Jazz Central...in Kuwait

Coming Soon...

2006-08-04T15:07:00.000+03:00

Hey all...
I know its been a while since I posted. As a follow-up to my previous post about "taking a time out"...things are really better now...il 7amd allah. I also really appreciated your words of kindness and support.

But guess what...I am leaving Kuwait for two weeks for a loooong-deserved vacation. I need to re-engergize and recharge. The moment I get back...I will begin a new phase of Jazz Central. New & Revamped, with a new template and all...and I seriously can't wait :)

Take care all and see you all when I get back. I'll miss ya' :)

Jazz Central...

LEBANON!

2006-07-15T12:24:00.000+03:00

Hey all. Still taking a break from my blog...forgive me, but I just needed to say something...

LEBANON WILL PREVAIL...
the country, the people, the legacy!

Yesterday's rally in front of the Parliament (sa7at il irada) was a joke and disgrace. Why they defending Hezbolla?...I have no idea....it does not make sense...even if they are fighting against Isreali opposition! The Lebanese people and the country have nothing to do with it, and they are paying the price for a cowardly act done by Hezbolla...I even hate saying that word. Who does Hassan Nasseralla think he is decalaring an "open war" on belaf of the Lebanese citizens and country?? Rampurple said it perfectly on her post when she said:
"Who gave you [Hassan Nasseralla] the right to place Lebanese lives in danger, Lebanese soil in danger? Who are you? So anyone who heads a party can call for war? You do not represent the Lebanese people, hell you only have 2 seats in the ministry!"

So I say it again...Lebanon will prevail!. I pray for my family in Lebanon to be safe and away from harm and danger. I pray from my friends to remain safe as well. Lebanon was just about to bloom, and it will bloom again.

I need a break...

2006-07-03T10:50:00.000+03:00

I know that I have not been posting lately. Alot going on in my life now...unwanted drama, and it's time for me to be selfish. Although I tried to deal with the issues (which range from alot of things combined into one), and tell myself, "Jazz, shut up and deal with it...everyone has problems,"...but it seems that the problems are increasing (one thing after another) and I cannot cope with it. So I told myself..."Jazz...you need a TIME OUT!"

I need to to take some time for myself...I need to be alone, I need to be with people I love and care about (people without hidden agendas), I need to cry, I need to laugh, I need to take a vacation, I need to be away from family drama, I need therapy, I need a massage, I need some "me" time.

So that's why I need to take a break...a time out from my blog for a while. Time to re-prioritize my life and see what direction it's heading too. I'll be back soon :) Take care my people and happy blogging :)

Jazz Central...out of coverage area....

Tidbits from the Weekend..

2006-06-24T10:59:00.000+03:00

The Day: Wednesday 21-June-2006
The Time: 9 pm
The Place: Applebees (Gulf Road)
The Setting: Watching the soccer game (Holland vs. Argentina)
FUN NIGHT, SO LET THE TIDBITS SPEAK FOR ITSELF :)

"If I don't find anyone in 5 months...i'm turning gay!"

"Evian Sucks!" "Good, I tought it well"

"hehehehhe....wait till I swallow"

"Kuyt maftooooo7! (مفتووووح)"

"I'm a trisexual...male, female and alien"

"That guy is giving me a weird look" "Does he smoke reds?"

"I'm drinking!...actually I don't remember"

"Don't stop it...feel the flow"

"He can't aim to get the right spot!"

"Find the spot an KICK IT!"

"Da...Da...Da"

"Nooooo....I mean gay...as in Happy!"

"Don't cry for me Argentina..."

"I was sacrificed by aliens to save mankind"

"You would sacrifice yourself for the aliens, but you will not sacrifice yourself for your friends??? Tfffuuuu 3alaik!"

"I have a new name for myself...Jameel Abu Warde (جميل أبو وردة)"

Question of The Day...

2006-06-19T09:00:00.000+03:00

Here is a question I pose for you all...

If an eskimo is on the Titanic and sees the iceberg approaching...
will he panic??

Thanks Edo Rex :)

Some Great Print Ads...

2006-06-14T10:38:00.000+03:00

As most of you know, Advertising is my life (hobby, career, etc..), so I just wanted to share some of my favorite print ads. Hope you enjoy :)

more to come...

"VOTE FOR ME".....Craaaaash!!!!!

2006-06-11T14:19:00.000+03:00

In the light of the current parliament elections in Kuwait...there is one thing that is bothering me, and it's not a political issue. The publicity banners, signs and flyers are getting ridiculous...in terms of quantity and size that is. Many canditates are opting for HUGE, MEGA, BIG signs and banners that can be hazardous for drivers! For example...the same candidate will have the same exact sign/banner repeated all in a row just on one street, and then continues into another street...all within a couple of feet of one another. Then another candidate will have their banners placed in the empty slots between the other candidate's causing the street pavement to be bombared...not to mention the size of the banners. This blocks road signs, road names and numbers, traffic lights....sometimes blocking speeding cameras (which is not bad really...heheheh).

But the main concern I have is when the signs fall down on the streets and causes cars to crash into them (trust me...I witnessed an accident infront of me). These huge banners are mounted on huge metal frames and some are held down with nothing but sand bags!..I mean come on...SAND BAGS???? Especially the ones that are placed on round-abouts (ahem ahem...Jabriya). When you enter the round-about and then you turn around, you dont even notice that one of the MEGA banners have fallen on the ground due to strong winds...and is sticking out/protruding onto the street. Once you suddenly see it, you have to immediately swerve to avoid running into it, and hopefully avoiding hitting the car next to you. It happened to me in the Jabriya roundabout, but thank god there was no car on the lane next to me when I swerved to the right.

So what can be done? Nothing I suppose. Just take my advice and be careful when you drive down a busy street filled with election banners. Nowadays, you don'r have to be on 4th or 5th street to be stuck in traffic. Now you get stuck in your own friendly neighborhood inner streets...how nice (sarcastically).

Anyways, good luck to all the candidates for the new Parliament elections :)

The Day of Purple :)

2006-06-07T12:06:00.000+03:00

I said this on her blog, and I say it again (loud and proud):

Happy Birthday to my favorite girl, my best friend, my partner in crime, my sister...
MY RAMPURPLE :)

Enjoy this day...You deserve the best :)

Back in the day...

2006-06-06T10:24:00.000+03:00

A couple of days ago, I received an e-mail from a friend from college in the U.S. (Miami, Florida), who shall be referred as "K". She is very close friend of mine, who just sent a friendly hello to check up on how I was doing. Nothing funny about the e-mail, but receiveing this e-mail brought back alot of memories and funny incidents that occurred with her....That's when I bursted out laughing and the people at work thought I went mad, since it seemed I laughed for no apparent reason.

Incident #1:
I was at home watching TV (in the US) when I get a call from "K"

Ring Ring!
Jazz: Hello?
K: Jazz? Hi...can you over and taste my buns??
Jazz: (falls silent)....umm...what?
K: I want you to taste my buns?
Jazz: (giggling)...ok?
K: Oh my god...I just realized what I just asked!...you crazy...NOT THOSE KIND OF BUNS!!!
Jazz: (on the floor lauging)...

("K" baked some Chirstmas buns (bread rolls) and she wanted me to come over and taste them cause she was worried that it did not come out right)

Incident #2: (some months later)
I was at home yet again (in the US) when I get a call from "K"

Ring Ring!
Jazz: Hello?
K: Jazz...can you over and drill me??
Jazz: hahahahahahahaha!!
K: What's so funny? I need u to drill me!
Jazz: K...what exactly do u mean? Drill me?? hehehehehe...(giggling)
K: Oh shut up! (lauging) I am studying for my exams, and I need you to drill me on what I've learned!
Jazz: (rolling on the floor lauging)...
K: I hate you! You the only one that this happens to! (in a babyish tone...)

LOooOOOOOOL! You so carzy "K"...I miss you :)

The "M" Word...

2006-06-03T12:51:00.000+03:00

The pressure is on...the day has come...where my parents have brought up the "M" word....MARRIAGE!

I had a heated conversation with the parents yesterday (who they brought up the issue...and not me), asking when will they dance in my wedding. Pressure...

They ask: "You're 27 now, when will you find the love of your life?"
Pressure...

They request: "We would like to have little grandchildren running around."
Pressure...

They claim: "What will other people think that our 27 year son is not married yet, or at least engaged"
Pressure...

Mom says (jokingly): "If you're not married by 30, I will become the matchmaker ('7a6aba), and take matters in my own hands...old school!"
Pressure...

So the pressure is on...JOY!

...and with that, I dedicate myself the song "Drop The Pressure" by Mylo. Check it out in my "NOW PLAYING" section on my blog :)

Summer Time!

2006-05-30T09:24:00.000+03:00

It's summer ya'll :) It's time to be make something of it...beating the intense summer heat in Kuwait. Time to take advantage of the beach. Go to Kempinski, the Hilton, a boat trip to Kubbar (yeah!), head to your chalet...whatever....just make the best out of the sun...swimming, sun tanning and drinking a tall ice cold pepsi (hehehe) while listening to your ipod. Hot summer sun..with a warm summer breeze...can you resist? I can't! So who's with me?

And with that...I dedicate this song to you. So this weekend...listen it to it in the car on your way to the beach with the top down :) (God knows I wanna do that...but my car is a jeep :S)

"Soak Up The Sun" by Sheryl Crow
Album: C'mon C'mon (2002)

See you at the beach! I plan to roast under the sun and get the mother of all tans! :)

The People Are Speaking...

2006-05-28T23:04:00.000+03:00

The documentary called
"When The People Spoke"
by Kuwaiti Director
Amer Al-Zuhair
will be screened again :)

Date: Monday 29-May-2006
Time: 7:30 pm
Place: The American University of Kuwait (Salmiya)

Bohemia in Kuwait...

2006-05-22T15:29:00.000+03:00

A question....

A Common Definition:

Bohemia: [bo·he·mi·ya] noun - A community of people with artistic or literary tastes who adopt manners conspicuously different from those expected or approved of by the majority of society.

Do you believe that bohemianism exsist in Kuwait?

Many people in Kuwait are comfortable with an alternative lifesyle...not necessarily defying the tradional culture of Kuwait, but rather not fully follow what is considered the cultural and social norm of Kuwait. Many of them artists, and respect the arts in gerneral. They do respect their culture, their roots, their customs, but tend to live outside the box and live a lifestyle that many people consider "taboo"...or 7aram. They travelled and seen the world, lived and been well-educated in other countries for many years, they've experienced different cultures, which then makes them used to live a different social lifestyle. So when they come back to Kuwait, they can't seem to settle to what the social norm is.

There are many examples and many extremes to this issue of Bohemia in Kuwait. Minor examples such as partying, drinking, smoking (including females), hanging out with mixed crowds in public are all evident around Kuwait. Many been criticized for living such an alternative lifestyle and defying the culture of Kuwait and religion.

Are they really defying or making a mockery of their own culture or roots? Or are they just expressing themselves (and not to others) what they are comfortable with and used to. Art shows, galleries, independent films, plays international music shows (not arabic) are popping up here and there. From piants on a canvas to transcripts for a personal novel to film for a documentary...they are finding various means to express themselves.

So what do you think? Wandering minds wanna know :)

Home Sweet Home...Kuwait

2006-05-15T11:36:00.000+03:00

I got this as an e-mail, and I thought I might share....it's so true...well I think so:

"Most people I know here came back to Kuwait after college...to the Promised Land, for maximum two years, or "to make enough money" and hopefully go back and pursue a masters. Countless Falafel and Shawarma sandwich years later, they are all still here, grayed quite a bit, but very much here.

Kuwait is like that. One starts off earnestly in a job, wants to work hard (and hopefully continues to do so). As time passes, you begin to get comfortable with the non-iron bedsheets and jam3iyas overloaded with easy to serve yogurt and long life milk.

