Two running jokes

There are three running jokes in my office; first, there we make constant reference to me not doing anything. When I walk out the door to lunch, I'm always asking someone to hold all my calls. I've beaten that one to death on this blog so I won't cover it here.

The second joke is one that still gets me. It may not translate well to those who haven't traveled much, but it goes like this. Around the base there are tons and tons of rocks. There are countless large boulders all over the place. I can't tell you what they are for (if you've ever been to a government building, you might be able to figure out what they are for), but they are everywhere. Well, someone is selling the Air Force rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. Essentially something that was of no value all of a sudden became valuable. The joke goes like this and is best told with a Middle Eastern accent: 'Muhammad, the Americans are here'.

'The American's?' Muhammad replies.

'Yes, and they want to buy rocks.' Al Bin Ali states.

'Rocks??? They don't want our priceless rugs or hand made jewelery?' Muhammad Questions.

'No, they want rocks. Many, Many rocks.' Ali Bin Ali answers.

'Rocks?' Muhammad asks again.

'Rocks'. Ali bin Ali replies. 'Rocks'.

Muhammad begins to dance around the room, clapping his hands thanking Ala for this glorious day.

The scene moves to Muhhamad and Ali talking to Ameircans.

'Please come in, we have many rocks. Very nice rocks, polished with no bugs.' Muhhamad says to the Americans. 'See, no polished, no rocks'.

It probably doesn't translate well, but if you've ever been to a developing countries market, it's something like that.

The second joke is much easier and translates very simply. Not one they guy's use in mixed company, but I'll share it anyways.

On the door of hangar two, on the way to the flight line, where you'd board a plane to leave Al Udeid, there is some graffiti that reads: 'Poof! You are ugly again'.