Random Musings

20.11.2008

There are just moments when I feel sad for no apparent reason. Just like now. At this exact moment I just want to cry. Perhaps I feel pity for myself… or maybe I am just sick and tired of it all. I don’t want to be a cynic. I know there are a lot of things I should be thankful for. Maybe my life can sometimes be a sad tale, but I can never say it is worthless.

25.11.2008

I am angry; again at no one in particular. Whenever I feel frustrated and generally furious, I long for the times when a stick or a bottle is enough to drown the misery and rage. Somehow it is even infuriating to realize that no else is to be blamed for my misfortune. Yes, no one else but yours truly. How sad. How maddening.

28.11.2008

Revenge is sweeter when you don’t have to lift a finger to make it happen. I don’t usually revel in a person’s downfall but when it is one that you had eagerly anticipated and had blown out of proportion, I let go of my manners and just suck it all in. Well, that made me happy. EVIL LAUGH!

PC Game - Virtual Farm

Only a few of my friends know that I can spend a lot of my free time with PC Games. It's relaxation for me. Probably the same way men act like boys glued to their Playstations and Xboxes. I play games with the goal of getting all awards as they are mostly easy that just finishing the game will be a breeze. Last month's game is Virtual Farm. I got most of the awards but getting the 7 processing plants at one shot was difficult and starting to irritate me. The space is limited and I can quickly put only 6 plants at a time. At first try (for idiots like me) the first instinct is to put the first plant in the uppermost middle, two plants on each side and one plant on the middle lowermost, forming a circle. Then try to put the last plant in the middle like this:


Like I said I am idiotic. I finally decided to cheat by finding the solution online. And even then it is difficult to put them together. You have to carefully place them with just enough space for the other plant.


And just when I had done this, would you believe that my PC automatically shut down. After shutting down thrice I am convinced my version is corrupted and I gave up on the trophy. Now I am taking my revenge by putting the solution online. Har har har har!

You can download the game here.

You Do Not Have Kwenta

Have you ever used those translators? Why do people use them anyway when 99% of the time it doesn't work.

Take this for example:
The correct translation would be "You are not worth anything", kwenta being worth.

Nevertheless, it did translate a bit correctly; "Wala kang damit" have correctly translated to "You do not have clothes"

Ay naku! Walang kwenta!

A Mystery Solved in Ramadan

The next day after I first came to Bahrain, I attended hubby’s extended family dinner. It wasn’t a fancy one, just your normal get-together with Arabic food and not to forget the harees which I assumed everybody liked by the way they all flocked to it. To my non-Arabic friends, harees Is a traditional Arabic dish much like lugaw but a little dry, salty and infused with chicken or meat strips. I initially thought it is made of rice, it is actually made of wheat.

Anyway as we were eating I couldn’t help but noticed that plates and bowl comes in various shapes and designs, and only a few of them matches. I am accustomed to seeing food vessels in uniform designs at the dinner table. I found it rude to ask so I kept the oddity at the back of my mind.

Ramadan came and so I figured out the reason for the assortment of plates and bowls. Apparently during Ramadan, his Aunties cook a really large pot of harees. It is distributed to all family homes and other households in the freej. In turn, we receive several plates of food from them. Some plates comes back, some don’t. Some plates are returned, some plates stay. Every year, and including this year, the household buys a few plates for Ramadan, and trust me, I haven’t seen any of the plates reach my home. And every day of this Ramadan that hubby brings food from home, they all come in plates different from the ones I have dined and washed.

Of Abbreviations...

Don’t u just h8 it when people overly use TXTSPK and ABBR?
From my office mail today:

PURPLE Overload

Yahoo urges me to start wearing PURPLE. Hey I don’t need prodding; I love PURPLE and PINK for a very long time now. Purple is loud but pleasant to the eye. It’s the COLOR OF THE MOMENT. Everywhere I go that vibrant color is just so there. I looked around and realized I have a lot of things in that eggplant shade – pillows, bags, pouches, clothes, notebooks. I really ought to stop buying PURPLE things before I could think of feeling nauseated at the sight of something PURPLE. Yeah, I should – after I buy those gorgeous PURPLE shoes I saw yesterday.

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2 weeks ago I bought a bag solely because of its color. At closer inspection I see it’s a Prada imitation. I bought the bag anyway because I liked it from afar. And then I wonder how Bahrain could allow obvious substandard imitations to be sold at a ludicrous sum (value for quality) and at a relatively posh mall at that. At least if I spend a few dinars more in Hongkong I’ll get a good quality FAKE brand bag.

Yaaaaaaaaaay!

It's nice to be back online. I finally got my home connection repaired. Yaaay! again!

test post of video of an old visayan song

Ramadan Kareem!

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...and my boss couldn't be more cranky than ever...





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a chicken to decide your fate

i just have to share this.. i can't imagine a chicken deciding my future =))

What do the Miao do with a chicken during a wedding?

