So, my blogging spark has set fire again. What a slump I was in...
So, driving to work at the crack of freaking dawn to avoid meaningless traffic really sucks. The wank bus drivers are full on and this morning I watched with big tears in my eyes a cute little government school girl waddle herself through the dirt/sand/dust/rubbish that is in front of her line of houses with a backpack full of books that had to weigh at least 20 pounds. The wank bus was apparently so huge that the wank driver couldn't see her tredge through what you would have thought was sludge. He pulled away - she didn't make it in time. I'm sure she turned around and either walked home sad or full of joy that she wouldn't have to ride to school in that bohemeth of a bus. Where was her mom though? She walked a pretty long way without any supervision...
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Driving towards Seeb on the main hi-way is a death sentence when you come up to the Atheiba exit. And that overpass bridge where you can punch it to 120 - well, lets say you shouldn't punch it because right on the other side of that bridge you'll more than likely find someone driving either a Cadillac SUV or a Landcruiser at 80 kph in. the. fast. lane. Let's just say I now know that my new brake pads recently put on by my Maabela mechanic work real good.
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Everytime I go to Chilis, they either somehow 'forget' to give me the correct change back or they add extras to the bill. Every. Single. Time. What the heck is up with that? I'm all for tipping, don't get me wrong. But what they are doing is starting to make me think it's intentional.
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It seems that Carrefour has given up with the 50 baisa deposit thing-a-ma-bob on the carts. What the crap do people do to their carts - they're down right disgusting! Would it be too hard for Carrefour to hose them down? Gross, Gross, Gross
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, November 09, 2009
You nasty boys!
Can someone tell me what the heck guys are thinking (and I am putting the word guy in general terms here – they could be young ‘shabab’, they could be husbands, they could be fathers or they could just be male) by putting honkin’ huge 69 stickers on their tire covers, their bumpers, the ‘boot’ (or as we Amreekans say, ‘trunk’), on their car in general? They aren't driving 69 Cameros either!
Like, does their wife get it? What about their mom? I mean, I’m just a bystander and I sure as heck get it and I just don’t understand why. Why? Why? Why?
Nasty boys.
Like, does their wife get it? What about their mom? I mean, I’m just a bystander and I sure as heck get it and I just don’t understand why. Why? Why? Why?
Nasty boys.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Butt-Head
After standing in line at Carre4 tonight for what seemed like ages, I turned around to find a line hopper. Thinking that it would be ok to just butt in front of everyone else, the guy behind him just pointed his finger to the back of the line. Mr. Butt-Head shook his head and stood there. I told him 'you can't do that,' but he just stood there. After the cashier rung up all the 900 baisa CDs (weezer, kd lang, the lilith fair concert cd and johnny cash), I paid him and then watched in shock as he picked up Butt-Head's apples and threw them across the counter.
Justice was finally served and I forgot to mention that Mr. Cashier greeted & thanked me. I finally felt like a customer.
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Randomness:
If you're in to fresh flowers for your place, check out the florist (?) shop at the Wadi Adai round about. He sells lilies for RO1 a stem.
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What the heck happened to the Japanese shop in Ruwi? It's become a dump. :(
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Is it just me or do other people come out of the grocery stores here with filthy, dusty hands and feet? Its gross. Places we buy foodstuff from are supposed to be clean, right?
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Angry in Oman has inspired me to get off my duff and get moving. I am too young to be this drained. Chub makes me tired. Tired + K1 & K2 = not good.
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I like this blog.
Justice was finally served and I forgot to mention that Mr. Cashier greeted & thanked me. I finally felt like a customer.
----
Randomness:
If you're in to fresh flowers for your place, check out the florist (?) shop at the Wadi Adai round about. He sells lilies for RO1 a stem.
----
What the heck happened to the Japanese shop in Ruwi? It's become a dump. :(
----
Is it just me or do other people come out of the grocery stores here with filthy, dusty hands and feet? Its gross. Places we buy foodstuff from are supposed to be clean, right?
----
Angry in Oman has inspired me to get off my duff and get moving. I am too young to be this drained. Chub makes me tired. Tired + K1 & K2 = not good.
----
I like this blog.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
School, Popcorn and Halwa
A very belated Eid Mubarak to all. Eid is over and done, I ate about 4 kilos of meat in a span of three days and am now ready to get back to a normal routine. Our can-opener breaking househelper was sent back home and replaced with a new one that thinks tomatoes and potatoes are one and of the same, so Ramadan cooking was fun to say the least. Especially after coming directly home from work to cook. I haven't checked my blog in a very long time so the comments I received left me feeling pretty rotten!
Everyone - thanks for the comments.