By then your status has risen because you work in this oil-rich, highest per capita income Wonderland. Your mother beckons that they have found a "nice, homely" girl for you. You like your so-called "single" life...so you resfectfully decline. So you rent your own one bedroom apartment, put out few cheap "Banta" chairs, and blend in some Ikea "As Is" furniture just for it to not look so cheap. Few Friday market visits later, your house and heart are ready...life goes on with Paramount Channel, Cartoon Network, BBC News, and Kuwait TV masalsalat! Ramadan and Eid comes and goes and your MBA you well intended is long forgotten with the stress of how to ask the boss for a raise, and you can't cope with the installments for your new car...and used car in some cases. The raise never comes, yet you still here.

The luckier ones find fresh opportunities and move up the economic ladder, but never out of Kuwait. You upgrade your car and home, and generally grow to be a part of Kuwait, or rather Kuwait like a sandy desert spirit becomes ingrained into you, and fourth and fifth ring roads become your best weekend hangouts. Just because it seems the in thing to do, you apply for migration to a western country, knowing full well in your heart that you may never be able to start a new life in another strange land. The taxation everywhere else hurts. So do the residence fees here, but can you leave Kuwait?

Leave Kuwait, and miss the Houmos, Mutabel and Machboos and all the nteworking you built up, are you kidding? Life goes on, with bodies and souls flirting in and out of The Sultan Center, Souk Sharq, restaurants, all the new new malls that have sprung up like mushrooms. Soon one Thursday blends into another (another weekend, so quickly?) and next thing you know,time has flown, and you and your friends of yesteryears still meet occasionally, and discuss who has grayed more, and who's cholesterol is threatening.

The whole point of who "made more money" but never returned home is never brought up. Endless weekend dinners, get togethers, beach picnics, potlucks and problems, growing up pains, career ups and downs, friends who are like family, birthdays and anniversaries...Kuwait is home!

Source Unknown

Creepy Crawlies in the car!

2006-05-13T15:14:00.000+03:00

PICTURE THIS....

While driving and on the phone with my mother. So one hand on the steering wheel and the other phone holding the mobile phone on my ear and my eyes on the road...naturally. While speaking on the phone...i noticed something moving quickly about on my legs. I thought it was a shadow or the sun's glare. I looked down....just to check...and there it was....A HUGE frickin' cockroach running all around my legs!!!! And I do mean huge!!!!! All I remember was just yelling to my mom that I'll call her back and jumping on my chair hoping that roach will fall off my legs! I just drove up to someone's driveway and jumped out the car...wondering how will I get rid of it since its still somewhere hiding in my car! I kneeled down to check under my seat to see it's there...when I saw it coming from behind my brake pedals and heading towards the door. It fell off my car and then...fluttered away....literally flew away. THAT ROACH WAS THE FLYING KIND!!! I was still in shock and wondered how it got in my car. Thank god I did not swerve and had an accident. The thing is, I'm not scared of roaches. Usually if I see one, I just walk stright up it and stomp on those bastards. But when you have a HUGE ONE running all over your legs....thats i different story.

And thats how my Thursday weekend began!

And oh...i did call my mom back and realized I almost gave her a heart attack with all my yelling and shutting the phone on her face. Poor mom...she's been going through alot and I added to her misery. But we laughed it off :)

ONE YEAR!

2006-05-10T09:42:00.000+03:00

Can't believe it's been a year since I started blogging! I think this is the first time I committed to something for a whole year. Usually when I start a personal project, I always end up stopping after six months or so, due to boredom, or other reasons. So it's a good thing!

Here's to another year of rants and raves for Jazz Central!

"Have You Ever??"...What u wanna know about me...

2006-05-02T17:57:00.000+03:00

The question is: "Have you ever???" I Say: "Yes I did!" Some of the stuff I did are all in good fun...but some are just...well let's just say...Fathayi7 Central!!

(x) Smoked a cigarette
(x) Crashed a friend's car
(x) Stolen a car
(x) Been in love
(x) Been dumped
(x) Shoplifted
( ) Been fired
(x) Been in a fist fight
(x) Snuck out of your parent's house
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
( ) Been arrested
(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Lied to a friend
(x) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Purposely set a part of yourself on fire
(x) Eaten sushi
( ) Been skiing
(x) Met someone from the Internet
(x) Been to a concert
(x) Taken painkillers
(x) Love someone or miss someone right now
(x) Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
(x) Made a snow angel
(x) Had a tea party
(x) Flown a kite
(x) Built a sand castle
(x) Gone puddle jumping
(x) Played dress up
(x) Jumped into a pile of leaves
(x) Gone sledging
(x) Cheated while playing a game
(x) Been lonely
(x) Fallen asleep at work/school
(x) Used a fake ID
(x) Watched the sun set
( ) felt an earthquake
(x) Slept beneath the stars
(x) Been tickled
(x) Been robbed
(x) Been misunderstood
(x) Petted a reindeer/goat/kangaroo
(x) Won a contest
(x) Run a red light/stop sign
(x) Been suspended from school
(x) Been in a car crash
( ) Had braces
(x) Felt like an outcast/third person
( ) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(x) Had a dejÃ vu
(x) Danced in the moonlight
(x) Witnessed a crime
(x) Questioned your heart
(x) Been obsessed with post-it notes
(x) Squished mud through your bare feet
(x) Been lost
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country
(x) Been on the opposite side of the world, or close
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with only coins
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
( ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Made a bonfire on the beach
(x) Crashed a party
(x) Gone roller-skating
(x) Had a wish come true
( ) jumped off a bridge

If you wanna know juicy details...just let me know. We can converse over a cup of coffee or SUSHI at EDO!

Fathayi7 central...Case closed!

Check out my new NOW PLAYING section. "In A Sentimental Mood" is an all-time smooth jazz classic by the legendary Duke Ellington. Hope you enjoy it :)

Badliyat Central...

2006-04-28T13:49:00.000+03:00

WHY??? I dunno what's come over me this weekend!! I've been screwing up BIG TIME when I speak this days. Everytime I wanna actually say something...I'm thinking of a different word in my mind. So what actually comes out of my mouth are both words merged together into one, which can sometimes mean something totally different! LOL...I always seem to drop a BADLIYA (بدليــة) here and there. For example...

SCENARIO 1:
This past Thursday: I was at my usual family lunch gatherings. I was saying a story about the Kuwait Gulf War. So I wanted to say Gulf War, but in my mind I was thinking of the word "azma" (أزمـة), which is invasion in Arabic. So what came out was..."During the gazma..."

SCENARIO 2:
A couple of months ago, I was ordering food at home. So I was on the phone with Naif Chicken and I wanted to say "Ma3oon Ta'ouk" (chicken platter). So then I ordered..."Aby wa7ed ta3oun." At that moment, I could not control myself...I passed the phone to my mother, while I was rolling on the ground laughing. My mom also could not stop laughing as well as she giggled the rest of the order on the phone. I literally ordered the plague over the phone. How sweet!

SCENARIO 3:
One day, my uncle was sitting and looked very depressed. Being concerned as I am, I wanted to ask him "Shfeek khaly?" (uncle, what's wrong?). I confidently sat next to him and prouly asked: "Shfeekh?" Just like that...one word! Let's just say I cheered up my uncle :)

SCENARIO 4:
Today, I was thinking of buying myself some shorts, but for some odd reason, I was also thinking of pants as well. So silly me said: "I need some shants!"

Well that's me in a nut shell...Jazz Central...Abu il badliyat! (أبو البدلـيات)

DO YOU HAVE ANY TO SHARE?

My All-Time Favorite Movie Characters...

2006-04-23T09:20:00.000+03:00

I was reading an article in a movie magazine about the most memorable movie characters of all time. So I decided to do the same. I have a lot of them, but here are just some of my favorite movie characters of all time.

Al Pacino as "Frank Slade" in Scent of A Woman (1992)

Angela Bassett as "Tina Turner" in What's Love Got To Do With It (1993)

Anthony Hopkins as "Dr Hannibal Lecter" in Silence of The Lambs (1991)

Ben Kingsley as "Massoud Amir Behrani" in House of Sand and Fog (2003)

Bruce Willis as "David Dunn" in Unbreakable (2000)

Denzel Washington as "Rubin Carter" in The Hurricane (1999)

Dustin Hoffman as "Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels" in Tootsie (1982)

Eddie Murphy "Prof. Sherman Klumps" in The Nutty Professor (1996)

Edward Nortan as "Derek" in American History X (1998)

Emma Thompson as "Elinor Dashwood" in Sense & Sensibility (1995)

Julia Roberts as "Erin Brokovich" in Erin Brokovich (2000)

Johhny Depp as "Captain Jack Sparrow" in The Pirates of The Caribbean (2003)

Kate Winslet as "Sylvia Llewelyn Davies" in Finding Neverland (2004)

Ken Wantanabe as "Katsumoto" in The Last Samurai (2003)

Kevin Spacey as "Roger Verbal Kint" in The Usual Suspects (1995)

Morgan Freeman as "Joe Clark" in Lean On Me (1989)

Natalie Portman as "Alice" in Closer (2004)

Jack Nicholson as "Melvin Udall" in As Good As It Gets (1997)

Nicole Kidman as "Grace" in The Others (2001)

Peter Sellers as "Hrundi Bakshi" in The Party (1968)

Renee Zelwegger as "Roxie Hart" in CHICAGO (2002)

Robin Williams as "Dr. Patch Adams" in Patch Adams (1998)

Rosario Dawson as "Mimi" in RENT (2005)

Samuel L. Jackson as "Carl Lee Hailey" in A Time To Kill (1996)

Sandra Bullock as "Gwen Cummings" in 28 Days (2000)

Thandie Newton as "Christine" in Crash (2005)

Tom Hanks as "Chuck Noland" in Cast Away (2000)

Whoopi Goldberg as "Celie" in The Color Purple (1985)

Ziyi Zhang as "Jen Yu" in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Nia Long as "Jordan" in The Best Man (1999)

So...WHAT'S YOURS?

Back From Dubai...

2006-04-16T11:06:00.000+03:00

Hey y'all! I'm back from Dubai from my business trip. Eventful trip...exhuasting...but amazing experience. I have a lot to say about Dubai, but here are just some:

1) Upon arrival in Dubai International Airport, it took me about a 20 minute walk from the airplane to passport control! That airport is frickin' big!!!

2) Speaking of big...big is an under-statement in Dubai. Large, humongous, huge, gigantic, immense, enormous, vast, collasal...etc...is more like it. Everything is so damn..big from buildings, to entire estate projects and advertising billboards. It seems that if Dubai can't thing BIG, they can't think at all!

3) Traffic is everywhere! And you thought Kuwait was bad. Once experience traffic in Dubai, you will kiss every driver in Kuwait and thank your stars that Kuwait's traffic is not that bad!

4) Two words...HUMID CENTRAL!

5) A local Emarati in Dubai is like a needle in hay-stack..I know it's a typical and cliche' saying...but I had to say it.

6) Night life is amazing...with a lot to do :)

7) I missed the Jamiroquai concert :( I heard it was a blast! I could not get tickets, plus I was working. People are saying that I should go to the J-Lo concert....NO WAY!!! Waaaaai3...I hate her!

8) Everything is a "city" in Dubai....Media City, Sports City, Academic City, Internet City, Festival City, and not to mention the "villages" as well...Knowledge Village, Global Village...

HIGHLIGHTS:

I went to a Jazz Lounge called Blue Bar. I was in heaven!!! The night I went had a live band with a female singer with a great voice! They played all the classics and some contemporary songs as well. But I was breathless when the lady sang one of my favorite jazz songs..."Summertime" by the great Ella Fitzgerald! WOW! Here is a pic of the place :) Kinda small pic, but you can see the layout.

