0% Chance of Rain

Few things in life are guaranteed, taxes and death come to mind... but in Doha, I've been here 26 days - 27th tomorrow and if there was a cloud in the sky I must have missed it. When the average rainfall from April to September reads 0.00" - it's serious... 0% chance of rain. So why check the weather forecast at all you ask? Well I should have checked today, because it would have read 100% chance of Shamal - which is the local word for intense dust storm. It struck about an hour before lunch at the site, with high winds forcing a fine dust under the windows and into our eyes when we braved the weather to take our lunch break. I experienced dust storms in Arizona during the monsoon, but that was a shortened blast of dust ahead of a thunderstorm, lasting maybe 30 minutes and the reward was a cooling rain and lightning storm. In Qatar (and most of the middle east), dust storms can last days or weeks, and are much finer than in Arizona... worst of all, no rain, no lightning - so all the bad without the good. Luckily for us it died down after a few hours so we had a clear road home. Apparently when it's really bad they have to shut down the plant (sand blasting is the only thing not really impacted - welding and painting are useless as you can imagine); and driving is hazardous enough without sand dropping visibility to the front of your hood.

An exciting way to end our last day this week at site - since we have meetings and teleconferences in Doha most of the day tomorrow. And after work I'm headed to the aeroporte to begin the 24 hour journey back to Texas, a trip I've been looking forward to for 27 days.

Amazing what has happened since I left Houston:

1. 4 Birthdays (you know who you are) - lots of May b-days, almost as cool as October!
2. The Redwings won their first Stanley Cup Series in 3 years, followed by another strong series win to pit them against the Ducks, whom they are leading 2-1 with game 5 scheduled this weekend, which I plan on watching LIVE in HD!
3. I officially became a fan of professional darts, cricket, and Australian rules football (or "footy" as it's called).
4. Despite setting realistic fitness goals I managed to gain 2 kgs since arriving, maybe it's muscle. Or more likely it has something to do with the extra 1000 calories at breakfast and the hearty meals at the site canteen.
5. Enjoyed the local restaurants, like Chili's, Applebees, TIGFridays, Johnny Rockets, Dairy Queen, McDonalds, KFC, and Subway... although my favorite restaurant in town is still the Indian place, Bukara, next to the tennis center.
6. Spider Man 3 was released and set ridiculous box office records, to which I will add some $$$ when I get back to the states (although it was released on the same day in Doha). Can anyone provide a review for me?
7. I've learned 2 Arabic expressions - Inshala (God Willing - see previous posts) and Shamal (Dust Storm - see above)... more to hopefully come.
8. I killed 3 mosquitos while typing this list (yes they have mosquitos in Doha).

So one more post (ie one more day), and I'm homeward bound. I appreciate everyone's comments and you can expect plenty of great stories as Sheri and I prepare for and take the biggest step of our married life! Thanks for all the support and kind words. Be sure to keep in touch either through email or through our Vonage US phone number (soon to be purchased).