So We're No Picasso

Well we have finally finished painting. I know that some of you may wonder why we just didn't pay someone to come and paint for us. Now come on, that would have been the easy thing to do! Michael and I LOVE doing these little projects together! Luckily for both of us, the rest of the painting in the villa will require the use of very tall ladders...so looks like we are done for now!
Okay, well we still need to hang some pictures and drapes! We are almost done!

Remember that our villa was fully furnished. So while the paint does help things seem a bit more Western, there will always be an Arabic sense to it! ;-)

Oh No, Not Another Project!

Those of you who know us know that Michael and I love to do little projects together. Some of you might recall us landscaping at midnight in the middle of a thunderstorm. Or how about that kitchen counter tile job we did in Mobile! Each of these projects really just strengthens our marriage!!!

Well I had a wonderful idea Thursday night, remember Thursday is our Friday. I decided that we should go to the paint store and buy a couple of gallons of paint! So at the paint store at 7:30 at night, I turn to Michael and "ask" we are going to start tonight, aren't we??? Our villas here are pretty big, but there aren't a lot of walls, so there really isn't much to paint. But of course there are things to be moved and cleaned up...etc. So we got one coat on our entry way!

Friday morning as we were looking at what we had done the night before, we decided that we wanted to move around furniture as well. So Michael started moving and I started painting our next project, area leading to the stairs. Of course while all this is going on, we noticed that a little neighborhood toddler was coming up to our porch to pet my very unfriendly feral friends! UGH! So I went running out to make sure she didn't get too close. (These two cats really just act like they live here!) So of course, I quickly explained to the parents that the cats are not friendly and NOT mine. Come to find out they are new to Doha and from Houston! Of course, then Michael invites them in...UGH! I of course have a panic attack because the house is a HUGE MESS...stuff everywhere...we have had a lot of wind lately so of course there is too much dust for my taste! But sure, come on in! They must have thought we were nuts, Michael in his Halloween pjs and me in my "Don't Be Crabby" pjs! Priceless!

I am happy to report that as of 6 pm, we are done. The house is rearranged and clean, very important! Starting to feel much more like our home.

Yes, you are seeing correctly...Michael holding a bottle of 409!!!

I will post pictures of the transformation tomorrow!

Happy Valentine's Day

Michael's Valentines!

Okay, well a couple of days late! Michael planned a wonderful evening for us at the Movenpick Hotel. Their Valentine's Day special included a 6 course meal on the 26 floor around the indoor pool. It was very nice! Four out of the six courses were wonderful. I even tried a taste of Michael's lobster, which for those of you who know me is a big accomplishment! They raffled off many prizes, one of which was a trip to Africa! But, unfortunately our name was not called! So our consolation prize was a teddy bear and a rose.

Macey just wanted you all to know that we went out to this really nice restaurant and all we brought her was ANOTHER stuffed toy and rose.

Michael aka "CRASH"

Just an update, Michael wants to know why I haven't explained anything about the, I mean HIS, latest incident! I told him that there would be no explaining necessary!

So this was a one car collision with a pole--appearantly he has lost his ability to back up into a parking space. In this case, the pole won!

Happy Birthday Gina!

كل سنة و انت طيب

(I suppose it is only fair that you know!)

Free Doughnuts for a Year!

Today at 5 pm, Krispie Kreme will be opening in Doha! They have done an enormous amount of advertising. There are billboards and signs EVERYWHERE. The first 25 customers get a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts free every week for a year! The next 25 customers get a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts free ever week for 6 months! (and no, we are not standing in line for this! ;-))

Doha looks a little more like home every day!

Priceless

I just had to share a story and some pictures from my friend Lucy!

Lucy wrote:

Check out our little Catholic-turned-Muslim son! These pictures were taken just yesterday afternoon outside our villa. The workers had come to check on one of our appliances when they were interrupted by "prayer time," so Nick (age 3) just joined in!!

BTW-This was not staged, which is why the picture quality is not great. Lucy was just happy to get any pictures of it! Also, out of respect for the men, she did ask before taking the picture, though I bet they had no idea they would be posted on a blog! ;-)