Lizard Hunting

"If we ever colonize mars it will look a lot like this place". This is largly due to the rocks, which are a martian-like rusty red color. However, I discovered that these very same rocks, when you break them open, are a brilliant white on the inside. Strange.

I made this discovery yesterday when I went with my camera on a lizard hunting expedition. I found two different types of lizard. Both small. Very cute. Their technique for not being eaten by me was to stand very still so I couldn't see them. Despite their efforts I could see them. I didn't eat them, but I got some real good close ups from as near as 6 inches.



Unfortunately I didn't see any of the two foot long "thub" or "dabb" (two transliterations of the same arabic word) lizards that I've heard talked about. I posted some excellent pictures from yesterday of both the lizards and the rocks.

I think yesterday's photos were some of the best I've ever taken, so check them out.

Click Here for Photos

Jackass2 Inpired Reflections on Arabic Identity

Last night we watched the movie Jackass 2 in the bar skid. Perhaps you've seen it? If not, its made by a bunch of delinquents from West Chester, PA. They are drunk and high and they perform a variety of stunts that are stupid, painful and/or gross. And today they are millionairs.

I watched this with a bunch of the bar regulars. Keith the british Mechanic, Mark the British/Saudi Instrument Tech, Hamish a QC from New "Zed", Steve the Aussie Project Manager, and Aaron the ex-Utah Mormon Health and Safety guy. Mah'moud the Omani guy with camels I spoke of before was also in the bar that night.

We watched the scene where one of the guys dressed up (really convincingly) as an old man in running shorts who didn't realize his very saggy balls were hanging out the back. We watched the scene where two guys trap four of their friends in a car and then pour a hive of bees through the sunroof. Then we watched the scene where a couple guys pretend to be terrorists.

I started feeling bad when the "terrorist"'s white robe was an exact replica of Mah'moud's, and so was the head wrapping - the same red checkered pattern even. It got worse when the "terrorist" started saying stupid things in a goofy fake arabic accent, and then strapped a belt of fake bombs to his waist, and then asked his cab driver how big his wife's boobs were, etc...

The thing, is I know that image of an arabic terrorist. It comes from seeing Osama bin Laden on the news, angry Iraqis burning American flags, and guys here with long religious beards who because I'm female, won't aknowledge me or fix my air conditioner without being yelled at. It's frightening, its angering, and that's why it makes me laugh when all the seriousness has been taken away.

But last night, I imagined the very different image Mah'moud might have of an arabic man. That is the image of him, his friends, his brothers, his dad. I imagined nice gentle people who laugh a lot and love camels. Mah-moud's got a good deal of pride about his heritage. I've heard comments about how he really makes an effort to be a part of Bedouin life, which is tough when you're also employed by a multinational geophysical corporation.

It turns out he had seen the movie before, so I didn't have to feel that bad.

But the morals of the story are:
A) I still like Jackass, and I love that shit like Jackass exists in the US.
B) I am impressed by the new image of an Arabic man I have.

Camels: On Napkins and Taking Dust Baths

Last night I had a very good night at the bar.

I sampled some Omani tobacco from an Omani pipe. The pipe was very skinny and long, with only a tiny cup for the tobacco. The tobacco itself came out what looked looked like an eyedrop bottle, and it was strong. I got one hell of a buzz from just one puff. The guy who shared his tobacco is Mah-moud, and he's very Omani. He speaks broken english. He has traditional dress, a beard, and a turban....and...fifteen camels!! In fact, as his cellphone background, he has a picture of one of his baby camels that was born the day before yesterday. Although his home is 6 hours north of here, he has connections with the local Bedou and said he could get me a sample of camel milk. According to him, the milk is very "strong" for the first few days after the baby camel is born, but after that its good. Also, he taught me the words for camel and goat with the help of a bar napkin.

In other news, I saw a camel taking a dust bath yesterday! I didn't think there was anything a camel could do to resemble a chicken, but it seems I was wrong. Here's a blurb I wrote to Matt about it.

Imagine a huge animal with gangly legs. It never moves much, and when it does it is slow, deliberate, and almost dignified.

Now imagine this animal laying on the ground on its side, with all 4 of it's 6 foot by 3 inch legs jerking franticly in the air. Then imagine it's neck, which is as long as the rest of its entire body. Imagine that neck convulsing in seemingly independant motion of its body. Imagine dust flying everywhere.

And around it are five other camels, one sitting, four standing, three staring at me, one staring at a bush, another at the trashcan who's contents it just ate. None of them are moving, they almost look dignified, and they all seem completely oblivious to the 6th as it continues its epileptic fit on the ground.

A More Interpretive Take on this Job

READ IT HERE ---> Just Another Day In Quality Control

"The first thing I became aware of was the bleeping of my alarm. As I reached over to turn it off, my hand fumbled on the items scattered over the small desk, causing them to fall on the floor. The clattering gave me a false sense of urgency to turn off the alarm, that was when full conciseness kicked in and I realised where I was…Fuck, the world didn’t end last night."

"I felt like a prisoner waiting for the parol board to approve an early exit, only to be kept in jail by an eleventh hour decision. But there was no time to reflect on this defeat, we had to try something else, the data, and the hopes of nearly 250 men form 13 countries were at stake."

"I vaguely remembered the hang over I had this morning and the promise I had made myself, I opened the fridge and got a beer. As I finished it a second one appeared in front of me. I started to drink it an thought, you had to do something to forget."

This was written by my colleague Andrew to whom I also owe credit for the current title of this blog.

Thanks Andrew.