Pondering the Posting about Relationships. What do you think?

Should I or should I not write about relationshits?  This is the question.... hmmmmm.... and then - should I allow comments on posts regarding relationshits so that I can get more negativity from da hatahs? 

I ponder this all the time now because:

1. So many people in my personal and professional life know who I really am.  This gives them the ability to judge me by my BMCing here on the blog.  Perhapsee they have one impression of who I am and then they read this and say "OMG - Who KNEW she is so dysfunctional?"
2. I don't want sound like a whiney girl all the time. (I'm usually the one who listens to people.)
3. Negativity is not good for the soul.
4. He may, someday/somehow, read the post and see me differently (in a negative/judgmental way). 

At the same time, the "cons":

1. Maybe someone will relate to what I have to say and feel better about their own situation.
2. Perhapsee by writing about it and getting it out there, it will be therapy for me (which was my original objective of the blog).
3. My friends are so sick of hearing me talk about it that I will have an objective/independent audience for feedback.

What do you think?  Should I dish?  I am going to leave this one to the floor to discuss and reply.  I have taken off the "no anonymous comments allowed" feature.  Please feel free to be honest.

When I first started this blog, it was SO therapeutic because I could say whatever I wanted without fearing that my family, friends, colleagues, and potential business acquaintances would read it and know who I was.  Now, I'm all over the map and it is scary.  I'm finding it a dilemma. 

Toilets in Kuwait

Nelson wrote to me, saying that he is coming to Kuwait soon and has concerns about toilets here.  I thought this may be a post of interest to some out there, so I am not just adding his comments as a reply, but right here, in-your-face, so that everyone gets the picture:

Coming to a foreign country can be a scary experience - especially when you venture into public toilets.

Public toilets in Kuwait: Avoid any places government-related would be my advice. Most of the malls and privately-owned toilets are fine. 

Squatter

Some  public bathrooms are quite grand.  The Sheraton Hotel's bathroom in downtown Kuwait is my ultimate favorite (Squatter photo NOT the Sheraton!)  (Maybe I should start a "Rate the Public Bathroom" poll - think I will...)  The Sheraton's ladies bathroom, outside their banquet hall is marble with gold-plated fixtures.  It is gorgeous.  It has a private seating area for brides and ladies-in-waiting which includes a massage chair. 

Squat toilets are mostly outdated these days with the exception of traditional places (or private homes); where you will usually find both "squat" and "sit". As a woman who enjoys the freedom of being able to wear tight jeans and stilettos, I have conquered the squat toilet to much acclaim; I can do it drunk or sober, in sickness and in health, in variations of seasonal changes. The squat toilet is not to be feared.  It is actually more sanitary than "sit" toilets, as you never touch anything.  Unfortunately, they seem to be smellier.  I have also found that the little foot grooves are often dirty.

Most places in Kuwait have western-standard "sit" toilets. The differences in the bathrooms that you will find here will be:

Bidets: OhmahGod I love bidets!  Just be careful that if you are using one, you check the water temperature first. In the summer, you may just quite literally burn your ass. Bidets are just good, clean fun.  You don't see a lot of Summer's Eve products in this part of the world and there is a reason for that.... just sayin....

Water hoses:  There are water hoses in every stall (and I miss them when I go back to the States).  People use water in this part of the world to clean their private parts. (I do too - MUCH more sanitary and you have that clean, fresh feeling all day.)

Bathroom attendants (a service of the past in Western countries where minimum wage has made them outdated). They can be annoying because they just stand there and you will get the puppy eyes until you give them a tip.  They hold the hand-towels hostage, so they have to hand them to you so they are doing you a service which you feel you must reward them for.  You know that they are only making about 2 cents, so you start digging looking for coins.  Alms for the poor and all that. 

So Nelson, thanks for writing and I hope this answers your questions.  If there are any other interesting Kuwait factoids that I can impart, please do let me know.

PEOPLE:  What is your favorite public bathroom in Kuwait?  What is your least favorite?  Inquiring minds want to know!  Tell us!

Kuwait Finally Wising Up to Wild Animals as Pets?

Arab Times

Hunt Begins For Pet Wild Animals

‘Safety Of People Vital’

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 26: The Interior Ministry in cooperation with the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) is said to be looking for ‘pet’ wild animals which put at risk the lives of citizens and residents, reports Al- Anba daily. The authorities have called on residents and citizens to notify them if they are aware of any wild animals in their vicinity. The daily added, the authorities plan to confiscate wild (pet) animals and punish their keepers.

This is done in the best interests and safety of the people. The sources added the Kuwaiti Penal Code punishes those who neglect animals and the civil law punishes the owner by forcing him to compensate the victim if attacked by the wild animal.

The source pointed the concerned authorities have received several complaints accusing people of breeding wild animals such as tigers, lions and crocodiles. Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti man shot dead a crocodile with a bullet to his head after the reptile crept into his house recently in Salwa, reports Al-Rai daily.

According to reports the man was at work and his maid called him to say she could not enter the house because a big lizard was in the doorway. The man rushed home and found the ‘pet’ crocodile which had reportedly escaped from its keep from a neighboring house.

---

So here's what I want to know:   What are they intending to do with the animals?  Maybe give them to some snipers like what they allowed to happen with the stray dogs in Kuwait?  I can see this being very bad.

If I were the (STUPID) owner of a wild/exotic/endangered animal and LOVED it in Kuwait, right about now, I would be thinking of ways to ship it out of the country to a game reserve somewhere.  Idiots.