In China's far province of Guizhou, the Miao people are very superstitious, with strong beliefs in spirits and demons. For marriage approval, a chicken is killed in front of the parties concerned. After the chicken is cooked whole, the size of both its eyes are examined. If both eyes are identical, it symbolizes a blissful union. But if they are of different size, it is considered a bad omen, and the wedding plans canceled. The weight of the chicken is also of importance. Either party that breaks an engagement after the formal announcement must pay the other party an amount of silver equivalent to the weight of the chicken.

Source: Arcamax Trivia
Additional reading

my new word

I love blog-surfing - reading blogs randomly. Last week I came across a blog rant (for puropose of reference, I can't remember which blog it was). The author ends his rant with "eeedeeeeeeyot". It amused me and so I have a new word: "eede".

Logic

In the washroom, my girl friend rummages through her bag and yelped happily after finding her cigarette and lighter.

Me: Hey don’t smoke! Your dentist just gave you meds so he can take out your second wisdom tooth on Saturday. You wouldn’t want to irritate that.

Girl friend: He told me I could now eat solid food. That means I can smoke too.

Me: SPEECHLESS

Ditch Your Prozac For This

Maybe you haven’t heard of this yet - my favorite all-time upper, “Ken Lee”. I have seen this video a hundred times and it ALWAYS brings a series of snorts and giggles and eventually a good laugh. You just have to admire her confidence and certainty. Popularized by youtube, (with a huge audience and followers!) Valentina Hasan graced the Bulgarian Music Idol once again and I must say her English has improved quite well. Apparently, she “learned” the song by listening to it the old-fashioned way, in a recorder - play/pause/play. Now that’s what I call perseverance! =D Enjoy!

What I Discovered in Yahoo Answers today

I decided to spend time answering at the Languages section of Yahoo Answers and came across this question. I am so curious to try it out. Hey! I didn't know my PC can actually do that! I had fun, needless to say!

Serbisyo Publiko Muna =)

The Philippine School Muscat (OMAN) needs teachers for Pre-Elementary, Grade 1, Grade 6, High School (Math & English), Computer Education with knowledge in AutoCad, HS and Elementary and a Guidance Counselor.

Salary package (including only) basic, housing, transport, utility and advisory fee depends on educational attainment (Bachelor’s Degree / Master’s Degree). Ranges from PHP 35 – 41K.

Anyone interested, please drop me a mail for the email address where you can send the CV.

Eclipse-Watching Anyone?

A full eclipse is on tomorrow, August 01, 2008. Unfortunately for Bahrain residents, only a partial eclipse is visible. So you want to watch it? Get ready to observe safely and not with your naked eye. The partial eclipse for Bahrain will be from 1:43 to 3:01 pm. If you want to watch it in the comforts of your home, this site is giving a live broadcast.

WTF?!?!

That’s exactly what I had to say when I read this in Gulf Daily News yesterday. Apparently it is a growing trend in the region for men to divorce their wives via SMS. And more disgusting than that, in more than one instance this cowardly method has been accepted in court. It is sick, really sick!

Isn’t it that when a man seeks for a life-time partner, he goes through a long process of asking a girl’s hand for marriage and they arrive at an agreement after considering a lot of factors? Do you think it is just so ironic how easy you can pick up a phone and send an SMS to convey your desire to end a commitment you have made in the name of God?

In my culture where boyfriend-girlfriend relationships are accepted and quite common, break-ups carried out through a text message is indeed a trend that have been going on for sometime. Even then, it is still viewed as quite stupid, tasteless and cowardly.

I can’t say more….

A Bug's Death

As many of you know by now, I have been invaded by a lone chirping cricket; probably from the stables behind our building. The cricket “sleeps” by day and continues its mate calling by night. I searched online for an ecological way of getting rid of it and found out that I could entice it with water mixed with molasses mixed and vanilla extract or lemon juice. So much for the sweet tooth, the damn chirper did his thing for 3 days straight until hubby couldn’t stand it any longer. On the third day we arrived home and he had his mind intent on getting rid of our friend no matter how long it will take him. It must have been our friend’s time, he had came halfway out of his little crack. In less than 3 seconds, poof! Sayonara Jiminy! Hello Dreamland!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarggggggggggggh! I really ought to be in dreamland now. But that damn cricket chirps from our bathroom drives me insane. Somehow a chirpy little friend has found its way in our bathroom and we couldn't figure out where it is exactly. Just an incessant chirping echo. Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!If he lives for another day, I'll burn down our house. Harrrumph!

I see that La Senza in Bahrain Mall has taken down their huge window ad presumably to put up a new collection window display. I feel a little sad, I have a reason to smile whenever I see that blonde dolled-up in a cute pink pajama. My hubby and I once saw a charming little girl around 5 years old, babbling non-stop and wildly gesticulating, looking up at the blonde in pajamas. I couldn't understand a word that she's saying and hubby likewise said she's speaking Arabic but it doesn't make sense. We both have a good laugh and decided insanity seems to hit it young these days. Some kids have imaginary friends and wild imaginations; this girl seems to have the latter but a more visible albeit non-talking friend. =))

What Happened????

