This piece is an illustration for the cover of The Pearl, a novel by John Steinbeck.

The story revolves around a poor Mexican family. The husband earns his meager income by diving for pearls. When his son is stung by a scorpion he searches for a pearl to pay for a doctor to heal his child. He finds a perfect pearl in the ocean that brings optimism and joy to the family but it also places a burden on the family they have a great difficulty dealing with.

You can buy a limited edition print of this painting in my Etsy shop.

And she’s back! I have so much to update here and will do so in the coming weeks. I’d like to start with Kevin & Hillary’s wedding. We started photos inside their suite at The Hotel and then, well, see for yourself.  To view more, please click on Hillary & Kevin\’s Slideshow

Strolled around The Pearl yesterday and it’s a great place to dawdle in, there were people performing, as well as the many cafes and the high-end stores were plenty.

lol this guy reminds me of Chris Carrabba :p

I liked the way this fella danced with his electric guitar.

Where - Oba! Portland, Oregon

What  - Happy Hour

Who – Couple at table for two by window

Food – Delicious!

Value – Excellent

Service – Hmmm…mixed…some great and some lacking.  The first portion of the order was timed and served perfectly! Sadly, the repeated request for chips – coupled with ongoing non-delivery – eventually overshadowed the rest of the service.  (It should be mentioned that this was not a busy night.) However, when the chips finally arrived, they were hot and crispy – and *sold* as such!

One other comment from our party – with all the great margarita specials, has Oba! considered buying a blender?

Missed GraTRUEities – somewhat like a “missed connection“ on Craigslist:

- “Without a blender, you’re just a pretender!”

- “A sense of timing is a mark of genius.”

- “Chips ahoy!!!”

Tosa Mitsuoki: Autumn Maples with Poem Slips (c. 1675)

Below is a brief video I put together using seven Japanese haiku by Sōseki, Bashō, Shiki, Buson and Issa.

The artwork in the video is by Tosa Mitsuoki (1617-1691), “Autumn Maples with Poem Slips” (c. 1675). You can view the full screen at the Art Institute of Chicago’s website.

The music is by Harold Budd and Brian Eno, “Still Return” from the album The Pearl.

The sources for the haiku translations:

Matsuo Bashō, Jane Reichhold (translator), Bashō: The Complete Haiku, Tokyo: Kodansha International, 2008.

Robert Hass (editor), The Essential Haiku: Versions of Bashō, Buson and Issa, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 1994.

Lucien Stryk (translator), Cage of Fireflies: Modern Japanese Haiku, Athens: Swallow Press, 1993.

Be sure to click the full screen icon to get the full effect.

The word was passed out among the neighbors where they stood close packed in the little yard behind the brush fence. And they repeated among themselves, “Juana wants the doctor.” A wonderful thing, a memorable thing, to want the doctor. To get him would be a remarkable thing. The doctor never came to the cluster of brush houses. Why should he, when he had more than he could do to take care of the rich people who lived in the stone and plaster houses of the town.
- John Steinbeck

In the coastal village of La Paz, where Steinbeck’s tragic tale of need and greed, The Pearl, takes place, to want a doctor, or rather, to ask for a doctor, is a rare and memorable thing for the poor families of the brush houses who live off the sea. These people care for themselves, and for each other; when one is sick or wounded, as when the baby Coyotito gets stung by a scorpion, they all come together to help in the cure, or at the very least, to lend their sympathies and support. Theirs are lives of constant maintenance, constant vigilance, for to call for the doctor is simply unheard of, everyone knows that he will not treat them, as they have no money. Thus we watch sadly as Juana, in a desperate act to save her wounded child, brazenly marches to the doctor’s gate with her man, Kino, and the entire village in tow, only to be turned away because the rich doctor cannot be bothered to put down his chocolate and cookies and help a poor Indian family who cannot pay.

The stark contrasts highlighted in this timeless fable, between community and individual desire, generosity and greed, poverty and wealth, ignorance and knowledge, the bonds of familial love and the bitter boundless hate of the oppressor, speak to us in strong, clear tones, because they are the human contrasts that reside within each one of us. They are also simple, ancient themes, that still strike to the heart of possibly every major issue that continues to plague our modern and less modern societies even today.

