I’m late, I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date! - 17/9/2012

I suppose you can guess what I’m talking about from the title! And I don’t intend to be quoting the bunny from Alice in Wonderland.

When we got married, exactly 1 year and 7 days ago, my husband and I decided to put off having kids for about a year just to get used to the new “Married” life style and the responsibilities. I wonder if the doors to heaven were open back then and God heard our plans and approved.

I don’t want to rush things and start planning the baby shower and college applications but things are happening to me that have never happened to me before. Such as:

1.       Late… I’m never late… I mean there could be an entire calendar made based on my cycle. Figuratively speaking!

2.       Weird cramps… it feels like your gut is being grabbed tightly for a new seconds and then nothing.

3.       Acute sense of smell… I mean I usually have a good sense of smell but this is ridiculous, bloody hell! I can smell my husband a mile away, I can smell the cotton that my shirt is made of and I can smell the papers on my desk… you know those very discrete smells that aren’t usually there!

4.       Acute sense of hearing… I can hear each one of my colleagues’ key board typing, and their breathing, and whispers of people talking from other offices.

5.       A little light headedness and an unprecedented disgust for the taste of toothpaste in the morning.

I suppose a quick Clear Blue test wouldn’t hurt.   

PreVue - Wearable Pregnancy Ultrasound Belt

I came across this while trying to get an idea of what my 3D ultrasould scan will look like through google images.

What do you think?

http://www.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=23800

Exploitation

In a country where labor laws are passed to exploit workers rather than protect their rights, you would hope that institutions take it upon themselves to support their employees, especially those who have fought tooth and nail for years on end to bring them growth and prosperity.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true.

I have heard of an institution; let’s call it “Bank Cheap” where employees are treated as worthless laborers through out the beginning, middle, and advanced level of their careers.

Below are just some of the cases at Bank Cheap I’ve heard about.

Case 1:

“Employee 70”, who has been working at Bank Cheap for a little over 14 years, has a masters degree from a prestigious French University, has single handedly built the base for one of the Bank’s indispensible control and reporting functions by gathering information from half the departments at Bank Cheap, has been in the same middle management position for the past 6 years with no promotion, and still makes about US$ 10 an hour.

Bullshit

Case 2:

“Employee 86”, who has been working at Bank Cheap for 3 years, spent half those 3 years working double shifts, taking on extra loads, and developing an entirely new program that automates all the monitoring and reporting process of one of the Bank’s key control functions. “Employee 86” still holds the same entry level position, with the same entry level salary of about UD$ 3.8 an hour.

Ridiculous

Case 3:

“Employee 88, who also has been working for Bank Cheap for 3 years, has graduated as an honors student from one of the country’s top universities with a Masters Degree in Business Administration, has an internationally recognized certificate in Valuation Analysis, and is currently working for a certificate in Financial Analysis. “Employee 88” is considered to be a key player in one of the Bank’s control functions, carries on extra loads and sometimes for other departments as well, and still holds the same entry level position, with the same entry level salary of about US$ 4 an hour.

No Comment

Bank Cheap is filled with similar cases of hardworking, well educated, and innovative employees who I consider to be exploited.

Disgusting!

I couldn't help but share what I read on msn.com regarding this Iranian blogger.

http://arabia.msn.com/news/middle-east/956526/bloggers-death-stirs-political-hornets-nest-in-iran/

I Haven’t Forgotten My Blog!

For those of you who were used to reading a new post on my Blog every other week or so, you might have started to wonder why I have been away for a little over 3 months.

Well, the truth is, I haven’t been away at all! As much as I would have loved to be on some long vacation, I have been here, on the other side of the screen but over occupied with thinking of the situation I’m in.

And the situation is: I’m Pregnant!

What will follow is stuff I wrote during this period, but never had the guts to publish before now!

Enjoy!

Paparazzi – Beauty Lounge & Spa

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you are well familiar with my rants and critiques of various restaurants, resorts, and other places around Lebanon. These rants are a personal opinion that was built based on an experience, and is in no way meant to defame any of these places. That said, and if you are offended in any way… Sue me!

It was finally Friday, and my friends/ colleagues and I were all in desperate need of a manicure, pedicure, and some pampering. After discussing our options we decided to try Paparazzi – Beauty Lounge and Spa on Bliss Street, because we all had friends who’ve tried it and liked it.

And so it went…

Noor and Aya arrived at the appointment at about 2:40 and began. I followed at about 2:50 because I had to run an errand. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I asked the gentleman at the reception about when I would start, so he informed me that I had to wait for Aya to finish and then it would be my turn.

