Oh PhantomX, you have been my most punctual commentator. Have you gone to Khareef? are you okay? LOL, did I say something to offend you? I do that sometimes;). Forgive me.
I am worried about you. Do write.
Does that happen to you too other bloggers? That a usual commentator is missing and you wonder if they are okay?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Incident Involving littering on the highway, and OOFFBITD's theory about how he personally contributes to the economy by providing employment, ha!
Despite all the "Save Water" and "Re-use Your Plastic bags" poster campaigns going on in Oman, there is a breed of Omani oblivious to this. He is one of my oldest friends, and known to almost everybody from Al Khoud to Al Ain SOMEHOW. They are probably related to him. [B & L snigger]. We've all used his name to get into something back in the day.
We'll call him.... OOFFBITD [for 'old omani friend from back in the day'].
Am not making this stuff up. He exists, wallah.
We are driving. We [OPNO A, L, B & OOFFBITD] stop at a coffee shop. We buy schwarma (anyone who knows me knows this is what I lived on when I was totally broke and jobless), we drive.
OOFFBITD unrolls window. Throws used napkin out the same window. We continue to drive. Only OPNO and B are non-Omanis in this instance. The Omanis don't seem to take this as out of the ordinary.
B is enraged. B is the evironmentlist in our crew (I am the humanist-I get mad about him not puting seatbelts on his kids ect. and driving like an idiot---I have given up on influencing him to greater good, and just try to keep him from hurting others or himself).
B [to OOFFBITD]: "Did I just see what I think I did?!" [obviously about the napkin].
OPNO [to B]: "OOFFBITD threw his garbage out the window indeed."
B [to OOFFBITD]: "How can you do something like that? Don't you care about Oman? Your future kids having somewhere nice and clean to play?"
OOFFBITD: "*&** Oman." [Keeps driving].
Napkin is forgotten until the window is rolled down and the foil wrapper from the schwarma goes out.
B: "I am going to make you go back there and pick it up."
A [crushing on B] and Oman [to OOFFBITD]: "Yeah, keep Oman clean, bro."
OOFFBITD [to B]: "See the men with the brooms?" [motions to the orange jump suited street sweepers]. "I give them jobs."
B [enraged, she is also a human rights activist]: "Do YOU know what those POOR MEN MAKE to keep Oman looking clean and beautiful? Slaves wages!" [B sits back in her seat, amazed that the rest of us are so calm and not stopping the car and making OOFFBITD get out of the car and clean his own crap. I wish B was driving this day. It would have been fun.
OOFFBITD: "Without me, there would be no work."
B: "Then Oman would have more money to spend on education or increasing the salary for your line of work. They wouldn't have to waste it on street sweepers if Omanis put their own trash in the bins."
OOFFBITD: "Why do you come to work here then?"
B: "." [Sits back angrily, arms crossed.]
OPNO [off-handedly]: "In my country, we throw our own garbage into bins. We don't have street sweepers."
[OOFFBITD, A, and L look at me like I claim to have walked on the moon].
A: "And is your city clean?"
OPNO [I can answer honestly]: "Yes."
OOFFBITD [laughs and looks back at me sitting all lady-like in the backseat]: "Give me 5 Omanis and 1 week in your city. And you wouldn't be able to say that anymore."
Ahhhhhhh OOFFBITD, you made my day. Your social perceptions, lack of delusions and your Courtney Love-esqe who-gives-a-damn attidude truly inspire me. Since I kinda care too much about the world, and people, and things... Even you, LOL:XD ;p
On that, for those with the delusion of making the world a better place and for a sustainable, cleaner Oman (like B and myself) Victoria from Sultanate Social found recycling facilities in Muscat (for the where) check out this post http://sultanatesocial.blogspot.com/2010/06/coincidentally.html.
We'll call him.... OOFFBITD [for 'old omani friend from back in the day'].
Am not making this stuff up. He exists, wallah.
We are driving. We [OPNO A, L, B & OOFFBITD] stop at a coffee shop. We buy schwarma (anyone who knows me knows this is what I lived on when I was totally broke and jobless), we drive.
OOFFBITD unrolls window. Throws used napkin out the same window. We continue to drive. Only OPNO and B are non-Omanis in this instance. The Omanis don't seem to take this as out of the ordinary.
B is enraged. B is the evironmentlist in our crew (I am the humanist-I get mad about him not puting seatbelts on his kids ect. and driving like an idiot---I have given up on influencing him to greater good, and just try to keep him from hurting others or himself).
B [to OOFFBITD]: "Did I just see what I think I did?!" [obviously about the napkin].
OPNO [to B]: "OOFFBITD threw his garbage out the window indeed."
B [to OOFFBITD]: "How can you do something like that? Don't you care about Oman? Your future kids having somewhere nice and clean to play?"
OOFFBITD: "*&** Oman." [Keeps driving].
Napkin is forgotten until the window is rolled down and the foil wrapper from the schwarma goes out.
B: "I am going to make you go back there and pick it up."
A [crushing on B] and Oman [to OOFFBITD]: "Yeah, keep Oman clean, bro."
