Desert Song - Ahmadi Music Group - 31 May, 1,2 3 June - Box Office Now Open

The Ahmadi Music Group, directed by Richard Bushman, is delighted to announce the forthcoming production of The Desert Song by Siegmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein.  Fully-staged, with costumes, dancing, professional soloists, a cast of around fifty people and a full symphony orchestra, this will be a wonderful opportunity to experience an evening of musical theatre in the stunning new Performing Arts Centre at The English School Salmiya.

The Desert Song is one of very few operas in existence set in the Arab world. It tells the story of the efforts of the French in Morocco, in about 1910, to suppress rebellion by a band of desert outlaws, the Riffs.  The stern General Birabeau is sent from France to be in charge of the combat; he is impatient that his son Pierre is not interested in soldiery.  Only at the end does he discover that Pierre is secretly the dashing Red Shadow, leader of the Riffs.  The production includes comedy, romance, warfare, and more romance.

Desert Song is not well known nowadays, but in the first half of the 20th Century, its songs were performed by every major singer and orchestra and dominated the charts.  Most tellingly, it has been made
into a full Hollywood film three times, making it one of the most sought-after theatre properties ever created.  In 1929, it was the first all-talking Hollywood musical ever made.

Join us for an evening full of eastern promise...

Tuesday 31 May, Preview Performance for students.  Tickets 4KD

Wednesday 1 June, Black-tie Gala Opening Performance followed by Buffet
Supper.  Tickets 10KD

Thursday 2 June, Performance. Tickets 8KD adults/ 4KD children under 12

Friday 3 June, Performance. Tickets 8KD adults/4KD children under 12.

All performances start at 7pm at The English School, Salmiya.

We had sellout performances for Carmina Burana, our last production in January 2011.  To avoid disappointment, book your tickets now by emailing invitations@ahmadimusicgroup.com or phone/text 66184192.


Get yo CULTCHA on, baybeeee! :)

US citizen goes naked in hospital

At first, I thought this was Bobarino - because this is the type of scandalous behavior that I have become accustomed to/amused by and since he was just released.   However, he doesn't drink... The fighting part sounds familiar.  But, I doubt they could overpower my buddy. Tee hee.

US citizen goes naked in hospital

KUWAIT CITY, April 26: A case of indecent behavior has been filed against an unidentified US citizen at the Mina Abdullah Police Station for taking off his clothes in front of nurses at the Adan Hospital, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.  The man was allegedly fully drunk and the incident happened when he was taken to the hospital for treatment.  It has also been reported the man picked up a fight with the paramedics and the hospital staff at the hospital reception.  When he turned boisterous, the hospital staff overpowered and controlled him.

So... who was it?  Anybody know?

I found the song from 1990

OMG, I hadn't heard the song in 20 years and the minute I did, I was in tears and back there in 1990/91, worrying about the fate of my friends and feeling helpless again.   I don't know if you can access it or not from here (might need to register a password), but someone has uploaded almost an entire (then-cassette) of Kuwaiti national songs that people were distributing during the Occupation.  I had the tape and lost it.  I played it a million times during those months.

And yes, you readers were correct:  it is Abdullah Ruwaished and not Nabil Shuwail.  :)

The link is HERE on Dewaniya.com.  The song is Jerrait 9oty B2alam.

April: A Very Good Month

This has been such a busy month.  All kinds of activity and almost all of it is good.  I haven't had time to think, but thank God, I have been sleeping really well.  Probably because I'm going to bed trashed-level-tired.

I had a great 29th (again) birthday. I bought my very cool disco laser lights and let my neighbors know that the noise level was about to go up substantially.  That's fine toooo because their little "urchins" wake me up ALL the time and make so much noise that my 12 year old dog gets scared to the point where she pees - regardless of where she is (sofa, floor...) at the time.  NoisyParty is payback.  They can deal.  And dude - 7:30 am on a FRIDAY is not an appropriate time to play house soccer with your kids!! RRRRR

About 50 people showed up in a continual flow.  I had a great time.  No one brought hookers this time and everything went really well.  Oh, okay... I know what you are going to say - there were two that appeared to be hookers, but I don't think they are - the "Yabadabadoo girls" are actually a mother and her daughter I have known since 1993.  Moms Yabadabadoo used to be married to a guy who hit her all the time and she went a little wild after the divorce. I don't know what her daughter's excuse is. I was running around trying to appease all the groups (and introduce myself to people I didn't know) and ended up not really having time to talk to everybody.  I was trying to ensure that Kal was comfortable (AKA "babysit")  because I don't think his Bedouin blood has ever seen a party like that before and I was afraid it would be too mush of a strain on him (which, I think, it probably was).

