LIVE (again)

I have been invited for an interview tomorrow afternoon LIVE on the English language radio station here in Oman to talk about my books Rapidly Blue & Wonderous World.

The interview is supposed to be at sometime during the afternoon 3pm-ish on the 90.4 broadcasting station of Oman English FM. You can also find this transmission on the internet through this link

Hope you will be able to tune in and enjoy the interview.

Cheers!

No Excuse

Ok, people.

You now officially have no excuse to tell me you didn't know about this.

We are trying to promote the upcoming UNICEF charity song dubbed 'I'm Innocent' that is sung by Neil Montera, a very good friend of mine.

YOU can help by downloading the song from the permanent link that I have placed on the right hand sidebar that says 'UNICEF - Download Charity Song Here', and when you do promote it where you are. Get people to burn it on their CDs and for every person who wants to copy it off of you, ask them to pay a simple donation that goes to the UNICEF fund. The end sum of which you will all set aside to give at the UNICEF headquarters where you live.

We need all the help we can get on this project. So please, don't waste any time on it!

Thanks!

Horizon newsletter - Pt. 3

The Horizon newsletter that is printed and published by the Sultan Qaboos University had at last published my second short story which is titled Blue Ribbon Beauty.

This short story is the first of a two-part short story series on which I plan to send the second part in due time to the people behind the newsletter for publishment.

And since the newsletter has no official website on which you can check out the story, I have - below - typed it out for your pleasure and enjoyment.

Please do share your comments on it..

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We smiled
We just kept on smiling
Her eyes into mine
Our lives were connected

‘Hi’
‘Hi’

We stood there. We didn’t talk
We couldn’t speak. We couldn’t breathe. We just had to fall

‘Can I buy you a coffee?’
‘Maybe a drink?’
Anything to make you happy
Anything to make you stay with me

My life is embodied by the jewels that are around me
Your eyes; your lips; the elegance that surrounds me

‘If I could be this night’
‘I would ask to stay forever like this’
‘Why is that?’
‘So I can always remember you like this’

She just stood there and smiled
Her eyes gleamed like an innocent child

‘Would you like to sit down and have a chat?’
‘Maybe a better chance for us to know each other, to get to understand’

She was like a wildflower
Blooming, while she gazed
My heart was racing
Unstoppable, at this stage

Blue ribbon, on her hair
You’d think I was nuts
But I assure you
I have seen her before. Where and how? And why was I unaware?

Life beyond life
Beauty beyond compare
This night
This passion flare

Looking at her
‘You’re late’
She looked at me suddenly, worryingly
‘What took you so long to come into my life? Today?’

I only wish
I had seen you before
I have only dreamed of this moment
For a night, with you, to hit into my heart – the centre of my love, the core

Her cheeks blushed
She stared into the floor
She was smiling deeply
Yet she could not hide it at all

She flapped her hair over her ear
That is beauty
That is beauty
To me

I wish I could have said to her
That day
How could I let her go?
‘I have to go now; maybe we’ll meet some other day’

As she got up heading for the door
She turned around, smiled back at me, but unaware
That as she headed out
Something had fallen off of her, but I think she did it on purpose to show how much she cared

Getting up to reach it
Before it fell to the floor
She left, but the image of her, in my heart, it will always be
I pray that I will know her, one day more

As I knew I had another chance
Because of the blue ribbon within my hands…

good response

I wasn't able to come online tonight until around 12:30am local Oman time because electricity was out in one whole sector of the Muscat, aka: Qurum 29, for a full 4 and a half hours. This electrcity blackout wasn't limited for the night but had happened earlier on, as I was informed by others, this afternoon another 3-4 times.

Apparently, there were a few fuses burnt. And when those were fixed. Things went back to normal for a little time until the night came and it blew the cable. Sparks flew and neighbors didn't know what to do. Where aliens to blame? Was God trying to teach us to conserve power? Or was it the night we should just enjoy the beauty of nature in terms of the bright full moon and starry skylit night?

All in all. It was a night to remember for those who were there. And enjoyable it was even though stressful to come and go every half an hour to check it the power was back on or not.

I guess every dog has his day.

...woops ;oP

Racism: The unclosed chapter of man's existence

The world has now been able to overcome major diseases in the name of national science and bio-technology and the developments in these two fields hold almost every second of the day all over the world. But, unfortunately, the world has little to claim over taking out another disease that has been manifesting even since the existence of mankind on this Earth. Namely; racism.

Where-ever we go these days there is surely a big group of people that calls on the errdication and destruction of another race, nationality, or mere face that they care not to look at in the mornings they walk across the plains.

And it is more unfortunate even, that this not only exists in developed countries but also in developing and under-developed countries. Africa and the Middle East is by no means an exception. Even though the cases that arise are that of minority, but if it is not capped now, the problem will only grow larger beyond solution in the future and authorities will face an extravagent challenge in belting society and the indviduals who carry out inhumane acts of nature against their own brotherhood.

Such is the example in Africa, where Ethiopians, Somalis, and South African fight to regain their freedom in the lands they were born on but with the cost of their lives as they also fight to survive in hostile environments without food, water or shelter for that fact. The mere word co-existence will ignite a simple tribal war within the region let alone kill hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women and unable men.

In the Middle East, and specifically in the GCC region, the expatriate passport owner is unfortunately looked at with a red eye of mistrust and the ever-ready pounded fist of single-minded fury that shows no mercy on which the 'law of the jungle' is carried out on. Where most of the Omanis think that Indians are an under-classed race that should be stepped on and mastered over only because they are living off the peanuts their 'masters' present to them at the end of the month where in reality these so-called 'low lives' are the same ones who built everything their 'masters' live in, from roads, villas, apartments and the such all over the country. I very well dare any Omani to come forward and say that they built so and so in such a place in Oman. Because Omanis will only graduate from their under-graduate studies to follow a dream of sitting behind a desk with a PC in an air-conditioned office and have the company 'tea-boy' bring in his morning choice of hot beverage.

If anything, Omanis should be grateful to those have built them their homes and roads by showing some gratitude and respect instead of shouting at them as if they were animals or robots with no feelings whatsoever.

Omanis have learnt everything that the world has offered to teach them, but is there really a need to bring in a new subject called 'respect 101' & 'respect 102'?

There is little appreciation for the actual working force who work their butts off in the hot sun and only get 80 or 100 Omani Rials per month and send back almost 3/4 of that payment to their families in their homelands.

And somehow, it doesn't seem to be getting any better..

