The Amazing Race in Real Life

Well, there isn't a million dollars at stake, but we have felt as if we were competing in a race the last few weeks, jumping through all the hoops to get moved and complete all the steps and paperwork necessary for us to get our housing allowance!
But, for almost a week now, we have been living and breathing Al Khor. Our villa is wonderful. I didn't know how much of a difference it would make in my life to sit at an open window, listen to the birds in the morning, or to sit at an open window with the moon and the stars shining down on me. I can see the lights twinkling in the distance, though not sure if it's Doha or not.
I have two little window planters full of petunias outside my window. My mother is with me always, wherever there are petunias, whenever I pick the dead blossoms and relive the days of my childhood helping her in her flower gardens and "tattling" on Dad when he would pick the dead blooms, too. Today, as a reward for doing the unpacking I plan to work on (doubt I will finish), I will plant some more things....some marigolds and petunias, some herbs (MINT is my favorite) and a couple of little citrus bushes we bought. Imelda, our friend next door who is from the Phillipines says they grow in her country, but I can't remember what she called them. The little green fruits will turn orange and can be eaten. We also want to get some lemon trees that we saw at the plant souk the other day. And more bouganvillea. And some flowering trees and little green leafy trees....I can't remember what they are all called. One was gardenia, I think. They are not terribly expensive, but we need to get that housing allowance check first! :)

So we are slowly settling in. Nelson is doing more and more horses and feeling really good about it. He is bummed he hasn't gotten the "big" job yet, but for now, I think this works out best, so he can start back slowly and build himself up again! It's hard to wait for your dream job when you're already 54 years old. But people are taking notice of his work. Things just happen slowly here sometimes. And then when something breaks, it breaks NOW. I don't have a horse yet. I still want Hattan, but he it out of commission with a snake bite right now. I haven't even SEEN a snake here yet. Apparently, this bite has become infected. God help him...he is a special horse. I am just going to start riding whenever and whatever I can to keep myself sane. I've had enough horsey contact to manage lately, but riding is my real psychotherapy. We will pit crew for Avril (our Irish friend) at the first ride on the 6th (or is it the 4th? Whatever the first Friday of Nov is!). I can't wait. I enjoy her company so much as it is and she is such a smart rider. AND she really appreciates our knowledge and help.

The guys are coming to hang the curtains today. After we get some things unpacked and straightened up, we'll take some photos of the villa and post them on Facebook, and see if we can put some here. I have never figured out how to do the photo album with this site, so there won't be many here.

Keep in touch. Please write. We miss our friends and family and sure wish we could have you here to spend a few nights in our guest bedroom. :) It's always open!