So, next day (my actual birthday date), my place was trashed. Stuff was everywhere - even with the helpers I had in.  Slaps called me and asked me to go to lunch with her at Muhallab.  I didn't know that Butterfly, Spanx and the husbands would be there too.  Awesome.  So we ate fish like mofos and went home to my place to continue what we started the night before.  With cake.

I still have cupcakes and cake balls leftover and I'm not parting with them.

I figured what the hey - I could get away with leaving a partial mess for my housekeeper lady to take care of.  And then... DAYAM... where WAS she???  Whaaaa??? Her phone is disconnected?  Wait a minute... she just took a salary advance... oh shit....  I never liked that biotch anyways.

Bunny was very gracious and changed all the locks,  and I started searching for a part time fill-in maid.  She was supposed to show up on her only day off - Saturday.  Okay fine. I can clean until then, but she'd better show up as I was having a birthday lunch for a Kuwaiti girlfriend, Corvette Girl,  on Saturday afternoon. 

Friday night, spontaneous party erupted.  Stealth ended up asleep on my sofa at 3ish-am after many sad stories about his married, domestically-abused girlfriend on an endless, recurring loop (same story, every 5 minutes.... all... night.... long).  There is no arguing with someone who won't remember the conversation anyways.  Naz and his brother were not impressed.  Slaps actually stayed waaaaaaaaaaay past her self-imposed bedtime and even after The Romanian had headed home.  Stealth's cousin, Handcuff Dude, had cut out long before (sometime after the shooters started).... 

Sidenote:  I call him "Handcuff Dude" because Slaps a) got ahold of the "designer" handcuffs she gave me for my birthday (joke gift, ok?)  and proceeded to put them on Handcuff Dude and b) Stealth went up to his car and got real handcuffs and she proceeded to put them on HERSELF.  Haven't I told you a MILLION TIMES that you never put the handcuffs ON before you ask where the key is?!  What is WRONG with you???

My house was trashed yet AGAIN.

Cut to the next morning (I can't believe I'm still alive at this point...)  and back-up maid doesn't show.  DAYAM!  I have to clean AGAIN. (Yes yes, I am spoiled.  Shut up!)  My head felt like it was going to explode.  I swearaGod, I hadn't even taken my make-up off from the night before;  I looked like Courtney Love with even worse hair.

... and finished just in time for Corvette Girl and friends to come to lunch.  Whew!  Love you, Corvette Girl.  Hope you had a happy day.  Butterfly told a story about her swinging neighbors and we laughed hard for a few hours with the gang.

So then, Bunny took me (drivin kinda jungly, my friend; DWB)  to see Bobarino at the chest hospital because Bobarino had had a heart attack and although I didn't go to see him right away (because we are always pissed off at each other like good brothers and sisters always are), I went to see how he was. Thank God, he's okay and not too terribly pissed off at me for getting in touch with his mother - just incase.  Dude, I love you, but sometimes your friends just CARE - that's all. I brought him some self-help books: "How to be a Better You" par example.  Tee hee.

Yesterday was Easter and I had to make a quick trip to see some lovely ladies in Bayan. More giggles.  (Beware of those terrifying Chihuahuas .... that's all it would take for an invasion.)   I was wearing my usual "uniform" black/dark look (office attire) and they looked so pretty in bright colors; blue and yellow - so bright and cheerful;  made me feel shameful that I was wearing what I was on EASTER, so I dashed home and changed into Pink....  (Ya know... you really can't let special occasions pass by...)

