Last weekend of April

Well, April went out with a kick. This was a great weekend. Wednesday night went to a Gallery opening - paintings and drawings were only fair, but the fiberwork was actually pretty good. This was the Dharhan Art Group show. On the way home I stopped by a party that was only getting started. Hardly anyone was there and the recception was cool, so I continued on to Steineke on Omer's bike, which was in bad shpe and when almost home the chain broke (damn, cheap Chinese trash), so by the time I got to Steineke everyone was leaving for the party. I was so PO'd and tired from the bike ride back up the hill and against the wind that I decided to go up to my room and get to bed, since I was going to go birding early in the morning. Well, that was a mistake, as the gang that went had a great time. Seems like everyone got there about 9:00 PM and I was almost asleep. Oh well, you win some and you loose some, and some are rained out.

I did have a good night's sleep and was up before dawn to call home, to no avail - Carolyn's phone was dead - BUMMER! At any rate, went to the mess hall and had a good breakfast and waited for Jon Nelson to pick me up for a drive out to the spray fields and effluent lake to add some more birds to our lists. The day was overcast, which made it a little more pleasant out there, but there was no water on the ground from the sprinklers and the lake is getting lower and lower. Nevertheless, we saw plenty of birds, but fewer than I saw last week. The Passerines are still coming through, just different kinds. I was able to add the Rufous Bush Robin, Bittern, and Purple Heron to my list. We took the time to walk out from the lake to spot Egyptian Spiny-tailed lizards, better known as Dabb lizards here, and saw about six. Was able to get within 40 yards of one before it ran down into his hole. Also saw a water turtle, a kind of slider type, that was out looking for a place lay some eggs. Will have to determine the species when I can get my hands on a field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of the Middle East. Kept looking for scorpians, but had no luck. Jon was really wanting to find one.

Back at Steinek I was able to catch a quick cat nap for about 20 minutes before lunch. Spent the afternoon on some artwork and going to the bike shop to get a new tire and tube for my bike. Damn it, though, our cabby got a SR200 fine because I did not have my seatbelt on the backseat - BUMMER! Got back just in time to change and catch a cab with the others to the US Consulate for a '50's Disco party. Let me tell you, the security to get into the place was extremely tight. Must have been 5 different check points before we were driven to the lawn where the party waas being held. Top that off with the concertina wire along the fence of the yard with guards in the shadows behind the fence every 10 yards or so, hardly noticable. The yard was delightful - had tables with nice starched white linens, set with a full complement of plateware, flowers and lighted with strings of lightbulbs hung around the umbrella canopies that rose above each table. The disc jockey was set up on the dance floor adjacent to the food and beverage line. It was all so sureal, but in the end it was a load of fun. Lots of dancing to music of my college days and after a couple nice cool beers and later several shots of good ol' Jameson's Irish whiskey, we were dancing up a storm. At our table Wanda, Susan, Omer and I had quite workout dancing up there on the dance floor and it started almost as soon as the music started - Wanda just could not sit still,moving to the music, so I took her to the dance floor and from then on between her and Susan, we danced until we were ringing wet from the heat. It was so much fun just letting down like we couldn't do back here outside of the consulate. Good hambergers and BBQ chicken, ice cream - just like home :) Managed to catch a ride home with a couple of Aramcons from Houston. Great time, all!

Today it was almost all art. I spent the day in a corner at the mess hall where the light is good with windows all around working on a couple of several lighthouse watercolors that I brought along to finish over here. One I will have to start all over and the other I should finish in a another couple of hours, then all I will have remaining for the whole set is three lighthouses. I will finish them soon, darn-it.

