"eid mubarak!" written by Ladycroft on estrip.org

Category: about doha

10/12/07 03:47 - 47ºF - ID#41607

eid mubarak!

Hallelujah! Ramadan is officially OVER! I'm going to eat my lunch by the pool today!!!

Permalink: eid_mubarak_.html
Words: 17
Location: Niagara Falls, NY
Last Modified: 05/29/13 05:51

Category: potpourri

10/10/07 06:13 - 55ºF - ID#41580

what should i be for halloween???

I need your input dear estripers. If you know me, you know I love Halloween and usually come up with creative and well prepared costumes. I face interesting obsticles on my path to Halloween happiness here in Doha.

1. I cannot be too obscure, or the people here simply won't get it.

2. I cannot dress like any male character as it would be found offensive.

3. I don't do the trashy hooker outifts anway, but I cannot even wear cool outifts that are too skimpy. In other words, unless I do a camo pant or snow version - I can't do Lara Croft (nor do I have the time now to pull off one of those versions).

4. I don't want to be too generic, i.e. a witch, zombie, vampire, etc.

5. I don't have access to thrift stores.

The things I have going for me are:

1. If it's simple enough, I can sew it.

2. My creativity can help me find alternate materials for producing the costume.

So what do you think? Suggestions!?

Permalink: what_should_i_be_for_halloween_.html
Words: 170
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: about doha

10/07/07 02:33 - 65ºF - ID#41535

my first sohour

The big cheese boss invited everyone in the education division to a sohour this past weekend. Sohour is usually the last meal of the night/day for those fasting during Ramadan. A lot of the hotels make a big deal about the Iftars and Sohours.

Ours was at La Cigale, some new fancy shmancy hotel. It had a lovely entrance and very helpful staff, but I didn't like that I spent my entire meal bouncing up and down everytime someone walked past me. You see, I was seated so carefully on a plexiglass floor bridging two sides of an indoor pool. I guess we were 'lucky' to have this prime locale looking over the entire space. I was just hoping it didn't buckle under the weight and send me plundging into the pool with a big fat table on my head.

3 photos for ya'll. 1. I tried a new fruit. They look like olives but have the texture and flavor of not quite ripe apples. No one was able to explain what they were. 2. the 'floor' i was seated on 3. a rather cool view of that floor via the mirrored ceiling

Permalink: my_first_sohour.html
Words: 196
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

10/04/07 03:49 - 78ºF - ID#41493

henna tattoos

Man I was really dragging my ass through the day today. I haven't been sleeping well the past few nights. TGIT! My night is over and I can finally go to bed. Before I do that though, I wanted to share my lovely new henna tattoos. We had a Ramadan Bazaar on campus tonight so I got my hands done. It's so pretty!

tinypliny writes at 12:31:10 10/10/07 - Comment #25995: I don't know why, but everytime I got henna'ed back home, I always ended up having the most ridiculously runny-nose cold. :/

tinypliny writes at 12:28:53 10/10/07 - Comment #25994: That is just beautiful! :)

ladycroft writes at 07:25:01 10/05/07 - Comment #25788: thanks!

felly, it is a tradtional design here in qatar. traditional would really just depend on where in the world you are as to typical designs.

lilho, you can find the real stuff at middle eastern/indian markets. you'll find it in the frige, they are little cone shaped tubes. you shouldn't pay more than $10 for a tube either.

lilho writes at 12:00:24 10/05/07 - Comment #25787: wow, i want some! (e:hodown) painted some on me many a year ago and she did a great job. where can i buy some?

fellyconnelly writes at 11:13:08 10/04/07 - Comment #25784: hehe i was trying to picture (e:drew) doing henna on himself.
those are really great henna though. it looks non traditional though, right?

paul writes at 08:16:15 10/04/07 - Comment #25777: Wow, those are some really pretty ones. Usually I don't like Henna tattoos but those ones are great.

mrmike writes at 06:09:21 10/04/07 - Comment #25766: That's hot

drew writes at 05:43:56 10/04/07 - Comment #25765: Oooh, that's so cool. I tried to do henna on me once and it did not look like that!

-Janelle posting as Drew...ooops.

leetee writes at 04:01:01 10/04/07 - Comment #25764: very nice!

joshua writes at 03:52:44 10/04/07 - Comment #25762: Those are cool - I have a friend whose girlfriend does henna. I have to show him this picture!

hodown writes at 03:51:49 10/04/07 - Comment #25761: Wow thats so pretty!

