Fonzation

Reminder of Move

2006-11-28T09:22:00.000+03:00

A REMINDER

FONZY IS NO LONGER HERE

FONZY IS NOW HERE.

Fonzation DOT com

2006-11-27T15:19:00.000+03:00

Where to?

Moving up

Surprise From Fonzation..... Revealed

2006-11-27T13:00:00.000+03:00

Finally, its time to come out and reveal my surprise!!!

My surprise is this will be my final post!

Why?

Cos Fonzy is proud to present

An Ananyah Production

..........
........
......
....
..
.

!Click Here!

Bowling Champions........... B.C. :P

2006-11-26T13:39:00.000+03:00

Coffee Break

2006-11-26T12:35:00.000+03:00

After every weekend, you find it hard to get your brain to start functioning the first day. So you are sitting at your desk struggling to get things done which on a day during the middle of the week, would take you half the time. Half the day has past and I am feeling like a truck ran me over. Best medicine is a nice kick-ass coffee from second cup to have while working. Got me a caramel machiato and am sipping on it with big smile :D Cheers!!

Baked Potato

2006-11-26T11:06:00.000+03:00

Friday afternoon, I went to Rawda Co-op to take care of some grocery shopping. I had not eaten anything all day since I was so bummed out after Thursday night. But as I was walking out, I came across a baked potato stand. The smell overwhelmed me and, since I am a sucker to backed potato, I just had to try it. So I ordered me a potato which they cut in the middle and fill with cheddar cheese, topped with ketchup, mayo, salt, pepper, and other stuff you can add, but that was it for me. It was definitely one of the best baked potatoes I have ever had and its for only 750 fils. You gotta pay 4 times as much in restaurant where it tastes half as good. Highly recommend it.

Quality NOT Quantity

2006-11-26T09:15:00.000+03:00

I believe in the saying "quality not quantity". This past weekend was one of those times that reminded me of how true this quote is. The past weekend was pretty different. We were supposed to go to a party in a far isolated area in the desert but things didn’t work out. So we ended up simply going with the flow and seeing where we end up. We ended up going to a friend’s chalet who was hosting a small scale party which was pretty boring at first but, half way through the night, we were having our own fun which was great; I even got the chance to DJ and spin some of my musicJ At around 2:00 we got a call from another friend inviting us to another party so we head to it. It was very chilled out, and more like a night cap kind of night, which was nice. We chilled there for a few hours, and I didn’t even feel the time pass; next thing I know I am at home 6:00 a.m.!! I collapsed instantly and spent most of my Friday asleep recovering and making up for many lost sleeping hours.

A thought: It doesn't matter how many people you are partying with to have fun, what matters is who you are partying with............. quality NOT quantity;) I can be at a party with a 100 people and feel extremely bored yet I can be chilling with a few friends having the time of my life.

Dark Future for Lebanon

2006-11-23T10:20:00.000+03:00

There will be a lot of demonstrating going on in Lebanon today. Yesterday, on the news, Dr. Samir Geajea was asked if there will be a demonstration today to overthrow the lebanese so-called president, Emile Lahoud, and he stayed quiet shaking his head. That didn't look good. Many say that overthrowing Lahoud wont help much as there is a bigger power behind him, Syria, which needs to be resolved. But getting rid of this useless president, who has done nothing for the country but make it easier for outside forces to interfere and ruin the country, will definitely be something good for Lebanon and its people since nobody wants the country to be ruled by him. After all these terrorist attacks and assasinations, the people are all wound up and want answers and will resort to violence if they have to. If Lahoud is out, the people will at least calm down. The chances of a civil war are growing by the day, and as much as I hate admitting it, it might come sooner than we think.

Personal Note: Im sitting here on my desk reading the same page over and over again cos the only thing on my mind is the state my country is in and what will I hear on the news at the end of the day. God help us.

Condolence & Mass

2006-11-22T14:32:00.000+03:00

The Lebanese embassy in Kuwait will be accepting condolonces for Sheik Pierre Gemayel and Mass will be held at church. For more details, read Rampurple's post.

Independence Day

2006-11-22T13:34:00.000+03:00

Today is the independence day of Lebanon. This day is celebrated every year with joy and happiness but this year it is full of darkness and depression as we bid farewell to the martyr, Sheik Pierre Gemayel. It just keeps getting worse with time. With this day, we are inclined to think and believe that Lebanon is actually an independent country whereas the fact is that it has never won its independence; there is always a stronger power controlling the government. Lebanon is a country that all the bigger guys want a piece of and has become the land where all disputes are handled irrespective of what happens to the country and its people. It might be our independence day, but I sure as hell dont feel independent. I am afraid of what the future holds.

"Catchy" Phrase

2006-11-22T13:02:00.000+03:00

I saw this ad on the back of the bus and for a split second I was thinking "what the hell are they talking about?" I mean we all know what they use this quote for most of the time :) But for the yellow card?!?!?!?! Couldnt they think of another catch phrase, ok they did get my attention but I was disappointed knowing it was for the yellow pages! What a poor advertisement, if I wanted to get a copy of the yellow pages, now I changed my mind. I mean, they might as well wrote "size doesnt matter!"

Incredible Offer from Ahli Bank

2006-11-22T10:37:00.000+03:00

Al-Ahli Bank Retail Banking Division is pleased to announce the New Loan Campaign which includes:
(1) 4 Pprsche Cayenne - (1 every 2 weeks)
(2) KD 30,000 for 3 winners at the end of the campaign 31st Jan 2007.
(3) KD 100 for any customer who introduces a friend who take a loan.

This offer is for customers who have existing salaries with no loans, or have transferred their salraies to ABK, and get a new loan. Staff is also included, so if anyone wants a loan, let me know and I can get an incentive :P This offer is valid from November 19, 2006 to Januaru 31, 2007.

Another Assasination - Pierre Gemayel

2006-11-22T09:03:00.000+03:00

Yesterday was yet another sad and depressing day for Lebanon and all the Lebanese. Pierre Gemayel, the 34 year old industry minister and son of former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel, was shot dead in broad daylight in the New Jdeideh area north of Beirut. Reports said that a sport utility vehicle either rammed or pulled alongside Gemayel's silver KIA sedan and then was fired upon through the driver's side window, hitting the minister and at least two others. {More}

May he rest in Peace.

Whenever we think that the country is improving and we get our hopes up, something like this happens. Ever since Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Harriri was assasinated, many have followed and since none of them have been solved, I guess these damn terrorists consider it "ok" to kill politicians in Lebanon. With Gemayel's assasination, the Cabinet has lost 7 members during the past two weeks! Gemayel did not deserve this, he simply was standing up for what he believed in. He was anti-Syrian and a main leader of the Christian Phlange Party. The consequences of this terrorist attack will prove to be devastating as christians throughout the country vowed revenge against the March 8 coalition and pro-Syria Lebanese President Emile Lahoud. Dont look good. At first it was Israel and Hezbullah using Lebanon as a battle ground and now, even with the international forces around, it got worse cos it is now the battle ground for American and Syria; keeps getting worse when we think it is getting better!

Whether it was Syria or not, I have just one thing to say: Whoever you are, get the fuck out of our country and leave us the hell alone!!!