Bobarino was okay enough to go to Flyguy's house for an Easter throwdown yesterday afternoon.  Bobarino even drove himself.  Dude!  Are ya crazy?!  Why are you out and about?  Where's yo WOman?  But seriously, let's talk about what is really important here:  they served deviled eggs!!!!  Yummm.....  DEVILED EGGS!!!  Those people can cook.  Seriously.  They've got such a lovely home and are always so gracious.  I got home at something like 5 (pm not am) and fell asleep.

Me tired.

Car parts for sex

Arab Times
24 April 2011
Money for prostitutes: Police have arrested four university students who stole luxurious cars, dismantled them and sold their spare parts in Amghara, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.  Police, after receiving many complaints from residents in Jabriya, intensified investigations and managed to arrest the suspects in an apartment. The thieves reportedly admitted to the crimes and said they spent the money on prostitutes.

- - -

Is a BJ really worth a front fender?  Quarter panel?  Door?
I wonder what the university students were studying.... finance? 
(giggles)

Do I care?

Okay, so recently, it has been pointed out to me that several people that I might have otherwise thought didn't know who I am in "real" life (non-blogsphere life) actually know who I am.  And to that I say:

I don't care.

I remain anonymous because Kuwait is small (ergo the finding out who I really am part) and because of  gray areas in the technology/cyber laws.  However, if some I know is to find out (as many have) who I really am, je ne give-a-shit pas because truthfully, I'm not here to bash people, to reveal photos, or to hurt anyone.

I started this blog as my own personal therapy and to help me rant.  Some people pay a lot of money going to therapists.  I go to blogsphere.    I used to rant to the newspapers and was published there before I even knew what a blog was.  Sometimes I used my real name and sometimes I didn't.

It isn't like who I am is a huge secret.  Seriously, if you know who I am in "real life" then obviously you know a lot more about me now.  Will that help you form an opinion of me one way or another?  Again, I'm self-confident enough to honestly say either way, I am fine with it..  If it is a good opinion, good.  If it is a bad opinion, BFD, who cares?  Everybody is entitled to their own perspective, right?

Hopefully, when asked, I will have something good to say about people I know.  Hopefully, when asked, they will have something good to say about me.  If not.. okay then.

Boxer lost in Rawda - 200KD Reward

This is for a dear friend whose son lost his dog. Her son has special needs and this dog is a certified helper.  Please please keep an eye out for this dog, Vinnie.  Notice that one of his ears is shorter than the other.

Beloved Boxer dog, brown 

and white, extremely friendly, lost in Rawda.  

200 KD reward.  

Please contact urgently: 

99147373, 99045252, 99835252.

Underwear hoisted on flagpole in girls school

This is the kind of shet that makes news in Kuwait.  BFD.

Underwear hoisted on flagpole in girls school

KUWAIT CITY, April 20: The State Security men and police are looking for an unidentified person who allegedly sneaked into the Al-Jazaer High School for Girls in Shamiya, removed the Kuwaiti flag from the post and in its place hoisted his underwear, reports Al-Rai daily quoting a knowledgeable security source.  According to security sources a similar incident was reported from the same school four months ago.

oooooooooo - maybe the criminal is still running rampant (without underwear) throughout Kuwait.... oooooo.  Obviously, this is a kid who has gone to school in the States.  I would even argue that he has above-average intelligence.  Potentially a future billionnaire. 

Ministry of Health: Bedoun employees to get same benefits as Kuwaitis

Arab Times

Bedoun get same benefits as Kuwaitis

KUWAIT CITY, April 18: Minister of Health in the caretaker government Dr Hilal Al-Sayer issued a ministerial directive Sunday, stating that all Bedoun employees of the ministry, be they doctors, nurses or technicians, be treated on par with their Kuwaiti colleagues, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Director of Legal Affairs Department at the ministry said the directive is in line with the general policy of the country in this regard. The decision includes all leave benefits like one full month paid leave, in addition to 15 days paid sick leave and 15 days unpaid leave. Pregnant women would be entitled to 70 days maternity leave.

The decision was announced during a meeting attended by ministry Undersecretary Dr Ibrahim Al-Abdulhadi and Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Abdulkarim Jafar.

