Google finally released its very own browser. it's called Chrome and it's great. so fast/efficient. i'd like a few more features but i'm pretty sure they're way ahead of me in that regard and will take care of that soon enough. after all, this is only the beta version. all in all, the browsers reeks of simplicity. if you're interested, you can download it here
in other news, i still don't know what the heck i want to do career/school wise. i'm still questioning/doubting myself. i am not a science person, at least if we're talking from an academic point of view. i will GLADLY read tons and tons of scientific literature on google out of pure interest (and yes it's a regular thing too...UNDERCOVER NERD), but i CANNOT bring myself to read a textbook or sit in a science lecture without wanting to pull my hair out.
so that's out the window. now, the social sciences are interesting... because there's really not much you can do with just a bachelors degree. i am definitely not the most ridiculously career oriented girl but i definitely want to be involved in something part time. something low key but beneficial. something that i actually enjoy being part of. so it makes sense for me to want a solid foundation in whatever i love
the problem is, i can't seem to settle on anything. im working on a psych degree which is the most generic degree on earth. it's either the most popular undergrad major in the US or one of the most popular undergrad degrees recieved...can't remember which one. i got that info from a qualified source
anyway undergrad psych is relatively a piece of cake compared to other undergrad majors.. that's why people downplay it...especially in the work related industry. but psych grad school is more competitive than most grad school programs out there..the Phd programs moreso than the masters..with most universities accepting only 2-3 students every year. naturally because the curriculum is rigorous.
anyway a phd is a long shot for now but i should start thinking of masters programs. i dont know.. ahh. i think ultimately i want to be involved in public health awareness campaigns, particularly stuff relevant to obesity, proper nutrition, fitness blah blah. so ive been reading a bit on MPH programs (masters in public health) and they seem kinda interesting with a wide variety of "tracks" you can take / study within the discipline
but then im also interested in psych research, like particularly psych of exercise. i think for now i need to focus on finding internships for next yr in the psych dept, something my psych professors really stress this semester. i guess bc theyre 400 level classes and they want people to get out there and get involved in labs and field work etc to narrow their interests down some more before graduating
so yeah i think the fact that psych is a HIGHLY theoretical discipline from the student perspective makes everything really hard because you can only find theory so interesting before yourelike wait, i want to apply this and see what happens..i think thats whats making it really frustrating to me. so i definitely need to get involved in working with some profs inshaAllah
gonna hit up some psych advisors next week hopefully..or tomorrow.
so far i love my learning and cognition class even though the professor is a bit neurotic. the class is about, well, it's self explanatory. it's about how human beings learn and we get to watch a lot of rats and dogs being manipulated. its more of a practical learning experience than a lot of psych classes generally are so i think thats what has me so interested.
ive trained my cats to do a lot of stuff on my own but im going to experiment some more in my own home laboratory muahahahaha *evil scientist laugh*
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
progressive
my friends are all on my case about failing to blog on a regular basis. i repeatedly get yelled at for being so neglectant, but alas i say to them, contrary to popular belief, my life isn't all that interesting. the response? um, well, can't you blog about your running shoes...or SOMETHING? (direct quote from afshan which im 99.9% positive was accompanied by an exasperated sigh and eye roll-age)
well, doesn't that just say something about the kind of stuff afshans willing to read? i mean, you would think the amazing writer of a woman majoring in English in college would have STANDARDS
i think ill just believe her willingness to sacrifice her standards is for my sake.... take heed, for this is LOVE in its purest state, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
what else? ok, quickkkkkkk sal. make up something interesting about your life....running shoes? nahhhhhhhhhhhh, been there, done that! OK HOW ABOUT RUNNING SOCKS?
IS MY AUDIENCE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT ATHLETE FRIENDLY SOCKS?
well, like most things in life, they come in different styles depending on what does or doesnt suit you. personally, i get the ones with extra cushioning around the ankle since im prone to ankle injuries. a walking-style + feet-analysis by the athletic shoe store dude revealed that i am an over pronator. if you dont know what that means, you're dumb. no, actually, i'll tell you what that means. IT MEANS DICTIONARY DOT COM. that's what it means, suckas.
that's righttttt.. look it uppppp, ya heard. im certainly not going to sit here and explain the meaning of a word to you people. my blog is WAY past that. it's embarassing havign an illiterate audience such as you people. AND I DONT EVEN KNOW IF THAT WAS THE CORRECT SPELLING OF ILLITERATE? how is that FOR SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS. or is it hypocrisy?
anyway...on a serious note, the olympics ended.. and well, to be honest, so did my world. pretty much. i spent a good while contemplating the meaning of life after watching the closing ceremony. just kidding. ok, not really..BUT MOVING on
olympics out, fall semester in. loud, obnoxious, annoying human beings EVERYWHERE ON CAMPUS. lord, help me. seriously. college freshmen at a university campus are so interesting. i guess having escaped your supposedly very strict and controlled household environment for the first time in your life and living on your own and getting drunk every night and partying and walking to class in your PJs gives you the right to act more.........immature in public?
logical? you bet.
anyway whatever. im just there to study. i like my professors for the most part which is a good thing. but a few of them just talk and talk and talk and talk, and i just want to be like SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CAN WE GET THE ACTUAL LECTURE OVER WITH ALREADYSO I CAN LEAVE HERE NOW THANKS!
random: i'm thinking of minoring in creative writing.
btw, today was the first official day of fasting..just got done. it went pretty smoooooth alhamdulillah. i wasnt expecting myself to feel as amazing as i did all throughout the day. but im not complaining. :-)
eeek, sorry for the abrupt ending but ive always struggled with concluding chapters in my life: CASE IN POINT: i miss the crap out of ramadan in georgia. aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. must. not. whine.
so Ramadan Mubarak. remember me in your duas.
well, doesn't that just say something about the kind of stuff afshans willing to read? i mean, you would think the amazing writer of a woman majoring in English in college would have STANDARDS
i think ill just believe her willingness to sacrifice her standards is for my sake.... take heed, for this is LOVE in its purest state, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
what else? ok, quickkkkkkk sal. make up something interesting about your life....running shoes? nahhhhhhhhhhhh, been there, done that! OK HOW ABOUT RUNNING SOCKS?
