Fishy Night

Who wants to come over for dinner?????

The Great Outdoors

It is the responsibility of all residents in Qatar to be outdoors during the mild winter season. If you don't, insanity will inevitably creep in by mid-June. That is why we have been taking advantage of the desert winter weather as much as possible.

We play in the rain...because even if it tastes like sand at least it is wet.

We go to the souq....because we must show off our fashionable wears.

Bromley Haute Couture

We plant flowers....because it is a perfect excuse to play in the dirt.

We lie on the grass...because it is the only green and living thing in Doha.

We throw rocks in the Gulf...because distance determines age.

We sleep under the stars...because daddy can explain all of the constellations.
We dream that this weather would stay forever...because we are painfully aware that Global Warming hits the hardest in Doha.

Goings On

Catching up....

Axel and I are pretty good when it comes to change, but monotony, not so much. We have been really trying to love Doha the best way we can. Driving on the streets is infuriating, and the lack of entertainment is pitiful. The only time we can really, truly and genuinely like Doha is when we visit the souq. It recharges our batteries and makes us feel like we are experiencing a unique overseas experience. That is why we go there at least twice a week, just to refill.

Axel is experiencing success at work. The numbers are appropriately climbing and his contribution is becoming more and more invaluable. He is going to hate that I wrote this, but it is all true. As a result, he is satisfied and motivated. The current challenge is going to be Bahrain for him. It is one of the countries he oversees and he typically visits there at least once a month. He was there two weeks ago and knowing him, as soon as the bullets stop flying, he will be right back on a plane headed to Manama.

We are revisiting glasses for Heavah. She has been myopic for a while now and her left eye has been compensating. The optometrist said she needs to wear a patch over the left eye for at least 6 weeks. Instead of feeling embarrassed, she said she is excited that she can dress appropriately for her Pirate themed music concert on Thursday.

Xavier has found a new obsession. It encompasses the two loves of his life Lego + Star Wars. I am not sure how much a little Lego pack costs back in the US, but this little Jar Jar ship set Xavier back $70 bucks. He earned the cash with his checks money from doing odd jobs and the helping the family. His new Lego addiction has made him extremely helpful lately. He contributes a lot but states often that he is disappointed he has to work much harder in Doha than if he was in the US. American kids in the states work at least 50% less and even less on Black Friday.

Sedona is consistent with her gentle nature and easy going attitude. We recently heard from her teacher that she is one of the loudest children in the class. Axel and I tried to hold in our laughter, but failed to do so. We both admitted that she is the quietest child in our family and in order to compete and stay alive in our household, she has to make her presence known. In a house full of lions, you can't be a mouse.

Asa's language abilities astound us all. His favorites are, 'In just a sec!', 'Gosh' (as in, why am I so misunderstood?)', 'Wait a minute!', and 'She/he's trying to fight me!' Can you sense how Asa navigates through the chaos of our home?

Asa also has a love/hate relationship with Horus, our African Grey. Horus tolerates Asa's affection, but he doesn't put up with crap. The minute Asa tries to go too far, Horus puts his beak to use. It is a healthy bird/toddler relationship.

Shylock, our 13 year old Yorkie underwent surgery this week. His teeth finally gave up and the vet had to pull every single one. Yorkies have notoriously bad teeth and it has always been an issue ever since we got him at 6 months old in Croatia. The vet said if he had known how badly his teeth were infected he would have suggested euthanizing the little guy. This, of course was after the $700. bill. Axel would have rather bought another carpet. Not me, there is a lot more life in Shylock and I like him a lot. The kids do too, especially now that he can't bite.

Watching Grass Grow

Crazy hair day

I never thought I would look at these photos of my daughter's mohawk with envy and sadness, but I am today.

Sedona cut her hair...uh-gan.

This morning I gave her a slight trim to the back of her hair to even it out and look more girly. After I left the bathroom, she decided to finish it off with a hack to her barely-existing-bangs and a chop to the back. There were tears (mostly me) and continual sorrys (mostly her).

Does anyone know where I can buy Chia Pet seeds that would grow blonde locks? I'll happily pay the $9.50 + tax .

Got Crabs?

The only remedy for a botched spearfishing trip is buying a bucket of fresh crabs from a fisherman on the corniche for 10 bucks. We didn't even know it was possible. It is only the best kept secret of Doha.

Laughing at Dr. Dolittle

For the past three months my hunting starved husband has been trying to capture a dove in our backyard, because that is fun...for Axel. Every time I cleared the table and threw out the leftovers I was quickly chastised for throwing away perfectly good rice when, um, don't I know, it is the best dove bait.

Every single day Axel had a new and cunning plan for capturing the highly coveted dove. The obsession was rather strange to me because when we were first married Axel bought me two doves to represent our union. It only took us a few days to figure out that they hated each other entirely. And when I say hate, I mean despise completely. The male would constantly peck her and slap her with his wing. Finally, she didn't stand for it any longer and in return, she did the same to him. We had no TV at the time so the dysfunctional lovers quarrel would keep us thoroughly entertained evening after evening. We eventually locked them in the bathroom because the fights would get so loud and dirty. They worst pets we ever owned, which are powerful words spoken by the wife of Axel Bromley. They were aptly named Tina and Ike.

And yet, my husband had to cage a dove. For what satisfaction I am not sure. I think I have too much estrogen to ever figure it out.

Day after day I would witness a roadrunner/coyote interplay between Axel and the many doves that visited our backyard. Axel was convinced that Qatari doves were several IQ points above the average doves he had encountered in his lifetime. He was genuinely offended when sparrows would wander into his cage, it was a mockery in his eyes. I literally heard him say, 'those doves are laughing at me right now.' As he hung his head in shame.

The cat and mouse routine ended the day Axel finally go his African Grey, Horus. The cage was turned back up, string back around the spool and curtains were fully drawn. Axel claimed defeat. The pesky doves won the battle.

And then...

today Asa yelled at me while I was upstairs claiming that the bird was playing the piano. It wasn't that unusual since he has been enamored by Horus ever since the day we bought him. I didn't think too much of it until the sound of his voice claimed urgency, and when I looked at Asa he was pointing to the curtain rod. Sure enough there sat a dove, comfortable and complacent. It would have been wonderful if Axel was present, but he just happened to be in Kuwait today and he missed the whole thing.

I could have been a great wife and trapped the bird for Axel's satisfaction. I suppose Axel could have observed the bird for a few days and then set it free, but I figured I already had 2 Gouldian Finches, a canary and a parrot. I think I fulfilled my fowl requirements already. Plus, if my maid saw the additional bird in our home she just might have walked out never to be seen again. How much bird poop does one woman have to clean? It wasn't a risk I was willing to take.

Because of the timing, the bird flew to freedom. Did he know how close he came to capture? I am not sure but the last noise I thought heard from his tired little body was 'suck-er'.

Slow Qatar Days...

Amidst the current chaos that is the Middle East, we are enjoying a very calm, slow, and uneventful life here. In fact, the weather has been lovely so we have been trying to experience the outdoors as much as possible. Being surrounded by Saudi, we often feel like we are floating on a besieged, lonely island. With all the upheaval in the Middle East, there aren't too many safe places to visit nearby. So much for my pyramid visit this spring. I guess if worst came to worst and the boredom became too much to bear, we could always grab our American passports, hail a dhow and sail the Persian Gulf. It is no worries, we would probably make it to Iran or Iraq in only a couple hours.