Sister Soljah

2005-02-17T22:40:00.000-06:00

My new blog

New blog address is Wayfarer's Journey

See ya there!

2005-02-17T14:15:00.000-06:00

Muharram so far...

New York was great. It was great meeting two sisters that i have been talking to online and over the phone for quite a while. That was a meeting a long time coming and glad it finally came. The Khoei Center rocked. I can't believe how big it is and the school and everything. There were so many people there too. The lecture was okay. The English one was pretty elementary...the whole retelling of Karbala which i've heard so many times but it was still good. The smell of haleem filled the streets for blocks.

The Ashura procession was interesting. They had it early for city code reasons. The whole street was filled with people in the middle of Manhattan. A bunch of guys were doing matam. Very hard too. I hadn't seen men doing it before except maybe on tv before i converted....long before i understood it. I haven't done as much as i did last Muharram as far as study and lectures but at least i have a good excuse. There is just so much going on right now for us here. The procession was good and the food (of course). I thought I didn't want any but then i ate most of my husbands plate. Oops. The lectures were excellent. I had heard of Masooma Hydairy and I finally got to hear one of her lectures. Over all it was a most excellent weekend. Traffic was not fun though. Trying to leave NY for NJ took about fifteen minutes per block...it could have had something to do with the Chinese New Year as Chinatown was filled with celebratory papery.

Haven't made it to the mosque here yet but we do plan on going.

2005-02-08T11:53:00.000-06:00

Stuff

So I have a new favorite show. It's been a while since something on tv excited me but i am hooked on Super Nanny. It's so awesome. Call it training in advance. I love this show!

Still househunting and we have found a dream house - perfection as far as homes go. The most peaceful home i've ever seen...

Caught up on a few blogs lately...haven't been online nearly as much as i did pre-marriage. I was glad to see My War is now out of the army and i think working on a book. I'll read that one. It's the only soldiers blog that i really liked...

Reviewing a few books right now and trying to get a lot done. I can't believe i'm saying this either but I cannot wait until summer is here. Humidity shumidity...i don't care...just take away this cold!

Looking forward to Muharram and all the lectures. One of the mosques here is having an english and urdu program - two separate buildings of the mosque so that should be cool. The guy that's doing the english lectures is a khoja from Orlando. Looking forward to a spiritual month filled with more learning. Last year i had barely converted although i did learn a lot during the month, I think this year will be even better. I just may try to make a friend or two since there will be other english speaking people at the mosque for this.

I'm also looking forward to going to the Khoei Center for a few days of Muharram and meeting a very good friend for the first time. Can't wait to buy some books at the Khoei bookstore too. All in all, Muharram is going to be very fulfilling. It's going to be hard not to celebrate anything during the month as i have so much to celebrate and be thankful for.

2005-02-07T13:21:00.000-06:00

You speak eloquently and have seemingly read every
book ever published. You are a fountain of
endless (sometimes useless) knowledge, and
never fail to impress at a party.
What people love: You can answer almost any
question people ask, and have thus been
nicknamed Jeeves.
What people hate: You constantly correct their
grammar and insult their paperbacks.

What Kind of Elitist Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Compliments of Zack

2005-02-02T17:34:00.000-06:00

Beauty

What is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?

2005-01-31T09:07:00.000-06:00

My struggle

Sometimes i get so frustrated within the islamic community. I can't seem to find a niche or group of people that i have a lot in common with. Either they are too modern and not religious enough or they are too religious and not modern enough. I have tried but I seriously have a hard time making friends with Muslims. I've joined email groups in an effort to find some but for the most part, I have nothing in common with most of them. When i converted to Islam, my goal was to be as close to Allah as possible and to find the heart in religion. Most of the people i know can spew out rules and rulings and hadith and all of this is important but what happened to their soul? What about seeking nearness to Him. That is my goal. This weekend I was basically told that playing soccer, hiking, etc is not for "seriously practicing Muslimah's". It bothered me a lot that someone would make a blanket statement like that and in such an arrogant manner as though know exactly what Allah wants and doesn't want. It's been this way since i converted. Women i meet always telling me what i should or shouldn't be doing. My biggest struggle is with total submission to God. That is what i am seeking. That must come first in my heart i feel. I get so sick of this stuff though. I know much of it is an effort to help, but what it does is push me away and make me feel even more alone and gives me the feeling that i will never have a group of Muslimah's to hang out with. I look at the men in the deen and how much fun they have with their friends. Why can't it be that way with us women?

Okay, now that this is off my chest, good news of the weekend. We found the perfect house for us and get this! A little lake is our backyard. It's just perfect, peaceful, and perfect for us. I hope we can get it.

2005-01-30T09:52:00.000-06:00

Help this sister out

This sister is going through a serious struggle with a bone marrow transplant. The community still hasn't been able to earn the $20,000 needed for it...if you can donate a few bucks, it could save a life. I know people who know the sister personally - it is not a scam. Here is a her blog expressing what she is going through. Do help if you are able.

2005-01-30T09:47:00.000-06:00

Anatomy of a Bollywood Film. Funny post by Ali....

This is so right on....but i still love watching them for some brainless entertainment.

2005-01-27T13:12:00.000-06:00

Convertitus

We've all met some of these people...pretty funny article on the topic.

Intro to article:

What is Convertitis?

Convertitis is a highly contagious disease, which spreads rapidly among converts to Islam, particularly those who are experiencing great amounts of confusion, but who don't think they are. (Also commonly known as The Case of the Insta-Scholar)

The Case of the Insta-Scholar

Jane took her shahada last week. She was a "regular American" who studied a little about Islam, hemmed and hawed over the dress and dietary codes, decided it was the Truth, and accepted it into her life. Many sisters in the community looked forward to helping Jane learn the basics of Islam, such as the salat, the five pillars, the six articles of faith, and so on.

Now, this week, we see that Jane has changed her name to "Ai'sha," is wearing full niqaab [black only], buying everything (even potato chips-- which she may stop buying as it is "imitation of the kufar") from the halal market, getting into interfaith debates at her job, telling the other sisters what they "ought to be doing," and what they are "doing wrong," and considering accepting a marriage proposal to be a co-wife.

Read the whole article, Convertitis, or the Case of the Insta-Scholar, here

Know any infected people that have this or were you one? Share the stories. :-) I'll share my story after...

2005-01-25T09:50:00.000-06:00

Take this survey

It's just a short survey. Guys do it too! We are curious to see how many guys help around the house. If possible, have wife and husband both and do it separately...

Man of the House

So i finally found away to get work done. I must leave the house with the laptop and not return until work is done. I wrote one very long article (3,000 words) and my shahada story too along with much research and some other projects. I'm so glad i finally figured it out. Working at home is just too distracting.

2005-01-24T09:32:00.000-06:00

I can't even believe this!

This is what i'm ranting about this week. Christians turning people away from aid since they aren't Christian. That's real Christian behavior. Sheesh. Unbelievable. That's what i hate about evangelical Christians. Extremists in the worst way. Don't get me wrong...i don't like the Muslim extremists either. Extremists in anything are just plain bad. Like the prophet (pbuh) said the middle path is the right path. I just can't believe they would do this. It shouldn't shock me since they did the same thing in India so many years ago. Missionaries always have gone after the poor and only offering them food for conversion. It happened with the Indians, with South America, with India and so many others. It just turns my stomach. When trying to decide an organization to give tsunami aid, we didn't look for a Muslim organization because we just wanted the company that had the least administration costs so most the money would go to the people...any of them...hindu, christian, jew, athiest. I just can't believe people act this way in the name of God. Don't they know anything?

Some links:

Villagers furious with Christian Missionaries

Group to raise 'tsunami orphans' as Christians

Religious aid groups try to convert victims

There are so many more stories...Falwell is one of the worst doing these conversions. It's just sick to me....

2005-01-24T08:42:00.000-06:00

Jury Summons

I can't believe it. I've been summoned for jury duty. Ugh. Why would they want me. I'm looking forward to it in a way but in another way i'm dreading it. I think they'll let me go though and i won't actually have to be there for it. I don't like being a judge of fellow mankind.

Weekend was fun. Had a good time at an Eid dinner at Procrastinations (Zack's house)...great food, great people, great times. And their daughter is just a little bundle of laughter and love. Mash'Allah.

Not much else going on. Haven't been feeling so hot and have lots of writing to do but alas, once again i'm procrastinating.

2005-01-21T11:17:00.000-06:00

Azizah

Help support Muslim businesses and publications. Subscribe to Azizah. A great magazine for Muslim women...and yours truly does write for them. :-)

2005-01-18T18:45:00.000-06:00

This is one good thing about the states. While Europe is trying to outlaw the scarf and islam in general, the US does do some good stuff for us. Whether or not you are hijabed or unhijabed, this is a good thing in my opinion.

Tennessee school alters dress code to allow Muslim headscarf

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (AP) -- A public high school changed its dress code to allow religious headscarves after a national civil rights group for Muslims complained to the principal on behalf of a student.

A spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Emily Smith, 18, a senior at Chattanooga's East Ridge High School, wore her headscarf, or hijab, on campus for the first time Thursday.

Smith said that although friends and a few teachers offered congratulations, "I wanted to keep it as low-key as possible."

Khadija Athman, civil rights manager for the Washington, D.C.-based council, said the group sent the school principal a letter January 6, three days after the student e-mailed the council asking about her rights.

The letter said that as a Muslim, the student is "required to cover her hair in public. Ms. Smith stated that despite numerous efforts to explain to you the importance of the headscarf in her faith, you always found an excuse to hinder her."

The letter said religious headscarves are protected by the Constitution and laws against discrimination in a public school.

Rick Smith, an assistant superintendent for Hamilton County schools, said the school had banned all head wear, but the principal agreed to allow Emily Smith's hijab after attorneys were consulted.

"This particular item was a little different because it is a religious garment," Rick Smith said.

Emily Smith said she first requested permission to wear the headscarf in August.

(article taken from cnn.com)

2005-01-18T18:15:00.000-06:00

Book

Just finished reading A Blonde in the Bazaar. This book was good. It's about a white Christian woman travelling around Pakistan. It's interesting because she went to places that tourists just don't go to. It's out of print for some reason (probably because she puts muslims in a good light), but used copies can be found. I found my used copy on amazon used.

Now I'm reading Namesake. I've got a few articles to do research for and write and a few books to review but I seem to be putting that stuff off lately. Married life has made me lazy in some ways and not so lazy in other ways. Weird.

2005-01-17T08:20:00.000-06:00

Cold

Just got back from Toronto spending the week with my inlaws and my oh my was it cold. Got back here and it's an abnormal 33 degrees as well. I thought i'd come home to warmer weather. Burrrrr. I love Toronto though...it's such a great diverse city. I hope we live there someday. It was great having mom-cooked food for the week too. :-) I'm so glad we saw them before they head off to the motherland for a few months.

I learned how to make some new dishes too like dos piaza...one of my favorite meals. We finally got our wedding pictures and loved seeing them. Overall, an excellent trip.

I have so much work ahead of me the next few weeks but seeing family was great before the rush of work. I love being called chachi jann now. Especially in that excited fast tone. Okay I'm off to write one article and am not leaving my computer until i have. Peace, love, and hair grease!

