Toot-toot!

I started sailing lessons a few weeks ago. I'm so excited to be learning a new sport that has been on my life list for a looooong time. It is SO much fun!!! The weather is beautiful out these days, not too hot, not too cold, not too humid - just right.

Anyhoo, here are some pics from last week's lessons.


Rory falling out of the boat - we had to practice capsizing so we know what to do when we inevitably do so.



You have to get over the ropes and swim behind the boat, then put your weight on the dagger board to flip the boat upright - which is what Rory was just about to do.



Then you oh so ungracefully yank yourself back into the boat with out capsizing it the other way- as I demonstrate here.



Ta-da!



Simon (our friend and instructor) gives us a briefing on how to use the 'fun boats'.



And we're off!


Between the 5 of us we only had a few minor collisions, and an incident where an ass-tard jet skier decided to tow another jet ski right in front of me and Rory - and then yells at me to "stop my boat". What an ass monkey.


Such a pleasant way to spend a beautiful afternoon!

I'm finally working on Cambodia and Vietnam photos! I swear it. See?

Ugh. My IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) has been acting up something FIERCE this week. I'm probably much more stressed with work than my mind believes, thus my body is reacting with vengeance. Meep. I even took a day off work I was SO sick...and that's unusual. I hope it gets better soon.

I started another 'Life List' activity this week; Sailing lessons! I've always wanted to learn to sail and now I'm finally taking a course. It makes me so happy to finally be doing all these things I could only dream of before. My life is turning out to be just great! I forgot my camera this round but I'll be sure to bring it next week and get some action shots, presumably of me capsizing my little boat.

Meanwhile we celebrated 7 months together yesterday!

Well, thanks to everyone who posted photos of the Halloween party! I'm so sad I couldn't be there, it's always one of my favorite nights of the year.

I had a lot of fun at the Gangsters and Molls Monster Ball. Although I'd say about 80% of the guys were all dressed alike: black pants, black shirt, white tie.

Apparently I did a good job cutting my wig because people thought it was my real hair and asked if I had gotten a special haircut just for the event. They didn't believe me when I told them there was golden brown locks to the middle of my back tucked neatly under that short,short bob! Yah...I know what you're thinking...LOOOOOOOOOTS of bobby pins, that's how.

The next night we did Morticia and Gomez Adams but I was disappointed so few people dressed up. LAME. The Tina Turner impersonator was entertaining and Rory knows everyone who works there so we go to eat for free. I guess I can't complain there!

I'll get photos put up very soon! Happy Halloween everyone :)

Finally! You are now looking at Doha's most recently certified open water diver :) Woohoo! That has been on my life list for quite some time, I'm so happy to have finally accomplished it! So now I can actually go diving in all these fabulous places instead of just snorkeling. Yay!

In the news lately are stories of workers in Dubai being left at the airports without money or passports and basically turned into slaves. It's really very sad. The situation is the same here in Doha. If you go to the airport you'll see dozens of men sleeping on the concrete right outside the terminal, with no one to claim them. The way they treat workers here is so horrible. It took me a long while to realize why they were so awe struck any time I showed them kindness, or said thank you, or GAVE them something.

When I was in my other office I used to lend my tea boy books all the time and at first he didn't want to accept it. When I smile and say hello to the cleaners in my building, it's like a light shines through their eyes because someone is acknowledging them as a human being and appreciating the work they do. Sigh. Sometimes you just feel so stuck because you want to change things and you know it will probably take 50 years, if it happens.