCVIdEsdFO8MUmay-38vQoZMXUz763IVpEym0ivO0IjPV65Pit/s1600-h/local+qatari+kid+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286364994871768418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4fAasraoiXCNnwfCSOWbWJ3dhUaWi8OO5FFSyTg7W4SwBGaC2NSvpg3epj-x8MCDHuGidln1i8NIJZk98QdCVIdEsdFO8MUmay-38vQoZMXUz763IVpEym0ivO0IjPV65Pit/s320/local+qatari+kid+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-60220642141986937802008-12-05T08:20:00.000-08:002008-12-05T08:43:57.031-08:00mustachio and beard face<span style="color:#ff0000;">I was just curious what I would look like with a mustache & beard....now I know. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQD8mQh_Tct7whLCOSroi6vXEVAB0_DfSrnn6WUOZehf57FnLrQTaipIaFvst0T61AyYP23IKgkhT2h5WkyvHoX8q_zBkkN_ErxSnfenIhB2bC4UZSsoAW8xMIapucEZEPxluI/s1600-h/12042008132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276344473645010306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQD8mQh_Tct7whLCOSroi6vXEVAB0_DfSrnn6WUOZehf57FnLrQTaipIaFvst0T61AyYP23IKgkhT2h5WkyvHoX8q_zBkkN_ErxSnfenIhB2bC4UZSsoAW8xMIapucEZEPxluI/s320/12042008132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV31bxmrEmm73yyfA8IQSyYeOQi8N99wInqHh_RewQjvSqcGW6J_TxN1Pe6UFR7vqdtyIuU82mn7ptyNVTK2lw0Onbo3EZkOQQYdUVXezmG3QvDFDQdW7MHDkyYFRLmNUuUVN/s1600-h/12042008130.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276344465791493618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV31bxmrEmm73yyfA8IQSyYeOQi8N99wInqHh_RewQjvSqcGW6J_TxN1Pe6UFR7vqdtyIuU82mn7ptyNVTK2lw0Onbo3EZkOQQYdUVXezmG3QvDFDQdW7MHDkyYFRLmNUuUVN/s320/12042008130.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-90135083299752920022008-12-01T05:33:00.000-08:002008-12-01T05:53:56.236-08:00sand for days<span style="color:#006600;">This is the land of sand, camels, insane wealth from oil/natural gas and obvious signs of becoming more and more western. The same guy who owns a camel farm and has 4 wives will also have 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ferrari's</span> and probably own a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Starbucks</span> or a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hagen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">daaz</span>.</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274817001991476226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnymi5jTrJXGI0WINfLxIEmQ7iNUr0RmyXJndQd12PGVjYXD01emHOjYDb7CKyPDhJHxVm2unwZ0FVz19AnY88h_nVVj8rkbP4gc3gju0BYNw9CDZ1bZoSxIlj07wbjUzSG-2/s320/P1050310.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA8PF8VF_8LAAKLj5q_rV8HFjD6CzUfbVfymv1e4mjS3FeeDH_LjNjAD3meQTmugWbdkwV74bj9r0_R9KWJzgmIsWIrWOkSnfvV1JDn2-ww68cgKhzjaz6v_dBzmVhRjcnkXA/s1600-h/P1050346.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274817014130555346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA8PF8VF_8LAAKLj5q_rV8HFjD6CzUfbVfymv1e4mjS3FeeDH_LjNjAD3meQTmugWbdkwV74bj9r0_R9KWJzgmIsWIrWOkSnfvV1JDn2-ww68cgKhzjaz6v_dBzmVhRjcnkXA/s320/P1050346.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagQET3hmtSLaOWMTWLOj6NEWLgr-KQP1AvS1qAOh13W9dtPwvm-W8X83T-TkBBw9fh6Ii3mBYzb7xk_FHwA5Fu7U1KEe0aVZzuXXtpTiibsCCMrInphWQ19WvYQEdzokcCVGN/s1600-h/P1050316+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274817009300828290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagQET3hmtSLaOWMTWLOj6NEWLgr-KQP1AvS1qAOh13W9dtPwvm-W8X83T-TkBBw9fh6Ii3mBYzb7xk_FHwA5Fu7U1KEe0aVZzuXXtpTiibsCCMrInphWQ19WvYQEdzokcCVGN/s320/P1050316+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#006600;">This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sema</span> who is married to an old Johnston Island friend of mine I ran into randomly here. She is a professional photographer here in Qatar and she took all these pictures on this post.</span> <span style="color:#009900;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Sema</span> is also from the town in Turkey I was born in. We have these things in common but we have never met!</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274816030050633666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L4aj37xsTZfSpMBnlvBe_VbPgJHtxR57gynUvFafrProZPhUX2Vvf2SmsfSWtjHI66au8UisjSUGECWaSRpmuGHsfEVYB2FKhsyP-VxDTEH1bGdPu-gfsGfPP016-q_wbzJ1/s320/P1050238+(2).JPG" border="0" /> <div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBCqrA2amrTDlnlhOVgN9K7DcCdAg31B08G9yCy4XneXWVz-Lbx3E1GU7d4cMV9sC6278T_B1z7HFabHlH08wgfEH3qxF8-jpt0MKO6slflN2Mhyphenhyphenw-kIxpMJ_fx__aHN5Sgfm/s1600-h/P1050279.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274816993616913154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBCqrA2amrTDlnlhOVgN9K7DcCdAg31B08G9yCy4XneXWVz-Lbx3E1GU7d4cMV9sC6278T_B1z7HFabHlH08wgfEH3qxF8-jpt0MKO6slflN2Mhyphenhyphenw-kIxpMJ_fx__aHN5Sgfm/s320/P1050279.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHmAbO5-Z6VbpXsTnCfB8g-FPxcdBjAU7rkf34b7HDCU6B1W8wsx0V49nY2pMwa6EVWbA26uY_Eiu_8_OvevUIuAAQRbLPobakYcffzE-BZALR0B9OUzQElhO4i4EvcWhnAC_/s1600-h/P1050264+(3).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274816993152747122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHmAbO5-Z6VbpXsTnCfB8g-FPxcdBjAU7rkf34b7HDCU6B1W8wsx0V49nY2pMwa6EVWbA26uY_Eiu_8_OvevUIuAAQRbLPobakYcffzE-BZALR0B9OUzQElhO4i4EvcWhnAC_/s320/P1050264+(3).JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#6600cc;">The Old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Souqs</span> and one of my favorite places in Doha<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX0aWV-UbkriSrDzGfi1qGouRPIs2TuHKEK5muKqvGgJhNVMWcuecIzue1epcyUcCZGF-H03tEGN_HGGwxQlhyphenhyphenZyfDJgt592trkfGyF8YLHuU_rz7PuY2X-2hMUWLELT_cFAx/s1600-h/P1050178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274816012500225026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX0aWV-UbkriSrDzGfi1qGouRPIs2TuHKEK5muKqvGgJhNVMWcuecIzue1epcyUcCZGF-H03tEGN_HGGwxQlhyphenhyphenZyfDJgt592trkfGyF8YLHuU_rz7PuY2X-2hMUWLELT_cFAx/s320/P1050178.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyWjkbBUSef-K0avujgx_sahOWEUNn-3NgQn3ZxIFovIll2xfUmf2puM42kVrgFIc5Hia16cbwsfo5oTACkbcOSytqGIpoCGM3uZ9c8SmFa4Y4MbRiUppWyspClY2evetzXTE/s1600-h/P1050244+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274816035105951346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyWjkbBUSef-K0avujgx_sahOWEUNn-3NgQn3ZxIFovIll2xfUmf2puM42kVrgFIc5Hia16cbwsfo5oTACkbcOSytqGIpoCGM3uZ9c8SmFa4Y4MbRiUppWyspClY2evetzXTE/s320/P1050244+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQtXn8ZbNuAoTITLcpuVSElhJTG1AXuT5WjKgaahasfu6yGm3si5sGylfDaq-xZiwvhrx8KWXwzJJyHc854jIEnLzVwfyGSdf-Dj4orhVAQqB-VcLU7XotTZW7atzRydzsXQ6/s1600-h/P1050179+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274816023033219986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQtXn8ZbNuAoTITLcpuVSElhJTG1AXuT5WjKgaahasfu6yGm3si5sGylfDaq-xZiwvhrx8KWXwzJJyHc854jIEnLzVwfyGSdf-Dj4orhVAQqB-VcLU7XotTZW7atzRydzsXQ6/s320/P1050179+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#3333ff;">These are not on every corner yet but I thinks <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">that's</span> where its heading...<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOGG2I5Obqx9Vy01xu7dtL9leu_UMuo2FiZ09xO70dQqd8fv0fCvTmhcFW0aHxiMS4jiAz_dW1VyPzW4uLPtjvCGV3CbGKTV1RKGN32EgkVZy0kqb9mahCtYXtI5STDofltFP/s1600-h/P1050176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274816009408716354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOGG2I5Obqx9Vy01xu7dtL9leu_UMuo2FiZ09xO70dQqd8fv0fCvTmhcFW0aHxiMS4jiAz_dW1VyPzW4uLPtjvCGV3CbGKTV1RKGN32EgkVZy0kqb9mahCtYXtI5STDofltFP/s320/P1050176.