Saturday, June 27th

Well, I am pretty much shopped out. I hope I have enough stuff to
bring home so everyone can see the treasures I've been finding over
here.

My travel plans have been finalized, I will be arriving in Houston on
Sunday, July 12th at 1:30 pm. I am not sure if I am going to just
drive home that afternoon or stay in Houston for the night. I have to
see how I feel when I get there. If anyone reading this plans on
being in Houston at that time and wants to ride back with me let me
know. I would love the company.

Tomorrow is another day of shopping downtown. I made plans with
someone to show her where we find our treasures. So after tomorrow we
will probably skip downtown because the heat is just unbearable. It
is so hot I just feel like I am melting out there. Then when you try
to find A/C and sit and maybe have something to drink to cool down you
have smokers blowing smoking and gagging you to death. It really
makes you appreciate non-smoking laws.

That is all I have for now and will update tomorrow.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE DANCE COMPANY "STARS". I AM OVER HERE THINKING
ABOUT ALL OF YOU WISHING I WAS THERE, BUT I WILL BE THERE NEXT
YEAR!!!!!

DANCE RECITAL IS JUNE 28TH AT LOYOLA 5:00 PM........

Friday, June 26th

We haven't been getting out much.... it is extremely hot and totally
drains all of our energy. Yesterday Mike and I went to a birthday
party here on the compound for a 2 year old (Triston). It was a
Fiesta theme with fajitas, all the fixings and MARGARITA's. Very
festive with all the decor and music to go with the theme.

Today we did our usual run to Starbuck's and Tamimi for our grocery
run. You never know what you are going to find new on the shelves.
We actually found Hillshire Farms Beef Sausage today. When you see it
you need to stock up because you don't know how long it will take to
get more.

Tomorrow will be a shopping day. I will be heading downtown area but
we are going to Khobar Plaza. Haven't been there yet so it will be
interesting to see what we find there.

ONLY 17 MORE DAYS AND I WILL BE HOME!!!!! coming in earlier than planned.

Wednesday, June 24th

I haven't been out much..... I've been a little under the weather.
Feeling much better now.

Tomorrow I will be going to a Fiesta Celebration for one of the little
boy's 2nd birthday here on the compound. Yesterday I helped his
mother make some large tissue flowers for decorations. it should be
cute and of course fun. We will MARGARITAS!!!!!

Today I am going downtown for the early run and then homebound.

I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS...... I WILL BE COMING HOME EARLY!!!!!! I
will probably be in New Orleans on July 13th. YEAH!!!!! So I will
have an extra month at home.

July 13th to September 16th..... pretty good then I come back to Saudi
at the end of September and home again for Christmas until the end of
January to celebrate Paige's big 40!!!!

I will see everyone very soon!!!!!

FYI... Gwen T. and I have been talking about planning a night at Corks
N Canvas if anyone is interested send me an email. We will set it up
once I get in town.

Shopping - June 20th

Went shopping on Saturday and these are the treasures I found.

Do you love them?

Well I am getting ready for Baby Ella. Gretchen and Charlie (and of course Ms. Myrna) waited a long time for this little Bundle of Joy. Now I am shopping for their soon to be baby girl.
Next year she will be a FUTURTE STAR on the stage and will have this precious little tierra to wear and her costumes will hang on pearl hangers.
I can't wait for Baby Ella to get here. I know I am thousands of miles away but I will love her and spoil her just as much as if I was there.

So can you all tell I am planning a little bit in advance?

Well going downtown today and no telling what we will find.

Voicemail

I finally figured out how to retrieve voicemails from the Magic Jack.  So if I haven't called you back sorry..... but now I can check them.

 

 

Talk to everyone soon.

Saturday, June 20th

Today is June 20th and I am thinking about all of my dancing friends because I know in a few hours they will be having their first rehersal for the bid day June 28th.

 

Gretchen don't stress..... Baby Ella doesn't want to be bothered with all that.... let her rest.

 

I went to the Al Rashad Mall today and Cathy and I helped a newcomber out.  I am no longer the new kid on the block.  We met a nice lady who turns out to be one of my neighbors and she just arrived from Canada.  So we helped her find her way in that huge mall.  I have to say we did pretty good. 

 

Tomorrow we are going back downtown.  Everyone going home for holiday needs to get all the treasures they can for family and friends.  So I guess I will scramble when my date gets a little closer.

 

Going to the gym.... starting a workout routine!!!!  Maybe I will be 20lbs lighter when I get home.  That is my goal anyway.

June 19th - My first Sand Storm

Today was our usual Friday ritual.... Starbucks for coffee then on to Tamimmi for groceries. As you can see it looks like it is raining in these pictures but it is what they call a Sand Storm. They occur more often in the spring and they get worse. The sand is just blowing and by the end of the day everything was slightly dusty!!!!

So we are home and just had some good ole home cooked Fried Chicken!!!! Now we will just get ready to watch the LSU baseball game at 9:00 pm our time. GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!

To let you all know I haven't made up my mind on the bike yet. I now have something else weighing on this decision. When I know I will let everyone else know. I keep telling Mike to just surprise me!!!! He isn't being responsible for the decision.

Spa continued

June 16th continued

The rest of the pics from spa day........

June 16th

Today started out shopping in Dammam and then a couple of the other ladies and myself had a day at the Zammil Compound Spa. We all had the "Royal Treatment".

Manicures, Pedicures, Color/Highlights, Cut and the others had eyebrows and such waxed.

It was very nice and I had my color mixature from Good Ole Dad and she did good. I was only going for haircut today but she asked about different products that I was familiar with so I figured she would get it right. She did!!!!

Renee is the "Boss Lady" from Houma. (Just kidding) We tease her and gave her that nickname.

Catisuka (Cathy) is our Venezuelan Beauty Queen!!!!