Source of Traffic I

2006-11-21T14:02:00.000+03:00

Looking outside my window from my office on the 12th floor :P, I see some traffic building up and for the first time I could see the cause of the traffic. So following the traffic to its source, this is what I see:

A DAMN PEDESTRIAN!!!

Goes to show traffic in this country is due to the dumbest reasons!

AUB Gala Dinner

2006-11-21T12:19:00.000+03:00

If you cant read the flier this is what it says: AUB alumni celebrates 140th anniversary. This is definitely one event I wont be missing!
Event: "Comedy Night" with some of the top Lebanese comedians (these guys are hilarious!!).
Date: Thursday, December 7, 2006
Location: At Arraya Ballroom, Courtyard Marriot Hotel
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Price: 20 KD
Contact: Check the flier, and if you still cant read the numbers, let me know.

Newest Ear Piece

2006-11-21T10:03:00.000+03:00

Collapsed

2006-11-21T08:39:00.000+03:00

After working myself to the max the past few weeks, I was feeling exhausted and I had reached my limit. Last night I was supposed to meet up with some friends for coffee, so decided to take a short nap and then get up and meet up with them; this was at 7:00 p.m. When I woke up, the clock read 5:00 a.m.!!! Ooops:P Yeah, I was pretty worn out, sleeping max 4-5 hours a day for over a month; there will come a time when you simply just cant go on and yesterday was my breaking point. But I really felt like going out, I guess I got some explaining to do :P Got me thinking though on whether this system I am following is healthy or not. I mean is it better to work yourself out to the extreme for a while then crash at once and make up for all the lost rest or sacrifice some of your entertainment and socializing hours at the end of every day and get an early sleep so you wake up refreshed every morning? For me, I dont think I can handle sleeping early and letting work be the only activity in my everyday life; if I dont see friends at least every two days, I know I will lose it. All in all, it was a terrific and refreshing much needed good sleep :)

Nose Picker II

2006-11-21T00:26:00.000+03:00

Gotcha! :P

Nose Picker I

Iza Za3ajak Sheelo

2006-11-20T10:06:00.000+03:00

For those who dont know what the title means, its an arabic saying, mostly Lebanese, meaning "if he bothers you, get rid of him" and these pics speak for themselves :)

First Day at School

2006-11-20T09:13:00.000+03:00

Yesterday was my first day at my course at IBS. When I first walked in, they had name plates for each of the students which we had to pick up and place before us. To start with, the teacher was 20 mins late and it was extremely boring waiting for him; when I got there, there were only 3 other guys in the room but the front table was full of plates. When the teacheer finally showed up, most of the other people had shown up. As usual, I sat all the way at the back of the class, just like the good olds days in university:) When the lecture finally starts, the dude is speaking in arabic!! We are supposed to be in an english-speaking institute, yet he is speaking arabic. Well that was fine by me, but there was one Indian student who had to focus on the notes to understand. The good thing was that we were given a copy of his notes so no need to take notes, that was a relief. It was a 3 hour class during which we had a 15 minutes break, when I had a coffee and a cigarette. All in all, the material was diverse and had some interesting points, although I already know most of the stuff which is why I am looking forward to learning new stuff in later classes; the teacher knows what he is talking about but sucks at explaining stuff, is dull, and for some reason, I dont think he likes me. As annoying as it was having to attend classes again, it reminded me of the university days, best days of my life!

Welcome to Africa

2006-11-19T14:19:00.000+03:00

Clash of the Video Games Titans

2006-11-19T13:12:00.000+03:00

Three monster video game systems are being released this season. Each has its own distinguishing specifications. I found this article that compares all three then you got separate articles for each on their special features and top games and other stuff. Personally, I would go for the PS3 or the XBox 360. Nintendo haven't been coming up with as much unique stuff. You can check out the comparison article then if you want more details, check out the links below.

Play Station 3

Nintendo Wii

Microsoft XBox 360

Your Inner Wii

2006-11-19T11:47:00.000+03:00

Another test. This one is for your inner Wii, whatever that means, but I do know it has something to do with the Nintendo console Wii. But, as always, these tests are interesting and you learn some new stuff about yourself. Take the test if you are interested in knowing what your inner Wii is. This is what I got:

"A friendly and social person like you will be right at home with the Wii whether you're playing one of the great games or exploring the cool channels. And for a social butterfly like you, the photo channel is sure to be picture perfect!

From birthday parties to coffee dates to shopping trips, you enjoy being around other people. You not only want to experience life, but you also want to capture and keep those great memories for years to come. No wonder you're able to create lasting connections with those around you. With your zest for life, your inner Wii is always fun to have around. Rock on!"

Up To the 12th Floor!!! :)

2006-11-19T10:05:00.000+03:00

Finally, the move is over. For the past week, I've been very busy packing my stuff and closing cases for this day to come. Today wehn I came into work, I see my desk totally empty; there was nothing there, not even the chairs!! It turns out they finally made the move official and we are now located on the 12th floor and damn it is one hell of an incredible view!! :) I got an amazing sea view and I get to see the country from a perspective I have never seen before. Plus I got my own office, no longer a cubicle:) Thats a plus!! Also, it is all peace and quiet here so no worries about distractions and can now actually get some work done. The only problem is being seated on the glass and when the sun comes, it will hit me strong. Working on get some blinds for that! But, all in all, am happy with the move. These pics are what I see out my window!! Incredible:)

And this is my new desk:)

Steve in L.A.

2006-11-18T15:06:00.000+03:00

Steve called me less than an hour ago from Los Angeles. After a long Thursday night, he was on his way Friday morning at 10:00 with a hangover:P We had a gathering at Kabab-Ji to bid him farewell and later went to a small house party, and then continued the night (actually morning:P) at his place till 5:00 a.m. Sounding exhausted from the long trip, he hit the sack after being greeted by relatives for 3 hours and is probably still asleep now, keeping in mind they are 12 hours behind us. Apparently, from the second he got on the plane leaving Kuwait, transit in London for 9 hours, and then on his way to L.A. he was enjoying the drinks all the way having beers and cocktails throughout:) He will be gone for one whole month!! As much as I envy him and it feels weird without him being around, he deserved this vacation and needed it badly. When he returns, he should be able to start fresh and be in a much better mood. Hope you have a great time bro and make the best of every second!!

Slow Day

2006-11-16T15:09:00.000+03:00

Today has been the slowest day ever. To start with, I slept barely 2 hours last night and woke up in the grumpiest mood ever not wanting to go to work although I knew schools were off and roads were empty. And it was very hectic at work and since I am so spaced out, it was taking me double the time to get things done. Also, I usually turn to blogging for a bit to change my mood but for some reason nobody is blogging, only a couple posts were up so far and extremely minimal visitors! And now that the day is finally over all I can think of is bed, my new boss comes up to me asking me to help him move a suitcase from the hotel to his new apartment but doesnt have a car. Since I am new, and so is he, I have to get on his good side as of now so I agreed. But if he asks me to carry it, am gonna shove it up his ass! Cant wait till tonight comes cos I got one hell of a night planned. Tonight we are going to Kabab-Ji to have dinner where a lot of people will be gathered up to bid Steve farewell, who is leaving tomorrow for a month's vacation in the States. After that, got a house party which I dont have to worry about getting cancelled:) Thats it for now. Am off to get all this shit out of the way and go hug my pillow.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!