Heaven

There's not a soul that wants to say that it's ok to stay alive
There isn't a person in this world that says that life isn't worthwhile

You have to breath to appreciate
The wonders at your feet, the barriers you break
The different experiences your mind takes
The feelings, the emotions, the wisdom in-construction that you are given only to give back again

With all it's ups and downs
Like a rollercoaster
The hole you dig for yourself when you're depressed and alone
Is only yours and one day you would die in your thunder

Precious moments
Come and pass by
The candle you light
The moments you catch a smile
The flirtatious character you set loose and wild
Is perhaps the only thing that might get you to the end

Heaven is a wonder
And oh what a wonder it is
She smiles
She laughs
She cries tears of joy
She's there when you are under stress
And the world plays with you like a toy
She's the only one who would comprehend

Time will pass
And after many years you'll learn to understand
That love isn't a treasure you have to find
In fact
If it ever is something
It's the way you find yourself in her eyes
In the way you make her smile
When you find your way to her heart
It's the only thing that would get you by

...that's Heaven

The Child Inside Me

Mind the headache
The steps that I try to take
The wind that slaps in my face
I try to turn away
Yet I am lured into the game

Passive sense of love
The lies, the deciet, the mistrust
The path of the woods that grow dark and get you lost
Wind's in my face, your voice, I hear you not
The vigilant craft of the mind
The feelings I aim to hide
I take aim
I play the game
I keep focused
I stay the same

Now all alone
What do you do?
Face the facts
I am told
You will never get what you want if you stay that way
Learn to stay behind in the line so you don't experience pain

So now I tell myself
That I am no longer myself
I no longer care for the world and what everyone thinks
I start to move on, I get a pull, tugged on
And this child inside of me looks at me with these innocent eyes
He's crying
He's sad
He's asking
'What about me? When would everyone understand?'

I have no answer for the child
I move on, lifeless onwards with time

The Omani tourism policy

Up until a few years back, there were strict restrictions on who gets to come into the country and who gets their work visa in the Sultanate of Oman. You would need a sponsor for your visit/work/vacation visa(s). Tourism wasn't even an industry back then because of the low amount of tourists that would visit the country and the beauricratic policies that both the governmental and private organizations took into looking at such issues.

There were only a handful of 5 star hotels in the Muscat capital area, and even then they were far too expensive to have a long stay in. Still then, there were no actual local companies that would promote the country outside Oman especially regionally and internationally. There were hardly any companies in the Sultanate who you could call professional tour operators that would tour the tourist sights all over the country.

The only amount of money that was spent to keep this little sector running back from the government was the financing to recreate the structures of the castles, forts, and relegious grounds that offered a high heritigal and relegious values to the visitor of Oman.

When the oil fields in Oman started to show signs of drought, the government embarked on a new era. That was to open a Ministry of Tourism and allocate to it an annual budget of 50 million Omani Rials for both; the sixth and seventh five-year plan.

The ministry started to allocate automatically to it all the sights that are relevant from a tourist 'perspective' forts, castles, relegious grounds, hotels, hotel night-clubs, and the such.

Thus also embarking on a wide scale but narrow field - or niche - of customers that it would target to attract. This means that the Sultanate was looking to attract middle and upper-class tourism to it's land. But there are discrepencies between the public eyes that this might lead to Oman being much like it's neighbor Dubai; which the government assures it won't, but nonetheless, it still lurks within the community.

There have been several projects of investment in the tourism industry since then like the Shangra-La Bandar Jassa Hotels & Resort, the Blue City located near Al Sawadi, and now a new fishing and ocean lining systems company to open up in Al-Duqm bya several Chinese and Omani investors, not to mention the Wave that includes several investors from the UAE and Oman.

Oman may be all set to start it's right foot into the tourism venture league. But this arises many questions such as; why the sudden opening to the tourism sector when the country isn't that aquainted with tourists in high quantities (almost every 10-15 days about 2000 - 3500 tourists arrive on an ocean liner)? What about the visa norms, why have they still not been relaxed? Why is the government still focussing on middle and upper-class tourists when they know that these individuals will pay cheeply - once they get here - for all their supplies? Is the community in Oman ready to face such an open-market policy now that Oman is now in negotiations with almost every main international airports to make Seeb International Airport and Salalah International Airport a main hub in the Arabian Peninsula?

Links:

- Shangri La, Oman
- The Blue City, Al-Sawadi
- The Wave, Muscat

The Blind Man

I suppose I have only myself to blame for the state that I am coming up to now which is the state of indeciveness. As in to not be able to clearly think out what is it that I really want.

Don't get me wrong here. I clearly know that I want to go further and hone my skills in the field of artistry. But as an online friend here once told me that such a future is doomed to fail here in Oman since there is no light to head to in that path. While I believe that if one was to pursue their belief no matter what anyone says or does and makes their dream ambition a reality that they would prove everyone wrong.

I know I want to write. I know that I want to also have a proper job. I know that I would like to, one day, settle down. But I sometimes cannot come to terms with the world outside and how lonely it feels to be alone. I guess no one can. I am asked constantly to look at the glass half full. I am asked to look beyond such long term goals and take things one step at a time. I am also asked to not rush into decisions and take my time with everything.

But I can't help it.

When I was young; I always wanted everything to happen so fast. When I was really young and had a light moustache - yes, go on, laugh all you like - I used to think to myself that I wanted to grow a full beard. But now, I am so bothered by my facial hair since it grows back almost fully in under two days.

When I was 19, I started to think about getting involved with people from the other gender (aka: females). But from one bad relationship to another it almost seemed like someone up there either doesn't like me to the point of punishing me of being single. I like being single, but I also don't want to die single.

I've come to learn that rushing things will just get me burnt all over again with almost everything except for those things that are of valid cause for quickening in speed measures.

Right now, all I ever want is to get me a job, which is just the thing that I am focusing on in terms of sending CVs and the such. And even though it's going to hurt me a lot inside and I know it will. I will just have to ignore my heart's calling for the time being until I am settled down with everything career-wise.

Yet, right now, I wish for the worst thing to happen to me.

I wish I was a blind man.

They Were Just Kids

She looked into his eyes
And blushed away
Smiling like the Angel she always is
Refraining to look at his face

He would pass a look
Maybe one or two
He'd smile often
Because she was there, too

They both fell for each other's eyes
Together, they became another love affair at first sight

But sadly
The day had to come to an abrupt end
They were both just kids
Back then

But who knows?
Maybe, the powers-that-be
One day, they would re-unite
And live happily, for all eternity?

Starlight Surprise

In a surprising turn of events, I have been asked to turn the lyrics that I had written down for the UNICEF benefit, which is due to be launched, into a full song.

Thus, I will be starting to work on my first song ever, written and sung by me.

Surprising, eh?

Horizon newsletter - Pt. 2.5: Eratta

Just a correction here about the Horizon newsletter from the Sultan Qaboos University here in Oman..

I mentioned in an earlier post that it was going to come out on March 10th, 2006. When I realized that that exact date is a Friday..

So I figured the date that was given to me was wrong and it should be out on a Saturday.

In any case, when it does come out - I will publish the short story herein this blog..

Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

One step too far

I found out my ultimate fault.

I think into things way too far into the future. I predict for myself such a bright future or just as much a bad one, for that. And when I am hit by reality it's like a brick wall hitting my head at a thousand kilometres an hour.

Talk about having an astronomical day.

That's mostly why I shift into fifth gear with everything around me expecting the unexpected to happen in my advantage and when we collide you can all say goodbye to Rose and Jack.

God. Where's an iceberg when you need one?

Colliding nature
Divided dillusion
Sense of love of kiss and tell
The weather isn't always warm as Hell

I tell myself a thousand times
That I can always get up and do a million things
I can always move move up
And accomplish my dreams

But I am not happy
I am no the least
I have almost everything I could ever want
And nothing I wish I had

Dreams are clouds
Of lies and make believe
The sense, the pride
That we hold onto, the rise from the fall beneath

Hollowed into a corner
Sitting all alone
Crying there
On my own

Credit Cards & Maturity

I was having this discussion yesterday (Tuesday) night, and it started to become tense because of the way it was being dragged and I thought to myself I might as well post it here to see what the others here on the web would think and reply back to the issue.

So here goes..

The issue in discussion is about credit cards. Someone I know (who started the whole flamengo) was just employed recently for a company that issues it's own credit cards and it has it's own bank and banking system. And he was flattering the company because it was of an American origin and he never liked American products or services (because he himself is a Palestinian) - but that's besides the point that is being made here.

The point that I am trying to make here is that he went on about how only mature people can recognize the special treatments that included with having a golden or a platinum credit card.

Having heard that, I tried to move in with a few questions such as why would anyone in the world need a credit card, even though they have the unreasonable highest interest rate in the world over?

I believe that the credit card scheme has been over-valued all over the world because the very concept of the whole system is manuplative. You are lured in to get a credit card for your account in your specific bank with all the glimmer glamour that camouflages the actual truth behind it.

You get free tickets, free treatment at VIP airport lounges, free drinks at a certain restaurant, free discounts at some international hotel chain and the list just goes on and on and on. And for what? So that you end up taking a loan on your account that you have to pay back in time and if you don't you have to pay it all including a daily interest rate?

I am talking about the relegious point of view here that states that this very transaction that has maddened the world's economic population wildly thus increasing it's growth in the very terms that Islam says it is prohibited because it is basicly an act of riba - whereby you are taking a loan on something you don't own and have to pay it back with an extra fee.

From a logical point of view, why would anyone want to get into the never ending maze of paying for a scheme which in all honesty laughs in your face and plus charges you extra fees should you want to pay the amount later on?

Why?

Why put yourself into this position in the beginning? The world does not revolve around squandering money here and there. Although it may feel nice to actually buy some new stuff every now and then. But why should you be worried later on about how you're going to pay the amount?

And how does this all link to maturity?

I await your answers..

UNICEF - Making it happen

Here you go people..

Here's the link to the song I'm Innocent.

You can download it as many times as you want to for 30 whole days, after that the link is inactive.

But a request from me to you all.. download it, burn it onto a CD and pass it on to everyone else you know but before you hand a copy of the song to the other person make sure that they donate a small sum of money - no matter how big or small - towards the UNICEF.

Please.. Please.. Please.. we need to make sure that everyone we know who can access this file has to download it and pass it on and make a small donation for the UNICEF.

Make it happen.
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I'm Innocent

Health in the hand of the ROP

Here's something you don't see everyday..

An ROP escort to an important VIP delegation slowing down traffic to about 60km on a 120km speed road limit on the way to a hospital. Obviously you can't overtake them because they would then arrest you and interrogate you asking you a lot of dumb questions like why you were attempting to overtake the escort group and such. But being the smart alecs they really are, they wouldn't guess in the end that you were in a hurry to the hospital.

Someone should arrest them for having to willingly endanger someone's vital signs in a race against time to the nearest hospital.

Is the country's security system taking a backward step? Or what?

The boundaries of freedom

Let me be very clear about what I am going to say here. I am very much in support of freedom and the right to express freely as long as it does not offend another's culture nor relegion or society/community. That being said, this does not mean that we, as citizens of our country, should tolerate the misbehavings of foreignors here or their defyness to local laws.

And now; on with the post..

I saw what I would have thought I would not see anywhere in any other Muslim country in the world - a couple kissing in public in broad daylight. I have nothing against the couple kissing but in public? If they really did want to enjoy each other's lucious lips then they could have respected the country, it's culture, it's relegion, and it's people by doing it within the privacy of their own home.

The point that I am trying to make here is if we as Muslims in our country let these 'simple things' go on freely without reaction from authorities then whose to say that further into our future we won't say anything about a couple having sex in the middle of nowhere in daylight in public? If we shut up about the small things and do nothing about them now they'll only build up more and more to a point whereby we cannot contain what goes on and it turns out of control.

This is seeing it from a logical point of view and not relegious. Just so that I point this out before anyone starts to lash at me for intrusion into private affairs. Which, reminds me, if they were private affairs, shouldn't have they been doing it in their own private quarters?

It's sad to see two grown ups do this in a country that has allowed them, neigh, trusted them to respect it's laws, culture and relegion.

Such a shame.

Such a shame..

Horizon newsletter - Pt.II

The short story that I had submitted to the Horizon newsletter has been approved for submission and will be printed in the coming issue of March 10th, 2006.

The story submitted is part one of a two part poetic short story named Blue Ribbon Beauty.

I am hoping that anyone who gets their hands on that copy will let me know what they think of it and when I do I will make sure to post it here as soon as possible..

Cheers!

The singles club

There has been a major discussion over the years on the reasons that have driven the youth of today to either getting married at a late age or staying single in pursuit of their career-like ambitions.

And unfortunately, although it may seem to be a sign of progress that Omani men (as do the women of this society) think of other things to be their ultimate goal in life besides getting settled down and having a family; it is also viewed as an alarming trend that the community is trying to curb. As according to a recent census that was achieved back in 2003, there are now 3 Omani women to every 1 Omani man in the country.

Many thought the reason behind such as this debatablely-large ratio is that they (men) look to marry from outside the country which current laws forbid unless given an approval certificate under stringent rules and regulations. Others sought the reasons to be that there could be a rise in same-sex relationships between the two sexes (although this can never be confirmed as it is prohibited both by law and Islam). Then comes the final reason that ever could rise; that neither gender is really interested into getting involved with the other. This is due because of the many experiences of the youth of today that attempt to court the other gender in various ways and also due to abnormal societal norms.

Many of the youth today prefer to know each other before they get into a maritial relationship whether it is an informal or formal one. Having said that, the bad experiences they take on possibly gives the impression that such a task is almost impossible in achievement. And thus, they shelf the idea from ever happening.