I’m still in blog-hibernation-mode. I just heard news of a huge traffic accident just now involving a number of cars in the highway in Manama, near the street that will lead you to Bab Al Bahrain. I haven’t heard of any concrete news and there’s no way I can access a radio from here. For some reason I wanna know what exactly happened. Anybody here knows?

*btw, I think that highway is a tad small and full of traffic lights for a "highway". Bahrain's population is growing and the highway seems to have grown congested. the ride home used to be stress-free and quick. now the roads are clear only on friday mornings and when a foreign dignitary is being whisked to the airport.

---- edit

Okay so we heard it wrong. The accident took place below the Seef bridge, involving three young men in a car and a 6-wheeler truck. One has died on the spot, two are seriously injured and the truck driver is on the run. Investigations are still underway.

ready for battle?

Is it odd? On our way to office today we saw three US army tanks set up on the three sides at the end of the airport runway – all of them with 3-5 men in full battle gears. We also met two military jeeps with soldiers who looked rather tense in my opinion. As far as I can remember when US Pres. Bush came for visit, they only set up one tank near the runway. Is it some sort of exercise or is something brewing up? Everybody and everything else looks normal but this picture is eerily out of place. I feel more disoriented knowing it’s entirely my own fault that I am somehow oblivious to important things…

Home Alone VS Left in the Airport

I came across this new piece and I am torn between laughing, pitying the child and getting angry at the parents. Of all the stuff the traveling Filipino immigrant family have to left behind, they actually left their 23-month old toddler in a huge international airport! The poor boy speaks no English and was left all alone wandering near the departure area. I suddenly envisioned a brave Home Alone Kid and a brave Wandering in the Airport Alone kid. =))

It must have been a frenzied journey and while it's an honest mistake, it is a wake-up call for all parents. It is not enough to "love" your kids. They deserve your full attention too! Their safety and needs comes as top priority.

It is a happy ending for the family, they are lucky this time. I'm pretty sure they'd take no chances next time. What a great story for the boy to tell someday: how brave I was all by myself in Vancouver.


Click here for the full story

Color-Matching

I like to color-match in a haphazard way: make-up with clothes, shoes, bags, accessories. Today I learned that over-matching can be an eyesore. I just happened to glance at the selling area below and saw a stylish thin young man dressed in a neon-green cap, neon-green printed shirt and a neon-green shoes. (I wonder is his undies and socks were also neon-green!). There you go a color-match outfit! Would have looked good except that he had a very dark skin and he definitely looked like an electric post dressed in flashing green. It looked horrible, really. Before someone jumps in and call me racist, I have seen a lot of black folks who dress in colors that makes their skin gorgeous. This is just way funny for me. =)

Tube Entertainment

Personally I think the screen advertising in the Middle East is still to see the best in terms of clarity and creativity. I have yet to see TV ads that makes me smile, laugh and want to buy the product endorsed.

My current favorite TV Ad as of the moment is of the toothpaste commercial showing a boy and a girl sitting at both ends of a long bench everyday, both pretending not to mind the other. In the end, the guy goes to the bench in the middle of the night armed with a saw and cuts half the bench. The next day they sit close to each other.

My least favorite ad is the Lux commercial both in Arabic and English. For the love of me I just hate the singing voice. Case Closed.

And my all time funny favorite:

In Search for the Tree of Life

A very dear friend came to visit me (a double purpose on visa change) for the weekend. Among the tourist attractions of the island, I have long been dying to see the Tree of Life. A mesquite tree about 400 years old so named because no one has been able to figure where it get its water source. It is said that it is standing in an area with no nearby water source.

Our journey begins with arguing what time we should leave even after discussing the day before that we leave at 9:30 am ( as usual! ). We finally left at ten armed with junk food, water and good music CDs. Just as we were in the area, we lost track of all notice boards and signage that will lead us to the tree. We were circling the deserted area full of oil wells and oil pipes. People are so mean, they wouldn’t stop for a car carrying lost passengers. At one point we considered harassing a police car ahead of us so they would stop and give us directions. When they turned right, I suggested we follow them until they get annoyed but the others decided to retrace our route to look for a marker. In the end, we found someone who told us to go: “sida, roundabout, sida, sida, siiiiiiida, sida, sida” (straight, straight….) Dang! We went the same way the police car went. I should follow instincts all the time. And yes, it was indeed an endless “sida” before we figured that must be the tree wit all the cars parked.

If there is one thing that excited me more though, it is the camels! The wild camels and the not so wild camel that crossed the road waiting for me to finish my shot. The lovable camel snuggling against his mother. The curious camel that laid there immobile staring at us. The weird camel that kept on grunting and stayed put when the European lady next to us petted him/her.

The Tree of Life was indeed lovely to behold. Except that I wish I knew who was that stupid b*st*rd Santhosh from India who had vandalized the tree with his name in black paint and the others who painted their name in red.

I Heart Nemo!

I saw Nemo in Bohol (another story, another time)!