Madinat Jumeirah is unbelievably the most beautiful place I've ever been and seen! I went there on my last day before I went to the airport. Walked around, took pictures, had something to eat by the bay and just admired the sight. It was a Saturday, so it was quiet and peaceful and no crowd at all.

OVERALL:
Nice place, good trip, well deserved...but would not want to live there. I'd go to Dubai for a visit, vacation, have my fun, relax...then come back home...KUWAIT. No place like home :)

Leaving on a Jet Plane....

2006-04-10T17:42:00.000+03:00

I'm off to Dubai.....

...for a business trip from tomorrow (Tuesday 11th April until Saturday 15th April)....short but sweet :)

I'll see you all when I get back in shaa allah :)

P.S: Kleio...I feel like $hit that I would not get to see you :(

My First Attempt on "Tidbits"

2006-04-01T13:10:00.000+03:00

The Day: Thursday 30th March 2006
The Time: 7 pm
The Setting: Fadibou & Mar's Place...the most gracious of hosts as usual :)
The Plot: A lot of interesting things happaned, but let the tidbits speak for itself.
______________________________________________

"Hi Honey Bunny"

"He's not lactating yet!" "Well, not yet"

"Ice cream is sympathy food. No..actualy ice cream is comfort food"

"He Had sex with a dolphin"

"I got a freaky movie"

"NO FEEDING OFF THE TABLE!"

"So what's was your peer pressure?"

"I love Winnie the Pooh!"

"Lick your face!"

"The music sounds like a porn movie"

"I usually pour the papa john's dipping sauce over my lasagne"

"KDD ice cream is sooo creeeeeaaaaammmmy!"

"I am not Kirking tonight"

"He saw a mermaid"

"I think he reached orgasm"

"It's a director's cut, with 49 extra minutes!"

"dakheel sha3ro"

"Mit3awidda!!"

"I guess the director did not know what to do with the scene, so he placed a paino on the beach"

"It's South Beach", "No...it's Sows Bitch"

"I still don't know what the movie is about?", "I told you, it's about sex with dolphins"

"Let it finish, let it finish...YES IT FINISHED!"

"You have to lubricate every 3 hours"

"You need to go deeper everytime"

______________________________________________

For more on this interesting evening, check out Purgatory's and Fadibou's posts.

Random Thoughts...yet again!

2006-03-26T13:30:00.000+03:00

1) 'Tis the seaon to be bitten...fa la la la la, la la la la! The mosquitos are everywhere and they are out to get you. I have moquito bites everywhere! Itch, itch, itch...scratch, scratch, scratch! Bad idea..i know.

2) I heard the most funniest and actually the most ingenious thing from a co-worker of mine. She claims that a proven way to lose weight is to move to another house. She moved into new apartment a few months ago and she said she lost weight from all the moving activities (packing, carrying boxes, all the running around, errands, unpacking, cleaning, etc). Now she is planning to move again to another place and she is looking forward to it 'cause she knows she's gonna loose more weight. How smart! Another alternative for the gym huh?

3) Remember my post from waaaaaaaaaaaaay back about my freind Nadia Turner, who was in the third season of American Idol. Well now, things are looking very good for her. The show gave her the much deserved exposure she needed to become recognized, even though the did not win. She now has an official webiste (go here). She currently in the studio working in an album due to be released in the summer, and she is also shooting an Independent Film "A Taste of Us". GO Nadia!

4) I need a vaccation!!!! Any suggestions?

5) Speaking of vaccations, I have a business trip to Dubai next month. I know its not considered a vaccation, but I'm gonna take advantage of that Dubai has to offer. The last time I was in Dubai was in 1997!! Damn...has it been that long???

6) Here I am, typing away, and multitasking! I'm writing this post, sending a work e-mail, and my headphones are on, and I am listening to: "Ode to My Family" by The Cranberries.

7) That song for The Cranberries reminds me soooo much of the good old days of high school....the worry-free days of High School back in 1996, 1997...where the only worries I had was: "Will I pass that test?" or "PLEASE GOD, GIVE THE THE STRENGTH TO PLAY THIS VOLLEYBALL GAME AND WIN AGAINST A.S.K!" or "Will my dad give me my allowance for the weekend?". Now my worries are about rent, car payments, visa payments, or "Do I have enough money for Edo tonight?"

8) This is totally beach weather!!! I need get me some new swim shorts! Kubbar here I come!

9) My article about the NEO-SOUL MOVEMENT is just about ready....final touches! It's a follow up to my post (dated March 9, 2006). Stay tuned :)

10) QUOTE OF THE DAY: "A good friend will bail you out of jail. A best friend will be in the next jail cell saying 'That was fucking awesome!'

Sipping Vodka

2006-03-22T13:52:00.000+03:00

I received an e-mail today with a joke...I could not stop lauging!

A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak. So he asked the Monsignor what to do. The Monsignor replied, “When I get nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I get nervous, I take a sip.”

So the next Sunday, he took the Monsignor’s advice. At the beginning of the sermon, the young priest got nervous and took a sip. He then proceeded to talk up a storm.

Upon his return to his office after mass, he found the following note on his door:

My Dear Father:

Today’s sermon was one of absolute uniqueness. I enjoyed it very much. However, allow me to clear up some things regarding your sermon:

1. There are 10 commandments, not 12.

2. There are 12 disciples, not 10.

3. Jesus was consecrated, not constipated!

4. Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet on his ass!

5. We do not refer to Jesus as the late J.C.

6. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior and the Spook!

7. David slew Goliath; he did not kick the shit out of him!

8. When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey, please don’t say he was stoned off his ass!

9. When Jesus broke the bread at the Last Supper, he said: Take this and eat it for it is my body.” He did not say: “Eat me!”

10. The Virgin Mary is not called “Mary with the Cherry”

11. The recommended grace before a meal is not: “Rub-A-Dub-Dub, thanks for the grub, Yeah God!”

12. And for the love of God, if you need some help, sip the damn vodka, don’t gulp!

Amen Father, and looking forward your next sermon.

John

LooOOOoOOOOOL!

The Tag Mania!

2006-03-21T12:58:00.000+03:00

As I say it..."I Is Tagged" by Reema

Q: Who’s the 4th person on your received call list?
A: Some printing vendor who's driving me nuts at work.

Q: What’s your main ring tone on your phone?
A: "Seven Days In Sunny June" by Jamiroquai (MP3)

Q: What were you doing at midnight last night?
A: Trying to sleep!

Q: What did the last text message on your cell phone say
A: ” Cool...I'm on my way"

Q: Whose bed did you sleep in last night?
A: My own! (Damn...this tag can spill a can of worms! fathayi7!!)

Q: What color shirt are you wearing?
A: Black (yes another casual day at work. No formal today!)

Q: Most recent movie that you watched?
A: Fun With Dick & Jane

Q: Name 3 things that you have on you at all times?
A: contact lenses, a disturbed look on my face, my dignity!

Q: What’s the color of your bedsheets?
A: Beige

Q: How much cash do you have on you right now?
A: Literally 3 KD....need to go to the ATM! ( I told you...fathayi7!!)

Q: What is your favorite part of the chicken?
A: Legs/Thighs

Q: What’s your favorite town/city?
A: So far...Mallorca, Spain (can change)

Q: I can’t wait to (till)…?
A: Get paid and get some sushi from Edo!

Q: When was the last time you saw your mom?
A: Last Night

Q: When was the last time you saw your dad?
A: Since Jan 2006 :( (He lives and works outide Kuwait)

Q: When was the last time you talked to them?
A: Both Yesterday :)

Q: What did you have for dinner last night?
A: Did I have dinner? I don't remember :S

Q: How long have you been at your current job?
A: Since September 2003

Q: Look to your left. What’s there?
A: Filing cabinet and a messy bulliten board

Q: Who is the last person you spent over $50 on?
A: My sister...a gift for her birthday

Q: What’s the last piece of clothing you borrowed from someone?
A: A t-shirt from my brother

Q: What website(s) do you visit the most during the day?
A: Google, and my company's website

Q: Do you have an air freshener in your car?
A: Yes

Q: Do you have plants in your room?
A: Nope

Q: Does anything hurt on your body right now?
A: Hmmm...dont think so...unless my co-worker pinches me since I am bothering her right now!

Q: What city was your last taxi cab ride in?
A: Mallorca, Spain

Q: Do you own a camera phone?
A: Yes

Q: What’s your favorite drink?
A: Cannot say....I told you fathayi7!!!

Q: What’s your favorite Starbucks drink?
A: SCREW STARBUCKS!!! Or shall I say STARSUCKS!!!!

Q: Recent time you were really upset?
A: Yesterday...work thingy!

Q: Have you been in love with anyone?
A: Yes

Q: Who do you think will repost this?
A: Most probably Stallion

I don't wanna tag anyone individually, or I know I will cursed at for tagging them. So I tag...anyone who wants to. Enjoy!

Let's Light The Candles for Tooomz

2006-03-13T14:19:00.000+03:00

Behold! For it is the day of birth for Lady Tooomz that is upon us. Let us rejoice and be merry on this day of fortitute and joy!

Enjoy this day Tooomz...Jazzy Style....and hope you like the image :)

Neo Soul...the Movement

2006-03-08T12:32:00.000+03:00

click on the image to view the large version

Coming Soon....

The concept...the history...the music...the artists...
as told by Jazz Central himself.

JOY...JOY...JOY...and JOY again!

2006-03-07T12:44:00.000+03:00

Today is a.....

GOOD DAY!!!

Consider it....a NATUARL HIGH...if you will.

I'm happy...content...flattered...enthusiastic...and ________________
(fill in the blank)

...Interesting turn of events in a span of 24 hours. Life is good!

BLAH...BLAH...BLAH....and BLAH again!

2006-03-06T16:04:00.000+03:00

Today was a.....

BAD DAY!!!

Consider it....Male PMS...if you will.

I'm tired...lost...confused...frustrated...and ________________ (fill in the blank)

...I guess it's just one of them so-called days again.

The Adeaters...could have been better

2006-03-01T17:00:00.000+03:00

Yesterday I went to the Third Annual Night of the Adeaters. It was held at Cinescape in Sha'ab Park, and I went with a bunch of friends. Since advertising was my major in college and my current career, I always look forward to this night. I've been to the previous two events in the past. However, I was kind of disappointed to this year's Adeaters. Of course, the night started out great. We walked in, and the sponsors of the event were handing us gifts and giveaways left and right! We walked into the auditorium with literally three gift bags, not to mention the clappers, glow sticks and swirling lights! The show started off with a juggling act by two performers with lit-up batons. It soon turned into a light show like in a RAVE party....the music was good too. I swear you can tell that people were oozing and eager to party since there were dancing in their seats. The commercials they showed in the beginning of the show were great...funny, sad, heart-warming, strange, bizarre, creative...etc. But towards the end of the show, the ads started to get boring and bland! The auditorium was basically empty after the second intermission. I dunno why, but the last two Adeaters showed much more creative ads throughout the night. But ah well...it was an interesting night. The ad that was extremely funny to me was the Thai ad that showed a person telling another person about a movie they watched on DVD. And while explaining the movie, they begin to stutter, jerk, twitch, and spasm.....just like when your DVD begins to freeze and stall when you play it on a cheap DVD player. So the ad was about some hi-tech DVD player that's better than the rest.

Hopefully, next year will be better...god willing...thats if i'm not in walkers by then! Yalla...time to leave work now, it's frickin 5:30 pm...karaht 3mory min kithr il shughul bil dawam!!!!

Have a great weekend y'all :)

P.S: Check out my new song in the "NOW PLAYING" section on my blog. It's a side track from jazz music. It's one my favorite house/dance tracks.

P.S.S: For all you sushi lovers, head down to Edo this weekend, and try out the new maki roll called "Jazz" maki...by yours truly. It was named after me since I always order this special custom-made roll. It's a salmon, scallop and shrimp tempura combo, with spring onions mixed in with rice! Apparently, some people think I took credit from other people, which will be clarified soon. But for now, hope you enjoy it :)

Rent...The Movie!