Abnormal societal norms include heavy expenses for wedding treats such as the wedding night, the honey moon, and the mahr (which is the amount of money that the man pays or offers to the woman in order to court her formally), which, in many wilayats in Oman, could reach a sum of 40,000 Omani Rials (roughly $25,000).

And since most of the population (75%, actually), is under the age of 30 years old and mostly 'looking for a job' they pretty much have to take whatever job offer they can get their hands on. Even it means that you have studied for a bachelor's degree (with honors) for 4 whole years and all you end up is with a job that pays you barely 300 Omani Rials a month (minus 6% for social services) that makes you work 6 days of the week at a 10-hour rate every day with only half an hour lunch break.

And the government is thinking in the right way in implementing Omanization in the private sector but what about the salaries? When someone with only a high school certificate with so many children and a wife lives off a 120 Omani Rials salary?

The solution may be in employing more Omanis in the private sector but to make them grovel for their slight pay that scarecly helps them survive over the first week isn't helping at all. Even with all the free education, free health services that the government provides.

The current population of the Sultanate of Oman is now standing at 3 million people, where half of million of which, are expatriates. In 10 years time, this number will probably double or tripple. The current accurate number of people looking for a job is unknown, but that does not mean that we have a big time ahead of us in order to arrange the suspension to cushion that coming calamity.

There is a diyer need to do something very urgently about this. Everyone - the government, the private sector, and the individuals involved - are all demanded by their moral, and social obligations towards this society lest we all fall into recession.

------

This is my 500th post!

Horizon Newsletter

I had been requested to submit a new short story to the Sultan Qaboos University's Horizon newsletter once again ...

So I'll have more information on when it should come out, inshallah..

Doesn't it feel good to be appreciated?

Spotlight - Pt. II

As promised..

Here is the article that came out in the newspaper about my new book (Sorry, but it's in Arabic)..

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Omanis on roads: Ignorance is bliss

It's no wonder that Oman has the 2nd highest accident rate in the world after the USA. People drive here as if they own the roads that others have paved for them to use carefully - not carelessly.

The other day I was taking a stroll in my car and I was entering a small roundabout around where we live and on that roundabout I needed to go straight. Now as far as my teaching goes, we were instructed, that, should we want to go straight we would have to take the right lane to go right or straight and to take the left lane should we need to go to the left of the roundabout or take a U-turn on it.

So what did yours truly do? I took the right lane. First indication that I wanted to go either right or straight.

As I drove into the roundabout in the right land I noticed that on my left hand side there was this woman with a man on her right passenger seat and child on his lap. She was attempting to go straight where I was heading. Having seen this, I increased slightly to take my leading position to my 'goal'. But still she pursued as if nothing had changed. And she almost hit me too had I not tapped my breaks.

I was furious with this person. Terribly.

I gave her a honk and a signal signifying to her that she doesn't know how to drive properly or that she could have gotten her driver's license from Nizwa. She - in her own melodramic way - pointed out that it was her way. I was this close to stopping her in the middle of the road and getting that man on her passenger's side to keep her on a short leesh otherwise I would be very much tempted to give her a piece of my mind and send her home with two black eyes.

And this is just one incident amongst many that happens more than occasionaly on Omani roads despite the fact that the ROP has installed traffic radars every 1.5 kilometeres all over the Sultanate up until every road border that is known.

People don't understand that the instructions that they are taught during their schooling years of driving are meant for all life and not just to pass a slight exam that you have 2 police officers over looking at every mistake you might take taking into consideration that your instructor is there to be either tormented or delighted at your performance (sometimes it's delightness in both cases - should you pass or not - because in both cases he gets paid more).

I will say this, ignorance will not go unforgotten on roads.

Neither will breaking the law either.

Let it not be said that everyone's not been fairly warned.

Soaking in The Rain

I sit and wait for you in the pouring rain
I sit just to have a glance from your face
I sit there and wait for your eyes
To gleam down upon me in surprise
I try to acknowledge the part that you are not for me
But my heart aches, my pulse pushes away, and I still dumbfounded by the fact that you and I are not meant to be

I stand in the rain soaking wet
I stand soaking wishing you might just regret
I stand there with hope and glee
I stand there looking for your presence should you ever come over here
I stand there all alone
I stand there no one to cure my heart's ache but you alone

Here I am
Standing in the rain
No one to take my hand
No one to share my pain

Sick once again..

Something's gotten ahold of me and I don't know how it has because I take extra care of my health.. but it seems that a visit to the hospital is in need to check on my throat and on this God-forsaken cold that keeps catching up on me..

It has really gotten very tired so I have arranged with my Doctor tomorrow for a quick check up to see what's wrong with me and if he could prescribe anything for me in the meantime..

Nothing serious so there needn't be any worries..

Spotlight

There will be a spotlight on my new book Wonderous World in the Oman Arabic Daily Muscat Cultural City supplementary tomorrow.

I had been informed it would be in either page 10 or 11.

Be on a look-out for it..

Dillema of Dillemas

I just don't think I can take it anymore.

I know I am supposed to act all positive and everything. And that I am supposed to hold within me some sort of passive sense of self-motivation. But I don't have it in me anymore. I have the lost the will to fight for anything.

I tried so many times to get up and attempt to make it on my own. But life keeps throwing casualties in my face. I am told that I am not old. But when you think of it, if I am going to get any progress done; it might as well be now or never. Else I will face dire consequences of having to deal with things that I should have dealt with when I was younger. But I didn't have the chance because of many factors.

I still have to find a place for me life. I know I am a good writer and I have put that will to the test, be it in the sense of writing poetry, short articles for theweek, or short stories for the Horizon newsletter in Sultan Qaboos University.

I aspire to become a very well known writer. That's my goal. Yet, my goal will only get me so far in my life should I choose to live furtheron here in Oman. And then I would have to deal with many other things such as my medical situation, plus the fact that I am still single.

So single isn't a problem to many of you - in fact, most of you. But to me, it is a case of insercurity. And I udnerstand that I cannot go on with that unless I get myself properly employed to own up to my responsibilities. But fact is, no one's willing to give me a chance. Dozens of CVs are sent within a month's time and still no answer. And when I say I want to a proper job I mean one that would that would suitably compensate for 4 years worth of Business Administration degree studying and not getting underpaid just because that's 'company policy'.

But still, the future ahead of us is still unclear - is it not?

Rotten

What has one
If he doesn't have it at all?
The love
That he asks for

The plight of relequishment
Of feeble delight
Of tender moments
Lived throughout the night

The jester, the humor
The sight he sees
The crude morbid sense
Of anguish subdued in superficial laughter that misleads

The mood that throws one astray
The joy of light has gone, what can one say?
The beauty of the Moon is now forgotten
The light the shines off is just a white rose without a smell; rotten

Sponsorship & Publicity

Consumers here in the Sultanate of Oman have often made varaible mistakes about companies and what they visualize as sponsorship from them in certain events like in special offers during festivity periods, for example; Muscat Festival.