After ages of waiting, I was able to begin at about 3:45. As I was sitting on the pedicure chair, the non-Lebanese (with all due respect to all nationalities and races) nail artist asked if I had an appointment; I said yes, but she insisted that I check. So I got off the chair and when to the reception desk and asked the gentleman to inform her that I had an appointment. We I returned with the gentleman, she was no were in sight. After 7 minutes of asking the other girls about her and tracking her down, we were able to find her and convince her of my appointment and I sat back down on the pedicure chair in hopes that the confusion was over. She asked me what I wanted to do and if I had selected my color; I told her I wanted a French manicure and pedicure, so again she told me to get off the pedicure chair as we were going to start with my manicure first. Again, I got off the incredibly annoying chair with the sink below the feet that trips you every time and went to the manicure tables. Then again, she decided that she would do both my manicure and pedicure at the same time, so again she asked me to sit back on the pedicure chair.

For someone with a history of hysterical anger episodes, and years of self anger management therapy, I was beginning to get irritated. Even Noor couldn’t help but comment on the extent of my patients, but I told her that she was about to see my other face, literally, if this continued.

I sat down again in that damned chair and began.

In the mean time, Noor was struggling with her own nail artist as she was not able to comprehend the fact that Noor wanted her nails to be filed rounded with a French manicure and didn’t want her toes to be filed too close to the flesh. With no use, the nail artist did exactly the opposite and hurt her. While this went on, another artist came behind Noor and asked her to turn around so she could soak her hands for the manicure. Can you imagine having to twist your back 90 degrees for about 40 minutes? Yes, that was the last straw!!! Noor asked them both to stop, got up, went to the reception desk, complained about the service, and left.

Yours truly was still sitting there trying to teach the nail artist how to file my nails evenly, and how to apply a French tip using the brush.

So much for the rest and the pampering!!

Finally, at 5:15, and after repeating my hand manicure twice, I was done and able to leave… and never come back!

Things that no one tells you about traveling to Istanbul

I admit, I have a travel bug that starts itching every 6 months or so, urging me to get on a plane to a new destination for a little adventure, discovery, culture, and excitement.

After London, Spain, London again, came Istanbul, the land of Mosques, Palaces, Islands, and the Bosphorus.

Istanbul is one big haven for those who enjoy museums, historical monuments, nature, the sea, shopping, and food… you name it, Istanbul has it! Our city tour included two cruises, one around the Bosphosus strait and another to the Prince’s Island (Turkish: BUYUK ADA – Big Island), Dolmabahce Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, also known as Sultan Ahmet Mosque, and Topkapi Palace.

 

Don’t ask me for a favorite, because each site has its own awe and story to tell.

Luckily, you can go to wikipedia and get all the details you want about those places, but what people won’t tell you about Istanbul is:

1.       Never stick to the price that’s on the price tag, especially when you’re buying from street vendors and local shops. If the price tag says 10 Turkish Lira, say 5 TL and keep bargaining until they refuse to sell you, and then pay the final, lowest price given.

2.       Never get into a cab unless they have a meter; if they don’t then make sure you agree on the toll before you get in, because you could end up paying 35 TL for a 11 TL ride.

3.       Avoid using the Metro, Tramway, and Funicular unless your life depends on it because, unlike London, Madrid, and Barcelona, Istanbul doesn’t seem to have specific rush hours. Those means of transportation are always fully packed to the extent that you’ll be gasping for breath and screaming “Speed Stick”!

4.       It is an absolute must to learn a few basic Turkish terms because most of the population doesn’t speak or understand English.

5.       If you’re on a diet, or a vegetarian, you’ll be missing out on a lot of delicious food, especially the best Kofta and Yogurt in the world. Seriously, I’m originally Lebanese, and Kofta is part of our traditional cuisine, but the Turkish Kofta is to die for.

6.       If you go to Ortakoy (the sea side area under the Golden Horn Bridge) and don’t try the Kumpir (Backed Potato – Turkish Style), and the waffles, you might as well not have gone the trip in the first place!

7.       Try to forget sleeping, use coffee, Redbull, or a lot of sugar, because if you go to sleep you will definitely be missing the endless buzzing streets, especially Taksim Square and Istiklal Street that seems to be swarming with locals, tourists, vendors… all day, all night!

*Sigh*, I just can’t wait for my next trip… perhaps the Far East?