Tom Boonen In Qatar

One of the fastest sprint cyclist in the world Tom Boonen had another good year in the Tour de Qatar. After the award cermony they had allowed the traffic back through the streets and it didn't phase him (not sure if that was ignorance on his part or the arab's shock at seeing so much skin) he stopped even the fabled White SUV (not to be messed with if you are driving a car in Qatar)

Cajun Salmon

One thing I will have to admit is that the fish here is REALLY good, and not to badly priced. I think that we could get better prices if we went to the fish markets instead of buying it in the store. I will post the recipe for this fish soon which is AMAZINGLY easy and fast to make, and I also mixed up the spices for it too!

Frankie Passed Out

Life as a cat is grand. Life as a kitten is even better. No one really cares where you fall asleep...apparently no one even notices half the time!

Dr Pepper In Qatar

American culture can spread wide depending on other nations demands for it....here is one that needs to spread a little further though! I miss my 2 Dr. Pepper a day habit. When we can find it (make that maybe once a month) we buy everything a store has (usually about 12 cans) for 3.25 QR (about $1) a can (though you can buy Pepsi or Coke for 1 QR (30 cents).

Crazy Eyed Cat

I really like animals but not to sure about this one....I came across this cat recently at the souq. I would want to name him Two Face or something.

Furry Bunny

Someone crossed a bunny with Cousin It and got this furry thing. I am actually kind of glad you don't see rabbits like this one in the US, could you imagine rabbits that looked like this with the burs and mud?

Camel Lips

A closeup of a camel during a camel race here in Qatar. Notice the frothing at the mouth. You'd froth too if a little robot was whipping you around a 5 kilometer track

Camel Jockey

We went up to the camel races with a neighbor and her boys that were here visiting from the US. We talked with the camera guys that were filming the races to be played on Al Jazeera and actually got to ride on top of the SUV with them to watch the races! Best seat in on the track!! Here are the robot "jockeys" that they now use to "ride" the camels in the races while they race beside the track in their SUVs pushing the button that spins the whip and yells at the camel through the walkie-talkie in the shirt pocket of the robot.

Chocolate Gravy

Did a little "country" cooking this morning! Made some good old Southern Chocolate Gravy on biscuits for breakfast with our Saudi eggs!

Icecream Spellings

I really hope that someone was really trying to be really creative here or that it is made in a country where this is how you really spell the words on this container of ice cream. We didn't get this brand due to the spelling though....can't afford to take chances with things like this!

Tomato In The Compound

Neighbors garden has been hard to stay out of and "assisting" the eating of the fresh food they are growing. They have done a pretty good job of keeping anything ripe from being able to be "gotten" by me....till today.....ok ok I didn't pick this tomato but I sure thought about it :)

IAAF WC Billboard

The Qatari version of the billboard is found at all major intersections. The above one is for the IAAF World Indoor Championships that we are going to try and go to this year!

Qatar Cash for Car

Here is the Qatar money we used to buy our Honda Civic here in Qatar. No this is not "funny" money....it's cash for clunkers!

The Last Sunflower

I know I have put more pictures of these sunflowers on here than anything else. You just don't understand how much joy it is to see something of color that is from nature here....

Aspire Mosque

This is probably one of the most "new age" mosque I have seen here. It sort of looks like a 'wave' with the roof being blue. It is found inside the Aspire Zone Park near the Spire.

Climbing Walls

In one of the flattest places I have ever lived there is actually climbing...though on the side of artificial. The walls are sort of laid out in the shape of Stone Henge. Sadly as many times as I have ran through this area I have NEVER seen anyone climbing, and the gates into it are ALWAYS locked.

Sunflower

I know I keep going back to the same thing to take a picture of but being in this drab climate makes me want to see these sunflowers while they are still here.

Windy Running In Doha

Living here this time of year seems like every day is pretty much the same weather wise till suddenly slaps you in the face. Here we are running around our compound on one of the roads. notice the date palms are being blown to the left. This has been the coldest day to me thus far.