IS MY AUDIENCE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT ATHLETE FRIENDLY SOCKS?
well, like most things in life, they come in different styles depending on what does or doesnt suit you. personally, i get the ones with extra cushioning around the ankle since im prone to ankle injuries. a walking-style + feet-analysis by the athletic shoe store dude revealed that i am an over pronator. if you dont know what that means, you're dumb. no, actually, i'll tell you what that means. IT MEANS DICTIONARY DOT COM. that's what it means, suckas.
that's righttttt.. look it uppppp, ya heard. im certainly not going to sit here and explain the meaning of a word to you people. my blog is WAY past that. it's embarassing havign an illiterate audience such as you people. AND I DONT EVEN KNOW IF THAT WAS THE CORRECT SPELLING OF ILLITERATE? how is that FOR SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS. or is it hypocrisy?
anyway...on a serious note, the olympics ended.. and well, to be honest, so did my world. pretty much. i spent a good while contemplating the meaning of life after watching the closing ceremony. just kidding. ok, not really..BUT MOVING on
olympics out, fall semester in. loud, obnoxious, annoying human beings EVERYWHERE ON CAMPUS. lord, help me. seriously. college freshmen at a university campus are so interesting. i guess having escaped your supposedly very strict and controlled household environment for the first time in your life and living on your own and getting drunk every night and partying and walking to class in your PJs gives you the right to act more.........immature in public?
logical? you bet.
anyway whatever. im just there to study. i like my professors for the most part which is a good thing. but a few of them just talk and talk and talk and talk, and i just want to be like SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CAN WE GET THE ACTUAL LECTURE OVER WITH ALREADYSO I CAN LEAVE HERE NOW THANKS!
random: i'm thinking of minoring in creative writing.
btw, today was the first official day of fasting..just got done. it went pretty smoooooth alhamdulillah. i wasnt expecting myself to feel as amazing as i did all throughout the day. but im not complaining. :-)
eeek, sorry for the abrupt ending but ive always struggled with concluding chapters in my life: CASE IN POINT: i miss the crap out of ramadan in georgia. aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. must. not. whine.
so Ramadan Mubarak. remember me in your duas.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
olympics 2008
i realized i havent talked about the olympics..how dare i not blog about them?
THEY HAVE MY FAVORITE THING EVER TO WATCH. ALL THE GAMES. ok not all. a lot are just GAY.
my favorites include track and field, fencing, swimming, archery, equestrian, gymnastics, and the triathlon
ive been glued to the tv today because fencing, swimming and archery are on
:sigh: i really wish i was there. i mean i know i sound like such a cheeseball BUT I REALLY WISH I COULD'VE PARTICIPATED IN AN OLYMPIC event. since it's too late for menow, im just gonna live through my kids and hopefully make them obsessed about and GOOD at a sport so they can participate in the olympics in the future.
i'm so serious.
see that's another plan i have for my kids. i totally think im gonna own and rule their lives. NOT GOOD. there's gonna be a father in their life and lots of other variables..oh and wait like, theirown free will HELLO
so anyways. at least i feel cool about something. one of the track and field participants is an american somalian muslim guy named Abdi Abdurrahman. he's from arizona. anyway HE WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING IN ONE OF THE SAME EVENTS AS MYSELF LIKE 4 MONTHS AGO. obviously i didnt see him. there were 30,000 people at that event. but i still feel cool. LIKE HEY I RAN THE SAME EVENT AS AN OLYMPIAN!!!
he was so fast..he got first place out of 30,000 people. i remember people were talking about how the people who are supposed to cheer you on at the finish line hadnt even set up their chairs and posters, thinking it was too early because it'd be a while before people came running through but sure enough there was this guy and everyone was like wow
so i read up on his training regime on here http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=67613/bio/index.html ...and the dude runs like 140 to 150 miles a week. ok, that's like INSANE. like 20-25 miles a freaking day. i want to show off if i get in 30 miles per week.
sigh.
i have an inferiority complex as a result of watching the olympics. womens swimming and fencing was sooooooo cooool..all these super strong, fast women...my age too. :sigh:
THEY HAVE MY FAVORITE THING EVER TO WATCH. ALL THE GAMES. ok not all. a lot are just GAY.
my favorites include track and field, fencing, swimming, archery, equestrian, gymnastics, and the triathlon
ive been glued to the tv today because fencing, swimming and archery are on
:sigh: i really wish i was there. i mean i know i sound like such a cheeseball BUT I REALLY WISH I COULD'VE PARTICIPATED IN AN OLYMPIC event. since it's too late for menow, im just gonna live through my kids and hopefully make them obsessed about and GOOD at a sport so they can participate in the olympics in the future.
i'm so serious.
see that's another plan i have for my kids. i totally think im gonna own and rule their lives. NOT GOOD. there's gonna be a father in their life and lots of other variables..oh and wait like, theirown free will HELLO
so anyways. at least i feel cool about something. one of the track and field participants is an american somalian muslim guy named Abdi Abdurrahman. he's from arizona. anyway HE WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING IN ONE OF THE SAME EVENTS AS MYSELF LIKE 4 MONTHS AGO. obviously i didnt see him. there were 30,000 people at that event. but i still feel cool. LIKE HEY I RAN THE SAME EVENT AS AN OLYMPIAN!!!
he was so fast..he got first place out of 30,000 people. i remember people were talking about how the people who are supposed to cheer you on at the finish line hadnt even set up their chairs and posters, thinking it was too early because it'd be a while before people came running through but sure enough there was this guy and everyone was like wow
so i read up on his training regime on here http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=67613/bio/index.html ...and the dude runs like 140 to 150 miles a week. ok, that's like INSANE. like 20-25 miles a freaking day. i want to show off if i get in 30 miles per week.
sigh.
i have an inferiority complex as a result of watching the olympics. womens swimming and fencing was sooooooo cooool..all these super strong, fast women...my age too. :sigh:
Thursday, August 7, 2008
cha ching
I’ve had a few epiphanies lately. Mainly due to growing up and having experienced ‘new’ I guess, circumstances, people…having to give issues like MARRIAGE a second, third, fourth, fifth thought…
A huge part of me really feels like I’ve gotten less flexible and likely to accommodating as I’ve gotten older. I suppose that’s only natural. The more time you spend thinking of only yourself and your plans and desires, the more you’re prone to getting stuck in your ways. In some ways, it’s good. You decide hey, this is who I am. Your personality starts to firm and you become in ways, an individual. In other ways, it’s not that great. You’re likely to become more stubborn. Again, this doesn’t apply to every single person out there. But it does to me because I know the kind of person I am.
