"creativity strikes" written by Ladycroft on estrip.org

Category: photos

09/15/07 12:27 - 53ºF - ID#41112

creativity strikes

current temp: 105 F
current time: 7:15pm

quote of the day: "go fart peas at the moon!"

You know, I went outside just now to make sure all the kids got on the bus for an ice skating program tonight. I thought to myself, "wow, it's really nice out, it feels so cool". Then I checked the temp. Funny how 2 months in extreme heat can make you think 105 is 'cool'.

I've been having some hysterical convos with leetee lately. Which prompted me to be creative for fun (which I haven't been doing much of in the last year). This is the result of my 5 minute exercise.

P.S. i shouldn't have to say it, but don't take any of these personaly. it's just for fun, and more are yet to come!

Permalink: creativity_strikes.html
Words: 138
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

09/13/07 02:41 - 69ºF - ID#41077

death wish

I have a new user song/theme song. It's fucking perfect!

Now I've told you all driving here is absurd and makes me want to vomit. Here's video for you. This is the kind of shit I deal with on the roads.

If the driving isn't enough to get you killed you can always try this brilliant sport!

tinypliny writes at 09:17:03 09/28/07 - Comment #25414: Yikes, their "sandals" must get insanely hot with all the friction. It's a wonder their robes didn't catch fire. As I watched, I was in constant dread of the moment when their robes would get caught in the wheels, and they would just be smashed by their own car or a passing car. Scary and totally whacked.

jbeatty writes at 03:59:04 09/15/07 - Comment #24506: Maybe this is why they are spinning out of control? :::link:::

theecarey writes at 02:05:49 09/14/07 - Comment #24423: bizarre! It looks like people were taken out in that first video. Seriously, those are just sandals in the second? wow.

I love the video in prior post too. Its neat to see where you live- and literally where you live, haha your apartment made it in the video!

deeglam writes at 10:48:47 09/13/07 - Comment #24410: HAHAHAHAHA

metalpeter writes at 07:52:27 09/13/07 - Comment #24393: I was going to say that it looks like they have been watching to much "Fast and the Furious" that is insane and very dangerous that second one is out there to. This is going to sound bad but I thought only Americans where dumb and crazy enough to try stunts like that on an open road. I have heard of a new car sport that I wonder if they do over where you are. The best way I can explain it people drive there cars and then hop out and then they get back in and often people hop out then get run over by their own moving car. In any event thanks for posting the videos.

ladycroft writes at 05:06:34 09/13/07 - Comment #24386: 1. just about
2. yes, they are failed drifting attempts
3. nope, just regular old sandals

jenks writes at 04:34:57 09/13/07 - Comment #24385: jesus...
1: is every car in doha silver or white?
2: are they spinning out like that on PURPOSE?!
3: are they wearing roller skates in that second one??

Permalink: death_wish.html
Words: 80
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: about doha

09/12/07 10:38 - 57ºF - ID#41060

this is where i live

I just got the link for a youtube video that some students from VCUQ made about Education City. I invite you on a scerene google earth journey to my home. You'll be taken on a tour of the entire campus. If you watch the clock, at 2min36sec you will approach a building...this is where I live! Bottom floor, windows on the right :)

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

Category: about doha

09/11/07 05:00 - 64ºF - ID#41047

ramadan approaches

Ramadan will start within a few days. I guess Muslim scholars are still observing the moon to decide the official start date. It should be either Thursday or Friday. It's going to be an interesting month. Here is the warning e-mail I got from the US Embassy:

[box]Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan. As such, it is illegal in Qatar to eat, drink (even water), or smoke in public during fasting hours, approximately 5:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. This includes inside motor vehicles. Official times for sunrise and sunset will be announced in local newspapers. If Muslims are present in the work place, they expect non-Muslims to respect their fasting and not eat, drink, or smoke in front of them, or to prepare food that they can smell or see.

As it is illegal to serve food or drink during fasting hours, restaurants will be closed during daylight hours. Restaurants will begin serving food at sundown, but expect them to be crowded, especially during Iftar, the first meal immediately after sunset.

Please avoid driving in the hour immediately before sunset. One should be extra alert at this time, as many Muslims will be rushing to family member's or friend's home or a restaurant to break their fast. Many accidents occur at this time, some very serious.[/box]

Yah, so I'm pretty excited about the potential to FORGET during this month long holiday and get arrested for drinking water in my car. Wouldn't that be some shit. I'm sure it would make a great chapter in my book.

Permalink: ramadan_approaches.html
Words: 266
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

09/08/07 04:52 - 77ºF - ID#40999

dysmenorrhea

(this one says it all)

BUT IT'S THE BRUTAL PRICE YOU PAY TO AVOID THIS ONE!!

Permalink: dysmenorrhea.html
Words: 26
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: birthdays

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.