Has Bush Really Evolved?

2006-11-16T13:28:00.000+03:00

Recommended for IBS

2006-11-16T10:02:00.000+03:00

When I came into work this morning and checked my work email, I received an email from the HR department requesting I fill in the documentation for the IBS program. IBS stands for the Institute of Banking Studies and supposedly offers the top programs in the country. It was usually made only for Kuwaiti citizens but has recently been open to expats who are recommended by big organizations. So apparently I was recommended to join this program! :) I guess I got the attention of someone upstairs:) Basically, it is a three month program, every monday and wednesday, three hours each session. Although I already know most of the stuff they are gonna teach, it will be good to refresh my memory and have a certificate which will be great for my CV; plus all expenses paid. But one thing is for sure is that I am gonna hate my mondays and wednesdays! I start tomorrow:P

Hardee's Kuwait

2006-11-16T09:02:00.000+03:00

Been in Kuwait for over a year now and never tried Hardees. I barely used to have it in Lebanon except when I felt like their Roast Beef. I did end up trying it two nights ago, even if it were accidently. I ordered a chicken fillet combo and after I left, I remembered the pic posted on Mark's post about hotdogs and how good it looked, so I turned around and got me a hotdog sandwich..... it was a total disappoinment. As far as I'm concerned, the only time I will visit Hardees is when I am in the mood for a Roast Beef, otherwise they got nothing else to my liking. Oh yeah, I also like their cookies:)

New from Apple Bee's

2006-11-15T14:06:00.000+03:00

I saw this poster on the road and thought I would share it with all Apple Bee's lovers. I think its been there for a while, but I just spotted it last night. Moving on, I spent all my world cup days there with a lot of people including Steve, Noush, Tal, Rampurple, Stallion, Maze, and many others. Cheers guys to great memories!!

Play Station 3 Pics

2006-11-15T12:02:00.001+03:00

Launched in Japan and soon in North America the Play Station 3 will sure be the hottest gadget in the market, I know I will be getting one as soon as they are available. But I read on Marzouq's blog that there is a rumour that it reached Kuwait and is 550KD, which I doubt to be true. Anyway, if you are a Playstation freak as much as I am then check out the rest of the PS3 pics........ cant wait till I get my hands on this baby!! :D {More Pics}

Correction: It was the Criticizer's blog where I read that the PS3 is being sold for 500 KD. My mistake.

Looking Up This Morning

2006-11-15T10:30:00.000+03:00

Dont wanna sound like some romantic frenzy, but the sky seriously looked incredible this morning. This is exactly the view I want to see when I look up. Reminds me of home.

Disoriented

2006-11-15T09:46:00.000+03:00

Working hours at the bank head office end at 2:30 but yesterday I walked out ay 7:30 in the evening so thats 12 hours of non-stop analysis of numbers and writing of financial reports, except for the hour I killed blogging:P Anyway, I had not had anything to eat except some biscuits in the morning so I passed by Jabriyah on my way home to pick up a sandwich for me and my dad, who for some reason likes Naif. So I went along with him. I parked next to Naif and walked into the place and started checking out the menu. Keep in mind that I worked 12 hours and had nothing to eat all day and was feeling very disoriented :P I was actually impressed cos I saw burger combos and hot dogs and stuff and was thinking "since when does Naif serve beef?" So I ordered what I wanted to order in the first place, chicken fillet combo, paid for it, and went outside to make a phone call while I waited for the food. I was pacing around talking on the phone with Soomi and I look up and I see Naif like 20 meters away. I WAS IN HARDEES!!!!! Damn I felt stupid!! :D

CLK vs LIK

2006-11-14T16:32:00.000+03:00

I am a member with the Lebanese in Kuwait (LIK) and been with them since over a year now. A few months ago, a new society was created called Cool Lebanese in Kuwait (CLK). LIK have been doing amazingly the past few years and ever since I joined them, I haven't missed any of their events. The CLK group have also been expanding and improving fast and are doing pretty well. They have been trying all sorts of different advertising and marketing strategies to attract as many members as possible and from what I'm seeing, its working. Been getting messages from them lately but never bothered to check their website until today. Personally, I didnt like their template and design much; I think its poor but they do have a lot of funky stuff up there. LIK, on the other hand, have a well organized and easy to read site. Also LIK events are on a higher scale and attract way more people. Still, lets not forget LIK has been around for years whereas CLK only a few months. Up till today, LIK attracted 1936 members and CLK 216 members. I see some strong competition coming up! Typical lebanese! Always competing!

New Boss in Town

2006-11-14T12:04:00.000+03:00

For the past few months, my new department had no head so it was being run by the most senior analyst. But today, the new boss came in. He called us in one by one to interview and get updated on our backgrounds, what each is responsible for, what we have done, and what plans we have within this field. It took me a while to be on the liking list of my previous boss, and it seems it will be tougher with the new guy. He was impressed though by my background and my bilingual skills. Still, from my first impression, he is an up-tight, know-it-all, strict, and serious pain in the ass!! He wont last if he keeps up with this attitude! So I guess, in a way, back to square one.

52 Sushi Pieces in 20 Minutes

2006-11-14T10:26:00.000+03:00

A guy was challenged to eat 52 pieces of sushi in 20 minutes. If he loses, he has to pay for them all.

Wanna know if he made it?

Virgin is Sorry

2006-11-14T08:08:00.000+03:00

Last night Steve and I went to Virgin, Marina Mall. I was surprised by how much the place changed. For starters, the panasonic section expanded and now has its own entrance and its own cashier. Now that got me wondering, why the hell is virgin renting out that space? I mean, its not like they got a huge area to be covered and they dont know what to do with it. This virgin is probably the smallest in the world and instead of making use of it, they decide that it will pour in more profit than if they use it efficiently. Moving on to the House/Trance CD section which I could get to blindly and what do I see? "Sorry for the Inconvenience"!!! Apparently, they are redecorating and shifted all the CDs to another area. I go to where they shifted the CDs and I find maximum 20 CDs!! I kept looking around thinking I missed something, but I didnt. Because of renovation issues and customs problems, they have not imported any new CDs during the past few weeks! My CD collection is bigger than the one they got displayed!! All I can say is that Virgin continues to dissapoint me, be it prices, meeting the worldwide known Virgin standards, and not being up-to-date on their products. And I hate where they put the new cashier stand, more wasted space. They gotta shape up, they have a lot to be sorry about!

Related post by Toxy on lack of DVDs.

Speedy Thumbzalez

2006-11-13T15:06:00.000+03:00

For years I have bedazzled all those around me using my thumb with my SMS skills, be it the fact that I write messages blind folded as well as the speed at which I write. I can write a message while driving without looking at the phone and back in school and university I used to write messages to my friend at home asking for answers to exam questions, or during a boring meeting, or while getting a lecture from my boss or parents..... all under the table; and I never checked my spelling cos I rarely ever misspell. Today I ran into a very interesting article talking about the fastest SMSer who broke the guiness record by writing a 160 character SMS in less than 42 seconds. So I thought to myself.... big deal, I can do that!!

