today is election day.

i totally forgot today is election day. whoops. here i am, all gung-ho about the oman elections when i forget the elections for my state senate. le sigh. i am a bad example of american democracy. :oP

in other oman news: today, the sultan addressed the opening session of the council of oman (comprised of the majlis al-shura and al-dawla). his speech was allll over the radio and traffic was halted for a good while as we waited for his motorcade to pass by. according to ihsan, the sultan often travels around muscat (sometimes alone, chilling out in the 4 wheel drive) and when he does that - nobody really knows when - all the main roads are closed just for him. i've heard of stories where traffic was stopped for 5 hours just so his majesty can pass. he's an important man, that qaboos.

anyway, they broadcast his speech on the radio (a state of the union, of sorts) and for the first time, i heard his majesty speak. i would be lying if i didn't say my heart fluttered just a little bit. he sounded so ... regal ... and just wow. just from the sound of his voice, i can tell he has a commanding presence (his stature doesn't seem to majestic ... but he carries himself very regally and nobly and i haven't seen a bad picture of the man, to date). i just have to see the man in person and one of my life goals will be complete.

in other news, the first omani feature film, al boum premiered at the 10th? annual arab film festival in DC, sponsored by none other than the sultan qaboos cultural center. yay! now i just have to see the film for myself.

i complete my move-in today. al-hamdulillah. that is, if my furniture (bed, futon, dining table and chairs) come on time ... they say between 2 and 7 pm ... craziness. watch them come at 8pm.