2005-01-11T09:37:00.000-06:00

A Quote

"Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the airplane, the pessimist the parachute." - George Bernard Shaw

2005-01-10T16:22:00.000-06:00

To job or not to job...

that is the question. Should i take a job where i actually have to leave the house? I like my freelance home jobs and am not at all sure about driving in rush hour, going to an office building, and working for someone. Call me spoiled but it doesn't sounds inviting.

The pros are:

- I could say I was the editor of a magazine...that sounds pretty darn good for the resume.
- It's extra cash...that's never a bad thing.

The cons:

- I'd have to file taxes for 2005 which if i don't take the job, i won't have to.
- Atlanta traffic...it is hell. Seriously. The driving abilities of southerners is dangerously bad.
- Working in an office...yuck.
- Working for a live person who tells me what to do, what i'm doing right/wrong, etc.
- Having to dress up for work.

I have grown lazy in my freelance days haven't I?

I would on the other hand, work at the mosque's new school five days a week, ten hours a day, for free...so i can't be that lazy, or am i?

2005-01-08T09:17:00.000-06:00

Have a great weekend! I'm househunting. Wooo hooOOOOOO.

2005-01-07T07:45:00.000-06:00

Previous post

Sorry if the previous post offended anyone. I guess I figure everyone knows I am Shia. It was meant to be funny. Most people when categorizing shias say this stuff to us and we are hated by many muslims. It was merely bringing that to the light in a funny way. Sorry if it offended anyone but I am Shia...i would never have posted it otherwise. I think it would be quite funny if there was a wahhabi category that talked about the length of a beard and high water pants as the sign of a good muslim and i think it would be just as funny...because these stereotypes exist. The Prophet (pbuh) laughed and made jokes and we can too. It's often best to laugh at oneself and not others and that is what I did.

2005-01-06T15:13:00.000-06:00

Labels

Well i'm behind on a kazillion things, so what better thing to do than read some blogs for more distraction. What a week. Gone - just like that. Rainy day just makes me lazier especially after a long meeting that reminded me exactly how far behind i am. Anyhooo...loved this from Sister Scorpion's blog...her test rocked.

You are a SHIA. You are devoted to the Prophet and
the 12 Imams, pray on a clay disk, and may or
may not beat yourself in Muharram. Everyone
hates you, by the way.

What Muslim stereotype are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

2005-01-03T08:58:00.000-06:00

Marriage

With marriage love begins to transform the prose of life into hymns and canticles of praise.

With marriage, aspiration to love throws back its veil and lights up the depths of the heart; it creates a happiness that no other happiness could possibly surpass, except for that of the soul embracing God.

Kahlil Gibran

2005-01-02T13:47:00.000-06:00

Pictures

So I have finally began uploading some of the honeymoon pictures...go to my photoblog (link on the left). And Masooma...the conversion story is coming sometime soon (insh'Allah).

2004-12-29T12:45:00.000-06:00

IPOD Help

Free Ipod Link Here.
This is a 100% legit offer, i know because a friend of mine completed all the steps and received a free ipod. Please help me get my free ipod, and get yrs too. With an ipod you can download the entire Quran or anything else as an mpr file and listen to it wherever you are (at work, in classes, on your commute)

Heres how it works:

1) Click on the link click link here (in order for me to get the credit you need to use this link, please do not go directly to the main website.
2) Chose one of the ipods
3) they will give you a number of free offers-at first click no to all
of them i.e. continue clicking no to every option, till finally
they'll give you a selection of five free offers you have to complete
4) Chose one that can easily be cancelled - and don't do any pop up offers from different places just the freeipod link...
5) Sign up completely for this offer (you will have to give your
credit card Number, but i assure you it will not be charged...just
make sure you cancel one day before the free trail period ends.)
6) Finally you need to do what i am doing: they'll give you a link,
and you need to refer it to 5 people who will also sign up and do the
above...

Once all this is done they'll ship you your free ipod

I know quite a few people who have done this and already gotten their!

So please help me get my ipod and insh'Allah get one for yourself...i would much appreciate it!

2004-12-29T12:41:00.000-06:00

Last night's dinner. Haven't posted one in a while...fish kebabs with corriander chutney and a yummy salad. Pretty basic and darn good!

2004-12-29T12:17:00.000-06:00

Leftover turkey dinner....mmmmmmm

2004-12-28T10:00:00.000-06:00

44,000

That's how many people the tsunami has killed. Let's make dua for them...or go to Sister Scorpions blog and see the links she has set up for donations. That's even better.

2004-12-27T07:42:00.000-06:00

What's a happening...

Man i'm getting bad at blogging. Married life keeps a girl busy. We went to Boston and RI for a long weekend and i absolutely love that city. A friend of mine once said that Paris was built for me and i must agree. LOL. Paris is THE city to me. I love literary places with lots of history. Well Boston's got all that. I loved it. Thanks M for the nice trip. It was also nice to hang out with another paki/gori couple. Fun fun fun. OH, and it was nice to see snow again and then leave it behind. I was the coldest i've ever been...my oh my.

What else? Oh, we went to the Fox Theatre Anniversary party the day after xmas which was just awesome. This theatre has a blue sky that looks like our blue sky with stars and then minarets jutting up and tents and all...it's like an arabian palace. I could have looked at it all day. It was a nice finish to a nice week home. I kick myself for not bringing a camera. I just didn't think it was going to be as awesome at it was. I just stood there in awe. It was cool with the crescent moon and sword theme too. I can't seem to find any pictures online either but here's some though...click next to see the good ones. It's got an interesting history too. I love how it looks like a mosque. Yaa Rabb is cool too but these Shriners drive me crazy with their beautiful mosques while Muslims pray in an building for a mosque that doesn't even look like a mosque. Here's a link with a photo of Ya Rabb Temple.

I made a turkey dinner which was cool...that's the only christmasy thing we did except for wishing my family a merry christmas. I figure i gave up all the other stuff, i could have a nice turkey dinner. My oh my was it good. One of my favorite meals ever...turkey, mashed tatos and gravy, stuffing, cranberry, etc. Such a perfect meal...and now we look forward to turkey sammich's ;-). The best part.

Oh, and i finished Life of Pi... Absolutely loved this book. One of my favorites now. I updated my book list too. I have quite a few books to review over the next few months so some of them are on there too and my personal reading too. I seem to be on a fiction kick lately. Now it's back to work. :-) Hope everyone is well.

2004-12-17T11:32:00.000-06:00

Gori

Okay, Gori is like calling a white female a honkie. It's kind of rude. It can be funny too especially when my husband calls me it teasingly. My dad also calls me it now since i'm the "whitie" in the family which is pretty amusing also. Bollywood loves to use it in a fun sort of way. I sometimes think it's really funny...especially the gori songs and also when people i know call me it. It's almost a sign of affection now. But when it's a stranger, and it's meant to insult, i obviously don't.

My post from a few days ago touched on race and segregation in the Muslim community. This is something that has been bothering me for a while, more so these days. I give up on trying to make friends from the community and lately stick to converts. Unfortunately, i can't find any here.

When i go to the desi store, i get stared at and they look the gori up and down. While shopping once right before the wedding, a lady couldn't believe M was marrying a gori and said so - loudly, leaving M and his sister in shock. And then there's the mosque thing where no one wants to talk to the gori. The list could go on and on.

Here's my thing. What has happened to the Ummah where people feel skin color matters so much? I could care less if someone is green. The green person could very well be the nicest or most pious person in there. That's who I'd want to sit next to and talk to. We need to think about race in a way that brings us closer instead of separating us. Staring at a white person or black person that isn't native to the community is rude. We feel the stares. A salaam would be much more islamic and appreciated...

2004-12-16T21:01:00.000-06:00

Work

So, i have three book reviews to do now. Back to the ole reading for work instead of reading for fun. I want to get one more in before i get back to work though. Also.....i got a few wedding pictures and more are coming! Woo hooOOOOOOO!

Next post...My thoughts on being a gori...

2004-12-15T19:08:00.000-06:00

Good Feeling

There's nothing better for a writer than to see one's byline in print. I don't think it's really an egotistical thing but to some extent, it probably is. But moreover, it's the feeling of contribution. In this world there is a mass of information and most of us go through life unable to contribute a lot. So when we do, seeing something of ours in print and it saying "Written by....." gives a good feeling. That's the feeling I had today. The mailbox with its typical junk mail, magazine, bills, and then bam, something i wrote. It felt good. Also, this weekend at the bookstore, a book that i reviewed was released in softcover so i picked it up just because and looked at the cover. (Artwork often changes from when a reviewer reads it to print time). There on the back I'm quoted. I was like "wow, i'm quoted on a book". It feels an honor for the reviewer to get in a way a good review. That line when i wrote it was one of those lines where it feels right. Often i don't like what i write, but there will be one line that just does it for me. This was the line. And they requoted it on the book. I thought that was cool. It doesn't have my name, just the publication, but i know. :-) The author had actually thanked me for the review too. I wanted to meet her but i was sick with west nile virus (this was last winter). Anyhooo...that's the good feeling I'm having today. Soon, i'm going to explore the used book stores here...thanks for the inspiration to seek a used book store out Sister Scorpion. I miss them and I'm sure there's a great one here hiding out somewhere. :-)

PS. Today i made the best samosa's i've ever made. These were simply divine.

2004-12-15T10:14:00.000-06:00

Totally Useless Stuff to Feed my egotistical desire to talk about myself
Courtesy of Ninhajaba via Sunni Sister

WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR KITCHEN PLATES? White with green, red, and yellow designs around the rim

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Life of Pi, Quran, and Restatement of Islam and Muslims in History

3. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? It's a black gel one

4. FAVOURITE BOARD GAME? Scrabble or Scattegories

5. FAVORITE MAGAZINE? Azizah, Real Simple, O!

6. FAVORITE SMELL? Roses

7. LEAST FAVORITE SMELL? that funky smell after cooking greasy desi food

8. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? It's a new day.

9. FAVORITE COLOR? Blue

10. LEAST FAVORITE COLOR? That nasty avocado green so popular in the 70's

11. HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE? If it is able to ring (often online), depends on which room i'm iin.

12. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? Zahra or Kahlil (nobody take them or else!)

13. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE? Being the best person i can be for the sake of Allah.

14. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA ICE-CREAM? White chocolate with Raspberry swirls (haggen dazz)

15. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST? Yes, very much so.

16. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? LOL....no comment.

17. STORMS - COOL OR SCARY? Both. Love thunder storms but here they are sometimes very scary. Especially if they are with a hurricane.

18. WHAT TYPE WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? Chevy Cavalier

19. IF YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE? My sister, but i'd really like to say Allah. But He's not a person. But any of the prophets would be cool too.

20. FAVORITE DRINK? Spicey Chai or water

21. WHAT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? unimportant. Aug.

22. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI? Not for a while, but Yummmy! With bits of potato in there and califlour. I'm on an okra kick lately though. I have such a good recipe for it.

23. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB WHAT WOULD IT BE? Novelist or screenwriter. I'd like to be a sheikh too. Yeah, don't laugh but i think it would be cool to have a female ran mosque and i'd love to lead prayers.

24. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY COLOR HAIR? I'd just like thick auburn hair. Oh wait, my hair is sort of auburn...lol...so thick hair.

25. IS THE GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? Depends on the day. Today, 3/4 full.

26. FAVORITE MOVIE? Messenger. Amelie. Power of One. Tortilla Soup. I'm sure my real favorite isn't listed but it's too hard to choose sometimes.

27. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS? Yup.

28. THE BEACH OR THE MOUNTAINS? I used to think the beach, but being away from my Rocky Mountains, i realize i prefer the mountains. Although living on a cliff above the beach would be pretty rad (lol...trying to bring back the word).

29. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED? Nothing. Maybe a jinn or two?

31. WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST FEAR? Hell

32. SAY ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU.
She rocks! Hope to meet her one day!

33. FAVORITE CD. Ouch. that one's hard. Um........right now Ragas and Sagas. Music from pakistan. I love qawwali's. I really like the Bend it Like Beckham soundtrack, and i really like Sarah Brightman, Les Nubians, Rachelle Ferrell, jazz, soulful music.

34. FAVORITE TV SHOWS? movies more than tv, but i like TLC shows occassionally.

35. KETCHUP OR MUSTARD? dijonaise

36. HAMBURGERS OR HOT DOGS? Cheeseburger in paradise...halaal of course. I so miss Carls JR. Western Burger though. Not the bacon, but the fried onion ring with a big slab of meet on top of it, bbq sauce, cheese...drooling.

37. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK? Mango lassi that is in the stores in toronto. Pakola is quite good. I also like Fanta a lot.

39. THE BEST PLACES YOU HAVE EVER BEEN? My husbands eyes and then spending the rest of my life standing next to him. Oh okay, there was an awesome trip to Andalucia. I also liked my solo road trip to Glacier National Park. I thought that was heaven...

40. WHAT SCREEN SAVER IS ON YOUR COMPUTER RIGHT NOW? Desert scene.

41. BURGER KING OR MCDONALD'S? Neither. But if i have to choose, veggie burger at BK. But Mcdonalds fries are better. The best though is Varsity.

42. PERSON MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Um, the cool people will. ;-)

2004-12-13T09:55:00.000-06:00

Hamza Yusuf and good people

I've heard this name over and over and finally looked into what he's all about. Cool stuff. Here's a cool story from my honeymoon. We were walking around the Alhambra and lo and behold there was another Muslim couple. We spoke for a bit and they shared their story of travel plans. They were en route from Austrailia (where they live) to Spain and then from Spain they were going on hajj. So cool to meet them during their spiritual journey. Anyhow, the nice sister gave me a Hamza Yusuf tape. What a sweet gesture that was. This guys lectures are good! He's a convert to Islam which is pretty darn cool too. Anyhow, i wish i would have gotten this couples email address so i could thank them. I mean i thanked them then but it would be nice to be in contact with such nice people.

Here is one link and here is another. Quite impressive! There are many and many of his tapes, etc available. He's an inspiration to me as a convert.

I'm surprised I'm saying convert but lately - since Eid - I've been feeling that that's the group i most belong to. In the beginning i entered Islam with that "there is no race in islam" but that was before i met so many born Muslims. I don't mean this is as a slam to anyone but often, we converts become outsiders because of language, ethnic, cultural issues. Eid for me was being surrounded by a ton of people with no one speaking to me. Anyhoo...before i get off on a tangent i'll close. But this Hamza Yusuf guy is pretty darn cool. Salaams.

2004-12-13T07:40:00.000-06:00

Bollywood

Okay, I (taking full responsibility) admit. I love Bollywood. I really like the ABCD movies too but there's nothing like watching Bollywood to make one's head go dead and just laugh for a while. The recent indulgence's have been Kal Ho Naa Ho and Hum Tum. Hum Tum was awesome i thought. The next one is Main Hoon Na. But can i ask...isn't there more than three desi actors/actresses they can use. Sheesh. Anyhow, love them. There's nothing like the moment everyone starts to sing. Anyhoooo...do you watch Bollywood and what's your favorite one?

2004-12-09T07:42:00.000-06:00

Books

I just finished reading Brick Lane, the first Islamic fiction novel I've read and found it wonderful. It's nice reading a book where the characters are Muslim. Can't explain it, but it's just different. I'm also reading A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims which I am finding to be an excellent history of Islam. You can read it online here. I like that it's an unbiased view. In the car I'm listening to The Da Vinci Code. I also just started Life of Pi and find it captivating. I read 50 pages in one sitting. It's that good. I always read one fiction book, one islamic book, and one audiobook at the same time. Probably adult ADD but c'est la vie. What are you reading?

2004-12-07T16:45:00.000-06:00

OMG

How on Earth could i have forgotten to mention how good the coffee was and also the chocolate caliente...all think and syrupy. Sooooo good. We searched for the "con churros" part but never got to try it that way. Next time insh'Allah. I had to mention these two things though. Mmmmm Mmmmm Good! And what they did with my coffee. Oh, it will just never be the same. I thought the French knew how to make a good cup but the Spaniards do it oh so much better. :-)

2004-12-07T07:07:00.000-06:00

Wedding

The whole week was great with meeting and spending time with family. They had four parties for me. Everything was done in the Hyderabad way...

1. Melad (spelling?). First party. It was nice with all the women doing the various things. Tying ribbons on us with charity items. The perfume and stuff. Recitations.

2. Mehndhi - so much fun. I loved the songs the women sung with the drum. And having my hands and feet henna'ed was just awesome. The lady was good. She did most of the women's hands and both my hands and feet. My dad had a good time too and even had a tiny part of his palm henna'ed. Too funny. A lot of people thought he was a Pakistani. A betan (spelling?) from northern Pakistan. He did blend in well. This night was just a blast. And i got the royal treatment. Getting fed etc.

3. Nikka and Nikka party - just awesome. I was so nervous but felt so calm afterwards. The nikka was done at my inlaws house. The sheik that did it was awesome and what's funny is that i read his books on marriage. Too cool. His contract was also the one i used although i didn't know he was doing the nikka. He did a little lecture which was good i think for my Dad (did it in English). I didn't hear everything since i was in the other room with the women but heard most of it. But when he did the dua i felt calm just like one of my friends said i would. All the pent up stress and anxiousness melted away and i just felt happy. The nikka party was great as i got to meet more family and be amongst so many loving and happy family.

4. Walima. Sitting on a platform eating was amusing. Seeing 150 or so people below us made me a bit nervous while eating. lol. It was great though. One of M's family is a famous poet from Pakistan and he wrote us a poem which from the translation i got was just beautiful. He recited it to the group. Pretty cool what he said about me having already been Muslim before marriage. That was a great part of the poem. I can't wait to see his (the authors) translation. I didn't know there was some royalty in the family either. Pretty cool hats they were wearing.

All in all is was great meeting the family (all hundred and fifty of them) and spending time with them. The clothes were awesome too. I was shocked at first. That's a lot of cloth on some of those things and the walima clothes were heavy. I felt like a princess marrying my prince though. The heavy gold and what not. Thank God that night was mostly spent seated. :-) I had fun with the clothes. They arranged them all the Hyderabad way. I like the tikka thing (spelling prob wrong...but the gold ornamental thing hanging on the forehead).

Well that's the cliff notes version...

Honeymoon

It was awesome but be forewarned. If you ever go to Spain and are a Muslim, eating is difficult. How these people came to love pork so much is beyond me. It hangs from the ceilings and little tiny skinned pigs sit in the window. For such a religious area you'd think they'd read the Bible and read that pork is forbidden but alas.... There is even one place called Museo de Jamon. Museum of Ham. It was pretty disgusting. We had a hard time eating because if a place served a lot of pork we wouldn't eat there. Ending up eating a lot of schwarma at semi fast food kebab places. Paella was good too though.

Alhambra and the Mezquita were awesome. The Cathedral was depressing. They took such a beautiful mosque and then just plopped Christian and pagan images all over the place. Not to mention the depictions of Christians beheading Muslims and standing on their heads. Other depictions of making the Muslims convert to Christianity. That Isabell was one evil chick. I was talking to a friend from Spain about this. We were discussing how it's odd that Christians have this stuff up in their churches and are considered the peaceful religion and Muslims don't show any of this stuff and we are the violent religion. They have it on their altars. It's pretty sick that they put it in a house of worship. Freaky really. But anyhow, the palaces were way cool. Alhambra blew my mind. I'll post some pictures soon insh'Allah in my picture blog (link to the left top). The caligraphy was so beautiful. All over written "Allah is the only conqueror". There was one part where the king wanted it to say "X is the only conqueror" and the Muslims slyly put in Allah instead of his name. The Muslim part of the palace was just so beautiful. The gardens too. We had an awesome time there. We look forward to going back one day.

Oh...how could i forget the orange and lemon trees everywhere. We were amazed at the abundance of them. The small cities are like orange groves with buildings. So awesome with fresh squeezed orange juice. The date trees were cool too...fully loaded. So cool.

There's so much more to tell but i'll end here....

2004-12-03T09:19:00.000-06:00

Back

I'm back. Got lots to do so can't do a proper post right now but will say that the last few weeks have been great. The wedding festivities were more than i could ever have asked for. The honeymoon was great and married life is quite wonderful. I will post more soon insh'Allah. Now let me know how you all are. :-)

2004-11-15T09:04:00.000-06:00

Eid Mubarak

Thanks all for your comments and a late Eid Mubarak to the Muslims. Everyone's comments made sense. When i get back I'll refocus the blog...kinda like what Take3 said. I'll keep much the same but I'm going to keep family life and personal events off. I will insh'Allah share my experience or thoughts on the wedding but will again keep it general. Eat Halal's post made me think that i share a little too much. I'm not worried about men and women talking in the comments as long as it is proper talk and it always has been. The only bad thing in there was a certain Muslim hater who i have permantly blocked (probably accidentally blocked some others but it had to be done). Anyhow, discussion between men and women is not forbidden as long as it is halaal in the Shia school of thought...which is the path i have chosen. I have never seen anything that in Qur'an or even hadith that says men and women are to be so divided. The prophet used to hold classes with women. Men and women often prayed together, etc. Yes, there should be a veil of modesty between us and i hope to do that on the future blog...insh'Allah.

I've made a lot of great people on here...even if it's only in the net world. Insh'Allah i will meet some of you. I love keeping in touch with my friends on here too. I've also met a few great friends who i will be meeting insh'Allah in January. It's been good overall and i don't see a reason to stop, but i will also respect the privacy of my soon to be other half so will leave home life and day to day life private.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Eid Mubarak. Mine was EXCELLENT. Better than i could ever have hoped for...especially the message i came home to. Mash'Allah.

Will write more on my return......

2004-11-11T10:07:00.000-06:00

Blog

I'm rethinking things with my blog. Need a new layout that is for certain. Here's a map showing the countries that I've had visitors from thus far. Thanks to Zack (Procrastination on the side bar) for providing the tool. :-)

(not here anymore)

There's more than are listed. I know because i've talked to few sisters from areas that didn't show up on the list but anyhow, i just listed the ones that did catch. But that's a lot of people with an insight to my little life over here and this is in 9 months.

And here's a recent funny search that landed someone on my blog: "scorpion tattoo worn by terrorists" - hmmm...odd.