US Citizen Coming to Kuwait on a Visitor Visa?

Bring several copies of the 1st page of your passport.

Stella just came through along with 3 plane loads of people.  There were only 2 copy machines; both were broken.  Well, one turned out to be unplugged and out of toner; the other was broken (yes, one of the richest countries in the world).  Kuwaiti workers just stared.  They kept calling numbers for people to stand in yet another line where 1 camera and 1 fingerprint machine took data from all passengers.

Dubai, we aint.

This is a sorry state of affairs.

I (heart) My Followers

I still find it hard to believe that anyone reads this crap, but apparently, people do.  THANK YOU all for just turning over the 1 millionth hit mark.  Who knew?

I'm going to do some tequila shots now to celebrate.  Too bad I'm alone (not really, more for me!)  Oh... right... I'll be thinking of you all.

One tequila
Two tequila
Three tequila
Floor

A MILLION!!!!

Buhbaaa

2013 seems to have been the year for house cleaning.  Que sera.

Waking up from Naptime

I've been in pathetic, whiny-girl mode for so long that I have forgotten what it is like not to be moody, bitchy, and self-absorbed.  I haven't been myself - at all.  I haven't been active or productive.  I just want to nap.  (Not even snack and nap; just nap.)

Time to snap out of it.

I'm not a quitter - and sometimes that's a problem.  I believe that you fight for what is right.  You fight for those you love. You fight to keep your relationships. You fight to maintain your friendships (that's never a problem, actually.)  You fight to keep it all together.  But at some point, all that fighting just wears you down and you realize that you've got to put faith in the Big Man Above and just let it go.  Let someone fight to be with me for a while.

I can wear a relationship into the ground in no time; mostly in an attempt to make it better.  I can't just let things go.  I would like to be one of those people that nothing phases, but just about everything does affect me.  I'm passionate about being passionate.  I get a thought stuck in my head and just dwell/chew on it until it is meaningless.

Mr. Clean got back on the scene. I shouldn't have let it happen.  But for the sake of second chances, I let him back in. He proved himself unworthy on the second round.  It was enough.  We had spent 2 hours a day talking on the phone while I was in the States; every day, all month.  Because of the time difference and Ramadan (and his sleep schedule), we talked to each other the first thing when we woke up and the last before going to sleep.  If I didn't call on time, he got upset.  He was sweet and loving and the guy that I remembered.

Coming back to Kuwait was a whole different story.  I guess he felt better with distance in between us.  Maybe he was free to do whatever he wanted while I was away and I couldn't complain about it.  When I got back, I complained.   He started ignoring me; treating me disrespectfully. Not coming to see me (he lives 5 minutes away).   He complained that I was complaining, "I want to feel free."  So, now he's free and I hope he's feelin' it. (Free, free, free!  Fly away, little bird!)   One should never have to ask for someone else to want to spend time with them.  "I'll see you soon.... Inshallah" doesn't cut it.

What happened to all the cute little notes he used to leave all over my house?  What happened to me making him breakfast in the morning because he was staying at my house?  ("Is your place magic?  I don't want to leave.")  What happened to the SMSs and flowers and pretty text message photos in the mornings or at night just because?  I went from that to being chastised for bringing him the wrong color Ray Bans from the States.  (Really?  Where is my Eid gift?  Are you serious?)

I'm taking some time off (from, at least,  telling people about my relationships).  I'm planning to be extremely busy and my calendar is already full for quite some time to come.  As my sister says, "You are funny, you're smart, you're in the best shape you've been in in years, and you've got a great ass.  You can do whatever you want."  All true.  Thank you for the AMAZING amount of support and motivational speeches you've given me lately, Caitie.  You've been a rock.

I feel like I've been in a deep fog for the past few months.  I don't really know how else to explain it.  Its like I've just been in "wait" mode.

My trip to the States with my family was nice, but I spent most of my time just being kind of out of it; suspended animation.  We had a little drama and that added to that feeling.  I can't say that I did much.  I should have taken care of more business while I was there; but didn't.  I just didn't get to it.  I should have called my friends; I didn't.  I should have seen my aunt again before I left: I didn't.

We went to the Outer Banks again.  The weather was bagorgeous, but the sea water was really cold (not that I get in there much because I'm afraid of bull sharks - and YES, they are out there and YES we have seen them!).  I played in the pool most of the time.  I tried in an unsuccessful attempt to get drunk most nights.  I guess I've just built up too much resistance.  I wished that Mr. Clean could have come with me. He was supposed to, but didn't get his visa.  Pero, everything happens for a reason.  I would have been piiiiiissed if I invited him and then he pulled his games over there.  Not cool.

Busy, busy, busy.  No more time to reflect on stupid things that won't make a difference to me in a month.

Desert Guy called me out of the blue the other night.  I don't want him back, but his timing was amazing.  He invited me to a party.  I declined.  It all comes back around, doesn't it?  I do miss our tent and living in the desert.  I don't miss anyone else - except maybe one guy who stayed clear of all the desert-drama.

Thank You, MP Al-Enezi

Arab Times

MP Askar Al-Enezi has forwarded parliamentary questions to State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah on the government’s failure to implement the law on the naturalization of 4,000 Bedouns this year.   He said the annulled December 2012 Parliament ratified the law on March 20, 2013 and it was published in the official gazette on April 7, 2013. He added the government has yet to naturalize deserving Bedouns even if four months had passed since the publication of the law.  He accused the government of disregarding the people’s will, which is represented by the MPs who passed the law to alleviate the suffering of Bedouns.