"mexican fiesta" written by Ladycroft on estrip.org

09/07/07 09:15 - 77ºF - ID#40982

mexican fiesta

I want to say thank you again to those of you that remember my birthday. It really meant a lot to get your messages while I'm so far away. My little get together just wasn't the same without you all.

I did get a unexpected treat. The author I previously mentioned just happened to be in the office at the moment they decided to surprise me with song and cake. Being the birthday girl and all, I felt brave enough to ask for a photo with her. She's a very shy woman and at first declined but then agreed since it was my brithday. It will make a nice compliment to my signed book :)

After working all day I headed over to my aunt and uncle's place to prepare dinner. Fajitas, pinto beans, 7 layer dip, beer and margaritas. It was tasty. Finished with sweet red velvet cake. Yum.

Me on my 2nd birthday

30 years later

with Marguerite

party folks

party hair (i tried lilho)

it was almost 100 degrees at 1am!

i missed you all, muah!

Permalink: mexican_fiesta.html
Words: 189
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

09/05/07 05:21 - 83ºF - ID#40951

she married a bedouin!

So today I met Marguerite van Geldermalsen. She's an unasuming and quiet woman, thin, with a wise and weathered face. I didn't recognize her at first because the photos in her book are about 20 years old. I had the privelage of sitting next to her at lunch before she gave us an informal talk about her book and the experiences that brought her to finally writing this memoir.

In a nutshell, it is the tale of how a young twenty-something woman from New Zealand found herslef married to a Bedouin. Are you shocked yet? You should be.

What made my meeting her even more extraordinary was the connection I was able to make with her. I don't think I can find the words to properly express the nature of my mind when I travel. But she knew...she knew exactly....and I understood her equally as well. Someone at my table asked her a question about one of her many adventures. Rather than some long winded reply she gave a little shrug of the shoulders and made a small noise as her eyebrows lifted in a smile. It was priceless.

an excerpt from her book:
" Taking the chance often was [infinetly more interesting]. It didn't even occur to me to nervous on this occassion. I suppose we were two and he was small but I don't think that even crossed my mind. We were looking for adventure and we were finding it."

If you're curious to learn more: www.marriedtoabedouin.com

Permalink: she_married_a_bedouin_.html
Words: 251
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

09/04/07 07:03 - 74ºF - ID#40935

in this moment

Things that would make me super happy right now:

1. Two or three TV channels in English.

2. 9 consecutive hours of sleep.

3. A nice cold Dr. Pepper.

4. A piano.

5. An attractive (to me) man sitting on my sofa rubbing my knees as they drape across his lap.

6. That same man then massaging my scalp.

7. Getting my teeth cleaned.

8. Being acknowledged.

9. Plants in my apartment.

10. Holding my nephews.

11. A hug from a friend.

Permalink: in_this_moment.html
Words: 72
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

09/01/07 04:13 - 60ºF - ID#40872

lost braincells

I've been sick for 2 days now. Nothing momentuous, just a standard cold. Well, I think I actually had a mild fever yesterday too. Anyway, it's nothing to really keep me out of work. So I drag my ass out of bed this morning, get dressed, put everything I need in my bag for the day, pack up my computer, get in the car (I usually walk over but I thought I had a massage today so I was going to leave right from my office). As I pull up I realize the parking lot is quite empty. It's 10am so it should be overflowing. Hmmmm. Right, THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S SATURDAY YOU FOOL!!!!

Yah, I thought it was Sunday already. Maybe I was excited to be off duty. Maybe the fever burned a few more brain cells than I could spare. Anyway, back home now, on the sofa, curled up in a blanket. I'll still do some work since I'm awake right now. The sofa's not a bad place to do light work.

On a completely different note, I just want to tell you all how much I really love the Blue October album Foiled. I like that the songs are so different from each other. The lyrics express these great emotions and I just REALLY get them. I like that feeling.

Permalink: lost_braincells.html
Words: 221
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: about doha

08/31/07 02:48 - 75ºF - ID#40860

would you like perfume with your meal?

Last weekend I was invited to lunch by a Qatari colleague of mine. She and her family offered us a traditional lunch, which is served family style on the floor. It was such a great experience to go into their home and share this with them.

Here we are preparing to dig in!

The food was delicious. That orange looking thing in the right corner is actually the burned rice from the bottom of the pot. Apparently it is rude to not serve every bit of what was prepared in the kitchen.

Dessert was a type of cheesecake served with Qatari coffee. It looks like tea, tasted like bland green tea, but having the two together balanced each other well.

After that we were served actual tea. You can get fancy sugar cubes here. Different colours or even some with other flavors mixed in, like mint or cinnammon.