Basic as they are, these are the themes that should be central to any analysis and debate about how best to reform our healthcare system. These are the themes that we must consider and weigh on our moral scales to find the solution for turning our sick and diseased system into a healthy, vibrant one that functions for all, not just for those who can afford its skyrocketing costs. For, it has been said, the greatest reflection of a society’s ethics is how it cares for its sick, its young and its elderly.

Instead, as we try to overhaul our failing system, the argument about the best approach inevitably finds itself framed in the old capitalism vs. socialism context, with the usual shouting from both ends of the political spectrum, and those in the middle looking both ways and wondering who to listen to. The usual hard-core free marketers say that any intervention by the government in healthcare will put the private insurance companies out of business and put us on the path to socialized medicine. Those of a more progressive view see nothing wrong with this, calling healthcare a basic human right that should not be left in the hands of the free market, but instead provided by the government, equally for all, like education. And, as usual, the politicians in Washington are duking it out over the details, and pandering to their electoral bases and campaign contributors, rather than doing what they were theoretically hired by the people to do: lead. For this is an issue that needs more than a few laws rewritten, or a few policies reworded. It needs a thorough philosophical analysis and overhaul. Much like during past turning points in our history, such as the civil war, or the civil rights movement, we need to ask ourselves, what kind of society do we want to be? We need to look inside, we need to find some answers to some basic moral questions, and we need to elevate the discourse beyond the deafening roar of ignorance. For this, we need philosophers, which, unfortunately – unlike in Norway – are rarely found among our policy makers.

It is indeed disheartening to see the same old games being played out in Washington, and the same old arguments trumpeted for the umpteenth time, when this time, it should be different. We are not talking about the banks, who do provide us with a genuine service, and play a critical role in our healthy functioning as a society, but without which, though inconvenient, each of us could survive on an individual level. We are not talking about who runs the company that you buy your car, mail your package, or catch your train from; again, all valuable services that fill a genuine need in our society, and without the efficient functioning of which our lives and nation would be greatly impacted for the worse, but without the need for which many people go for years, never even giving them a single thought. We are talking about a basic human need, one that binds us all together as mortals, and that every one of us carries in us every day.

Even if you are young and generally healthy, if you are uninsured in this country the thought is ever present somewhere in your mind: what happens if I have an accident? What happens if I am the victim of an attack, or if I suddenly develop some rare disease? More commonly: what happens if I want to have a child? The average medical cost of an uncomplicated birth these days is $7,600 (2004 dollars), but can go much higher, depending on location, complications and level of care, an amount that few middle class couples have stashed away, let alone working class couples. And then, even if you do pay for the baby out of pocket, now you have an uninsured child that you must pray remains healthy, so you don’t have to mortgage your home, if you are so fortunate to own one.

Something is very very wrong with this picture. And it doesn’t even take into account the vast numbers of people who are not healthy, who are sick and need healthcare, but can’t receive it for all of the many reasons that we have heard countless times by now: their insurance won’t cover it, or they were dropped by their provider for some technicality, or, they are just uninsurable.

This is not humane. With all of the hurling of statistics and figures and finger pointing and name-calling taking place, the true, real, honest discussion of what is the best and most humane system for healthcare is simply not happening. There is too much appeasement to the free-marketers stomping their feet and screaming about capitalism being slaughtered, and the profits of the massive, bloated insurance companies being threatened. Those who suggest that this is not – and should not be – the central issue are dismissed as blasphemous socialists. But the truth is, they are not going far enough. Not only should the central issue not be the financial profit of the insurance providers or the hospitals or the doctors or, for that matter, the patients or their lawyers – it should not even be part of the discussion. The central issue should be the people of this nation, and how to provide them with the best possible care given all the resources, knowledge and tools at our disposal. This is, quite simply, a moral issue, something that every other advanced free-market democracy in the world has realized, except us. There should be no profit motive in healthcare.

Yes, I know. Take the profit motive out of anything and the quality declines. Really? Is there truly no other way? Have we really become so cynical and hard about our own nature that we succumb to the power of greed at every turn rather than looking deeper into ourselves and searching for a higher truth? Is it totally naive to believe and hope that this nation of humans can do something for an aim other than personal wealth or material gain?

