Overbooked

Don't you just hate being told that your flight is overbooked?

My family, coming to attend my graduation, were sent back home today because their flight was overbooked! There were about 20 other people with the same story. I thought you only had to deal with this crap with Ku-Wait Airways, so that's why I insisted on them coming on Lufthanza!. It seems that the crap is contageous.

Mom called me asking what's the best way out of the situation. She handed the phone to some poor counter clerk that I felt bad about after I lashed out at him. I made the story sound to him like I haven't seen my family for 5 years and they're going to miss my graduation :P. He offered to divert them onto Turkish Airlines!! I was like hell no! Then he offered Kuwait Airways, and I was like Double Hell No!

Finally, he offered the exact same flight but a day later, a 220KD refund on each ticket, and passes to the Business Class lounge in Frankfurt. My graduation is on Sunday so they'll make it before that.

I thought of it as Kheera :P They get tickets for 220KD less, business class lounge, and I get one extra day to clean and prepare the apartment (which is taking forever). Thikrow Allah please mashya weyay 9a7 these days :P

Overbooking sucks, and the dude who came up with its model sucks too! This is the first time in a long time that I see Kuwait Airways doing something like another decent airlines.

Jandeef ... The "Pro" Writer

I received this e-mail from someone, which I thought was an interesting one. I thought I'd share it with you all, and I hope the sender excuses me for that.
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Hi

im sorry 4 intruding

u dont know me but i stumbled upon ur homepage 2day the BD greeting u wrote is amazing & heart breaking sara7aaaa inshala u get back 2gether soon im into writing and reading but never tried publishing online :(

any way i have a few qs 4 u if u dont mind :D

1 at what age u started writing?
2 how old are u now?
3 where do u see your self in 5 yrs from now? writing wise
4 did u consider taking it professionally? like writing 4 a magazine or a news paper perhaps \

u said ask on ur homepage ana maly she`3el :D

sorry 4 bothering u again
babye
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First of all, thank you for stumbling here and taking the time to read. I'm flattered. Now to answer your questions:

1. I think it's fair to say I started writing when I first learned the alphabet :P

2. Almost 23.

3. On the field with my engineer's hat on during the day; In the office writing a technical report in the evening.

4. I already did to some extent, but I wouldn't get too excited about it if I were you. Key word here is "professionally." C'mon... You left all these talented, creative bloggers on my favorites list and resorted to me?! Wow! Now I really am flattered :D. If you rank me with them in terms of creative writing, I bet I'd take number 1. From the bottom of course.


My writing is boring as hell, assuming hell is actually boring. When I started this blog I hoped it would help me develop writing skills. I don't see myself there yet. The birthday post was not "creative writing" as much as it was me fulfilling a promise and giving my visitors a chance to help a fellow blogger get some load off his chest.

Into reading and writing? Let's see your stuff. One final note though: try not to use periods and comas as much as you did in your e-mail. It'll improve your writing :P .. Just teasing ya ;)

Finally, is this just out of curiosity? or am I being used as a lab rat? 'cause it sure looks to me like a focus group study, which I don't mind. I'm just curious :P

إليكِ أكتب في عيد ميلادك

كيف حالك اليوم؟ مستعدة ليوم جديد وسنة جديدة؟

قضيت يومي أخمن ما هي خطط عيد ميلادك؟ حفلة صغيرة؟ أم مشغولة في دراستك والامتحانات على الأبواب؟

كل عام وأنت بألف خير ، وسنة حلوة يا جميل ، أتذكرين في عيد ميلادك الماضي؟ عندما نسيت التاريخ ، وأحرجتني في السؤال ، تمنيت أن تبتلعني الأرض لحظتها ، وزعلتِ علي ، لحظة مخزية فعلاً ، لكنها ذكرى جميلة ، وعدتك يومها أن أكون أول من يهنئك في عيد ميلادك القادم ، وها أنا محاولاً الوفاء بوعدي.ـ

يا ترى ما هو حالك؟ أهو كحالي بدونك؟

لا أعرف كيف أصف لكِ مدى افتقادي واشتياقي لكِ ، أشتاق إليك ، كما يشتاق المغترب لرؤية حبيبته في بلده كل صيف ، في الجامعة ، في المطعم ، في الشارع ، في كل مكان ، أشتاق إلى سماع صوتك ، لم أسمعه لثمانين يوم ، نعم ... ما زلت أعد الأيام.ـ

