I am sorry I've been lazy with updates, but I'm afraid I'm feeling a bit depressed and uninspired. I thought about blogging about a perverted bastard who is manipulating vulnerable women, but that's not news, is it? So instead, I want to talk about something else. Anything else. Currently I'm not sure what I could say that would go on for more than a sentence, but I'm sure I'll come up with something. Any minute now. I wonder why bees in Europe are big and fuzzy? I am developing an irrational fear of cats. I think it's my other irrational fear (of rabies. Shut up. It's very dangerous, you know.) that is fueling this, more recent, fear of cats. The weird thing is, I used to have a cat. Never bothered me. I really need to get a flight to Jeddah but there are absolutely none and the airline people are all but shouting "AAHAAAHAA! JEDDAH? THIS WEEK? YOU'RE FUCKING JOKING. YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO CATCH A ROCKET SHIP TO THE MOON AND HAVE BONBONS UP THERE WITH... I DON'T KNOW... FUCKING BONO! HAHA NO WAAY LADY!" And they'd say it like that, all in caps. It's a bit of a medical emergency, you could say. So it would really be great if I could go. I guess I'm not going. That really is unfortunate. I don't understand why the airlines don't quadruple their flights to Jeddah during Ramadhan? (People flock to Jeddah because you can only get to Mecca through there, and Ramadhan is a holy month and people often go there to pray and things.) Some families go every Ramadhan. I don't understand why they can't pray in their houses and let people with medical emergencies get on with their lives? Does anyone want to lend me their private jet?
It is so ironic that the person who has always told me never to completely trust anyone ended up screwing me over unbelievably.
How do I know if it's made me bitter?
I met the most random person a couple of days ago. Pharrell Williams!
He has the most amazing skin I have ever seen.
He wears makeup, right? He has to. He looks like a wax figure.
Okay I've been playing around with this damn Mac and I can't figure out how to crop the photo, so you'll have to wait to see photographic evidence of the hotness that is Pharrell (I swear his complexion is unnatural.. )
A few days ago a man told me "Arabs are racists who have too much money for their own good."
Well, that's news to me.
I'd appreciate it if someone directed me to the people who give out the cheques for being arrogant and Arabic?
The Olympics are all over the place, and the media is hating on China like anything.
China must be so pissed. Can you imagine throwing a big party only to have your guests criticize everything you've ever done? Man I'd just kick everyone out.
And with so many skeletons in its closet, why did China even want to host the Olympics? That's just asking for trouble.
I know this happened ages ago, but I can't stop thinking about him. And pitying him. Does anyone think we'll ever see him on TV again? Maybe on Larry King? A tell-all book, perhaps?
A while ago I had a nightmare about fish in the toilet that bite your butt if you're not careful, spreading gross fish venom all through your bloodstream, slowly killing you. I have very disturbing dreams.
I pass by this building almost everyday on my way back from college. Any guesses as to what that scribble on the wall means? (Taqwa I expect you to get this right, ya ba66a.) (Taken on 4/11/2007)
Random picture I took at the book fair. It is not a coincidence that the people who happened to be there when I took the shot are all men. There were about 20 women, tops the day I went. The man in the picture overhead is a writer, Hamad Al-Jasser. They named all the aisles after famous Saudi writers. Isn't that cute? (6/3/2008)
This was taken at one of my favorite places in the world. Literally where I spent most of my childhood. (16/11/2007)
I took this while I was walking into our house. I happened to look up, and the clouds made a beautiful pattern. It's sad to think of all the other patterns I missed because I rarely take the time to go outside and look at nature and shit. (23/11/2007)
Doodles on a desk at college. I told you this was gonna be random. (28/10/2007)
Take a close look at this one...
It's a chick! I was at a traffic light when I noticed these kids playing with a baby chick. So sweet. And incredibly random. (28/11/2007)
I was looking at this police car and it didn't make me feel any safer. In fact, it made me feel uneasy. The police force in Riyadh (and the fire department) are barely trained and ill equipped to handle anything. (28/3/2007)
I took these this afternoon. I just thought they make Riyadh look pretty. (29/3/2008)
So I promised a rundown of the Q&A with the president of King Saud University, and I think I'd better deliver before I forget the juicy details.
He got a lot of questions about summer programs (which we don't have.)
Now this really pisses me off, because EVERY YEAR we are asked to sign up for the summer program at the secretary's office, and every fucking year they only get a handful of signatures, and they scratch the whole plan, because it's stupid to open the whole school for the summer just for a handful of students in every department. And I am happy to say, for once, KSU chooses not to do something stupid.
I am beginning to think these people asking for the summer term generally enjoy complaining about things that don't necessarily bother them. Either that or they are the handful of people that sign up, and who happen to be unbelievably loud and obnoxious.
Of course the prez said they'll "look into it", which I hope is code for "Either sign your damn name or shut the fuck up. Now go sit down. Jeez."