I set the timer and started typing like crazy and had a set text in front of me. I tried it with and without the dictionary. My results were:

Without dictionary: 1 min 13 seconds
With dictionary: 53 seconds

Not bad, eh? :) Maybe with some more practice, I can break the record!

Related Post by Toxy.

Sad But True

2006-11-13T13:02:00.000+03:00

Upholding the Law

2006-11-13T12:31:00.000+03:00

Usually there is a road block next to my house cos it is one of those roads that once you are on, there is no where to run. But there was never some set schedule when they stop there. But ever since end of Ramadan, security has been intense. Almost everyday when I leave to work and when I come back home and when I go out, there must be at least one car parked checking for ID, car registration, or any other kinds of violations. I see cars parked on the right cos of a dented fender, underage kids driving, expired licenses, even suspicous drivers who have a girl with them in the car or just dont look right. Several times I saw little girls in the back seat of the police car waiting for their fathers to come pick them up. The way I see it, they are doing a great job in upholding the law and they are very polite to all until they discover they have committed a felony... basically innocent until proven guilty; now I hope they do the same with all those crazy drivers on the highways!

The Mob

2006-11-13T09:36:00.000+03:00

Everyday when I head to work I am surrounded by a mob of kids since there is a school facing my building. You seem them standing in the middle of the street beating the shit out of each other, running after each other, eating a sandwich or something, or hiding behind some car smoking. Every single one of them, maybe one or two exceptions, is a devil of some sort. I mean what do you expect when all the students are boys or girls. The boys end up being trouble makers and the girls end up feeling deprived of seeing the world. I have always been in mixed schools and I think I would have gone crazy if I were in an all-boys school. The shit these kids pull in the morning is unbelievable, I never even thought of doing anything similar when at that age. Take smoking for example, I started with I was 20; I saw 14 year old kids carrying packs and the stupid bakala dude was selling them although it is illegal for those below 18! I sometimes actually worry these kids would do something to any of our cars cos I have seen them flatten tires before of those who told them to get off the cars. But luckily, I got an alliance going on with some of them:)

Found Nemo :P

2006-11-12T14:05:00.000+03:00

While at Edo last night, I found Nemo :D

EDO

2006-11-12T12:03:00.000+03:00

I was never a big fan of sushi but I do enjoy having it except anything that involves salmon. I can handle crab and shrimp but salmon is just way too fishy for me:) Back in Lebanon, I never bothered to try it but since I came to Kuwait, I was tempted cos everyone seemed to like it so I decided to give it a shot. Tried several sushi places in Kuwait so far but Edo is the first one I post a review about. Its a very cozy place and the food is pretty good, although I have tried better. They do have a diverse menu though. I tried the beef terriyaki, and california maki. Also I tried something which is about green onions wrapped around with beef, and I honestly dont remember the name. There were also fried shrimps and bits from here and there. Although they serve 8 pieces per order, their pieces are pretty small.

Pros:
(1) Welcoming Hospitality
(2) Great Food
(3) Reasonable Pricing
(4) Relaxed ambiance
(5) Appetizing presentation of food
(6) No stink of fish - BIG PLUS!!!

Cons:
(1) Small pieces
(2) Tasteless green tea :P

Would I Go There Again?
Occasionally.

Bush is Threatened

2006-11-12T11:06:00.000+03:00

Back to the Past

2006-11-12T10:08:00.000+03:00

I took this test to find out who I was back in high school. I turned out to be the class clown, which I was:) Briefly what I got was:
(1) firecrackers and stink bombs were my educational tools - hehe good memories
(2) one of the smartest kids in class - I did have one of the highest GPAs :P
(3) happy to see everyone around me laughing - true dat!
(4) born entertainer - I try to, what else is a clown made for? :P

Who were you in high school?

Jazz Festival

2006-11-12T09:35:00.000+03:00

Today is Jazz's birthday. He just turned 28!!! Jazz has been a pleasure to know ever since me met during the World Cup games. We were cheering the same teams throughout until he decided to turn against me and cheer Italy and win during the finals. Among his many attributes is his descency, loyalty and care for his friends, extreme politeness, great sense of humour, open mindedness, and his incredible coin tossing skills (its a show I would definitely pay to watch) :P Anyway, to celebrate we head last night to his favorite sushi place, Edo. It was meant to be a surprise but I ended up getting there late and missed it cos of the damn traffic!!!! Why the hell do they have night schools!! Its not like they are studying anything during the day, now they wanna study at night too???!!!! Give us a break from the damn schools!! Ok......... way off topic :P Basically, it was a great night, great group of people sharing laughs and good times celebrating the growing of a great guy yet another year. And it was great giving back to him what he has given to all his friends.

Happy Birthday Bro!!!
Wish You all the Best!

The Flu

2006-11-12T08:42:00.000+03:00

So its the beginning of yet another week but this time I am starting it off with a flu!! I hate being sick, who doesnt?!?! Whenever there is a change in weather, I always end up being sick and when I get sick, I get really sick. It all starts off with some sneezing, which is when I start panicking, and then comes the sore throat. After coughing like crazy for one whole day, comes the running nose and more severe sneezing. The next day, which is today, comes the light-headedness along with the coughing, sneezing, and running nose; not to mention the extreme fatigue. I feel high!! On top of it all, I didnt get much sleep and am seeing doubles. Im expecting the fever to kick in later on today! What worse way is there to start off your week!?!?!

Update on Surprise: Sorry to say, the surprise is temporarily postponed due to technical difficulties :P I know its annoying but its out of my hands! Sorry people.... soon soon:)

Surprise from Fonzation

2006-11-09T15:30:00.000+03:00

Tis the weekend and everyone is out to rest, party, and do whatever they gotta do. I myself intend on partying and I hope it works out this time and nothing gets cancelled, as usual. So before I end this post and go off to start my weekend I would like to announce that I have a surprise for all my readers and followers to be revealed very VERY soon ;) I myself am looking forward to sharing it!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!!

Saddam Escapes!!!!

2006-11-09T13:13:00.000+03:00

Another Car Accident

2006-11-09T12:02:00.000+03:00

On my way back home from work yesterday afternoon, there was this pretty intense accident on the 4th ring road below the bridge that takes you into Hawally and Tunis street. The retard in the Mitsubisht was in a big hurry and ended up crashing into the car in front of him, who in turn ended up hitting a pickup Mazda in front of him getting injured in the process. You can tell how fast the Mitsubishi was going cos the trunk is literally in the back seat. Ambulance was there and he was rushed to the hospital. People I got one thing to say:

Driving is a skill based on ethics and awareness.

My Guest Book

2006-11-09T10:04:00.000+03:00

Since I have changed the template of my blog, I am inviting you to sign my guest book according to the new layout. So far I got many comments for it but none on the guest book. Those who signed it were commenting on my old blog design. I know the post comments are not showing on this new blog, am still working on that:) You can sign it by clicking here or you can go to it under Ayo's Chat Box. I appreciate any feedback you have to offer. Thank you and looking forward to your comments!