لو كان بيدي لعدت بالوقت إلى الوراء لأغير بعض الأمور ، أشعر بظلم الظروف التي خذلتني ، فليس من العدل أن تأتيني بهدية في عيد ميلادي ولا أستطيع ردها لك ، وهي بالمناسبة لا زالت حول رسغي الأيسر ، أرى وجهك البشوش فيها كلما نظرت إلى الوقت ، وكلما سألني أحد عنه ، أراك فيها عندما أستيقظ من نومي ، أراك فيها بطريقي إلى المحاضرة لأتأكد من أنني لست متأخراً ، أراك فيها عندما ينتابني الملل من شرح المدرس ، فأنظر إليها كل دقيقة بانتظار انتهاء المحاضرة ، أراك فيها عند أخذ دوائي مرتين في اليوم ، باختصار ... أراك فيها كل لحظة ، أحرص على خلعها كلما غسلت يدي ، أريد أن أطيل من عمرها لتبقى حول رسغي إلى الأبد.ـ

آسف ... لأني لا أستطيع أن أهنئك شخصياً بعيد ميلادك.ـ

آسف ... لأني اشتريت هديتك ولا أستطيع إيصالها لك.ـ

آسف ... لأني لا أستطيع أن أريك صور شقتي الجديدة.ـ

آسف ... لأني لم أستطع أن آخذ رأيك في بدلة تخرجي الجديدة.ـ

آسف ... لأني لن أستطيع أن أريك صور تخرجي.ـ

آسف ... لأني لا أستطيع أن أهنئك شخصياً بتخرجك.ـ

آسف ... لم تسنح لي الفرصة والظروف لأخبرك بأن لدي مدونة.ـ

آسف ... لأني لا أستطيع أن أريك تهنئتي هذه.ـ

كل ما أتمناه هو أن ترمي بك الأقدار والصدف والحظ وتقودك نحو مدونتي لتقرئيها ، وليكن حظاً آخراً غير حظي ، فلم يعد بجانبي لمدة طويلة.ـ

كل عام وأنت بخير ، يا أروع من رأته عيناي وعرفه قلبي.ـ

وأعنيها من أعماقي ... وحشتني سواليفك.ـ

Spare Some Change?

On my way out of the video store, I heard the question "Spare some change?" I looked right and there was this old, bearded hippie sitting on the pavement. I replied with my usual "No, sorry." This has always been my reply in such situations, whether it is here, back home, old man, woman, little kid, poor Asian workers that sweep the streets in the morning, etc.

The question is not whether to give or not, but whom to give and in what situations. I could only imagine how desparate they could be, but I don't think it solves the problem if I give out like that because:

1. It engraves in them the culture of taking the easy way out. Instead of finding a better, permanent solution, they'd just sit on the pavement and ask for money.

2. By not giving out, it puts more pressure on them, and the pressure is eventually (hopefully) shifted to their guardians/employers.

I know this is a sensitive issue and hard to explain. In kuwait at traffic lights, many people generously give out money to those Asian workers every single morning. I know how they're being taken advantage of by their employers, and I know what that 1/4 KD means to them.

Remember about a month ago when they went on a strike and rioted at their embassies and employers? Now think with me. Imagine for some time, people refrained from giving out any money. Theoretically, that angre would've mounted a while ago and their issue would've been brought up earlier, which would eventually help solve their situation. Makes sense?

I'd rather give out money or goods for organizations, mosques, churches, etc., which in turn distribute it out to the needy (hopefully) than give it out randomly to random people.

خـــالــتــــي ـ ـ ـ

خالتي ...
لخمسة عشر عاماً وانت على هذا الحال ، تنامين على أمل وتصبحين على انتظار ، كلما دق جرس الباب همت بالنظر في اتجاهه ، علك ترينه يدخل عليك فتحتضنيه بين ذراعيك ، تحسي بنبضات قلبه في صدرك ، وتشتمي رائحته كما تشتم الأم رائحة طفلها الرضيع.

خالتي ...
ها أنت تلقيت خبر بطولته اليوم ، كما تلقيت خبر بطولة أخيه العام الماضي ، ظننته سيقبل إليك يوماً بروحه وجسده من باب البيت ، وإذا بجسده الطاهر قابع بتراب الرمادي طوال الخمسة عشر عاماً ، وعاد إليك عظاماً بعد أن نهش لحمه سجانوه وقاتلوه.