Bathroom Flowers

The bathrooms at Aspire are surrounded by a wall that is covered in these flowers.

Desert Ground

A shot of the ground at night near where we run. Makes me think about the song lyric "like the desert misses the rain"

Roundabout Center

In the center of a round about on one of my runs. The brick work here is EVERYWHERE and people don't care really about it and drive over it all the time so it is either really worn from the driving or in some places actually collapsed.

Sunflower

I know I should have took a picture of something else for today but this sunflower is just to pretty to pass up right now.

Sunflower Center

Walking through the compound this morning I noticed this sunflower and it surprised me. These sunflowers actually had a very potent smell and are just about to have several in bloom.

Compound Entrance

Here is the entrance to our compound here in Doha.

Camel Crossing

See what we have to watch out for here....and here I grew thinking that deer crossings were a hazzard!

Running Around the Compund

Running outside the perimeter of the compound doesn't have too much to take pictures of but this is the front entrance to one of the other compounds. They have to water these plants daily for them to be this green even this time of year.

Parrots in the Desert

Here are some parrots that are either one lost or have escaped from the souq. They are roosting up on the worlds largest shopping cart.

Last of the Christmas Candy

Here lies the last of the Christmas candy found in my stocking.....eaten today 17 January....may it rest in peace.

Aspire Tower

Aspire Tower in Doha. This is the tallest (currently) building/structure in Qatar at 984 feet. Built for the 2006 Asian Games it is a giant olympic torch, that will actully throw a flame at the top that can been seen anywhere in the city when lit.

Birthday Pancakes

Birthday pancakes for my lovely wife.

Sophia Asleep

Possibly one of my reoccuring subjects here is Sophia (our cat) grabbing a quick cat nap.

My Birthday Cake

Yes it is once again that GLORIOUS time of year again! WOW the time has flown by...ok so it was yesterday but still my birthday cake candles were GREAT!

Magic Corn

One of my friends told me about this 'magic corn' vendor before I came here and I really didn't believe that there was actually a vendor out there that would give me a cup of corn as a snack....yes...not a pretzel at the mall, not a cookie, not a pizza.....CORN!

Qatar Olympic Rings

This is a sculpture outside the Khalifa International Stadium of an artists deptiction of the Olympic Rings. Not sure if the guy was trying to show how the hot Arabian sun would cook the Olympic Rings here in Qatar or what...

Cabbage Patch

One of the other residents that happen to have a garden in one of the alleys here. Their garden has some amazing growth to be out in the desert! I thought about finding a picture of a cabbage patch doll and putting in the middle of this picture...

Aspire Trails

Here is the trail at Aspire Zone where the 2006 Asian Olympic games were held. They are very proud of this area and they keep it pretty well maintained and in the evenings this place is PACKED with people.

Sand Waves

Today we went to Umm Ba to look for fossiles. Found a few and it was a good day to be outside and enjoy the cool weather and sunshine. Here was some of the sand that was shaped by the wind.

Chevrolet SSR

Saw this Chervolet SSR drivin by one of the royal family members (his plate was a 3 digit plate) while driving home from work. Only made for 3 years and only 24,000 ever produced and weight over 5000 pounds (almost double our honda civic)

One Of Many Road Signs

On the way home from work today I snapped this road sign while waiting for the light to turn green. No where in the world that I have traveled should this be heeded more than here.....

Flower and the Bee

Here in Qatar this is the only real growing season and the compound has planted flowers and plans all over the place, some live....and some don't.

Alphabet Soup

Ok I know this really isn't anything that you couldn't do in the US......but I can do it here :).

On The Road to Al Khor

The road up to Al Khor at night going as fast as we can without the car beeping it's brains out at us....it's not like there is anything to see during the daytime here anyway!

Asparagus

One of my favorite vegetables to cook! The recipe can be found on my food blog at http://hillbillygrub.blogspot.com/2010/01/asparagus-with-mustard-maple-sauce.html

McDonald's Delivers!

I haven't ordered from McDonalds yet to deliver to the house but I will soon! Tasty golden fries delivered to the front door.....