The misonception lies that the consumer obviously thinks that he is in gain from the company when they offer their regular offers and an added-value to it at a lower price to consumer such him/her, when the truth lies in the fact it is the company who is actually in gain from them in the long term.

How is this so?

Let's say for instance, that Oman Mobile has advertised for an offer that allows you to pay for one of their postpaid packages at a lower price and at the same time offering you a some amount of free talking time plus free SMS/MMS. The gain that the consumer thinks he/she is into is that they pay less for more (even though it is the short term) but still states that with the number of consumers that think along that exact pattern the more consumer base the company will build and therefore increasing their profits from selling such service products in the long term.

The whole idea behind sponsorship isn't to invest into a special period of time to make it successful but rather it's the publicity the company gains behind it (granted that it comes at a high price, but this makes no matter to the firm at hand because it breaks even after they build their consumer base).

So next time you think that a company is sponsoring such a festive period, and they are offering an irresistable package - think again: what's in it for you?

The Power of Prayer

I have heard so many times that if you pray that everything you have ever wished for will come true for you. Although, this is could be partially true; could this mean that we don't need to work towards our goals? Does this mean that all we should do is pray for everything we ever wanted and sit back and wait? If this is the meaning, then it's pointless that we should ever look for a job.

Why I am bringing this up is because I saw this advert a couple of times that shows someone who doesn't pray on time and that his life is follow of rocky climibings (in a matter of speaking) of problems and such, and that one day he starts all over again to pray on time that results in everything he ever wanted in his life to become a reality with an ending in Arabic that translates 'Pray and your life will flourish'.

Although I don't pray myself (and I have said this many a times that I am not proud of such a statement) I still believe that this advert somehow carries an inaccurate message to the audience who attends it. I believe that should you work hard enough for your goals - regardless whether you pray or not - that God will give you what you want. But it's the part of praying in a sense of thanking Him that will allow this proseperity to continue. Is it not?

What do you think?

Zasperella

So what is the point of pursuing something that you cannot attain in your life?

Like, for instance, if you should think of getting into a long-term relationship that would lead in the end to a potential marriage suite but something along that rocky road goes horribly wrong and you end up in the corner asking yourself what you have done wrong?

What is the whole point that you should get up and try again everytime only to face the same fate all over again?

Why should you have high hopes for something that just doesn't want to work out for you at all no matter what you try of nice gestures; pushing fate forward, and having to be so nice to everyone not because you want to be but because it is in your nature?

What is the whole point?

Why should you ever stick your heart out to someone who'll only look the other way and say to you that they are just not interested and you end up having your hopes burnt up in a cloud ineverted smoke?

Why?

Why should you try?

UNICEF - Pt. 4

If you had your FM radio on and tuned in to the local English FM radio station which was hosted by Lakshimi Kathanat (I hope I got the spelling correct, please do excuse me, Lakshimi); then you would have the opportunity to listen to a small sampling of the newly made song in benefit of the UNICEF fund dubbed 'I'm Innocent'..

It should be launched sometime during this coming week and it will also be featured in a future publication of theweek.

I hadn't got the CD yet, therefore, I apologize for not living up to the promise for posting the song online for a limited period on a web hosting service from a third party website. But I will work towards that goal.

But you will happy to know that you will be able to purchase one of the final copies of the CD - of which, we are going to make 500 copies - once it is launched.

Fingers crossed..!

Omanis think 'civilization' is a new fish dish

Apparently, Omanis are not civilized enough, which is very unfortunate..

If I remember correctly, if you're a smoker (forgetting that I hate the mere smell of smoked up ciggarrettes), then it is considered quite civil of you that you should ask the people around you if they would mind that you light up your ciggarrette. Omanis don't have this feature installed with them. Maybe they'll get that with the upgrade of Brain 1.1.

Omanis have not seen movies, or ladies their entire lifetime. They consider both to be a rare moment and to cherish it they must either clap, whistle like in ungentleman like manner, or perhaps even make the loudmouth gesture to do something inappropriate whether it was in a closed theatre or in a public place like a coffeeshop. I mean, if they're here; then who's running Hell?

It doesn't seem that future generations will be getting any better with all the efforts being made to make their time something worth waiting for. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe by the time they get older and show some responsible behavior (inside and outside of their households) then they do deserve what they have coming their way. But right now they have little to show for it.

My Dying Words

Life isn't life
Anymore
I pose a fake smile
When my heart is torn

I live with a yearn in my heart
I live to breath only to try a new start

The time I have placed
In my hands
I swear it's as if my dreams
Were built out of sands

Of beauty of love and Heaven to meet
Of lonesome doves and blackbirds of grief

The slightest touch of warmth, of comfort
The right words, the gentle whisper that is never rushed

Of lying days in the winter
Of dying souls that slowly disappear with their whimper

Of lying along
Under the Sun
Of lying there
All alone

The flower in my hands
Withers away
The petals are gushed
With the cold, cold wind

These are my dying words
The heart you have torn
The death you have sentenced me upon
And the soul that is being, like a corpse, burnt

What Can I Say?

I was full of cockiness today since I awoke at around 7am to take my car to the service and what happens with me is if I wake up and make a slight movement out of bed at that an early a time I can never go back to sleep except if I throw myself into the bed. But that didn't happen unfortunately.

And unfortunately for me, also, I didn't sleep a wink all day from that time until now (the time now is 1am here in Muscat as I am typing away).

I couldn't think of anything else to write than what happened during the course of the day because my mind has stopped working, my and body is crying because of soreness in the muscles since I haven't done this in a very long time. And what's worse is that I might have to do it all over again tomorrow (Thursday). Sheesh. Talk about a long day to go over..

I got word from my friend that the UNICEF office here in Muscat had uploaded the song 'I'm Innocent' to their counterparts in Dubai, UAE and that all we're waiting for is a final green light from them over there to go on and start producing the copies which would take no time. As of now, details are a bit sketchy of this project, but be prepared that this will have the Omani community at abuzz because of the cause that the charity is being targetted to.

What else?

I saw The Pink Panther today. But you already know about that in the post before this.

I was so high today it was so incredible I had so many tickle bones in my body that I could use them as drumsticks and start my own one-man-band. I was throwing cocky gestures to anyone who's anybody left, right and centre. And what's even worse, I couldn't stop myself. I was really enjoying the day today. People were trying to make me feel down but I took that in and turned it around in my favor.

With great cockiness comes great irresponsibility. Te he he he ;o)

And what else?

Oh yeah.

Oman won against Jordan today 3-0. Yipee. Big deal.