Kino and Juana and Coyotito had a happy, albeit very simple and modest life. But then Kino, in his mad effort to pay the doctor to cure his sick child, found The Pearl of the World, and it destroyed their happiness. They lost everything they had, instead of gaining what they dreamt of. An old old story, certainly, but no less true in the telling today than ever. We are looking for an answer to our ailing healthcare system, which makes a few rich, and leaves many to go bankrupt or die. We are looking for The Pearl of the World, a solution to healthcare that keeps the rich getting richer, and yet provides universal coverage, a solution that makes everyone happy, capitalists and socialists alike, solves all the problems. It doesn’t exist, it can’t exist, because where there is greed, where there is profit to be made, it always wins out, and someone always loses. In the case of healthcare, what they lose may just be their life.

As Kino struggles to sell his pearl to better their lives, he is tormented by the music of the pearl, which is evil, harsh, yet hypnotic. It changes him, he becomes fierce and brutal in his quest to realize the wealth that should be his, now that he has the pearl. It drowns out the song of the family, that happy music that has always brought him peace, and joy. He must pass through a tragic journey to finally acknowledge that the pearl is not the solution, the pearl brings only evil and wrong, and he must abandon the pearl, if he is to regain the true, right path, if he is to regain any semblance of the happiness and peace he knew before. As he prepares to rid them of it, he hears “the music of the pearl, distorted and insane.” But he does it, perhaps the hardest thing he has ever done, or will ever have to do, he flings that glorious pearl back into the sea. He and Juana “saw the little splash in the distance, and they stood side by side watching the place for a long time.”

The lesson is a simple one, but not an easy one to learn. We cannot put our healthcare system on the right path without letting go of the illusion that it can provide the kind of care that is needed to all people of this country, regardless of race, gender, age, class, or medical history, without letting go of the pearl, the promise of wealth, greed. There is no happy ending if we hold onto the illusion of the pearl, and listen to its evil music. We must toss it back to the sea, and look at what really matters in this whole discussion of reform: people. If we can do that, if we can let go of the Pearl of the World, we can possibly redeem ourselves, and our nation’s ability to care for one another. If we cannot, the droning, driving, maddening music of the pearl will win, as it always does.

“And the pearl lay on the floor of the sea. A crab scampering over the bottom raised a little cloud of sand, and when it settled the pearl was gone. And the music of the pearl drifted to a whisper and disappeared.”
.

For anyone that knows me, they know full well, that I have never been a fan of digital mixing consoles for many reasons…….(i.e. the time it takes to set them up, and the time it takes to navagate them to the correct screens, etc, and not to mention that to me they ALL just sound thin……..no analog warmth). Since the inception of Digital Mixing Consoles, I always felt that for sonic quality and speed, NOTHING beats a Big Quality Analog Desk like a good Midas Desk……..and until last night I would have remained steadfast in my opinion and belief…….But last night I got my hands on the Future of Digital Mixing Cousoles in the Form of the New Digidesign VENUE SC48 and at the same time witnessed the death of thin sounding, hard to manage Digital Desks like the Yamaha M7CL and the Yamaha PM5D……What I saw last night and trained on at the Digidesign Venue SC48 training session at The Pearl Theatre at The Palms Casino here in Las Vegas, has me now changing my tune……..

Now, do not get me wrong here……..Digital Mixing console have always had their place in certain applications, but until last night they all suffered from various flaws in many areas……

Examples:

1) The Digico 8 cannot assign and configure the Aux sends to send signal pre EQ making the desk impossible or frustrating as shit to have to mix FOH and Monitors from the same desk……(Hello Digico…..is anyone at home?)…….Plus it’s way Too Expensive!

2) The Soundcraft/Studer VI6 is a Very cool Console that no one can afford………….this is also the case with the Midas XL8 and Pro6……plus they are just too large….they take up way too much real estate with a huge footprint…….

3) Then of course there are the Yamaha Digital Consoles……….Yamaha has just recently discontinued the PM1D (it was way too Big and way too expensive and had too many outboard pieces)…….The M7CL is a cool little budget desk, but it is just terrible sounding…..Thin, Thin, Thin……very little warmth from the mic pre’s and AD to DA converters………and then of course there is the PM5D…….in my opinion the worse digital desk ever…….slow and dificult to set up, a user interface that was designed buy people that were either too stoned or not stoned enough with page after page of terrible navagation……..terrible sounding, and too expensive for the complete chaos that is this board……some people love, it, but it has always been beyond me why……for me, there is NOTHING to like about a PM5D……..

