Today, November the 18th, marks two very special celebrations.

First is my mother’s birthday. She is in the Philippines right now.

Given my current situation here in Oman, I still could not afford to get her an obscenely expensive gift for the occasion. Hee hee. Even so:

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!

Your posse here in Oman extends its love, hugs, kisses, good wishes, prayers and virtual gifts such as cards, roses, gourmet steak dinners and melt-in-your-mouth cheesecakes.

The second event is that it is Oman National Day, which is celebrated in congruence with the birthday of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Today, His Majesty the Sultan turns 67. It is the 37th National Day of the Sultanate, marking the same number of years of His Majesty’s benevolent rule, which brought renaissance and great development to Oman.

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty. May you be blessed with good health and a prosperous reign this year and all the years to come.

And, of course, Happy National Day to the people of Oman!

Wow. There is something to be said about people born on November the 18th – rulers all!

As most of you may probably already know, I have been in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman since October 2nd this year. My primary reason is, understandably, to seek my fortune.

I have not been actively online since then and for some time before that, but I have been lurking here and there and religiously checking my e-mail.

Now that I am more settled physically, psychologically and emotionally, my blogging may most likely take on a more active turn.

I am proud to plug my first Oman-based blogroll link and Twitter friend, Kishor Cariappa. He blogs on everything Oman, in a nutshell.