خالتي ...
كان لي شرف رؤيته ليلة أسره ، وشرف الجلوس بجانبه على العشاء في تلك الليلة ، وشرف مداعبته لي ، وشرف ملاحظة اضطرابه ، وكأنه عالمٌ بقدره بعد ساعات ، كان دائم التحرك في تلك الليلة ، يتنقل من غرفة لأخرى ، لابساً بنطلونه الأزرق الرياضي وبلوزته البيضاء ، متوجاً رأسه بـ "تشريمبة" شماغ ، مجسداً لبس المقاومة الرسمي ، ولم يكن يعلم أنها ثيابه التي سيؤسر بها ، ويستجوب بها ، ويعذب بها ، ويستشهد ويدفن بها ، أو ربما كان يعلم؟

خالتي ...
كان لي شرف سماع قصص تملصه منهم ، وقصص أسره وتعذيبه ، وتحمله ورباطة جأشه ، فشهدوا له بأنهم صعقوه بالكهرباء أمام أخويه كلما سألوه "من هو سيدك؟" وأجاب "سيدي جابر."

فإن كان ما بذاكرتي له في ليلة أسره وقصص تعذيبه هو شرفي ، فخبريني ... كيف هو شرف أم الأسيرين الشهيدين؟

خالتي ...
حتى الخيال لا يقدر أن يصف كم أضناك دهر خمسة عشر عاماً ، إني أتساءل ... ما حالك اليوم؟ هل تبكين؟ ذلك إن بقيت فيك دموع ، وإن بقي بعينيك مكان لتجرحه.

خالتي ...

نعم لم تتعلمي ، ولم تعملي ، ولم تتعد حياتك سوى تربية أبنائك والواجبات الاجتماعية ، إلا أنك قدمت للكويت ما لن نقدر على تقديمه ، قدمت لها بطلين ، وقدمت لها مثالاً للتضحية ، مثالاً للأم ذات القلب الكبير ، مثالاً للمرأة الصلبة التي طالما استصغروها.ـ

خالتي ...
رحل اليوم ، عل رحيله يطوي الدفة الأخرى من كتاب انتظار إبنيك والقلق عليهما ، رحل تاركاً وراءه ثلاثة أبناء أصغرهم لم يره ، ترك ذاك الصغير ليحكي للأجيال من بعده تاريخاً بطولياً حياً.

خالتي ...
افرحي يا بطلة فرحة أم الأبطال ، اقطعي صفحة من كتاب الانتظار قبل أن تغلقيه وتركنيه ، ضعي تلك الصفحة جانباً ، فهي لموعدك بهما في أرفع جنانه ، كم أتشوق لسماع صوتك الليلة ، كم أتشوق لتهنئتك ببطولتهما ، كم أتشوق لرؤية صورته بجانب صورة أخيه على حائط منزلك الطاهر.

أرجوك اقبلي خاطرتي المتواضعة ، وإلى أن ألقاك عما قريب.ـ

Jandeef's Mainstream Classics II

يا ابن الحلال
سميرة سعيد
أجمل مقطع: غير تجريح السؤال يا ابن الحلال

قلبي معك
عبدالله الرويشد
أجمل مقطع: راضي بغرام اللي سعى في ضياعي

تمـــون
محمد المسباح
أجمل مقطع: حط إيدك بإيدي .. خل يكتمل عيدي

شــويـــخ
أحمد الجميري
أجمل مقطع: قدروا كبر سني والعصا والقرارة

انت بديت
ربــاب
أجمل مقطع: شتبي مني خلني حق شعوري

طعم الخيانة
فهد الماص
أجمل مقطع: ياللي ما قدرتي حبي ، منهو فينا اللي خسر؟

مان أوما دأم
غوغوش
أجمل مقطع: مادري شتقول


متـيــــم
كرامة مرسال
أجمل مقطع: أسير الحب لمن أشكي؟
(Damn you Angham, Rashid, & 7raibi for ruining a beautiful song)

مسموح
غريد الشاطئ
أجمل مقطع: مريت فرجان ودورت

نــورت
نبيل شعيل
أجمل مقطع: كنها دانة أنوارها تلالي

Hit & Run

A couple of months ago, I finished my class and headed to my car, and I found out that someone hit it and the driver's door was dented. I looked around and this is what I found on the windshield:

Really?!?! How blunt can you be to leave such a lame note WITH A 10-DOLLAR BILL? You really expect me to get over it instantaneously because of your 10-dollar compensation? It would've been a lot less frustrating without the 10 bucks. Knowing that you thought you can buy my forgiveness that cheap just sickened me. I looked around looking for clues and found nothing. I cursed with everything min el sirr o nazil.