In the morning it's back to work :(

Saturday (actually Thursday)

Sunday night 4/26/10

Well, my mother-in-law, Ina Cantella, has been layed to rest in grand fashion in Beaumont, Texas over the past few days. I have been talking to everyone there on the phone (since I am here half way around the world) and the reports that I am getting are so pleasing to me. I really missed being there, but these reports have made things easier.
Ina was a fine lady and very sharp until the very end. I called her Easter morning and had a really engaging conversation with her, although it was difficult to understand her at times due to the effects of the strokes on her throat and larynx. She had a wonderful life and gave us all she had to help us have the best of our lives, as well. I miss her perfectly set and managed holiday dinners and get togethers, her wonderful meals (the best meatballs ever, lentels and Italian sausage at Christmas, gumbo to die for, eggplant parmesian, breaded venison medallians, and the list would go on for pages. I miss the perfectly kept house (until we had been there for a day). The fireplace on a cold winter night. The beautiful yard and the azaleas, camellias, and amaryllas. Sadly, hurricanes Rita and Ike did the yard in - most of the big oaks are gone now, blown over by the storms. At one time, Charles (Chili, as he was nicknamed) kept the place immaculate buit after he died it was beyond her capabilities to maintain the yard as he had kept it, but she did he best.
She put up with a lot from some of us, especially, me. I was always pulling her leg about something, but over the years she knew when I was baiting her into a prank, but she loved it and over time we bacame very close. I remember taking her to the Landry (her maiden name) family reunion in Lafayette, Louisiana, several years ago. There were hundreds of people there and I think that she was overwhelmed by it all. When she had enough we headed back to Beaumont by way of the coastal highway 82 - a road neither she of I had ever traveled. We saw lots of nothing but marsh once we left Abbyville, except wildlife, but the alligators captivated her. She talked about that trip often and how much fun it was. After her husband, Chili passed maintaining the house became harder and harder for her to manage, so she would always have a list of things for me to do whenever we visited - generally simple things, but difficult for her to do - a stuck door here, a light bulb there. I was more than happy to do it for her.
I miss her now, more than ever, but I rest assured that she is in the Lord's presence and happy now. God rest her wonderful soul - great lady - Ina Cantella!

More Lebanon

Well, folks, I am feeling better today (Wednesday). I picked up a bug and was feeling awful since Monday morning. I am well enough to post a blog :)

Yes, Lebanon was really a great place to visit. It is a lot like New Orleans with it's French influence. A hilly New Orleans. At any rate, we went to The Jeitta grotto or caves - stunning. The next day we spent wandering around Downtown Beirut in the Solidare to have a lunch before heading back to the hotel to rest before going out to dinner and then a drink at the Budda club, and finished off the evening with beer around the infinity pool on the roof.

Our final day was a full one, with a trip to see the famous cedars of Lebanon at 5500'. So nice and cool. Caught a lizard that I can't identify and saw several new birds. From there we visited the palace at Beiteddine - outstanding! From there we made a couple of minor stops on the way down out of the mountains to the airport.
Flight home was pleasant, but I didn't get the last beer that I asked for :(

Got back into the Kingdom to find that a huge thunderstorm had come through while we gone and 12 people were drowned in a wadi flash flood north of here. Seems it is a common occurance here, as the Bedoins often camp in the wadis because the same is soft.

Lebanon and back

What a wonderful weekend in the beautiful country of Lebanon. I must say I had some doubts about going when my fellow instructional designers, Wanda and Susan talked my collegue, Richard McE into booking a flight to Beirut and looked over to me, saying that I should come along, as well. I tried to find something else to do, but this was a three day weekend and the thought of staying here was just too much, so I booked a flight and told Richard McE that I planned to bunk up with him. Within a week of departing my mother-in-law passed away at the age of 95, so I was torn with the guilt of going on this trip, but Carolyn reassured me that I should go, that her mother would want it so. The fact that everyone back home was occupied with returning home to take care of other business before the funeral Rosary and Mass planned for next weekend meant that I could not be of much help, I just needed to keep in touch. Canceling tickets would be costly, as well. So I went and am I glad I did. (Mama C, you are now in a wondeful place and if it is anything like the countryside of Lebanon, then it is really a pleasant place to be.)