OOFFBITD [to B]: "See the men with the brooms?" [motions to the orange jump suited street sweepers]. "I give them jobs."
B [enraged, she is also a human rights activist]: "Do YOU know what those POOR MEN MAKE to keep Oman looking clean and beautiful? Slaves wages!" [B sits back in her seat, amazed that the rest of us are so calm and not stopping the car and making OOFFBITD get out of the car and clean his own crap. I wish B was driving this day. It would have been fun.
OOFFBITD: "Without me, there would be no work."
B: "Then Oman would have more money to spend on education or increasing the salary for your line of work. They wouldn't have to waste it on street sweepers if Omanis put their own trash in the bins."
OOFFBITD: "Why do you come to work here then?"
B: "." [Sits back angrily, arms crossed.]
OPNO [off-handedly]: "In my country, we throw our own garbage into bins. We don't have street sweepers."
[OOFFBITD, A, and L look at me like I claim to have walked on the moon].
A: "And is your city clean?"
OPNO [I can answer honestly]: "Yes."
OOFFBITD [laughs and looks back at me sitting all lady-like in the backseat]: "Give me 5 Omanis and 1 week in your city. And you wouldn't be able to say that anymore."
Ahhhhhhh OOFFBITD, you made my day. Your social perceptions, lack of delusions and your Courtney Love-esqe who-gives-a-damn attidude truly inspire me. Since I kinda care too much about the world, and people, and things... Even you, LOL:XD ;p
On that, for those with the delusion of making the world a better place and for a sustainable, cleaner Oman (like B and myself) Victoria from Sultanate Social found recycling facilities in Muscat (for the where) check out this post http://sultanatesocial.blogspot.com/2010/06/coincidentally.html.
Skinny Jeans for Omani Men, just 1 small pointer
To the men of Oman (dear friends, brothers, cousins, fans): If your legs are skinnier than a girl's (ie if your legs are the size of a regular man's arm from the elbow down) DO NOT go for skinny jeans. Is just NOT a good look for you.I apologize to all the ROP motorcycle cops with arms for legs, we know you had no say in the matter.
I'd rather....
Yes, rather than a gold maher, I want my man to be thoughtful enough about me to bring me flowers everyday. Or my fave food. Or at least something he knows cheers me up. Am not big on material things, but kindness and compassion and being always in his mind? Big on THAT.My newest driver brings me a new long stemmed rose everyday, to the annoyance of a potential suitor or two. I am starting to get teased at work.
E: "OPNO, where flower?"
OPNO [embarrassed, points to coffee cup where rose is]. "."
Sunday, July 25, 2010
OPNO loves Zara Home
Unlike my Hometown, Muscat has a "Zara Home", located in City Center Mall in Muwalla. Let me count the ways I love Zara Home... Who else has placemats embellished with coins that don't make one's breakfast nook look like a bellydancer's lair, hmmm?
Or has plates that look like tiles and coloured glasses to make Barbara Eden smile?
Or white towels with tassels that are playful, not kitsch?
These are the ways I love Zara. Who has a traditional picnic basket I am saving for. How to get here http://www.citycentremuscat.com/MUCC/En/MainMenu/SERVICES/SERVICESDIRECTORY/tabid/90/PageName/Services/CatID/8/Default.aspxand mall hours Saturday to Thursday : 10:00 am to 10:00 pm and Friday 02:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Enjoy.
Getting Things Done in Oman pt. II
OPNO [to M via text message]: "Soooooooooo.... the car STILL isn't fixed yet, huh Babe?"M [to OPNO via text]: "no is not. am so mad. 'so what ur plans fer tomrrow Hayati?"
OPNO [to M via text message]: "This is Oman. They said by LAST Saturday? They mean NEXT Saturday. LOL, we better plan on walking."
M [to OPNO via text message]: "no majnoona not walk. I will have the car."
Hmmmmmmmm, M, we shall see. If you win (believing in the honor of mechanics who are probably friends of your brothers or cousins) I will buy dinner. If I win (doubting on any 'finish time' set here in Oman, pessimist that I am, YOU can buy me my fave cheap dish. Agreed?
And if you are NOT M (who has no idea I blog about our conversations) and want to know, what the hell I am talking about, see this post http://howtolivelikeanomaniprincess.blogspot.com/2010/07/getting-things-done-in-oman.html for part I of the 4x4 fixing saga.
And for more on getting work done in Oman, this post: http://howtolivelikeanomaniprincess.blogspot.com/2010/07/does-this-remind-anyone-of-some-people.html
Online Shopping
When I am totally broke (but ready to mooch a ride from so-and-so's cousin to UAE) I love this website http://www.souq.com/Designer-abaya-and-shaila/5780671-EN/. Sometimes I find great deals on furniture and clothing. And sometimes UAE designers post unique designs you can't find anywhere else. Kind of like the Gulf version of etsy.com. K... totally not as good as Etsy but. Abaya above, for my Betsey Johnson loving girl CA. A modesty makeover I know you would enjoy. So long as you can have halal magaritas on my rooftop.
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