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Last Visit 2021-12-07 08:02:03 |Start Date 2005-05-26 16:50:55 |Comments 1,827 |Entries 526 |Images 1,337 |Videos 8 |Theme |

Category: work

08/14/09 02:58 - 70ºF - ID#49530

hey strangers

I'm still alive. Been super, super, super busy with work. We've had lots of changes which included my direct supervisor quitting and dumping a shitload of her work onto me. It set me pretty far behind on my own tasks, so I've been doing non-stop long hours since I got back from the states. FINALLY, all the training is over and I can begin to relax for 1 week until school starts, and Ramadan begins, and all the conduct and fire alarms begin.

Oh, we also had a trainee that was supposed to join us and supervise the new female hall, but then she decided the package wasn't good enough for her. Yah, someone with a BA applying to get trained for a job that requires a MA decided she should get paid just as much as we do. FYI, what she was offered is what the average hall director makes in the US WITH the MA. Anyway, I get another hall to look after, because I'm not busy enough trying to keep up with new expectations and still finalize wedding plans with 3 receptions on 3 continents. Seriously, Rory and I should win some kind of award for that.

Oh top of that, I just found out our director has decided to leave too, effective October. So Lord only knows what's going to happen now.

I'm behind on loads of photos, but thought I'd force myself to at least get a smattering of some posted today. I'll sleep better tonight!

an old photo from my trip to seattle in march:

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my knitting class in may:

results after lesson 1

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results from lesson 2

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product after lesson 3

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product after lesson 4

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product after lesson 5

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snapshots from the short trip home:

my nephew ryan really took to rory, whatever rory did, ryan wanted to do too - adorable teeth brushing session

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me and my mom

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my precious bambi

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my youngest nephew, fox

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freezing our asses off during 'summer' at shakespeare in the park

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photos from the shower:

a game rory and I had to play answering questions about each other, each wrong answer equaled another marshmallow in the mouth. I lost.

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another game where teams had to place their roll of TP onto a teammates plunger....

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end of the night bonfire, it was a perfect day

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quick trip to italy:

rome, with a view of vatican city (dome)

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rory and his mate lawrence viewing the ruins

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a look inside the colleseum

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being romantic by trevi fountain
(we saw 2 engagements in less than 15 minutes)

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a pit stop in capri

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the streets of pompeii

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pretending to be security guards with our tourist radios

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hillside of pompeii

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recovered bodies in pompeii; you can actually see their expressions!

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the end
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Permalink: hey_strangers.html
Words: 512
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

06/04/09 06:43 - 47ºF - ID#48837

i'm the shiz-knit!

So happy it's Thursday. Been a long week of people making we wake up waaaaaaay earlier than I normally do, which has totally messed with my body clock. It's like I have been living in mist and nothing is really clear. I even shocked Rory by being very, very sleepy one night and it was only 11pm! Unheard of.

Anyhoo...I finished the baby booties last night and despite a few oopsies here and there, they look like big fluffly baby socks! I can't believe it. So starting from zero knowledge or skill in knitting 5 weeks ago, I've now made 2 hats and a set of booties! Exciting! I'm working on another hat (they are obviously easier to make) to finish by my last class on Tuesday. All the hats and booties we make are going to be donated to babies in Palestine. I'll post photos after my last class.

Now I'm confident with some of the basics, I'm going to attempt making a shrug for my wedding. I also found a shirt I really want that has a ball of yarn with some knitting needles yelling, "I'm the Shiz-Knit". Seriously, who knew this 'old lady' stereotype activity was so much freaking fun!?
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Permalink: i_m_the_shiz_knit_.html
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Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

06/01/09 07:23 - 46ºF - ID#48809

willies, willies, i love willies

I can't get enough of (British version) the IT Crowd. It's flippin' hysterical. If you can get your hands on it, you won't be disappointed!

(the title comes from a song in one of the episodes)
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Permalink: willies_willies_i_love_willies.html
Words: 36
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

05/21/09 09:09 - 68ºF - ID#48710

what chaps my ass these days

I'll pick just one that's on my mind....

Having people at work tell me what I should be doing with my free time. Like seriously judging me and giving me dirty looks because I'm doing something other than what THEY think I should be doing with my free time. Kiss my chocolate starfish, just after I've eaten a spicy bean burrito.

Thank you and goodnight.
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Permalink: what_chaps_my_ass_these_days.html
Words: 65
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

05/19/09 05:48 - 36ºF - ID#48693

everyday updates

I fell last night. Crossing the street to my car with a bunch of shit in my arms. It's a shame no one was there to see it because I'm pretty positive it looked like one of those highly entertaining falls in a romantic comedy. Unfortunately I didn't have the luxury of landing on foam.

Rory was waiting just inside the gate to hear me drive off, but all he heard was a thump, followed by 'FUCK'. I seriously can't remember the last time I fell so hard that I actually cried.

I thought I broke my middle toe, and my knee is having trouble bending due to the red golf ball sized lump mounted on its exterior. I also banged my wrist up pretty good.

It almost made me nostalgic for the days when (e:theecarey) seemed to land me in pickle after pickle of imminent bodily harm. Those were the days; leaving home a healthy teen, coming home an ER case.

Wedding planning is going exceptionally well. Everything is in order and 50% flat out paid for, which is a good feeling. I didn't want to have outstanding debt like many people do, which seems ridiculous.

We'll be home in July and having the BBQ shower probably that first weekend. We'll get e-Vites out soon!