The dumb footballers couldn't pass their test against the UAE in a friendly since they lost to them 1-0. No offence to any Emirates nationals meant here. Those people (Omani footballers) are far off better in camel racing - they don't even need licenses to drive those sahara ships. And if you had a hard time making them out in the horizon all you need to do is look out for a head bopping up and down between the distant semi-sand-himilayas. These people couldn't win football match even if it was fixed. They are that bad.

And then the Omani public bemuses itself at running wild on the streets with the 'pride' of having their national team win in a friendly match against a contender they hardly ever meet up with for a sporting even let alone, socially.

But what can I say?

What can I say...?

The Pink Panther (again)

Twentieth Century Fox had blew it with The Pink Panther movie that was recently released with odd French accent from actor Steve Martin, who although added a pinch of comedy to the cartoon/movie franchise was as good in French as George W. Bush is in making foreign policy speeches.

Beyonce Knowles, as dazzling as she was, was used for a mere eye-candy role, along with her musical talent which added a nice touch to the movie's soundtrack along with the late Henry Mancini's original movie/cartoon theme that gave the franchise the fame and the coolness of our fine Pink Panther friend.

All in all, it is a good watch. Nice if you would like to have a laugh and not interested in a big plot. It could also be categorized as a family movie.

But don't rush out buying the DVD; that's my five cents..

Aspiration & Where it Leads to

If someone were to aspire to something, how should they go about it? Say, for instance, that this aspiration is a long and winding road, and is thus, not filled with danger, but rather full of stops that one must stop not to gaze but to make a lesson out of. That would mean that this road is a tiring one and it must end up somewhere but only after a long wait.

Would you still go after it, even though the fact still states itself, that you should wait, perhaps, too long, and that you should come to terms that you will lose yourself many opportunities along the way to reach this ultimate goal..?

Long story short; would you forego on life's opportunities even those that are dearest to you, to reach an ultimate goal in your life?

UNICEF - Pt. III

More news about the UNICEF charity project that is underway.

The CD is now done and there is just the job of getting the approval from the local authorities to go on with the project locally.

Once I get the CD, I will be uploading the music file to a certain website where people who come by to this blog will have the exclusive right to download it's sample for a period of 7 days or less (according the bandwith allowed on that website).

Plus there will be some sample CDs that I will be making to people here in Oman to promote the project - but it will be without the promotional leaflet. So, if you live in Muscat and you would like your free promotional copy, do let me know by commenting here or leaving me an email about your interest and I'll do my best to get you a copy of it. Limited copies only.

Will let you know when there is more news on the topic..

The(new)article

theweek has published my new article titled "Understanding & Control" this week.

You can download it through their website which you will find their permanent link on the right hand sidebar.

The section you would be looking to download is Section 2 (2.8 MB) - News, Feautres.

But otherwise, if you're not bothered to, you can always read it here - down below. I would appreciate any comments.

------

Today, there is a big gap between parents and their children who each have their own desires in life nowadays, which causes the line of communication between the two sides to become tacky. As a result, feuds rise more often than they did in the past. This is largely due to over-protectiveness by parents, which is misinterpreted as control by their children - leading them to shout slogans of freedom that is, at times, understandable.

Yet, the undeniable fact is that parents fear for their children. But it is the way of communicating that fact to the child involved, in a way, making them understand how protective we want to be over them without the 'control' feature; that is lacking.

Parents may ask themselves now, 'Well, I'm doing this for their own good, how can that be wrong?' Simply by imposing your own way and method of living upon them is interpreted into control over their own desires and what they want to achieve in their lives at a given time or period. Granted that you are doing it for their own benefit, it isn't easy to make them understand that basic fact until you sit down with them and run them through it or try to understand their point of view of the subject at hand.

The plan you're working towards its goals is this; you want to reach a level of whereby the two of you can reach some sort of understanding. The point here is that you're dealing with grown-up children with goals of their own. Set a compromise and go half-way; they will surely go the other half.

This is not to say that children are the victims all the time. It is only a push towards narrowing the gap between parents and children.

For the same applies to them. Much like two nations who compete with each other respectfully, in their own way, parents and their children need to resolve their differences also amicably. For they are two of the same blood but with either minor or major differences in opinion and it would be no use fighting the whole time because the road ahead in that path would otherwise be blocked. One or either of the parties must make a move in the right direction before the whole family establishment crumbles because of such a simple disagreement.

A family is a semi-democratic establishment. And dictatorship will not always work in such a setting because either party will want to achieve certain targets such as sustainability and controllable growth in many aspects. Control is not the way to a happy relationship, but understanding is. And it must come from both parties, to establish a good line of communication and succeed.

-----

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Some think that the right thing to do these days is to always follow the crowd. At often that is the right answer, but more often it is good to stay rebelious to show the truth behind one's decision.

Westerners need to understand that when they come into our countries (respective of which nation it is) they should respect the society just as much as we do when we are in their country. This goes for wearing skimpy clothing, sleeveless t-shirts, and many outrageous fashions of clothing that, in their opinion, is the 'in' style.

Or should we retaliate in the same way?

Where does one hold the line for respecting one another?

Chance

Do you believe in something called chance?

Many believe that a chance is just something that is waiting to happen and to be grabbed by someone to make an opportunity of. But in that sense then that would mean everything in our lives was made by chance. Because we took every opportunity to make something of it.

Like a matter of distant fate, waiting to be greeted by an individual to brighten up their life. And it isn't hard to believe this. But when you think of seriously, it can happen. A chance isn't merely just something waiting to happen to you but it was put there for a reason. It was fate. Fate destined that you were going to make that move and that you would say to so and so such a thing and that such a thing would happen afterwards.

Fate does have it's ways, ladies and gentlemen.

We just to have believe..

Prevention of Harm

I hate being forced into a situation whereby I find myself that I can't do a thing about it. I find myself obligated to do something even if that means that I would get into trouble.

What can I do? I was born with it.

Ever since I was a child it was something eery to me to see something wrong and just stay zipped about it until someone else does something about it. So why don't I do something about it, then?

Seriously, people. Think about it.

I mean, we see people all our lives doing things are wrong, against the law or just plain illogical. And what do we 'law-abiding' citizens do? Absolutely nothing! That's what! If ever there was a time to start making things right, then the time would be now while you're still alive. And not at the very last days of your life where you ask God for fogiveness. And not while you're sick and you think that doing good would probably make God lift whatever it is he is examining you with. Granted that that is another case altogether.

But point is this: if everyone in the world turned their face whenever they saw something happening right in front of them then we would never progress. Right?

You can all say I complain so much on this blog about this, that, or anything else in this country of ours. But I see it from a different point of view. I love Oman. And I am proud to be Omani, too. And it is that love that pushes me to do such things in order to make things better.

There is a Hadith, I believe, that - loosely translated - means, whenever you prevent harm in someone else's way, you gain a sadaqa or a blessing from God (I think that's how it translates, please correct me if I am wrong). And it is in that sense that we must look into making things progress here in Oman.