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHGCCpy7p96BiCaZXnGJNXZIER3j7TsFJfUldthprqtlLhtcGy3Un3qIl9UuDLivScIHHj7JZRoi0Yw9V8M0gdSk2s-Q3V7u8cLYLoUCp7LplOFWabDM6IC_lpWh4qx8BGeB3/s1600-h/P1050164.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274815022408132818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHGCCpy7p96BiCaZXnGJNXZIER3j7TsFJfUldthprqtlLhtcGy3Un3qIl9UuDLivScIHHj7JZRoi0Yw9V8M0gdSk2s-Q3V7u8cLYLoUCp7LplOFWabDM6IC_lpWh4qx8BGeB3/s320/P1050164.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOADIi6IiQ9a4oWG6Z2SquUoQSbb_9PL4aK1yuqk_3p87vSf7yKetD9mb8CUaEwMYt7uRG7nhCRcuZ9fZ-vnC2H0HK0eK0JBJbe0TZ2Qb31oqMMKLUKzzC_VseUL2jUxHfuDL/s1600-h/P1050161+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274815006510921986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOADIi6IiQ9a4oWG6Z2SquUoQSbb_9PL4aK1yuqk_3p87vSf7yKetD9mb8CUaEwMYt7uRG7nhCRcuZ9fZ-vnC2H0HK0eK0JBJbe0TZ2Qb31oqMMKLUKzzC_VseUL2jUxHfuDL/s320/P1050161+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdkl2Z_p7RwPgAhxkMixOmqMjuH6rSBAIyhgIpmgAWnf0CacS1xRG-jfEikmh1K71763EyYVnRtT94eRuuP-teio11BDvAlLvS6E9dU69b42M3pCyzlHqXH0ildZxMl9CdfdT/s1600-h/P1050158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274814997684610194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdkl2Z_p7RwPgAhxkMixOmqMjuH6rSBAIyhgIpmgAWnf0CacS1xRG-jfEikmh1K71763EyYVnRtT94eRuuP-teio11BDvAlLvS6E9dU69b42M3pCyzlHqXH0ildZxMl9CdfdT/s320/P1050158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQq1CKKOuxlUpIGTaXWRFSQ4jv3fxUY1fyH1JUcnrXQuTF_rrtrSWl9FMpHXXRjjr3GkYXvNFopDfgbXyHfQSiR-MGq1GXLYVLzWy2D4kU2aWPDpU6dW30iUBsqVXdttFXEGeL/s1600-h/P1050152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274814981385827042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQq1CKKOuxlUpIGTaXWRFSQ4jv3fxUY1fyH1JUcnrXQuTF_rrtrSWl9FMpHXXRjjr3GkYXvNFopDfgbXyHfQSiR-MGq1GXLYVLzWy2D4kU2aWPDpU6dW30iUBsqVXdttFXEGeL/s320/P1050152.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23YOqb7E6KDTFClMk8ifPZLQD93f07yX9N80cDjZOulKtcO4qwB5W3f1A-Mqxz3iUBS4bucfdP4MxVdKrC3dk2aGbXRKQqvILKOz-nwzeKIfhwmiBGlK2juAEtG93PzX3ihPJ/s1600-h/P1050147+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274814966729242002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23YOqb7E6KDTFClMk8ifPZLQD93f07yX9N80cDjZOulKtcO4qwB5W3f1A-Mqxz3iUBS4bucfdP4MxVdKrC3dk2aGbXRKQqvILKOz-nwzeKIfhwmiBGlK2juAEtG93PzX3ihPJ/s320/P1050147+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-71455587710211386842008-11-27T07:08:00.001-08:002008-11-27T07:38:22.988-08:00Good Job Obama<span style="color:#000099;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Obamas</span> big win was celebrated with my friends Ali, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Afsar</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">JoJo</span>. They are from Bangladesh & the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Philippines</span> and they were very very happy that Obama won. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">In the words of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Afsar</span> "Obama good for world"</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">When I asked the guys how we should celebrate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Afsar</span> & Ali decided that we should have Dairy Queen dinner with sugar free energy drinks (because Afsar is diabetic) and talk about Obama. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">So <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">that's</span> what we did....while we were eating I asked them what they new about Obama and while none of us new much, it was a funny conversation that was done mostly in broken english with some Tagalog, Arabic and Bangla mixed in.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Afsar</span> having dairy queen dinner with Obama</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis85xLFn845nhObIpIdGurNbc58pPK-wR3eF1jPM02o16H1cV_HYK1pUI2oVJ3oRGSZFxN8wdmrvbkDxhAAzopZt9zOETtm8OvfVhCcaeWi-TBdstQFxEjJxqmmLKCKCxFEBwm/s1600-h/11162008116.jpg"><span style="color:#009900;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273360040583138994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis85xLFn845nhObIpIdGurNbc58pPK-wR3eF1jPM02o16H1cV_HYK1pUI2oVJ3oRGSZFxN8wdmrvbkDxhAAzopZt9zOETtm8OvfVhCcaeWi-TBdstQFxEjJxqmmLKCKCxFEBwm/s320/11162008116.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#009900;"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Afsar</span>, Jo Jo in red and Ali<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsae8iB9pnvOxX1d7FH7lJCySfeRVrpXM1NomRZFYzex24f2HUQnmqrfnWawDRXj9UxnMsgntFxE0utVeh3gV2YwG1bU4jU4MCI0yi-Eg6StI_aMUwTf-y5oHHPSRqLOph6a5/s1600-h/11162008114.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273360030791187346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsae8iB9pnvOxX1d7FH7lJCySfeRVrpXM1NomRZFYzex24f2HUQnmqrfnWawDRXj9UxnMsgntFxE0utVeh3gV2YwG1bU4jU4MCI0yi-Eg6StI_aMUwTf-y5oHHPSRqLOph6a5/s320/11162008114.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6600;">This has nothing to do with Obama or Dairy Queen...this is what I look like when I am to tired to swim but really really want to...at least I am at the pool.</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSz-yvXXCCISMekeQO6bs7rqvlBxhLFcq_HwYSA_7w87UV3bfDl2OxcdNLFZ7MNfScmWeh_-RFBqBV62FZPqPI4X8rQZbjTaDEmAc9A3ssaRyVl6HenvRRxJjIbDGi9JzZFuT/s1600-h/11022008101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273360028471481266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSz-yvXXCCISMekeQO6bs7rqvlBxhLFcq_HwYSA_7w87UV3bfDl2OxcdNLFZ7MNfScmWeh_-RFBqBV62FZPqPI4X8rQZbjTaDEmAc9A3ssaRyVl6HenvRRxJjIbDGi9JzZFuT/s320/11022008101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-66407842924075128502008-11-01T09:24:00.000-07:002008-11-01T09:31:43.590-07:00why not go by camel?<span style="color:#ff6666;">In the land where camels are still used daily I have rented myself a car. </span><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">don't</span> know how much a monthly car rental in the states is but I think it would be expensive. Here you can rent one for $500 a month and that includes all the insurance and unlimited mileage. Its much quicker, smells better and has better air conditioning than these smelly old camels! If I do end up staying here beyond January I think I will end up buying a car. It would be my first car in 10 years!!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0FiUSinqsdWZ4mtO-Irf4zzCAePZk8jZWi7jf2vZfRf3O887zxEZ30yJoIZtgzyGLn0tj4RQdz1nppzVBW57Jo1vHBL3ZSR4q4oUlURNEZZmXbfReA6nQiIx6ARB0WfRUEKH/s1600-h/afghan+camels+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263726269381301138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0FiUSinqsdWZ4mtO-Irf4zzCAePZk8jZWi7jf2vZfRf3O887zxEZ30yJoIZtgzyGLn0tj4RQdz1nppzVBW57Jo1vHBL3ZSR4q4oUlURNEZZmXbfReA6nQiIx6ARB0WfRUEKH/s320/afghan+camels+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjps1Zy-45RvlYXcWDZ1smvwbSgnw0rz9JpuX6rpZoPNPQC_f0xlAkTTBjdfgtbi7NDH3hg7gNEfdUfQdISFNTpqoLUY9MOCwnBzX_auFfTowYxWg7t3YgUOOlWK4b55uFwktoQ/s1600-h/afghan+camels.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263726263232801650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjps1Zy-45RvlYXcWDZ1smvwbSgnw0rz9JpuX6rpZoPNPQC_f0xlAkTTBjdfgtbi7NDH3hg7gNEfdUfQdISFNTpqoLUY9MOCwnBzX_auFfTowYxWg7t3YgUOOlWK4b55uFwktoQ/s320/afghan+camels.