Fetch This

I Wrote You A Song I Couldn't Play
Originally uploaded by *A*L*I*

My brother and I have been 'jamming" together in the past couple of weeks. Sometimes I'd come back home and find him playing he guitar, I'd pick the acoustic and we'd start messing about. We've come up with 3 or 4 different tunes that might have potential. We'll have to develop them. I'm finding that I'm not doing horribally bad on the acoustic. The electric, well, I'm leaving that to my bro, he seems to be doing a pretty good job at it!

It's taking me back to those years when as a teenager my cousin and I tried to "form a band" and make "like, cool, rock music!"... I've always struggled with a guitar because of my broken finger. But as long as I don't try any fancy guitar work, I'm fine!

We call ourselves Fetch.*

Oh and I finally finished writing the short story "Fragile Beings" - wohoo!


*I'll explain about the name one day, I promise.

Bahrain Under Water

When I was a little boy, I would laugh at our elderly who kept going on and on about how Bahrain will be cursed and will sink under water one day! Back then, it seemed such an absurd thought.

Do you believe in global warming? Some people do, many don't. Or at least, many choose to ignore the facts and the signs. Because it's the easier choice. Who can blame them? But it is a reality. And if science and facts are what we go by, then our beloved Kingdom of Bahrain should be under water by the year 2100 or maybe even sooner!


And yes, you've guessed it, I've just seen An Inconvenient Truth. The documentary film on global warming by the former next president of the US of A, Al Gore. Seeing it, will put you in stark precept ion of the reality of global warming and it's effects on our planet and, ultimately, us.

The facts are scary. The figures staggering. And even if a only small percentage of these calculated predictions become true, we are gonna be in deep shit. Hell, we already are. Anyone who dismiss it as a serious threat is delusional.

If you've not seen the film, I recommend that you do and make up your own mind about it.

Tough!

I was about to write an upbeat kind of post when I got the call this morning.

I didn't make it to the Iowa International Writer Program. After a couple of months of anxious waiting, they finally got back to me telling me that my application - even though was strong - wasn't selected because this year the competition was very tough. Figures. My luck aye! Well, at least that's kind of the end of that. Because since I applied, (and I so badly wanted to go) I got three job offers. So it looks like going back to a teady job for me, after almost 3 years since the last job I had. Damn, has it been that long!?

Anyway, I'm gutted, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. My hope was that I will be able to use that 3-month program to complete my two novels in progress. But I won't let that get in the way. I shall and I will complete at least one novel over the summer.

Oh, and apparently I'm supposed to go to Saudi tomorrow for an event at this exciting new coffee house called Otacuschéz. An evening-with-the-author type of thing which is part of the three-day grand opening.

I've been listening to Rufus Wainwrights "Going To A Town" - a most hauntingly, heart-breakingly beautiful song!


Going To A Town lyrics

What Do We Want?!

What do I want from life? What do you want from life? What does anyone want from life?

Beats me. That kind of changes every so often doesn’t it? Well, perhaps the essence of it doesn’t. How often we get asked that question? How often do we ask it ourselves? We always think we know the answer. It’s somewhere tucked away at the back of our heads. Surely, we DO know what we want! We must, mustn’t we? Otherwise the world is callous and preposterous.

I want…

I want to love
I want to live
I want to dream
I want to fly
I want to become
I want to be complete
I want to smile
I want to be happy
I want to be loved
I want to have lots of sex
I want to trek the Himalayas
I want to wake up every morning and not feel that there is something missing, that there is an emptiness, that, next to me, ahead of me, behind me, there is no more than what I see
I want to take pictures, write books, make movies

I want to
I want…
I…

Live In A Hiding Place

I'm in a lousy fucking mood right now. I don't know why. I just can't seem to shake it off. And the harder I try, the worse it gets. And I wish I could explain that. Make sense of it. It's just not right. The thing is, things have been good. Actually things have been very good. Past few days and weeks were quite pleasant. I'm enjoying the work. Keeping busy. Meeting peopl. And I think I'm in love!

So what does being in a shitty mood mean?

I've been thinking. I think it's down to the situation I'm heading in right now. I seem to fall into such state everytime I have to make a big decision. It effects me. But it's just one day, isnt it? Tomorrow I'll be fine again. I'm sure. Hell, I wrote a few paragraphs last night! HA! I WROTE. I've not written in weeks. And I'm close to finishing this short story (working title "Fragile Beings") months ago.

But right now I just want to go back in time to two hours ago, and make things better.

If you're reading this, I'm sorry.

All I could think of is these lyrics from one of my favorite Idlewild songs "Live in a Hiding Place"

There are times that I should try,
To be so much more alive
But if time was right then I would be with you again
Or do you worry that I try to avoid the point
And then deny
The time I spent deciding it was you again

It's when I live in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I'm safe in a hiding place
(That's not hidden now)
I'm safe in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I'm safe in a hiding place

Blush

Go on
Blush for me
One more time
For your eyes
They sparkle when you do
And they look away
With longing

Go on
Hold my hand
And sit back
For the warmth of you
Travels through me
Like air
Through my lungs

Go on
Smile for me
Another smile
Electrify me,
Shock me
Into kissing you

Make me sing your name
In the depths of the night
Watch the stars
Sparkle in the sky
Like your eyes do
When you blush

Icky Thump is Yummy!

Jack White must be the son of the devil for coming up with riff like this! He's got the PICK OF DESTINY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The song features what must be one of the most "bitting" lyrics you'll hear this year when Jack sings: "Well, Americans: What, nothin' better to do? Why don't you kick yourself out? You're an immigrant too." Ha!

Witness the glorious return of The White Stripes

Words Fail Me

Abbrev.
Originally uploaded by *A*L*I*

This book is truly a fine little gem!

I picked it up randomly at the Jashnmal bookstore in A'ali Complex and quickly browsed and immediatly realized I had to have it. So later on I managed to get myself a copy from the new store in Seef.

It's a fascinating, smart and hilarious book that plays on words, their meanings, contradictions and how they be manipulated and how they can manipulate you!

I found myself shaking my head and laughing as I read it. Now, I can't look at words the same way! Makes you wonder why you've not noticed it before, or looked at it that way!

The book is also presented in a very visually stimulating way. It's minimal, straightforward, sweet and, again, hilarious!

Words Fail Me is by Teresa Monachino who says she made the book because of her mother's uncertain grasp of the English language (she's Italian!).

Go get it if you have the chance.

When You Find Two Gallants

Is it just me, or the weather in Bahrain is acting funny!? We had a cold winter, and now five days into June, and the heat is still tolerable. In fact, I was walking to work this morning (from where I parked the car) and there was a breeze. Last night, it was dry and pleasant. Of what I remember of past summers, the insnace heat hits us by mid-May! And now, there is talk of a hurricane coming our way, which is already causing thousands of people in Oman to evacuate! (http://gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=184115&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=30077)

Anyway, work on the short film project I told you about previously is slowly progressing. We have now found the actors to play the two main (and only) roles. We are planning on a 2 to 3 days shoot at the end of the month. There might be slight changes in the script as we meet with the crew and cast next week.

And, on a random note, my new favorite band is...

TWO GALLANTS