The Identities Revealed

1. Marcell - and Daisy
2. Jalisa
3. Jennifer
4. Kristy
5. Jan
6. Mary
7. Lori
8. Donna
9. Abbey

Let me know if you want to play dress-up and have your picture taken!

Guess Who!

In order to show everyone the kinds of things we see every day in Qatar, I brought home an abaya and hijab. It has been very interesting to let my friends and family members hold and try on the complete public attire for a devout Muslim woman in Doha. They have been able to feel the heat and heaviness of wearing this imposed outfit. I can't help wonder how Muslim women adhere to such strict, seemingly oppressive restrictions. I haven't been able to talk in depth with a Muslim woman yet about her beliefs and the wearing of the abaya, but I know modesty is a big reason. Why black in such deadly heated deserts? Why do the men get to wear the cool white thobe? There are so many things I want to know.

I've taken photos of everyone who has tried on the abaya, so see if you can guess which mysterious ladies are featured here (Hint: both friends and family members are included). The one with Daisy is a dead giveaway, but I had to include that one, because she was so disturbed with the transformation of her favorite person, she kept growling. Even the models might have trouble identifying themselves. I know the hijab is probably not on correctly, but I really think I will need to take a class to learn how to wear this unusual clothing to do it correctly. So, my apologies to any Muslim friends who might see this.

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Home Sweet Home

Hey, it's been quite awhile since I have posted anything, but recovering from salmonella, moving into a new villa, and traveling home to Utah have been the priority. Our flight from Doha to Salt Lake was a story all in itself, but let's just say one of us came down with the flu (Abbey) and the other two took turns holding a very good kitty in her carrier. All in all, the 28 hour flight could have been worse.

At least we made it home and were welcomed by a wonderful family. In addition to Ben and Mary, there were four surprises. As we were coming down to the baggage claim area in the elevator, Abbey said, "Hey, there's Kristy!" I thought she had just seen someone who looks like Kristy, but all I could see was a very unattractive woman, and I didn't know how Abbey could possibly think that woman was her sister. Then as Abbey was trying to explain, I saw Kristy poke her head around the corner of one of the airport shops. The surprise had been found out, but it was so fun nonetheless. I got to hold and squeeze my grandsons sooner than I had expected, and it was a good thing, because as we flew over Colorado before landing in Utah, a small part of me wished we had three parachutes so we could bail out and visit the Robinsons. Luckily, my sleep deprived mind didn't get that wish, because the Robinsons had come the eight hours to welcome us home. Other surprises included a newly finished basment room and bathroom and storage shelves courtesy of Ben, Mary, and Mary's expert family helpers. It was a great day, but we ended up at Instacare with Abbey having a 104 degree temperature. We spent the next few days laying low, recovering from the flight, and nursing Abbey.

Utah has had more than its fair share of rain the last few weeks, and most everyone here is pretty tired of it. We, on the other hand, love the crisp weather and the summer showers. Last night the sky was very dramatic as another storm gathered from the north. I snapped these shots of the beautiful sky and then the three rainbows we saw after the downpour. Brett, Abbey, and I stood on the porch and soaked in the spellbinding qualities of the rain. The wind picked up and turned quickly cool, and we watched the dark sky bubble over into streaking, headlong moisture in the distance. The mountains to the east picked up the clouds and they hovered so low that the peaks were covered. We finally had to go inside when the rain reached our front door. After a few minutes of blustering weather expressions, we stepped out to see three rainbows bending over the mountains, one for each of us. It is so good to be home.

Cause for Celebration

I guess since we are home from the hospital Abbey has cause for celebration (we both do actually). Just now, when Brett left to go to the store he asked Abbey if there was anything she might want him to get. Without missing a beat she simply said, "A piñata." I don't know that we would have the strength to beat the candy out of a piñata, but I think my Abbey has the brilliant ability to express the most with the fewest amount of words. I think she might take after her brother that way. So Happy Fiesta!

The Curse of the Cookie Dough

Don't do it! Don't taste that delectable cookie dough. Every time I have put a mound of chocolate chip cookie dough into my mouth I have heard the warning in my head: DO NOT EAT ANYTHING WITH RAW EGGS OR YOU WILL DIE! Well, I'm here to tell you that warning is not some old wives' tale.

And even better advice: DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN EAT ANYTHING WITH RAW EGGS OR YOU WILL BE PUT IN THE BAD MOTHER HALL OF SHAME!

Yes, Abbey and I are lying in matching hospital beds as I write this, and even though we are feeling much better today, I can't remember ever being as sick as I was these last few days. Being a patient in a hospital in a foreign land hasn't been as scary as I thought it would be, and that is mostly thanks to the skilled, yet ever so sweet Filipino and Indian nursing staff they have here at Al Ahli Hospital. They have been a blessing to our temporarily topsie turvy family life.

The other blessings have come in the thoughtful visitors stopping by with puzzles, books, and games for Abbey and Labello lip care for me, the many phone calls from concerned friends, the grocery store run by our home teachers, the timely delivery of personal items from a good neighbor, the cards and flowers from my children, and the continuous flow of moral support from friends and family for my Superman hubby Brett.

Thanks to all of you who made such a nightmare turn into another reminder of how many wonderful, Christ-like people we have in our lives!

Photos of the Week

Is there really anything I need to explain here? Scandalous, I know!

Photos of the Week: Double Standard

Here are some interesting shots I got at the camel races a couple of weeks ago. This is a common sight here. I have often been puzzled by this. It is frowned on in Middle Eastern countries for men and women to have any public display of affection, yet it is very acceptable to see two men holding hands or linking arms. I almost get a little jealous when I see this, knowing that I cannot reach over and grab Brett's hand or give him a good bye kiss when I drop him off at the university. In some twisted way this seems to be a double standard. I know that this practice also takes place with the Indian, Malaysian, Nepalese, and Filipino part of the population here. It is not unusual to see women walking closely holding hands either.

This proves, at least in my mind, that human beings need that physical touch from someone, especially in public where some of us need reassurance and strength from those closest to us. So, because it is taboo to hold their sweetheart's hand, men here reach out to their buddies for that need to be met. I'm not even adding any gay issues into this equation, because didn't you know, there are no gay people in the Middle East. :)

Word Verification

How do you verify a nonsense word?
When it is absolutely without a doubt absurd?
Is a subutri an underground park
Where the sloides can be slid in the dark?

And what about the madvo that bously refuses
The advances of warics and totally confuses
The adjik sitting in the singsk with its book
Looking up words with a noplad kind of look?

It gets more exciting when the spyro is there
Apprehending the drophot villain with flair.
They refsk and battle until both are exposed
And shockingly neither are ever opposed
To the essectul turn of the intiz twist in plot
Ending up in the baria, neither getting caught.

Then a rock throwing utley shows up on the screen
Telling the lownelio to get outtewai of his dream.
Not everyone understands the siongl of a man
Who measures his belidgu by calizes on his hands.

The typical sociste will never be enlightened
By the fusit to be found in the chotweis of excitement.
I hope your brasuls are comprehending this stuff
If not then I think your computer experience will be rough!