If I compare myself to the ME from 5 years ago, I’m overall really pleased. But I don’t know if I want to keep this progress I’ve made up. I don’t really know that the direction I’m headed in is worthwhile going into on my own. For example, in the past I’ve been more overall clingy person, and I mean to experiences, places, people…everything. Now, I’m ridiculously independent. I value time to myself like no other. I’d rather be on my own, and if I am to seek out company I’d rather pick quality over quantity. I absolutely cannot stand hanging out with random acquaintances JUST for the sake of hanging out. In the past I would’ve been completely ok with something of that sort.
I’m less reliant on people. And I’m more blunt about how I feel or who I am. Sometimes, I feel like I think like a guy. Sort of chauvinistic. My way or the highway. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, I don’t know if I want to continue down this path anymore. Eventually I just can’t think of myself all the time. Even though it’s not like I would never make sacrifices for someone I care about because I know when I truly care about someone, I can be beyond loyal.
Maybe it’s just part of growing older. I have to find my own balance at some point. I don’t need to be involved in a relationship heading down the marriage avenue unless I’m ready to or find that balance myself. I don’t in the least see myself ending up in a parent-child or professor-student type marital relationship. Unfortunately, if I don’t fix the stubbornness or stay aware of it, I might push my future relationship into that direction.
So hello. I’m trying to figure out. I’m not DOMINANT. But I’m not submissive. Sooo what do I classify as?? Ahh. I guess. I go for whatever feels convenient? Or whatever pleases me for the moment. And in that way, I’m actually dominant
I also realize, the times when I do think of getting married seriously, I have a lot of things planned out in my head and I expect them go the way I do. Like literally I’ve told maybe 3 people how I want 2-3 kids. All before 30. at ages 23, 25, 27 (or 25, 27, 29). And how I want to adopt one kid in the middle somewhere and how I want to raise them to be healthy eaters and like HELLO do I live in some fantasy world or something cuz I REALLY THINK everything SHOULD go my way. And I haven’t even consulted THE OTHER PERSON who’s supposed to be part of the married relationship about anything.
I actually have no idea what the hell I’m talking about anymore.
In other news, I got a haircut. I wasn’t feeling it that much at first, mainly cuz I like the kind of haircuts that you don’t absolutely need to spend 5 years styling each time to SEE what it looks like. The kind of haircuts that just naturally fall into their place are way better. Anyway, I was annoyed with it but I think it’s growing on me.
Also let it be known, I’m a damn good cook and I just get better everytime. GO ME!
A huge part of me really feels like I’ve gotten less flexible and likely to accommodating as I’ve gotten older. I suppose that’s only natural. The more time you spend thinking of only yourself and your plans and desires, the more you’re prone to getting stuck in your ways. In some ways, it’s good. You decide hey, this is who I am. Your personality starts to firm and you become in ways, an individual. In other ways, it’s not that great. You’re likely to become more stubborn. Again, this doesn’t apply to every single person out there. But it does to me because I know the kind of person I am.
If I compare myself to the ME from 5 years ago, I’m overall really pleased. But I don’t know if I want to keep this progress I’ve made up. I don’t really know that the direction I’m headed in is worthwhile going into on my own. For example, in the past I’ve been more overall clingy person, and I mean to experiences, places, people…everything. Now, I’m ridiculously independent. I value time to myself like no other. I’d rather be on my own, and if I am to seek out company I’d rather pick quality over quantity. I absolutely cannot stand hanging out with random acquaintances JUST for the sake of hanging out. In the past I would’ve been completely ok with something of that sort.
I’m less reliant on people. And I’m more blunt about how I feel or who I am. Sometimes, I feel like I think like a guy. Sort of chauvinistic. My way or the highway. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, I don’t know if I want to continue down this path anymore. Eventually I just can’t think of myself all the time. Even though it’s not like I would never make sacrifices for someone I care about because I know when I truly care about someone, I can be beyond loyal.
Maybe it’s just part of growing older. I have to find my own balance at some point. I don’t need to be involved in a relationship heading down the marriage avenue unless I’m ready to or find that balance myself. I don’t in the least see myself ending up in a parent-child or professor-student type marital relationship. Unfortunately, if I don’t fix the stubbornness or stay aware of it, I might push my future relationship into that direction.
So hello. I’m trying to figure out. I’m not DOMINANT. But I’m not submissive. Sooo what do I classify as?? Ahh. I guess. I go for whatever feels convenient? Or whatever pleases me for the moment. And in that way, I’m actually dominant
I also realize, the times when I do think of getting married seriously, I have a lot of things planned out in my head and I expect them go the way I do. Like literally I’ve told maybe 3 people how I want 2-3 kids. All before 30. at ages 23, 25, 27 (or 25, 27, 29). And how I want to adopt one kid in the middle somewhere and how I want to raise them to be healthy eaters and like HELLO do I live in some fantasy world or something cuz I REALLY THINK everything SHOULD go my way. And I haven’t even consulted THE OTHER PERSON who’s supposed to be part of the married relationship about anything.
I actually have no idea what the hell I’m talking about anymore.
In other news, I got a haircut. I wasn’t feeling it that much at first, mainly cuz I like the kind of haircuts that you don’t absolutely need to spend 5 years styling each time to SEE what it looks like. The kind of haircuts that just naturally fall into their place are way better. Anyway, I was annoyed with it but I think it’s growing on me.
Also let it be known, I’m a damn good cook and I just get better everytime. GO ME!
pics of my room
ok finally...for everyone whos been bugging me to post the room pics already
here you goooo
still in the works, need to add/subtract loads
ill post more pics as i change things around here
here you goooo
still in the works, need to add/subtract loads
ill post more pics as i change things around here
change fo' yo dolla
Life’s a chaaangin’
For one thing, 165 days till Baby Niecphew makes his/her way into this world, insha’Allah. And no, we still haven’t found out the gender. I just can’t wait. I want to be able to buy blue or pink things already, helloooo. Yellow is not my absolute favorite. Yellow is like the sell out baby color. Like, you just don’t care or something. Like, hi, I dress my newborn in yellow cuz we never cared to find out the gender during the pregnancy. Ok, I’m such a hater. I think a lot of my friends reading this didn’t wanna find out the gender. SORRY GUYS I HEART YOU ALL!
Soooo yeah. We need to have a baby shower. For friends. Seeing as the baby will probably have a shower in Chicago with majority family from his/her dads side. All the cool people live in Atlanta. Or at least, we’re all Atlanta based. Everyones moved away. Makes things so much much much more harder to plan. Aaaah.