2006-02-27T09:11:00.000+03:00

I was always eager to see the new movie RENT for a while now, and this loooong 4 day weekend...I finally did. I watached it with my side-kick Stallion. RENT is new movie based on the successful broadway musical. At first, I had mixed feelings about liking the movie since it was a musical...but I WAS WRONG! Its better as a musical. If you truly appreciate music, you will appreciate it that it's a musical. Now this is not your typical "happy-go-lucky" musicals; it is a "in your face" kinda movie...a truthful, powerful, honest, and very real, funny, inspiring, emotional, heart-breaking, heart-warming, ingenious, artistic musical journey of love, life, heartache, death, HIV, and very importantly...friends. RENT emphasized in the ups and downs of friends, the testing of friendship through time, and how it heals. The story and situations makes so much more sense and is more powerful when it's told through song. The acting is also amazing...I never thought that these actors can sing....I mean....Rosario Dawson (who plays Mimi in the movie) can really sing her heart out! I'm not gonna give away the story as I truly recommend you watch RENT. Watch it with a bunch of your friends...make it a night...and it will surely make you appreciate your friends. I give RENT five stars! Enjoy!

* To see the movie trailer, click here.
* And how appropriate for us...RENT also comes with a blog!
* Finally, check out on Now Playing in my blog to listen to a clip of the main title song, "Seasons of Love".

A "Drool" of Art...literally!

2006-02-21T16:19:00.000+03:00

DNA 11 is a organization founded by two scientists, in which you can create artwork that shows off your unique character...a color print of your DNA on canvas....and you can frame it too. All you have to do is simply submit a saliva sample in a supplied vial that they will give you for lab analysis, and the results are blown up and made into a wall display. Weird isn't it? But I dunno...I think its creative, wacky and and bizarre. See for yourself. It's also kinda in the pricy side. It can run for $390 - $940 depending on various colors and sizes. So, who's up for this?

Job vs. Career

2006-02-16T13:15:00.000+03:00

Food For Thought....

Most of us have jobs. Some of you are still in college earning your degree to hopefully achieve a good job. Some of us left our jobs to pursue higher studies (Masters/Ph.D.) to attain a higher level of personal and career growth.

But what kind of situation are in now? Do you consider your current work a job or a career? I mean think about it. In this day in age, when the cost of living is increasing (especially in Kuwait), do we have the luxury to have our dream job or career? Or is it that we take any kind job, regardless of your area of study, just to make ends meet and pay the bills. Are you obliged to settle for a decent job (even though its not what you have in mind for a career), for the sake of living a some-what comfortable life, or just getting by, or able to save up to settle down and get married, etc....the reason's are endless.

How many of you have graduated from college with a solid intended major of choice, and is now working in job in a total irrelevant feild? Why is that? Not enough jobs in your feild? or not enough pay? And would you settle for less of a pay, just to be in a job of what you really wanted to do?

For example, I for one graduated with Advertising and Marketing from college in 2002. SO logically, being on my own, I thought the only place to work is an Advertising Agency. Was I right? NO! Low and behold, I got a job here in Kuwait in a local advertising agency. Good job...but bad career move in my part. Out of experience (and its not the same for all people), working in an Ad Agency was not for me. You become some-what a "slave" for the clients that want creative items. Driving all around Kuwait to client meetings, obeying their requests, and doing to the impossible just to please them 'cause money is at stake. I told myself...I dont like this kinda life for a career. College textbooks made it out to be a peachy and rosy career. But reality bit me in the ass and showed me otherwise. However, this is MY experience, but I know many people in the same field working in Ad Agencies, and loving every moment of it (for them, that job is a career, while for me it was just a job).

So what happened next? I left that company which later closed down due to bankruptcy. Jazz was in need of a job. Seach here, search there. Apply here and there. Then came a job opportunity that was irrelevant to my feild....Human Resources in a newly established institution. An offer was given. Should I take it? I didn't know anything about HR, but it was a chance of lifetime. SO I took it, and it was the best choice I ever did. Granted it was a job instead of a career, but I learned a lot of new things, I gained new insight of the real job world, which can be harsh sometimes, and I met AMAZING people in that place, who I now consider...my life! Kleio is one of them. So Kleio, how did I do? ;) The good thing about this place was the chance to grow within the institution. After a year in HR, I was then transferred to the PR and Marketing Department, and have been there to this date. Now I consider my current job a career since I've been here since 2003. I get to do all the advertising and marketing stuff I always wanted to do, but with a twist, plus job security :) I realized, I dont have to work in a Advertising Agency, just because its my major.

The moral of the story: When finding a job, don't restrcit yourself, be flexible, make some sacrifices...and you will eventually find your dream career. It worked for me, and it can work for you :)

So what's your story?

Thoughts and Sounds...seriously!

2006-02-14T10:52:00.000+03:00

Picture It...

Kuwait, Work, 10:52 am...

Sniff...Sniff...
Cough...cough...
type...type...
click....click...
(send to print)

sniff...sniff (i got the sniffles)...not sniffing anything illegal, except the Vicks Nasal Inhaler...my new friend for today!

type...type...
Ring...Ring...
hello?

shuffle...shuffle...
scribble...scribble...
YAWN!!!!
click...click...

"Ya halla...good thanks. Excuse me? No sorry, Human Resources is on the other side of the floor"

I need rest, I need Vitamic C, need medication, need chai 7aleeb...
I need affection, I need hugs...
Lonely in Valentines day...2nd year in a row...what joy! (sarcastically)

Pop the headphones on, listening to "Lifetime" by Maxwell
"La La La La...."

Growl...growl...stomach is turning....need food....is it early for lunch?

Ring...Ring...Phone rings again...shall I answer?

Happy Valentines to all :)

Sniff...Sniff...
(*...and Jazz grabs the Vicks nasal inhaler again and getting high!*)

Exhibition Announcement :)

2006-02-12T09:25:00.000+03:00

Come and check out a small and intimate exhibition all this week. The exhibition includes authentic custom-made jewelry made out of precious and semi-precious stones created by a female Kuwaiti artist, as well as various antinque Indian and Indonesian furniture accessories and handcrafts.

TIME:
Saturday 11th February until Friday 17th February, 2006
5 - 10 pm

ADDRESS:
Jabriya, Block 5, Street 14, Building 31,
Apartment 3 (basement)
over-looking the complex swimming pool

For pictures of the event, you can check out Stallion's blog, since he went and had things to say about it.

Thank you :)

The Tag germ!

2006-02-04T12:20:00.000+03:00

That's right...as I usually say it..."I is Tagged"...this time by my childhood friend...Rampurple:

Four jobs I’ve had:
1. Currently Media & Communications Coordinator at a local institution (hehehe...will not say where but been here since 2003)
2. Marketing Executive at local advertising company in Kuwait for 2 years (which I think closed down now)...a7san...good riddance!
3. Resident Assistant at Bay Vista Housing at Florida International University during my undergraduate studies (1 year)
4. Summer Internship at local advertising company in Kuwait (3 months)

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. As Good As It Gets (one one the most heart warming movies I ever saw)
2. CHICAGO (very entertaining...and all that jazz! hehehehe)
3. The Color Purple (Depressing but really good)
4. The Sound of Music (may be cheezy, but it's a classic. Everytime my little neice puts the movie on, I always end up watching it with her...quality time with my neice)

Four places I have lived:
1. Kuwait (born & raised)
2. Miami, Florida-USA (5 years for college)
3. Dubai, UAE (during Gulf War)
4. Lebanon (when I was a kid, but don't remember how long)

Four TV shows I love:
1. LOST
2. 24
3. CSI
4. The Practice

Four places I’ve vacationed:
1. Recently...Mallorca-Spain (I loved every minute of it)
2. Cyprus
3. Lebanon
4. Rome, Italy

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. I will have to say Machboos Diyay (Kuwaiti Rice & Chicken)
2. Lasagne
3. Sushi (I dunno if that counts as a dish, but still...)
4. TABBOULI!!!

Four sites I visit daily:
1. Google.com (literally every day...for personal and business)
2. blogger.com (obviously!)
3. safat.kuwaitblogs.com (to check out recent posts)
4. NBK.com (to check my finances and spending habbits...yikes!)

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Spain
2. Bali, Indonesia
3. Greece
4. Sitting in a balcony overlooking the mountains in Hamana-Lebanon on a cold breezy morning, eating a man'oushe and and driking tea, while listenting to Fairuz

Five people I am tagging:
1. Amunki
2. Kleio
4. Raine
3. Nunu
4. 7tenths
5. Dr. Lost
6. Miss Cosmo
7. Delicately Realistic

hehehehe...u think I over did it?

Real Resume's & CV's

2006-01-30T17:31:00.000+03:00

I come across a lot of resume's and CV's during my work expereince. Some are absolutely funny and classic! I'm not making fun at them, I just thought they were too cute. I really hope they all have good jobs by now. Here are just some highlights from differnt CV's based on each CV item:

Peronal Identification:
*Date of Born
*Nationality: Lebanes
*Statue: Maried

Education:
*Studeing time in the university
*High Certificate in Critique
*Diploma: Science Lap technologic
*Refreshment curse in accounting
*Master of scince
*Stadies: Lebanes Univserity foe English Letreture
*Theerd level in English
*School Leaving Certificate
*Golf Insurance Co. Training
*New Horison Courese-General English
*I have balance sheet (thanaweya ama kuwaitiya)

Work Experience:
*Sales man in Kirby Pank
*Mandop in resturant
*Order taker in Little Ceaser Pizza Pizza
*Vice maneger of generral marketes
*Chose receptionist and training them (woring as a team)
*Look after them and solve their problems
*Look after the files
*I hade 7 years experoence in this feild
*The compaination of my qualification is good for job
*Data Eatrey (English-Arabic)
*Worked in commircial market company as markiting and sales secretry

Skills & Hobbies:
*Operation of Mechanical tool
*Arabic: the mother toungue
*English Speak And Write very good
*Reding for both enjoyments for information

Closing Remarks:
*I need this jop so I hope to be the one will be chosing bu company
*Hopping for farther co-operations
*Ready to start the work
*I hope I can work with you cause it will be my dream came true
*My Circulem Veta is good to be accep tin
*I have an available residence
*Meritorious awaiting for your patronage for a reply
*I await for your replay to my amail

I surely will give them a job for effort :)

I Miss My College Days!!

2006-01-23T16:54:00.000+03:00

I dunno what came over me, but I got this sudden nostalgic burst of being back in college. I attented Florida International University in Miami, FLorida from 1997 and graduated in 2002 with my Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication. I miss those days...walking around campus, the events, the athletic activities, the partying...hehehehe, working as a Resident Assistant (RA) in Bay Vista Housing, the group study sessions, and all that jazz! Now I'm soooo eager to go back to college and pursue my masters. I wanna be a student again. Kleio, I'm gonna join forces with you and become a student again soon :)

University Library:

On the way to my dorms (Bay Vista Housing):

Ahh...My dorms...Bay Vista Housing:

View from Bay Vista Housing at 6 am:

View outside one of my classrooms:

Flags at Half Mast

2006-01-22T09:28:00.000+03:00

I know, its been a while since I last posted. Been through alot lately. Anyways, I have a inquiry to throw out there. Driving yesterday, I noticed something very unusual. In respect to the passing of the Emir of Kuwait, Skeikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, flags around the country are lowered at half-mast. Half-Mast describes the act of flying a flag approximately halfway up a flagpole as a symbol of respect, mourning, or distress. What I noticed is that usual places that have all the GCC flags (such as hotels, international institutions, etc), have all their flags lowered at half-mast, with the exeption of one....the Saudi Arabian flag. The Saudi Arabian flag is always still waving in the wind at the top of the pole. I saw this in three different places in Kuwait. What does that mean? So my question is:

Is there a specific reason for the Saudi Arabian flag not lowered at half mast? or is it just a sheer coincidental mistake that three places neglected to lower the flag?

