Sunday, March 05, 2006

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

Saturday, March 04, 2006

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?

Friday, March 03, 2006

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

Thursday, March 02, 2006

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..

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

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?

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

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.


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Monday, February 27, 2006

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..

Sunday, February 26, 2006

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