---

Good for Dr. Al-Sayer!  He is such a forward-thinking progressive man and doing so much for Kuwait on many levels.  I like him and his wife, Margaret.  They are both approachable, friendly people who CARE.  Margaret Al-Sayer is the founder of Bayt Abdullah and they help ALL children, regardless of their nationality, who come to them for hospice care.  I specifically asked both of them this question during a meeting approximately a year before Bayt Abdullah was completed (well before Dr. Hilal became Minister of Health); 'Will you take in Bedoun children?'  They were quite adamant in their positive response and I immediately respected them for it.

There is no reason why people with no nationality should be treated differently - for the same job - as anyone else.  Equal benefits/pay for equal work.  Obviously, the Bedoun in the workforce must have the same qualifications and education to perform the same job (and yet the Bedoun must pay for their educations in their entirety whereas Kuwaiti counterparts are provided free education throughout their lives).  In my opinion, often when you have to pay for something, you work harder for it (but hey - that's just me).  In many cases, the Bedoun are completing their educations at the same institutions as their Kuwaiti counterparts; yet when it comes time to getting paid for what they do, the Bedouns receive much lower salaries.

For example (read it - for example):  perhaps Kuwait University should look into their salarty structure.   Instead of paying 100KD to a teaching Bedoun professor (for example) with a law degree from an accredited University (where his counterparts have gone), why not pay him/her the same salary they would his Kuwaiti counterpart making 2,000KD (for example)? 

How can you LIVE on 100KD a month?  Think about it.  You are a law professor and your students are all from good families.  How much is your budget for clothing alone?  White dishtashas in the summer that need to be cleaned regularly, white qutara, shoes.  Rent:  If rent averages 25% of a person's monthly income - where are you going to live for 25KD a month?  Transportation:  How are you going to get to and from work?  That 25KD rental property isn't going to be anywhere near where you work. 

Anyhooo.... back to my story.... Good on ya, Dr. Al-Sayer.  People like me (and many more) are keeping you in our prayers.

WTF is going on?

WTF

Arab Times
19 April 2011
Niece molested: The Hawalli police have arrested an unidentified person for allegedly molesting one niece and shooting at the other, reports Al-Rai daily.  A police source said the man molested his niece inside his home in Rumaithiya and when her sister criticized him for his dirty act and threatened to file a complaint against him, he reportedly shot at her in front of the Rumaithiya Police Station and escaped.  When the victim’s mother filed a complaint with the Salwa Police Station the man was arrested at an unidentified location. At the time of the arrest he was still in possession of the gun.

---

He could have any woman he wants for 2KD and a shawarma in Hasawi.  WTF.  And shooting the other niece - in front of the police station?  What UP?

I've been hearing a lot of weird sex stories around Kuwait lately - and not instigated by foreigners.  My American friend and her husband were propositioned by a seemingly "religious" couple in their building for a little swapping activity (the wife wears niqab). I don't think my friends fully understood what had happened until later - cause they just couldn't believe it.   A Kuwaiti male friend was propositioned by another Kuwaiti man recently who wanted frienddude to have sex with his wife while he watched.  WTF is going on in this country?  I'm not prudish by any means, but hey - there are limits.

Ok.... fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu........

I talked to Butterfly this weekend about the keratin treatment I had and she asked if 1) my eyes burned during the treatment (yes they did) and 2) if the salon had used a fan (no they didn't).  So I decided to do some internet research and phuckit this is what I came up with....

(I am allergic to formaldehyde.  Again, Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu....)

Brazilian Blowout blow-up: U.S. OSHA issues warning about formaldehyde in hair-smoothing treatment

April 14, 2011 |  4:26 pm

The ongoing controversy over the celebrity-endorsed Brazilian Blowout and similar keratin hair smoothing treatments that are used to tame frizzy hair intensified this week, when U.S. health officials issued a hazard alert warning about dangerous formaldehyde levels found in some of the products.

The alert from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said the Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution contained formaldehyde levels greater than federal limits (though it doesn’t say by how much), even in products labeled “formaldehyde free.”
State OSHA offices in California and Oregon began investigating the Brazilian Blowout and other hair smoothing products several months ago after a host of complaints from salon workers and clients reporting headaches, nosebleeds, blisters, burning eyes, vomiting, asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Several state-level agencies -- including those in California, Oregon and Connecticut -- issued warnings about the products. Health Canada issued an outright ban. The solutions used in the brand-name Brazilian Blowout, in particular, contained formaldehyde -- which is a known carcinogen -- at an amount “42 times the acceptable limit,” Canadian officials said.