What a Coincidence!

2006-01-13T14:19:00.000+03:00

Guess what y'all...today is....

Oh what joy! Behold...for evil is upon thee...

My Mood These Days...

2006-01-07T16:26:00.000+03:00

...I need one of these

By the way...
This is post #101

Yay! for me :)
At least there is something positive amidst my issues.

Traffic Issues...I know...again.

2006-01-04T16:52:00.000+03:00

Same old story, but I just gotta to say it...Sorry.

As of today...

A CLASSIC LOVE STORY
"Road rage is plentiful, and so are roadkill. Cars love to wrap themselves around lamposts, kiss the derriere of a car in front, and hug pedestrians."

How sweet.

WHAT IS DRIVING IN KUWAIT?
1) Lane Cutting: A clogged road is a clogged road, no mather how much you squeeze between cars.

2) Flashing Lights: Never mind you sticking to the speed limit...here comes the car jolting behind you flashing away like no tommorow. If you dont move...a simple case of road rage comes along as well.

3) Xenon Lights: As if the flashing lights aren't enough, Xenon head lights are in full effect, even if they are not flashing.....enough to blind the car in front of them. (no offense to any bloggers with Xenon lights...nothing personal)

4) Jutting In: Waiting in a long a$$ line to take a U-turn (ahem..ahem..Jabriya?), here comes a smart ass who will overtake the entire line and take the U-turn...and gets angry when a car in line blocks his way. Not only that...a traffic light already turned red three times before you can actually see it. Once you reach paradise by almost passing the green light, some jerk cuts you off in front of you, and light turns red again...leaving me fuming!

5) Mobile Maniacs: Never mind the road...the conversation is more imporatant. "Oh really?" "La wallah!"....and SWERVE!!!....right in front of you. Sad...just sad.

Merely my opinion...

It's Happening!

2006-01-02T15:49:00.000+03:00

It's gonna take a while for me to get used to writing "2006"...I still can't comprehend that 2005 is over...where did it go? I know there is no difference to the year...after all...its just another day. Same $hit...different day..actually year!

Bring it on!!

...at work today

2006!

2005-12-30T00:06:00.000+03:00

Seems like it was yesterday when we welcomed in 2005. Time is really passing, huh? But since 2006 is approaching, I just wanna wish you all....

HAPPY NEW YEAR :)

Here's to another new year of news, chats, updates, posts, and comments in the blogoshpere...Kuwaiti Style! ...better yet...Jazzy Style :)

Take care, have fun, and behave in your New Year's party. See ya next year...literally!

What's Your Talk Show?

2005-12-27T15:12:00.000+03:00

I was having a conversation yesterday with some friends about random stuff. One question we asked each other...and I ask you is:

If you had a chance to have your own television talk show, what would it be AND what will you call it?

Discuss amongst yourselves and let me know...enlighten me :)

Lights...Camera...You're On!

Tagged...Yet again!

2005-12-25T12:45:00.000+03:00

Unsual tag by Dr. Lost. It's called "Let's See Your Bedroom" tag in which I'm supposed to post pics of my room. But guess what...I posted something about my room a while back (June 19, 2005). So instead of reposting pics again...here is the link:

My Room

Enjoy :)

Rain..Rain...Rain

2005-12-24T10:04:00.000+03:00

It's finally raining!!....I'm so happy....but too sick to enjoy it :(

Sniff..Sniff....cough...cough!

I was fine yesterday, but this morning, I woke up and felt a cactus in my throat.

Bring on the Vitamin C!

That's me...enjoying the rain :)

Random Thoughts....

2005-12-21T11:49:00.000+03:00

1) Thank God it's Wednesday...TGIW!!!!

2)Note to all Bloggers....Do not go to the new NBK branch in salmiya (next to Cinema Salmiya). Customer service there sucks. I went to get a transaction done with the teller, so I took a number and it was 150. The tellers were still on 132! There was a looooooooooong line and a bunch of people seated waiting their turn, but no one in front of the tellers being helped. All I can see were three ladies with make-up to scare people away taking their sweet time...bardeeeeen!!! 45 min past and finally came my turn. I should have left a while back, but I needed to get it done. I went and asked why why why!!! The teller said we are in training and the manager wants us to things right! THEN DONT PUT TRAINEES DURING REGULAR WORKING HOURS THEN!!! Train them some other time when the bank is not crowded! Case closed!

3)I agree with SheWrites when she says that It's TIME FOR WINTER! Its's 21 of Dec already and its still hot! My winter clothes are begging to be worn. I wanna wear my trench coat! Tara 3aib! I want to be standing outside freezing my a$$ off on the new years eve countdown watching the fireworks. Nice!

4)Speaking of New Years...I have no plans yet. As long as I spend it with the people that mean most in my life, I'll be fine :)

5)hehehehe...i'm squeazing this blog post between my meetings at work...Sneaky Jazz.

6)How nice...Christams day and pay day on the same day...YAY!! Merry Christmas Jazz.

7)A graphic designer's motto: "You know you've achieved perfection in design, not when you have nothing more to add, but when you have nothing more to take away."

8)Shout Outs: Samboose...THANK YOU!! You Rock!, Delicately Realistic...Thank you as well :), 7tenths....Wussup? :) Rampurple...Congrats :), Dr. Lost...now you know :)

9)Check out the new "Now Playing" song. It's by Hill St. Soul. I love her! Hailing from the UK (she's English y'all), she has a unique and earthy mix of Neo-Soul, Jazz, Blues and Reggae...my kinda lady :)

10)I'm so sick of these cheezy R&B songs nowadays about freakin' you, freakin' me, money, b*tches and hoes...BLAH BLAH BLAH!!

11) Have a great weekend all :)

My "Tagged" Desktop...

2005-12-18T09:28:00.000+03:00

I know I'm kinda late in the game for this...but as I say it...."I Is Tagged!". This is a different kind of tag. Instead of answering a bunch of random questions, I have to post a pic of my computer desktop...i'm guessing so people can get an inside look of what I do on my computer.....a sneak peek if you will.

So here is a pic of my desktop at work. I know its boring, but what to do? That's all I have for now (*...and Jazz Central cringes with embarresment*)

I've been tagged by Blasha and Evil Knievel :)

Who do I dare tag now? I T-A-G....
SheWrites
Delicately Realistic"
Area 77

Meeting Bloggers...

2005-12-13T10:35:00.000+03:00

I first started blogging in May 2005....not knowing how it was gonna turn out. At first I was skeptical, it was daunting, yet exciting. Then came the time, where I regreted starting blogging because it kinda took over my life and could not do anything but do...say...sleep...sneeze...eat...sream...about blogging. What did I get myself into??? But now, it all simmered down. Blogging became a comfortable part of my daily life...my source of news, entertainment, research...yada yada yada.

The best part of blogging, is meeting some of the Kuwait Bloggers...some planned and intentional, and some total randomly! I met the most amazing, unique, special, and quirky people who happen to be bloggers. Granted I knew some before I started blogging, but it seems to get to know them in a different light through blogging. For example, some I've known for years (back to middle school and high school), some of them I met when I got back from college in 2002 and become very close with. I'm not mentioning any names...you know who you all are :) I met most...if not all...the bloggers from my links. You guys Rock!!!

So who did you meet? or Who do you wanna meet?....and why?

Traffic Cameras...Security vs. Privacy

2005-12-06T10:29:00.000+03:00

A TRUE STORY:

Kuwait: A middle aged Kuwait man went to the traffic department to renew his car registration. While processing his papers, the employee behind the counter explains, that he cannot renew his regsitration without paying his outstanding traffic fines. The man looked puzzled, and said:

Man: "Impossible!"

Employee: "No it's not, it all shows on the computer screen after I typed in your lisence plate number"

Man: "But I never speed. I never drove fast in my life!"

Employee: "Well, the traffic camera caught you speeding on 5th Ring Road"

Man: "When?"

The employee gave a specified date, which I can't remember exactly to post. So the man thought for a while then said:

Man: "That can't be true. I was out of town in a business trip. Show me the photo. I have the right to see it"

The employee later gave him a print-out of the taffic camera shot. The man took a look and agreed that it was indeed his car and realized that there was a person in the car. It was his wife. Case closed? No! There was another person driving the car...a man in a dishdasha, ghutra and 3gal. He soon remembered that his wife does not drive, and knows that she does not have any brothers and her father passed away. So who was he??

Sometime later....the divorce was final...and he kept the kids.

Now sing along..."Smile...you're on cheating spouse camera!"

What do u think of this?

Spellcheck people...spellcheck!!

2005-12-05T13:41:00.000+03:00

I got a business card a while back from an unknown video director. Here it is:

Cinma? Promoshin? Viduo?
...and by the way...the business card was made out of actual thick plastic!

Why? Why? Why?

2005-12-03T09:20:00.000+03:00

A funny incident:

I was at the supermarket the other day. There was this young girl. She was on her mobile, talking, and giggling away as she walked up and down the aisle that I was in. Then suddenly, RIIIIIINNNNNGGGGGG!!!! her mobile rings while its on her ears supposedly talking to someone...

LOooOOOooOOOOooOOL!

You just had to see her face....red with embarresment! Why do they do that? Pretend to speak on the phone? If you are that desperate....call anyone up and spark up a random conversation! What..everyone she knows were too busy to talk to her?

Oh...by the way??

2005-11-29T13:01:00.000+03:00

Aside from jazz music for a bit...Madonna's new song "Hung Up" rocks!!!!!! I just heard it for the first time yesterday :)

I'm so in the mood to party now!

What's The Difference?

2005-11-28T16:28:00.000+03:00

For all the non-arab readers...a translation if you will:

Horses for Rent
- 1/4 of an hour: 3 KD
- 15 Minutes: 3 KD

LoooOOOOoOOOoOOL!

Starbucks...Starsucks!!

2005-11-27T09:39:00.000+03:00

I usually don't like Starbucks, (Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf & Columbus Bear Cafe is more my taste), but I was in the mood for a Mocha Frapaccino the other day. It was a good day....so far. I made my order (nocticed the price...KD 1.350), and the man behind the counter asked if I wanted extra caramel. I agreed. The man went to the back of the counter and began the proccess of my drink. Tap! Tap! Tap!....chuck! chuck! chuck! and then came the blending....
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

He graciously gave me my drink and told me...KD 2.800 please. I looked at him with disgust and all I can say was "WHAT???" I pointed to the menu board behind him and showed him that its supposed to be KD 1.350. He said..."yes, but you also wanted extra caramel sauce." Ok, I wanted extra caramel, not knowing that they will charge that much more for that!!! He told me that they charge 150 fils per pump of extra sauce, and they pumped 9 times! 5 pumps on the bottom of the cup, and 4 pumps on the top of the whip cream! I kid you not, I did not know that they charge for extra sauce. 150 fils for a measly pump of caramel??? What..is it made out of edible gold?? I was not gonna pay almost 3 KD for drink. All I wanted was a simple "squirt" of caramel on the top...just for the added taste...not to be drenched in it! After some scolding, I slided the drink back to him across the counter and told him I did not want his damn coffee. What gives him the right to pump all that extra sauce andd assume I was gonna pay that much? I left, went back to my office and had nice hot nescafe...with nothing extra! Never again will I set foot into starbucks again...Case closed!

Is it true?

2005-11-23T12:43:00.000+03:00

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh...don't tell anyone. I was just told that SHAKIRA is in Kuwait (I said.....shhhhhhhh...don't say a word). She arrived last night to perform for a privare function tonight in Friday's for the owner's daughter. What a gift huh? SO let's see how many people will go and crash the party :)

It would be funny if this becomes a game of "telefone kharban"...(Broken Telephone)

Emergency? No...take your time!