Amenah got engaged so she’s technically become one of us now. Or will be soon. ATLANTA BASED crew. She’s moving alllllllll the way to the bay area..yes as in california. That’s kind of far, like 4 hours behind. Saddening. But it’s okay because…well, I don’t knowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww HOW ABOUT SHE FOUND THIS COOL GUY WHO’S JUST LIKE HER MASHA’ALLAH. Like who would’ve thought. It’s amazing. I’m really happy for her. I sound like a cheeseball I think. Whatever. I talked to him and this is the first thing I said, “hi, if you hurt my friend, we will all kick you” and he was like WHOAAAA nice introduction. NOT. But he’s a pretty damn fast learner, because halfway through the convo he totally caught on and was like, “ok Sal, so what you’re saying is that basically, even if Amenah is wrong, she’s right and I’m actually the one in the wrong” and I said, GOOD JOB! *pats head*
It’s kinda bizarre because 2 weeks prior to this whole thing working out for her, I said to afshan how she and I should visit the bay area for a vacation or something. it’s funny I’ve had some weird obsession with that area and NOW I totally have an excuse to visit.
Soooo, a wedding means we need to have a bridal shower. It’s gonna be funny/cool. Amenah is arab…but she wants a bridal shower with an INDIAN theme. How interesting is that? Basically I’m thinking of just having a mini Mehendi/Henna bridal shower for her. AGAIN planning is key. Everybody needs to be in the same city at the right time. Aaahhhh
Because then the wedding is in a totally different city. And people have school and work and stuff. Insha’Allah khair. It’ll be a reunion of the original crew of four, one of whom we lost touch with for a couple years because she was moving around the world. She’s finally married and settled in Germany now temporarily and will hopefully make it back for the wedding.
Speaking of which I CANT WAIT TO GO TO MY FIRST ARAB WEDDING AND BE A BRIDESMAID yayyyyyyyy.
I feel like a teenybopper.
…
lately Sun and all of us (my other crew of girls) have been talking more as well. It’s nice because for a while only a few of us would talk to each other randomly. Lots has changed but is still the same. Does that even make sense?
My time in Atlanta was nice – I realized I never wrote about it. Saw a ton of family after forever. Lots of hugs. One of my dads brothers I saw after forever and a half. He’s so coollllllllllllll. I heart my uncles.
Everyones got all these kids now haha. Two of my cousins (brothers) are each expecting their firstborns. And another one of my girl cousins is expecting her second child. mashaAllah.
Andddd, I’m still waiting for a confirmation on Minas wedding date this December cuz that’s another bridal shower I need to plan!!
I’m on the phone while typing. Might explain why the writing kinda sucks for this post. They’re talking about how T-Bhai went to a wedding in Michigan where the groom arrived on a decked out horse. How old school is that haha. The only way a horse would be part of my wedding if we could possibly ride away in a carriage at the end.
So anyways we had a dawat this weekend and this super cool aunty brought me pink roses from her very own garden. I was extra overjoyed about that. I mean, when was the last time someone brought me flowers from their very OWN garden …like NEVER. Anyone can get flowers from the store or florist. *Sigh*
The petals are slowly falling off on my dresser. It’s sad but I let them gather cuz they smell so good. I love dried up flower petals.
Aaaas for my own life, it’s pretty uneventful so I don’t think I need to talk about it much. I’m living voraciously through all my friends. It’s nice : - )
For one thing, 165 days till Baby Niecphew makes his/her way into this world, insha’Allah. And no, we still haven’t found out the gender. I just can’t wait. I want to be able to buy blue or pink things already, helloooo. Yellow is not my absolute favorite. Yellow is like the sell out baby color. Like, you just don’t care or something. Like, hi, I dress my newborn in yellow cuz we never cared to find out the gender during the pregnancy. Ok, I’m such a hater. I think a lot of my friends reading this didn’t wanna find out the gender. SORRY GUYS I HEART YOU ALL!
Soooo yeah. We need to have a baby shower. For friends. Seeing as the baby will probably have a shower in Chicago with majority family from his/her dads side. All the cool people live in Atlanta. Or at least, we’re all Atlanta based. Everyones moved away. Makes things so much much much more harder to plan. Aaaah.
Amenah got engaged so she’s technically become one of us now. Or will be soon. ATLANTA BASED crew. She’s moving alllllllll the way to the bay area..yes as in california. That’s kind of far, like 4 hours behind. Saddening. But it’s okay because…well, I don’t knowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww HOW ABOUT SHE FOUND THIS COOL GUY WHO’S JUST LIKE HER MASHA’ALLAH. Like who would’ve thought. It’s amazing. I’m really happy for her. I sound like a cheeseball I think. Whatever. I talked to him and this is the first thing I said, “hi, if you hurt my friend, we will all kick you” and he was like WHOAAAA nice introduction. NOT. But he’s a pretty damn fast learner, because halfway through the convo he totally caught on and was like, “ok Sal, so what you’re saying is that basically, even if Amenah is wrong, she’s right and I’m actually the one in the wrong” and I said, GOOD JOB! *pats head*
It’s kinda bizarre because 2 weeks prior to this whole thing working out for her, I said to afshan how she and I should visit the bay area for a vacation or something. it’s funny I’ve had some weird obsession with that area and NOW I totally have an excuse to visit.
Soooo, a wedding means we need to have a bridal shower. It’s gonna be funny/cool. Amenah is arab…but she wants a bridal shower with an INDIAN theme. How interesting is that? Basically I’m thinking of just having a mini Mehendi/Henna bridal shower for her. AGAIN planning is key. Everybody needs to be in the same city at the right time. Aaahhhh
Because then the wedding is in a totally different city. And people have school and work and stuff. Insha’Allah khair. It’ll be a reunion of the original crew of four, one of whom we lost touch with for a couple years because she was moving around the world. She’s finally married and settled in Germany now temporarily and will hopefully make it back for the wedding.
Speaking of which I CANT WAIT TO GO TO MY FIRST ARAB WEDDING AND BE A BRIDESMAID yayyyyyyyy.
I feel like a teenybopper.
…
lately Sun and all of us (my other crew of girls) have been talking more as well. It’s nice because for a while only a few of us would talk to each other randomly. Lots has changed but is still the same. Does that even make sense?
My time in Atlanta was nice – I realized I never wrote about it. Saw a ton of family after forever. Lots of hugs. One of my dads brothers I saw after forever and a half. He’s so coollllllllllllll. I heart my uncles.
