Though very little in Kuwait screams "it's Christmas" I still enjoy this time of year. We have a very diverse group of people here -- Muslims, Christians, Hindus, etc. And though Kuwait is an Islamic country, Islam teaches tolerance of all other religions. So many places decorate for Christmas here, and even sell ornaments, and live Christmas trees. As for me, I just call it all "the holiday season" since December was packed with them this year with 3eid falling so close to Christmas and New Years. However, I generally relate this time of year to cold weather, lots of shopping, and cookies in the oven. Though it's been in the low to mid 70's here, one can't really define that as "cold". And shopping -- well, I do that often enough that it no longer falls into a particular category. Although, any excuse for cookies works for me!

This morning started with a regular trip to Starbucks (nah, no hot coffee this morning, it's already rather warm outside). I did run into Sultan Center this morning for condiment shopping. I find that I use specific condiments on a regular basis, and others not so regular, so I like to keep a fresh supply. I keep my mustard and ketchup in the refrigerator, is this normal?

I've decided today is going to be facial and new make-up day. Sometimes I think I forget to buy new make-up. I mean, I see new stuff and get it, but when I have old stuff that I have used forever and seem to like, I don't replace it often enough, or I get complacent and don't try something else. I saw this gorgeous Kuwaiti woman in the supermarket this morning, with flawless skin. I couldn't help but stare, and apparently she noticed because as I made eye contact with her, she was looking at me and smiled. I felt a little stalkerish, but asked what she does to keep her skin so flawless. She told me the brand of make-up she uses, and attributed it all to that, claiming her skin wasn't so great at all. Personally, I didn't see one flaw, blemish, or pore in her skin. I credit genetics and small pores. But I'm still going to buy the make-up!

For the past several days I've had a head cold which has prevented me from being very motivated. I find myself snuggled in the bed, with numerous pillows, and a good book. I prefer reading about true things, or current events. I'm not much of a fiction reader as I prefer to stick to things I can either learn from or relate to.

As I'm raeding I realize the effort put into the words and sentence structure. I visualize the story being told. And I can actually imagine the events taking place. So what happened to reading? I recall as a child it was mandatory that we go to the library on Friday (in school), check out a book, read it during the week, and complete a short book report by the following week. And we enjoyed it! I remember always wanting something by Judy Blume, or similar. Today I wonder if children in that age group can even name an Author. However, I have no doubt they can name every video game platform available on the market... and perhaps some not yet available.

Writing has been my passion since I was in 2nd grade. I once wrote a short 'story' (with pictures, oh my!) about someone missing their carriage ride (what was this? 1923?) and another person being kind and helping them onto the carriage as it was still in motion. I believe the moral of the story was to always be kind and helpful, no clue really. But I do remember my father hanging it on the refrigerator and applauding my ability to write and convey a message. Interestingly enough -- he does the same to this day when I write something. Then again, he's the one who taught me to read by the age of 2, so he has a little something invested I suppose. Maybe my love for writing came from my love for reading. I can see how they would go hand in hand.

That being said, how is it we have lost the desire for this art? How is it that "dis" and "dat" have become acceptable words in a sentence? And how is it that school systems actually invest time in teaching 'ebonics' when it's nothing other than a flawed version of our beautiful language? Why not invest that same time in teaching proper grammar and syntax? How is it that an entire society can give in to "barely acceptable"?

OK, it seems as of yesterday morning cables under the sea which provide internet coverage to the Middle East have been cut -- again. This is the 3rd of 4th time this has happened, leaving us with very slow internet, or no internet at all.

Um, again, I'm far from a genius, but what kind of internet cables run under water? And if this has happened before, wouldn't a preventative measure been put in place? Furthermore, who is doing this? Are they swimming? I assume we're talking about enormous fiber optic cables buried deep underground (again, WHY?!). So is some little man swimming out to the middle of the ocean with a large set of bolt cutters and backhoe and going to town out there? Or are we talking about a large group of terrorists on a massive ship with ground digging and cable cutting capabilities? And if that's the case, does no one see them? Are they invisible? Radars can't detect them?

Truth is, not one bit of this story adds up. I'm starting to think every country over here is 'bootlegging' internet connections from their neighboring country and when caught, the neighboring country cuts them off. It takes a few days for the 'bootleggers' to reroute and establish a new connection, but eventually it gets done. My theory makes much more sense than the newspaper article below.

On a personal level -- I can feel that my internet has slowed to a crawl. The 'checkout' page of a stateside store sat idle (trying to open) for 1 hour and 45 minutes this morning before finally timing out. Without my purchase going through of course. Ugh. Otherwise, it feels just like it did the other several times the "cables were cut" and our internet slowed to a crawl.