But I saw Nemo, Dory and Gill (2003) in 1996 issued Philippine stamps. Cool huh?

Sharing My Inbox

Bakit Single ang Status Mo ?

11. Destiny Adik

Eto yung mga naghihintay kay "Destiny" na gumawa ng paraan para pagtagpuin sila ng kanilang mga "partner in life"... Ayannn... Kapapanood nyo ng "Serendipity" eh feeling nila ang nangyari sa movie eh mangyayari rin sa kanila... Such a cliche... Hindi ba nila alam na kung walang effort, destiny is useless...

10. Perfectionist/ Mapili

Yes, isang taong perpeksiyonista. .. Yung tipong dapat ganito ang magiging kapartner ko... Pag may nakilala, nakita lang na pangit ang kuko o may dumi lang, turn-off na agad... O kaya ang daming ayaw. Ayaw sa mabait - boring daw, gusto ng bad boy/pilya pero kapag pinaiyak ka, tatanungin ka bakit ang sama mo at bakit mo nagawa yun! Adik ka ba?! Ayaw sa cute, ayaw din naman sa panget. Meron dyan gusto ka ayaw mo naman. Ung gusto mo eh halos magtambling ka pero deadma pa rin yang stunts mo sa kanya! Pasaway ka rin e! Ano ba talaga kuya?

9. Busy-busyhan

Opo, eto yung ang mundo e gumagalaw lang sa libro at ballpen kung estudyante ka o kaya naman sa computer at files kung office staff ka. Yung tipong aalis ng bahay ng alas 6 o alas 7 ng umaga at uuwi ng bahay ng 6 hanggang alas 8 ng gabi [baligtad naman para sa mga nag tratrabaho sa call center].. Sabay tulog na.. Kapag Sabado masaya na sila sa Internet (o sa Multiply), sa pagkain na niluluto ni mama at sa Linggo naman sisimba at maghahanda na ng kelangan para sa lunes hanggang byernes.. Pssssst.. Pause for awhile..

8. Friendship Theory

Ano naman ito? Eto yung ang buhay ay kay bestfriend o kaya kay special friend na hindi masasabi-sabi sa friendship nya sa loob ng kanilang mahabang panahon na pagsasama dahil baka daw maapektuhan ang pakikipagkaibigan at iwasan sya.. Yung tipong pag may kasama si friendship na iba, nagseselos na wala naman sa lugar, pero syempre wag pahalata, kunyari happy sya for friendship.. Aba! Oi lakasan mo ang loob at baka mamaya forever mong pagsisihan yan kaw rin. Minsan pa naman pareho kayong naghihintayan. . Hmmp!

7. Born-to-be-one (Autistic)

Eto yung nasa palad na ang pagiging single daw.. Walang reasons.. Basta lang nabuhay sya sa mundo na mag-isa at feeling nya mamatay sya sa mundo ng mag-isa.. Kesyo magmamadre o magpapari na lang.. Asa kang tatanggapin ka pa noh!

6. Happy-go-lucky

Eto yung taong walang alam kundi kasiyahan at trippings.. Kahit sino nalang basta no strings attached.. For fun lang daw.. Walang halong seryosohan.. Aba hoy! Yang init ng katawan mo e ikiskis mo nalang sa pader.. Makakahanap ka rin ng katapat mo!!!

5. Wrong Place

May nakaranas na ba nito? Yung pakiramdam mo nasa ibang mundo ka. Yung ang Nakakaharap mo e yung mga hindi mo gusto, yung mga hindi mo hinahanap. Alam mo yun? Halimbawa nasa ibang bansa ka, pero ang hinahanap mo e yung amoy ng nasa sariling bayan mo. O kaya naman e nasa sarili mong bayan ka, nasa normal na lipunan, pero ikaw ang abnormal at hindi mo kayang sabihin na abnormal din ang hanap mo kung ayaw mong ibitin ka nila ng patiwarik.

4. Wrong Time

Eto yung mga tao na sinasabi na "hindi pa ako ready e, bata pa kasi ako" o kaya naman "hindi pa ako handa sa panahong ito, wala pa ako kayang ipagmalaki.. " Yes meron pong ganyan.. Yung feeling nila may tamang panahon para sa love.. Awwwwwww.. Aba kelan yun? Pag uugod ugod ka na at yung time mo e bitin na? O baka naman pag pang out of time ka na? Oist, sugod lang ng sugod..

3. Si parents kasi!

Yes, factor din ang komunidad na ginagalawan mo.. Una, ayaw pa ni mader o pader na magkaron ka kahit 22 anyos ka na at kelangan umabot ka muna raw ng 40 bago magkaroon ng gf/bf.. O kaya naman ikaw mismo! Takot sa sasabihin ni parents at ni kapitbahay na tsismosa sa magiging kasama mo.. Aba ikaw ba naman ang sabihan na "Alam mo hindi kayo bagay.. Langit at lupa kayo.." Awwwww.. Payo ko sayo, Pakialam nila diba? Palibhasa inggit!