Everyones got all these kids now haha. Two of my cousins (brothers) are each expecting their firstborns. And another one of my girl cousins is expecting her second child. mashaAllah.
Andddd, I’m still waiting for a confirmation on Minas wedding date this December cuz that’s another bridal shower I need to plan!!
I’m on the phone while typing. Might explain why the writing kinda sucks for this post. They’re talking about how T-Bhai went to a wedding in Michigan where the groom arrived on a decked out horse. How old school is that haha. The only way a horse would be part of my wedding if we could possibly ride away in a carriage at the end.
So anyways we had a dawat this weekend and this super cool aunty brought me pink roses from her very own garden. I was extra overjoyed about that. I mean, when was the last time someone brought me flowers from their very OWN garden …like NEVER. Anyone can get flowers from the store or florist. *Sigh*
The petals are slowly falling off on my dresser. It’s sad but I let them gather cuz they smell so good. I love dried up flower petals.
Aaaas for my own life, it’s pretty uneventful so I don’t think I need to talk about it much. I’m living voraciously through all my friends. It’s nice : - )
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
long time
so much has occurred. i don't know where to start. ok, nothing very dramatically life altering or whatever. i think the grammar was off on that sentence. and life's been good alhamdulillah. just the random confusions here and there but it wouldn't be life without them...right. i think.
hmm. i think i'm just being a drama queen :rolls eyes at self:
i've lots to be thankful for alhamdulillah.
should write more later.
hmm. i think i'm just being a drama queen :rolls eyes at self:
i've lots to be thankful for alhamdulillah.
should write more later.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
sleepy
sunday morning and i'm sleep deprived beyond belief. i need my beauty sleep dammit. woke up early to help the madre with preps for a lunch dawat we're hosting. i'm tired and thoroughly not in the mood to entertain people. but eh.
SLEEP I NEED SLEEP.
ahahusdkjas
on another note, i know i'll sound like a total juvenile when i say this...
but ok forget it. sigh. some things...they're better left unsaid.
SLEEP I NEED SLEEP.
ahahusdkjas
on another note, i know i'll sound like a total juvenile when i say this...
but ok forget it. sigh. some things...they're better left unsaid.
Friday, July 4, 2008
migrained out
So wow, I was really really ridiculously annoyed for like an hour or so earlier..but I’m over it. I totally wanted to break something though…like peoples faces (it was out in public). Just kidding.
Or not
Anyyyyywayy so like happy 4th of july….*rolls eyes* no one cares this year. I was telling a friend everyone is too busy mourning over getting fired and being broke to care about being patriotic. I think in fact, that this is probably the least patriotic independence day ever since the one after Sept 11th, 2001, when everyone was all about LET US ALL UNITE IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY and waving flags
And now everything is majorly screwed. The economy is gay. All these newly graduated college students I know can’t find jobs and stuff.
So WOMENS TENNIS FTW! (for the win…geek wannabe terminology) EURO is over but I’m watching Wimbledon 2008. Williams VS Zheng was a heck of a game yesterday.
I have a migraine again. I’m almost certain it’s from sleeping at ungodly hours and spending the day being unbelievably physically active..and my hunger mechanism is going through a midlife crisis because it’s trying to adjust to my craziness because I been turning things up a notch here and there…sigh.
Listen to this song, tis amazing: http://youtube.com/watch?v=W_jA2ab-6_I
The beginning is so hot.
Hmm, I’ve been getting a lot of spam text messages..in fact my mom has been as well. They keep inviting us to CLUB PARTIES. Wth right? I even get calls from such numbers that I do not answer…so weird.
I think I might change my number but I’m not sure.
At Jummah today I met some girl from the internet who’s in town for a while for an internship with the local newspaper. It was rather strange/weird but we seemed to get on normally. Twas funny. Ive met people off the internet before but this was really unplanned ..pleasent surprise nonetheless.
Or not
Anyyyyywayy so like happy 4th of july….*rolls eyes* no one cares this year. I was telling a friend everyone is too busy mourning over getting fired and being broke to care about being patriotic. I think in fact, that this is probably the least patriotic independence day ever since the one after Sept 11th, 2001, when everyone was all about LET US ALL UNITE IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY and waving flags
And now everything is majorly screwed. The economy is gay. All these newly graduated college students I know can’t find jobs and stuff.
So WOMENS TENNIS FTW! (for the win…geek wannabe terminology) EURO is over but I’m watching Wimbledon 2008. Williams VS Zheng was a heck of a game yesterday.
I have a migraine again. I’m almost certain it’s from sleeping at ungodly hours and spending the day being unbelievably physically active..and my hunger mechanism is going through a midlife crisis because it’s trying to adjust to my craziness because I been turning things up a notch here and there…sigh.
Listen to this song, tis amazing: http://youtube.com/watch?v=W_jA2ab-6_I
The beginning is so hot.
Hmm, I’ve been getting a lot of spam text messages..in fact my mom has been as well. They keep inviting us to CLUB PARTIES. Wth right? I even get calls from such numbers that I do not answer…so weird.
I think I might change my number but I’m not sure.
At Jummah today I met some girl from the internet who’s in town for a while for an internship with the local newspaper. It was rather strange/weird but we seemed to get on normally. Twas funny. Ive met people off the internet before but this was really unplanned ..pleasent surprise nonetheless.
bouncing off the walls
Currently have whitening strips on my teeth. Mouth tastes like a crappy version of mint. Barf.
I can’t stand looking at my eyebrows. They get hideous by the day. I haven’t gone any longer than 2 weeks without getting them done so it’s especially hard for me. Just 4 more days and it’ll all be over.. patience. I would’ve never waited if I was working or going to school..good thing things worked out so I’m mostly home. But we still have a busy weekend full of people ahead of us. So I’m annoyed cuz I WANNA DO MY EYEBROWS. Ajdfkdsla;. Ok patience. One of our desi aunty friends told me I need to stop being obsessive about my facial hair removal and she’s a beautician.. she said I can afford to go a little bit longer than most people are normally able to without looking hideous and I was just like um no. and then she was like, fine..how about you grow them out and I’ll be the judge.. (she works out at my gym too) and I was like um no NEVER AUNTY YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111 and now, unfortunately I was forced to grow them out but aunty went to Pakistan so I cant even show her.
I have issues.
I need to get my nails done. And buy new matching shoes for the wedding festivities. And I need some desi style jewelry. Aaaaahhhh. I shopped a little too much at the conference last weekend. I bought like 8 or 9 articles of clothing…mostly skirts. I’m turning into a shopaholic. Helpppppppppp GOD.