On April 6, the California attorney general filed a motion in Alameda County Superior Court requesting a preliminary injunction against GIB LLC, the company that makes the brand-name Brazilian Blowout. It is the first enforcement action the state has taken under the California Safe Cosmetics Act.

The company’s chief executive, Mike Brady, takes issue with the findings and questions the government agencies’ testing methods. In December, GIB LLC sued Oregon OSHA over its testing, although the suit was later dropped.

Brazilian Blowout solutions have “never emitted any unacceptable levels of anything that I’m aware of per OSHA testing,” Brady said in a phone interview Wednesday.

“We’re attempting to contact federal OSHA,” Brady said. “We don't know anything about their testing. We don't know what they tested; we don't know how they tested it. We haven't been contacted by them so we're trying to contact them so that we can work together.”

“The other thing that we have to make sure is that it was our product that they were testing,” Brady added. “There's a tremendous amount of marketplace confusion -- that Brazilian Blowout is a specific brand, not a category. So when someone says 'I'm getting a Brazilian Blowout' or 'I'm providing a Brazilian Blowout,' in so many cases it's not even our product, so until we get a chance to review anything that they've done I don't have any specific comment other than all OSHA tests that we've had access to demonstrate the safety.”

It’s not only government agencies that are questioning the safety of products used in keratin smoothing treatments. In a report called “Flat Out Risky,” the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that lobbies for health and environmental protections, raises concerns about the treatments and the comparatively slow response of the U.S. government to complaints.

“Hair straighteners based on formaldehyde have been recalled in six countries -- Australia, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany and Cyprus, but are still widely used in American salons,” the report said.
Stacy Malkan, author of “Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry,” and co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is leading an effort to pass the Federal Safe Cosmetics Act, cites the hair-smoothing issue as a perfect example of why the U.S. needs a better product safety system. “It’s shocking the reports that have gone to the FDA regarding people who have been harmed from these products. They need to be pulled from the market,” Malkan said.

Hair salon owners who are concerned about whether products they use are problematic can request an on-site consultation from OSHA by visiting its website or calling (800) 321-6742. On-site consultations do not result in penalties or citations. Consumers who believe they been negatively affected can call the FDA’s MedWatch adverse event reporting system at (800) 332-1088.

-- Alene Dawson
Source:  LA Times:  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2011/04/brazlian-blowout-blow-up-us-osha-issues-warning-about-formaldehyde-in-popular-hair-smoothing-treatme.html

Ethiopian Domestic Does A Lorena Bobbitt On Abusive Employer

Thanks, Kman, for sending me this fascinating little story. 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - An Ethiopian maid struck back at her allegedly abusive employer in Dubai, slicing off the Emirati man's penis in response to harassment, the 7DAYS daily on Wednesday quoted the emirate's police as saying.

Police responded to a call from the man and "found him bleeding badly. His housemaid had chopped off his private parts using a knife", 7DAYS quoted a Dubai police official as saying of the attack on Monday.

"She claimed the man used to abuse and harass her. On the day of the incident, she claims he asked her to give him a massage. She got angry, went to the kitchen to get a knife and attacked him," the official said.

The maid has been charged with assault, the paper said, while the Emirati man is recovering in hospital. It was not clear if his severed member had been re-attached.

The UAE and other Gulf countries have come in for repeated criticism from human rights groups over their treatment of millions of foreign workers, mostly Asians.

Rights groups and activists have reported various cases of employers torturing maids in neighbouring Saudi Arabia
.
The watchdogs have also sharply criticised the sponsorship system, still in force in most Gulf states, by which workers must be sponsored by their employer and which has been likened to modern-day slavery.

Source

Don't mess with an Ethiopian woman. The outcome is never good.  Them girls don't play.

Chop....

Hey baby do you want some fries to go with that shake?