2. Traumatic Experience

Eto kalimitan ang reason ng marami. Ayaw ko na! Takot na ako mangyari pa ang nangyari dati! O diba ang drama ng layp? Yes, tama ka.. Eto yung dahil sa past relationship mo, e until na ayaw mo ng magkaroon at sinumpa mo na ata ang magmahal.. Dahil sa pinagpalit ka sa mas pangit, o kaya naman iniwan ka ng walang word na bye-bye, o dahil binugbog ka! Ano pa ba? Madami yan. wag na nating isa isahin at baka tumulo si tears.. Heheh! Gayunpaman, eto lang masasabi ko mga hija at hijo.. Iba't-iba ang lasa ng pag-ibig.. May mapait, may mapakla, may matamis at may maasim.. Aba mapalad ka at natikman mo ang iba't-ibang lasa nito.. Kaya ikaw, do not be afraid to fall in love again.. Malay mo sweetiness na ang malasahin mo next time.. E di panalo ka sa lotto.. Yan ang nagpapalakas sayo, yan ang bumubuhay sayo, ang pag-ibig.. Tsk! Drama!

1. EX to the nth power

Oi aminin!!! LOVE parin si ex kahit 1 or 2 yrs na ang nakakalipas. . May ganito naman.. Yung tipong ilang taon ang nakakalipas, hindi parin makalimutan si ex.. Yung pinagsamahan, yung tawanan, yung iyakan, at lahat ng nangyari sa inyo nung kayo pa.. Malungkot man at sa kung anumang kadahilanan, maganda man o masama ito, kelangan nyong magpaalam sa isa't isa.. YES, after a year sasabihin natin, im over him/her na, pero pag- usapan natin ang love at ang nangyari sa ating relastionship from the past, TADANNNNNNNNNNNNN, eto na, sya agad ang naalala mo.. At habang nagkukwento ka, ouch may kirot, o kaya may ngiti at may bumabagabag sa ating kalooban.. Ano kaya yun? AMININ mo na kasi MAHAL mo pa si EX.. Isa lang ang masasabi ko, well mahirap sya kalimutan, alam ko yan, pero open your heart and makipagdate ka, lumabas ka, at try to entertain someone.. Wag mo ikumpara si ex sa iba.. At give urself a Kitkat, take a break..spread the love

Pitter-Patter-Pat-Pat-shhhswshwshshhshwshwsh

It's raining!!! I can hear the raindrops over the office roof. I woke up to a cool breeze and a slight shower, now it's pouring. Rain, rain, rain =)

Office Whine #3

Eto na naman...hayop talaga to si Kamot. Porke ba may pagkabobo sya eh lahat na ng tao sa paligid nya eh feeling nya bobo din???? Nauna akong dumating sa opisina subalit pinagliban ko ang pagbukas sa aking mga liham sa computer. Pagkadating ni Kamot, ito ang una niyang ginawa -- hango sa suhestiyon ko na umupo muna siya at magbasa ng mga liham bago sya bumaling sakin at magdakdak ng anong dapat gawin. Paunawa lang, hindi ko kailangan ng dakdak pero ugaling ayaw matanggal na 'to ni Kamot. Ayun, balik sa kuwento, nakatanggap pala kami pareho ng liham galing sa kabilang bansa na nagsabing ibalik sa kanila yung dokumento ng 3 aplikante dahil sila na lang ang kukuha sa mga taong yun. Actually hindi ako ang kausap ni Kamot kundi ang sarili nya pero parang pinarinig na niya sa akin. Si Kamot may pagka master na rin ng soliloquy, hahaha! Pagkatapos mabasa ng malakas ang email eh bumaling sa akin at sabay sabi: "BG, kailangan natin ipadala yung mga dokumento sa kabilang bansa at kailangan nila yun". Anak ka ng angry bakunawa naman oh!!!! Narinig ko!!! At pareho tayong may liham niyan!!! Ke aga-aga eh pinag-iinit mo ang ulo ko. Ilang bese ko bang kailangan sabihin sa kanya ng ayoko ng inuulit-ulit ako ng paalala kung anong gagawin ko. Alam ko kung anong dapat ko gawin. Hindi ko kailangan ng paalala sa bawat LIMANG MINUTO. Naglitanya na naman tuloy ako na hanggang 3 bese lang niya ako pwedeng paalalahanin at dapat may tatlong oras na pagitan. Kung hindi, manigas siya, HINDI KO GAGAWIN!!! Pasaway na buhaaaaaay!

Black Cloud over Me

Have you ever been in a mood so bad you don't know whether to sulk, scream, bitch, cry, slap someone, jump up and down, rant non-stop, or just sit down and count 1-10 till your heart beats normally?

And then a friend comes in with a cup of coffee and your anger melts...aaaaahh life.

What If?

03 April 2007

A Bahraini was sentence to ONE YEAR in jail for pocketing BD197,000 (approx 21M PHP or half-million USD) that was wrongfully credited to his bank account instead of BD197.