Well let me tell you……..Last Night at The Digidesign Venue SC48 Training Seminar, it was clear that this new Digidesign desk spelled the death blow for all the previous mentioned consoles as it suffers from none of the other desks problems………it was in a word…..Amazing!!!

Here is why……….

The New Digidesign VENUE SC48…..

1) TINY………Smaller than an M7CL…..

2) Easy as shit to set up and navigate……

3) Does EVERYTHING a PM5D will do and MUCH more…..

4) You can almost buy 3 of the VENUE SC48 consoles for the cost of a PM5D……So start selling your PM5D’s now before everyone figures this out…….

5) One word………PROTOOLS…….

6) Can Mount a Mini MAC computer behind the Console keyboard in the keyboard tray with Protocols on it and do true Protools multi-track recording or playback via firewire at the same time you are mixing the live show on the same console……

7) All of the Digidesign consoles (D-Show/Profile/Venue) all work off the same software/firmware, so no matter what Digidesign console you are using when you save your show files onto your USB thumbdrive, you can then load your saved show files into ANY model of the Digidesign consoles……..as long as all the consoles have the same updated firmware of course…..THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE……..

And Finally………..GREAT SOUNDING MIC PRE’S AND CONVERTERS………

AND THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE AMAZING FEATURES OF THIS CONSOLE……..

SO……OFFICIALLY………here it is……..from the guy that has always been all about the sonic quality of analog desks over digital desks………….I, Blake Norris, am officially endorsing my first digital console!……The New Digidesign Venue SC48……!!!!!

Since Labor Day is unofficially the last day of summer I figured I should do some work in our flowerbed. I spent a lot of time in it this spring, planted a ton on flowers only to have the rabbits eat all my starts. After that I was really sick with morning sickness and it turned into a weed-haven.

I spent some time picking out the majority of the weeds and this is the after shot:

I told my husband that the rest were in need of some real muscle strength – something a pregnant lady who’s supposed to be taking it easy just shouldn’t exert. All the weeds I picked were fairly easy to pull, all with shallow roots near the surface. There was just a ton of them! My hamstrings are feeling it this morning!

After my flowerbed exertions I took it easy and read a book. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I really enjoyed this book although I think the author could have done a lot more with the book. I wont go into details but I think it is a fun and quick read. Yesterday I finished reading The Pearl by John Steinbeck and unless you are into classical literature I wouldn’t really recommend it and this is why; I personally don’t enjoy reading books that tell you how base and evil people are/can be. I know there is a lot of “deep” things you can draw from this book, but I wouldn’t recommend it for pleasure reading.

From Forrest Gump:

F.G.: Those must be comfortable shoes. I bet you could walk around all day in shoes like that and not feel a thing.

Nurse: My feet hurt.

F.G.: My momma always said you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes, where the go, where they’ve been. I’ve worn lots of shoes, I bet if I think about it real hard I can remember my first pair of shoes. 

***************

My feet hurt cause I did some therapy this week: retail therapy!!! Nordstrom Rack shoes is always a good place to celebrate. Love it there!!!

I am currently 11 days post-brain surgery – can you even believe it? I feel like nothing ever happened. It sees like a dream, or a movie I watched someone else go through. I get the occasional headache, but it’s nothing more than the average American feels when they don’t get their daily cup of coffee. My energy is up too; my body won’t even let me nap. And, as I write this, it is 1:19 a.m., and I should have been in bed for the last three hours. I didn’t even have coffee today!! 

My feet hurt because I went out to The Pearl the last two nights – for First Thursday last night, and met up with some friends from Corvallis tonight. They hurt because I did some walking in cute shoes – not tennis shoes that go with my Sporty Spice outfits: sweats, T-shirts, shorts, etc. I don’t mind the blisters and sensitive heels. They are battle wounds that shout: I’m back. 

My high heels are ready to scream, “I’m ready!!!!”, but I don’t quite think I’m that ready yet. I think I will give it a shot this week in the carpeted hallway, just to be safe. 

