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About

"LIFE, A spiritual pickle preserving the body from decay. We live in daily apprehension of its loss; yet when lost it is not missed."

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My recent posts, for old post go to Archives.

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The Squeaky Wheel Monday, December 25, 2006 |




Whether it works or not, a lot of customers are now adopting this concept everyday on a daily basis. The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease.

Apparently the concept is working here in the UAE. If you shout enough you will probably be heard and even served better.

Those are any service business’s nightmare, are not they? Well actually they are not.

What business people should be really afraid of, are the quite ones, if you serve them bad, they would stay quite, keep walking and never look back.

I, myself behave that way, unlike my father (you should’ve seen him at Chilis the other day, the poor waitress had to reheat the plate three times).

Two weeks ago, we wanted to open a back account for our new employees, we deal with the BEST international bank in the CITI *hint*. Of course after calling, scheduling, calling back, rescheduling, the guys came to the office to give us the application and get the signatures.

All was done in 20 minutes and we were promised that the ATM cards and the free credit cards would be mailed to us in a maximum of 5 working days. After two weeks of chasing the salesman who opened the account for us, we discovered that he hadn’t submitted the ATM cards applications and it would take at least 4 working days to submit the new applications.

I was really pissed off and I called their contact center. After spending half of my one-hour lunch break waiting and being transferred, I finally got to speak with someone who was able to speak English. She apologized for what the salesman had done, applied for the ATM cards on the phone and all was ok. But the bliss does not last; we were supposed to go to the bank to collect the cards since they wouldn’t be delivered till after the holidays and the new year, and that was a disaster because the Card Delivery Department could give you the card only between 3 and 5 PM. We work from 9 AM to 6 PM and the break is at 1 PM, can anyone tell me how I am supposed to collect the card?

Anyway, I called again and asked if someone could collect the card on behalf of me, they said it was possible but I needed to write an authorization letter which I had.

The salary had been transferred since 23rd of December, I needed money so I can go Christmas gifts shopping for my friends. I called the bank and they said I need to come to the branch and manually withdraws money, first it sounded ok, but the tellers remains open from 8 AM till 4 PM. Again.

I was still quite, I didn’t shout, didn’t yell, didn’t curse, didn’t do anything but recommending every person I know to stop dealing with that bank.

Pick of the Day Sunday, December 24, 2006 |

My new enjoyment. Bjork "Army Of Me"

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Ravi and Rashmi Thursday, December 21, 2006 |


Ravi & Rashmi

Three months ago, Ravi joined our car lift service. He works in Trade Center and lives in Sharjah. Ravi is just another average Joe trying to survive Dubai. Ravi is in his early thirties. He is tall, semi-handsome and somehow fit. He used to wear thick glasses, always unshaved, wrinkled suit, unmatched colors and dirty shoes. Ravi used to sleep all the way to the office, an average of 1 hour and 45 minutes drive. He had a stinky breath and wore no cologne of whatsoever, not even an after shave. In a nutshell, Ravi was emotionally miserable.

Rashmi on the other hand was another story herself. She started with us one month ago. She’s pretty, hot, stylish and most importantly smelled really good. She was never late, always on time, in her elegant suit and colorful scarves. She was always smiling and shining and also, she was single and in her twenties.

Sparks in the air. Ravi was astonished by Rashmi’s charm. Who wouldn’t? But unfortunately he wouldn’t qualify to even approach Rashmi.

A while ago, Rashmi could not find a seat in the front where the ladies usually sat. Therefore, she had to search for a seat in the back, and since I wasn’t actually interested, I didn’t show any interest in giving her a seat next to me.

“It’s your chance Ravi, step up and be a man” I said to myself.

That’s what actually happened. Ravi spared no moment to ask Ramshi to sit next to him. Apparently Ramshi had no choice but to sit next to Ravi since the nose-picking man was the only other choice.

“Yes, you finally did it” I cheered.

Ravi and Ramshi did not talk for about 30 minutes. I had to intervene. I turned back and asked Ravi to open the window for me. Of course he opened it, but that wasn’t enough.

“Would you guys please help me? I have an Indian friend and we are throwing him a surprise party for his birthday, can you please write down some words we can use?” I told Ravi and Rashmi.

Ravi and Rashmi got busy writing down some words I can’t even read, but I was glad they had something to begin with. After finishing writing the words, they started talking about other few stuff, unfortunately I do not speak Hindi, but I felt that they were not talking about the crisis in Iraq.

Three days later, Ravi, well I gotta admit it guys, women change men, completely. Ravi was shaved, clothes were pressed, smelled really good, contact lenses instead of the thick glasses, a new haircut. Long story short, Miserable Ravi had been changed into Glowing Ravi. And I was impressed, so was Rashmi.

Now, everyday the seat is taken for Rashmi, he even walks to her house so they can get on the mini-bus together.

Today they did not get on, both of them; I heard that they got engaged.

I think I am cupid.

(Ravi and Rashmi are not real names)

Real Age Tuesday, December 19, 2006 |

I have recently read about the difference between real age and calendar age.
 
Real Age is the age of one's body physically and psychologically.
 
I also ran into this website which provides you with a detailed test to calculate exactly how old you are, really.
 
I was shocked to know that my Real Age was 28.2 years old, while I am only 21.2 years old, which makes me 7 years older.
 
I already started working on my plan.
 
Hope you do the same.

