The Tolls Are Coming

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has given more details on the road toll system which is intended to come into force in July this year. I can’t complain much, as luckily I live and work within the boundaries and will need to pay the toll if I HAVE to.

Not only did they explain Salik and the cost to be “cleared”, their representative had another message to all motorists clearly visible when she showed the Salik sticker!

I’m sure all motorists had the intention to salute her the same way!

Better than Flowers & Chocolates!

I was chatting with Amoon today and we started talking about kids. Well, actually I started talking about nephews and how I miss Aboudi and how she has to work on getting me a new nephew.

The talk eventually moved to naming kids. She and Jassem agreed that when they decide to have kids, they’ll call the girl after my mom, and the boy will take the name of Jassem’s dad. She then said that she wanted Jeehan for her daughter’s name (GASP). When I said don’t bullshit, she insisted that she did and does want it but it could upset other people! (Well duh I’d be upset on behalf of the baby too!!)

Although we are a very close family, we are not the touchy feely type. Emotions are rarely expressed in words or hugs and we rather express them in stances and actions. Knowing that neither Amoon or I is particularly a fan of my name, I was and still am very touched by the thought. Just knowing that Amoon considered it makes me flush with happiness, even though I would have fought against it!

Who needs roses or chocolates when a simple gesture like this from your dearest sister can make your valentine’s day rosy and sweet!

:D

I Survived RAK!!

We live our days taking for granted what we have and forgetting to thank Allah for all the blessings. Until you get a sudden wakeup call!

Yesterday I had to go to Ras Al Khaima for business, my second visit ever since the early 1990’s. The drive was smooth thanks to leaving just before rush hour and to the new Emirates Highway.

Five minutes in RAK city and I was already missing Dubai. There were no signs, no proper roads and people were driving on the wrong side of the road. Since I needed to get to the Hilton, I called them up and asked for the street name. I was told to just come to Etisalat building. Using Etisalat building as a landmark (which thank Allah you can actually see from most parts of the city!), I finally managed to manoeuvre across the city and reached the Hilton.

Expecting people to jump at me to get my car valet parked, I stopped at the main entrance. Five minutes later and no one appeared. I went down and to the concierge and asked for someone to HELP!! I just got a look and I was told yeah sure in a minute! The minute extended to much more! I actually parked my own car (in an illegal spot but I was not in a law-abiding mood by then), went and checked the conference ballroom (oh my GOSH, are they going for flashy trashy 60’s look??), checked our stand (classy!!), got my stuff down of the car (by myself!), got someone to keep them for next morning, then back to my car just by the time the Valet attendant finally showed up to park my car!

I drove my colleague to where she would be staying the night, the Hilton Beach Resort. The minute I drove in, I was jumped at but what appeared later to be the security guard!! The service was slow at the beginning and it seemed that you really don’t need IQ to work in RAK. But the room was lovely and the beach was even lovelier. Waiting for another colleague to arrive, we headed to the mall.

Shopping in RAK, now that’s an experience! I think people knew we are tourists from Dubai!! I'm sure I looked like a snob!! It was completely empty per Dubai standards. The shops were different too, most were on the low budget retail side. It was easy to come out of the small Al Manar mall without buying anything, not even from the huge Starbucks!

Driving back from RAK, I counted my blessings.

Dubai spoils me. I’m so used to the finer things that I take everything around me for granted. I expect people to jump to serve me, I expect them to serve me excellently, and I expect the revolving doors to revolve automatically!!

Yes, Dubai Rocks!

I Got Punc…tured!

I have a stiff shoulder and upper back problem. It’s of course from stress and working long hours on the laptop.

Last week, I went for a full hour back message. I get these now as often as twice a month. But since I woke up with pain, I decided to go for another one today.

My masseur was shocked with the stiffness. She is always shocked, you'd think by now she'd get over it!!
So she advised me to go for cupping instead of the regular massage. I refused. She said it’s the only solution. I refused again. She then said that I should at least try acupuncture. I said nope, just hit me as strong as you can and we’ll pretend it’s a massage!!
So she rubbed my back and suddenly I felt a prick and then she said: "see that was not bad!"