May I suggest posting a deep sea diver in the middle of the ocean in an attempt to prevent future infractions of this nature? Or does that sound equally as silly as cable cutting terrorists with great swim gear?

Cable cut disrupts Internet service

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 19: Internet service in Kuwait was disrupted Friday from 11.15 am as three major fiber cables were cut in the Mediterranean Sea, Fast Telecommunication Com-pany told the Arab Times. Meanwhile, Shaheed Al-Sateeh, Manager at Reliance Globalcom, speaking to agencies said “The three cables linking Egypt and Sicily, failed for yet unknown reason. We know that three cables have been cut. They cover all the Middle East, India and other countries. “We have no more information. A ship has been sent out to locate the place where the cables were cut,” he added. Egypt’s state news agency reported that the cuts happened off the coast of Sicily at 10 am GMT on Friday. Services are being rerouted to backup cables and satellite to compensate for the failures. The services are expected to improve by around 0330 GMT on Saturday, the agency added. In January, five cables in the Middle East and Europe were cut, causing Internet failures in the region. The Egyptian ministry says it will take “several days” for cables to be repaired and is trying to switch Egypt’s Internet to an alternative route. It was the second large-scale Internet outage in Egypt this year. Undersea cables were also damaged in January, causing outages in the Mideast and India. Yemen and Sudan were also having phone and Internet difficulties Friday, but it was unclear if it was connected to the outage.

Below are pictures of the new Mercedes F 700. It's still being referred to as a "concept" car, though they are actually live and in person in Dubai, Kuwait, and Saudi now. Yeah, this area is used for "testing" all of the newest, coolest stuff available.

Now if I can just find one of these running around somewhere... hmmmm.

The information I personally have about this vehicle is limited to what's available online. From what I gather the engine is amazing getting about 44mpg or more, yet being quite fast. Though it's not a hybrid, it's compared to one.

No doubt this exceeds my annual salary by about, hmmm, let's see....100+ years? But this is just a guess. I can't seem to find pricing information on this car anywhere. If any of you have an idea, of locate that information, please email it to me. Thanks!

Enjoy the pictures. They're few and far between so far!

For some reason I have no doubt I have vented about how difficult something as easy as getting a cup of coffee in Kuwait can be at times. And here I go again...

This morning, not sure what time... 5'ish? I am driving by the Hardees near Rumathiya and Salwa. Some people call this "Hardees Seaside" not sure why as it's not actually sitting on the sea, but across the street and down the road a bit.

OK, so there are lights on, I see movement inside, and I suddenly think, "Mmmm, coffee! I sure could use a cup this morning." Of course I could have opted to go in the other direction to the McDonalds (sans McCafe prior to 6:30am). But I'm rarely impressed there, I am always looked at like "Huh? Coffee at this time of the morning? Isn't it a bit late for coffee?" I suppose if I were a dishdasha clad male who spent his nights in dewaniya, it wouldbe a bit late for coffee. But since I am an American woman with work things taking place at the crack of dawn, why is it that asking for coffee is shocking? No clue. But I think the man at Hardees was amazed at my request.

"Um, ma'am, we have everything afalebel ('available' for those of you without accents) this morning except coffee." Whaaaaaat?It's 5am and you're capable of serving me a 5 Star Triple Burger to shove down my throat but not a simple cup of coffee?! On what planet does this even remotely make sense? Being me, I had to ask! "Uh, sir, is there a reason you don't serve coffee at 5am?" Reasonable question, no? The lovely man in the Hardees window takes a step back, points behind him and says, "See that machine over there? It makes coffee, and it's not on right now, so we have no coffee." He said this without being snide, rude, or sarcastic. As a matter of fact, he was dead serious. Because his answer made more sense than pretty much anything else I have encountered over the past few days, I said, "Oh, OK, thanks! Have a good day." and drove away. Why bother with questions about power buttons and coffee filters? Why stoop so low as to be further humiliated by simplicity? I figured I should just let it goooooo. And I did.

Oh how I long to be as simple as the man in the Hardees window. To have the answers as poignantly as he did. And to know that a fact is simply a fact.

If the coffee pot isn't on -- you're not going to get coffee. This is my new mantra.

Ohhhhh, Kuwait! As much as I love you can we please get your minds out of the ice age (desert age here)?

You know in the states when you're a kid selling lemonade on the corner (not that this really happens anymore...but go with it for a moment), and the kid next door opens a stand and sells his for less? This bothers you, maybe even angers you. You can feel your lemonade profits dwindling, you know you're going to have to come up with a new strategy to keep up, perhaps even lowering your price. But you know the competition is stiff, his price is lower, and you're gonna do what ya gotta do to stay in the race. Right?

Or you could always run in the house, cry to mommy and daddy, and demand they go next door and put an immediate stop to this lemonade selling in "your" territory. But do you think it's really going to be very effective? Even sounds kinda stupid, huh?