Permalink: henna_tattoos.html
Words: 65
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

10/03/07 03:11 - 72ºF - ID#41474

phone call with erik

I just got off the phone with my friend in Sweden. It was SO great to hear a friendly voice. I've made tentative plans to visit him in May. He says it's the best time of year for Sweden as tourist season hasn't started yet but the weather is nice. Word! I'm just so excited to have a job I love that pays me enough to pursue my passions! It also allows me to stay in touch with my friends :)

that's him :)

Permalink: phone_call_with_erik.html
Words: 84
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: about doha

10/02/07 07:51 - 61ºF - ID#41447

pay that fine!

A message from my US Embassy today (how's that for advance warning?):

The U.S. Embassy in Doha has learned that starting October 2, 2007, people who have not paid fines for traffic violations will not be allowed to travel out of the country.

WOW. Now that's gonna hurt a lot of people! They have cameras set up on several roads, so you don't even know you got a ticket unless you check the website. I just did, since I'm driving a rental car. Last thing I'd need is for the former driver to have a ticket and I'm the one that gets screwed!

Permalink: pay_that_fine_.html
Words: 102
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: vacation

10/01/07 08:45 - 61ºF - ID#41426

yessssssssssssssssssss!

I got in! There was room enough for me on this little island hopping cruise! I was also lucky enough to bag a last minute airplane ticket. I'll be spending an extra night in Athens so I managed to find a decent looking youth hostel to hole up in for the night. Close enough to the subway so I can get myself to the airport cheaply. I'll fly into Athens and spend 2 days there. Then I'll hit up Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini.
I can't wait!

P.S. Eid ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday which marks the end of Ramadan.

Permalink: yessssssssssssssssssss_.html
Words: 103
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: vacation

09/30/07 01:56 - 71ºF - ID#41421

cruise on the horizon?

My original plans for my Eid vacation fell through. This means I back at square one for planning, and the Eid holiday week is October 14-20! Not much time left.

I found a really cool treck through China that I would love to do but the dates are about 1 week off. I've been digging and searching online for something, anything, during the actual Eid holiday week so I can get out of here for a change of scenery.

I came across a Greecian cruise that falls precisely within the dates I require. I don't know if there's still room on the trip. Of course flights from Doha/Athens are only on select days so I would have to stay an extra night. I looked and found some great hostels that have space available, so that would be reasonable enough for me to do. The flights are at great times too. I really hope it works out. it will suck having a week off and not getting to enjoy it anywhere. Everyone else has already been on vacation or has plans, I need one too!

Permalink: cruise_on_the_horizon_.html
Words: 184
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

09/28/07 09:09 - 58ºF - ID#41374

updates from the desert

I found Boca burgers at the grocery!

We are now half-way through Ramadan. Woohoo! Not that I mind sneaking into the kitchen and hiding my bottled water in my bag to take back to my office - I miss my tea boy. I mean he's hanging out in the kitchen with nothing to do all day. I promised him I'd buy him a book so at least he can entertain himself. Maybe I'll hit up the Virgin Mega Store this weekend.

I've been playing Pscyhonauts here and there during my unnaturally super busy week. I'm loving this game more and more with it's smart comments. However there is one level that really knocked my socks. It's glow in the dark! I had a flashback to the days of Tron!

I recently commented on (e:Mrmike)'s post concerning pumpkins; I was wondering if they would import them for Halloween/Thanksgiving. I got my answer today. They at least import itty bitty ones with faces painted on them. But you'll never guess how much they cost! For a pumpkin about the size of a bocce ball they want $17!!!

Permalink: updates_from_the_desert.html
Words: 188
Location: Niagara Falls, NY
Last Modified: 05/29/13 05:25

Category: video games

09/22/07 01:33 - 75ºF - ID#41249

psychonauty!

Wow! The Psychonauts game has a rating of 12+. I'm wondering if that isn't too young for some of the comments in the game play. I was a little surprised by some comments here and there but overall it's not really a big deal. There is usually a load of inuendo built into these types of games (and movies) so it appeals to both kids and adults. But I have to say I was shocked when these lines came up!

"My husband may lose interest in me sexually but he will always love my apple pies."

"I have relied on the use of prescription medication to get me through the day for many years."

"When my husband drinks excessively I may threaten him with this rolling pin, though we stil love each other intensely."

"Look at that woman's breasts, they are huge."

Permalink: psychonauty_.html
Words: 141
Location: Niagara Falls, NY