A good question was one about the weird 12 PM rule we have at the girl's university. Basically girls cannot leave the university before 12 PM. I really have given up trying to understand this rule, (imposed on us by the Muttawas.) Don't even try. There is not an explanation. They just like toying with us. His answer was "we'll try and make it so that all your classes end after 12." Which, I have to admit was the only bullshit answer of the event. You take a job as the president of our university, and I must say, you seem like a smart guy. You know this rule is complete nonsense. Isn't it your job to defend us, to at least represent us fairly and publicly oppose this rule, instead of giving in to the mutts? There are many rules made by the Muttawas that King Saud University completely ignores. Such as the fifteen minute prayer-time break that I certainly have never gotten. We can ignore ridiculous rules when we want to, Mr.Prez. Why the hell not this one?
One girl made a very passionate comment about how students with certain connections get things done easier, and that some teachers are mean and conceited. She raises good points, but suffice it to say I am not impressed by easy applause lines. Mr.AlOthman was outraged, of course. He does not approve of this behaviour and he assured us that it would be dealt with, and I believe him.
My favorite was a pharmaceutical student who talked about how after graduating he has to wait six months for the place where he's supposed to sign up for training to open and can't the University do something about that? He went on about other stuff, but I liked his questions most because they're real problems. Mr.Prez said he really can't do anything about that because it wasn't to do with the University... and I daydreamed a little here, I must say. Anyway it was a good answer.
A man in a wheelchair asked why they wouldn't let him into medical school (he's doing engineering.) The gist of what the President (politely) said is that we must all pursue careers where we are guaranteed a job, and that the guy's medical condition may not allow him to go into medicine, but they will certainly allow him to be an exceptional engineer. All we need is hard work, and blabla... And that got me thinking. I have never seen a doctor in a wheel chair. Not even on TV. Does anyone know more about this?
I like the prez of our university. He's pretty cool. He adressed us all on Sunday and we got to ask questions and everything. It was great.
Am I a complete loser for reading David Sedaris?:
Guilty pleasure: Pride and Prejudice. ".. the most determined flirt that ever made her family ridiculous." Classic. Makes me laugh like anything.
I miss playing in the sand.
I miss playing in the mud.
I don't undertand the early settlers? Why did they move into the middle of the desert? I mean, it's fine now, with airconditioning and bottled water, but at the time... What the hell were they thinking? Maybe they were some weird suicide cult that wanted to die of thirst and hunger but failed miserably? It's so weird.
Some folks in Boreidah (tell me if i spelt it wrong) are going around painting over pictures of advertisements, and apparently there's some sort of election going on, and the candidates are pissed because their pictures are being vandalized as well.
This is all because some people believe that Islam forbids creating images of faces because it's like trying to recreate God's work.
Yeah. I don't really get it either.
What on earth would we do for comedy if it weren't for the good people of Boreidah?
I'm serious. These people are like cartoon characters.
When someone in the family is on their death bed it is nerve racking. Sitting at a table having dinner and the phone rings. The room goes quiet and people stare at eachother. One person slowly gets up and walks over to the phone. "Allah yistur." "Na'am?"
Silence.
Everyone around inhales slowly, and then...
Sighs with relief when whoever is on the phone smiles and nods, indicating that we can go back to our meals. No mourning. For today.
And all I want to do is quote Sweeney Todd: "Life is for the alive, my dear!" Yes, in song.
1- A 2000 riyal Abaya my ass. I'm not paying that much money for something I despise. And I want to drive already. This is ridiculous.
2- Ladies, I love you as you are. Stop pretending you're boys. It's getting old. And you're not fooling anyone. Aha, not even when we close our eyes and pretend really really hard.
3- I highly recommend short hair.
4- It has never been this cold in Riyadh.
5- Am I the olny one who has no plans for New Years eve? I'm not even looking forward to it. Honeslty, what's the big deal? So it'll be 2007. How will that be different from 2006? Or 2005? Or 847987?
6- Is it just me, or is Saddam Hussein being considered a martyr? I am not surprised. And not because we Arabs are fond of violent dictators.
7- Jackass is pure comic genius.
8- HAPPY EID!
9- Organised religion is going to be the death of me. 5alaaaaaaaaaaaaaa9999999 Leave me alone.
10- If you think I'm stupid I think you're a fucking lunatic who eats his own poo. (Yes, I saw.)
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Take a close look at this one... 
It's a chick! I was at a traffic light when I noticed these kids playing with a baby chick. So sweet. And .jpg)
I was looking at this police car and it didn't make me feel any safer. In fact, it made me feel uneasy. The police force in Riyadh (and the fire department) are barely trained and ill equipped to handle anything. (28/3/2007).jpg)
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I took these this afternoon. I just thought they make Riyadh look pretty. (29/3/2008)