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">These pictures were actually taken in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bagram</span> Afghanistan and not Qatar...we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">don't</span> have mountains but we do have lots of camels!<br /></span><div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-28001459659067837252008-10-21T08:51:00.000-07:002008-10-22T07:40:26.216-07:00My life in lightbulbs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilngovZn1QDFdTq-93HfbfwiqD-LrjKnveq5Vas9YtqGTWMBg2mK-PA5erBg81misCZlDWcWjizaYO1p_oRMyKP8yqQUlnrUImyQlvitAvUzbcJICsicbSIMAkfgtY5ThWJOgh/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259640795277189202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilngovZn1QDFdTq-93HfbfwiqD-LrjKnveq5Vas9YtqGTWMBg2mK-PA5erBg81misCZlDWcWjizaYO1p_oRMyKP8yqQUlnrUImyQlvitAvUzbcJICsicbSIMAkfgtY5ThWJOgh/s320/Qatar+Oct+08+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6600;">seriously...<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">light bulbs</span>. who in their normal life even thinks about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">light bulbs</span> for more than 2 minutes a year?</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6600;">I can honestly say I have spent hours, seriously hours thinking, talking and writing emails about about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">light bulbs</span> since I have been here in the bright shiny desert. </span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6600;">Here is the 30 step process that I went through to get <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">light bulbs</span> and I am happy tell you that after completing those frustrating 30 steps and 6 months of waiting well....the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">light bulbs</span> are here. <span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;">VICTORY!!!</span> The lights are now back on!!! </span></div><br /><p><span style="color:#000099;">Steps to get <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">light bulbs</span>:</span></p><p><span style="color:#000099;">1. I am told by manager to go get a bunch of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">light bulbs</span> for recreation center<br />2. ask around and find out that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">light bulbs</span> live at a place called Self Help<br />3. Go to self help and ask for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">light bulbs</span><br />4. Listen as they tell you they will give you 5 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">light bulbs</span> only<br />5. kindly explain that the facility I am trying to replace them in has 416 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">light bulbs</span><br />6. Am told that to get more than 5 bulbs at one time I need to to the engineering office and fill out form # 332<br />7. I find the engineering office and ask for form 332<br />8. I fill out form 332 and am told our manager has to sign them<br />9. I take the filled out form and head back to our part of town to track down my manager<br />10. I get the managers signature and return to the engineering office<br />11. The engineers review my form and they approve it<br />12. I leave the engineering office with my approved, signed form<br />13. I now take my approved form back to self help in hopes of now getting the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">light bulbs</span><br />14. I am told to leave the form there to be reviewed by self help. If the form is approved they will contact me to pick up the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">light bulbs</span><br />15. I wait 1 week and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">don't</span> hear back</span></p><p><span style="color:#000099;">16. I return to Self help and ask the status of my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">light bulb</span> order<br />17. I wait patiently while 22 year old self help guy insists that he emailed a military guy who he thought was me about picking up the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">light bulbs</span><br />18. I explain that I am not the military guy that the guy is insisting he emailed about the order<br />19. I finally convince <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">mr</span> 22 year old that I am a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">separate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">light bulb</span> order from military guy<br />20. I watch as 22 year old finds my original order<br />21. I take deep breaths as 22 year old explains that the form was not signed in the correct location by the engineers<br />22. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">don't</span> bother to ask why they could not have told me that last when when I dropped off the form<br />23. I take the form back to the engineering office to get signed again<br />24. I listen patiently as the guy who is supposed to sign the form explains that they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">don't</span> need his signature again<br />25. I smile really big and ask him to just sign in it anyway<br />26. I take double signed form back to self help and let 22 year old approve it again<br />27. I say thank you as he says 'we let you know something in a couple of weeks'<br />28. I leave self help assured that we will never see another light bulb again<br />29. I drive back to rec center thinking of ways to get solar energy to the video games, televisions and computers </span></p><p><span style="color:#000099;">30. VICTORY!!! 6 months later, I was able to pick up 178 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">light bulbs</span>. Now if I could just get the other 300+ that are needed for the facility. No matter...this feels like a victory in the world of the reddest tape possible.<br /></span></p><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-24178356395615552312008-10-21T08:06:00.000-07:002008-10-21T08:48:27.833-07:00Its about time!!!!<span style="color:#000099;">Its been a long time since I posted anything on the site...</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">personal time seems to be non existent for me here in the giant sandbox. I can honestly say that I am very OVER having to work 84 hours per week. When you break it down after 12+ hours a day of work, 7 of sleep..that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">doesn't</span> leave much for eating, showering, swimming, or anything extra. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">I am actively on the job search and really really really want to find a job that I LOVE and care about. Something that seems to matter....</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Here are some recent pictures of life in Doha</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lNjQACms1j9VOxpZFjc2HkkE1wWqvIT6pQKsWINF_XvbZm4Ev3ivT7yhFCrtiVVz7vo3pG05ZgOyMzBePtrgctSxH1rMA40DamzbFIylwYFRBE3oi0qZmVaySdZu0S_v2xVc/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+013.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259629291097820514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lNjQACms1j9VOxpZFjc2HkkE1wWqvIT6pQKsWINF_XvbZm4Ev3ivT7yhFCrtiVVz7vo3pG05ZgOyMzBePtrgctSxH1rMA40DamzbFIylwYFRBE3oi0qZmVaySdZu0S_v2xVc/s320/Qatar+Oct+08+013.