Rethinking blogging once again. I read eat halal guy's recent post (see sidebar) and i'm mulling over that. Interested in what you guys think about the post...do comment please. And for those who read my blog regularly but don't comment, I'd like to hear what you have to say too.

I started this blog with one intention. I wanted to show non-Muslims that Muslims are just normal breathing living people too. That we aren't so weird. That Muslims as a group don't condone terrorism...etc...etc. But I don't think many non-Muslims read it. If you do, perhaps you are some of the non commenters but regular visitors, please let me know if it's been a good thing or bad. Or email me (email on top of sidebar on the left).

Anyhow, interested to hear the thoughts of my wonderful readers. I, of course, won't be able to respond for a few weeks as I'm heading to unchartered terrority...marriage and family life insh'Allah. Please do duas for us for a successful and blessed marriage and a happy healthy family. We would be most grateful...

Peace be upon you and early (or late depending on when you are reading this) Eid Mubarak to you all.

2004-11-10T21:45:00.000-06:00

Excited

How cute is this? M's neice who is two and a half years old told her teacher how excited she is for her uncle's wedding. LOL. How sweeeeeet is that? Two years old. Mash'Allah. They have all worked so hard putting everything together for us. He, and now me, are so blessed to have such a wonderful family. Mash'Allah.

2004-11-09T21:35:00.000-06:00

Arabic

I'm taking some Islamic classes online and am feeling dense after week one of "Reading Quran". The Arabic is so hard. Lesson one is splitting vowels and i can't even figure out the letters once they've become modified. Ughhhhh. Just a little whining. My homework is gonna be late...lol saying homework. I have an excuse for not turning it on time though don't I. I'm too old for homework.

2004-11-09T21:15:00.000-06:00

How disturbing is this? Fallujah: A rosary hangs off the barrel of a machinegun mounted on a Bradley belonging to the 1st Cavalry Regiment 5th Battalion positioned on the outskirts of Fallujah.

2004-11-08T09:32:00.000-06:00

Stuff

So...in a week and a half I will be a married woman. It's just crazy. My dad and grandma and mom are all in a little bit of shock really. They've of course been there through the whole process but they know my ways. I have been afraid of marriage for so long and have avoided it for so long that they are shocked that i'm actually going through it this time (long story there). Anyhow, I have found such a wonderful man who will make a wonderful husband (that word is going to take some getting used to...lol) and a wonderful father (insh'Allah). People keep asking if I'm scared and nervous and of course I am a little bit but not about him, but about me. Whether I will be a good mother and stuff. I pray and pray for it. But that is my fear. He's so good that I have nothing to fear there. I realized that I was right to never have married before. Everyone said I was too picky and that i just need to do it, but I'm glad i've waited. And I'm glad I'm Muslim and marrying a Muslim. Had i gotten married earlier I would probably be stuck either wanting to convert or stuck as a confused Catholic (i was always confused in Christianity). M waited it out too. His parents of course have been frustrated too like mine and wanted to see him married with a family...well mash'Allah, we have found each other and our family's like one another and it seems there are no foreseeable kinks. Mash'Allah. We are nervous but not about each other, just about the big day. One and a half weeks away and we'll fulfill half our deen so soon after the blessed month.

Ramadan has been good. Fasting has been way hard on me. I just have such a high metabolism that i've had problems with it but insh'Allah it'll get better each year. I enjoyed all the extra prayers the other night. I feel so many blessings in my life that it sometimes brings tears to my eyes. Mash'Allah.

2004-11-04T11:29:00.000-06:00

Politics and Qur'an Reading

I will no longer watch the news or CNN...not until Shrub is gone. I was so sad yesterday and still am today. I feel like we are doomed here. Iran will be next and then they'll reinstate the draft...they'll need to for Iran. They are trying to fill prophecies and fast. I have much much much more to say on the subject but I'm not going to. I'll think of more positive things...like the Qur'an.

I read a few surah's last night and these ayah really struck me:

Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star, lit from a blessed tree, the olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil grows forth (of itself), though fire did not touch it, light upon light. Allah guides unto His light whomsoever He wills; and Allah sets forth the parables for people. Allah is aware of all things. (24:35)

This has always been a favorite verse as it is for a lot of converts...

Do you not see that all those who are in the heavens and the earth, and the birds with their wings outspread (in their flight) celebrate the glory of Allah? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. Allah knows whatever they do. (24:41)

OMG...i just read it over and over. Last weekend driving outside the city I had seen a hawk or golden eagle...couldn't quite tell but the wingspan was so wide. I just kept looking up at it and seeing it soar above. This image and this verse are forever linked. No wonder i was in awe...the hawk was doing its "prayer" or celebration of Allah.

Last night i read surahs 21-27. I have a few new favorites. The first and last surah of the Qur'an are all time favorites, but Al Muminun (The Believers) and An Nur (The Light) are right up there. It's funny that when you read the Qur'an at different times how it strikes you different. That is the beauty of this miracle...its ephemeral and for all time.

2004-11-03T10:33:00.000-06:00

:-(

2004-11-02T11:34:00.000-06:00

WOO HOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo

I was so happy to see that at 10am there were lines all over my neighborhood with people waiting to vote. There's a ton of voting places within five minutes and they all have long lines. This is awesome...and I live in a very democratic neighborhood. I just can't believe the lines. I'm amazed and feel good that people are at least taking the initiative to change things.

The passions are high on both sides but the most important thing to me is the drive of americans and they are actually caring about the future. They say it's the record registration and i'm sure it's going to be the record turnout for voting as well. This is just good. And if Kerry doesn't win well at least we struggled and fought for it. I just pray that I won't have to hear Bush ever speak again. Oh, what joy that will be. That alone would be a huge change. Perhaps the fear and anamosity that he has created will subside and some normalcy will return. That's my two penny's and hope on the whole voting subject.

Other news... fall is beautiful. These leaves changing colors here is so beautiful. I am missing Colorado today as i hear it snowed but it is pretty here right now. I probably will never see snow again on a regular basis. I won't miss scraping the windshield, but i will miss movies and hot chocolate on snowy days and nights.

2004-11-01T09:59:00.000-06:00

Give George Bush a brain...

Fun game: Give George Bush a brain game

2004-11-01T09:25:00.000-06:00

Voting and Ramadhan update

Voting has me anxious. I can't believe the number of people registered to vote. It's crazy how split everyone is this election. It seems a lot more people are motivated to actually get out there and vote. I just hope it goes the way i want because omg if i have to hear Bush, his Bushisms, and his hatred anymore I'll lose it. We need change. It's sorta funny about the Bin Laden tape...well not funny...he's a psychopath, but it just shows how ineffective Bush has been. This will be the only election that i will have sat there intently watching the numbers and waiting for the results. Other years it really just didn't matter.

Ramadhan has been tough on me. It's my first one so I realize that's part of it but I didn't think it would be this hard. I have such a high metabolism that my legs end up acheing by the end of the day. I am wiped out and spend my days in a sort of trance. It takes some getting used to. Next year will insh'Allah be easier. I was thinking how hard it's going to be in summer months. Fasting from 4am to 9:30pm...omg, talk about sleep deprivation and a serious stuggle against the nafs. Ugh.......i can't even imagine....

What else...that's about it for me. I've been working on some writing projects, looking forward to the wedding, and planning the honeymoon. I'm looking forward to the future with my soon to be hubby. Allah's blessings are so great. Mash'Allah.

Oh....I did go to my first iftar somewhere else. We went to my friends house to break the fast and they fed us a great afghani meal, talked a bit, and had a delicious dessert made with zam zam water...it was a great evening and spent with such a wonderful family...definately a better way to break a fast.

2004-10-28T17:49:00.000-05:00

I remember when someone said this to me.......lol.

2004-10-26T18:51:00.000-05:00

Qur'an

Read Qur'an this morning. I'm enjoying reading Qur'an after Fajr. I usually read in the afternoon but for Ramadan I've been reading after fajr. Today was Surah Ta Ha.

Verse 132 had a long commentary that i liked a lot.

Here is the verse: Enjoin prayer (salat) on your followers, and adhere steadily to it. We do not ask you to provide (subsistence), (it is) We who give you subsistence; and the (good of) the hereafter is for those who safeguard themselves against evil with full awareness of divine laws.

And here are some highlights from the commentary:

The "daily prayers schedule" is like a fountain of clean water right in your home which removes, five times a day, dirt that settles on your body and soul.

Imam Ali said: Beware! Pray salat regularly. To grow intimacy with Allah pray as much as possible. If one knows how many blessings are bestowed upon the pray-er during the time of praying the salat, one would not leave the prayer-mat at all. Dispel the darkness of the doubtful heart by the light of prayers."

There was a lot more than that but these parts really got to me....thought i'd share.....

I do like how prayer is our subsistence. It's not for Allah as much as it is for us. We need it. It is the way we get closer to Him. Without it, we disregard our religion and can no longer be called Muslim as we no longer submit to Him, the foundation of our religion and faith. He doesn't need anything. He has no needs. We are the ones. Sometimes when in a rush, we pray faster than we should. What's the point of that? The point of prayer is gone if we don't pour our heart into it since no one would benefit from it without that purity.

2004-10-25T13:31:00.000-05:00

Desi Food stinks!

Okay, i was walking in the library today and i said, "hmmm what's that smell following me?" Well it was me! LOL. I've been cooking all morning and the smell of sauted onions and garam masala linger on my clothes. How embarassing... I used to smell perfumed and nice...now i smell like a desi kitchen. Love the food though. How do i get the smell away and out of my apartment though? Pewwwww---eeeeee!

2004-10-22T10:13:00.000-05:00

Qur'an

Read the 18th Surah of Qur'an this morning after fajr and this verse always gets to me. Perhaps it's because i'm a writer and have a sort of nostalgic notion about ink but this verse is how i feel about Allah, Islam and converting. There just aren't enough words to explain how i feel when people ask. Anyhow, enough of my blabber...here's the verse:

Say (O'Muhammad): "Were the sea to become ink for (writing of) the words of my Lord, surely the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord could be exhausted, even though we bring another (sea) like it to add thereto." (18:109)

2004-10-21T09:12:00.000-05:00

What I'm thinking about today

I'm sick today and this hadith seemed very apropos....helping me keep the fast...scratchy itchy dry throat will not win me over...

Fasting

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said, 'Fasting is a protection from the calamities of this world, and a veil from punishment of the next.' When you fast, intend thereby to restrain your self from fleshly appetites and to cut off those worldly desires arising from the ideas of Satan and his kind. Put yourself in the position of a sick person who desires neither food nor drink; expect recovery at any moment from the sickness of wrong actions. Purify your inner being of every lie, turbidity, heedlessness and darkness, which might cut you off from the meaning of being sincere for the sake of Allah (SWT).

Somebody said to one of the Companions, 'You are already weak; fasting will weaken you further.' 'I am preparing that fast for the evil of a long day,' he said. 'Patience in obeying Allah (SWT) is easier than patience in His punishment.' And the Messenger of Allah once quoted Allah (SWT)'s words, 'Fasting is done for Me, and I am its reward.'