We have to drop of Mano and Ally Baba to the Pet Resort/Hotel on Wednesday. They’ll be there until Monday or Tuesday of next next week. Sigh. I’m gonna miss them soooo much.
I watched some crappy TV last night. This is NOT good. I do not watch crap TV. I am not mainstream *repeats to self into oblivion* the only things I can stand watching are Discovery/TLC, food network, animal planet, comedy central (just SOME shows)…and yeah that’s it. I’ve gone months without turning the TV on.. in fact, we got this new remote add on thing that I didn’t even learn to operate until like, 6 months after we got it because I didn’t care and watched some things online. The only thing I knew was HOW TO TURN IT OFF. But recently I’ve been watching more TV than I’d like to, probably due to free time.
DEATH TO TV!
I also am in love with my new trance playlist. It’s the best thing for running..sigh.
Speaking of which, I’m annoyed by myself because I have realized time and time again in the past few months that I am SOOOOOO focused on physical strength and growth. Like, no other really. I wish I cared just as much or that I was just as anal about spiritual growth. I mean I care, just not equally as much I feel. And it bothers me. I mean, what good is running a 5-7 minute mile (inshaAllah one day soon) gonna do me if I don’t have my Deen down right.
Ugh.
On a tangent, why in the world do people still write CHECKS? I hate checkbooks. I hate dealing with paper. And checks are SOOO old school.. I don’t even know where all my checkbooks are. Anyways…the most annoying thing is people who write checks in the grocery store aisle and take forever and a half to get the line moving. GOOD GOD. Get a debit card insha’Allah. And relieve us all of our suffering.
Yesterday I ate a bunch of crap. I am ashamed. But it was damn good.
*dies*
here's one of the raps I wrote earlier this year that's well...a good reminder to myself...especially in light of my concern for myself about spiritual growth. ideas just ain't gonna cut it.
1, 2, 3 check
you play one card,
i throw you my whole deck.
yeah, risk taker, that's what they call me,
leaps come with a thrill,
imaginations boring cheap and free
1, 2, 3 action - that's my forte
i'd throw you a mind game,
'fraid yo brains got a case of decay.
so if you got will power, determination, and physical strenght
dont just sit there,
take it all the way to the military camp.
but if you into ideas, dreams, and contempt
brace yourself.
the horizons warn me of your mental sunset.
jummah mubarak.
199 days til Baby Niecphew makes his/her way into the world insha'Allah. :-)
I can’t stand looking at my eyebrows. They get hideous by the day. I haven’t gone any longer than 2 weeks without getting them done so it’s especially hard for me. Just 4 more days and it’ll all be over.. patience. I would’ve never waited if I was working or going to school..good thing things worked out so I’m mostly home. But we still have a busy weekend full of people ahead of us. So I’m annoyed cuz I WANNA DO MY EYEBROWS. Ajdfkdsla;. Ok patience. One of our desi aunty friends told me I need to stop being obsessive about my facial hair removal and she’s a beautician.. she said I can afford to go a little bit longer than most people are normally able to without looking hideous and I was just like um no. and then she was like, fine..how about you grow them out and I’ll be the judge.. (she works out at my gym too) and I was like um no NEVER AUNTY YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111 and now, unfortunately I was forced to grow them out but aunty went to Pakistan so I cant even show her.
I have issues.
I need to get my nails done. And buy new matching shoes for the wedding festivities. And I need some desi style jewelry. Aaaaahhhh. I shopped a little too much at the conference last weekend. I bought like 8 or 9 articles of clothing…mostly skirts. I’m turning into a shopaholic. Helpppppppppp GOD.
We have to drop of Mano and Ally Baba to the Pet Resort/Hotel on Wednesday. They’ll be there until Monday or Tuesday of next next week. Sigh. I’m gonna miss them soooo much.
I watched some crappy TV last night. This is NOT good. I do not watch crap TV. I am not mainstream *repeats to self into oblivion* the only things I can stand watching are Discovery/TLC, food network, animal planet, comedy central (just SOME shows)…and yeah that’s it. I’ve gone months without turning the TV on.. in fact, we got this new remote add on thing that I didn’t even learn to operate until like, 6 months after we got it because I didn’t care and watched some things online. The only thing I knew was HOW TO TURN IT OFF. But recently I’ve been watching more TV than I’d like to, probably due to free time.
DEATH TO TV!
I also am in love with my new trance playlist. It’s the best thing for running..sigh.
Speaking of which, I’m annoyed by myself because I have realized time and time again in the past few months that I am SOOOOOO focused on physical strength and growth. Like, no other really. I wish I cared just as much or that I was just as anal about spiritual growth. I mean I care, just not equally as much I feel. And it bothers me. I mean, what good is running a 5-7 minute mile (inshaAllah one day soon) gonna do me if I don’t have my Deen down right.
Ugh.
On a tangent, why in the world do people still write CHECKS? I hate checkbooks. I hate dealing with paper. And checks are SOOO old school.. I don’t even know where all my checkbooks are. Anyways…the most annoying thing is people who write checks in the grocery store aisle and take forever and a half to get the line moving. GOOD GOD. Get a debit card insha’Allah. And relieve us all of our suffering.
Yesterday I ate a bunch of crap. I am ashamed. But it was damn good.
*dies*
here's one of the raps I wrote earlier this year that's well...a good reminder to myself...especially in light of my concern for myself about spiritual growth. ideas just ain't gonna cut it.
1, 2, 3 check
you play one card,
i throw you my whole deck.
yeah, risk taker, that's what they call me,
leaps come with a thrill,
imaginations boring cheap and free
1, 2, 3 action - that's my forte
i'd throw you a mind game,
'fraid yo brains got a case of decay.
so if you got will power, determination, and physical strenght
dont just sit there,
take it all the way to the military camp.
but if you into ideas, dreams, and contempt
brace yourself.
the horizons warn me of your mental sunset.
jummah mubarak.
199 days til Baby Niecphew makes his/her way into the world insha'Allah. :-)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
signs
Lately I feel as if I’m on my way right into a sunset, except I’m walking on eggshells so it’s kind of like, anything could go wrong any second. It definitely has everything to do with perception. Things aren’t perfect but pretty close to my idea of perfection (relatively speaking) with regards to the kind of progress I’m making in certain areas and the way things are panning out for me in other aspects as well alhamdulillah. It’s actually just kind of scary. I think it’s stupid I’m always on the edge waiting for something really disastrous to happen. Or maybe I just feel like this newfound contentment outlook will just kind of deteriorate or that I’ll get bored of it or something. Like what a juvenile thought *rolls eyes at self*
I need to grow up and just count my blessings and keep in mind that good things happen just as frequently or randomly as ‘bad’ things.
