Drama Drama Drama
Last night, around one, I could see the flash of lightning reflected through the curtains, and hear the loud thundering boom, and I couldn’t resist getting up to see all that was going on. Wow! Earth in all her glory, a truly magnificent thunderstorm, with sound and light and magnificent bursts of rain – drama drama drama.
This morning, we have a wonderful sky, full of light and shadows, a day that can go either way – or both ways!

The day is dramatically cooler from yesterday, and the rest of the week is also supposed to be cooler, quite a change from earlier forecasts.

You can see all the way to the horizon today. The air is clean and breathable. My newly washed windows are spotted – there was a lot of dust brought down by this storm, thanks be to God. I can breathe!
Ghostly Sunrise

One minute I looked and there was nothing, the next, this faint outline of the rising sun. It doesn’t look like rain – remember the forecast for today was 100% precipitation? Today the forecast is only for 30% rain.

I wouldn’t mind a little rain.
Today is one of those “miles to go before I sleep” kind of days. While it isn’t a snowy evening, and “woods” is not a word I would easily associate with Kuwait, nonetheless, I have promises to keep . . .
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost
Sunrise 28 March 09
Yikes. Almost a quarter of 2009 gone already? Yikes.
The Gulf is as smooth as glass once again today, people are out looking for little fish or shellfish to add to their Kuwait bouillabaisse, and the roads are quiet. It is another perfect day in Kuwait.

It’s clear. Not a lot of haze, I can see almost to the horizon . . . but I am having trouble breathing. I don’t have asthma, or I don’t think I do, but some days I wake up feeling like I am not getting enough oxygen, and this is one of them. I don’t understand – no dust storm, no nothing, but I feel like a goldfish whose water needs changing.
The temperatures this week are perfect – not a too-hot day in the bunch, all just right for picnics and sitting outside for coffee at night. Pure heaven.

Did you see that? Tomorrow we have 100% chance of precipitation? How often do you see that; weather people so sure that they will say 100%? I think I would say 95% just to be on the safe side, LOL.
We had eight drops on our windshield on the way to church yesterday. AdventureMan called it torrential. He says in Kuwait, eight raindrops equals a torrent. Let’s see what tomorrow brings. Have a great day, Kuwait.
Driver – and His Father – Obstruct Police
Don’t you wonder what happens next? Do they ever find out who the people are who are blocking them? I can see the whole thing happening in my mind – blocking the police!!
Driver arrested after obstructing onـduty police
Staff Writer Al Watan
KUWAIT: While police were organizing traffic at the second crossـsection in Jahra, they spotted two juveniles joyـriding nearby. They reported the incident to another police patrol which went to investigate the case. The two cars, upon being flagged down by the police patrol, immediately drove off and a police chase ensued.
The police patrol initially found it difficult to corner them due to wedding party, but as they were closing in a car of a German make impeded them.
Police repeatedly instructed him to clear from the route but the driver persistently blocked them. The officers approached the man to investigate the matter, but he refused to cooperate. Police asked for his identification, but the driver and the passenger, who was the driver”s father, refused to present identification. The two were arrested in place of the joyـriders and taken into police custody.
Record Traffic Violations Recorded
Cameras capture record traffic violations
Staff Writer – From today’s Al Watan
Wooo HOOOO! Cameras are impartial; they catch the violators, no matter who. I love it.
KUWAIT: The relocation of radar cameras on major roads has led to a sharp increase in the number of violations registered during an entire month. According to security sources; they reported that around 2,000 cars have been photographed by the relocated cameras during last January as compared to 900 cars prior to the relocation.
Earlier on, the Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs Major General Mahmoud AlـDousari had recommended the relocation of the radar cameras, particularly since motorists had become too familiar with the previous locations. Drivers who have been involved in violations have been contacted through official channels to either pay their fines or get referred to the concerned authorities. It has been gathered that fines have been already collected from 400 errant motorists.
Last updated on Friday 27/3/2009
Here is an extra one for you, General Al-Dousari, one of those special kind of people who travel in the emergency lane while the rest of us obey the rules and crawl along the freeway. I could not resist this particular photo – with the sign right there.