I feel like I should be lounging around the house in sweats, eating bon bons and watching TV all day, but it gets boring, to be honest. Not the bon bons part – I haven’t had any. I do get dressed each day in a T-shirt, running pants, and I do my hair and makeup (so I can feel normal), but I spend most of my time watching back-to-back seasons of Scrubs while reading magazines or surfing the internet. I feel like I should be a sorrier case; more pitiful, but I can’t help it. I am not that pitiful. I am normal, but I just have a sweet pink scar on the right side of my head.

Last night, the streetcar community rallied around a man when the wheelchair ramp wouldn’t go down, with one woman screaming: “STOP!!!!!!!! We need help over here!!!” 

Then tonight, the following happened: A short, old lady comes up to me and goes:
“You can sit by her,” pointing to Roxana. “I don’t want to sit by her. Then she looks at Michelle, who is 8 months pregnant and goes, “What are you doing with that big belly? What are you doing with that big belly? It’s all because of the strike that all these girls are walking around with big bellies.” I was thinking I missed some big news about some serious strike, so I asked. “What strike? I’ll tell you what strike,” she yelled, as the streetcar fell silent, “The g-d- department of motor vehicles strike! That’s the g-d- strike I’m talking about! I’m 72 years old, you think I don’t know abou the strike?!? All these girls were so bored from the g-d- strike that they had nothing else to do but go get pregnant. There they are getting pregnanter and pregnanter, and pregnanter…It’s all because of the strike…”

Hope she didn’t scare our Corvallis friends away for good! I guess she is just Keeping Portland Weird, as the bumper sticker says. 

Overall, I am really pleased with how things are progressing. I am independent enough, people are amazed at me and don’t feel sorry for me (like after my stroke), and I’m not crazy-fragile (as Dr. Zielinski once said) like I was in February. I will take a little headache as long as people don’t feel sorry for me!!

                                                                                  Looking at art in The Pearl       At Deschutes Brewery with the Campbells and Smiths

Well I figured that if Sunday got that why not Monday….anyway so yesterday was a decent day. Felt better because I got all that other stuff out of my system. I also got to go around Wisconsin and Minnesota. Well the part of Wisconsin I’m at and the part that is close to Minnesota. Saw a Locke and Dam. Went to some sort of Apple thing where they had a lot of apple themed stuff. Even went to this place called the Pearl which is like old school ice cream. It was really crowded though. Oh and I watch the Wizards of Waverly Place movie. It ended exactly as I thought it would, but was still fun to watch. It was one of those feel good movies. Saw it twice. Once in the morning while I was doing laundry and again at night with special clips from the new season. So yesterday was fun. Oh and I had a chicken patty. For those of you who didn’t know I am…well was a vegetarian, but since I want to bulk up and I don’t want to have to take 20 million supplements I’m eating certain meats. Like chicken. I also had a few bacon bits on my potato skin yesterday. I refuse to eat beef. Me and beef just do not get a long. At all. It always makes me sick to my stomach. I have a hard time swollowing it or not wanting to vomit. Probably will avoid ham as well, but we’ll see as time goes on. Well it’s time for the squibies to come out and play. Well I figured I’d do the opening for Wizards of Waverly place. Mainly because now it’s stuck in my head. So I hope you enjoy it and if you don’t then well don’t look at it. Today’s tip is you can’t make a square peg fit in a round hole unless you have the right tool for the job to make it into a round peg. My b-day is now 32 days away….then I’ll be 21….oh joy. Well see y’all tomorrow.

It Looks Like I am working this weekend after all…….will be mixing at The Orleans Friday night and then at The Pearl at The Palms here in Vegas Saturday…..

Diana Krall, those that know know, those that didn’t know now know, she is fabulous!!!!  Pianist, arranger, songstress, interpreter of great sound, she is all and more.  If you are in Vegas and have a chance to see and hear those people you chose, please see and hear them at the Pearl, inside the Palms Hotel and Casino.  It was made to hear and see at the highest quality of visual and listening experiences. 

I am still smiling, what a thrill to be able see this woman who is a treasure to be cherished.  Go Diana, may you make the music we love to hear.

For one performance only, Las Vegas ’ top entertainers will come together for a special performance Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at 3 p.m. from The Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. 

