doha daily 11/8/06

Since ‘speaking’ with you last, the Cardinals won the World Series, Halloween occurred and Tristan started attending his new nursery, Little Angels. Let’s start with the beginning. The Cardinals winning the World Series is only further proof that no matter how challenging life is while living in this developing country, this “Doha experience” is nothing but a positive thing!!! WHOOHOO!

Halloween. Our compound put together a party on the night of the 30th in the function room and it seemed to be a great success with approximately 50+ kids running around in a cookie-induced frenzy. I directed the “ankle balloon” game on the basketball court with the kids running around trying to pop each other’s balloons in 90+degree heat in their full costumes and streaks of makeup running down their faces. The week before, I slaved over collecting cardboard boxes and constructed a sandwich board pirate ship with a hole cut in front to collect Tristan’s ‘treasure.” He could hang it on his shoulders and walk around with a sword, etc. Looks like, though, I am going have to chock it up to one of those parents’ ‘moments’ when we put in all sorts of effort to make something for our kids and then they couldn’t care less – in fact, Tristan preferred throwing his dolphins into the candy hole and then going off to play with the bubble machine. When the trick-or-treaters arrived on the night of the 31st, some of us had decorated our homes with spider webs and other things. I had downloaded some spooky music on my iPod, etc…but that too, was a bust, as the kids were so polite, they never came to the front door, but instead rang the doorbell at the front gate, so Tristan and I hung out outside all night giving out candy on the street – not quite the same experience as trick-or-treating on Madison in Pasadena.

Here are some pictures of the Little Angels nursery. Tristan has adjusted after starting Nov. 1, and with the school shortage that Doha is experiencing, several new nurseries seemed to have popped up this past September.

As all of the expats talk and recommend their very best services/experiences to each other, someone mentioned to me there is a guy at the Diplomatic Club who specializes in cutting short hair (not much short hair around here, fyi), so I called to make an appointment, and um, ya, he is booked solid until mid-January.


The new Harley-Davidson Dealership is officially opening November 16. Looks like this date is firm, as it was originally slated for end of this past April : ).

This morning, we woke up to heavy heavy fog and 23C (76F) temperature. Winter is coming!!!

See you!