Once we finished with the meal they brought in an "aoud". It's a special type of incense. It is used to cleanse you after the meal. It smells nice but burned my eyeballs.

After we are cleansed, it's time for perfume! Yah. It's something you can't miss when you're walking around an Arab country, they looooove their perfume.

tinypliny writes at 11:11:47 08/31/07 - Comment #23646: Attar is no ordinary perfume! It is extracted from the pure oil of flowers. So ladycroft, this is probably the best non-synthetic perfume you can get anywhere in the world. The French didn't unlock the world of perfumes, the arabs did. Leetee, you definitely need to try an Attar, before you renounce perfumes. Since it doesn't have any proteinaceous, or even remotely chemical compound, allergies are very very rare. They are the best perfumes in the world!

leetee writes at 08:45:12 08/31/07 - Comment #23633: sounds like a cool meal. isn't there a dish that is made with the rice actually burnt on the bottom on purpose so it can be scrapped up to go with the rest of the rice? maybe it's not the same cuisine, but i think there is a dish that is made that way.

yeah, the perfume would get to me. i'm with (e:Libertad) on this one... i would need to have extra allergy pills with me 24/7!

metalpeter writes at 07:30:13 08/31/07 - Comment #23623: Would I be correct in assuming the type of Cleansing you mean is that it does it spiritauly as opposed to it being a physical cleansing. I assumed that because I know in some cultures incense is used for that or at least in religous ceremonies.

libertad writes at 04:57:40 08/31/07 - Comment #23604: that pic of you getting gassed by the incense made me laugh. that guy next to you is looking at you like you are insane!

one thing i really hate is perfume and cologne. especially if i hug someone and their scent gets stuck on me. that is one of my worst hangups. I feel like that person is forever invading my space until i take a shower and change my clothes.

tinypliny writes at 02:58:31 08/31/07 - Comment #23582: The trick is to not inhale the whole aoud! You just take in a very small breath - you certainly don't waft it all over!!! It's particulate smoke.

tinypliny writes at 02:56:53 08/31/07 - Comment #23581: Attar!!! I love Attar!! Do they call it Attar too?

Permalink: would_you_like_perfume_with_your_meal_.html
Words: 218
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: about doha

08/29/07 03:57 - 67ºF - ID#40796

neat things

I had a dream I slapped someone in the face in the middle of a party. I didn't realize just how satisfying this drama move could be.

Enjoy the photos. I really wish you could be here to experience them live.

driving around town

on the corniche, view of downtown

electricity street (in the old part of town) name so because it was the first street to get electricity in doha

sunset on campus...i really must head out for more desert sunsets

i told you about the gondola rides at villagio mall

carey look what i found at the grocery!

dinner at a lebanese joint in the old souq

down by the old souq

jenks writes at 04:59:37 08/31/07 - Comment #23605: not to be a party pooper, but I had to look it up. :::link:::

Salvia officinalis - Common sage
Salvia divinorum - Diviner's sage

Good stuff either way...

tinypliny writes at 03:04:48 08/31/07 - Comment #23587: Our comments crossed there. I see. I SEE!

tinypliny writes at 03:03:13 08/31/07 - Comment #23585: yeap, same question as jenks- I thought the salvia was generically different from the regular green grocer herb.

@jbeatty - Thanks! I might take you up on that!

ladycroft writes at 03:02:20 08/31/07 - Comment #23584: one in the same. salvia divinorum is the scientific name. and boy it tastes just like it smells (i've never had the tea). it brings fond memories of running on a carrousell while chasing paul and screaming that carey looked scary in a big yellow hat! if that doesn't make sense look for one of my posts talking about sage or salvia.

jenks writes at 02:44:12 08/31/07 - Comment #23576: is regular old grocery store sage the same as salvia?!

drew writes at 02:34:26 08/31/07 - Comment #23575: wow. And you get it at the grocer?

ladycroft writes at 02:32:07 08/31/07 - Comment #23574: sage, or salvia divinorum, is a powerful psychoactive herb. it can produce altered states as mild as uncontrollable laughter or as extreme as full halucinations or planes of being. Historically its use is related to religious meditation.

jbeatty writes at 01:54:57 08/31/07 - Comment #23557: (e:tinypliny) you can borrow my Lebanese cookbook if you would like some ideas.

tinypliny writes at 10:19:05 08/31/07 - Comment #23527: What are those - pizzas? What are the toppings? Look pretty interesting! I am trying to learn Lebanese veggie recipes. I think they have some unque tasting food over there.

And why is the Sage thing so special? What do you use it for?

tinypliny writes at 10:16:27 08/31/07 - Comment #23526: I wish I had that kind of dream more often. I am always the person who is getting slapped! :/ But hey, I always get to eat food in my dreams.