2005-11-20T09:42:00.000+03:00

Let's get serious for a moment shall we? What will happen to you in a crisis? I was reading an article in the Friday Times about inadequate ambulance services in Kuwait and was shocked of what I read. Out of experience, when I was in the car accident early this year (March 2005), I broke my finger. SO when I called 777 to ask for medical attention, of course....ring ring ring...no answer...for about 15 min. Once I finally got through after numerous times, the guys tells..."i3thirna...il youm '7amees", (Translation: forgive us...its Thursday). What??? I asked him what does that mean...he says that all left for the day. It was about 1 pm in the afternoon and on my way to lunch with the family. So again...I ask...what will you do in a crisis?

So after reading the article in the Firday Times, some of my concerns were answered. Turns out that its not always the fault on the paramedics, its actaully the Ministry of Health. According to the statistics, there are only 25 paramedics for 2.1 million people in Kuwait. Talk about shortage of staff! Another issue was that the Ministry of Health permanently removed the supply pain-killers for fear of abuse. So imagine the paramadics sitting in the back of the ambulance with a victim, feeling helpless because they can't administer anything for the pain. Aside from the ministry, other causes are in effect, such as the daily unnecessary traffic, where people intentionally don't move aside for the paramedics or that there is NO where the cars can move away for the paramedics to get through..(bottleneck traffic).

So, any thoughts?

I love this weather!

2005-11-16T11:44:00.000+03:00

Rain...ah...the rain :) I love this weather! The dark clouds...the thunder...the pouring. To me, rain is soothing. Although I'm at work, I would have usually loved to stay at home, in my room, dark (with no lights on), drinking cofee or chai 7aleeb bil hail (yes...I have to mention that again) and watching movies all day while it pours outside. Or just play jazz music (of course!) and work around the house (as they say...save the work for a rainy day). Don't get me wrong, I don't wish for the worst (like the flooding that can happen). I pray in sha allah we don't get floods like last year which caused a lot of chaos. But I believe the rain is my natural therapy. A smile on my face. Too bad I have no one share it with. Picture this...I am at work, but I turned off the main lights, and just turned on the lamp shade on my desk, working and listening to the jazzy "Isn't It Romantic" by Ella Fitzgerald. Hehehehehe...sometimes I amaze myself how cheezy I can be, but sara7a...ana abu il mazaj!

Writers Block!

2005-11-15T11:51:00.000+03:00

Okay...this is not intended to waste your time, but an attempt to make you laugh, or at least smile. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Oh, excuse some of the expressions, so please don’t take them personal. Cool?

Best Regards,

Jazz Central
__________________________________

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.
(Hardly seems worth it.)

If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.
(Disturbing...)

A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes.
(In my next life, I want to be a pig.)

A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death.
(Creepy...but I'm still not over the pig.)

Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories a hour
(Don't try this at home...maybe at work)

The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.
("Honey, I'm home. What the....?!")

The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.
(30 minutes..lucky pig! Can you imagine?)

The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.
(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)

Some lions mate over 50 times a day.
(I still want to be a pig in my next life...quality over quantity)

Butterflies taste with their feet.
(And the point is?)

The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
(Hmmmmmm......)

Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.
(okay, so that would be a good thing?)

It is physically impossible to lick your elbow
(Who would do that?)

No word in the English Dictionary rhymes with "MONTH"
(Um...A, B, C, D...)

A cat's urine glows under a black light.
(I wonder who was paid to figure that out?)

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, but dish washing liquid is made with real lemons?
(Look, my plates are squeaky clean, and my hands are silky soft <---some cheezy ad)

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
(I know some people like that.)

Starfish have no brains
(I know some people like that too.)

Why isn't Phonetic spelled the way it sounds?
(I speak England very best...)

The Electric chair was invented by dentists
(Be careful on your next visit...)

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.
(What about that pig??)

If you spin around an Asian person several times, does he come disoriented?
(tsk..tsk...tsk)

Most people who read this tried to lick their elbow
(I would loved to see that!)

On average, 100 people choke on ball-point pens every year
(Stressed out at work aren't we?)

you tried to lick your elbow, didn't you?

Shino hatha???

2005-11-13T11:18:00.000+03:00

Stallion showed this link about my blog. Its the most weirdest thing ever! It's a website called BLOGSHARES and it give you a complete "status report" of your personal blog. Statistics, market share, blog value, trackings, incoming/outgoing links...etc. One thing I dont get is the Valuation which indicates B$7,194.07. Does this mean my blog is worth that much??? PRAISE!!! I am rich!!!! Am I? SOmeone please let me know what this all means. Here is the link:

Jazz Central...BLOGSHARE

Guess What....

2005-11-12T09:05:00.000+03:00

   HAPPY
    Birthday
  Jazz Central :)

I'm Back :)

2005-11-07T10:52:00.000+03:00

I'm back :) Miss you guys. It's good to be home. I had a nice and relaxing trip in Qatar. I was nice spending quality time with the familia. Very chills, and ate like I never saw food before. Now that's sad! BUt it was all cool. Here are some highlights:
___________________________________________________

1) There is a new cafe in Qatar called MINT. One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The ambience was very cozy, and trendy. My kinda place. Very Jazzy too. Their food was really good. I had the Ceaser Shrimp Wrap (hehehe, you know I had to have my seafood fix). The unique thing about Mint is that they also have a furniture menu. Basically, if you liked any of the furniture that was used in the cafe, you can buy it. Now its not like a furniture store (like The Once) which also has a coffee shop. The entire place is a coffee shop, and it was all all decorated with furniture that you can just select and buy. Coffee tables, couches, chairs, side tables, lamp shades, book shelves, you name it! Nice touch huh? Anyways, if you ever go to Qatar, go check it out. But I heard from the management that they will open a branch in Kuwait soon. But dunno when and where. Hopefully soon.

2 While at a traffic light, I saw a sign for an animal supply store called "Animal Kingdom". But just look at the translation in Arabic....LOL. "Mamlakat Al7aywan". You can either take it as the Kingdom of One Animal, or you can call it a masabba (curse word)...Yal 7aywan!! I just had to share :)

3) At qatar airport (yesterday), I was waiting until boarding time to fly back to Kuwait. I was just sitting with my brother in front of me, when I notice a tap on my shoulder from behind. I turned around, and low and behold it was Purgatory!! He was in transit in Qatar connecting to another flight. How funny is that? We chatted for a while and parted ways. A world-class traveller indeed. Small world. Let's sing along now.

4) I also brought back a quote I liked. Hope you like it too. It makes so much sense to me when it comes to blogging.
"Talk without offending...Listen without defending"

Happy Eid Dear Bloggers :)

2005-11-01T14:14:00.000+03:00

(P.S: I'm off to Qatar to visit family. Will be back on Sunday. Be safe y'all :)

The Evolution of Music...

2005-10-31T11:30:00.000+03:00

Music 101
Professor Jazz Central
_____________________________________

What's Next?

Leave me Alone...

2005-10-30T14:23:00.000+03:00

I could not find the words to say what I want to say, so I settled for lyrics...

"Seems you're always right and never wrong.
Original Ms. Know-it-All
It's gotta be your way, gotta have your say, or nothing at all.
Even when you're on a losing streak, you never can see defeat,
Cause you're too big for your own boots, for your own shoes, for your own good!"

Leave Me Alone!!

Don't ask...long story.

Signed,
Frustrated Jazz

(P.S: Here I am with one my weird food cravings...I dunno why..but I'm in the mood for buffalo wings and celery sticks!) Laish ya Jazz...laish?

It's About Time!

2005-10-29T14:23:00.000+03:00

How about this...a second post in one day. A first for me :)

Anywhoo...today's headlines:

Al-Rai TV was stormed by the Slobah tribe in protest that Weld Il-Deerah made a racial slur during the 0h-so-tacky show "Girgi3an". Weld il-Deerah apparently called Sadam Hussein a "Slobah Dog" which angered the tribe and raided AL-Rai TV station looking for him and made a death threat to him. Weld il-Deerah supposedly made a public apology to them claiming it was a "slip of the tongue"

All I can say is....TOO LATE!! Girgi3an deserved what happened along with Al-Rai TV to support such shows. Let's see if there will be "Girgi3an" in next year's Ramadan TV show listings. A lesson to be learned indeed.

Weekend Re-Cap...

2005-10-29T00:10:00.000+03:00

Finally watched Bas Ya Ba7ar...great movie. I was amazed on how they implemented the filming. The wedding scene was so intense. The end of the movie where Hayat AL-Fahad was cursing the sea got me goose bumps. One thing I did not know about Kuwaiti culture and tradition was the "drowing of the cat" ritual to bless the waters to keep the pearl divers safe.

Also watched Lost In Translation...finally. Good movie...but very slow.

Bought Alicia Keys Unplugged album from Virgin. She sounds sooooooo much better LIVE than in a studio.

You can't go wrong with Casper & Gambinis :)

The Weekend is Here :)

2005-10-26T15:41:00.000+03:00

A little sumthin' before I left work today....

Feeling Cold :(

2005-10-25T15:49:00.000+03:00

As a result of walking bil mamsha with a only a t-shirt on Saturday, I was conqured by the prevailing cold winds...and now I have a cold. (Sniff...Sniff). I took a day off from work on Monday and got some rest. The best thing is that I finally finished season one of LOST! AMAZING!! Now I cant wait for season 2!! Season one ended with an open myseterious ending! Noooooooooooooooooooooo! So I guess its back to 24 (season 4)...huh Toomi?

Anyways, an update:
I finally got a hold of a copy of Bas Ya Ba7ar :) Remember my post about this issue? 7aram 3alaikum ya jama3a...here I offered a reward of a sushi dinner for any blogger(s) to help me find a copy of the movie, and then I get one from a non-blogger. (THANKS BRO!!! Ya da bomb). But its all cool...since I love you all...we all going to sushi...just need to work things out first before we go.

Nibaq...I'm coming over. Blow off the dust from your old-school VCR, prepare the chai 7aleeb bil hail....and settle down to watch the movie. By the way...who's coming?

Thank God it's pay day today!

Dis 'N Dat!

2005-10-22T10:45:00.000+03:00

Good morning :) Saturday morning...at work and tired as hell. Did not get enough sleep yesterday. Here is to another work week of....well I dont know of what.

First, thanks to Toomi, who generously offered the DVD set, I am hooked on LOST! I am already on the 5th disk (and one more to go). There are so many things going on. Its not your typical crash and survive kinda of show. There are secrets, hidden agendas, betryals...even the island itself is a main character...mysterious! Thanks Toomi...you da bomb! Say goodbye to the Survivor show. That show is for pansies!

Second, I was tagged by Unknown Entity. Unusual tag though, but interesting. I had to click on this link about The 100 Best English Language Novels from 1923 to the Present and answer these questions:

How many titles do you recognize: 16

Which ones have you read: 7
Animal Farm, Their Eyes Are Watching God, Deliverance, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, 1984, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Beloved. (I read most of them for English courses in high school and college).

Which was your favorite: Their Eyes Were Watching God. One word..AMAZING!!

Which was your least favorite: Deliverance. Hated it!!! Did not appeal to me at all. Boring and disgusting. I cant believe I had to write an essay about it for a final grade.

Dare I tag anyone now? I'll leave it open to who ever is interested :)

Random Thoughts...

2005-10-19T17:40:00.000+03:00

Jazz Central here...with one of my cheezy moods. Disclaimer: It's Wednesday (thank god) so forgive me for the cheeze:
___________________________________________________

1) Nowadays..."Ghabgat" galore! Invitations left and right and dunno where to go?

2) Is it just me, or are people not really interested in watching any of the Ramadan shows anymore?

