Discovery

We visited the Lied Discovery Museum, which opened in Las Vegas when I was a child.  It is soon to move to a larger building downtown, but it was as fun as ever.

Blowing bubbles

Ringing up items in the grocery store

Topping off fluids in the garage

Checking under the hood

Changing a tire

Dancing on a stage with lights and a working curtain

Or just looking cute

The Alphabet of Nations

We are a music loving household.  They Might Be Giants is one of the many groups we frequently have playing at our house, especially as they have a few childrens' albums.  This past summer, they were making a new music video for their song "The Alphabet of Nations."  They requested photos of people living in those countries to be possibly included in the video.  Although ours were not included (unless they are somewhere in the fast montage at the end and I cannot seem to catch the flicker of it), I thought I would share my photo we submitted.  (By the way, Q is Qatar)

Here is the completed video if you are interested.  Their selection for Qatar isn't nearly as cute.

Cai Guo-Qiang: Saraab

Leoni enjoying a video installation of Black Ceremony as well as other firework displays done by Cai Guo-Qiang

The installation at the entrance to the Mathaf

Another view of the installation of numerous LARGE boulders inscribed in Arabic at the entrance to the Mathaf

Today we visited the Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art in Education City.  We have been meaning to visit the current exhibit since before it opened in December, but we finally made it for the final day.  The artist, Cai Guo-Qiang, had done an exhibit in the Guggenheim in New York City that Travis & I saw back in 2008 when we were there.  He is well known for using gunpowder as a medium to draw and then ignites it leaving burnt images.  He was there today talking about the works as well as others he has done in his career.  Glad we made it there before it was gone.

Merry St. Patrick's Day?

Christmas came and went, as did the New Year. I was sure Martin Luther King Jr. would help us send greetings, but that was not his dream. The love wasn't shared for Valentine's either, but as luck would have it, I have a little update before St. Patrick's Day. I am still working on the blog updates since there are gaping holes, but most of you just want the general update. If you really care, you can continue to check back posts, since I am posting by date. If you are a real die hard, but you don't want to scroll through and reread posts because you know you won't remember which are new and which you have already read, you can email me, and I'll let you know when I post something new. Otherwise, have a great 2012!

Thank you, Shutterfly!

Visiting the State Mosque

Today, we had the opportunity to visit the newly opened State (National) Mosque. Some basic facts which were found here:

The mosque covers a total area of 175,164 sq.m. As many as 11,000 men can offer prayers in the air-conditioned central hall of the mosque and the adjacent special enclosure is spacious enough for 1200 women.

There are three main doors and 17 side entrances to the mosque. As many as 28 large domes cover the central hall while 65 domes cover the outer quadrangle. On the whole the mosque can hold a congregation of 30,000 people.

For all the wealth of Qatar, it is a tasteful building, unlike some very ostentatious counterparts elsewhere. We were able to take pictures, though they are taken while dodging the grasp of baby in carrier. It was fun and interesting, and a few of the questions I have had were answered as well. I'll write more on Islam later.

One of the side door entrances to the main mosque

The outside hallways around the courtyard

Leoni sitting on a light

Drinking fountain in front of the mosque

Leoni and her friend Isaak

The women on the tour needed to cover their heads and wear an abaya

Me by one of the outer entrances with my hijab and abaya

My friend Afton who met us for the tour

Leoni brought along her "fabric" so she could be covered as well
(Girls under 15 don't have to cover their heads.)

Leoni by colorful stained glass

Leoni & Isaak

The library
It is filled with gorgeous leather bound books, all in Arabic.

A view of the multi-domed roof, which is often referred to as looking like an egg carton

Up in the minaret

A view of the Doha skyline from the minaret

Leoni running around even though she said she would sit and be quiet.

Burke walking toward the rows of tissue boxes on the floor, any toddler's dream.

Leoni outside in one of the "tunnels", where shoes can be removed before entering

There are some nice shots by a professional here, including night shots.
It looks beautiful all lit up at night.

H.O.G.

Members of the Qatar Chapter. I only wish I had gotten a picture of the back of the jackets. Check out the beard of the guy in front.

The Captain

Travis doesn't make it a secret that he likes cereal. His favorite is Peanut Butter Captain Crunch. This past summer, while visiting the US, there was a t-shirt promotional offer connected with Captain Crunch. Send in "x" number of box tops (+ S&H) and you will receive a t-shirt. Travis also likes free t-shirts. Well, it didn't come in time, so his parents brought it when they came to visit. To his dismay (but Leoni's good fortune), he received a small, the wrong size. She decided it would make a perfect nightgown. She calls it her "Captain Vegetable" nightgown. Why you may ask? It might be connected to this video.