I don't want to be a hypocrite, I thoroughly envisaged a life if it had been me. With that money I can donate 5 million pesos to charity and still have enough money to invest and live a better life. I'd probably run away and live somewhere else. That, if my conscience does not get the better of me. Someone is bound to pay dearly for that mistake - for entering a comma instead of a period between 7 and o. Hubby says he'd be willing to go in jail for a year for all that. Probably he forgot about spending eternity in jahannam. Logically, yes. What is a year anyway for that amount of money? I saw it once and I saw it again, this country has a funny way of issuing verdicts and setting punishments..

If it is your bank account, what would you do?

A Letter To My Dying Laptop

My dearest Laptop,

I am really sorry to have used abused you in the worst imaginable way. I am terribly sorry for not caring when you moaned, wheezed and screamed in agony. I should have taken you to a PC doctor but I never did find the time to do that.

I remember when I first had you. I could still imagine how I spent hours preparing your niche in my work corner; how I had lovingly stroked your cover; how I had marveled at your beauty. I never knew boredom with you around. You told me tales of far-away land, entertain me with your songs, displayed images of my loved-ones (and of me!), and occupied me with your gaming treasures. And most important, you are my confidante.

I tried to revive you, restore your system. You stubbornly refused, threatening to delete all my documents. My heart almost jumped out of my throat. I don't know if it's at the thought of losing you or plainly losing access to my documents. You did get a little better but I promise not to play PC doctor again.

Yesterday I tested your patience by downloading a trial PC game. I immensely enjoyed that game. I thank your intermittent error breakdowns for allowing me to play the game a little longer. But when I left you open last night in the hope of you having a seizure so I can continue that game, you steadfastly remained opened. Now I don't know whether to curse or sigh. I feel guilty for hoping you'd have a relapse. I should be happy you're okay although I really raise my head to heavens wondering why you just didn't shut down when I needed you to.

Anyway, my dying laptop, please don't go as yet. My new plaything is coming soon. It will have more speed and more memory than you do but you will always be the best in my heart. I promise to love you and keep you in a special place in my work station.

XOXO,
BG

.....

I'm feeling so lethargic today. Can't even force myself to move even my stomach is grumbling at it's best. I want to sit with a frozen stare at the monitor. I want to blank out every thought and every sound. I can't even scowl with irritation at all the shouting, arguing and laughing in Arabic, English and Hindi going on the room next to mine.

Office Whine #2

Ayan tumaas na naman ang presyon ko kakaisip ng mga kagugahan sa opisinang ito. Kaninang umaga nagtatanong and aming matandang amo kung nasaan na daw yung pranses na tagapamahala ng panaderya. Ayon sa kasunduan dapat sa susunod na buwan ay pormal na sasali sa kumpanya na ang naturang tagapamahala. Dahil si Tamad ang namamahala ng mga trabahong ukol sa mga bisa natural na siya ang napagtanungan ng amo naming may regla ata ngayon at napakasungit. Ito namang si Tamad, dagliang tumawag kay Kamot para itanong kung nasan na nga si pranses. Ay ang lolo mong Kamot ay nagwala. Paano nga naman, si Tamad ang namamahala ng bisa at ng mga bagay ukol sa paglalakbay, bakit siya nagtatanong sa amin ng sitwasyon ni Pranses? Hay naku, buhay ko sa office nga naman...

Saying No To Plastic: Reusable Shopping Bags at Bahrain Supermarkets

I am thrilled and happy that the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife of the Kingdom of Bahrain has undertaken a project of reducing use of plastics in the kingdom. The program will be launched on July 1^st but the commission along with its partner supermarkets have already started its first phase of the program. Jute bags are available now in lieu of plastics bags that are non-biodegradable and harmful to our environment. Jawad Supermarkets gives it for free while Geant Hypermarket charges BD 0.500 and BD 0.800 for it’s small and big bags which are reusable. By the 1^st of July, both companies will charge a small fee on plastic bags all which will be given to the Public Commission to be donated to charity.

I have started using the jute bags and they are adorable. I feel strangely proud bringing my jute shopping bag with me as I walk through the hypermarket entrance. It’s practically easy to pack groceries with more space and being and more durable. What more, it is easy to lug around instead of those small plastic bags. Just sling them over your shoulder if you really don’t have enough loads that require use of the trolleys.

Hubby has complained that now we can’t use those bags as trash bags anymore. Yes we do our part of recycling the plastics but it isn’t enough. I patiently told him that the earth is there giving us what we she can offer. Yet, think of it, what about our children’s children? Will she have enough to give the same? I already talked my friends and everyone I know to make use of the bags and contribute to the effort of saving our planet. If you are in Bahrain, please grab one when you do your groceries!

Geant Ad

Banned Shrimps and Preggy Safis

Just over two weeks ago, Bahrain announced a halt of harvesting, selling and buying shrimps. I thought it is a little puzzling since I had the notion that shrimps thrive and are available all season. Hubby’s cousin explained that at this time of the year, there are only mainly baby shrimps available. I’m glad to know at least Bahrain is interested in safekeeping its resources. Shrimps do bred easily to cater to human consumption but there are several reports claiming overharvesting of shrimps all over the world. So I do my part, leave a rest to buttered shrimps and sinigang na hipon.