3) It seems that people found out where the short cuts are to stay away from rush hour traffic. All the short cuts I found, are full of traffic now. Go figure! And why is it that the time of day where the traffic is "slow", we call it rush hour?

4) Sushi restaurants in Kuwait are growing like flies. Can you yell "Yo Shushi"!!

5) Speaking of sushi...Vimto? Sushi? Really???

6) I dunno why I'm in the mood to speak in Shakespeare! Go thither! Let us rejoice! For it is thy day of last wage. Come, let us leave and commence to our humble abode and sleep until the call of prayer in the near horizon and settle to a victorious feast.

(Translation: Thank god it's Wednesday. Can't wait to leave work and head home to sleep until futoor)

7) Ever get caught sleeping at your desk? Use this line: "I wasn't sleeping! I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."

8) Rain! Winter! Where are you? My jackets are screaming for mercy!

9) Question: ما هـو عـكس زمـان؟

Answer: za woman!

P.S. Before you pick up that brick and throw it at me becasue of my sa'7afa, I did warn you of my cheezy mood :P So have a great weekend :)

What's Wrong with This Picture?

2005-10-17T23:23:00.000+03:00

I dunno whether to think it's funny or just plain racist. I clipped it out of an newspaper. Although...I personally know some families who are go through that and the kids are just lost in between. Poor kids.

The Life of a Blogger

2005-10-15T21:18:00.000+03:00

I created a quick design of an image that sums up a day in the life us bloggers in Kuwait. Knowing it's not the same with all bloggers, but somehow it makes sense :) Enjoy!

I is Tagged...yet again.

2005-10-12T22:48:00.000+03:00

I was tagged by Stallion. Been a while since I've done these. Dunno if I'm up to it, but I will do it anyways:

1. Last movie you saw in a theater:
Batman Returns

2. What book are you reading? None at the moment...how sad :(

3. Favorite board game? This new game called Knowing Me, Knowing You...that was fun!

4. Favorite magazine? Cargo

5. Favorite smell? food!

6. Favorite food? Italian, anything with shrimps, and SUSHI!!

7. Favorite sound? Waves hitting the shore on a beach

8. Worst feeling in the world? Loneliness...i've been there.

9. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up? I need my coffee...better yet..chai 7aleeb bil hail :)

10. Favorite fast food place? Hardeez

11. Future child's name? Boys: Ziad or Nawaf. Girls: Laila or Rawan (you can tell I have not given this any thought...huh? :)

12. Finish this statement. If I had a lot of money: Invest in my own business, get myself a decent car (Bo_Ghazi knows why), and buy a house for my parents

13. Do you drive fast? Not all the time. Seems there is too much traffic to speed anyways.

14. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? No

15. Storms, cool or scary? Cool and scary at the same time. I love rain :)

16. What was your first car? 1996 Mitsubishi Gallant in senior year high school.

17. Favorite drink? Ice cold Pepsi....not coke

18. Finish this statement, "If I had the time I would...": Travel to exotic locations..or just go to the beach.

19. Do you eat the stems on broccoli? YES!

20. If you could dye your hair any color, what would be your choice? In college, I dyed my hair blonde on a dare, and I dont think I will ever do it again.

21. Name all the different cities/ towns you have lived in? Salmiya, Khaldiya, Messilla, Dubai (UAE), Cyprus, Miami,Florida-USA...now in Jabriya.

22. Half empty or half full? Half full

23. Favorite sports to watch? I dont watch sports. I have better things to do.

24. One nice thing about the person who tagged you? Crazy, but very sincere :)

25. Morning person, or night owl? Good Morning Sunshine! (saying it with a Southern Baptist accent...LOL)...Stallion knows

26. Over easy, or sunny side-up? I like it in all ways.

27. Favorite place to relax? my room watching DVD seasons of 24 or CSI!

28. Favorite pie? Cheeze and Spinach pie :) Ayy ya ba6ni...

and now I tag...the mandate members, Tequila69, Delicately Realistic, Nunu, and Missunderstood...i aim too high :)

Small World :)

2005-10-12T01:01:00.000+03:00

I left during work hours today and went with my brother to finish up the "mu3amala" for his new car in Shuwaikh. I left work around 12 noon. When I was done around 1:30, I was stuck in traffic near City Center Shuwaikh, when i get a call from Nibaq, claiming that I almost ran him over.

Whatever Nibaq :P

SO we chatted a bit. Then soon I get a message from Stallion asking me "shlon il za7ma?" and claiming that my car was shining on how "slow" I was driving since he saw me as well.

Whatever Stallion :P

How funny is that, the only time I leave work during work hours, I get caught by the two pimp bloggers in Shuwaikh by coincidence. How nice :)

Is this true?

2005-10-09T20:04:00.000+03:00

Ramadan is here. It's a time of fasting and prayers. So when you're fasting, is it considered that you broke your fast when you laugh??? This is the first time I hear this. At work, I was having a conversation with two other colleages, and then we laughed at something funny. Then comes this other person who works with us as well (who I cannot stand AT ALL) walks by and says:

"ya jama3a...7aram it'tha7koon...il dinya ramadan!"

After I spoke and and semi-yelled my peice with him (I could not yell loudly since I was at the office), I pose this question to you. Is it 7arram (forbidden) to laugh while fasting in Ramadan?

Jabriya is a TRAP!!

2005-10-06T20:03:00.000+03:00

Picture this:

Left the house this morning: 8:10 am

Arrived at work: 9:15 am

I can't take this anymore! Living in Jabriya is a trap! All exits out of Jabriya that leads to Salmiya are constantly blocked with traffic. The bad part is that the traffic begins INSIDE Jabriya with cars trying to leave the area. Then comes forth ring road where cars are coming from Shuwaikh and then trying to take the exit to Hawally under the bridge that cuts cross Jabriya (jisr Hawally). And then there is the traffic signal on Forth Ring that is controlled by cop MANUALLY!!!! Thats what causes the traffic in my point of view. They just click on the green light for one lane and lose track of time while they drift in daydreams and speaking on mobiles sometimes, while the other lane just keeps on getting packed while waiting for the red light to turn green!

I'm sure Purgatory and Jabriya Za7ma can relate.

Bas Ya Ba7ar

2005-10-03T23:08:00.000+03:00

Ya jama3it il Khair!....Calling All Bloggers! I need your help. Is there any way I can get a hold of the movie "Bas Ya Ba7ar"...the first Kuwaiti movie (starring Hayat El-Fahad & Saad Al-Faraj) released in 1971. I really wanna see it. Plus I need it for a project I'm working on. Come on people, lets all puts our heads together and make this work. I've done my research online, but no results. Anyone who finds it for me...a sushi dinner on me :) Thanks.

Signed,

Helpless Jazz.

Ramadan is around the corner

2005-10-02T01:34:00.000+03:00

Here is a snippet of a conversation I had today with someone, and here is what he said:

friend: "I can't wait for Ramadan!"

me: how come?

friend: 'cause its the time where I can act like a "true" muslim!

LOL....basically he was saying out of the 11 months that he sins....he will dedicate this sacred month to become a "true" muslim! I had to laugh (of course not out loud), because obviously he was serious. I just had to share.

Mubarak 3alaikum il shahar :)

Government vs. Private

2005-09-21T21:29:00.000+03:00

Let's Compare and Contrast...shall we?

* Government Job: 7:30 am to 2 pm (sometimes even 12:30 if they sneak out early...hehehe)

* Private-Sector Job: 8:00 am to 4 pm or 9:00 am to 5 pm...maybe 6 pm, 7 pm, etc. (some work half days on Thursdays...which don't make sense to me)

I'm being objective here...when someone who works in a government job and leaves at 2 pm...they say..."offfff...I had a loooooong day...i'm so tired". So what do you consider "a long day" for someone who works till 6 pm in the private sector? And what about people who work in the bank sectors who work double shifts? I'm not doubting the hard work that some people do in the government sector...but what is it that they do to believe that they had a long day? Is it they wake up earlier than us? They type of people they deal with? The bureaucracy they go through? One thing that I'm very proud of is that the number of Kuwaitis working in the private sectors is constantly growing rapidly. Draw your own conclusions :)

Any thoughts?

Who Is Jazz Central?

2005-09-17T09:19:00.000+03:00

With the exception of those who know me personally, I got this question a lot.."Who is Jazz Central?" To me, Jazz Central is all about the music. In our society now, including Kuwait, where the majority of people follow "commercial" music. Especially in Kuwait, I realised where things become a "habba" where people tell me..."listen to this song! It's the new in-thing to listen to!" I don't go for that commercial stuff. I have my own taste for "real music". A select few (and growing)in Kuwait have their eclectic tastes of real, solid music. Whether house, trance, rock, soul,...real music exists that does not have to reach mutli-platinum sales and reach number one in the charts. I like all kind of music, but I follow the Jazz and Neo-Soul genres. Here is just a taste of what my all-time best collection looks like. The music speaks for itself and answers the question...Who is Jazz Central? You try and answer :)

Back at work!!

2005-09-11T03:08:00.000+03:00

As some of you know that I just came back from an AMAZING vaccation in Mallorca, Spain. I think I derserved it considering I have not left for a vaccation in three years since I've been back from college. I've done it all in this trip...beach, pool, walk, sight-see, shop, gym, spa, have good meals, night life....EVERYTHING! But it seems that a vaccation is not enoght when you return back to work. Its so obvious that all the work get piled up awaiting your humble return. One good thing is that the day before I left to Spain, I gave in the order for my first publication to the printers (a 96 page book, complete with text, layout, graphics, and photos). Just to remind you that I work as an in-house designer for an institution here in Kuwait. So basically, when I returned to work, there it was...my book all printed and ready for distribution. Trust me, its an amziong feeling when you see the end-result after working on it for three months :) Anyways, my point is that I have so much work to do and I'm already stressed. Seems that I should have found a farm in Spain, with goats and chickens and settle there..so I can get more out of my vaccation. But you know what? Thank god I have a job and I'm happy to be back. At least I am refreshed to start a new year at my job :)

P.S. Check out my new song of the day. I just bought this album by a neo-soul artist called KEM. His album called "ALBUM II" is a pure materpiece. Enjoy :)

Photos...Finally :)

2005-09-07T03:59:00.000+03:00

Me Sorry for the delay. The day after I arrived, we had a two day training seminar at work from 8 am to 4 pm. Thats why I have not posted any pictures of my trip to Mallorca, Spain any sooner. But here they are..hope you enjoy. I like the way Bo_Ghazi put it about a picture speaks louder than words :) Notice that there are no photos of me :P Only people who know me will get that chance to see my pics. A show of hands who want to? hhehehehehehehe

Malloroca, Spain (23 Aug - 3 Sept. 2005)

P.S. Please let me know if you can't open the link, and PART 2 coming shortly since I have a daily uploading limit on Flickr...how odd? :/

Guess What.....

2005-09-05T00:00:00.000+03:00

I'm Home!!!

miss me?

Day 3: Mallorca, Spain.

2005-08-26T21:12:00.000+03:00

Today was a chill day. Woke up and chilled in the hotel room. Went to local supermarket to get a few things, and then walked around the beach strip looking around shops for gifts for people back in Kuwait. Meet up with my friend where we had a late lunch at a cafe overlooking the beach sunset. I did not want to leave!

Later on, we met up with our other friend at the Marriot Resort and had dinner at the chalet patio. The weather was amazing. Good food, good company, night breeze, and the sound of the crickets. We finished dinner, and we headed to a night into town and did not get back to the hotel until 5 am! NICE!!!

Tomorrow, we are going to a beach in an area called Palma. Cant wait...I need a tan!