Fasting kills the desire of the self and the appetite of greed, and from it comes purity of the heart, purification of the limbs, cultivation of the inner and the outer being, thankfulness for blessings, charity to the poor, increase of humble supplication, humility, weeping and most of the ways of seeking refuge in Allah (SWT); and it is the reason for the breaking of aspiration, the lightening of evil things, and the redoubling of good deeds. It contains benefits which cannot be counted. It is enough that we mention some of them to the person who understands and is given success in making use of fasting, if Allah (SWT) wills.

taken from Lantern of the Path by Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS)

2004-10-19T13:25:00.000-05:00

Rain

I love the rain. Especially the kind like today. Big ploppy drops that have enough velocity to bounce up. I was supposed to go and run errands but instead i'm in here on the computer working and catching up on email next to the window. It's very soothing to hear the pitter patter all around with the occassional boom and shattering of a tree. Peaceful and powerful...a wonderful juxtaposition. I think of Allah when i think of weather. Today is one of them days. I may just have to put work away and read the qur'an, it is after all better for me.

2004-10-18T08:47:00.000-05:00

Update

I'm working on a screenplay for a friend and also a book review. Three articles need to be written too so it looks like this blessed month is going to be a busy one. I will write soon and let everyone know how fasting is ... right now there are some technical difficulties. Insh'Allah in a few days I will post about Ramadan and fasting as a newbie.

Right now it's work work work.

I do wish everyone a Ramadan Mubarak if i haven't already. I do hope you all are having a blessed month and that Allah increases your blessings.

2004-10-14T21:14:00.000-05:00

Rumi

Seek a true friend,
for a friend seeks the benefit of a friend,
Do good to the people for the sake of God
or for the peace of your own soul
that you may always see what is pure
and save your heart from the darkness of hate.

-Rumi, "Mathnawi"

2004-10-14T16:13:00.000-05:00

Good Day

Yesterday i caught up on a lot of things and today was nice. Cloudy cool day so i went to Whole Foods, had a nice fish and potato lunch then went next door to Borders and got a spicy chai...they called it spicy hai chai...kinda funny. Anyhow, I took notes for the Spain trip and got lost in the pages and places. I'm so excited now. Everything is happening right now. Important things in life. My first Ramadan begins tomorrow, marriage, the trip to Spain. Life is exciting. All in one year...and not to forget converting and moving. Big life changes in one year is a bit crazy but it's been great. Insh'Allah next will be owning a home and raising a family. Mash'Allah, life is good.

Here's a memory. I was looking through hotels in Spain and came across convents and i remembered when i was in a small town in France. I stayed at a convent near a perfumerie. Crazy little town by the Grand Canyon du Verdon. In the morning the nuns wake you up to come down for prayer and breakfast. They were so happy that i was staying with them so they kept kissing and hugging me. It was really funny and seeing all the nuns running around in their habits was too cute. What's cool about them too is that a lot of them don't charge...they ask for a donation, not bad when you are travelling and they often give you breakfast too. I liked staying at them when travelling...cheap and i always felt real safe. When you give them $25 (that's what i did), they are delighted to have helped you out.

Anyway, today was a good relaxing day. Time to get back to work though. I just got assigned a 3,000 word article and another longish one and also a 225 page book to review. I have to read the book and review it by Monday-ish. Ugh...so i'm off to work. Salaam and Happy Ramadan! Have a blessed month.

2004-10-13T18:05:00.000-05:00

2004-10-12T07:59:00.000-05:00

Ah... I can breathe again.

I have nothing due for a few weeks. Perhaps that's because i haven't checked the mailbox and seen the books in there for me to review. Tomorrow I'll check perhaps. So now i'm going to plan a honeymoon, read the qur'an and read a book for fun. Here's something I wanted to blog the other day but didn't have time....

Airports...

I have to go there often and well I usually hate it. I stand there waiting and watch soldiers go by in their spic and span clean uniforms and think: "Yeah, arrogant blah blah blah. Where's all the blood? Left it back in Iraq eh?" I don't say anything but standing there listening to some of them talk about the good they are doing...like how they don't shoot people, they let the Iraqi police do that. Whatever. The Iraqi police are just like the Americans. They don't care about the Iraqi's as a people. It just turns my stomach hearing these kids talk. Puts me in a sour mood but i keep my mouth shut....

and then something good will be soon at the airport and i'm happy... here's some images that linger in my mind from the last few times i was there in the last 30 days or so...

- A cute little boy (3-4 yrs old) impatiently waiting for someone (?) and we are all waiting waiting waiting behind the security line. An old couple comes up the escalor and at the speed of light, this kid rips past the line and runs for them jumping on his grandpa with eyes beaming and smile just glowing. Such happiness. Did i mention the skullcaps?

- Two 4-5 year old boys holding peach roses alongside their dad who has a whole bouquet. The mom/wife comes and the longest ever airport kiss took place.

- Just the other day. A thirysomething chinese lady waiting. An older chinese couple (obviously her parents and from China...no English and seem completely lost in the airport). They look around anxiously for their daughter. The daughter is waving at them to let them know where she is. Finally, she crosses the barrier and walks to them so they can see. When the mom spots her daughter, she beams and says something in Chinese but obviously affectionate and with such a high tone letting out a little excited yelp.

Mash'Allah. What i realized is that there is so much hate, racism, religionism, violence, etc. but there is also a lot of love. I think back about the soldiers and give them the benefit of the doubt. I don't know what they are thinking. Maybe they are regretting joining the military, maybe some are finding God and maybe even Islam, maybe some really hate the war, and then there are the others, but since I'm thinking positive i won't think about that, i'll just pray for them.

Salaam/Peace to you all.

2004-10-11T15:43:00.000-05:00

My Blog

Okay, my blog used to look full and used and talkative and lately it just looks anorexic...sheesh i don't know how to spell that word. Too lazy to look. Anyhow, I just turned in two articles today, and have a new book to review and lots to do over Ramadan. I'm behind on email...sorry to those of you I haven't responded to yet. I'm working on it. I'll be catching up over the next few days but i simply can't write any more today. I'm thinking about quitting the blog too. It looks pathetic lately. Or perhaps i should start a new one with a new theme. What do you guys think?

2004-10-11T08:19:00.000-05:00

Really good hadith

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: "The Qur'an is Allah's university; so, learn as much as you can in the university." Bihar-ul-Anwar, Vol. 92, p. 19

2004-10-07T23:25:00.000-05:00

Nice writing quote from my favorite author

My writings are no more than a handful of sand, a handful of foam, although in its grains of sand I have sown the seeds of my heart and poured the quintessence of my soul over its foam.
My writings are and will remain forever closer to the shore than to the sea, closer to the desire which burns to fulfill itself rather than to the desire which is burned out as soon as it is accomplished.
In the heart of every man and every woman there is a little sand along with a little foam.
But some among us yield up what remains concealed in the plumage of their hearts, while others are ashamed to do so.
As for me, I feel no shame at all.

~ Kahlil Gibran

2004-10-06T14:25:00.000-05:00

Book Review

The scathing book review I did a few weeks ago came out in print Sunday. I don't feel so bad now though because others felt the same about the book that i did, i was just meaner... Anyone in Denver want to send me the original?

2004-10-06T14:11:00.000-05:00

Insh'Allah, Arabic and other stuff

Okay, obviously I'm more tired than usual, or maybe I'm just more Muslim than usual, but today while talking with a future employer I actually said "As salaam alaikum" and when she said "what?" I said, "Um, hi" and then later i said "insh'Allah" and again she said "what was that?" I said, "Oh, yes, hopefully." She already knows I'm Muslim but those little things have made it into my daily speech with non-Muslims and it's driving me crazy. One time with my dad, i said said "Khuda Hafiz" and more than once i've said "insh'Allah" to the non-understanding. I still think it would be funny if i went around and gave the english equivalents to muslims and non-muslims alike. I could go to the mosque and say "Peace be upon you" and watch them not know how to respond. I mean, it means the same thing, so why do i say it in arabic. Insh'Allah too. I can just say "God willing." So why do we converts/reverts use the arabic or urdu or farsi or whatever words instead of the english ones? To fit in? To feel Muslim? Although arabic and islam have no relation except for the glorious Qur'an being revealed in arabic. But really, that was only done so they would understand what was being said. It makes me laugh when people say arabic is the only language for muslims and that arabs are the only true muslims. I've actually been told that by arabs and it makes me laugh. I often respond with "only because you guys were the biggest sinners and Allah had to send a prophet to you, in your language, so you could understand and not sin anymore." They don't like it but then i don't like their arrogance so feel the need to give them a hard time. It's mostly out of jest. I'm NOT saying ALL Arabs just to be clear, just the arrogant ones. Don't mean to offend anyone, i'm just saying, the arabic language itself isn't islamic except for the Qur'an so saying "God willing" is the same as "insh'Allah" yet hardly anyone ever says "God willing." Okay, i guess i should have titled this post "One Big Tangent" since that is what it was. Peace be upon you...God willing. Jeez, i crack myself up.

2004-10-05T19:46:00.000-05:00

Another exciting fun filled day...

Here's today:
1) Went to the library to print some stuff off. (too long of line so left)
2) Went to the other library to print stuff off and got distracted by an email and forgot stuff there.
3) Interviewed lady for article i'm doing.
4) Prayed, ate, etc.
5) Went to mall and fixed registry problems.
6) Went to store to get tandoori naan and veggies.
7) Went to halaal market to load up on meat.
8) Cooked and ate dinner (excellent dinner by the way. I think this was one of the best Pakistani dishes ever....LOVED it...spicey tomato based sauce with curry leaves, spices and chicken cooked until tender - OMG, it was good.) Talked to M for a little while.
9) Checked mail, paid bills, cleaned up some.
10)Realized although i've been busy all day with stuff, I haven't gotten any work done and it is almost 9 at night.
11)Stressed about to write some stuff.

Got offered a few more freelance writing jobs for various places today but I think i'm in overload right now. Just got another book to review too. Ugh. I haven't even touched the internet today so my theory of that being my time-sucker was wrong. Menial tasks are the problem. I used to say I would never want a maid because it just isn't normal to me. M talks about Pakistan and how they had servants and it sounds so.....odd. But lately, I'm thinking it makes sense especially when i have a family. I will still want to cook cause i love to cook. But the rest can be done by others so i can be a better wife and mother to my future (insh'Allah) kids as well as have some time to myself. Okay, off to writing and getting some of it done tonight. Oh, I also saw a house for sale that i loved, absolutely loved, good price, and good location.

Tahira: I'm sending those pictures of my nephew to you now. :-) Can't wait to have some time to get out to your neck of the woods again. I miss you and your family. Insh'Allah soon I'll get out there.

Salaam.

2004-10-04T23:39:00.000-05:00

Exhausted and whiney

I have been working non stop today. Here's my day:

1) Laundry/housecleaning
2) Cooked a huge lunch (Balti Chicken in a Saffron Sauce, Dahl, and Okra Fry).
3) Research/Writing for about 8 hours now.