(hanging my head in shame now)
So, school was delayed again and that leaves me wondering what to do with K2 who happens to start on November 7! Does anyone know what the plan is with the school year for the kids? Will they give intensive lessons? Will they even be given a mid year break? What about summer vacation? And if they do this so called 'intensive teaching' (that I have made up in my own mind - I haven't heard any rumors pertaining to it so don't go and say, 'L_Oman said......' The silly rumors are killin' me here. I'm going to have to come up with a post about that in the future) to cram 9 months of education that really equals about 7 after you figure in the holidays but actually is more like 3 months since the teachers are absent, don't teach or new ones are brought in and it takes time to get things back on track when they change one, will it work? Do I dare ask about the fees? I'm exhausted thinking about this, y'all!
Moving on to a new discovery...
Go buy a bag of microwave popcorn. Butter flavored is best. (Stop shaking your head and forget saving calories at this point. If you're on a diet, you're pretty much screwed. There's always tomorrow.) Now, go buy some fresh Omani Halwa. Just a small container of it will do, but make sure you buy it fresh - yesterday's halwa will do if you aren't able to find one made on the same day. If you're posh like that, get the more expensive one. I particularly like the one full of nuts and extra saffron. Pop the corn and leave it in the bag and set aside. Scoop out about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of the Halwa and nuke it in the microwave for about 10-20 seconds. Be careful not to overcook it because the stuff bubbles up and is really hot! You just want it to be soft. Work quick - you need your popcorn to be hot. Now, put the popcorn in a big bowl, then scoop out spoonfuls of the gooey halwa on top of the popcorn and just mix it with a big wooden spoon. Keep mixing until the halwa is covering the popcorn (think caramel corn looking stuff) evenly. The hot popcorn will help the halwa melt even more over it.
You're welcome!
Everyone - thanks for the comments.
(hanging my head in shame now)
So, school was delayed again and that leaves me wondering what to do with K2 who happens to start on November 7! Does anyone know what the plan is with the school year for the kids? Will they give intensive lessons? Will they even be given a mid year break? What about summer vacation? And if they do this so called 'intensive teaching' (that I have made up in my own mind - I haven't heard any rumors pertaining to it so don't go and say, 'L_Oman said......' The silly rumors are killin' me here. I'm going to have to come up with a post about that in the future) to cram 9 months of education that really equals about 7 after you figure in the holidays but actually is more like 3 months since the teachers are absent, don't teach or new ones are brought in and it takes time to get things back on track when they change one, will it work? Do I dare ask about the fees? I'm exhausted thinking about this, y'all!
Moving on to a new discovery...
Go buy a bag of microwave popcorn. Butter flavored is best. (Stop shaking your head and forget saving calories at this point. If you're on a diet, you're pretty much screwed. There's always tomorrow.) Now, go buy some fresh Omani Halwa. Just a small container of it will do, but make sure you buy it fresh - yesterday's halwa will do if you aren't able to find one made on the same day. If you're posh like that, get the more expensive one. I particularly like the one full of nuts and extra saffron. Pop the corn and leave it in the bag and set aside. Scoop out about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of the Halwa and nuke it in the microwave for about 10-20 seconds. Be careful not to overcook it because the stuff bubbles up and is really hot! You just want it to be soft. Work quick - you need your popcorn to be hot. Now, put the popcorn in a big bowl, then scoop out spoonfuls of the gooey halwa on top of the popcorn and just mix it with a big wooden spoon. Keep mixing until the halwa is covering the popcorn (think caramel corn looking stuff) evenly. The hot popcorn will help the halwa melt even more over it.
You're welcome!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Randomly Speaking
Since my last post, I've cursed out 8,978 people on the road.
Oddly enough, I find comfort in travelling down Al-Khodh main street. I've never had a wanker run-in once on that street. And it's always gridlock traffic there. People always give-way on that street and on top of that they 'thank-you wave'. Sometimes they even smile.
Is it just me or do the supermarkets really stink here? As in smell. I feel like I've said this before on my blog. And what the heck is going on with the shopping carts at Carrefour? And why do the check-out girls always look so annoyed at the fact they have to ring out customers?
Last weekend at Al-Bahja Mall in the handicapp parking spots in the garage (adjacent to the entrance doors), someone in a Toyota (not a camry but that new aurion or something like that) decided to park their car slanted across both handicapped spaces. They didn't have a handicapped tag or anything either. Does anyone have a conscience that does that? One time, while renewing my 'zojat muwatan' visa (spouse visa), I accidentally parked in a handicapped space. A guy pulled up with his handicapped wife and asked me to move. I felt like the ultimate idiot. I'm still embarrassed about that. There was no sign to mark it a handicapped space, but when I reversed, I did see the faded wheelchair painted on the ground. Just admitting this makes me feel terrible. So, how do people not feel bad about consciously doing such a thing here? Then, when I got to my car after I finished shopping, one of those huge Hummers was parked directly in the driving lane. I couldn't reverse and I was luckily parked by a curb. I had to drive over the curb! And did I mention that driving into the underground parking (which happens to be a one way) two 'shabab' (young guys) in a beat up Corolla exited out the wrong way, almost hitting me head on! What was their reaction? They busted out laughing. Some people may say, "Oh, it's their way of reacting to an embarrassing situation." I don't remember laughing when I parked in the handicapped parking spot that time. In fact, I probably had a mortifying look on my face due to the shame.