Flying on Middle East Airlines from Dammam, we arrived in Beirut in time to have a drink and go to bed. The flight quite nice, a little bumpy weather as we left Arabia, but otherwise pleasant. The next day I was up early to hike along the corniche to see if anyone was fishing. There were several places where the fisherman gathered to catch small sea bream using long (very long) poles. I then met up with Richard McE and we strolled along the corniche about a mile. At one point we climbed down off the seawall to walk out onto an abandoned playground and talk to some men swimming in the sea (about 30 or so men, mostly professionals). One of them talked me into coming out the next morning with my swim suit and join in on the commadarie. Once Richard McE and I returned to the hotel (Rotana), Wanda and Susan had the taxi ready to go for the day. Our driver was great. He took us to the places we wanted to go, and took us to places not on our plan and these turned out to be well worth seeing: the churches and mosques, the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, Bybelos and the great food. Late in the day, Richard McE left us to return to the hotel, leaving the three of us to meet with an Aramco colleague, Peyton, for strolling the streets of the oldest continuous community in the world and watch the sun set over the sea. Finally, we were back at the hotel to have a beer on the top floor and the edgeless swimming pool - beautiful and relaxing. Tomorrow there will be more.

More on the past weekend

As I said, things are not boring here. After the Bests dropped me off on Thursday I grabed a quick lunch and got Omer to go with me on a ride out into the desert in the camp. It was easy at first - slight downhill ride and wind to the back on paved roads, but then we hit the sand off road near the spray fields and the effluent lake to see what birds we could spot (not much - a couple of cormorants, a couple of ducks, a couple of tern and that was it!). From there we headed down the road to the Hobby Farm, only it was closed :(. Rested a few minutes and took off for the jebbles to find a place on top to sketch the view. SAND and more SAND!!! Hard riding. After a couple of sketches we headed down the side of the jebble and I managed to hit a ridge that stopped my bike while I went sailing over the handlebars :(. No harm but my image. The ride back to Steineke was HARD - uphill and against the wind - I was exhausted before I ever got to the golf course :( At any rate, I only had time to change clothes and come downstairs to meet Don and Lynne for a drive back out into the jebbles for a party in a bowl on the top of one of the larger outcrops. What a fun time: about 30 people, mostly couples, cokes and brown & white stuff, a big bon fire, s'mores, etc., with an outstanding view of the center of the eastern Provence. Really got to mix and work the group. I just love getting out with my friends here and making new friends each time I go out.

Next morning I was up in time to catch the 7:30 bus to Ras Tanura to fish the surf. Water was great (maybe a little choppy) and just a little on the cool side at first. No fish, but a good time. Had an early lunch and caught the first bus back to Dharhan. Worked the afternoon an my tax returns before heading out to Kobar for shopping and shawarmas. Got home and promptly fell asleep. See, boring here! Nothing to do :)

The weekend of April10

Another boring weekend in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - nothing to do but sit in my room watching TV in arabic, bengali, etc. - for some folks, but not for me. I have hardly had a moment to stand still until now. Wednesday night after work, I met with my favorite birding buddy, Nicole, to go over the nature journaling workshop that she has been pushing me to do since I met her at The Aramco Natural History Association meeting in Janaury. She just never gave up, so now I have to come through with an outstanding workshop in May. Actually, I am really looking forward to it and I am really glad that she has encouraged me. She is Stephanie's clone almost - loves natural science, horses, camping, etc. If those two ever got together they would be a great team. At any rate, I am trying to put together a list of Windsor-Newton paints that I want her to procure for me when she goes home to Great Britain later this week for a home visit.

Thursday morning Don and Lynne picked meup to go out to Dammam to the furniture maker. They were picking up a multi-drawer cabinet for Don's office (very nice piece for furniture). I wanted to go to talk to t he proprietor about making a vanity for the bedroom suite that carolyn loves so much. From there we went to an upscale furnature and accessorie store called Desert Designs. Wow, nice stuff! The best's walked out with two very beautiful Iranina rugs. I saw several that would be so nice in our home back in Houston. There were so many neat things there. I have asked them to pick me up when they go back later this week. A good friend, Therisa,from Houston, was along and almost walked out with a carpet as well (she'll most lokely be back). From there they dropped me back at Steineke.