It was not really. Although I hate to be tricked into anything, I agreed to let her continue with inserting her needles. Half an hour later, another half hour of soft massage (that means she did not knee or elbow me!), and I walked up feeling like a million dollar! At least for the next two hours!! Then, it’s back to stiff back again!


Oh well... that's life!!

Early At Work

I could not sleep last night.

I was up by 3 am, and I couldn't just close my eyes and go back to sleep.

I entertained myself by rehearsing my appeal hearing, thinking that after a few different versions, I would tire myself and collapse into blissful unconsciousness. But each version was longer than the other and more detailed, and the wheels in my head started turning faster and faster instead of slowing down.

Looking forward to the day that I can finally say my piece and get my freedom back, I could not sleep any more!

I got up, had a long hot shower, prayed, changed a couple of times, took a slow drive, got me a Costa hot coca and a banana on the way and parked in the best spot in the office parking lot.

It's 6:30 AM, and I'm alone in the DIFC building except for the security guards.




If I don't escape soon, I'll hang myself!

Mood Swinger

I woke up in a bad mood.
I have a sore throat, a stuffed nose and worst of all I have to go to work.

Naturally, idiot drivers who infest the road to office did not help at all.
I parked and my mood was even darker.

In line, waiting to order my small hot coca, and under the shades of my dark glasses, I checked out the good specimen waiting for its turn in front of me.

Really tall, thin and fit, board shoulders, nicely trimmed goatee, and dark hair, and a dark suit that looked like the perfect package. A rare specimen indeed.

Mr. Rare reached the top of line and instead of ordering, he looked at me, smiled (nice teeth!!), and said “you go ahead first”.
HA??! WHAT?!! A courteous man?!!! Am I still in bed dreaming?!!

Trying to conceal my surprise and excitement, I declined and told him to go ahead and order. He smiled again and insisted!! I smiled back, thanked him and ordered.

Sipping my cup of hot coca while riding the lift to the office, I was in a much better mood. My hope in men may be resurrected if I meet such rare specimens on a frequent basis.

But as I walked into the office, I thought more about it. A perfect body with perfect manners mean a perfect man.
?!!!!?!??

Damn those Martians, they are everywhere now!!

Reminisces of a Voodoo Doll

Many things happened during my blogging dormancy. But they can be classified under two W’s: Work & Wedding!!

Wedding Memories!

Amoon’s wedding FINALLY took place on the 5th of Jan.
Though I was marginally involved in the preparation of the wedding, the week just before the big day got me exhaustively entwined! And I thought I would be able to unwind and relax just before the wedding, Huh!!
Highlights of that week:

• 28th December: Amoon & I spent her last weekend of freedom getting pampered at the Kempinski Spa and then the night at the suite enjoying the sisterly bond. She had on a red T-shirt that said it’s her last weekend of freedom while I had one that said I’m still very free! :D
• 29th December: Roamed the malls to find a decent dress for my cousin who came from Yemen especially for the wedding. It would have been normal, except that I had that damn red t-shirt on as she and Zein wore their own red ones. It was fine with me till I had to go to Wafi with it!!! The shame!
• 30th December: 1st Eid with Dahman & Zein!
• 31st December: The bride saw her gown finally. So did Hippo, Nana & Shosho. I also got to see mine. However unlike the others I cried! HORRIBLE GOWN that I would never wear even if I was paid to do so, and the wedding is in 4 days!! Mom & Manal as well as the flower girls still did not see their gowns!
• 1st of January: Depressed and stressed, I started working on Amoon’s life story to be shown during the wedding.
• 2nd of January: I went shopping for a new dress. Found the first dress I ever tried on at Dior for half price!! Excited and somewhat relaxed, I reserved it till Thursday when I’d get to see the other gown the designer promised to create for me. At least I have a plan C!
• 3rd of January: I went wild. I’m officially blonde and blondes are supposed to have more fun!!
• 4th of January: Kept calling the designer but with no luck!!!
• 5th of January: 1 am – I got to see my second gown, a bit large but I didn’t care by then as mom’s gown was a disaster!! Manal’s fine.
  1:30 am – Went out with Amoon to check on the ballroom’s preparations.
  7 am – convinced mom that she should let me take her shopping the second they open the shops (midday as it’s Friday!!)
  130 pm – Went shopping, find nothing for a gown, mom decided to wear a gown she had bought for another occasion but never wore before!! We bought the accessories needed as both us were prepared for gowns with completely different colours!!
  3 pm – Hair & Makeup started. WOW that was great makeup!!
  6 pm – Back home to get ready and go, & the bride called in tears. The flower girls just saw their dresses and they are crying!! Their dresses were DISASTEROUS as well. Amoon asked me for a favour: go to Wafi and get them something decent!
  7 pm – Hair in rollers under scarf & FULLY made up, I went shopping again on the wedding day and this times for the kids. Lets just say that I’ll wear that red shirt any time to this!
  8 pm – Headed to the wedding!!
  830 pm – Made it through the door, and mom did not recognise me! I love my make up!!