The little shit thought he could just cop a feel and get away with it - perhapsee foreign women are "used to it?"   Glad they caught him.

Arab Times, 14 April, 2011
Woman molested: Police have arrested a Kuwaiti youth for molesting an American woman while the latter was ordering meals at a fast food restaurant in Sabah Al-Salem, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily. The youth allegedly approached the woman and began flirting with her. When she ignored his advances he reportedly touched her breasts and escaped.  The woman called the Operations Department of the Ministry of Interior and police rushed to the spot and arrested the suspect.

Divided We Fall

As we entered the parking lot of Le Notre he said, "Do you know why I chose this restaurant?... I mean, the ambiance is nice, but the real reason I brought you here is because there are no Bedouins.  I hate Bedouins."

Now, what is it about my face that tells people that I'm likely to be a racist?  Do people ASSume that because I am foreign that I don't hold my own sense of decency; that my parents haven't ingrained a sense of respect towards others?  Do they think I am going to nod in agreement, as if Bedouins, Shiites, Bedoun, dark skin, light skin, of-this-descent-or-that is less of a person than I am (or that the person I am with is)?

Recently on a short/chance meeting, a boy of about 15 years of age, told me that he wanted to "change my mind" about (X segment of Kuwaiti society) and "teach me about them."  I was shocked and immediately thought, 'What horrible parents he must have to ruin a child that way.'

"They' are ruining the country."  Really?  Did it ever occur to the haters that it could be that collectively, the divisions are ruining the country?  What has happened to the Kuwaiti traditions of tolerance and hospitality?  Of greeting fellow Kuwaitis with respect?

Until very recently, I hadn't had these types of conversations, but all of a sudden, it is happening all the time.  The hate/blame game has reared it's ugly head.   I have had this conversation so many times with so many people in such a small country.   Have they never heard, "United we stand; divided we fall?"   Is "Arab unity" only a term that is brought out when there is a war or skirmish?

I always know, as soon as I hear these derrogatory remarks, that my relationship with that person will never amount to anything.  In fact, I want to bolt - as fast as I can, and as far as I can.  Negative energy eats at the soul.

It is NOT okay to say something like that to me - or to a foreigner - who you think will immediately take (perceived) sides.  I don't.  I have friends from all walks of life and love them all equally.  Generally, when I look at someone, I am reading their eyes ("the gateway to the soul").  All else is peripheral on first meeting. The people I get along with the most are the most tolerant people; the ones who determine the quality of a person based on individuality. Because, dear friends, judge not lest ye be judged:  If someone hates another, more than likely at some point that hatred will be turned on you. ("He" probably thinks I am from The-Land-Where-Porn-Was-Invented.  y'anee - mithilin.)

So please, don't tell me that you hate because I will only view you as less of a person. I judge people by the qualities they posess and their humility;  not by their ability to negate others.

Disco lights in Kuwait?

Does anyone know where I can buy flashing disco lights?  Not toystore quality - I want some good ones. Hawalli?

I'm going to take this down after a few days because it is for MY BIRTHDAY - April 16th. :) 
(Was that subtle?)

I want to get my dance on.

Et tu, The Man:  This is yet ANOTHER chance to redeem yourself for all those times that you skipped all those  birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases.... do the right thing and live a life without regrets.  All that sadness shows on your face and wrong turns manifest in ways you never imagined possible.  I gave up on "equal" a looooooooooooong time ago. 

(Was that subtle too?  Do I care?  I'm still angry.)

... oh damn.  Now my ugly, evil side is coming out again.  ...BACK IN THE BOX!  Hey - voices inside my head:  you'd better shut up or I'll poke you with a Q-tip again!

---
Update:  If anyone does want laser lights, mirror disco balls, flashing lights, etc, Al-Qattan in Hawalli has them:  Phone:  66265557, 99050388, 22642775, e-mail:  sh-alqattan@hotmail.com. 

I got a Brazilian Blowout

I know - it sounds totally dirty, right?  Kind of like a bikini wax and a blow... dry.  I dunno, when I first heard the term, I was thinking of a combination vagazzle and spikes with sparkly things on them.  Mais non, my dirty-minded friends; it is a keratin treatment for the hair (on your head). 