Perhaps we should present Zain and Wataniya with the same question.

VIVA is a new cell carrier here in Kuwait. No clue who they know to actually be allowed to operate here, but thank goodness for their arrival! For years we have had Zain and Wataniya. Talk about a monopoly! I currently have both carriers....Zain for work, and Wataniya for personal use. I am literally paying about (100KD) $370 a month for these services. However, in the states I have 3 cell phones, all with unlimited day and night minutes, for (20KD) $79 a month. The same can be said for high speed internet service. I pay about (28KD) $110 a month for wireless 'high speed' here (ha ha, high speed, how cute they even call it that), and only (10KD) $36 for it in the states. And as most of you know -- high speed internet in the states is really rather 'high speed'. Although, if we compare other things -- like the cost of gas, cigarettes, etc. it's much cheaper in Kuwait.

This leads me to the conclusion that communication of any kind in Kuwait is going to cost you. But feel free to drive around town and smoke your lungs into blackness.

Now with VIVA in town, offering free incoming calls, free VIVA to VIVA calling for 3 months, and reduced rates for calling overseas, as well as free incoming from overseas numbers for 3 months, many people are jumping ship from the costly Zain and Wataniya carriers.

Apparently this borders on criminal activity in Kuwait because they're discussing a "meeting" to get to the bottom of this. Huh? Bottom of what? It's all quite simple... we're humans, we all want to save money, and our loyalty lies with the best deal. What is there to research? How dare someone actually realize that lower prices and better service brings more customers. In the long run bringing more income. Zain and Wataniya are still in the mind set of "If it costs more, we get more money!" Not necessarily the case.

Don't let me start selling 'lemonade' around here -- they're all going to close up shop and go home!

Yes, I am a couple days late, but oh what  wonderful couple of days it's been.

Eid is always a great time of year here in Kuwait. Many people are off work, it's more relaxing, people are more giving, more kind, and always out having fun.

I was on Arabian Gulf St last night, around 5'ish or so, tons of traffic, people every where, wind blowing, and the smell of fahem and sheehsa in the air (ayerrrr, ayerrrrr).Otherwise, I really don't have much to blog about. Life is great, lots of things going on right now, and eid keeps us all very busy.

No idea what's going on, but lately I have been in this "funk" so to speak. No sillies, I smell wonderful, shower daily, and use amazing body wash, lotion, oil, and perfume. It's my mind that has been feeling a little blah. I went through something similar a couple of months ago and if I recall correctly, Bed Head shampoo made me feel all better. Dunno, something like that.

So I'm leaving my residence a few days ago, heading out for (here's where you guess and get it right)Starbucks (knew you could do it)!The weather was gorgeous, I was looking rather lovely (eh, I did my hair and makeup that morning, no biggie), the wind was blowing, and there they were, on the corner.... two of the best looking men in Kuwait. Light gray dishdashas, crisp white ghutras. Mmm, mmm, mmm. It was nicer than watching the sun come up over the Mediterranean off the coast of Elba in September.

So what is it? What's my obsession with the dishdasha wearing men? I mean, I have one of my own by the way (not a dishdasha, but the thing inside there).So it's not like it's a novelty to me or anything. But there's something so incredibly appealing about it, something powerful and confident. It just oozes eroticism or something. Yeah, I know, a man in a white dress lacks something in the masculine department, but I find it to be just the opposite. If I could enforce a dress code on all men in the world, it would be dishdasha and ghutra, 24/7. It's craaazzzzy, I know! Oh well, some men like blonde hair, others like brunette. Some like thin, some like thick. I like my men to resemble camels in white dresses.

We all have our fetishes I suppose.

Oh yeah, the men on the corner....there for business, looked, looked again, kept looking, turned their entire bodies to look once more, and then I turned the corner and they were out of sight. No, I didn't stop for the phone number exchange that goes something like this...

Man: Hi, you have number?
Woman (never me of course): I'm not giving you my number so your wife and every other woman in Kuwait can call me all night and ask how I know you. What's your number? Oh, and where's your wife?
Man: I don't have a wife.
Woman:(hysterical laughter) Uh, yeah, ok, what's your number?
Man: (giving number) Why you not taking it? Why you not putting it in your phone? How you going to remember it?
Woman: Don't worry, I got it.
Man: You not going to call me are you? Why you do this to me? I want to know you. I want American girlfriend. My name is Ahmed, what your name?
Woman:(at this point the accent has gotten to her, he's batted the big brown eyes several times and she caves) Yeah, ok, my name is *****, give me your number again?