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> These are the old souks and probably my favorite place (except the beach) that I have been here in Doha.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWTRqGW3waNGZgp5HwhnPkE-hcDgGVqURxx2eP1YHsb3D_2bRV4ouBG2DYeUTj_3Fzf3iOekeoKg1N_sJVX3pTp2o_nOlrMX6Wz8v4wx_DlBqAKfQHN8_KX7SM_1-6-KZjWtv/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+014.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259629295471535842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWTRqGW3waNGZgp5HwhnPkE-hcDgGVqURxx2eP1YHsb3D_2bRV4ouBG2DYeUTj_3Fzf3iOekeoKg1N_sJVX3pTp2o_nOlrMX6Wz8v4wx_DlBqAKfQHN8_KX7SM_1-6-KZjWtv/s320/Qatar+Oct+08+014.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbAbgyvzYbb4Zq11DSPwGD2IQGv7SfF32TQEUo9f9fYqBZBNRdc7JICWldAU08Gvb_xQ59hLqNkuHndXP1V4Rgzu93KD-0Xuqp4Hjvb4GO1QVGPzi0QxqfM4gmN6z0bOkHSt7/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+015.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259629304674093154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbAbgyvzYbb4Zq11DSPwGD2IQGv7SfF32TQEUo9f9fYqBZBNRdc7JICWldAU08Gvb_xQ59hLqNkuHndXP1V4Rgzu93KD-0Xuqp4Hjvb4GO1QVGPzi0QxqfM4gmN6z0bOkHSt7/s320/Qatar+Oct+08+015.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9i3QVCKq6BYf85_PK34yRrLN-57zUuyneRH0pkKdks4QE_IOwIWNil8DPvrfayImz7BG69qrzwZwwACT-7hMaYFo_dvFH8FBI4hokPXDi98ZrOWvtfnmMSczTaNAPsUioXf6/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+016.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259629310309858242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9i3QVCKq6BYf85_PK34yRrLN-57zUuyneRH0pkKdks4QE_IOwIWNil8DPvrfayImz7BG69qrzwZwwACT-7hMaYFo_dvFH8FBI4hokPXDi98ZrOWvtfnmMSczTaNAPsUioXf6/s320/Qatar+Oct+08+016.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> This is the Qatar flag<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRLkczoRmOJurRt_Rb_w6u5OM3XEaVJK5j3Y3f_kc5dukrxgFipeDNVaxgM_ONQ7ZTVQaygOQInGg9A84jXndW3g25_SVBzBoRqSgt-ozVsfq6HAsguGse9Ym7ROGzngxbrEt/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+017.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259629311319704482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRLkczoRmOJurRt_Rb_w6u5OM3XEaVJK5j3Y3f_kc5dukrxgFipeDNVaxgM_ONQ7ZTVQaygOQInGg9A84jXndW3g25_SVBzBoRqSgt-ozVsfq6HAsguGse9Ym7ROGzngxbrEt/s320/Qatar+Oct+08+017.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> Hard to tell much on the map but Doha is about half way down on the right. For perspective it only takes an hour or so to drive across the entire country.<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQvhUwIWxH234R24tSW9or5HloXy-vKDNfx-xTZ6FgaSMkvENrDw8BYrYHqFBuggKV66_MkJtENyrjkPICqHBjHhe3x8GiGGQkYPlAdfjY1T-FyCDwjDLf3M0pBzY_drZD8BQ/s1600-h/qatar+map.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259628291015743138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQvhUwIWxH234R24tSW9or5HloXy-vKDNfx-xTZ6FgaSMkvENrDw8BYrYHqFBuggKV66_MkJtENyrjkPICqHBjHhe3x8GiGGQkYPlAdfjY1T-FyCDwjDLf3M0pBzY_drZD8BQ/s320/qatar+map.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9MX0QWzsMWPsrY248aJ-hoUX1sIZ1rnuzHn-98fBz5MM1VCenDEyp5hNaeLDwUzatB8lViXXF22O5Sviot9oAw8vS5Czr50rWi5pg1PB8Skuarl2JG8jtefU3bqQyhrM0YrI/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+004.jpg"></a><span style="color:#000099;">34 floors up, a city view<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRUMiof8V0eTerLt6qmO9qdN1aJD9D1zQ6U02d1n1CINbwa42dqgEICEi-PmMmG4pFLc1q9us1teXCXMQvVN_HQ-WzrEVjv4ZeHgv461DQqXSCxdRL2iVEpjB3qJBbDdXsP4w/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+008.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259628302086316674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRUMiof8V0eTerLt6qmO9qdN1aJD9D1zQ6U02d1n1CINbwa42dqgEICEi-PmMmG4pFLc1q9us1teXCXMQvVN_HQ-WzrEVjv4ZeHgv461DQqXSCxdRL2iVEpjB3qJBbDdXsP4w/s320/Qatar+Oct+08+008.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXLYEIxEXQ2R37Ep4lp-wO2FJrs3BN2cGfXktPkabcN7vCGtjk-mMqkVQx94odQVcTqOmO9l_cUAZKak_8P5BhjUcDlStKksyELhfihjTJRddif5Yp69KbPRbUb_KxOK2D19n/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+009.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259628303993914530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXLYEIxEXQ2R37Ep4lp-wO2FJrs3BN2cGfXktPkabcN7vCGtjk-mMqkVQx94odQVcTqOmO9l_cUAZKak_8P5BhjUcDlStKksyELhfihjTJRddif5Yp69KbPRbUb_KxOK2D19n/s320/Qatar+Oct+08+009.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> While I was 34 floors up, I found a pool!!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrs1e_YNluj9uXabgnoofgLIcpw4L1XQNKPkoQtWWRAxzR6Wh6AU9U-vEFUoTqg0Z1LIwe8NxDnfpyW5JJIjrxQLwh0xePoUmC4-yTCm9qYXaz74ZO1Gs0AvQb49Qbs9-FJ_A/s1600-h/Qatar+Oct+08+010.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259628307402560626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrs1e_YNluj9uXabgnoofgLIcpw4L1XQNKPkoQtWWRAxzR6Wh6AU9U-vEFUoTqg0Z1LIwe8NxDnfpyW5JJIjrxQLwh0xePoUmC4-yTCm9qYXaz74ZO1Gs0AvQb49Qbs9-FJ_A/s320/Qatar+Oct+08+010.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br />The city at night<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dbFKCwP9WWKiiS60x6svdY0L35i6ACw1QgoTJuAtO3q5gjoodVVKrluiYMMo-_OEZwNpWiFk_VfJjAs-mAPRbCAq0tnlvvsxMgDIZvbhtmbh-5QhAA6q6avMlKCrYZBrrgrz/s1600-h/1c.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259625332830409026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dbFKCwP9WWKiiS60x6svdY0L35i6ACw1QgoTJuAtO3q5gjoodVVKrluiYMMo-_OEZwNpWiFk_VfJjAs-mAPRbCAq0tnlvvsxMgDIZvbhtmbh-5QhAA6q6avMlKCrYZBrrgrz/s320/1c.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> This is the City Center mall which is HUGE!!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCypwJsv2DMTgpMIYq-DWieRIRutktqSrL1Yz1-mgg5FF7etMGn7NMQceP-quA7u9pfsv2kBcYfRhyoO552D1U1TvXDELbOYVZwW0D585bh9Q3Cy8sAw5ouV5bx7JdkbRbB_C/s1600-h/city+center.JPG"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259625336806967602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCypwJsv2DMTgpMIYq-DWieRIRutktqSrL1Yz1-mgg5FF7etMGn7NMQceP-quA7u9pfsv2kBcYfRhyoO552D1U1TvXDELbOYVZwW0D585bh9Q3Cy8sAw5ouV5bx7JdkbRbB_C/s320/city+center.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgits24kSsYMMzNhOfAAghneS1jZ5_WqpzYQ6nY8RD8WGdWFT6S95PEGifU7fGH5AibnZCXNIMKMrFGGlxFjFK2vRTwm1CvSl4WB5nf_Fu2pJh1UirQJMbBfUTszzAQ_fbAdkk/s1600-h/city+center+4.JPG"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259625341746729474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgits24kSsYMMzNhOfAAghneS1jZ5_WqpzYQ6nY8RD8WGdWFT6S95PEGifU7fGH5AibnZCXNIMKMrFGGlxFjFK2vRTwm1CvSl4WB5nf_Fu2pJh1UirQJMbBfUTszzAQ_fbAdkk/s320/city+center+4.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhPh-RwZ5sZwHEr4xJFTRBL7YZlGwtyqRSuoMFW2v9i2hyRSCIUmlHbVcVSpQkMGcK3-O4KfRgtAfVrC5FZgF8yqm06IzjaftwcPTv-lK0T7VmjDrt-KAaPTeykkgACVSXYqj/s1600-h/DSC_0002.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259625350036353186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhPh-RwZ5sZwHEr4xJFTRBL7YZlGwtyqRSuoMFW2v9i2hyRSCIUmlHbVcVSpQkMGcK3-O4KfRgtAfVrC5FZgF8yqm06IzjaftwcPTv-lK0T7VmjDrt-KAaPTeykkgACVSXYqj/s320/DSC_0002.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ramadan</span> was the month of September and then the festival of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">EID</span> was 3 days in October. This was my first <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ramadan</span> and I wanted to learn one new thing a day during <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ramadan</span>. Did you know that many Muslims <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">don't</span> allow their dogs to sleep in their beds? I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">didn't</span> know that...It was cool to learn about it and something I really knew nothing about. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">I still <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">don't</span> have any idea why all the religions fight with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">each other</span>. Why is one religion better than another? Why <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">don't</span> Jewish people like Muslim people? Why do many Americans think Muslims are all crazy? I have no idea and I really think that would prevent me from ever picking an official religion. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">I really do like seeing it all for myself and I have met people from so many religions that I both really like and also think are completely crazy. <br /></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAimwoIEap7unBtSVocuFDeoI6thCBb2PYC9a6Xa08OW8LQPbPkImSDcOvmx1z8-xGs8BVDKNZKQcW2Lp_KITKokn9-pwlMmQxnkWc1Qf8Zfbuug-m_FLn562kr0TVb1tqf5g/s1600-h/EID_PRAYERS.jpg"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259625355160180050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAimwoIEap7unBtSVocuFDeoI6thCBb2PYC9a6Xa08OW8LQPbPkImSDcOvmx1z8-xGs8BVDKNZKQcW2Lp_KITKokn9-pwlMmQxnkWc1Qf8Zfbuug-m_FLn562kr0TVb1tqf5g/s320/EID_PRAYERS.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-54619819913421274862008-10-03T23:21:00.000-07:002008-10-03T23:23:35.070-07:00updates coming soon....I am going to update soon...KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-40842657268051116212008-08-22T22:33:00.000-07:002008-08-23T06:57:10.501-07:00Getting a driving liscense!I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">recently</span> took my newly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">received</span> Qatari residency and went to get a drivers <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">licence</span>.<br /><br />Now...keep in mind that I really have not driven much in the past 10 years and that driving here is like Mad Max style. Seems like a smart idea huh?<br /><br />So the driving "laws" here are much more like "ideas" than actual laws. They did not even have a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">licence</span> program until 1986...so things are still in the "being worked out phase".<br /><br />Regardless, off 4 of us went.<br /><br />Step 1: You stand in line to visit type writer guy, however he speaks no English. So..you go back outside to find somebody outside who speaks Arabic. We were prepared and had brought a local guy named <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ahmet</span> with us. After typewrite guy and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ahmet</span> worked out the cost then typewriter guy wrote our Arabic names on his 1953 model typewriter and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">shoo'ed</span> us out of the building. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIQnd62gkjSbeIYZdNgQAkcHQ9TXVTOYQ3BfR-K-sOd8QQHvXfVC3w8-DnWPbXeZjdCUivOlVmjz3lwUx0KdpGqCPIaaI05c5XWMFf0PhA9EJJZYi6gAC7fWbcDPivpbjkNOC/s1600-h/07232008058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237704049524158274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIQnd62gkjSbeIYZdNgQAkcHQ9TXVTOYQ3BfR-K-sOd8QQHvXfVC3w8-DnWPbXeZjdCUivOlVmjz3lwUx0KdpGqCPIaaI05c5XWMFf0PhA9EJJZYi6gAC7fWbcDPivpbjkNOC/s320/07232008058.jpg" border="0" /></a>Step 2: you go to a non marked little building with the most disgusting bathrooms this side of Calcutta to get your eyes tested.<br /><br />Step 3: Once they determine that it makes no difference if you can see or not, they give you another form in Arabic<br /><br />Step 4: You take all of your forms to yet another building that actually looks like a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">DMV</span>. Common sense would say that you pick up a numbered ticket and wait for your turn. So the 4 of us Westerners did that but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ahmet</span> decided that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">wasn't</span> his plan and pushed his way through the line. 20 minutes later the 4 of us had Qatari driving <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">license</span> in our hand.<br /><br />Now if they would just make a road map of the city...KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-66833141522704976052008-08-22T22:25:00.001-07:002008-08-22T22:33:11.700-07:00When worlds merge!In the past month, I have run into 3 different people from my time in the Pacific islands. I love when your worlds merge!<br /><br />I had one guy come up to me here in Qatar and ask if I rememberd him, I said no and then he told me that he was in a band that I had hired to come out to Johnston Island about 7 years ago!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg359PzIPpzHV9WHe4I9Zc4z4pp7s11UoTYL6RYgxVpV4w0WlWQ8gfp4v-aXjRsBfrTW6Ajw2RDNpxZIJAiTD_ET7wQX9TLnwbfN0ixOo5HirpsRWrSp61DEY7Ja68Ps5cRw5Bt/s1600-h/kb+and+danny+manning.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237581080281938354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg359PzIPpzHV9WHe4I9Zc4z4pp7s11UoTYL6RYgxVpV4w0WlWQ8gfp4v-aXjRsBfrTW6Ajw2RDNpxZIJAiTD_ET7wQX9TLnwbfN0ixOo5HirpsRWrSp61DEY7Ja68Ps5cRw5Bt/s320/kb+and+danny+manning.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is a picture of friends from the Marshall Islands. Great to see Danny the "Ahi Slayer" out here in the sandstorm!!KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-13386589679026729272008-07-16T02:12:00.000-07:002008-07-16T02:44:06.219-07:0022456<span style="color:#000099;">22456 is the miles i flew on my vacation. apparently Doha is not close to anything.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">The trip took me to the Bahamas for a stay at the super duper fancy Atlantis resort. Then to Oregon for some family time and a quick trip the country fair. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXOW8y5Hq82128-oJZTy7GmYbz0XrldDbHan-Rsrzu_D9HUjW_VGf7huBtdMluTbkuWapV71VFb42PPN0YP6Org_HH1LAlwXeBM_HWfOqOAOPhjJZvq8FsCO2PBdPBmRhKK9C/s1600-h/Country+Fair+005.jpg"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223542242349736018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXOW8y5Hq82128-oJZTy7GmYbz0XrldDbHan-Rsrzu_D9HUjW_VGf7huBtdMluTbkuWapV71VFb42PPN0YP6Org_HH1LAlwXeBM_HWfOqOAOPhjJZvq8FsCO2PBdPBmRhKK9C/s320/Country+Fair+005.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#cc0000;"> Dad getting his cherry picking on!</span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-P2lHRKk9uUcoJS-nsaWW8VJS2Bu8oED_LvF9J-9l6lDIetwVTm7jQDQJkqFrRYLpR1Am48Wd9SCRXWCHLzM-Yq3LU7oa3fUoefil39h9_k3k5ukuJZAc2iFCFUmYB2Kf5f4/s1600-h/Country+Fair+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223542085236391026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-P2lHRKk9uUcoJS-nsaWW8VJS2Bu8oED_LvF9J-9l6lDIetwVTm7jQDQJkqFrRYLpR1Am48Wd9SCRXWCHLzM-Yq3LU7oa3fUoefil39h9_k3k5ukuJZAc2iFCFUmYB2Kf5f4/s320/Country+Fair+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#006600;"> me and tree man at the country fair</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_E6qJ2y1ZMokzMkIExtu0pJb0fAzOjaz7zibL6K3tlHec_rC_e6BIesDw06zlG_lPBvl0DOrGPKYMs2fQ0Pti6KDn1-PMO2fos9-eVwMpSOLuvW1aw0kusx9sVrLGkJAqnya/s1600-h/Country+Fair+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223542086792902130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_E6qJ2y1ZMokzMkIExtu0pJb0fAzOjaz7zibL6K3tlHec_rC_e6BIesDw06zlG_lPBvl0DOrGPKYMs2fQ0Pti6KDn1-PMO2fos9-eVwMpSOLuvW1aw0kusx9sVrLGkJAqnya/s320/Country+Fair+045.