So that was Christmas

Christmas has come and gone. I find myself here looking forward to the next 5 weeks or so of "non-teaching" days. Christmas was hard this year and last year. Internet can only do so much to bring people together. We decorated our little tree a few days after Thanksgiving, bought and exchanged gifts, and ate a big Christmas breakfast. It was still warm outside. There was no snow on the ground. We were without family and friends from home. Next year will be different.

Living in Qatar is a Lot Like . . .

Living in Qatar is a lot like the comedy Groundhog Day starring the hilarious Bill Murray. Let me explain. If you have seen the movie you know that Bill Murray is a TV weather man who suddenly wakes up one morning to re-live the same day all over again. At first, he is confused, later completely frustrated, and then he learns to deal with the sameness of it all - anticipating each character's action before they even know what they will do.

Qatar has been like Groundhog Day in that the weather and geography do not change. Okay, it was hotter than hell in August, ranging from 84F to 105F, and now it is only warm in January, ranging from 55F to 71F, but it will never get cold here. We did not see any clouds until the end of November, and there was no rain until December. Had we not bought a Christmas tree I never would have known it was that time of year. Living in Qatar is like the film Groundhog Day: the same again and again.

The geography is the same shade of beige with the occasional tuft of green shrub. We drove all the way out to the NW coast to see Fort Al Zubara, but it was the same. We also drove out to the Inland Sea and Al Khor just north of Doha. They all look the same. Some places just have more people and cars than others. Living in Qatar is like the film Groundhog Day: the same again and again.

The Ozarks are gorgeous and we say, "If you don't like the weather - wait because it will change tomorrow." South Korea also had four seasons and the most beautiful trees, mountains and rivers. I never knew that I would miss weather and geography diversity so much.

Bill Murray photo credit: http://www.foxnomad.com/
Fort Al Zubara photo credit: http://media.lonelyplanet.com/

The Best Christmas Cookies Ever

Today was finally the day that I made the best Christmas cookies ever - Peanut Butter Blossoms. I think you can click on the title of this blog posting and you will be lead to the actual Hershey's recipe.


My mom has made these cookies ever since I can remember. And while I was raised on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which I took to school every day even through high school, I have never quite tired of eating these peanut butter heavy cookies. The best part is they are topped off with a Hershey's kiss!