PS – We were not moving. I wasn’t driving when I took the photo. 🙂
Kuwait imposes fee on public toilets?
LOL – there are public toilets in Kuwait? Where? Women always memorize which buildings have public restrooms, but aren’t those owned by the buildings? And holy smokes, what do we do if we don’t have small change left after all our shopping??? Men are more . . . umm. . . err. . . flexible, but women need privacy, i.e. restrooms!
TRAIN your cleaners! Give them proper supplies! Hold their supervisors responsible for their inspection and maintenance of standards! This is called ACCOUNTABILITY.
Charging for use of public restrooms will impose, at the very least, inconvenience for women, and most likely, embarrassment for those who don’t have the money, at the very worst times, like when you have seven children with you and three of them need to use the toilets. Charging fees for usage? Bad idea.
Municipality to impose fees on public toilets
Staff Writer From this morning’s Al Watan
KUWAIT: Kuwait is seriously mulling over the notion of imposing nominal fees for using public toilets.
Mohammad AlـAmri, the Convener of the Cleansing Committee at Kuwait Municipality, stated that the fee is aimed at providing better sanitary services along the lines that are implemented in certain neighboring countries. The official also noted that the current cleaning contracts are scheduled to expire in November 2010.
In a related development, the outgoing Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of Public Works Dr Fadhil Safar disclosed that Kuwait Municipality is currently working on a proposal to implement a new mechanism in keeping track with the performance of cleaning companies to ensure that the garbage is disposed off at the assigned dumpsites. He added that the system has been already implemented in the Kuwait City Governorate and is expected to be applied in all other governorates soon.
Last updated on Thursday 26/3/2009
First Kuwaiti Policewomen Graduate
Wooo HOOO on you, Kuwaiti policewomen! It is always hard to be in the vanguard, you take the criticisms, you take the disbelieving stares, and you handle questions, even from your own families. It’s always tough to be out front – to be a leader.

First group of policewomen graduate
From today’s Al Watan
KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Sheikh Sabah AlـAhmad AlـSabah has attended on Wednesday the graduation ceremony of the 35th batch of military cadets, the 20th batch of specialized officers and the first batch of female cadets at the Support Authority Institute of the Saad AlـAbdullah Academy for Security Sciences.
The ceremony witnessed the graduation of the first batch of policewomen in the country. His Highness the Amir who arrived at the academy at 10:30 a.m. was warmly received by the Minister of Interior Lieutenant General Sheikh Jaber AlـKhalid AlـSabah, as well as other senior police officers.
The ceremony was also attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf AlـAhmad AlـSabah, Vice President of the National Guards Corps Sheikh Mishaal
AlـAhmad AlـSabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlـMohammed AlـSabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Sheikh Jaber AlـMubarak AlـSabah, as well as other members of the ruling family, senior statesmen and members of the families of the graduating cadets.
Representatives of the 35th batch of military cadets then handed over the national flag to the representatives of the 36th batch. The Assistant Director General of the Academy for Education and Training Affairs Brigadier Dr. Waleed Khalaf BinـSalama read the ministerial decrees before inducting the new male and female police officers into the police force.
His Highness the Amir handed the graduates awards and certificates in appreciation for their efforts and then received the shield of the academy, that is dedicated to him, from Major General Yousef Mubarak AlـMedhahka. ـKUNA
Last updated on Thursday 26/3/2009
Sunrise March 26, 2009
It is a glorious sunrise. There are just enough clouds to radiate and reflect the glory of the rising sun, the haze has retreated, at least temporarily. Looking closer, however, you can see a totally separate layer of brownish yellow, and in this photo, it is even higher, above the rising sun. As I watched the layer, it morphed from a whale’s tale, to an elephant spouting water, to a scorpion tale, rising out of the rising sun.

It looks like we can breathe more safely today, Kuwait, as we get ready for the weekend. Yesterday, I couldn’t keep my eye make up on – I didn’t even know it but I was rubbing it off as I rubbed my irritated eyes. Let’s hope today is a better day.
We’re having a little cold spell – temperatures will be a little lower today. For all my friends in Germany, in Seattle, New York and other assorted – and cold – places, that was a little joke. We have had temperatures up in the 80’s and 90’s.

Perfect weather for fishing. I want this boat:

Al Kout Festival
Wooo HOOOO! An event we know about BEFORE it happens!
March 31 and April 1, 11am -7pm. American University of Kuwait, Salmiya Campus
The Arabian Heritage Project is proud to present “Al-Kout Festival”
(Old Kuwait Festival) an event being held to celebrate the grand opening of the
Arabian Heritage Project, a research, archival, and outreach center dedicated to
promoting and fostering the heritage of the Peninsula and related cultures.
Two days of celebration from 11 am till 7 pm at the American University Of
Kuwait campus in Salmiya. The event will include National Museum Exhibits, live
performances by Kuwaiti traditional bands (Bin Hussein and Mayouf), Sawt
musicians, Bedouin poetry, Kuwaiti History Game Show, distinguished live
Craftsmen, a Bazaar, old Kuwaiti cars, refreshments; basically a chance to
experience authentic Kuwaiti Tradition and Culture at its best.
The Festival opens at 11am, performances (Kuwaiti Sawt musicians, poetry,
Kuwaiti music piano recital, etc.) begin at noon. Sea bands begin at 5pm each
day.
Please note, parking is limited. Carpooling is advised.
Light Haze My Foot!

The sun is a mere light dot in the sky, small, impotent, far away and struggling to break through the “light haze.” The “light haze” is so think that I can only see a couple hundred meters off the shore, and my head is thick and it is harder to breathe this morning. I have a very bad feeling about this “light haze.”