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#993399;">one of the best parts of the country fair are all the random parades that come through. If you dont know about the fair check out <a href="http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/">http://www.oregoncountryfair.org</a><br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesU0NFKpS8MAXKb8fvUGzswJansldZSuWwlbdcORMp6qKdelr6WVNJOCJpTBk7YN_SoFJzVrD8A8eq5XmMaIsZ98iinqDkzhAmQlfNejGJ_ftIxu7lSwKS2v8XBP1R4xpE_EC/s1600-h/July+08+079.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223541474044515890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesU0NFKpS8MAXKb8fvUGzswJansldZSuWwlbdcORMp6qKdelr6WVNJOCJpTBk7YN_SoFJzVrD8A8eq5XmMaIsZ98iinqDkzhAmQlfNejGJ_ftIxu7lSwKS2v8XBP1R4xpE_EC/s320/July+08+079.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000099;"> Voodoo donuts in Portland is I think somewhat famous..you can get donuts that have bacon on them or coated in tang.</span> <span style="color:#000099;">You can also buy underpants and get married there!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbV6Dzu_LvbEQoBtRJ18BYiUPPpxAY_Mn3Zuo80coKW4I5hyphenhyphenk2zvXRK8zJjXCwOB-RmBsSL951JRKoZxD6id3YhOdL32sRGD385_EdAhpYmjq6coxL1UsFIWCjZ3znYnbazgT/s1600-h/July+08+085.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223541476238725266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbV6Dzu_LvbEQoBtRJ18BYiUPPpxAY_Mn3Zuo80coKW4I5hyphenhyphenk2zvXRK8zJjXCwOB-RmBsSL951JRKoZxD6id3YhOdL32sRGD385_EdAhpYmjq6coxL1UsFIWCjZ3znYnbazgT/s320/July+08+085.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnq_T4YkIA0V2Rp9TlDP5pYP-N0_AMR7qc4edwiabs2OMUufQMkTJIUlxcbkhSQ6y3Di3DQrayfuzpzHwVzTVKW5QtLK1aHK6ZiXo8kouykrKnslD-47SqyxbG267ChJ3CkeGj/s1600-h/July+08+087.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223541481801007634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnq_T4YkIA0V2Rp9TlDP5pYP-N0_AMR7qc4edwiabs2OMUufQMkTJIUlxcbkhSQ6y3Di3DQrayfuzpzHwVzTVKW5QtLK1aHK6ZiXo8kouykrKnslD-47SqyxbG267ChJ3CkeGj/s320/July+08+087.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#ff6600;">good times with the family<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3II__3hwkPzOGKcB155LFAJhsgIH9SyG9lwVcp10868yfM4Vi-QaQqFz8laWdPR8nJtL8DS5PPq7GqQmygeil5dgrxb7_lCn1s1uHkAcCZTrJmGZMTmzzSlD8Ksgb8mPKDA-/s1600-h/Country+Fair+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223541487041261698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3II__3hwkPzOGKcB155LFAJhsgIH9SyG9lwVcp10868yfM4Vi-QaQqFz8laWdPR8nJtL8DS5PPq7GqQmygeil5dgrxb7_lCn1s1uHkAcCZTrJmGZMTmzzSlD8Ksgb8mPKDA-/s320/Country+Fair+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#006600;"> great tree people at the fair<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrqHcSgkSmqZTmKrhtlwnLWf9XkULOOmZ5b05099QOpKvFDDqoWxiwymeukmFeaZaNZbU1EDJ6bxQegu5veUwKXOqd0gNQ5hdOeAVGlQx8rVbUls2s9i0RAV_prTcnyYDXpGM/s1600-h/Country+Fair+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223541486272478706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrqHcSgkSmqZTmKrhtlwnLWf9XkULOOmZ5b05099QOpKvFDDqoWxiwymeukmFeaZaNZbU1EDJ6bxQegu5veUwKXOqd0gNQ5hdOeAVGlQx8rVbUls2s9i0RAV_prTcnyYDXpGM/s320/Country+Fair+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000099;"> what i look like in multiples!<br /></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJrJA1_hEJIn3HtMtkoF6FMkYMkFiqR2y30vk_vQ3hYZPwIvbNn5majJN6uFU5MuXlFBWSSjYCjBONe03EeoLJy65gPrXjGGqTg_qFXYUpxO7ebl1zHRpZWvTSHBYqsccYY8g/s1600-h/July+08+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223540963900463218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJrJA1_hEJIn3HtMtkoF6FMkYMkFiqR2y30vk_vQ3hYZPwIvbNn5majJN6uFU5MuXlFBWSSjYCjBONe03EeoLJy65gPrXjGGqTg_qFXYUpxO7ebl1zHRpZWvTSHBYqsccYY8g/s320/July+08+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#339999;">this was this was the view from our hotel room in the Bahamas<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiQPBvSd6RxPHkBZ_BmMoV8bamYxkKBLPtH2qioCTDG9puNtVwxoEtj3RBDokXSS-PbdcrrBqprxp_vAQluvcUv9fs4AOkL9Kc82KKxRmnh7itmnJ96MxgfvgYZatMJHgQB7t/s1600-h/Country+Fair+021.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhkr3SoyrhSJCWNkbQGCWRD9mAv7HyWIEDm2HPCuuSGQ1ECECY9TgJ8I22Y-rP0sQ7_cb_ZzoB9R8aEO7vRSjkvx3GwJQRmACO5xDQe-M0h_Lw-Aq8MoBoX3h4fHf0n2z8U2I/s1600-h/July+08+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223540968722786818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhkr3SoyrhSJCWNkbQGCWRD9mAv7HyWIEDm2HPCuuSGQ1ECECY9TgJ8I22Y-rP0sQ7_cb_ZzoB9R8aEO7vRSjkvx3GwJQRmACO5xDQe-M0h_Lw-Aq8MoBoX3h4fHf0n2z8U2I/s320/July+08+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYY9iD818OTWnIeqVv3FDXCWeiA922OjsqITRzgph8od8rhaBIFEgBm_N54r1TZf8ohv8B6PphtR_-cQub2UPyosL4mYS8CuytDCls8HdSsX6LLX5fksL9x71-my26BW1ouIx/s1600-h/July+08+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223540971249872034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYY9iD818OTWnIeqVv3FDXCWeiA922OjsqITRzgph8od8rhaBIFEgBm_N54r1TZf8ohv8B6PphtR_-cQub2UPyosL4mYS8CuytDCls8HdSsX6LLX5fksL9x71-my26BW1ouIx/s320/July+08+039.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAtM7araiUFe3qf999V3p4oU625weqr_KxAVI_a0AgNlPtAbRcURvKGt9eCB5EIam63nbwER6ljgkkJe5bAjBUdsbBT_F3WYzFX_-n_iwbLbVmSfwYUjdxKwMcdSicAHPRKRW/s1600-h/July+08+070.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223540976763752642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAtM7araiUFe3qf999V3p4oU625weqr_KxAVI_a0AgNlPtAbRcURvKGt9eCB5EIam63nbwER6ljgkkJe5bAjBUdsbBT_F3WYzFX_-n_iwbLbVmSfwYUjdxKwMcdSicAHPRKRW/s320/July+08+070.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> Mom & Dad on the BBQ!!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;"><em>So...I am now back in Qatar...stay tuned for more from the sandbox</em></span><br /><div></div></div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-82215398108731168702008-06-14T01:07:00.000-07:002008-06-14T02:45:12.217-07:00Same Same but Different<u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><em>Life in Qatar is not that different than life in Antarctica. </em></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Its actually the same just different. I dont think things are meant to live here...just like the ice. Weather wise in Antarctica our most extreme weather condition was called condition 1. Today here in the sandbox we are having a condition 5. Which means that when you step outside you are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">greeted</span> by an unforgiving heat and full blown sandblast. Its like somebody is pouring sand into a hot fan and putting it on full blast in front of you. </span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Here are some pictures that my friend Joey took this week. You can have a better idea of where I am day to day...</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhoqPNLNshqRL0ua9rbBmiKVODFVZxXvQGGngPTSKSb7U6rrZ_JsdiJIB-bFwkw3kEyaYcMxw8sJVLhq13KUc-4292AKhLGE_bMhMm4GypkPFnR2aJCtiGcpw6B5rBaQRKTpa/s1600-h/Qatar2_-_Kathy_Bates_&_Joey%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211666596480223554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhoqPNLNshqRL0ua9rbBmiKVODFVZxXvQGGngPTSKSb7U6rrZ_JsdiJIB-bFwkw3kEyaYcMxw8sJVLhq13KUc-4292AKhLGE_bMhMm4GypkPFnR2aJCtiGcpw6B5rBaQRKTpa/s320/Qatar2_-_Kathy_Bates_&_Joey%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#009900;">This week I got to see my old friend Joey from Johnston Island. She is living and working in Afghanistan and was passing through town on her way back from vacation. It was great to see her and get caught up, it had been 5 years!!