Here are the comments I received for the old blog: (listed in order from oldest to most recent)

Killa: Your blog is HOT:P
Deem: Impressive :)
Deenie: hey your blog is very cool :) its my first time here. I was wondering if your name is inspired by the guy from Happy Days.
Ananyah: Fonzy forced me to sign this, so do not believe anything I write here. He paid me to say that he is a nice guy, friendly, funny & his blog rox my sox...... so where is my 50KD? hahaha only kidding, I mean everything I say.... Im still wanting my money :P
Maze: Ur blog is amazing... very interesting... cant wait till tomorrow to see what u've posted... keep it on.
Sita: I think its great. Easy to read, the layout is good on the eyes... and you're always a little funny in your posts, and theres always something interesting to read... I like it :P Keep it up! PRESSURE!
Cuteberry: Me likey :) Keep it up. The more posts the better ;) Add the guest book link to the blog:)
Intlxpatr: Your blog is a lot of fun, in addition to being beautiful. Every time I see your banner, I think WOW.
Izzi: Your blog is like the coolest high school table where all the jocks and the cheerleaders sit... i love it:) Keep up the good work and entertaining, yet informative posts.
Noush: good job fonz... keep it up! im one of your #1 fans ;)
Stallion: Great work but you might wanna put icons for the links to your guestbook cause its hard to see especially due to the flag and the clock that take all the attention away from the links!

Welcome Aboard

2006-11-09T08:58:00.000+03:00

As I submitted this morning all the papers linked to the cases I was assigned to and have been working on them the past several months, my transfer was finally complete. I was welcomed warmly into the new department and after all the shaking of hands and saluting, the FOUR department members including me had a short meeting to discuss team work and how important having team spirit is and all that stuff. Now am back on my temporary desk with 7 cases in my hands getting prepared to dig in. Moving on to the next step of my career!

House Chores

2006-11-08T14:02:00.000+03:00

Other than the occasional visits my mom pats to Kuwait, my dad and I are living alone here. Every morning, I go to my job and he goes to his. Then when I'm done, I go to my second job and we end up meeting up at home at the same time, around 7:00 p.m. When home, sometimes he prepares lunch and sometimes I do, but recently its been mostly me. After that come the doing the dishes, which I ofcourse take care of, no way would I let my dad do the dishes. Then comes the daily light house organizing which we both handle. Each one is responsible for his own room but both work together on the rest of the house. Luckily, we got someone who comes in twice a week for house cleaning. Then at the end of the night before sleeping, there is taking out the garbage. And then every Friday, I got the laundry to take care of and, after, sometimes got ironing to do. Although I hate all house chores, I hate them in this order (from worst to least):
(1) ironing
(2) dishes
(3) organizing
(4) taking out the garbage
(5) cooking
(6) laundry

Dont know why I wrote about this, but yesterday I was too damn tired that I didnt do anything and today when I woke up, I looked around and everything looked so messy. You can not postpone house chores cos it will only get worse and it is one thing you can not escape!

Note: I am against having "help". Got used to the idea of taking care of myself ever since university dorms life.

IKEA Reminder

2006-11-08T12:48:00.000+03:00

Dont forget the IKEA opening tonight of their new showroom located at the Avenues Mall off the 5th Ring Road. I know its gonna be crazy and crowded but I am gonna attempt to pass by and check it out, probably if I do will post about it. Good Luck to all those going, be careful from all the psychos and the shopping craze, and happy shopping!

Marriage Icon

2006-11-08T12:02:00.000+03:00

Being on the topic of marriage I thought I share this photo which will soon be the international icon for marriage :)

The Biggest Question

2006-11-08T11:29:00.000+03:00

Why Get Married?

I turned 28 less than a month ago and I feel no different. I feel like I am still 23 living the life of a 28 year old, if not older. What I mean is I still feel young, whereas all those around me, be family member, co-workers, friends all see me getting older and most keep asking me one question.... "when are you gonna get married?" I give them all the same answer I have been giving for many years............ no marriage here. Im not against marriage and Im not afraid of commitment, God knows I have been committed before. But I simply just dont want to. The way I see it, you will get married when you feel you met the perfect match and you decide it is the next step in a relationship that has become so concrete. But recently the pressure has increased and is becoming unbearable. It feels like me against the world. My parents for one want me to tell them something like "ok I will think about it" so they feel more at ease, but I would just be bullshitting them and I know it will only backfire in the future so I end up being this stubborn hard headed asshole and say it again "NO MARRIAGE HERE!!" This is what they keep telling me:
(1) I am 2 years away from being 30.
(2) Get married early to see my kids growing up and grow up with them.
(3) If not now, I will be too old and cant be the family man I am supposed to be.
(4) Start a life with a wife early to build a base upon which to build a future.
(5) Time to stop with all the loose life and start a stable one.
(6) We need someone else to worry about you!! :P (probably the main one.. lol)

Although they all make sense, I am still not convinced. It just got me wondering.... is there an age limit to when a person should get married? What reason other than love should get two people to get married? Does being in a country like Kuwait, involved mostly about building a career, necessitate having someone to share your life with cos the way I see it, many push for marriage when residing in kuwait? When should you think of getting married?

Note: This post is not me asking for advice whether to marry or not.... cos my answer still is "NO MARRIAGE HERE!". It just got me thinking.

Full Tank = Empty Wallet

2006-11-07T15:45:00.000+03:00

I saw this pic and it brought back memories of the days back in Lebanon when we used to calculate how much we spend on gas, use a car with the least gas consumption, always putting aside a certain amount monthly for gas expenses, do stuff like car-pooling to save gas, avoid kick-downs and lots of other stuff. I remember many times I would drive for long distances with my eye on the gas guage freaking out that the car might die on me any minute! :) Gas consumption used to drive us mad there, not to mention the ridiculously high prices. Luckily, that is one thing we dont have to worry about in Kuwait since income is confortable and gas prices are cheap. Yet I loved driving there. Damn I miss Lebanon :P

Al Reef Al Libnany Restaurant

2006-11-07T14:03:00.000+03:00

I remember when I was a kid, I would go with cousins and have falafel, shawerma, fatteh, and other lebanese food at small snack places in the area. They would have a small cooking area with a counter and a cashier and a bunch of plastic tables and chairs outside. Kind of places where you order, eat, relax, and leave in 30 minutes or so. I kept going to such places till my last day in Lebanon. Yesterday afternoon, while trying to evade traffic, I spotted this small Lebanese restaurant in Hawalli on Sharahbeel Road called "Al Reef Al Libnany" so I thought I would give it a try. I tried the fettah there and it was incredible. They give you a big bowl with a big plate of vegetables and pickles. Didnt have my camera on me so couldnt take a picture of the food, but took a snap of the place today on my way to work.

Marzouq's Bike - Robo

2006-11-07T12:45:00.000+03:00

LOL, Sorry Marzouq I saw this pic and I couldnt stop myself :P

See pics of the real Robo.

Anonymous Comments

2006-11-07T12:22:00.000+03:00

Today I edited my blog settings to not allow anymore anonymous comments. Been getting several comments with criticism and insults who dont have the balls to post their names nor links. Usually I allow comments from anyone and I never deleted any comments, except one but I reposted it. Anyway, on my recent post "Zak in Hang Out", I got some useless comments from people who didnt read the post properly announcing that Zak has been around Kuwait for a long time and they need fresh news, when the fact is that I wasnt introducing Zak, but simply was talking about my night at Hang Out where Zak was playing......... so I say to those, read properly and if you need help with that, its not too late to go back to school!! Anyway, from now on, no more anonymous comments!