When Style was here, she mentioned she had just had it done at Flex's salon and she loved it.  She said when she first got it done, her hair was almost China straight.  Hers looked fantastic.

I had mine done by Ashlee at Strands in Fanar.  It is supposed to last about 3 months and leaves your hair smooth, fizz-free without chemicals.  It improves the health of your hair too and I noticed the difference immediately. 

The kind that Strands uses is lighter than some of the other keratin treatments out there and still allows your hair to have some wave.  Mine is much straighter than it was before.  I would recommend it if you have damaged hair or just plain crazy hair that you can't do anything with.

Quakes will never hit Kuwait: expert

Quakes will never hit Kuwait: expert
Arab Times
10 April 2011

KUWAIT CITY, April 9: Professor of Geological Studies in Kuwait University Arafat Al-Shuaibi said the country is far from the earthquake epicenters in Iran, and added the country shouldn’t panic over the Iranian nuclear plant, reports Al-Shahed daily.

Al-Shuaibi, also a professor at the Earth and Environment Sciences Department in Kuwait University, stressed that weak seismic waves only affect Kuwait and we should not fear earthquakes ever hitting the country. He pointed out that humans can actually cause earthquakes through the random withdrawal of oil reservoirs and continuous use of groundwater.
- - - End - - -

I'm no expert, but.....
Ooooooootay.... em... what about nuclear fallout?  Dustcloud? 
and em... I was here in 1997 when a 4.0 earthquake hit hard enough to shake buildings around me. It only lasted for a few seconds, but guess what - if that can happen for a few seconds, it can happen for longer. 

How was Mutlaa Ridge formed?

Shake shake shake
Shake shake shake
Sheikh Yerbouti....

TOKAI (Street Cleaner) Film: You should watch it

It's on YouTube.  Has been banned in Kuwait by the Ministry of Information. 
Thanks for the heads-up, Ahmed.

From Frankom blog

This film is participating at the Kuwait International Film Retreat (Kuwait Young Film contest-Contest Films A) which would be played at Al-kout mall on April 6th (12pm), 7th (4pm) 8th (6pm).
The film title: TOKAI (Street Cleaner) – Production year: 2007 – Country of origin: Kuwait – Languages: Bengali, Subtitles: English – Film Type: Documentary -Time: 18 min.

Synopsis
TOKAI (street cleaner) is a short documentary that offers a glimpse into the lives of thousands of street cleaners who sweep the streets of  Kuwait. In a country of abundance and wealth, these men earn menial salaries, as low as $50 a month and eventually regress into the forgotten inhabitants of the Middle East.

Directed, Edited and produced by:
Abdulrahman Alaskar
Abeer Tebawi
Vachan sharma


This is a moving film.  You know that it is going on right around you, but this nails it.  These companies keep cleaners' passports, so they are in servitude.

I can see how the Ministry of Info would ban it.   Human trafficking is something that no one wants to talk about, but it exists in many countries (including the US).  The thing is:  do something about it.

I'm happy to pay these guys a little extra for doing things like taking my bags to my door or cleaning my entranceway - anything to help. 

I would give to homeless people on the street (and fix them a hot meal once in a while) in the US, I do it for street cleaners here.  When I make hot coffee in the morning, I bring a cup to the cleaners in my neighborhood (because for some reason, I can never make just one cup.)

So.... here's how you can help....  give directly to street cleaners or give to charities like Operation Hope or the Salvation Army (they do operate discreetly in Kuwait and you can contact them through their international office for support).  Donate used clothing.  Drive out to Hasawi (from 6th Ring Road, take the exit after 60.  Turn left.  Go streight.).  Find poor people and hand stuff out. It's simple.  They're not so hard to find all over the country:  they wear yellow suits.

I know I am going to get mail from people saying to beware of street cleaners "they're criminals" etc. etc. There are also people out there saying that these guys make so much money off charity that they can buy their own Mercedes when they get home - yada yada (but not without their passport, right?)  Okay fine.  You have an opinion and I have my own opinion:  God gave me a brain, a heart, and judgement skills:  I use them.