Then it was All Blur!!! I just remember that I ran a lot to and from the ballroom to Amoon’s room, and danced in between the running and I’m not even sure what songs they were, and cried when Amoon finally walked in. I don’t think I even saw who came from the guests! Then Jassem came in, and I remember having to go up and down the stage to help Amoon with her dress each time she decided to dance! Oh and I remember when I took off my sandals at 4 am to change from gown to jeans and the pain that made me almost cry when I tried to put them back on again.
I remember thinking Thank God It’s Over!!

One thing for sure, if I ever get married, not that I think there is anyone who deserves to be my husband, there will be no wedding!!! Give me the money, and I will spend it my way, have fun my way, and I will wear a very comfortable white jeans and top!!

A month since the wedding and I miss Amoon. I miss her presence. I miss the fact that she is just next room. I miss her annoying habits, how she never caps the toothpaste, leaves her shoes just in front of the toilet and places the shampoo bottles inside the bathtub. I miss the ability to just yell her name and tell her to come to my room and then whisper all the gossips. I know she is an hour drive, and I can call her whenever I want, but I was never good at calls or visits. But as some wise man once said C'est la vie!


Work Tragedies

The voodoo doll is not working!!!
I don’t really have a voodoo doll. It’s a Ross cute and ugly voodoo doll with one button eye and “issues” stitched on its ass. It came to the office to relieve Hodz’ pains.
It was very popular with many others however. We all loved to stab it and came up with new places to pin it.

Then Hodz left!!!
Hodz have escaped the zoo we work in!! Though Di & I were sad to see her leave us, we were so excited that she did. She gained back her freedom, and her sanity would soon follow!!
She got a great job in a great place with people who actually understand the business and she does real work and not just ego caressing! It’s so refreshing to know that such places exist!

The voodoo doll was then inherited by Di
Di needed the doll. She needed to stab something that would not land her in jail!
We were still allowed to pin it now and then.
For a couple of months, Di and I would go to work just so that we can bitch. And did we bitch?!!!
Now really, we NEEDED to vent.
No one can understand the pain except if they worked under the same roof with Capitan Clueless, AIDS, Abu Alhoul, Balls Scratcher, Kinder Surprise & Cobra and added to the mix the dim-witted Sylvester.

Then I got Chicken Pox
And did I get it?!!

Then Di left me!!
The bufukers did not fulfil on their promise and they tell Di just a couple of days before I take my leave for the wedding. Di resigns and walks out immediately.
I almost cried that day. How am I going to survive without her?!!
I mean of course I’m happy for her. She felt the relief immediately. I can even envy her. But we were the last of the Biatches. Prince Monk, Hobase, Hodz & Di are all gone and I’m the only one remaining!! Wasn’t I always the one remaining??

And I return to work after leave.
To hear that my presence ruined the day of the woman who has no professional ethics, the woman who was behind Hobase’s being let go. It cheered me up that I could make someone like her cringe. And of course I hear later that she is after me and that she will get me F I R E D!
Darn!! Now she ruins everything! Now I have to stick on to prove her wrong!! And make her cringe some more!! AND MORE!!

Today….5th of Feb
5th of Feb 2002, I was an innocent sweet girl who walked into her new job looking forward to meet all the new people. Today, I thank Allah that I met so many people during these five years who most became friends. And I mean many cause we have a high turnover!!
Today I feel like I’ve served a prison sentence and that I need to escape soon before it turns out that I was just waiting for the day of my execution!

Move out people…dead woman walking!!

Where is that voodoo doll, I need to stick few pins in it!!