Since I gave up temporarily on shrimps I decided to feast on Safi. This is a local fish that Bahrainis are fond of. My in-laws just love fried Safi coated in Arabic Masala coupled with a tomato soup appetizer and fragrant spiced rice. For me, I like them simply seasoned with salt, fried a bit crunchy and dipped into soy sauce with lemon. (wishing for a lemonsito though!) On the way home I stopped by a road peddler and saw the freshest Safi I have ever seen in Bahrain. Glossy, clear eyes, red gills and fat. Priced at a higher BD2 per kilo (approx. Php230) I took over a kilo instead of my normal half kilo simply because they were really fresh to my eyes. When I reached home I cleaned them one by one (fish cleaning is a trick I learned in college with roommates equally undomesticated as I was. I was the bravest then J ). Imagine my surprise and delight, all of them had eggs! All seven of them! Heavily pregnant! I don’t like caviar but I do like plain fish eggs. My mouth literally watered at the thought of those fish in my plate. One of my friends had Safi as well and she said she’s not sure but they could actually be banned that’s why they were priced higher than normal. Eventually my guilt got into me. If we pick up all the pregnant Safi in Bahrain, what’s the future of our safi-filled plates? Hah, keep in mind BG, don’t advocate peddlers selling preggy Safis.

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Right after writing this thought I did some minor research and I think that I don't have much to be alarmed with. The GCC in general have invested a harmonized shrimp ban to give time for shrimps to multiply and Bahrain's Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife has invested in breeding Safi to replenish natural fish stock in the kingdom and for exporting purposes

Safi on my plate:

External Link

Live Safi

Picture courtesy of Budak

Safi farming/breeding project in Bahrain

Shrimp Ban across GCC

The Golden...

And so yesterday I woke up muttering "Where the f*ck is Eira University?" Congratulate me, I had the strangest dream I ever had in my whole life. When I started to be aware of my dream, I was engage in a high speed chase with two other guys running with me. We ended up in a port and got on a ship via the starboard. There were three single occupancy cabins across the ship, the first occupied by a fine young man waved off by his Dad and two somber looking men clad in pristine black suits. When I passed by the 3rd cabin, that's when I realized that it isn't exactly a passenger ship, rather it is a barge of some sort with places for passengers in case they do come. But instead of an open barge, the cargo side is enclosed and instead of cargos, there is nothing except a gigantic basketball court with wooden floors. A long bench adorns the left side of the ship along the court and on front are several rows of benches reserved for the sporadic passengers. I engaged a young lady in conversation when she suddenly coverd her mouth in surprise. Alarmed, I asked her what is wrong. She said she farted. Now that really puzzled me. So what if she bloody farted? Who doesn't? She said I didn't understand. She had a golden fart!!! Hold on, a what????!!!?? I glanced at the steel column behind her and true enough part of the column changed into gold! A commotion started because apparently the same bad guys chasing us were after her and her brother who shares the same GOLDEN FART! The guy in the first cabin is her brother.

As we were running away, my dream changed. I was running in a scavenger hunt with the clues pointing towards some universities and colleges in Manila. I and my partner have already finished 9 out 10 clues saved for Clue # 8. Just as we were heading to the finish line, someone screamed "It's at Eira University!". That's when I woke up wondering where the hell is Eira University...

Office Whine #1

Hayop talaga si Kamot. Nanahimik ang lola mo, bigla ba naman akong tawagin para titingnan kung tama ba yung ginagawa nya. Okay na sana kasi nagpatulong magvalidate kung tama nga. Eh ang hinayupak na Kamot pagtingin ko sa screen nya yung instructions naka step by step as in detailed step by step na pala inemail sa kanya ng administrator namin. Shieeet! Naisip ko na naman bakit ba nagta-tiyaga akong mapaligiran ng sandamakmak na bobo sa opisina???? Napagtanto ko na rin kung bakit ganyan sya magbigay ng instructions sakin, yung kelangan isa-isa at pa-ulit ulit. Kahit ilang beses kong sabihin na maintindihan ko at hindi ako tanga. Kasi pala siya hindi makaintindi ng simpleng instruction. hay buhay nga naman!

New Bahrain Banknotes Out Today

I am hoping I can lay my hands today on the new Bahraini Dinar banknotes now in circulation. Apparently, the change of the notes is imposed because the old notes carry the name of the now defunct Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA). The new notes now are under the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) which superceded BMA.

What do I get with these new notes? For one, I will have crisp bills! Hahaha! I’ll have to change my wallet as well! Bigger notes this time..hmmm..shopping opportunity! I can also grope the right denomination should I be in the most unfortunate scenario of having to pay someone in the dark. The new notes are accommodates the visually-impaired. At the top right, they have incorporated a series of short, raised lines to identify each note. A line for the half dinar; two lines for BD1; 3 lines for BD5; 4lines for BD10; and 5 lines for BD20. (Dang! Would anyone come up with glow-in-the-dark notes please???)