So yeah, none of that went on. Not that it ever goes on. I am very well behaved, people! I have no interested in being beheaded, chained to a kitchen sink, or interrogated like a criminal, so I avoid the number exchange at all cost. Doesn't mean I'm blind though.

Shoes. I feel like I should buy shoes. Not sure why since one would think shoes should be comfortable, feel great on your feet, and get you from your desk to the bathroom without crippling pain. I never seem to grasp this. I own a trillion +1 pair of shoes, none of them are practical. Okay, maybe 2 pair are. The rest sit there looking at me as if they're saying "When is it my turn to try my hardest to break your ankle?" I look back and start choosing whose turn it is today.

Ever notice how practical women's clothes and shoes have become in the states? It's really nice to wear sweats and sneakers to the mall and never think twice. I kinda miss that. But it also gives us a lot of room to go downhill at a high rate of speed. We're all attracted to "well put together" regardless of how attractive (or not) it is. We like something that looks as though it took time to achieve. A little effort in other words. So in Kuwait, where a trip to the mall is similar to competing in a fashion show (and never winning by the way...who am I kidding....never even getting on the same stage!), it definitely gives one the desire to get "well put together" before walking out the door.

Oh well, that's my input for the day. Boring, blah blah, not much going on, just randon thoughts about absolutely nothing and I can't seem to get them out of my mind today. I'll go back and read this post in a couple of days and say "My goodness, woman, get yourself some meds!" I do that often.

C'est la vie!

Before I get into the topic of the day, I would like to say I had a lovely Thanksgiving. Spent part of the day with those closest to me in Kuwait, and the rest of the day relaxing and doing not much of anything. Sometimes that's the best part of any day. I try to take advantage of "doing nothing" as often as possible, since it's really not that often we actually get to do nothing. I was recently invited to Egypt for a weekend, and when I asked where we would go, what we would do, etc. the answer was, "Nothing really." At that moment Egypt became very appealing. Not sure when/if I'll be venturing off yet, but if I do, it will be for "nothing."

I'm sure I've posted about the illegal prostitution in Kuwait before, as well as the contractors who often end up marrying these women. Huh? Marry a hooker? In what universe does this make any sense whatsoever?!

Recently I have received a few emails from contractor wives who are in the states asking about the opportunity their husbands have to cheat while he is working in Kuwait. I'm sure this isn't news to anyone, but if he wants to cheat, he can do it in your bed, while you're watching television in the living room. Distance doesn't cause a man to cheat, his lack of values, morals, and respect do. Women cheat for entirely different reasons, but that's not the subject matter today. (Yeah, baybeee, we're never held responsible, so don't even try it!)

In Kuwait we have a very high number of employees who come to work here from other countries. Very poor countries. Many are Indian, Bengali, Filipino, and Indonesian. Unfortunately, in Kuwait we're viewed by others based on our ethnicity and citizenship. Kuwaiti of course being the most respected, followed by Saudis, Americans, etc. The less fortunate are the "others." These are the people who travel here for work, leaving their loved ones behind, and generally make about $170 a month which is sent home to their country. If and when they actually get paid.

That being said, supplementing their incomes with a "part time job" is an easy answer to more cash. However, since they're working here for a sponsor who is their boss, they're not allowed to work as a Fry Girl at McDonald's after the day shift at a salon. She is limited to one job. It leaves her with one option - prostitution.

Unfortunately, prostitution will sometimes lead to story telling, lies, and manipulations. Remember, Americans are usually fairly kind, giving, loving people who trust most of who we meet. The little Filipino women of Kuwait are sneaky, and very wise when it comes to their "supplemental income." I have seen numerous men divorce their wives in the states to marry one of these lovely ladies of the night. But as I have stated before, unless you don't mind being loved for your green card and blue passport, move on!

My friends (Kuwaiti and American) have this running joke here in Kuwait - buy some bacon from the American base and get as many prostitutes as you want! Not sure why, but they love bacon! So to all of you contractor wives, tell your husbands you need to see all receipts from the PX. If you see bacon and a box of condoms, you know you have something to be concerned with.

Furthermore, keep in mind these women come from a place where running water is a luxury. They're not necessarily looking for a man to give them expensive gifts and his entire paycheck. The little bit of money he spends on her could easily be explained as a "night at the movies with the boys". She's perfectly happy with a pack of bacon, 3 KD shoes from Fahaheel, and 2KD sunglasses. Rest assured your husband is not dating me... unfortunately I am very shallow and materialistic when it comes to sunglasses. He would buy me one pair and you wouldn't have your mortgage this month.

I suppose that sums it up... bacon, green cards, blue passports, and men who lose their minds. Remember ladies -- if he's going to cheat, he's going to cheat. If you have to ask if he might be, then more than likely he is. If you're sitting in the states wondering if he's over here cheating on you... go shopping - with his money. It will ease the pain.