I'm sooooo glad I didn't pay to see Enrique. He is terrible live. I was so disappointed. He was out of tune a lot, had NO interaction with the crowd, and made them sing most of the choruses. Oh, and he played for a total of 55 minutes, including end applause, brief retreat, and encore. He also started 20 minutes late.


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Permalink: everyday_updates.html
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Location: Niagara Falls, NY


05/06/09 06:08 - 51ºF - ID#48599

enrique

Enrique Iglesias concert tonight :) Going to have a free listen on my balcony instead of paying the absurd $100 for bleacher seats, $250 for 'OK seats', or $500 for VIP. Which I don't think even gets you a meeting with him. Whatever, I can see and hear just fine from 100 feet away :)

Happy Belated Birthday (e:Jenks)!
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Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: about doha

04/28/09 07:01 - 58ºF - ID#48526

death for dressing like a man?

Not a lot of time to write but I wanted to put this crazy article out there. Honestly, even living here for 2 years I still find some things shocking. I mean, death for dressing like a man??? I'm still not sure exactly to what extent they mean this, but I find it far more difficult for a woman to dress like a man, since wearing pants and jeans and t-shirts are perfectly acceptable today.

We made a quick visit to UK and then stop in Rome. I'll get those pics up this weekend, I hope. Things are very, very busy with the ending of the school year. Miss you all, really looking forward to July!!!

Cross-dressing seen as a 'serious menace to society'
Publish Date: Sunday,26 April, 2009, at 12:27 PM Doha Time
By Anwar Elshamy

A leading academic has sounded an alarm against the growing trend of cross-dressers among boys and girls, saying that it is a "serious menace to society".
Speaking in the monthly Lakom Al Karar TV programme, telecast on Friday night by Qatar TV, Dr Saif al-Hajari, the deputy chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, described the emerging trend of "manly women" and "womanly men" as a "foreign trend" which, he said, had invaded the Qatari and Gulf communities as part of the "globalisation winds".
"This is an issue which can harm all our social and religious values. It needs some sort of bravery to address it. I have never imagined that one day I can see such behavioural deviations in our streets, schools or universities," Dr al-Hajari said.
The episode, which discussed behavioural deviances among youths, was part of the heated debate over the issue of "Boyat" (girls dressing and acting like boys).
Transgendered people, who reportedly are seen in public places, were the subject of a heated debate during the past few weeks as clerics, educationists and sociologists cautioned against the new trend spreading among girls and boys.
Dr al-Hajari said that the efforts of both the state and society are required to address the trend.
"There is a lack of legislation organising the public code of ethics. There is a need to develop our legislations in this regard," he said.
However, he also blamed it on what he called "foreign fingers and groups" seeking to cause harm to youngsters.
"These cases of behavioural deviations we have are not working alone. They co-ordinate with similar groups on regional and international levels," he added.
To a question whether foreign education institutes established in Qatar are responsible for the spread of the phenomenon, Dr al-Hajari said that Qatar Foundation, which is the umbrella of foreign universities in Qatar, should set up a mechanism to protect young people in such universities from "invading behaviours".
"We need to educate the administrative and teaching staff of these universities on the special traits of our society.
"Some foreign schools and universities hire staff hailing from communities that do not see any problem in what we think of as deviations. This is a problem that should be dealt with."
The participating audience, mostly students, was "divided" on how to address the emerging trend. Some of them suggested capital punishment for those who indulged in "transgendered behaviour", while others said that the organisations concerned should reach out to these groups and deal with them as patients.
"This problem can only be addressed if the community rejects this type of youth and punishes them," a participant said.
However, another participant said that students who have such behavioural deviations should be engaged rather than isolated.
Another participant called for launching a public campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of behavioural deviances as well as educating families on how to protect their children against the social menace.
On the motion "This house believes that the concerned institutions and ministries are performing their duties to correct the behavioural deviations", 100% of the audience voted that these institutions had failed to do their duties in this regard.
In a survey, which was conducted by the Amina bint Wahab Secondary School for Women, and included 500 girls aged between 15-20, a majority of 45% of the surveyed students saw those girls behaving like boys as victims, while 40% said they are guilty.
In a move to curb the phenomenon, the presenter of the programme, Mohamed al-Marri, announced that HH Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad has established a new social rehabilitation centre "Al Awin" to deal with such cases.
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Permalink: death_for_dressing_like_a_man_.html
Words: 740
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: engaged

04/23/09 02:02 - 44ºF - ID#48482

the ring

There she is!

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Permalink: the_ring.html
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Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: birthday

04/07/09 05:16 - 26ºF - ID#48314

happy birthday rory!

HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY RORY!

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Permalink: happy_birthday_rory_.html
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Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

04/06/09 01:36 - 45ºF - ID#48309

todays bits and bobs

My former student/fashion design major just left. We had our first wedding dress meeting. I'm so excited that she can help me do this. It means a lot to me to keep things tight, as in having friends and family contribute to the process and necessary components.

Meanwhile, I'm over the work thing. I vented my frustrations. I called the situation out, and I feel much better. I'm going to be just fine with it all.

Last night I spent several hours working on the "Pit of 100 Trials" in Mario Paper. You literally have to complete 100 levels of bad guy battles without any save options. Wouldn't you know it. I get to room 99 and then I die. For serious!
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Permalink: todays_bits_and_bobs.html
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Location: Niagara Falls, NY


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