Bahrain birding trip

Great day birding in Bahrain. Headed out early today with a small group of fellow Aramco birders from ANHA (Arabia Natural History Association) to hook up with some members of the Bahrain Natural History Association to help watch and help with some small bird banding (ringing, it is called in Europe). The Bahrain group was led by Brendan, a faculty at the medical school in Bahrain and an avid ornithologist. He has personally initiated a program of bird banding in the island nation of Bahrain. His assistant, Abdullah, a LTC. in the Bahrain Air Force, had several mist nets set in a small area of acacia and scrub trees. They had captured a half dozen Chats, small warbler like birds migrating through to Siberia. We were able observe and help in the capture and the banding process. I was able to add some ten different birds to my checklist of Middle East birds. Saw the Chats, a Wheateater, Namaqua dove, Black Cap Warbler, Grey Francolin, lots of European Bee-eaters and Rock Thrush. There was also fresh Gazelle droppings all around, but we never saw them.

Abdullah and I hit it off quickly. He is a hunter and falconer. He wants me to go out with him on an overnight with some of his buddies on a falconry hunt. I am totally excited. He flies Blackhawk helicopters for the BAF and had a couple a good stories to tell.

Brunch at the Bahrain Petroleum Club was excellent (good Heinekin beer, as well)

After brunch we headed to some flats in the middle of the island to observe waders and gulls. Lots of flamingos, sandpipers and herons. Bid farwell to Brendan and headed back to the KSA.

Nicole did a great job of organizing the trip and kudos go to her. She's a charm. I rode with Peter, an IT person with Geosciences who is from Britain and about to retire from Aramco, and Julienne, an Irish lass who is a secretary with Aramco. She and I had some very interesting discussions on a wide variety of topics. I really enjoyed riding and getting to know both of them. Hope to keep in touch. Brendan, the birder from Bahrain was also from Ireland and he and I had some interesting dialog at brunch about learning differences and teaching in the medical arena. We plan to keep in touch and I might want to go back some day to vist with him and his faculty.

Word is out that I rode my new bicycle back to Steineke Hall from the Mall and everyone was totally amazed that I am still alive. They only know the freeway route, but I was able to do some offroad riding (and walking) to get there without getting on the stupid freeway. Nevertheless, it was not an easy ride in the dark, particularly with no lights and a rough offroad ride. Tess was flabergasted, saying that no one rides outside the compound - it's too dangerous! I expect to hear about it a work tomorrow.

Al Hasa trip

Left this morning on the trip to Al Hasa, a desert town about 2 hours from here. A fellow birder, Nicole Proven, managed to have an extra ticket that one of her nursing colleagues had purchased, but couldn't make the trip. She and several other nurses were along on the trip, so I felt I needed to set on the bus with them. Got to talk a lot on the trip. Nicole is a lot like Stephanie and about her age - a tomboy as a young girl who had horses and other animals in Scotland. Stopped by a big livestock market along the way. The main attraction for everyone were the camels, which were interesting, but I wanted to see the variety of goats and sheep. I only got to see them as we passed, darn-it. Did get out of the bus for about 30 minutes in the camel section. Lots of young camels - really cute. I was talked into riding a camel for a short distance; Lisa and Rocky paid for my ride, so I couldn't back out. (pictures later - I forgot my camera back in my room). The camels are sure noisy and curious. Some were in pretty good shape (it was a market), while others not so.

From there we went into Hofuf for a chance to shop in the souqs. I was disappointed - not as good as the souqs in Al Kobar. Jeff and I got off the path a little to scope out a really neat mosque. To get a clear shot we had to get an escort up into new mall across the street that was under construction. (pictures later)
Lunch buffet followed at a local hotel with some disco dancing afterwards :) Had to quickly load up the bus to head for the caves at the Al Hasa springs. Interesting, but cluttered with trash. (more pictures later) From there we headed home to arrive back here by 5:00 PM.



Tomorrow to Bahrain.