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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: potpourri

03/04/08 02:24 - 28ºF - ID#43552

creepy dude in the grocery store

I had to run to the market this morning for a few programming things. Suddenly this older (maybe 50) Qatari man approaches me and says, "Mademoiselle, mumble, mumble, mumble". I look around to see if he is in fact directing the comment at me, which he is because the only other person in the isle was a man. So being the polite, although partially deaf, person that I am I say, "Pardon me?" He again mumbles something which sounds like Arabic. So I try my best to say in Arabic, that I in fact do not really speak it. So he mumbles again and holds this box of custard in my face. I'm thinking MAYBE he's trying to ask me a cooking question? It's my nature to want to help people. So I attempt to communicate and ask what he needs help with. Then he starts saying, "Friend, friend, friend".

Okay then. Um....I'm just going to excuse myself from your presence and you have a really great day. So I mosey on my way, trying to finish my list as quickly as possible because I have more important things to be doing that grocery shopping for programs at this point. Well, 30 seconds later my little friend turns the corner and rolls his cart right over to me. "Friend, friend....you, me, friend, friend". I admit I was probably looking at him like he was an asylum escapee. Then he makes a telephone gesture and says, "mobile, you, friend, friend" and winks at me. At this point I realized this dude was trying to pick me up! EWE!

He was probably mumbling in case any moral police were around.

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Words: 278
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

03/03/08 03:32 - 60ºF - ID#43540

random bits

I'm trying to organize my photos into folders so I can clean them up post my painting project and exploration of the north of Qatar. Meanwhile, here are a few bits-n-bobs that don't fit any category.


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One of my staff had a Valentine program to watch a sappy movie and decorate heart cookies. This was mine. Tre GAG.


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People spend an ass load of money on weddings here. It's typical to have around 500+ guests. Anyway, I couldn't go to this one, but pitched in on a group gift for a co-worker. These were the wedding favors. 1 GB jump drives, with leather embossed casings.


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I miss my pooch :(


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What the hell happened that I looked like this less than 3 years ago??? Seriously must get back to 'normal' self! Minus the short hair. I had just chopped mine off to donate to Lock of Love when this pic was taken.
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Words: 156
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

02/26/08 02:53 - 31ºF - ID#43469

destination me

Before I die I really want my picture taken with this sign!

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Permalink: destination_me.html
Words: 15
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

02/23/08 01:51 - 29ºF - ID#43436

my italian lover

Thanks for the love (e:Lettuce)! Much appreciated :)

I'm spending the night with my Italian lover, Disaronno. Amen!

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I promised photos from my adventure up North. I don't have time to make a worthwhile post of it so I'll give you a teaser photo. Enjoy.

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Permalink: my_italian_lover.html
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Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

02/22/08 02:29 - 26ºF - ID#43427

to paint or to bed? (updated)

Should I paint or go to bed? I could go either way. I think what kind of music I put in my stereo will dictate. Should I close my eyes and reach for a disc? Yes, I'm going to do it.

Stand by for results: Her Space Holiday, Manic Expressive

Pajamas it is!


I plan to hit the liquor store with my aunt and uncle tomorrow. Then maybe we'll brave the souqs for some cool do-dads.



Went to bed. Got woken up ass early (what kind of students are up and chatting in the parking lot at 7:30am on a Saturday!!!???) so I decided to paint my hallway. I got a bit messy so I've just showered up and am heading to the aunt's house. We'll probably hit the fabric souqs, and of course, we'll be making the journey out to buy croft some adult beverage to keep her sanity!
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Permalink: to_paint_or_to_bed_updated_.html
Words: 150
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

02/17/08 04:30 - 43ºF - ID#43374

Qatar is pretty amazing

More cool QF stuff. (e:Jenks) mentioned a tid bit of this in one of her recent posts. I found the article which details the donation. I thought it was 2.5 million, which I thought was pretty cool. However, it was actually 60 million, which is amazing! I'm just going to post it in here because you have to have membership to read the article at it's original site.

Qatar Gives Money to Katrina Victims
From the issue dated May 12, 2006: Chronicle of Higher Education
By PAULA WASLEY

Last week the oil-rich emirate of Qatar announced the allocation of $60-million to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. More than half of the money will go to three universities in Louisiana.

Xavier University of Louisiana, the country's only historically black Roman Catholic university, will receive $12.5-million to expand its College of Pharmacy in order to increase enrollment, and to hire staff members for clinics in low-income neighborhoods of New Orleans. An additional $5-million will go to a Qatar Scholarship Fund, to provide full scholarships to Xavier students affected by the hurricane.