If you had left me your phone number, and explained your situation to me, I swear I would've let it go. At least I have a liability insurance policy, so it would've been covered. But of course, you didn't. Bastard!

I went to the police and got me a case number. Not that I was expecting anything from the police since I had no witnesses nor clues except for your lame note and 10-dollar bill. I just needed a case number so I can talk to my insurance agent. Fortunately they covered hit-and-runs.

Fixing the car costed me $220 and it looks fine now. Last weekend I got the check from the insurance, and guess how much it was for. $900. Yes, nine hundred dollars. Dollar yen6a7 dollar. So here is how it breaks down:

$220 Repairing the car door.
$280 Pain, Suffering, and Cursing.
$300 Renewing my insurance (which was due yesterday ironically).
and
$100 Just for the good feeling.

Add to that I used your stupid 10-dollar bill to get me a foot-long sub from Subway.

This couldn't have come at a better time. I'm about to move into a new apartment and I'm going to travel this summer with my family, so every dollar counts. See, sometimes what's bad turns out to be good eventually.

You who hit my car. If you're reading this, THANK YOU. And no, I still don't forgive you. Sucker!

Bad Day

Just a Bump In The Road ...

Bill Cosby Up Close

A couple of weeks ago Bill Cosby visited our university to give a comedy stand-up, which I attended. It was so worth the 32-dollar ticket! The guy was amazing. I've always liked him and have been a big fan of the Cosby Show for a long time. I still watch its re-runs and enjoy them even more.

What struck me was seeing, up close, how aging has taken a serious toll on him. I was looking at him all the time and having flash backs of the early seasons of the Cosby Show, when he was all young and energetic.

What struck me even more was despite his aging, he still cracked us up so hard. His facial expressions and body language were still very much there. The show was very spontaneous. It had a general theme that I'm sure he gave some thought to, but the detailed jokes and stories seemed mostly spontaneous. He'd be telling a story and out of no where he'd say "oh by the way, ...etc" and jumps into a whole new story or a joke, then comes back to the one he started previously.

Seeing him live was just another item crossed out on my To-Do-in-the-US list. Not only do I like him for his show and humor, but also for his inspiring story. A black kid from Philly starts from nothing, maintains a successful career, a good family man , speaking loudly about black ghettos and criticizing black parents, and overcoming the murder of his son. When Larry King once asked him if he sought revenge for his son as a closure, he replied "oh no, I think he [the murderer] is looking for closure now." Greatness!

School Discipline

I read this funny, yet interesting, article about the "controversey" over the use of red pens in grading in grade schools. Too bad the article is published in one of our campus papers that I can't share it with you. The article was cynically funny. Anyway, the so-called controversey is based on the arguement that red ink is demoralizing to the child. It makes him feel bad and hurts his confidence. While I don't think it should be called a controversey, it is still interesting to see how deep and sophisticated Americans are down to the finest detail. I mean, you read it and say "god ... it's like the world has no greater problems."

As I was reading it, I remembered back in school when we were disciplined by beating the crap out of our palms, or having us stand against the wall putting our hands up. Sometimes we were disciplined like such because we forgot to do the homework, so not only for trouble making. Talk about demoralizing a child and hurting his confidence when he's being hit or humiliated in front of 30 students. I guess no body gives a crap as long as there's a teacher trying to please his ego by showing a red eye, or an educational system that simply doesn't get it.

I'm absolutely, positively an opponent to such disciplinary methods. What good is it going to do to the kid other than demoralizing him?. I don't care how much of a trouble maker he is. I can't see any good out of hitting or humiliating him, let alone doing so in front of 30 other kids. Even if he's not demoralized, he'll get over it instantaneously and make trouble again and again.

Remember the guy who shot his high school chemistry teacher? I don't mean to justify the shooting, but he was humiliated by his father, unfortunately, in front of the teacher. That resulted in him having a disturbed mind and a faulty judgement which led to pulling the trigger.

There are far more civilized and beneficial methods of school discipline. When I went to school in England, we were disciplined by having us do boring grammar or math. Trust me, as a child I'd rather get hit and get over it than go through boring grammar. So it works. It serves its purpase by having the kid think twice before making trouble with the bonus of actually learning math and grammer on the way.