Yalla take care :)

P.S. I´m learning some Spanish words and I´m very impressed with myself :)

Day 2: Mallorca, Spain

2005-08-26T01:25:00.000+03:00

I need cofee...or chai 7aleeb! Woke up late today and missed the breakfast buffet at the hotel. I need my caffeine. I have a problem though...I would love to show the pics I´m taking. I dont have a laptop to upload my pics for y`all to see. The hotel computer does not have a USB port. So when I return to Kuwait, I will upload them on my flick´r account. My bad :(

Yesterday was interesting. Woke up around 10 am and went walking around a place called S´arenal (beautiful strip of beach with a gazillion little cafe´s, souveneir shops, mini markets, shops, etc. It was amazing, weather beautiful. I was killing time until my friend from Kuwait arrives at 2 pm. My feet were killing me...but then again....its good excercise :)

My friend "S" arrived (Yaay!), checked in and we went walking around in the same place where I was earlier. Did I mention exercise? We did not go to the area called Palma as planned. We just wanted to chill around the area. Later on we met up with another friend "N" (from Kuwait) and had lunch at a local pizzeria. I had the fired calamari...it was good!!!

Later on, we went to see a Flamenco concert at one of the hotels, complete with a dinner buffet. I finally satisfied my craving for authentic Pallela...seafood Pallela. The concert was outdoors and the weather was just an amazing cool breeze. After dinner, my two friends and myself went into town to discover the night life and stayed out till 5 am. A great night indeed!

Until tommorrow then with new highlights on my stay in Mallorca, Spain.

Jazz.

Day 1: Mallorca Spain.

2005-08-24T21:16:00.000+03:00

OK...I arrived in Mallorca Spain..il 7amd allah. SO far...Amazing. The flight here was ok. Although there was no in-flight entertainment due to technical diffuclties with the audio equipment, I was sleeping most of the time, so it did not matter.

I´m at an area in Mallorca called Llumajor (pronounced Luc-mayor). Its an amazing place. Typical island town. Cute and cozy place BUT EVERTHING YOU NEED in one place. I love it!

I´m blogging from the Hotel so-called "Business Center"....two computers by the pool area where you insert coins to connect to the internet (2 euros=20 min).

When I arrived here yesterday, I met up with a friend of mine from Kuwait who was already here with family. Another friend from Kuwait will also be coming in today around 2 pm...can´t wait :)

OK...side track...I cant seem to type good with this keyboard...most of the letter keys are in different places which I´m not used to. Customized Spanish keyboard...how appropriate :P

Today, we heading to a place called Palma to check out the sights, sounds and people. Could be fun. I promised myslef to try authentic Spanish Pallela (<---i think thats the correct spelling).

ANyways, I just wanted to drop a line and say hi. I´ll try to blog more to tell you about my "adventures". Yalla care.

Jazz.

I'm off to Spain :)

2005-08-21T01:14:00.000+03:00

I'm off to Spain ya'll for two weeks. Never been there, so I dunno what to expect. It's been a while since I took a vaccation. I need a break! I'm going to make sure that I have a blast. I'm leaving tomorrow night. Are you gonna miss me? :P I'm going to Mallorca, and spend most of the day in the beach! Can't wait :) SO take care, and I'll try to blog about my adventures in Spain. When I come back... aby istiqbal bil ma6ar :) hehehehehe...just kidding :) Next year...Bora Bora!

PEACE :)

Car Accident!

2005-08-18T10:28:00.000+03:00

Wednesday. 17th August 2005. 12:30 am. At home. In my living room. Staring at the computer screen...one thing going through my mind...

A7ad sakni 3ain !!!

Translation: Someone gave or is giving me the evil eye...constantly!!

I was in a car accident today. My second this year. I'm fine..nothing major...thank god. I don't wanna give details...cause I don't wanna think about it now. I dunno whats up with my luck with cars!!! BAD LUCK!! I seriously believe that someone gave me the evil eye...long term! Car breaks down for no reason, someone bumps into my car while I'm parked, overheating...I BEEN THROUGH THEM ALL...and all in a span of 6 months! Do you believe in the evil eye??

One Question...

2005-08-16T01:24:00.000+03:00

Hi...I'm back again from the dead and I only have one basic question...

Why is considered a crime for a Kuwaiti woman to marry a non-Kuwaiti???

It doesn't make sense why it's a considered the crime of the century for a Kuwaiti woman to marry a non-Kuwaiti. They already get stripped away from their rights from the government in terms on the interest-free loan and housing. So the last thing they need is negative attitude and snickering from people who disagree! I had a conversation today which ended up into a heated debate regarding this issue! It was gonna turn into an arguement, but i did not not want to get deeper into it. I was gonna punch the person! For those people who know me, you know why I'm posing such a question. SO please let me know your thoughts (good and bad)!

You Know You An Arab When...

2005-08-11T00:31:00.000+03:00

Most of these are true...I especially go through #17.
__________________________________________

1) You make Turkish coffee before leaving home to work, at the office, before lunch, after lunch, when having guests, before the guest leave, after the guests leave and before you go to bed.

2) When shops have a sale, they call your mom.

3) You still have stored suitcases of clothes that you used to wear when you were five.

4) People are never happy with what you achieved. If you graduated from high school, they say “Oqbal il shahada el jam3a.” And when you get that, they say “Oqbal el Aaroos or Aarees.” Then you get married, they say “Oqbal ma nafrah be awlad-kum.” And when you get that, they say “Oqbal ma tefrahu bi shahadat-hum,” etc…

5) Getting a visa to Europe or the USA is like having a baby. Everyone says “Mabrook!”

6) You learn how to beg the counter agent at the airport to allow your excess baggage...because your father taught you so.

7) You dream of holding a different passport.

8) When you fly back home, you find 20 people waiting for you at the airport...not to mention the zaghroota or yibbab!

9) When you move back home from university, you still have to argue with your parents about curfew, as if you never left home.

10) Everyone is a family friend.

11) You fight over the dinner bill.

12) You always give your friends a hello kiss on the cheek, even though you’ve seen them the night before, and everyday before that.

13) You teach Westerners how to speak Arabic by teaching them swear words first.

14) If you are 25 and unmarried, your parents make you feel that you are getting old.

15) You always say “Open the lights” instead of “Turn on the lights” and say “Get down from the car” instead of “Get out of the car”

16) You pronounce your P’s as B’s (bebsi, bolice)

17) You ask your dad a simple question, and he answers by telling the story of how he used to walk miles just to get to school.

18) Your dad swears at you with words that affect himself (Ibn kalb!!!)

19) You feel uncomfortable and giggle when you say the word “tease”

20) You smoke as if there is no tomorrow…especially Marlboro Lights

21) Your aunt is always asking when she can dance at your wedding.

22) Cell phones ‘R Us.

23) Music video clips are like German porn channels.

New Song of the Day :)

2005-08-10T21:36:00.000+03:00

Check out the new Song of The Day. Erykah Badu is known to be the Godmother of the Neo-Soul movement. Her second album Mama's Gun which was released in 2002 is considered her best album to date. Filled with old school sounds, jazz, and blues, I simply love this album. Hope you like the song clip "Didn't Cha Know", which is one of my favorite tracks. ENJOY :)

Are They For Real?

2005-08-08T00:23:00.000+03:00

Wussup :) Forgive me bloggers for I have sinned. It has been 4 days since my last blog entry. Busy week. This morning, I was reading the Arab Times Newspaper and I caught a glimps at this classified ad:

Why have an Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting for something that is illegal in Kuwait in the first place? What are they gonna say? "Hi...my name is _____________, and I have committed a felony" ??? The strange thing is that you have to call a mobile number. In other words, you call a complete stranger who claims that "you are not alone." And while you at it, also call Narcotics Anonymous...which maybe down the hall from the AA meeting.

______________________________________________________

Check out The Song of the Day. Ella Fitzgerald is the mother of all Jazz legends.

Computer & Sea Food!

2005-08-04T01:24:00.000+03:00

Hey Hey Hey! My computer is back from the dead and I'm loving it. It works so much better now.

BYW, Virgin did not have anything interesting...as usual.

I'm craving sea food. shrimps, lobster, squid, crab, clams...with lemon butter sauce! Anyone wants to join?

Day 4: Still no computer

2005-08-03T02:22:00.000+03:00

Tuesday 2nd August, 2005. At work. Day 4...still no computer. Work is piling. Stuck doing actual paper work in a supposedly paper-less environment.

What that? How come I'm posting in my blog when I say I don't have a computer? Call it a charity case. I'm using a vaccant computer at my work..away from my humble domain of a desk.

I'm leaving work now. It's 4:30 pm. I'm off to Virgin.

Sign off....

Jazz.

No Computer!!!!

2005-08-02T01:20:00.000+03:00

I swear...you don't know what you have until it's gone. Its been a while since my last blog entry (LOL...sound like a catholic confession). My computer at work has officially gone nuts! I could no longer log on to the internet and could not access my files on the desktop. I got a visus....or actually viruses!!! So now the IT department at my work had to re-format my entire computer :( Right now, I'm using someone else's computer. I feel lost without my computer. Has it reached that stage in life where you can't seem to function without a computer? It's like losing a wallet! We have become so attached to technology that we lose our sense of fuctionality when it goes away. What were we doing before the age of computers and cell phones!! The other day, while I was in the walking in the mamsha, my ipod's battery died. I got so pissed that I had to walk without music. IT KILLED ME!!! I was seriously thinking of turning back to my car and go home. But then I was like...SHDA3WA!! All this because my ipod died? The main reason why I came to the mamsha is to walk....SO WALK DAMMIT!!! ANyways, I just wanted to drop a line since I am computerless. I kinda lost track of what's happening in Blog world. Hopefully my computer will be back soon.

P.S: I added a new Song of The Day. Lizz Wright ROCKS!!! Her voice is amazing and the song "Salt" is one of my favorite contemporary jazz songs nowadays. Suprisingly, I bought the CD from Virgin in Kuwait....but guess where they put the CD...in the R&B section. What dumbasses!!!

Learn Chinese In 5 Minutes!

2005-07-26T21:22:00.000+03:00

Certifications available for those who are interested!

Are you harboring a fugitive? - (Hu yu Hai Ding?)
See me A.S.A.P? - (Kum Hia Nao)
Stupid Man! - (Dum Gai!)
Did you go to the beach? - (Wa yu so tan?)
I bumped into a table - (Ai bang Mai Ni)
I think you need a face lift - (Chin Tu Fat)
It's very dark in here - (Wai so dim?)
I thought you were on a diet - (Wai yu mun chin?)
You know the lyrics to the Macarena? - (Wai yu sing dum song?)
This is a tow away zone - (No pah king)
I got this for free - (Ai no pai)
Stay longer - (Wai yu go nao?)
Stay out of sight - (Lei Lo)
He's washing his car - (Wa shin ka)
Your body odor is offensive! - (Yu stin ki pu!)

Now you can add in your resume "Chinese" under the Languages section. You speak China very very best!!!

Saying Goodbye :(

2005-07-24T01:05:00.000+03:00

I received an SMS from a very very very amazing good friend of mine who said her goodbyes. She is leaving the country today to pursue her masters. Although I'm very happy for her, it's a depressing feeling. She is truly a wonderful and beautiful person. A genuine human being with a remarkable talent. She touched my heart like no other. Another very very very close friend of mine will also be joining her to also pursue her masters as well. She will be leaving next week. I really don't wanna think of the goodbyes then. I met her when I first joined my company almost two years ago..with that big smile...we hit it off :) We been through alot together. Laughs, cries, cheese salami sandwiches. She showed me what living in Kuwait after college is all about. And if you reading this..you know how much you mean to me :)

I'm really happy for both of them. Gonna miss them like crazy. They better have the guest bedroom ready when I come for a visit :P

BTW, hope you like my new Song of The Day. Enjoy peoples :)

Postcards!

2005-07-21T00:40:00.000+03:00

I found these post cards in a pile of papers at home. I got them while I was in college (I think senior year) and I thought they were cool. How would you answer them?