Tulane University was promised $10-million for scholarships for both new and returning students from Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi who were affected by Katrina. Qatar also pledged $3.3-million to Louisiana State University for a fund to provide help with tuition, room, and board for 1,249 students.

The announcement detailed the distribution of a portion of $100-million in hurricane-relief funds pledged in September by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, emir of Qatar. The country's embassy plans to allocate the remaining $40-million in pledged contributions in the next several weeks.

In a written statement, Scott S. Cowen, Tulane's president, called the donation "an extremely generous gift."

The beneficiaries were chosen by Qatar's ambassador to the United States, Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifa, with assistance from an advisory committee comprising James A. Baker III, a former U.S. secretary of state; Laura D'Andrea Tyson, dean of the business school at the University of California at Berkeley; John J. DeGioia, president of Georgetown University; and Lee R. Raymond, recently retired chief executive of the Exxon Mobil Corporation.

"Hurricane Katrina was very devastating," said the ambassador, "and the world is becoming a village. In today's world, we are one world. ... People wanted to help."

The three universities were chosen, he said, because each one had a large population of students coming from the areas most affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Qatar chose to donate money directly to the institutions rather than to intermediary organizations, such as the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund or the American Red Cross, so as to ensure transparency and accountability, he said.



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Permalink: Qatar_is_pretty_amazing.html
Words: 433
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: dreams

02/14/08 02:50 - 19ºF - ID#43321

giant jelly belly beans

In my dream, I lived in a city. I was walking down a sidewalk to my older sister's house. I was only wearing a short, light blue, terrycloth towel. Once I entered the exterior street door I was in a massive foyer. It had a rich and ornate church like interior. A double wide oak staircase was blocked by a thick oak railing. I used the small gate, climbed the steps, and entered the house through the stained glass door.

My sister was hanging out in her bath robe making some tea. My nephew was sleeping in his crib. We were just going to sit down for some cookies when the door bell rang. Still wearing my towel dress, I went out to the foyer. There were two (e:peeps) greeting me. It didn't make any sense to me why they would be there, or how they even knew that I was there. I invite them in anyway. One of them decided he was better off jumping the railing rather than using the gate. His foot got caught resulting in the rapid propulsion of his body over the railing thus planting his face firmly on the ground.

It was actually quite messy. He popped up with his busted self, blood running down his green shirt and jeans, and says, "Change of plans I'll fuck you later when I get out of the hospital". He and the other peep leave. I head back in to my sister's house.

Apparently my sister was very wealthy and had a larger number of staff at her disposal. For fun she made them partake in 'games' that I saw as a cross between reality tv bake offs and that crazy hysterical Japanese show MXC.

Next thing I know there is a giant Jelly Belly bean cook off. Five chefs had to make a jelly bean the size of a small child. I think they weighed around 50 pounds. They had to put their jelly bean in their apron and attempt to stay on their feet while going down a wide plastic slide covered in flour. Seriously! Needless to say they all wiped out. However it doesn't end there!

The bottom of the slide is in a basement maze. Here the chefs have to run around in near darkness collecting 3 artifacts and then finding the single spiral staircase to victory.

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Permalink: giant_jelly_belly_beans.html
Words: 393
Location: Niagara Falls, NY
Last Modified: 05/29/13 07:40


Category: photos

01/22/08 01:49 - 30ºF - ID#42985

only in qatar!

Ok, minus the cute little cartoon guy, these photos were all taken around Qatar! They are very insightful ;)

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hello, here's my flag, it's hot as fuck out here.

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yah, do it.

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outward displays of wealth are the standard

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even if you have to drive a crotch rocket

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and there's always something 'special' on the menu

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some things aren't worth trying though....

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groceries? as if....

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seriously!

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in the event of an emergency, you're fucked.

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and don't try to make sense of traffic, because it's fucked too

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and the drivers are fucking crazy




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Permalink: only_in_qatar_.html
Words: 113
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: potpourri

01/17/08 11:31 - 32ºF - ID#42926

what a great quote

Oque e um peido para quem ja esta cagado.


what's a little fart if you already shit yourself

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Permalink: what_a_great_quote.html
Words: 21
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


Category: photos

01/16/08 03:04 - 31ºF - ID#42914

trip highlights

A few other shots from my surprise visit home this winter

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I hid in a giant box to surprise my sister

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hugs

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my nephew can now run around and say 'uh-oh'

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i played uno with bambi, she's a real card shark

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i got my dad and brother 'gudtras' for christmas

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a ton of soft balls for my nephew

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and a personal sized hookah for carey

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i didn't realize they keep the fountain running in mirror lake (at forest lawn) during winter

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i think this one is pretty
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Permalink: trip_highlights.html
Words: 105
Location: Niagara Falls, NY


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