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?

*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.

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?).

Blog Blocked...

Angry, yep I was and still am (sort of) blog blocked.

On another note, could someone tell me if I am (relatively) sane on the thought that this is sort of...freaking dangerous? Read on:

There is an industrial sized dumptruck bed hoisted (?) jacked (?) up on what looks like three interlock blocks and some stones (?) wadi rocks (?). Am I painting a clear picture with this, people? Go see for yourself. Location: Directly across from the boys government school near the atheiba r/a. Sort of behind the Range Rover dealership. I would have taken a picture, but my phone with a Carl Zeiss lens is waterlogged with saltwater and sand (don't ask - it's too painful to even explain). Need further clarification on the location? Well, that would be the road that is half-hell around 6:50-ish Saturday to Wednesday due to the fact that certain wankers decide that it's ok to drive against the flow of traffic while the suckas like L_Oman sit painfully and wait in queue like a civilized being should as she listens and flips back and forth between the two fm English radio stations, kicking herself for not burning 'teenage dirt bag'. Whew. Yeah, I'm sure you'll totally know the spot after that explanation.

Ahhh. I feel much better!

Ok, I'm pissed.

It appears I'm going through a rainbow of emotions lately (and thanks for all of your comments everyone. I am ok, just homesick and tired of the wankers).

After reading a post over at Coolreds, I felt inspired to write a post.

Yesterday while driving home, I heard a siren. An ambulance siren to be exact. I rarely hear cop car sirens here (do they have them because holy crap, if they used them we would be hearing them non-stop, that is, if they were pulling people over like they should be). So, looking in my rear-view mirror, I confirmed that yes, it was an ambulance and yes, that meant I needed to make way. So I did. Location: Near Sarooj / Khuwair exit, heading towards Seeb.

Can someone just tell my why people don't make way for ambulances here? Like, do they get it that someone could be inside, needing desperate help at the hospital and by not getting the hell out of the way so the ambulance can get there is....wrong? Is it fun to them? Do they have feelings? Is there a conscience in that shell of a being?

I hope whoever it was that was in that ambulance made it on time. And maybe I'm being melodramatic, but I'd just like to know what the hell is wrong with people these days.

Ok. I'm sad.

Alright. I admit it. I am sad and even sadder that I've let myself get this down.

A little pick me up trip to Europe didn't even work (but the queues - unbelievably efficient!). Is it the funk smell from the red tide? Could it be the lack of basic courteosity? And did I spell that right? Ah, to the heck with it.

There are moments where I look around and say, "L. Can you believe you're in a meeting with 25 other people and you happen to be the only person different than the rest?" As in, I think it's kind of neat - they all accepted me with open arms (yeah right). Then, reality sets in when wicked, sly, childish, idiotic, insane, wanker-like acts are played within the department and I say to myself, "Oh L. You are waaaay too old for this crap." I think I have workplace burnout. In a bad, bad way.

Back to the efficient queues. Can you imagine there were at least seven occassions where I heard, "Next Customer! Next....Next....Next! Ma'am!" Everytime I was zoning and I always sheepishly walked to the cashier, totally blushing over how stupid I must have looked. One time I even admitted, "I'm not from here. I'm not used to how fast things are!" I have become mush - used to the fact that standing in a queue means at least an hour wasted. Even if there were only two people in front of me. I'm sure if I went to a bank there I would fall in an epileptic fit due to the shock of just how orderly and quick things are there. I even forgot that people are supposed to say, "Oh excuse me" when they bump into you or they even say the same thing when they'd like to go around you!

This may very well be the most meaningless post ever, but I will say that the post unique unconsciousness totally nails the way I'm feeling lately.

Last one of '08

I've never had a fantastic New Year's Eve, that means this year is basically the same as the others. So - out with '08 and in with '09.

'08, you brought a lot of happiness due to the fact we moved into our bangin' new house. It also brought about a lot of realizations. I love you and I hate you. I'm glad to see you go.

Happy New Year Guys. I sure hope I get back on the blog wagon again...