I just finished a book review last week and that put me behind on everything else. Now I am working on two very different articles, both due Friday and still so much to do for them as well as get tickets for the wedding, get tickets for the honeymoon, plan the honeymoon, finish the gift registry stuff, complain about the neighbors again, and a bunch of other miscellaneous stuff. Looking at my blog and how sparse it is hit me as strange. Usually it's full from top to bottom, but these days, it's just empty. I also want to read Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree before the honeymoon since it's about Muslims in Andalusia and that's where we are going. I haven't read Qur'an for 3 days now and that bugs me. Just whining a little bit before I fall asleep right here in my chair which I would do if my neighbors weren't so loud. I'm at their mercy. If they go to bed early, I can too. If they don't, then I'm up until they go to bed. Obnoxious people. I can't wait till they move or I move.

PS. I posted a few pics to my picture blog a few weeks ago...from Chattanooga.

2004-10-04T10:14:00.000-05:00

Shopping

OMG. Weddings are not easy. M's mom is taking care of it all but still, just the little things that we need to do are involved. We hadn't thought about gifts until people started asking and realized, "Oh, we need to do a registry." Well, the invites need to go out asap so we had to go this weekend and find everything we want for our future home in 2 days at 2 stores. Crazy weekend. And that is all we did all weekend long. Nothing else. LOL. That's some serious shopping. 150 guests is a lot...but the good news is...our new home is going to rock. :-)

2004-10-01T11:16:00.000-05:00

Debate

So i watched the puppet show last night and got a few good laughs and a few "did he just say what i thought he said"'s. Now that was entertainment. I feel a bit better about voting for the lesser of the two evils. I still have issues with him, but I feel much better about voting for Kerry. If that debate didn't show how ignorant Bush is, I don't know what will...oh and a recent Bushism: "Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB-GYNS aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." at a recent Missouri speech about healthcare.

PS. I uploaded a few more pictures to my photoblog...link off to the left under about me.

2004-09-30T13:07:00.000-05:00

Mecca

I am 7,146.56 miles or 11,498.82 Km from Mecca. It sounds so far, how can it seem so close?

2004-09-29T14:26:00.000-05:00

Eid Mabaruk!

May the deliverance of Mahdi be soon... Some hadith from Mahdi:

"Allah has not created the creations as futile & in vain & has not let them go aimless and purposeless."

"And indeed I am the safety & security for the people of the earth."

"And pray much for the quickness of deliverance for that is your (own) deliverance."

"I am Al-Mahdi and I am the still-living one who will establish justice throughout the world the same as it has been filled with oppression. Surely the earth will never remain without a witness, and people will not live in lack of a leader. Thus, do not retell this deposite except for your (Muslim) brothers who are Men of God."

2004-09-28T11:28:00.000-05:00

Bushism: "I think it's important for those of us in a position of responsibility to be firm in sharing our experiences, to understand that the babies out of wedlock is a very difficult chore for mom and baby alike...I believe we ought to say there is a different alternative than the culture that is proposed by people like Miss [Naomi] Wolf in society...And, you know, hopefully, condoms will work, but it hasn't worked." - Meet the Press; November 21, 1999 (If you can make sense of that, please let me know what he is saying...lol.)

Interesting article: Yvonne Ridley: From captive to convert

Hadith of the day: It may be that a man commits wrong actions, and Allah will bring him to Paradise by his wrong actions. He was asked how would this be. He replied, `he commits wrong actions, but all the time he fears Allah and hates himself, so that Allah has mercy on him and allows him into paradise. - Imam Sadiq

Ayah: Verily, the righteous, will be placed amid gardens and fountains. 'Enter therein with peace, in security.' And We shall remove whatever of rancour may be in their breasts so that they will be as brothers seated on thrones, facing one another; Fatigue shall not touch them, nor shall they ever be ejected therefrom. Tell My servants, O Prophet, that I am surely, All-Forgiving, All-Merciful. (Qur'an 15:45-50)

2004-09-27T11:38:00.000-05:00

Wow

Ever since i converted good things have happened to me. Lately, even more good things are happening. Besides having minor (read as serious) disagreements with people who don't like the fact that I am a Muslim or those Muslims that think I have chosen the wrong path within that path, I have met some really great people. Lately, I seem to get attacked by a lot of "wahabi types" that find me deserving of the hellfire. Anyhow, I'm not going to rail on any Muslim group because well I'm just a measly person and have no authority over anyone. BUT, I'm tired of it. I get exhausted from battling lies and what not. What is happening to the Ummah? It makes me sick. That is all I'm saying on that. Allahu Alim.

So...the good news... I've been offered another writing assignment. This one for more money too. What's up with this? Two writing jobs in a month. One Islamic and one regular? Allah's blessings? Yes, I do think so. Therefore, for those who think I'm on the wrong path and headed for hellfire seem to be wrong. For Allah is blessing me daily. These are my recent blessings:

1. A wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful...okay you get the point...man. I am marrying a great man. He is one of the most intelligent men i've met, he's religious, he's very fair in the way he treats people and he treats me like a queen. Did I mention how wonderful he is? Well he truly is. M; You are!
2. The deen. This is the best blessing of all...no need to explain.
3. My dreams/goals being realized. I've always wanted to write full time and lately, writing jobs just seem to fall in my lap and I don't even have to chase them. Prayers answered. Thanks to those who do duas for me. Alhamdulillah.
4. The people I've met. There's too many to list. But the people in my life (whether virtual or in person) are truly a great blessing. I've never had so many great people in my life. I love you all.
5. Wonderful, fantastic, generous, loving, caring, wonderful inlaws. The family I'm marrying into are so wonderful. From the parents to the aunts, from his brother and sister to his neice and nephew. They are a wonderful group of people and I'm so blessed to get them. I can't wait to meet the rest insh'Allah in November.

There are so many more blessings to list. Personal ones that i don't care to share.

But for those people (and they know who they are) that think I'm heading towards hellfire. I tend to think Allah disagrees. So there.

2004-09-24T13:01:00.000-05:00

"Wisdom is the table, not bread or meat. Wisdom is the light, food for the soul. No nutriment can compare to the nourishment of light. Nothing can nourish the soul but light. Rid yourself of material needs and be set free. Taste the original victual, the dainty morsel of light."

(Rumi, "Mathnawi")

2004-09-24T09:18:00.000-05:00

My reading and thinking spot close to home. I like how it's all nature out there with mankind/buildings in the distance. I feel good here. Detached from society and close to God. I've read many a book in this spot. :-)

2004-09-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

Good News!

Okay...this has to be one of the funniest searches for getting to my blog: "what was thomas Jefferson looking at when he permantly damaged his hand". How did that get the person to my blog? Have i ever even written thomas jefferson? I got a good laugh out of it anyhow. :-)

All right and for the GOOD news: I am an aunt... again. My nephew was born this afternoon at 1:31 MST. Let's welcome him into the world and make duas for him. I can't wait to see him. It really makes me to want to have my own too. I wish I were there right now to see him. I was thinking of Colorado today because summer is giving into fall and it's so perfect here but Colorado in the fall is so beautiful...colorful trees, the mountains capped with snow... I miss it. But I can't wait to go back and see my new nephew and those Colorado Rockies and also so some geocaching (geocaching.com) with Masooma. Insh'Allah soon.

2004-09-23T09:34:00.000-05:00

Internet

With my computer being gone I learned a few important things. One is that I just may have a slight addiction to the internet and therefore am going to try and limit my usage each day which will make me pickier on how i spend my internet time and allow me to combat the slight addiction. The second thing is i procrastinate without the internet as much as i do with it. Hmmmm. Maybe time is the cure. I also don't pay as much attention to the news as i did online and I actually think that's a good thing. I focused more on the Qur'an and Allah's plan over man's folly's.

Anyhow, after my sabbatical, I've come back to the internet and found some great new blogs that I've recently linked. I love reading Pakistani bloggers blogs because in a little way, I feel I learn something about M, him being from Pakistan. I have also caught up on my recent favorite blog: Eat Halal Guy's Blog. If you haven't checked out, do! It's a wonderful read. I read it everytime it's updated. I particularly like his innocence and the religious stories he shares as well as his being a Maulana and also being in Toronto...the city I wish to live in. His blog is very worthy! I've also found My War's Blog which is the only soldier's blog I've enjoyed reading. It's a cache of his original blog. Apparently the military censored him. Anyhow, I don't agree with much of what he says or how he expresses him (bad language) but his voice is great and i'm sure he'll get a book deal out of it and quite honestly, I'd probably read that too. Get past the recent stuff and look at the archives and check it out.

I've also spent a good amount of time reading. I've been reading back issues of Azizah magazine, short stories by Muslims including Michael Muhammed Knight who wrote this book and have recently thought that the "My War" guy would probably like reading Michael Knight's book as they both have the punk background and some good Dawah could occur.... Just my thoughts of course but I'm toying with the idea of passing that onto both of them or maybe someone less shy will do it for me. :-)

I am almost finished with the book i'm reviewing. It's my third in a month and a half. That's a lot of reading since i have also read two other books and many other articles, magazines, etc. My eyes are burning these days and it feels like there are bruises inside them. Insh'Allah i will finish the book i'm reviewing today. It's excellent. He's very cerebral and often i like those types of writers because it's amazing to me how they do it as i write in the complete opposite way. Oh, and I conducted my first interview for an article...made me so nervous but really wasn't so bad.

By the way, I'm so HAPPY to have my computer back. I am a little suspicious of it all...thinking the feds have something to do with it. I hope they have finally left me alone for good realizing that I'm just a muslimah trying to make her way in the world and not harm anyone in the process.

For those of you I haven't talked to in a while...i look forward to seeing you on MSN once again and for the friends I've made on my sabatical, i look forward to adding you. :-)

Oh! And a few funny searches that led people to my blog:"weird and strange hadith" and "dua to stop annoying neighbors". I would love a dua to stop annoying neighbors if there is one out there. My God, mine are obnoxious. They drive me so crazy that I'm worried about how i'm going to deal with them during Ramadan. Ugh.

Salaams and duas....

2004-09-22T10:17:00.000-05:00

Muslim=terrorist

I'm so sick of this mentality. Here's some thoughts lately. I haven't spoken about politics for a while...perhaps it's because i've been avoiding them to get over a bout of pessimism. Yusuf Islam is being deported for "possible involvement with terrorist groups". Doesn't it seem like being Muslim equals terrorism involvement these days? And what is up with letting two Americans and a Briton get beheaded because the US/Iraqi police (come on...they are one in the same aren't they. I wish they'd quit pretending like they are seperate entities...they are one in the same). It reminds me of being at the airport a few weeks ago and having to listen to a military kid report what "it's really like in Iraq and how the US has done so much good." I had to restrain myself from going over to him and telling him to unbury his head from the sand. All the militants want is for the women to be released. That's the most noble request these guys have had and i respect them for it. Protect the women as islam demands. I do understand that these are higher up women in Saddams cabinet but come on. Let 3 guys get beheaded and keep women in the position to get abused, raped, and demeaned? Come on! One more thing. John Kerry. He's got to get his stuff together and try to win this thing. I don't like him at all but i prefer him to Bush. He needs to show what Bush has done and what a failure Bush is and attack him. It' the only way. He needs to up the ante. Show the US how he was a drunken failure in college, a terrible military man, a failing businessman, a dictator of a president and that he has done no good in his entire life. It wouldn't hurt to smear him some...the guy deserves it. Bush is increasing in numbers and Kerry's got to stop that. I pray that people get out and vote and get rid of the loser in the White House.