By the way, incase anyone out there is wondering:  Minimum wage in Kuwait is 60 Kuwaiti Dinars per month.  Kuwait has an official 48 hour work week. Kuwait offers a universal healthcare system, but many of the laborers must take time off work to go to a hospital or clinic.

Bario

I have seen Bario beer in several stores lately.  It's just like Barbican, but it is made in the bario - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  That's correct.  You read it.  Riyadh.  I had "apple temptation".  This is all very un-Saudi-like.

Is the bario in Saudi Arabia?
Is it in Kuwait?

I don't even like beer, but they were out of Barbican apple - which je love.  I wanted it to wash down my shawarma.  I'm so trendy and international...

Why I loved the dust today

The conversation went like this:

"Where are you?" (Said with a nervous tone to his voice.)
'I'm in my office.  Where are you?'
"I'm on my way home.  Are you okay?  Are you going home?"
'Yeah, I'm fine.  I have a lot of work to do. I'm going to stay here.  Why?'
"I was worried about you in the dust storm.  It is going to get worse outside. How do you feel? (Still nervous tone...)"

WTF?!.... wait..... could it be......
SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT ME!  Holy snap!  I mean, not my girlfriends, but ... a guy!  What?!  No way.

Mashallah Mashallah Mashallah.

It took me about an hour before it hit me what had just transpired.  I know this is seemingly a little thing, but it is a big thing to me.

... and the angels were singing.... and there were harps playing softly in the background... and there was a dust storm that left about an inch of crap on my car.  And I had a great day from a few kind words because he took the time to worry about my well-being.

It was a beautiful day.

Props to my friends

I need to show some love. People have been really kind to me and I need to be gracious:

Thanks Special K for the gorgeous pink roses this week.  Doors SHOULD open for you. You are a sweetheart.  I adore you and your whole family and I hope (and I know) you have good luck throughout your life.

(And although he won't read this), thank you, Ahmad M, for bringing me back to life. I almost forgot those things you made me remember and I hope you will keep reminding me. I think of you and ... I sigh.... and without Hashim and his kind, gentle, respectful act of kindness, it wouldn't have been possible. Isn't life ironic that when you least expect it, you turn a corner and find something completely different.   I'm impressed and that is usually a hard-earned feat.

So I had a nice weekend.  NIIIIIISCH weekend. 

The Romanian finally met The Man Children.  Finally.  I've been talking about them to them for years and they were never all in the same place at the same time until we bumped into them in the mall this weekend.  The Romanian couldn't get over how nice his kids are.  She kept telling me again and again.  Well, they are nice and to be truthful, they aren't kids anymore.  They're young people.  If I really want a good belly laugh, I should get them all in the same room together with The Romanian and let the good times roll.  They're all so funny.   Hey..... The Romanian's son is about the same age as The Man's oldest daughter.... They both recently graduated, have good jobs.... hmmmmmm.... They're both smart, kind, and damn good looking....  (okay, DG, stop with the matchmaking...)

Oh, speaking of matchmaking, I got to get The Romanian to meet a friend of a friend this week.  He's yummy.  She'll love him.  (Whaaaaaaat?  I try to help my friends....)

And speaking of which, I have a friend who goes to the other church and tried to set him up wth someone who goes to his church; a GREAT personality, good looks, yada.  I thought they would get along smashingly.  Same personality types.  Both very funny.  Alas, it was a no-go.  I tried.  (Whaaaaaaat?  I try to help my friends....)

My sister has tried to matchmake for me in the past.... uh.... no.... She waits until she's good and wine-tipsy when we go out to some bar (usually before dinner) and then she picks the most foreign looking man (because she knows that's my flavah), walks up to him, says some inaudible babble that I can never hear from where I am standing, and then eventually he walks up to me... and uh.... no....  no no no.  No.

My lawyer has been looking for an "appropriate" husband for me for several months.  Lawyerman is so OCD that I am dying to see what kind of candidates he has in mind.  It just makes me giggle.  He may be busy now with all the parliament chaos, so I don't know if he'll meet his deadline.

It is kind of like sending your friends to go grocery shopping for you:  Do you ever really know what they'll come back with?  Will it be Puck or gouda?  Frozen pizza or steak?