Firing Squad

2006-11-07T09:12:00.000+03:00

Today, for the first time, I will be presenting a case to the board of directors of the bank. My boss calls me into his office yesterday, hands me the case documents, and says, "You're going to the 18th floor tomorrow." When he said that, for some reason I was speechless. I felt like he was telling me "prepare to meet your doom"! I was always okay with presenting to the division heads but this will be the first time I present to the board. I gotta admit am very nervous about it. Im preparing for the case reading to myself as though I was praying getting ready to meet a firing squad!! :P But from what I have heard, they are chilled out people who want straight forward presentations without all the financial terminology, plain english. Still............... it scares the shit out of me!! Good Luck to me!!

Update 1: Its almost 10:00 a.m. and am getting ready for the presentation :)....... All the other seniors are giving advice on how to sit, talk, eye contact, and then they tell me dont worry about it, you will be just fine..... hehe as if that is gonna help :)

Update 2: Its 12:00 p.m. and just got back from the presentation. Did GREAT!!!!! But am glad its over.... felt like my heart was gonna jump out of my chest. It was a huge room with all the board members and other people all staring at me while I spoke, there were at least 20 people listening to me and were paying attention to every word and number I said. I said what I had to say and it was over; was asked a few questions, and gave them straigh answers. All in all, it went well.

Party Cancelled!!

2006-11-06T16:42:00.000+03:00

After going through a whole month of Ramadan and then a whole two weeks of family and Eid festivities, you just need to vent and party! I know Im in Kuwait and these events are illlegal but they are all done underground so where is the harm in that. Thats not the point! The point is that because of all these restrictions, the party last week got cancelled and there was supposed to be a pretty big one this week too, and when I say big I mean BIG, and it too was cancelled "due to security reasons"!!!!! Usually I never talk about those parties cos of security reasons but some people cant keep their big mouth shut and forget where they are and start talking about it to everyone till the wrong people know about it and pull strings to stop it. This sucks! I am at the peak of being pissed off! Everyone in the country wants to party so why not just give up and open up the country and rid us of all the headache that having fun is illegal. And please nobody reply with "do u need to party and drink to have fun?" During the week we go to coffee houses and restaurants but the weekend requires a stress relief event and drinking coffee does NOT help! One thing is for sure, I am not staying home nor am I going to a coffee shop for my weekend night off!

Was It Offensive?

2006-11-06T11:45:00.000+03:00

Yesterday I posted "Solution to Teased Men (+18)" about this new device for men's sexual pleasures. The reason I posted it is because I found the idea to be very innovative and unique. Doesnt mean I admire the device itself, but the idea behind it. I, personally, would not want to own such a device but, still, it is creative. Girls have their vibrator, which is a very commonly sold device, and now men have this (does me mentioning the vibrator offend anyone?). Whoever came up with the idea though is sure to make a lot of money out of it and the fact is that such ideas have a huge customer base. Anyway, apparently some readers looked it differently and thought of it as a perverted post as they referred to me by, "What is wrong with this guy?" When I write, I write keeping in mind that people who read me are open-minded and flexible. The way I see it, there is nothing offensive about the post, I am sure as hell NOT perverted, and it is a very innovative device (the idea is kinda nasty though). So thats me. But I am also curious about the feedback on that particular post. I had a mildly intense debate with a friend on the chat box on the topic. So, to all those who found the post demeaning in anyway, this is your chance to share your thoughts and if you decide to, please use a nickname. If none of you comment, I will take it that you were just blowing smoke.

Result: Waited all day for the so-called offended to come up and share their comments and thoughts but I got nothing. All I got were fellow bloggers and commentators who supported the post referring to it as "funny" and "educational" and an anonymous commentator threatened never to visit my blog again if I deleted the post.

Got nothing more to add on this issue.

USB Beverage Chiller

2006-11-06T10:32:00.000+03:00

This is a cool accessory to have with your PC. It is called the USB beverage chiller introduced by Cool IT Systems. I am one of those people who always needs a cold drink beside him, and recently its been Red Bull. So it would be cool to have one of these:) With the stuff they are coming up with, they better start assembling systems with a dozen USB ports.

Zak at Hang Out

2006-11-06T09:22:00.000+03:00

Back in Lebanon, I was a big fan of live bands, whether domestic or foreign. Whenever I hear some band is playing somewhere, I was sure to go. Except when it was death metal bands :P That was simply just noise. Always been a fan of how musical instruments work and love watching the musicians play. So last night we head to Hang Out to listen to Zak sing while playing his guitar. He is a talented soloist player and has a pretty good voice; the sound system installed is high quality and the voice is distributed all over the place in a non-annoying way. Among the songs he played my most favorite I should say was Zombie followed by Hotel California, with which he ended the night. He played from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Usually there would be a bigger audience but for some reason there were maximum 20 people, of which 10 were on our table. Regardless, I would recommend you to listen to him play. Not only is he talented with the guitar, at the end of the night he passes by every table, sits with the peope, and gets to know them. He usually plays every Sunday there but I think its every other Sunday now. Enjoy!!

Saddam Convicted

2006-11-05T14:40:00.000+03:00

"Saddam Hussein and two other men were convicted and sentenced Sunday to death by hanging for war crimes in the 1982 killings of 148 people in the town of Dujail, as the former leader, trembling, shouted "God is great!" "{More}

Although I am against capital punishment, this son of a bitch had it coming and the world deserves to be rid of him cos it will be a better place after he is gone. But the problems in Iraq will just begin.

Mobile Idiots

2006-11-05T14:02:00.000+03:00

Question: Whats more dangerous than driving a bicycle on the streets?

Answer: Driving two bicycles!!!

Solution to Teased Men.... (+18)

2006-11-05T12:25:00.000+03:00

Did you figure out what it is????

I dont know what they call it but it is a vibrator for men to give them sexual pleasure!! LOL Women have their vibrators and now men have this!! This is a new chinese invention seen in their market recently. This product will become a very hot product very quickly. Seriously those chinese think of everything!! But this.... LOL... I cracked up when I first saw it. Didnt know what it was until I saw the second pic. All you teasing woman out there................. be afraid be very very afraid :P You cant control us anymore, we got a third hand now!!!!!! :D

My Favorite Snack

2006-11-05T10:09:00.000+03:00

Almost everyday when I leave my work at the bank and head to my second job, I usually dont have time to have lunch so I go for the quickest thing and the easiest thing to eat. This is my typical while-driving snack :) Frankom is gonna kick my ass after seeing this pic :P Peace man:)

Reporting to Duty

2006-11-05T09:50:00.000+03:00

First day at the new job with a brand new title and a brand new list of job requirements! Just got back from meeting with my new boss and boy does he have plans for me. Turns out they have been stocking on all the arabic balance sheets cos they heard I was being transferred two weeks ago and were eagerly waiting for me to come to throw the stuff at me:) Talk about not wasting any time! Still, am looking forward to this experience cos I know I will learn a lot from it. The good thing is that I wont have to have 20 files on my desk at the same time and I will get to work in a quiet environment. Could get a little boring at times, but at least I will be able to use my time more efficiently with no interruptions. Looking good so far!