2004-09-20T11:01:00.000-05:00

Qur'an

While reading the Qur'an in the storm, it was ironic that much of what i was reading was about storms (a lot in 11, 12 and 13), trees being uprooted (14:26), etc, often for punishment, other times for relief. It is strange to read the Qur'an in a storm as it feels all too real (the punishment)...and living here, the sinful south, I have to wonder if God is real mad at Florida (a Bush runs that state btw), etc. Are these hurricanes God's wrath?

On a happier note, this ayat was so beautiful and hopeful: "But those who believe and work righteousness will be admitted to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, - to dwell therin forever with the leave of their Lord. Their greeting therin will be "Peace!" 14:23

2004-09-20T10:48:00.000-05:00

So the hurricane weather was pretty crazy. Electricity went out as predicted. I spent all of Thursday and much of Friday inside with nothing to do. Read a lot of the Qur'an Thursday with the little light from the windows until my eyes ached... Six hours of bad lighting and small print will leave you crosseyed. It was strangely peaceful with the heavy rain and strong winds. I was scared though too. Once the electricity was gone, it was just eerie and then the phone went and then my cell phone went and that isn't a good feeling.

Later, M came by and we went for a drive around the neighborhood to see what the problem was and well trees had smashed cars and pulled out of the ground and tossed aside like weeds. Branches and debris all over the neighborhood. There still is. Crazy stuff. And this is nothing compared to the gulf coast and florida. I don't know how they keep on living there. I'm glad M made it home okay that day as the tree that smashed a few cars and killed a person is a block away and if he had left fifteen minutes earlier, it could have been him.

The weekend was uneventful. Cooked, watched movies, read some. I'm turning into quite the desi cook. We went geocaching one day too but only found 2. It's not as much fun as it was in Colorado. There's just too many trees here. We had fun in Jonesboro though...wandering around the historic town that inspired Gone With the Wind, one of my favorite movies and written, filmed, etc all in Georgia. It was a fun day.

Had a great brunch at the Iranian restaurant with another American convert and her two teenage sons. Great people. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought she was Iranian. She's got the look, speaks the language fluently, etc. What a great job she's done with her sons. Great kids. Mash'Allah. I will be looking her up for advice in the future for sure. Just great people that I'm glad I was able to meet. We spent a good 3 hours at the restaurant just getting to know each other.

What else? I have lots of work to get done this week. That power outage threw me off my schedule. I have a book to read and review this week, an article to write for the magazine, and travel plans to secure and finalize. I also need to cook some. M's out of town this and next week and then i'm out of town next week so it'll be all work and no play.

2004-09-15T13:02:00.000-05:00

Library

This library thing is not fun. There are some strange people coming in here and some don't smell so good and some make funny sounds so I'm making my visit fast today... Had fun yesterday with Tahira...today is all work and no play. Hurricane will be for the next few days... Hopefully the electricity won't go out so i can at least watch movies or something.

Bushism of the day: "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
and : "I must confess. It did confuse some of the folks at the Crawford, Texas, coffee shop when I was traveling around the country with Theodore Kennedy."

2004-09-14T11:37:00.000-05:00

This bites. The library isn't letting me respond to comments and i can't even see all of them. Ugh. The hurricane is coming anyhow so none of us will probably have electricity in a few days. I'm reading and wanting to respond.

I will get online some other way today and comment.

The news of the day. While standing in line trying to get license plates (didn't happen)...a cop was behind me in line and kept trying to cut in front of me. I wouldn't let him. He complained about the way the line was working so I said "Well, most of the things you guys do down South don't make sense. For instance, the way people drive here" and I blocked him from skipping ahead again. He was getting frustrated so then he tried flirting. Oh dear me. We all know that didn't work and for sure stopped all his chances of skipping ahead.

I'm off to see Tahira today for some girltalk. Yay! Pray for us in the hurricane.

(I can only see part of your guys' comments today but here's responses to the parts i can see...insh'Allah my computer will be back home soon.)

Masooma: This will be my first full fast. I used to fast one day a week for 24 hours plus without food but never from liquid so that's going to be hard for me. It'll be hard but it'll be good for me. :-) I'm afraid Bush is going to win too. :-( My own brother! Ugh!

Syed: Yeah, this library thing sucks. The counter is at 3 minutes...must type fast...lol.

Semajj: Tell me about it!

M: :-( This is going to be bad then cause if it's going to be here Wednesday that means it's speeding up again. I need to go buy candles, batteries and water for sure. Anything else you think?

2004-09-13T14:20:00.000-05:00

Windy day today. I think the hurricane is headed this way. Sure does look and feel that way. This one will be worse for us I'm sure. Yucky stuff. Weird how we can already feel it coming.

Busy weekend this weekend - trying to figure out all the wedding stuff.

Talked to my brother this weekend and found out some shocking news. He's voting for BUSH!!! UGH!!! My own brother! Like religion, politics is something he won't talk to me about. We disagree always but still Bush!!!! How can anyone with a conscious do such a thing?

I need to finish the book I'm reviewing and then start the article i'm writing and then also do the review for that book. I need to read a book for fun soon! I also need to get reservations set for Spain. We have so much to do. Sucks with my computer gone...can't wait to get it back. This half hour a day thing sucks.

Made samosa's last night for the first time and they were delicious (took a while to figure out the whole spring roll pastry thing and how to make them work but did). They were so good. Had it with leftover Keema and Dahl. Mmmmmm. I'm getting the hang of desi food. This week will be butter chicken and some other dish that i can't remember the name of.

Am becoming a Georgian more and more each day. I got my emissions today to get GA license plates. Wah. While there, there was a young guy from Colorado going to school here and we had a nice conversation. It was nice to chat about Colorado and how people here just don't get some things. We both agreed that living in Georgia is sure to make your IQ go down. Truly, it does.

That's it for me. Library time is about to expire.

2004-09-10T13:05:00.000-05:00

Have a great weekend everyone! I am at the library right now and I'm bad. They have books for sale and I bought the four that were anti-Islam, pro-Israel and put them where they belong. In the trash. Oh I feel so wrong and bad throwing books away. That's a form of banning books. I'll try not to make a habit of it. But if people read the wrong stuff. I have no excuse... I will try not to do it again but I think that the dollar was well spent for four books in the trash.

I bought a few good ones too...the good Islamic ones and a nice one called Oneness: Great Principles Shared By All Religions. I'm sure throwing away books is not in there. Anyhow....

2004-09-09T15:44:00.000-05:00

Writing Contract

I had the meeting today with that Muslim magazine and I've got a contract to write for them along with some other stuff. So thanks to those who made dua and pray that I do okay. This will be my first time writing feature articles. I've also got an in for reviewing Islamic books. I'm very excited and happy today. Woo hOOOOOOOO!

Now pray i do well.

Oh, did i mention, had I called her back a day earlier, I would have had a free ticket to ISNA convention? I would have had to work a booth, but dang that would have been cool. I really wanted to go this year. Insh'Allah next year if I don't have a baby in the belly says she. :-)

2004-09-09T11:10:00.000-05:00

This is from Islamicate's blog and a nice juxtaposition if you ask me:

Dick Cheney on Kerry and al-Qaeda: (Apparently they can be that crass.)

"It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on Nov. 2, we make the right choice, because if we make the wrong choice then the danger is that we'll get hit again and we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United States"

Al-Qaeda on Bush:

A statement from al-Qaeda following the Madrid bombings clarified this intent [to organize Muslims worldwide]. It said the organization hoped George Bush would win reelection, "because he acts with force rather than wisdom or shrewdness, and it is his religious fanaticism that will rouse our (Islamic) nation, as has been shown. Being targeted by an enemy is what will wake us from our slumber." Quoted on the Arabic news Web site www.elaph.com: "Bayaan lil qa'ida yuhhammal tawqi' kataib abu hafss al massri," March 17, 2004.

2004-09-09T10:14:00.000-05:00

Please say this will hurt Bush's numbers!

Memos: Bush Suspended From Guard Flying

This whole election is driving me crazy. I have my own personal wishes for how it all turns out and it doesn't include Bush, Kerry, or even Nader. More on that later perhaps.

I've dropped my computer off at the doctor for a week or two but I will be online at the library and post stuff and respond to email but if my responses are slow, that is why. I'm limited to 30 minutes a day. God help me. Please do dua's for my darling computer. She's got mother problems. Her biological mother (motherboard), not me.

2004-09-08T17:08:00.000-05:00

I've never not felt like blogging but today I don't feel like it. What's up with that?

2004-09-07T15:40:00.000-05:00

Watched Lagaan Friday which is one of the best Bollywood films I've seen yet. Loved it!

Saturday night M and I went to Jashan-E-Azadi Celebrations Festival (Pakistan Indepence dilly ma bob). Amusing. Both of us were stared at for different reasons. M says I was getting stared at because I was so pretty. Awww...sweet. But he's biased - I'm thinking it was probably for being white, in a shalwar khameez, Muslim, and attending a Pakistani Independence Day Celebration and we don't know why Mehdi was being stared at. We had fun anyway, especially while making fun of Alamgir. (sidenote to M's sister: "I took a picture just for you...te he he." I did find a nice shalwar khameez...cheap too comparatively.

The rest of the weekend was spent in Chattanooga. We had planned to go to the coast but with the hurricanes, we had to change plans. Cancelled the hotel reservations Saturday and headed to Tennessee. Ruby Falls was cool. There's a waterfall inside the mountain and all along the way there are different caverns and things to see of various formations. The Tennessee Aquarium is by far the best one I've been too. We had so much fun in there. And I've decided that seahorses are the cutest little things. Throughout I could only think of how amazing God is. To create all of this is just unfathomable when you think about it.

M makes fun of me because I always say "you guys" etc when referring to Atlantans, Georgians, and other Southern folk. I refuse to be a part of it. I don't care if I've lived here for 4 months already. I'm a Midwestern or Western girl. I call Oregon and Colorado home but I am stubborn about calling Georgia home. Anyhow, this weekend, I became one of them and I can't deny it. I actually said "all'a y'all". God help me. I really did say it and in the right context. You see, y'all is for a small group...two or three and all'a y'all is for a large group. I used it correctly and without thought so it is official. I've become one of them. My Dad also says i have a southern drawl now. Great.

Still dealing with Hurricane Frances so I'm making this short, but if y'all ever go to Tennessee, y'all have to go to the Tennessee Aquarium. It's awesome.

2004-09-07T13:50:00.000-05:00

Why my electricity went out... Look at the size of the trees. This is in the city of Atlanta, not the burbs. Flooding is everywhere too. Crazy stuff.

d

2004-09-07T13:26:00.000-05:00

Hurricane Frances

Sheesh! Crazy stuff. Last night was the first time in my adult life I was scared during the night. All night long I couldn't sleep with Hurricane Frances finishing off her spree here in Atlanta. Outside my window there was the sound of buckets of rain, rushing water, wind, lightening, things falling, the sound of power going out (which is what scared me the most - that electricity hitting water sound) and then sirens. Got up for fajr and lit a bunch of candles, prayed and then slept some since i didn't sleep all night and since the electricity was still gone. Electricity just came on but they say it can go off again because the storm isn't over yet. A huge tree is what caused the problems over here. I'll post a picture soon... It's still raining buckets. There's still half a million people without electricity and they probably won't have it for a couple days says the news since the storm is still plowing through Georgia. I can't even imagine what Florida went through. Eek.