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3tmd78MNfwSmknb8EqJaf5OxZBINfWdzKjSg68GGnuilNEvFI8_zu8ToKLpyO4Uaj6-kUZbto-txc0vwf4pgw0Lcvl4llsyKZnZz7lDKzFjhu53Qk_469oYCkopmtEczTDSf/s1600-h/me+and+aquaphor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211666601772247042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3tmd78MNfwSmknb8EqJaf5OxZBINfWdzKjSg68GGnuilNEvFI8_zu8ToKLpyO4Uaj6-kUZbto-txc0vwf4pgw0Lcvl4llsyKZnZz7lDKzFjhu53Qk_469oYCkopmtEczTDSf/s320/me+and+aquaphor.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#009900;"> My cubicle<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT16AugxicCgMzV2cX6d9FfmN7YUtX9x_sTQ0UbsTkLlSW6X7mqzjsk3K3ulAo_x6Q559YwJAfsBJGHDwIN2ApsPRuXLUKfXemENAFo9q5sxuohYmoc9879HVRnz_TEuUGSZE-/s1600-h/base.jpg"><span style="color:#009900;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211666265521080226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT16AugxicCgMzV2cX6d9FfmN7YUtX9x_sTQ0UbsTkLlSW6X7mqzjsk3K3ulAo_x6Q559YwJAfsBJGHDwIN2ApsPRuXLUKfXemENAFo9q5sxuohYmoc9879HVRnz_TEuUGSZE-/s320/base.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#009900;">My beautiful <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">neighborhood</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR58lWg2wCprATNZ3PVW8dS3ERJEM0Zfu3-THLFZOsD4p9L9qShgyRRwvoYuqkvVWEsqPS6a2dJlK4FHcLOrqMUGokCDoTqYT1fcDuT0XRxI27ryee4DFtSsHE9wCksqcdL2rN/s1600-h/plaza.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211666278866825522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR58lWg2wCprATNZ3PVW8dS3ERJEM0Zfu3-THLFZOsD4p9L9qShgyRRwvoYuqkvVWEsqPS6a2dJlK4FHcLOrqMUGokCDoTqYT1fcDuT0XRxI27ryee4DFtSsHE9wCksqcdL2rN/s320/plaza.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#009900;"> This is the plaza, where we do most of our special events and its a hang out zone. Only problem is who wants to hang out in a 140 degree sand storm? Whey they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">didn't</span> design an indoor place...who knows.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIM9LDO07gwDDUehCOUHGv3NFv_txeQhIr9N2PdFvvwX5yMWgwnREXDO5JCJTK1kk0tpn2WeeWPorcR4MJ7se1JZ0fNCbLQpgSmLB8nSlWmugOwKDlHyMAyx5azSHbQeWVggbl/s1600-h/plaza+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211666282456252962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIM9LDO07gwDDUehCOUHGv3NFv_txeQhIr9N2PdFvvwX5yMWgwnREXDO5JCJTK1kk0tpn2WeeWPorcR4MJ7se1JZ0fNCbLQpgSmLB8nSlWmugOwKDlHyMAyx5azSHbQeWVggbl/s320/plaza+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#009900;"> Thank goodness for a smart idea around here. The indoor pool!! This is one of the two pools and places that I do spend any free time I have.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATA-ES56jBAdCjy6hdrjTLBueRClIVPHKmMCMetooyfE4bwfeI8b6V1GmhaNKTSjx3npdzEMdnhA4qeXqIos8dyjoVxi62GW5eUnNNoJB2qo6AWFjDiEcgg6DvF8tiSn9266q/s1600-h/indoor+pool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211666289322262786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATA-ES56jBAdCjy6hdrjTLBueRClIVPHKmMCMetooyfE4bwfeI8b6V1GmhaNKTSjx3npdzEMdnhA4qeXqIos8dyjoVxi62GW5eUnNNoJB2qo6AWFjDiEcgg6DvF8tiSn9266q/s320/indoor+pool.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#009900;">The main recreation center and where I work...</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlgXJ_i3Kj4pjIsp46LIiXGOLlSZWcAn5pDajhdmQbCpWslPxLzNtUhw-wcvhPzDu9eNUvj-o3oQsXeQ1-wmv7qwNGtBzJZZU_Qbgu4eqGdFHO7F7HX6S_2T19BxbmDM_EuAb/s1600-h/me+and+charles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211666297404075538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlgXJ_i3Kj4pjIsp46LIiXGOLlSZWcAn5pDajhdmQbCpWslPxLzNtUhw-wcvhPzDu9eNUvj-o3oQsXeQ1-wmv7qwNGtBzJZZU_Qbgu4eqGdFHO7F7HX6S_2T19BxbmDM_EuAb/s320/me+and+charles.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>12 days till vacation...<br /></strong></span></em><div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21835488.post-37828074449619752872008-06-08T03:43:00.000-07:002008-06-08T04:35:00.824-07:00I am officially a resident of...<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#006600;">Qatar</span>.</span> <span style="color:#6600cc;">I am now an official resident of Qatar and so after 5 months of super strange residency requirements its official. The biggest perks to me are that I can drive and have Internet access. If you are born here in Qatar you get somewhere between $60,000-$80,000 USD per year every year as a stipend. </span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Life here is different and the middle east is very different than anywhere else I have ever been. The food, culture, scenery, laws...its all drastically different than everything I have been around. I am enjoying learning about it all. Its super duper super HOT here now, its been around 120 degrees by 9:00 am most days and it stays there till about 6:00 pm. I have no idea how people work outside all day. </span><br /><br />Doha is a city under construction. It would be hard to find a building without a crane in it, on it or next to it. Doha had been in the running for the 2016 Olympic games but a couple of days ago it was announced that they were cut from the final 4.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN0QHd9tEAzCy1ZS2vqf1keoS6QgRQcA99094ZPSG3i2kHkhJ3mrVdtvyJolk9WIHzGjqmTxIoGQA4msCeC9oPzEzrT6pkG6vNzn3PBDoqJmwnIwJztjMOgp9LoZeSimJApkq/s1600-h/Intercontinental+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209466650494366418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN0QHd9tEAzCy1ZS2vqf1keoS6QgRQcA99094ZPSG3i2kHkhJ3mrVdtvyJolk9WIHzGjqmTxIoGQA4msCeC9oPzEzrT6pkG6vNzn3PBDoqJmwnIwJztjMOgp9LoZeSimJApkq/s320/Intercontinental+007.jpg" border="0" /></a> Part of the old town...I really like the old town and when you arrive there its like stepping back in time. Which for Qatar was not that long ago (probably 20 years at most)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHFzx_xfJLApJ3JEnQIcSQ1CCF_ZUeJ5J9UjrLvIuFHqS53GDjikt8F-jCXZ3_xyKWMeHHKPet_fz4EgKaBiAL_z0NmHFAtORvOAuPblMz_2xzhQdLz7TYTsed2yMS4C8WWiX/s1600-h/March+08+005.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvJZhyoRJPwyR7LlSy8w3-u9BsuZ9Tq4i_MQQCyNhjEciFs-Rh4SnFe_T7nhK1JMByxJe4bggw192z4uSxmH_QgW04ZonJ8TKQxfCjNbuZ3p0eDgK-J3UTHXyL0cYI_x2u3CT/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209466343724117442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvJZhyoRJPwyR7LlSy8w3-u9BsuZ9Tq4i_MQQCyNhjEciFs-Rh4SnFe_T7nhK1JMByxJe4bggw192z4uSxmH_QgW04ZonJ8TKQxfCjNbuZ3p0eDgK-J3UTHXyL0cYI_x2u3CT/s320/Discover+Doha+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpgIX64w7rb4Vydm5TcDK8NKzdo3Ilc3mfWaBs1YoTcVNdQ2N6GqUwGF4uEfvN1kGW5aCeN5bYU2wx7alwPAA17T78rCMa2_DAA5MMMXxc9xMl9tnpEzfLNEIDY1Pf7FjW3Cw/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209466345494795410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpgIX64w7rb4Vydm5TcDK8NKzdo3Ilc3mfWaBs1YoTcVNdQ2N6GqUwGF4uEfvN1kGW5aCeN5bYU2wx7alwPAA17T78rCMa2_DAA5MMMXxc9xMl9tnpEzfLNEIDY1Pf7FjW3Cw/s320/Discover+Doha+028.jpg" border="0" /></a> There are just as many wheelbarrows as there are cranes. You often see the workers sleeping in the wheelbarrows.