I browse through CBB’s website for a walk through of the new currencies. They have a wonderful interactive show that allowed me to look at the notes up close. Some of the changes I took more notice of:

BD10. The back side features the Shaikh Isa Bin Salaman Al Khalifa Causeway. The same bridge I cruise on from Muharraq to Manama everyday.

The new BD5 has the Riffa Fort and the Shaik Isa House in Muharraq whereas the old one features the airport…

The 1BD has the Pearl Monument, the same monument I have been trying for months to take a clear picture of in a moving vehicle =)

The ½ dinar features the F1 racing track, the same track I have never been into. Shame on me!

Main Article from CBB

Lost In Translation

Subtitles in "The Librarian". A funny reminder to buy original DVDs =))

"I have goosebumps seeing you both"
"Excalibur?"

Rude Awakening

Thou shall not waken up a sleeping Tarsier
You wouldn't want to be stared at by huge mean eyes

Vacation....!

Hurray for vacations!
Had a wonderful time at Boracay...

A Solitary Shisha Affair

After today's lunch with my colleagues, one headed alone towards the shisha shop for a nice smoke. My friend commented on how you can enjoy a shisha alone. I too have the notion that shisha smoking is at its best when it's shared. Shisha smoking is a social affair very much like how Filipino teens would gather friends around for a leisurely afternoon of conversation and beer. We figured shisha is very much like a cigarette. Once you get into the habit it's hard to break the habit. You just have to pop in a butt between your lips after meals. As for the ladies of my family-in-law, nothing is more relaxing than the gathering in the ladies' sitting room late in the afternoon with two homemade shisha pipes to accompany the gossips, advise and old stories. I once observed the whole affair with round eyes and mouth slightly ajar. It's amazing to see old and young ladies alike catching in sinful smokes of pure tobacco. In my own family no one living smokes rolled up tobacco leaves while chewing "nganga"*. Let me see, when I grow old and I'll be forced to take up either one as a "hobby", I think I'll go for a flavored shisha =)

* i actually don't know what is that thing old Filipino folks chew on while smoking tobacco leaves. The same one that makes their saliva brownish or reddish

Adik

dazed and braindead

cinnabon buns and muffins and 3 black coffee in small medium and large

Happy Chinese New Year

Ask. Answer. Discover.

Flying Carpet Ba Ito?

We went to the Autumn Fair at the Exhibition Center last night. Among the lingerie, fabrics, honey, chandeliers and wood arts, Irani carpets stood out among the stall. Our living room desperately needs a carpet so I nudged hubby to ask the price of one particular carpet that caught my eye. Two thousand five hundred (2,500) was the reply. We both asked BD or AED? BD. Maaay gulaaaay???!!!! PHP 270,950!!! Flying Carpet ba ito? We both were amused and decided to pick a mediocre carpet at Home Store for less than BD100.

Anyway as roughly explained by hubby "Iran" is synonymous to "carpet" and these particular carpets are hand-woven. I promise to research more on what makes the Irani carpet expensive.. =)

I Want You!

NSO Paper

NSO Paper

3rd Muharram

Winds and chill greeted me at the door today on my way to office. Bahrain seemed to be in a somber mood with dark clouds and fog enveloping the city. The waves are restless and the streets are damp reminiscent of the scattered rains last night. I saw four soldiers clearing some rocks near their camp at the airport being guarded by a comrade on watch atop a tank with his arms poised in the machine gun's barrel. I wonder who would try to attack them from the sea.

The roads and sidewalk are exceptionally clean today and colorful. The rain washed out most of the city's grime away. I remembered that last week the workers had uprooted the "overnight garden flowers" from the sidewalks and replaced them with new healthy and blooming ones. I remarked to my hubby on the seemingly unnecessary expense of putting in new blooms on top of the daily watering they do. And so today I understood all the oddities. The US flag flying high beside the Bahrain flag in the Muharraq bridge reminded me that President Bush is visiting Bahrain today for talks. My hubby commented with disgust that black flags to commemorate Muharram in a largely Shia community are nowhere to be seen. Instead US and Bahrain flags are flying high and the streets bloom with pink and white flowers.

I bet the roads and highways will have less traffic and the drive to home won't be as jammed as it should be. I am always amused at how the roads are easy to navigate when a foreign dignitary is due at the airport. Traffic lights from Seef to Muharraq bridge is always at green. A traffic enforcer stands by each signal ready to push the button at a command from his radio.

As we cruised along the highway, I noted with a smirk that all the huge billboards of the rulers are gone and a crane has lifted all the scattered stones away. I saw two magnificent mares getting readied. For parade, perhaps?

I wonder why countries beautify their facades when the President from a more influential country comes for visit. I shudder and marvel at the hypocrisy of it all. As a good leader/ruler you beautify country to please your people and to uplift their well-being. You don't try to achieve false good impressions. The well-being of your country and citizens comes first.