6W Entertainment in partnership with VegasHappensHere.com will present this multi-artist production celebrating the many hits of The King of Pop, entertainers including cast members of Jersey Boys, Lion King, Peepshow and Phantom:  The Las Vegas Spectacular will perform the hits of the Jackson songbook, all in celebration of what would have been the entertainer’s 51st birthday. This unique show will also include video montages throughout from those who knew Michael or were inspired by his work. The multi-faceted acts will be backed by a 10-piece band comprised of musicians led by Las Vegas ’ own Joey Melotti. Additional performers and event details will be announced in coming weeks. 

This special event will commemorate and celebrate Jackson ’s life while raising funds to help kids across the U.S. and right here in Nevada keep music alive in the schools.  All proceeds from ticket sales of this event will benefit Music Education programming in Clark County Public Schools. 

“I can’t think of a better way to pay tribute to the person who inspired me and a whole generation of performers. This event helps keep the music of Michael Jackson alive, while raising money to make sure music education stays alive in schools in our community,” said show host and co-producer Erich Bergen.  

Tickets for Las Vegas Celebrates Michael Jackson go on-sale Saturday, July 25, 2009, at noon. Ticket prices are $29, $54, $79, $104 & $129, plus applicable box office fees.  A VIP package is available for $504 and includes VIP seating, admission to the exclusive after party with the cast, gift bag and limited edition autographed poster. Please visit any Ticketmaster location, call 1-800-745-3000, visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.livenation.com to purchase tickets. The Pearl Box Office is open from noon – 7 p.m. daily. Doors will open at 2 p.m. and show time is 3 p.m. 

For more information about this event, please visit www.vegaslovesmj.com.

Today FELT like a vacation day. I heard from a friend I haven’t seen in several years. She drove up from Salem on a whim and spent the day with me. There was one catch. She didn’t have any ideas about what she wanted to do, so I had to come up with a plan on the spot. Not a bad thing after I got over the initial feel-sorry-for-me frustration of always having to plan things. The result? Another excuse for a list!! Yay, lists!

1. Headed to Petite Provence on Division. They have the BEST tuna melt in the city, kinda tastes like crab. Good service, not too crowded, great conversation, and out the door we went.
2. Drove up to the Audubon Bird Care Center on Cornell (via the Mall 205 area. Some days navigation via errand running results in strange routes.). What a great place to go on a hot day! You head up Lovejoy, and within a very few minutes you are surrounded by forest. We got to talk to a biologist who just pulled a spotted owl named Julio (found out she was a Julia too late to change the name) out of her cage, a truly beautiful bird. We got a private interview of sorts. After walking around for a bit, and buying some suet for the birds in Arleta, we headed back down the hill.
3. Ah, the Pearl. What can I say other than it really isn’t my favorite part of town. The parking is generally lousy, but the parking gremlins took a hike just for us. We ended up with a sweet spot in the shade right outside Powell’s. (You know where this is eventually headed, right?)
4. On to Henry’s on the old site of the Weinhardt brewery. Before we did any serious shopping, it seemed a cocktail was in order. I had a lavender cosmo (I seem to be on a lavender kick these days), Tammi enjoyed a mango mojito, and we sat outside continuing to catch up on the last four years. Heaven.
5. Sur la Table was next. Tammi’s daughter is a professional chef, and I’m a bit of a kitchen geek, so a stop seemed in order. The 75% off sale was a bit of an enticement. I walked out with a few napkins and kitchen towels, but sadly passed on the strawberry corer. I think I can manage with my paring knife!
6. Here it comes…Powell’s! Yes, I had to go out and feed the meter. Yes, I bought yet more books. I think I have at least 50 sitting around here I haven’t read yet, but still…Remember hedonism? A Virgina Woolf, a collected Yeats, a new David James Duncan all managed to be adopted and brought home. So happy!
7. A stop at Limbo on the way home for some fresh blueberries (and yes, TJ’s for wine), made for a pretty nice day.

If it were only 10 degrees cooler…

Good day to all sizzling B-DAZZLERS.

Until now, I cannot help myself but remember the hideous scene in the hotel yesterday evening. Relax, it has nothing to do with murdering somebody. I call that story…”A one of a kind encounter with the Bidet”.

I just came back from my scheduled site visit. As expected, the heat has tortured me like anything. I really can’t remember something which is as bad as this heat. It was no fun at all. If I have to appeal to Mother Nature, I would definitely be very willing to get my hands cut off just to get rid of that freakin’ heat. It was really that bad. It was worst than you can ever envision. All UAE and the rest of GCC expatriates would definitely understand my ancs.