I <3 <3 LOVE <3 <3 YOUR PICTURES!!

metalpeter writes at 05:22:44 08/30/07 - Comment #23463: Great pictures and thanks for sharing them, those gondolas look pretty interesting. In terms of the dream depending on what happened and how the slap is given sometimes it can be just as good for the person getting the slap.

theecarey writes at 12:19:56 08/29/07 - Comment #23358: yes! Nice grocey you have there-well stocked with the essentials :D Electricity Street and Desert Sunset picture really get to me; beautiful. I'm getting this deja-vous feeling over the Gondola pic. weird.

PS according to the time of your post, I just missed you on here. I was still up and on after 4am. drats.

libertad writes at 09:03:30 08/29/07 - Comment #23336: Looks beautiful. Nice dream too, sounds fun.

jbeatty writes at 08:37:22 08/29/07 - Comment #23335: Wow! Those are some really cool pictures.

Permalink: neat_things.html
Words: 131
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

08/22/07 04:05 - 73ºF - ID#40674

bullets

I'm getting a massage tomorrow.

I can't wait for above mentioned massage.

I can't wait because I'm in tremendous pain, as a result of my worn out mattress.

I inquired and they are going to buy me a new mattress :)

I'm watching Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run)

It makes me miss my fun coloured hair badly.

All this talk of hair lately makes me miss Lilho.

I'm going to buy plants at the plant souq this weekend.

I'm going to buy paint and supplies to start painting my apartment as well.

I think I'm going to paint the following quote on one of my walls: "Highly developed spirits often encounter resistance from mediocre minds" - Albert Einstein.

I think Theecarey will understand what I mean with that quote.

Permalink: bullets.html
Words: 128
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: hair

08/21/07 03:50 - 67ºF - ID#40658

long locks

I live with my hair. It clings to my scalp with relentless force. I twirl my fingers through it every single day, I tie it up off my hot neck every single day, I SEE it every single day. However, it still managed to surprise me when I saw my profile. My hair is getting long! Remember when you first met me?

2 years and about 25 haircuts later.....

Permalink: long_locks.html
Words: 71
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: about doha

08/17/07 05:40 - 75ºF - ID#40597

cruisin

I took this morning's quiet street time as an opportunity to practice driving. Friday is the Muslim holy day so everyone is at mosque. It's usually when you see all the expats buying groceries so as to avoid the mobs. I'm proud to say I only got a 'little' lost for a 'little' while. I should probably give myself more credit that than sounds like. I mean it is difficult to navigate streets (with no names) that don't exactly match the maps available to you.

My journey included locating my aunt and uncle's villa (successfully) and then making my way to the Villagio Mall to get some groceries. One day I'll take pics inside the mall but it's hard with so many people around. The ceiling is painted to look like a soft blue sky dotted with clouds. They also have a pool river that you can take gondola rides in, which is weird but fun.

One of the many crazy roundabout signs

This road makes me think it's some kind of alien landing strip.

Lexington Co-op goes international :)

Date trees are everywhere! They stick to your shoes too.

The 'Doha Nights' series continues...

Permalink: cruisin.html
Words: 208
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

08/16/07 04:13 - 68ºF - ID#40571

fresh air and automobiles

Maintenance came and scrubbed down my AC units and replaced the filters. A-men! It was yucky and smelled like moth balls. Every time I walked in my door I felt like I was entering some little old lady's house. I put air fresheners everywhere but they were no match for the stink. While I was talking to the team leader, he informed me part of the reason some of them start to smell bad is because AC units are connected to the toilet lines. Mmmmmm. :)

Supposedly there are points during the year when you can turn off the AC and breathe fresh air. I'm excited about that! I go through so much lotion here. Care package ideas people: send Body Shop Body Butter!!!

I'm still waiting for the official go ahead with my mailing address but I will share it just as soon as it's confirmed. I'm in need of fan mail. There's nothing more comforting than getting snail mail, especially when you're eight million miles away from everything you know. Even if it shows up a year later, right (e:Ajay)? Ha-ha.

So, this afternoon I'll make a run to the store and buy some smellers to shove in my newly cleaned units. I do love the scent of spiced apples. It's all cozy and feels good on the olfactory senses.

I miss SPOT coffee. Starbucks is everywhere here, which is ok, but their caramel macchiato just doesn't taste the same. Care package ideas people: send SPOT coffee beans!

I miss you all. I hope to arrange a party for the next time I'm in Buffalo. That might not be until April 08....but it's never too soon to plan the greatest spectacle on earth! Ciao.