Removing harm in someone else's way doesn't neccessarily mean that you push aside a rock or a tree that is blocking the road. It goes further beyond that meaning. It means also making things go faster of tying up the knots in the beauricratic system within the government infrastructure so that things may run much more smoothly. It means that we need to make better roads for the country's increasing demand in purchasing automobiles. It also means that we are to respect each other in our society in fashion, speech, and valor.

The country's officials are trying their best to do what is right in their opinion. But they also need the feedback from us citizens to follow up on the progress that their plans are making on the face of reality.

What say you?

The Tale of Love

So what's left that's not been said?
The life I live is not what I expect to take

The tale of love
Of passion
Of hope

The rythem
That bounces
That floats with such gloat

I find myself upon a stream
That leads me to a pot full of empty dreams

The one I once found that I thought it would be hope
The one I once found and thought it would change my future with all it's gold

And now, a poor peasant such as I
I walk, I roam the streets that I cross by

I look at the people who hold hands in hands
I look at their faces, I feel pain, as I glance

I look on further, to see my Angel fly away
Along with her hopes
Along with her dreams
Along with what she plans to make of her life, one day

I stand there
Awaiting
For an answer
For some kind of sign from above
I reach out my hand
To the Heavens that lie above

And as I pass on my pain
That fill up my viens with such agony
I feel little paddling raindrops
Falling one by one, down on me

I look up, sky high
With it, I barely make out a smile
The rainbow will come out after the rain
But until that day, I await my answer as I pray for my pain to go away

Who's to blame?

• For letting LuLu Hypermarket in Darsait be built when they knowingly cause more traffic jams than there were was before when it wasn't there?
  

• For inventing the Cigar?
  

• For creating the idea that if you wear an Abbaya, you're automatically considered to be of a good family with a pleasureable reputation that sings to your ears, when the truth is not so?

• For allowing beer into the country, when we claim to be Muslims?

• For covering interest banking with the blanket of 'investments'?

• For thinking that people are dumb enough to think that taxes in Oman aren't really coming out of our own pockets when they really are, where-ever you may pay them to discard the idea of 'people in power' of a country that runs on a capitalist system?

• For claiming that there is freedom of press when the mere truth is concealed because of fear of hitting against large corporates and 'enigmatic' governmental officials?
  

The straight method on a curvey path

I can't seem to think straight at all anymore. One day it's this or it's that. And when things happen, they are either good or bad. And when they are good they happen all of a sudden to me. The all of a sudden, I am washed away by a sudden wave of black omens, sticky bandits, and other bad luck oriential hunk-a-who.

I can't seem to tell what is right and what is wrong. I can't seem to decide what to do and what not to do. I seem to make decision based on impulses that I regret later on, and those that I don't take up the chance on I end up losing an opporunity on.

I wish sometimes I was just reborn.

Damnit..

Consumer Rights

A widespread panic is amid in the cyber world in result of media giants tracking down individuals who use P2P software to make illegal copies of music they purchase from music stores that are stored in CDs.

In another attempt, SONY-BMG, tried to bring down the losses it was making in the music industry by introducing a highly secretive rootkit software that works undercover in the form of copy protection software which hides itself deeply into the operating system's code undetectable forming a security breach for both consumers of individual base and coporates, too and also causing alarm in the consumer rights industry.

The question here lies is we've heard enough about the corporates rights' and what they are attemtpting to curb the losses, but what about consumer rights? Are they not affected? There is a popular Arabic saying that - loosely translated - says; 'in order to go all the way to protect something we see so sacred, we not only protect it in the process; we also end up damaging it, too, unknowingly'.

It is unfortunate that the industry thinks of fighting fire with fire by aiming their oil into the blaze when they should be cooling it down by coming to terms of the technological advancements that has been brought about to them, respectively, asking that they creatively think - whilst not affecting consumer's nor corporates rights - of how to reach a comprimise.

Apple found a way to make downloading music to it's popular Ipod system famous in less than 3 years. Why can't they?

The ball, as they say, lies in their court now.

a great debate

There is a great debate going on A Secret Arabian Journal that is discussing the issue of the Dubai Ports taking over P&O for over $6.8 billion US Dollars.

The title of the post is Scratching Backs.

If you're interested, you could join into the discussion that is going on.

the(newest)article

Look out for my newest article in theweek in this week's issue that would be a continuation of last time's article This Is For The Parents.

The article will be named Understanding & Control.

It should be out by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

For those of you who are not in the Sultanate, you can easily check the article by clicking the link of the gazzette on the right sidebar. You would have to wait until that specific day to check it out because the administrators behind the webpage only update it by then.

I will let you all know when it does come out, though.

The day the sky turned Black..

Today was a day like no other.

People panicked everywhere. Mice went into their holes. Hedgehogs into their burrows. Cats ran for shelter under the cars. Dogs were hiding behind their owner's legs while they unconciously burried them with their piss.

Birds flew in circles in the sky. Everyone was holding back in their homes. Waiting for whatever it was to go by.

But nothing in the world could ever save them from what was about to happen.

The sky went black. Total darkness.

Priests went into church praying for forgiveness. Rabbi's where bumping their heads agains the walls from sheer fear while they swang back and forth asking God to take the plunder elsewhere. Muslims stayed at home, praying in silence, raising their hands in their prayers asking God for mercy.

Whatever was going to happen now; it was going to happen and no one could ever stop it.

The sheer momentum of the whole situation was making the whole Earth shatter in jitters. Mountains were going to crumble from the shake. Houses were going to be cut in half from the power of this all.

And then..

It happened..

A man wearing a black cap, striped red and black t-shirt and black trousers stepped down from his red vehicle.

With him, he held a red package.

It was..

The pizza..

dum dum dummmmmmmm

;o)

some good comes out of the bad

Although I have been unable to secure myself an employment position right now. I have been steadily trying to step up my progress to become somewhat of an writer/poet in the professional field.

This is seen through my blogs, my publications in theweek (good news coming soon about that, by the way), and now the UNICEF benefit.

I was asked to compose a short story that would roam around the song that was published earlier on this blog and in the process, I managed to come up with a few lyrics on my own for my version of the song, entitled I'm Innocent. Having showed it to the lyrics writer/singer; he got excited about it saying that he might consider making it into a song and releasing it within the CD single.

I now proudly present to you, my version of I'm Innocent.

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I used to live with my Mom and Dad
I used to have toys that any child would wish he could ever have

I used to live under a house enough for a family
I used to think of nothing just as long as my Mom and Dad were near me

Now, I walk the streets all alone
Mom and Dad are no longer here; they're gone
I don't have a roof over my head, anymore
My toys are now the firewood that I use to keep the blaze of warmth going on

I need food
I need love
I need help

Help me

I'm innocent

-----

Bare in mind that the song/lyrics will undergo massive work for musical arrangement and musical compilation.