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KDBMPojSi_qQvRbeezEITlmnfBFh3chlOva41KdOq6SFAG9-tNks-U9-GbgjzUA8fnSyU_gxgW9D_NRcI2kouxXwadCgftUHd6tuo9sh4KV7jOC17ywrJVHr2Yk48n3yDWTp/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209466351947507282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KDBMPojSi_qQvRbeezEITlmnfBFh3chlOva41KdOq6SFAG9-tNks-U9-GbgjzUA8fnSyU_gxgW9D_NRcI2kouxXwadCgftUHd6tuo9sh4KV7jOC17ywrJVHr2Yk48n3yDWTp/s320/Discover+Doha+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNq0aXBdUuESHRo1ui3N-ao_rs_F0EFexb8bPiiJ1z5gxqDYHwU2lbD_lyWDg3nbwXJQtsvW1-eVoQ_I_qc83HDOIyGo0pt3EJJ8SYMEzcOire3bAaSibJ-CyEOLdkRAqoiVMc/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209466359612061634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNq0aXBdUuESHRo1ui3N-ao_rs_F0EFexb8bPiiJ1z5gxqDYHwU2lbD_lyWDg3nbwXJQtsvW1-eVoQ_I_qc83HDOIyGo0pt3EJJ8SYMEzcOire3bAaSibJ-CyEOLdkRAqoiVMc/s320/Discover+Doha+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Out of old town and into modern times...a tricked out golf cart<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdc5WwGi3er8GCXiS5o8VTz9-SrOKmgrrFtqXgRH2F0cL6RegjauIm1-wigCSr0qpFm9DqUibfuj0acxVZAVMLvStuif8fdTnZlC-ulSIyqtsqrONZ7mHn6LoCWryutptWMkVm/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209461548513753490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdc5WwGi3er8GCXiS5o8VTz9-SrOKmgrrFtqXgRH2F0cL6RegjauIm1-wigCSr0qpFm9DqUibfuj0acxVZAVMLvStuif8fdTnZlC-ulSIyqtsqrONZ7mHn6LoCWryutptWMkVm/s320/Discover+Doha+018.jpg" border="0" /></a> Doha has its share of luxury hotels. This one is called Sharq Village and really is mind blowing! I think the cheapest rooms are $800 a night..but look how nice the pool is!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg513t5cZp2yA5sYv1NqyvL6BCN9Z80tjkKVK3-rPfDbR5NOwtGEgtZtuDQ6YawkwkILiLjFWrRzkCGmwM8f4jWlqrfqlkCWX5_3OGEVqgDr1ja0h-3XvJRT8Vyg7gqyYSE40Ib/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209461551745903826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg513t5cZp2yA5sYv1NqyvL6BCN9Z80tjkKVK3-rPfDbR5NOwtGEgtZtuDQ6YawkwkILiLjFWrRzkCGmwM8f4jWlqrfqlkCWX5_3OGEVqgDr1ja0h-3XvJRT8Vyg7gqyYSE40Ib/s320/Discover+Doha+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuO-CW191VSyzTJ4oTJ_ZtalvJOSzSmCJ3NaQex6pIAd56-DnfktOwwfDZI5FQVgPw8BEKfnhjQtTnzAFJvEIwsS3bran7wVC86PGUZ0CpDp6Tcb_GeDM3YouKsCAPODFZmq3/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209461555354643458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuO-CW191VSyzTJ4oTJ_ZtalvJOSzSmCJ3NaQex6pIAd56-DnfktOwwfDZI5FQVgPw8BEKfnhjQtTnzAFJvEIwsS3bran7wVC86PGUZ0CpDp6Tcb_GeDM3YouKsCAPODFZmq3/s320/Discover+Doha+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Qataris have money and the majority do not work. They spend their days shopping, eating, having kids and driving around huge cars & boats.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7L675g8glMUdwb1vPP_WCF-L3aQGcPF_KR9QDG3NHc61mEvW21Ml5JAzNNKYAtR6cYf_UBfFltbsBF9-gQKcMVZjBKii75Kv3k9YeQGlLnq3O4-bHK1pYflBQc6Yd5GHOJ3-/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209460943289545730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7L675g8glMUdwb1vPP_WCF-L3aQGcPF_KR9QDG3NHc61mEvW21Ml5JAzNNKYAtR6cYf_UBfFltbsBF9-gQKcMVZjBKii75Kv3k9YeQGlLnq3O4-bHK1pYflBQc6Yd5GHOJ3-/s320/Discover+Doha+013.jpg" border="0" /></a> more cranes on top of all these buildings. Its like we are seeing the city be built for the first time ever.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK25jhmk8iqqASAeiXtuEu_flkvc2wWHUI7j006z_bsb0LkH0ExMICqGkuGMy3bZez7ilmadkiiRbX40PaRb9ydMvFoO6nQhUxQPw0ppA1c1Na8monOSe_YQtZ6z7kvV72dWqT/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209460946648209922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK25jhmk8iqqASAeiXtuEu_flkvc2wWHUI7j006z_bsb0LkH0ExMICqGkuGMy3bZez7ilmadkiiRbX40PaRb9ydMvFoO6nQhUxQPw0ppA1c1Na8monOSe_YQtZ6z7kvV72dWqT/s320/Discover+Doha+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1FugmOrmKgybC42pmwAj15zHZgMPBnisL3ycusKp5xNv5IIALFOrIZn6hSjfRzbVJ1zryQHo1IU_lj9Ywi3DgmSDoh4uqtM2Svdhgv5KlUvXPckoZpDRwO-m5gILPyyadayk/s1600-h/Discover+Doha+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209460953241838818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1FugmOrmKgybC42pmwAj15zHZgMPBnisL3ycusKp5xNv5IIALFOrIZn6hSjfRzbVJ1zryQHo1IU_lj9Ywi3DgmSDoh4uqtM2Svdhgv5KlUvXPckoZpDRwO-m5gILPyyadayk/s320/Discover+Doha+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Camels were replaced in 1986 for driving cars. I don't understand how they live outside here in the extreme heat, wind and sand without water!!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFaNA5_6ww1mImrGjvtYqRJZU2zWwwvfC5tMm5KGZhN38NEyB5UJh11X_Y6FtXwY6VWari-t_jr6QhnTLivYCBrASC1d69KeCQ6QqR1mznDtqHJ6_r5MfSr6bXif4EGKn4-7p/s1600-h/Arabian+Adventures+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209460563057574706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFaNA5_6ww1mImrGjvtYqRJZU2zWwwvfC5tMm5KGZhN38NEyB5UJh11X_Y6FtXwY6VWari-t_jr6QhnTLivYCBrASC1d69KeCQ6QqR1mznDtqHJ6_r5MfSr6bXif4EGKn4-7p/s320/Arabian+Adventures+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> fun for the tourists<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGM3QisHhT8mcgX8cD3wXvSjTyFDu5TFdLbLfCYMzP9BR8EHwpvFDH9MGnIAn8n-0Cn95_of6RFFeJCOFSLzp6RQk7FV8bBaVFrY33BYrCouToqZlKe-JXyJjwcabiUr-z-8I0/s1600-h/Arabian+Adventures+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209460565102828738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGM3QisHhT8mcgX8cD3wXvSjTyFDu5TFdLbLfCYMzP9BR8EHwpvFDH9MGnIAn8n-0Cn95_of6RFFeJCOFSLzp6RQk7FV8bBaVFrY33BYrCouToqZlKe-JXyJjwcabiUr-z-8I0/s320/Arabian+Adventures+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiCelTUrajvLUtM_5BS4DlCwnC329Nyyai_9p0asVkSPuu-qYazgzNGMrPoQF9nuegzcBFyAcXgcgd-czEV6lCEI867RaOhb1k8whj6gEMIP8jMpuyC7E-a8B6oHOeryJ8QHC/s1600-h/Arabian+Adventures+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209460575184585170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiCelTUrajvLUtM_5BS4DlCwnC329Nyyai_9p0asVkSPuu-qYazgzNGMrPoQF9nuegzcBFyAcXgcgd-czEV6lCEI867RaOhb1k8whj6gEMIP8jMpuyC7E-a8B6oHOeryJ8QHC/s320/Arabian+Adventures+022.jpg" border="0" /></a> me and a local<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLkpmDnwE_RWis8qQEl5TvXeRckySx49mA3nd5yQApYMshyT4QmLxYwLH-2Q8EBSMVnXwgCOc2jGlOBeLhtQpuv_FI9QhAJBvW6nXJnEuGHHSWxMjLys-UvT5aBmsDvotyFlE/s1600-h/Arabian+Adventures+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209460581299465538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLkpmDnwE_RWis8qQEl5TvXeRckySx49mA3nd5yQApYMshyT4QmLxYwLH-2Q8EBSMVnXwgCOc2jGlOBeLhtQpuv_FI9QhAJBvW6nXJnEuGHHSWxMjLys-UvT5aBmsDvotyFlE/s320/Arabian+Adventures+025.jpg" border="0" /></a> sand, sand and more sand<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisesRPkzkuHa-sLUx6GxNZpeYlIJ4-4OQ_eyS6ezXJEpg5R6iPTu-lLbMBs7jW7WxUjjBbRwkMIAjKDVVnheHm5Adpv2WaFCOMpvrXwvbTCDaYwxGwt8M_HfrlVEWJ1LFm4S94/s1600-h/Arabian+Adventures+May+31+2008+(23).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209460581432462226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisesRPkzkuHa-sLUx6GxNZpeYlIJ4-4OQ_eyS6ezXJEpg5R6iPTu-lLbMBs7jW7WxUjjBbRwkMIAjKDVVnheHm5Adpv2WaFCOMpvrXwvbTCDaYwxGwt8M_HfrlVEWJ1LFm4S94/s320/Arabian+Adventures+May+31+2008+(23).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#006600;">until next time...</span><br /></em><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049242726306370863noreply@blogger.com0