21 feels like it’s going to be an amazing year, Insha’Allah.
In other news, I have to grow my eyebrows out because they got to being really thin given how frequently I get them done. I didn't want to be 25 and look like a Latina (they're famous for having eyebrows so thin they look like they pencil'ed them on..and actually often they ARE pencil'ed on)
Anyway so it's a frustrating process..I'm not down with untamed eyebrows. Everytime I look in the mirror and focus on them too much I want to use my plucker but must resist..one more week to go and they'll look PERFECT, IA.
Moving on...adolescents are so interesting. My brother turned 13 earlier this year and he's going through all these changes..including moodiness central. And I'm just really trying to be patient (and sometimes failing at it).
Official half marathon training plan is in action..kind of frustrating because I'm doing the very moderate plan so it's basically like a piece of cake right now. Doesn't really get that intense, but you end up achieving the same goal. I need to take it slow because I often don't know when to stop and that means I increase my mileage by too much at the wrong time then suffer for it for weeks..
Plus, I'm doing my other advanced classes at the gym at the same time so.. yeah I'll take the moderate game plan
I still gotta blog about a lot of things...I was riled up about them earlier this weekend but ended up getting no time to jot them down. so now I'm just being lazy.
In due time..or perhaps certain things are just not meant to be voiced.
I need to grow up and just count my blessings and keep in mind that good things happen just as frequently or randomly as ‘bad’ things.
21 feels like it’s going to be an amazing year, Insha’Allah.
In other news, I have to grow my eyebrows out because they got to being really thin given how frequently I get them done. I didn't want to be 25 and look like a Latina (they're famous for having eyebrows so thin they look like they pencil'ed them on..and actually often they ARE pencil'ed on)
Anyway so it's a frustrating process..I'm not down with untamed eyebrows. Everytime I look in the mirror and focus on them too much I want to use my plucker but must resist..one more week to go and they'll look PERFECT, IA.
Moving on...adolescents are so interesting. My brother turned 13 earlier this year and he's going through all these changes..including moodiness central. And I'm just really trying to be patient (and sometimes failing at it).
Official half marathon training plan is in action..kind of frustrating because I'm doing the very moderate plan so it's basically like a piece of cake right now. Doesn't really get that intense, but you end up achieving the same goal. I need to take it slow because I often don't know when to stop and that means I increase my mileage by too much at the wrong time then suffer for it for weeks..
Plus, I'm doing my other advanced classes at the gym at the same time so.. yeah I'll take the moderate game plan
I still gotta blog about a lot of things...I was riled up about them earlier this weekend but ended up getting no time to jot them down. so now I'm just being lazy.
In due time..or perhaps certain things are just not meant to be voiced.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
theme of the year
I turned 21 two days ago, on the 29th of June. I kind of can’t digest the fact because I guess, I don’t really think it’s that big of a deal. 21st birthdays are way too hyped up in this society.
Anyway, strangely enough I have a theme for this year…which is to utilize time better with regards to my religious obligations (ban idle talk from my life) as well as to become more punctual overall etc. Insha’Allah I’ll make progress in this area.
How I arrived to selecting this theme is a story in and of itself. It’s almost as if Allah sent me a reminder or something. I feel honored but at the same time it’s kind of nerve wrecking because I know I’m a weak human and I’m not entirely sure how I’ll do.
So the mini story about this theme..well..my mother named me after reading my name in Surah Al Asr and falling in love with it. It's been kind of like this well known thing in my family but I kind of forgot all about it in recent years (I went through this phase in which I hated my name because I never met anyone else who had the same name..not to mention it was spelled all weird and nobody would ever get it and plus I was a rebellious teenager so I gave myself a nickname which after 8 years I'm thoroughly sick of plus I grew up and realized that I like my real name a lot better and this is the longest run on sentence EVER)
Pair that with a few other things and epiphanies that surfaced not too long after coming home that evening….and yeah, you get some sort of obsession with those verses. The echoing of them will not stop in my mind.
But I’m not complaining
Anyway, strangely enough I have a theme for this year…which is to utilize time better with regards to my religious obligations (ban idle talk from my life) as well as to become more punctual overall etc. Insha’Allah I’ll make progress in this area.
How I arrived to selecting this theme is a story in and of itself. It’s almost as if Allah sent me a reminder or something. I feel honored but at the same time it’s kind of nerve wrecking because I know I’m a weak human and I’m not entirely sure how I’ll do.
So the mini story about this theme..well..my mother named me after reading my name in Surah Al Asr and falling in love with it. It's been kind of like this well known thing in my family but I kind of forgot all about it in recent years (I went through this phase in which I hated my name because I never met anyone else who had the same name..not to mention it was spelled all weird and nobody would ever get it and plus I was a rebellious teenager so I gave myself a nickname which after 8 years I'm thoroughly sick of plus I grew up and realized that I like my real name a lot better and this is the longest run on sentence EVER)
So basically this weekend I attended a conference and this Surah happened to be part of their theme and was recited with its meaning every so often. On Sunday morning (also the day of my birthday) we’re sitting around after brunch and a speaker steps up and starts reciting the Surah. At some point I suddenly remembered how my mom named me after the Arabic word for ‘pious’ or ‘piety’ found within the Surah…and then I also remembered it was my birthday (truth be told I did kind of forget..I was so busy and involved in other things).
Then it just all hit home for me and I felt an out of the ordinary affinity for the meaning of the Surahs verses. Most of you should already probably know what it is but I’m going to paste them anyway:
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
Verily Man is in loss,
Except such as have Faith,
and do righteous deeds,
and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth,
and of Patience and Constancy.
Pair that with a few other things and epiphanies that surfaced not too long after coming home that evening….and yeah, you get some sort of obsession with those verses. The echoing of them will not stop in my mind.
But I’m not complaining
Friday, June 27, 2008
phrenic root canal
I’ve got a lot of things I want to vent about. It’s funny… up until a few weeks ago the idea of getting back to blogging was dreadful because I drew a blank whenever I thought of potential topics to vent on.
Now, it seems as if every little thing has potential for me to just go on and on and on and on about. It’s a bit frustrating because I have a lot of ideas floating around in my mind, kinda getting jumbled up or lost but I know I’ll only remember so much. I could potentially make a list of everything I’ve been wanting to get off my mind but I’m too lazy. Maybe I will..in this post.