DESTINATION: The Pearl, The Most Glamorous Address in the Middle East.

Just Outstanding

Who could visit such glamorous place but the glamorous B herself?

After seeing Dubai Marina, Madinat Jumeirah and Souq Al Bahar…..I thought I have seen enough. I didn’t. Just to give you a brief idea about the Pearl development….here it is…

The Pearl-Qatar in Doha, Qatar is an artificial island spanning nearly four million square meters. When completed it will be the first land in Qatar to be available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals. Once completed The Pearl will create over 32 kilometers of new coastline, for use as a residential estate with an expected 15,000 dwellings by 2010. Developed by United Development Company (UDC) and master planned by architecture and design firm Callison, the island is located 350 meters offshore of Doha’s West Bay Lagoon area.

Residential development on the island is intended to incorporate various national and international themes including aspects of Arabic, Mediterranean and European culture. Commercial and educational facilities are also planned to support the various residential precincts.

Visitors can now get a first look at phase one of The Pearl – Qatar, Porto Arabia. The first five parcels of Porto Arabia, the first three bays developed on The Pearl – Qatar are now complete. The name “The Pearl” was chosen because the island will be built on one of Qatar’s previous major pearl diving sites. Qatar was one of the major pearl traders of Asia before the Japanese introduced cheaper more affordable pearls just before Qatar’s oil boom. The Pearl Qatar will help represent Qatar’s rich past in the pearl industry. Once completed The Pearl will represent a string of pearls.

There will be over 13 islands when finished. The largest of the islands will feature a large range of luxury villas, apartments, three 5 star hotels and over two million square meters of international retail, restaurants, cafes and entertainment. Eight other private islands will be for sale to private owners with the opportunity to build whatever they may desire.

I was accompanied by this cute Tenant Coordinator. His name is Johan Muller. He is a total package, one hell of a gentleman. He is from South Africa. He is a hottie papa. He is a fox, in short. Maybe you all think that I find everyone other men very hot without exception……trust me. Johan is a piece of meal. We call ourselves in first name basis. Cute.  But seriously, that guy is soooooooooo accommodating. He escorted me during my entire site visit. With the heat, I am so glad that I was sharing it with him. Of course, my heart melted. When I went back to the car and sat next to him while he was driving….I noticed that the skin below his eyes was turning into blue. It was in a shimmering shade.

Was he blushing because of my presence? Lovely!

Thanks Johan. Till we meet again.

The place in General: My mouth was shut when I saw the place. The development was enormous. I felt like I was a small ant roaming around a big space of wilderness. I never imagined that Qatar would invest such property which is as splendid as “The Pearl”. It was truly a pearl in the making.

I was glad to see that majority of the workers are all Kabayans. Just like me, they were all distressed from the vindictiveness of the sun’s heat. They were all staring at me…..Duh! I told myself. Hello…… I was not the reason why the earth is so hot.  I maybe hoooottt….like I knew it already.

If you remember the color of my hair…you would understand why all of them are gazing at me. But it is ok. I am getting used to it…..I meant the fame that I am grasping right now. For the mere fact that I was a born Celebrity…being noticed by commoners is not a new thing at all. Hahahahahha…  How I wish those words that are coming out from my mouth were all true. Forgive me…..I am just hallucinating. But seriously….the glitz and the glamour is my cup of tea….Ooooops…Again.

Overall, the place was indeed a paradise. I am well delighted to see it when it is all done which I think is 3 years from now. Spending a day with such one-of-a-kind place would be one of the most tremendous encounters of my life. I certainly feel that Qatar is going to be the next Dubai. I just feel so and I know that we are just talking about a minimal span of years from now.

My trip was all worth it. It was a spectacular experience. I would love to be back soon!

—————ooxoo–()–ooxoo—————

I am excited to be back in Dubai. My flight is at 6:00 in the evening. I will be home soon. Maybe by 11:00 in the night, I will be landing in Dubai with a big smile in my face. I will be back with the normal days. It is going to be a long weekend.

Advance happy weekend everyone. Enjoy the long holidays since it is very infrequent to happen.

My heart is all yours. My Love too.

Keep Shinin’

B-DAZZLED