If someone would please tell pedestrians to haul booty when crossing a street, that would be helpful. I am paranoid about crossing a street while on foot and do the 'left, right, left' look and then listen before I cross. I never see people do that here. Why?
I miss real sales. Like dirt cheap sales. Somehow I find paying RO20 (over $50) for a shirt that is on a 50% off sale really hard. Anyone else?
Oddly enough, I find comfort in travelling down Al-Khodh main street. I've never had a wanker run-in once on that street. And it's always gridlock traffic there. People always give-way on that street and on top of that they 'thank-you wave'. Sometimes they even smile.
Is it just me or do the supermarkets really stink here? As in smell. I feel like I've said this before on my blog. And what the heck is going on with the shopping carts at Carrefour? And why do the check-out girls always look so annoyed at the fact they have to ring out customers?
Last weekend at Al-Bahja Mall in the handicapp parking spots in the garage (adjacent to the entrance doors), someone in a Toyota (not a camry but that new aurion or something like that) decided to park their car slanted across both handicapped spaces. They didn't have a handicapped tag or anything either. Does anyone have a conscience that does that? One time, while renewing my 'zojat muwatan' visa (spouse visa), I accidentally parked in a handicapped space. A guy pulled up with his handicapped wife and asked me to move. I felt like the ultimate idiot. I'm still embarrassed about that. There was no sign to mark it a handicapped space, but when I reversed, I did see the faded wheelchair painted on the ground. Just admitting this makes me feel terrible. So, how do people not feel bad about consciously doing such a thing here? Then, when I got to my car after I finished shopping, one of those huge Hummers was parked directly in the driving lane. I couldn't reverse and I was luckily parked by a curb. I had to drive over the curb! And did I mention that driving into the underground parking (which happens to be a one way) two 'shabab' (young guys) in a beat up Corolla exited out the wrong way, almost hitting me head on! What was their reaction? They busted out laughing. Some people may say, "Oh, it's their way of reacting to an embarrassing situation." I don't remember laughing when I parked in the handicapped parking spot that time. In fact, I probably had a mortifying look on my face due to the shame.
If someone would please tell pedestrians to haul booty when crossing a street, that would be helpful. I am paranoid about crossing a street while on foot and do the 'left, right, left' look and then listen before I cross. I never see people do that here. Why?
I miss real sales. Like dirt cheap sales. Somehow I find paying RO20 (over $50) for a shirt that is on a 50% off sale really hard. Anyone else?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
*45 87 You Need to be spanked.
*Number Plates Changed to protect the 'innocent'.
Dear 45 87, you need to be spanked. With a stick. I mean a bakoor**.
How could you side swipe me from the right and then somehow manage to go behind me and then cut me off from the left in your white gov-a-ment car with gov-a-ment plates? Shame on you. I hope no one acts like that to your mother, sister, wife/wives, daughter, cousin or niece when they are driving along, minding their business.
And to you, LMS (Little Miss Thang), riding up on me like a bat out of hell this morning in your grey kia wanna-be 4wd. Learn to drive like a lady.
And the highlight of the day would be the elderly lady running across the 120 mph hi-way that I saved her life by slamming on my brakes and not letting the guy BEHIND me floor over her. I am still having flashbacks 8 hours later.
I'm a nervous wreck. Wonder why?
** A 'bakoor' is a thin cane.
Dear 45 87, you need to be spanked. With a stick. I mean a bakoor**.
How could you side swipe me from the right and then somehow manage to go behind me and then cut me off from the left in your white gov-a-ment car with gov-a-ment plates? Shame on you. I hope no one acts like that to your mother, sister, wife/wives, daughter, cousin or niece when they are driving along, minding their business.
And to you, LMS (Little Miss Thang), riding up on me like a bat out of hell this morning in your grey kia wanna-be 4wd. Learn to drive like a lady.
And the highlight of the day would be the elderly lady running across the 120 mph hi-way that I saved her life by slamming on my brakes and not letting the guy BEHIND me floor over her. I am still having flashbacks 8 hours later.
I'm a nervous wreck. Wonder why?
** A 'bakoor' is a thin cane.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
What do you want to know?
I'll give you my viewpoint on life here - from a non-Omani married to an Omani. Let the questions rip. Sorry, personal questions need not apply (need not apply? why the heck did I say that?).
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