We all really enjoyed our day or R & R.

Now we are going to sweat in the park for the kids balloon and water gun fights.

Sunday, June 14th

Going to the Souk today.... maybe I will find some gold treasures.

 

This is in Downtown Khobar and you can find some good deals on the gold and lots of other stuff too.  I have to gather all of my surprises for when I come home in August.  Everyone needs a little something from Saudi!!!!!

--

Coffee Group!!!!

Left to right:  Lois, Cathy, Traci, Arlene, Renee, Susan/Mary, Lucinda

 

Susan/Mary is really Susan but one girl can't remember her name so we now call her Susan/Mary and she answers to either name. 

 

A bit of info about my friends... Lois (1st time I met her today not sure where she is from), Cathy from Venezuela, Arlene from Canada, Renee from HOUMA,LA, Susan/Mary from HOUMA, LA and Lucinda from Australia.

 

Now you all have an idea of who I spend most of my time with shopping, dining at lunch and having coffee.

 

 

More pics from coffe morning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, June 13th

Today the ladies and I had coffee at PJ's in the Mall of Dahran. Susan/Mary sorry you are cut out. I am not a very good photographer.

I am very impressed with myself.... again I left the mall without packages.

Have accomplished a lot since I am home from the mall.

Bye for now.....

Friday, June 12th

Today is the Holy Day so this morning we went and had coffee at Starbucks on the Carniche and road around the North and South Corniche.  It was very nice out because the Saudi's are not on the road driving crazy.  We felt like we were the only car on the road.  Then on to Tamimmi for a few groceries. And now home sweet home.  It is so hot outside I will just stay in the rest of the day.

 

So now I will have my day for R & R.

 

 

Thursday, June 11th

Slow starting day..... it is the weekend.  Mike is working but when he gets home we will be shopping for my new bike.  Still not sure whether it will be the 3 wheeler or the 2 wheeler.  I would really love the Pink Vespa!!!!

 

Hopefully by the time you all are waking up to and reading this I will have pictures of my new wheels....

 

pictures from family and friends

pic
Just wanted Brennan to see the picture he gave me for Mother's Day made it all the way here and is one of the four that the carpenter hung for me today. The walls are cement so they come and hang the pictures or whatever for you. I told him I would be getting some more and would call him back to help me decorate.

Sis, your Fluer De Lis looks great on the wall as well along with my little Shotgun house that Gina and I bought at Jazz Fest.

Then to all of my friends/family that gave me the print of New Orleans Classic Restaurants... it looks great!!!! I can't wait to have company over to see it.

So I wanted to share with you all. I am enjoying them and think of all you daily.

Love and miss everyone, Traci

June 9th and 10th

Tuesday was a day in the house.  Didn't go out and just worked in the garden a little and in the house. 

 

Today, Wednesday the group went shopping at the Al Rashad mall.  It is soooooooo large you can't possibly see the whole thing in even 3 visits.  It is multiple levels and has many different wings.  It actually has an amusement park on the top floor.  Forgot my camera today but will have it with me next time I go.  I actuallly didn't buy a thing.  We had coffee at PJ's and then lunch at Fudruckers.  Felt like I was at home.

 

 

 

 

First visit to public restroom

Well while shopping as always was good I had to use the restroom in public for the first time. I walked in the door marked Female toilet, then down a long hallway and entered the restroom area. The lady was squeeging the floor with water and bleach and directed me by pointing "right there". This is what was behind the door.

So I had to figure out where to put my personal belongings and then hold up the Abaya so it didn't get wet and how do you use this thing in the ground. So next time I will not get a frozen tea when I arrive at the mall. I need to go thirsty until it is time to leave!!!!! Well now I am going to WATER AROEBICS... that is going to be my workout for the day.

Bye for now.....

Monday, June 8th

The last couple of days have been kind of slow.  Today we are going to the Mall of Dahran.  The malls are huge and have lots of nice stores.  More than we have in New Orleans for sure!!!!!

 

So shopping, shopping, shopping and then I may head to the gym.  I don't want to fill out this Abaya before I come home in August.  JoeJoe told me before I left to watch out because he knew people that went overseas and came back filling out the ABAYA.

 

I am going to get a bike but can't decide what i want.  Of course I couldn't ship my Cruiser so I have it to ride at home but here all the ladies ride 3 wheelers.  So I guess I need to take a poll 3 Wheeler or 2 Wheels.  I will have to post that later and get everyone's opinion on that.

 

Heading out the door and hopefully will find some treasures.

 

Bye for now.

FYI

I think I have a link with some additional pictures.  Enjoy.

Invitation to view tmgh64's Picasa Web Album - Desert 1

You are invited to view tmgh64's photo album: Desert 1 Desert 1 Jun 5, 2009 by tmgh64 View Album Play slideshow Message from tmgh64: These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google. Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/ If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=tmgh64&target=ALBUM&id=5344277487812516769&authkey=Gv1sRgCObOg4_gyb7CqgE&invite=CObDiS0&feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

More Pics

This process is extremely sloooooooowwwwwww.  So please be patient and don't get bored.

 

I also forgot to mention I a have a Saudi Cell Phone number!!!!  Finally, now when I venture out by myself I have a phone in case of emergency or I GET LOST!!!!

 

 

Still trying to load the pics from Friday.....

Today went shopping and bought JoeJoe's Fathers Day Card..... everyone is going to love it.  So when he says he has received it you all may want to stop by to get a visual!!!  Remember here they read backwards.

 

Well anyway here are a few pics and I will be posting more.  I am doing it few by few.  I am not able to post all of them but I think you all will enjoy the ones I post.

 

Tomorrow I am not sure what I will be doing but I love all this shopping.  I may go shopping again.  Go figure!!!!