Anyhow, that's my update. I will post later about the great weekend in Chattanooga TN and how I've truly become a southerner (if the electricity stays on). :-)

2004-09-03T09:20:00.000-05:00

I love this picture!

2004-09-03T09:18:00.000-05:00

A little bit of this, and a little bit of that - odds and ends of my brain today

Some things I have recently found that I enjoy tremendously:
*Breadshop's "Mocha Almond Crunch" cereal. If you ever try this, you will never eat another cereal again. It is just the best. Once you add milk to the cereal it turns all mocha-y. Mmmmm.
*Maple Creme Filled cookies from Canada. Oh my gosh...these cookies shaped like little maple leaves and filled with real maple syrup creme filling are just the best.
*Pakola...a Pakistani ice cream soda. Refreshing and delightful.

Recent things I've seen outdoors that amused me:
* Bumper sticker: "Enron/Halliburton 2004" - LOL
* Stop sign where someone had written "Bush" under the STOP and recently, someone added "u can't" above the stop equaling "u can't stop Bush". I wonder if it will be changed again next week.

Recent irritations:
*Bush and Kerry- Bush - Go to He**. Kerry - Follow him. I'm sick to death of both of you. Sheesh, I can't stand either of these putz's. Both are equally irritating. Both of their voices sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I'm not going to be able to stand either of them in office. Get me outta here!
* 9/11. Can I just say "get over it people."
* The monthly warnings for 3 years now saying that America is at risk for a terrorist attack. We've had hundreds of warnings and no action. If there is ever an attack, we know you won't protect us from it so quit warning us about nothing. Ugh. This is my biggest irritation. It's like they are trying to hypnotize us to be afraid. Is this Hitler round deux?
* Vietnam was over 25 years ago...we aren't voting for who acted best in Vietnam so quit talking about it.
* Kerry saying: "I defended this country as a young man, and I'll defend this country as president." Mr. Kerry - Vietnam, like Iraq, wasn't a defensive war. It was offensive. You didn't defend anything.
* The newest Israeli joke: "What do you call one Palestinian in the sea? Pollution. What do you call 2 million Palestinians in the sea? The solution." What hatred and sickness.

Odd searches that recently led people to this blog (unfortunately for them):
"desi sexy nude shalwar"(yup, they sure didn't find what they were looking for), "Soljah sin" (eek), and the most amusing - "are there rednecks in helen georgia?" - omg, this made me laugh. Yes, it's the South. Of course there are rednecks.

Have a great weekend everyone! I was planning on going to Savannah but well there's a hurricane there so guess not.

Bushism of the day:
* "I'm gonna talk about the ideal world, Chris. I've read - I understand reality. If you're asking me as the president, would I understand reality, I do."

2004-09-02T10:06:00.000-05:00

Another good day

I went and saw Tahira yester-evening. Took the "alpharetta autobahn"(see definition below) as her family live about an hour from me and listened to Azhar Usman's comedy on the way. It was nice being out there where it's quiet and relaxed, unlike the city. She had made a yummy Afghani lunch...salad and then an eggplant dish (very good). Then her mom made us tea but when she asked how i liked it, i said with milk and sugar and they all started laughing. I asked "what?" and they said "That's just the Pakistani way." I guess I've officially been trained to be a Paki-clone. Eek. Lol.

Anyhow, it was nice having girl talk. It's been so long since I just hung out and had good girl talk. It was much needed and a long time coming. She showed me pictures of Pakistan and also Afghanistan when the Taliban was in control. The pictures are crazy with all the Burqa-ed women. Some lifted their burqa's up for the photos. I would love to go to Pakistan one day to see where and how M grew up. Insh'Allah one day we'll go.

Then we went and prayed. This was a first for me. Not praying, but what happened during prayers. Mehdi, who is 2 1/2 years old, is a bit hyper. Cute as a button, but hyper and well while i was prostrating, he would bend over and then look up at me and laugh. And then he would take the Turbah. I couldn't help but laugh because he was too cute and obnoxious. I guess this is how it will be as a mother, inshallah. Kind of cute really. And Allah has a sense of humor right?

I came home and looked up shalwar khameez sites because i want to order some. Can one of you desi girls explain the difference between the materials: georgette, lawn, grip, etc. I know silk of course and cotton, but what are these others? I found a few i want to order but don't know which material to get. I don't like the paper mache feeling ones that stick to you. It's way to hot and humid here for that. I want breathable. Please let me know in comments or via email. :-)

Then I watched Whale Rider. A very good movie about a the Maori or look at this website. Interesting story and people.

[Alpharetta Autobahn: Georgia 400, which runs from Buckhead to North Georgia cities like Alpharetta, Roswell and Cumming, earns this title because of the high speeds that motorists drive on this toll road. (and this is no joke...a hundred mph is the norm)]

2004-09-01T09:38:00.000-05:00

Good stuff

The biryani, dahl, and okra turned out good. The dahl should have been a little runnier and the saffron should have been more dissolved for the biryani but overall it was a pretty good meal.

I also have some good news. There's a few muslim/desi magazines here - i separate the two because well they are definately separate - and one of them - the muslim one - has asked me for an interview to write for them. I'm excited about that. So please make duas for me next week regarding this. It would actually be paid writing. I need a job so i can pay off my student loans and help my parents out so please do make dua. I have the other writing gigs that are freelance but this one would be permanant.

I've been reading a lot lately. I just finished Majalis al-ilm (finally) and Fast of Ramadhan: Philosophy & Ahkam. And now I'm starting these (the Ramadhan ones). I've also been reading the Qur'an a lot. I am trying to stick to the Qur'an more than other stuff because when i read hadith I don't like what i read. When I read the Qur'an I feel good during and after. I am excited about Ramadhan. I used to be excited about Lent but, it's a different excitement about Ramadhan because it's not just fasting, but lots of extra prayer and stuff.

I walked in the park in the evening last night and had a strange feeling that God was trying to tell me something but I wasn't understanding what he was saying. Anyhow, there's a swinging bench overlooking the large pond and then a swarm of trees and then the skyline of Midtown. It's a very nice view and definately great at sunset. I will take a picture sometime and share it. I had lots of thoughts sitting there on the bench but these ones I'm gonna keep to myself.

2004-08-30T15:29:00.000-05:00

yum

2004-08-30T10:57:00.000-05:00

(Smile)

Good and fun weekend. M came home Friday (yay) so we spent a lot of time together this weekend which was nice. Saturday we went shopping which is always fun. Right? Sunday we went desi shopping and house looking and had a great Iranian meal. We went to Solar and had the Sunday brunch buffet. It was sooo awesome and filling. It's the best halaal restaurant here for sure. Kabobs, lamb shanks, all kinds of stuff.

We like to drive through various neighborhoods to see the houses, neighborhood, and price. This weekend we found a great area with great houses. Unfortunately, the houses also came with great big prices. We went to one open house and the house was huge and fun to wander through. Not a bad price either.

After that we went desi shopping at a new desi strip mall that we hadn't known about. Everytime you think you've went to all the desi strip malls there's always another. We got some yummy snacks - see the above picture. And also some fresh squeezed sugarcane juice. Good stuff.

Then we went to the desi market. Got a bunch of stuff for biryani and stuff. (Making it right now...harder than it looks - timewise mostly - but looking good.)

Funny moments:

* When looking for Gulab Jamun ingredients, don't ask for Gulab Julab because well that has a completely different meaning, but it will make the person you are asking laugh out loud at you. (Smile... guilty as charged.)

* While looking at the medicinal or beauty products I saw Krack and said "I want to get some of this Krack." M says, "No, that's not good Krack. You don't know what they put into it. I will find you some good Krack." This conversation causing us both to Krack up laughing.

(sidenote: what's up with that "Fair and Lovely" stuff that turns brown skin white. Eek. That's scary. Brown is more lovely than fair anyhow but I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.)

(another sidenote: Isn't it great how thousands and thousands are marching all across New York for the weekend and next few days? But here's my thing. How arrogant is Bush to even keep running? I mean, with thousands protesting in any city he enters, doesn't he get the feeling that he's not liked? Even if some do, I would feel ashamed and bothered if people actually protested my arrival in a city. What a loser and what an arrogant arse. I really don't think he gets it. But kudos to all those in NYC. Wish I were there to feel the energy.)

Okay, off to finish the biryani and other stuff I'm cooking up today. M is going out of town this afternoon again (sad face) so i figured I'd send him off in style- with a great meal. Insh'Allah it will all turn out as it is my first time cooking any of these dishes. I'm using his kitchen and gonna surprise him. Perhaps i'll post another food picture like last time.

Happy Monday everyone! Enjoy your week! Salaams from the South.

2004-08-27T09:28:00.000-05:00

Woo hoo

They did it again. The US women's soccer team got the gold again! Mia Hamm rocks. The whole team does, but dang...this is cool.

Other good news is that Sadr and his crew have left Imam Ali's shrine. Alhamdulillah.

A bushism or two or three:
- "She was neat." On meeting Queen Elizabeth
- "The thing that's most important for me is to remember what's the most important thing."
- "If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator."

Have a good weekend everyone!

2004-08-27T09:25:00.000-05:00

Pain

"At the heart of every winter, there is a quivering spring; and behind the veil of each night there is a smiling dawn." Kahlil Gibran

Sorry about the sad post last night...it happens but this quote came to mind.

2004-08-27T01:29:00.000-05:00

Angie

I was thinking about my sister tonight. She died when I was 4 and she was 9. I miss her terribly and if I had one wish in the world it would be to have a conversation with her because I can't remember any. From what i have been told we were very close. We were inseparable - then her life was taken away. I responded to her death by not speaking - for years I kept silent. My pain was expressed in silence. I hid in cardboard boxes, I read, I thought about God and told my parents that I also wanted to die so I could go to heaven to be with her. I told my grandma that she was an angel and I used to cup her in my hands as an angel, and I'd tell my grandma that she was right there in my hands. I was never told about God as a child, not until i was 7, years later, but I obviously already had a relationship with Him.

I feel her life was stolen from her, so I better live enough of a life for us both. I don't want to fail her and I hope I haven't. I sometimes wonder if I converted so I could make it to Heaven to have a conversation with her. When I think of Heaven I only think of her because that is the point of heaven to me. What else is there to do there? I know I shouldn't think this way but I do. I sometimes think God guided me to Him to give me that chance to have another conversation with her. Or was it to teach me about suffering? My heart if soft for mankind and perhaps this is why. It was a big loss and at such a young age. I dread the day I lose another person in my life. She lost her life, perhaps for a bigger reason. Maybe she suffered less that way. This world is full of pain. Maybe her heart was too good for this life and she would have had a hard life. I don't know. There are no answers...yet. I guess a part of me always thought if I pleased God and could make it to heaven, I could find my way back to her. Selfish thoughts I know and wrong ones too but these are my thoughts tonight and they are keeping me awake. Perhaps sharing them will put me to sleep.