Desk Cleanup

2006-11-04T15:36:00.000+03:00

For the past month or so, I've been coming to work on my day off to finish write-ups on cases I got. Today, also my day off, I came in to put away all papers and archive the cases I got preparing them for whoever will take over my post after I am gone. It is such a pain in the ass organizing all this paperwork! To top it all, I still got a headache from Thursday night... as I said before, it was worth it! Tomorrow I report to the new department. YIKES!!!! am freaked out already!

Burj Dubai

2006-11-04T12:56:00.000+03:00

This is incredible. I read this article today about Dubai Tower (Burj Dubai), which is to become the world's tallest skyscraper. With two stories being added every week, it already has 79 stories, taking its height to more than 200 meters. But even after having gone that far, it is still unknown what the tower's final height will be. The tower, costing one billion dollars, should be completed by the end of 2008. Incredible how Dubai has become one of the top cities in the world in such a short time.

Recovery

2006-11-03T05:04:00.000+03:00

Just got back home...... Crazy night.... many spelling mistakes, had to rewrite several times. May the recovery begin!!!!

Am Going to Bed! :P
Good night and have a great Friday!!!!

My Long-Awaited Weekend

2006-11-02T16:30:00.000+03:00

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!! After weeks and weeks that would never end it is time to partyyyyyyyyyyyy!!! :D Its the weekend and I got a lot of time to make up for. It being Ramadan, and being overloaded with tons of work, family coming and going, and barely anytime for myself........ it is time to VENT!!!!!!! Tonight I will party. Got a birthday party to go to in a far isolated place. Never looked forward to a party as much as I do right now! As for tomorrow, I'm sure I will be recovering from tonight :P

Have a Great Weekend Everyone!!!!!!! I AM OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Beer Prayer :)

2006-11-02T16:29:00.000+03:00

For all those who are gonna party this weekend, read out the lines below before you begin your night for such nights have become hard to come by recently!

Transfer Complete

2006-11-02T16:00:00.000+03:00

I received my transfer papers today. As of yesterday I was assigned to the Credit Analysis department which I spoke of in an older post. Since I had some pending cases, I won't begin till Sunday working with the new department. Hehe, the rest of my unit found out about my transfer today as well and were all sad to see me go. They were all crying and depressed......... NOT!!! :P Nah, they were sad to see me go cos I am what they refer to as the "friendly neighbor":) And soon, my desk will be occupied by some grumpy, know-it-all, old guy! But I promised to pay them visits weekly. Temporarily, I will be staying on my desk but as of next week, I think we will be moving to the 12th floor!! Cant wait till that happens :)

Sad But True :P

2006-11-02T15:15:00.000+03:00

Relieved

2006-11-02T15:03:00.000+03:00

After 3 hours of going in and out of the meeting room where the committee is gathered, I finally completed my presentations. It took this long cos there are turns and when you finish one presentation, you go outside and wait till your turn comes up again for the next one. I finally finished and I feel sooooooo relieved. My tiresome 4 weeks of constant stress are finally over. All I got as feedback from my boss was: "Excellent presentations!" And, to tell you the truth, that is exactly what I was looking for! Could not be more satisfied and I feel great that all my work paid off. Now its time to relaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaax :)

Fear of Speaking

2006-11-02T11:30:00.000+03:00

Today will be the final set of cases I will be presenting to the committee as a credit officer. You know what they say, the first and final impressions are those that have the greatest effects. Although I had already presented dozens of cases during the past few months, today feels different. I got butterflies in my stomach; feels like I am back in high school presenting in front of the class! I even gave a presentation once in university to over 500 people!! Today am presenting to 10 people max, but are all some of the top financial people in the country. I am very well prepared as I studied all cases fully last night and this morning. LOL I was practicing presenting them on my way to work today. It just got me thinking on how funny it is that some things in life dont change no matter how experienced you are.

Ok am off now to face the predators!! :P

Spontaneousity

2006-11-02T09:15:00.000+03:00

Great morning. Drove to work on the empty roads without needing to speed or get pissed off at idiotic drivers. So I got my camera out and started clicking away taking random pics all the way from home to work.

NO KIDS

CLEAR CLOUDY SKY

EMPTY ROADS

WEATHER

GREEN LIGHTS ALL THE WAY

WORK

Who Scares You the Most?

2006-11-01T16:04:00.000+03:00

It being Halloween and all, people usually stick a scary DVD in, get some popcorn, and scare themself to death:) I personally watched Friday the 13th (Jason). Who do you vote to be the scariest character of those below? Left (top to bottom): Chucky, Freddy Krueger, Jason. Right (top to bottom): Pumpkinhead, Leprechaun, Leatherface.

Fingerprinted............... AGAIN!!

2006-11-01T14:31:00.000+03:00

I was sitting on my desk sipping on a coffee very relaxed and I get a cool from the mandoob (bank representative) telling me to rush down to where they take the fingerprints for the residency. I told him I did it months ago and his reply was, "Someone spilled water on them!". I was speechless for a few seconds and all I said was, "You're kidding, right?" I went in to tell my boss and he was stunned. So I rush there and get the whole thing over and done with..... AGAIN and it was not better than my first experience. I was cussing the whole way there! It gets better.................

I'm supposed to finish off a case and present it by early tomorrow so was rushing back to work when I find a queue outside the parking lot, cars waiting in line to get in. It was too late to reverse cos more cars were behind me. So I had to wait. I sat in the car waiting for over 30 mins!! It gets better............

I finally get into the parking and I'm driving through 5 levels and couldnt find a single parking spot!! I was growing very impatient, although nobody is as patient as I am, and got very pissed off! What pissed me off ten times more was this one car parked taking two parking spaces. Damn I felt like flatenning his tires!!

Finally found a spot. Parked. And rushed to work thinking only about how much of an ass was the guy who took the two spots. For cases like this, I think we should prepare such people a surprise like this (below) :P Yes, thats tape all over the car :D

IKEA on 08-11-06

2006-11-01T14:02:00.000+03:00

When I got home yesterday, I found this magazine on my home doorstep. I went through it and found that there is a lot of interesting stuff in there. I mean I LOATHE shopping, but am actually considering paying these people a visit. IKEA will be opening on November 6th at the Avenues Mall on the 5th Ring Road. Happy shopping!

Correction: Opening is on November 8

Frist Basement

2006-11-01T12:06:00.000+03:00

This is where I park everyday! :)

Sunset in Kuwait

2006-11-01T11:30:00.000+03:00

LAU Recruiting

2006-11-01T10:45:00.000+03:00

For anyone interested in working in Lebanon for the Lebanese American University (LAU), they are currently accepting applications for the following vacant positions: Click on the job names to know the job description and other details.

(1) Writer / Research Associate
(2) Associate Director of Development
(3) Associate Director of Development - Annual Funds and Programs

For more info click here.