Shocks!: Daniel Craig not Bond Material?

After the acquisition of MGM by Sony, the company and the producers of the long famous secret agent 007 have ditched Pierce Brosnan and hired, instead, a new nobody by the name of Daniel Craig.

Whilst the decision is entirely to the producers and the company behind the production, fans worldwide schmucked at the new wannabe secret pretender by starting now a new website dubbed CraigNotBond.com.

The website has hit immense popularity amongst fans worldwide who disclosed their opinions about individual to do Her Majesty's bidding through MI-6.

There is clear frustration in the minds of fans of which the site quotes: "How can a short, blond actor with the rough face of a professional boxer and a penchant for playing killers, cranks, cads and gigolos pull off the role of a tall, dark, handsome and suave secret agent?"

Are you a Bond fan? What is your theory/opinion about this whole issue?

I'm Innocent

I've been authorized by the lyrics writer to publish the songwords of his version of the song that's being put together (due to be completed this Friday) for the UNICEF.

--------

I’m innocent

I’ve been wandering on this lonely street,

No lunch and even supper,

Only a piece of bread and the river water, (2X)

(Chorus)

I’m so small and I’ve been left alone,

I’m so small and I’m innocent too, innocent too.

No one even cares for me, when I walk down the street,

No one even picks me up to take me to his home,

Everyone watches me cry, but no one cares (2X)

(Repeat Chorus)

Oh God if you can touch me? Then why don’t I feel that touch,

If you can hear me then why don’t you answer me?

Can’t you see it they treat me like a dog out here.

Can you feel it I am left with no choice?

(Repeat Chorus)

Oh God why did you send me here (2X) Fade

Google Wonders

Try searching for 'boycott starface' and hitting I'm feeling lucky on Google and you'll end up with such a surprise.
-------

This is what you should end up with:

Warmonger Vs. Peacenik

Shout In Silence

I roamed the streets of love and dear. Where thoughts walked home and unclear. Bent on a path of unfulfilled dreams. Where life was once a light that guided me here. A life full of questions of why and when. Why is there a life? And when is everything going to make a turn?

The sun was in my eyes. As I roamed alone. Roamed, fathoming the streets of 'local' Rome. The seas were gushing with angriness and wisdom. The anger that fills them with tides and their 'treasures' of wisdom.

The wind was hallowing through the beach trees. Hallowing, whispering that I should change what is beneath. Beneath the mask that I hide. Beneath the deciet and all the lies. Beneath the pain that withers within. Beneath the sadness and the quinn.

The tragedy of life is a circumstance. Embraced by both the woman and the man. Fighting it takes takes an amount of faith. A faith of which I have yet to restore in the paths that I walk upon today.

Favoritism is but a role. One I cannot pursure nor control. Would like to reach the stars in the stars in the sky. I know that even those are beyond my grasp, yet, I still grip on my tears before I start to cry. I find myself weak with pain. The favor to take a pill and gush it all away.

I hold on to the dim hope through phase of despair. I ask myself if it is a lie camouflaged with care? I really don't know, anymore. I don't see what is ahead of me as a path that I can move on.

I look at the clouds that above me. I seek the answer to which I head. I run away from the pebbly face of lies and decept. I try to fly into the clouds where dreams could be built.

In the midst of all this. I hear the oceans hiss. I imagine the laughter that I've gotten to miss. The slight notion of a kiss. Life is life; this is my butter-fingered bliss. I'd rather die than live another day's lie such as this.

This is my misshappening. Someone; hear my shout in silence.

It's Only Me..

It's not the world
It's only me
I'm not dying
I'm not crying
I'm a desperate being

Desperate for the world to recognize
Desperate for the love that vitalites

Desperate in a world that would look at others
Desperate for a pair of eyes that would look at no other

The line I set
For myself
Is clear for everyone to see

The line
That I put down
Is invisible to me

This is who I am right now
The world on my shoulders
The right I ask for
A love that won't be smouldered

My given right
The wrong time
Can I win the fight?
Who can tell, but time

the icky icky shake

I thought I made it clear to myself a long time back that I would no longer need the assistance of anyone in matters of my unknown future and what preceeds it. But that was a joke. I had only started that perhaps a few weeks ago.

And it was something that I had been holding on to as a secret until everything became clear.

And now that I am past that stage now - even though with the fact that things haven't cleared up for me in terms of becoming any easier - I still have to blurt it all out.

A few weeks ago, I started re-applying to different companies with different goals in sight. I had sent out CVs enclosed with cover letters, certificates and all to almost 9 companies. Companies like Oman Airports Management Company (O.A.M.C.); Apex Printing and Publishing; National Bank of Oman; Oman Arab Cinema Company, the Sultan Qaboos University, the Times of Oman to name but a few. Others which don't come to mind, right now.

Out of these 9 companies, only two had replied to me after 2 weeks a period. The Oman Arab Cinema Company, which is owned by Jawad Sultan Enterprises and the Sultan Qaboos University. The Jawad Sultan Group was my goal because I was targetting their Public Relations and Marketing department in their cinemas (i.e.: Shatti Plaza and Al Nasr Cinema). It was a nice interview and all with the Executive Manager, which, then he requested that I do a contribution report on what can be improved in both cinemas, to which I only happily agreed and submitted only a few days back (Friday to be specific) through email as he wanted. So far, I have given up on a second reply from the Group.

The Sultan Qaboos University is a whole different issue, though. I was approached in the beginning to work in the position of a local campus article editor/translator for the University's newsletter; the Horizon. I turned it down in the beginning because I thought it didn't appeal to me that much, plus I am not that good of a translator (I have trouble myself, sometimes, translating for my own purposes). Nevertheless, I retracted my decline by calling the person who approached me, and told him that if the offer still stands I am very much interested - and I was since I had nothing else coming my way. This lead to having a meeting with the Editor-in-Chief some two days ago only to tell me that the position was no longer vacant. Pissed off as I was, I kept it in, thanked the man, and left to the man who had approached me in the first place to tell him of what had occurred. He assured me that his boss had gotten things mixed up and promised to look into the matter and to have an answer as soon as possible. Which, he did. Only to tell me that his boss told him that there really is no vacancy but there is a possibility to squeeze someone in like me to contribute like the University students do - only for peanuts, on a part time basis and for one month only. Then I am out.

Left with no choice; I have to take this only option. Perhaps it would lead me to elsewhere. If it doesn't, then at least it would fix a certain financial crisis that I am upon right now.

That, ladies and gentlemen is just the surface of what has been going on with me and why I haven't been contributing as positively as I used to in the past in this here blog of mine.

Tomorrow I am placing a call to take that position and see where destiny leads me to.

I know it won't lead me to the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, but I just hope that it's somewhere a lot better than where here is.

So, here's to destiny then.