I am a Medic Monday, December 18, 2006 |

See, I was kind of jealous of Moryarti and wanted to take the test as well and apparently.. I am not into fights so I scored a Medic.. lol... I am that kind of soldier...sorry guys I gotta run I have a wounded lieutenant calling for help and I gotta save lives... *Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*


You scored as Medic. You're a medic. Not really into fighting people, but prefer to help and heal. Your a caring person who generally wants to help, but not fight. But instead you heal the injured. Your a brave person, but most people generally regard you as foolish because of the risks you take to help others. But you don't care because your a battlefield medic, and saving lives is your business.

Depressing Thursday, December 14, 2006 |

The weather is so depressing; I do not feel like doing anything. I hate the rain. I hate the muddy streets. Uffffffffffffffff…I just wanna sleep...

Loss Wednesday, December 13, 2006 |

I have lost someone dear to me.





Kenny Chesney's Who You'd Be Today


Sunny days seem to hurt the most
I wear the pain like a heavy coat
I feel you everywhere I go
I see your smile, I see your face
I hear your laugh' in the rain
I still can't believe you're gone

It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
But death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you
All the hell that I've been through
Just knowing, no one could take your place
Sometimes I wonder, who you'd be today

Would you see the world
Would you chase your dreams
Settle down with a family
I wonder what would you name your babies
Somedays the sky's so blue
I feel like I can talk to you
And I know it might sound crazy


It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that
had just begun
But death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss
you
All the hell that I've been through
Just knowing, no one could take
your place
Sometimes I wonder, who you'd be today
Sunny days seem to hurt the most
I wear the pain like a heavy coat
The only thing that gives me hope
Is I know, I'll see you again someday

Someday, Someday...

Homesick Thursday, December 07, 2006 |

Aleppo

I miss Syria.

I am homesick.

Very.

At this time of the year, Aleppo would be cold, cozy, wet, brown, blue skies, rain...

I miss the winter in Aleppo.

I miss my rain coats and scarves, my gloves and woolen sweaters.

I miss the morning smell after a rainy night.

I miss the coffee smell that Mom used to make to get Dad to get out of bed.

I miss my bed and the heavy woolen bed covers

I miss my room.

I miss my strayed cats.

I miss our yard, the Apricot, olive, apple and cactuses trees.

I miss the roses I used to water.

I miss the sight of falling tree leaves.

I miss the rain, the real rain.

I miss the cold water in the morning.

I miss…


… everything I used to have.

I will leave with some photos of Syria, my beloved.


Aut AleppoCit
Old, Ancient TreeYard

Hands Off Wednesday, December 06, 2006 |


As most of you now already know, I live in Sharjah and work in Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road to be specific. To commute from Sharjah to Dubai, I have used every single known –and sometimes innovative- method. Since I do not have my driver’s license yet – thanks to Dubai’s regulations once again- now I use the shared min-bus transportation, yeah it proved to be reliable and punctual, I finally had to give up comfort for arriving on time.

On the 14 seater, I used to have my single seat available every time I got on. Today morning this luxury just vanished. As soon as I opened the sliding door, this was my first innocent reaction:

“Who the f*** is she?”

She was a young lady, Indian my guess, elegant, probably her first time, I mean on the bus, she had her sunglasses on – C’mon It is 7 Am there is no Sunlight yet - , She wore a heck a lot of make up and sprayed the whole bottle of perfume which her boyfriend got her for DeWali (I hope I spelled this one correct)

In a second, my eyes were rolling searching for another convenient seat, YEAH, I spotted one in the back, no one was sitting there and I had the wide seat all for myself. NOT FOR SO LONG, my dreams of personal space and comfort had just dissolved in the air when HE got in.

He was a middle-aged man, around 35 I guess, from the Sub-Continent, I could not tell whether Indian or Pakistani. A fashion disaster, unshaved, and had a HUGE briefcase with him, for my bad fortune, he decided to share the sear with me. Well I was fine with that, after all I decided to use the shared transportation, I should keep up with the consequences.

Your guess was correct 100%, it was not only the briefcase and the bad looks, it was the SMELL, this guy had not showered in a year, and to top it all, he for some reason decided to sit next to me and put his briefcase of his right, so the picture was like this:

Window > ME > HIM > His Briefcase. Please try to imagine the three of us (including the briefcase) sitting on a 80 CMs wide seat.

The nightmare was not over yet, after about 45 minutes, he seemed to have gotten more comfortable and took a nap. I was trying to get myself busy with my iPod and concentrate of other stuff so I do not vent. As I was trying to find the most suitable song for the situation, HE DID THE UNFORGIVEN, he touched me, touched my tummy for about 2 seconds. I turned red and looked at him, he was sleeping.

“It’s ok I guess, he is sleeping, everyone might do that while they are asleep”

I calmed down, I focused on something else. But he would not let it go, he did it again and this time for 5 seconds. Well that was it, I used my elbow this time and I can tell you guys that it hurt him. He woke up with this stupid look on his face; I said “Can you please exchange seats with your briefcase?” Well it was either he did not speak English, or I was using JARGONS; he turned a deaf ear. Again I stated that shall exchange seats. He didn’t. Ok time was for plan B, I stood up, half bending, one hand holding my iPod, using my other hand, I hold his briefcase, my right thigh pushed him to the edge, and I forced the briefcase between us.

The other passengers had no clue what was going on, I even remember the new girl laughing at this. Poor she, tomorrow I will have my party with her, let’s see who will be laughing at the end.

Restless *Evil Grin*