McDonalds Drive Thru

2006-11-01T10:03:00.000+03:00

When I leave my job at the bank at around 3:30 to go to my second job, which I have to be at by 4:00 and is in Sulaibiya which takes 30 mins to be there, I sometimes need a quick bite to eat. So what is on the way, the fastest, and isnt too bad to eat? -----> McDonalds! Luckily there is one facing Ahli Bank, where I work, and on my way; so I made a stop yesterday after work, got me 3 small hamburgers, fries, and a coke. I love the burgers there, the plain simple ones. They taste great and easy to eat. And that is very important since I am eating and driving; no way can I drive and eat a Big Mac, for example. I can finish off one of those small burgers in 3 bites!! If you think thats bad, I have a friends in Lebanon who used to fold the burger in half and put it all in his mouth in one bite! I dont know many people who are fans of McDonalds, but one blogger I know of who does like it is Frankom.

Jazeera Faces its Problem

2006-11-01T09:02:00.000+03:00

For all those who have faced the problem of booking with Jazeera Airways recently and faced a problem of "repeated bookings" (read this post by Mark to know what problem Im talking about), I received this email this morning from Jazeera explaining the error:

"This is due to a fiber optic cable breakdown in Saudi Arabia that resulted in slow and disruptive internet service across more than half of Kuwait. The Kuwait Ministry of Communication worked quickly to resolve the issue by changing the internet link-up to Dubai; however the internet service continues to remain below service levels across Kuwait.

We have been informed that this disruption will continue today as the Dubai link up is not able to support the Kuwait service optimally.

As a result, many of our customers who have tried to book in the last 24 hours did not receive confirmations on their booking and have therefore made repeated bookings. The reality of this situation is that payments and bookings did go through however customers were not informed due to the disruptive service.

As always Jazeera Airways would like to assure our customers that they are not at risk and we will do the following to resolve this:

- Refunding you the extra bookings in full

- Continue to work with the Kuwait Ministry of Communication to resolve the situation at the earliest and work together in order to ensure the problem does not reoccur.

Your extra charges will be refunded to you in full within 25 days (depending on your bank and its credit card refund processing procedures)."

Me the Hero :P

2006-10-31T15:57:00.000+03:00

I am a hero!!! I went outside on the stairs to smoke a cigarette and there was smoke everywhere! Some retard threw his cigarette into a garbage bin full of papers and it ignited. So when I went outside there was literally a clod of smoke so thick you cant even see the stairs. So, the courageous fire-fighter that I am, I felt my way through and found the source of the fire. Ran to the kitchen and got a glass of water and went back outside. I extinguished the fire and everyone was cheering me and carrying me on their shoulders and screaming out my name :P

Note: This story is a little exagerrated to meet imagination requirements ;) in other words, there was a small fire in the bin and I threw some water on it.... the rest is bullshit. I just wanted to share this!

Whats the Point?

2006-10-31T12:03:00.000+03:00

I posted this pic a long time ago and ran by it again this morning and couldnt help cracking up and wanted to post it again:) Its hilarious!

Whats Up With the Connection Today?!?

2006-10-31T11:35:00.000+03:00

For some reason the internet connection sucks today. Its taking forever to load. Its very frustating and it always happens when there is something important I need to do. And its not only me, apparently everyone is having the same problem.

Update: What happened yesterday was due to a "fiber between dammam and riyadh was cut this morning at around 9.38...this made links slow down as they had to find an alternate route, whichs always slow...it bounced back at 3.45" as stated by CyberRowdy.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T11:06:00.000+03:00

{ What is Halloween? }

KFC Finally Faces Facts

2006-10-31T10:33:00.000+03:00

I guess KFC finally woke up to the fact that their junk food is slowly killing people around the world. I read an article today about KFC announcing that it will stop using artery-clogging fats. The proposal would have taken an especially harsh toll on KFC, but the company said that by next April, all 5,500 of its U.S. restaurants will have switched from trans fat-rich partially hydrogenated vegetable oil to a new soybean oil believed to be less likely to cause heart disease. I have not had KFC in the longest time but when I came to Kuwait, the smell of the fried chicken got me once and I was tempted; so I tried it and I remembered why I stopped eating it in the first place...... its nasty!! Doesnt look like chicken, doesnt taste like chicken, not even properly cooked, raw from the inside, gives you a major stomach ache, you lose your appetite for the rest of the day. I boycott this place again! Anyway, check the article. {More}

Anyone Seen the Sky Today?

2006-10-31T09:52:00.000+03:00

This is the first time I look up at the sky during the day and dont get blinded. Dont mean to sound like the romantic guy who sheds a tear by a beautiful sunset but this was quite a view to look at!

Energy Drinks Taking Over

2006-10-30T13:45:00.000+03:00

We all know what Red Bull is and that there are dozens of other kinds of energy drinks in the market. What we didnt know, at least I didnt know, is that during 2006 more than 500 new energy drinks have been introduced into the market worldwide. These drinks have become an international addiction, I am one of those people. But I am excused for using it, since I work at least 10 hours a day and need something to stay awake. But you got people who abuse it and drink 3 or 4 in a row gulping them in one go each to get some sort of buzz. In the U.S. alone, 7.6 million teenagers today drink energy drinks. When abused, it has a lot of negative consequences and are therefore being fought by nutritionists all over the world. For example, in France, Red Bull is considered illegal cos of the active ingredient tanaurine. {More}

This is FREAKY!

2006-10-30T12:45:00.000+03:00

Yesterday I saw the cutest cat and decided to take a picture. After clicking the camera and the flash going off, and the picture taken this is what I got. I freaked out when I saw the picture. Well I didnt really freak out, but it did get me thinking about how they say that cats are demon creatures and all that. Personally I think they are the funniest creatures and are fun to play with and I know it is all a reflection of the flash but this pic definitely stands out!

Al Jazeera Freedom Movement

2006-10-30T11:15:00.000+03:00

Al-Jazeera Airways launched a new offer for their "Freedom Movement" campaign. All destinations for 5 KD only. Conditions are:
(1) Bookings must be made between 00:01 hrs on October 30 & 23:59 hrs on November 2, 2006.
(2) Offer valid for flights between November 12 and March 24.

Fun Picture

2006-10-30T10:35:00.000+03:00

I love how such simple pics have such funky effects.

Gitannes

2006-10-30T10:04:00.000+03:00

I ran out of cigarettes yesterday and was driving around Hawally and Salmiya to many of those small shops but none have. I know they got them in the bigger supermarkets but the traffic was crazy and it would have taken me forever. So now I am smoking Marlboros, I hate Marlboros but they are the closest to Gitanes. Dont know why those small places dont sell these cigs, they are the best!

School Traffic Insanity

2006-10-30T09:25:00.000+03:00

I dont think I left any insult that I didnt say this morning. I was cussing from the second I left the house. The traffic was incredible today. Reminded me of Ramadan days, and worse. Only difference was that it was not sunny; the weather was great. This is what I like, no sun and cool temperature. Recently the traffic police closed the road leading from Hawally to Kuwait Highway (I think its called Maghreb Motorway) so I am forced to make a lengthy turn to the 4th ring road and from there take the highway. There were cars everywhere, crazy people trying to make it to work, people standing waiting for the bus and most of them stand on the road until some speeding cars scares them off, half sleep people attempting to wake up, everyone playing bumping cars.... its a catastrophe! And on the way, I have to pass by 3 different schools!!! Each is more annoying than the other. It took me 45 minutes to get to work!