Anyone notice that I’ve used the word POTENTIAL like 3 times so far?
..Yeah, me either.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt like I have to write for the audience which is pretty nice. I mean, yeah, people I think are semi cool ;) have the link to this thing and I think they might want a glimpse into my cranial jargon (though I think most understand the way I think/feel about stuff in general) but ultimately, I’m writing because I have a thirst to let it out of my system. And being heard by people who won’t feel the need to be critical bastards is part of that selfish desire.
I got an NPR toolbar. I adore it because it has all the big city NPR stations on a cute little dropdown menu which I can access at any point and time with a simple click. Should’ve thought of it earlier. I went through a toolbar obsession phase during which I had a Google (mandatory duh), Amazon, and Dictionary.com toolbar because those three are like staples for me. Now I have my 4th staple : - )
Anyway.. things I need to write about:
1. Operation BRAINWASH 08 (I wish this had something to with the American media or the Bush administration or something political like that)
2. THE MOULDING PHENOMENON. Or molding. Whatever..i think it’s moulding. I cant be bothered to use my dictionary.com toolbar right now but really, moulded minds are molded..or molded minds are moulded anyways
3. The Traditional Females’ Role and the Evolution of My Perception of It Through Recent Years (it looks and sounds like a book title because I could in fact, write a book about it).
I also need to take pictures of the way my room looks now for this blog because it’s become a reflection of me finally.. and I need to show all my friends.
I am seriously undergoing ridiculous thought process alteration these days. Like, wow. I can’t believe how rapidly the solid frames of my mind are shifting. It’s like an earthquake in my mind that I kind of welcome, even though a lot of the changes feel like I have to extract a 100 year old tree with its roots from the ground sometimes. Others feel more like mountains with ice peaks that have finally seen and felt the warmth of the sun and are EVER SO READY to melt the hell away and obey the forces of a gravitational pull inevitable. At the same time, there is acknowledgement of the waters inherent nature and desire to take the shape of whatever, whenever whilst keeping its individuality intact. In short, I’m becoming a liberal feminazi.
Or not. I’ll explain in detail at some point. I gotta go now…more tonight.
Now, it seems as if every little thing has potential for me to just go on and on and on and on about. It’s a bit frustrating because I have a lot of ideas floating around in my mind, kinda getting jumbled up or lost but I know I’ll only remember so much. I could potentially make a list of everything I’ve been wanting to get off my mind but I’m too lazy. Maybe I will..in this post.
Anyone notice that I’ve used the word POTENTIAL like 3 times so far?
..Yeah, me either.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt like I have to write for the audience which is pretty nice. I mean, yeah, people I think are semi cool ;) have the link to this thing and I think they might want a glimpse into my cranial jargon (though I think most understand the way I think/feel about stuff in general) but ultimately, I’m writing because I have a thirst to let it out of my system. And being heard by people who won’t feel the need to be critical bastards is part of that selfish desire.
I got an NPR toolbar. I adore it because it has all the big city NPR stations on a cute little dropdown menu which I can access at any point and time with a simple click. Should’ve thought of it earlier. I went through a toolbar obsession phase during which I had a Google (mandatory duh), Amazon, and Dictionary.com toolbar because those three are like staples for me. Now I have my 4th staple : - )
Anyway.. things I need to write about:
1. Operation BRAINWASH 08 (I wish this had something to with the American media or the Bush administration or something political like that)
2. THE MOULDING PHENOMENON. Or molding. Whatever..i think it’s moulding. I cant be bothered to use my dictionary.com toolbar right now but really, moulded minds are molded..or molded minds are moulded anyways
3. The Traditional Females’ Role and the Evolution of My Perception of It Through Recent Years (it looks and sounds like a book title because I could in fact, write a book about it).
I also need to take pictures of the way my room looks now for this blog because it’s become a reflection of me finally.. and I need to show all my friends.
I am seriously undergoing ridiculous thought process alteration these days. Like, wow. I can’t believe how rapidly the solid frames of my mind are shifting. It’s like an earthquake in my mind that I kind of welcome, even though a lot of the changes feel like I have to extract a 100 year old tree with its roots from the ground sometimes. Others feel more like mountains with ice peaks that have finally seen and felt the warmth of the sun and are EVER SO READY to melt the hell away and obey the forces of a gravitational pull inevitable. At the same time, there is acknowledgement of the waters inherent nature and desire to take the shape of whatever, whenever whilst keeping its individuality intact. In short, I’m becoming a liberal feminazi.
Or not. I’ll explain in detail at some point. I gotta go now…more tonight.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
blessings and such
The Beloved As (Afshan & Amenah) have been harassing me to get back to blogging again but I’ve just been reading about their lives and thinking, uh, mine’s not very happening right now thank you very much. Still, I got this thing up a few weeks ago even though I couldn’t think of anything good enough to write about. Maybe I was sleepy at the time. Anyway, so I’m back in the zone alhamdulillah and insha’Allah. I thought about it last night actually because I started to think of all the awesome things that are happening lately and was like, I gotta write this down..This is EPIC awesome alhamdulillah. But then maybe it’s my perception you know. I’m easily pleased, I think….well, as long as we’re not talking about a potential spouse at least. Ask my parents for more on that bit!
I’ve never referred to them as the ‘Beloved As’ before…but it’s time I did. I LOVE how the most significant people in my life both have names that start with an A..And it’s the first letter of the alphabet. It makes my OCD do jumping jacks. Oh and obviously we can’t forget Allah? I mean how freaking awesome is that? Uh, and Atlanta. Ok wow, that’s just crazy.
Also, all the first letters of the names of my immediate family members spell STAR. Kind of cheesy but I like how that works out. So um I just had to mention that.
Speaking of family members, I didn’t mention my cats yet. Lord have mercy. Um, I got coupons in the mail from this pet resort/hotel/overnight care place we dropped them off when we went on vacation in April (yeah, that rich white peoples golf resort…WTF) and I just saw this morning they’re addressed to MANO Nav**** (our last name). How amusing I thought. For those of you wondering, although I doubt anyone should be, because if you’re wondering that much you shouldn’t be reading my blog to be honest (but then it is open for the world to seek out, speaking of which, no shady/inside family/friend jokes on comments please…privacy and all. anyway so Mano is one of my cats. one year old calico female)
So I was brushing my teeth last night (or this morning considering I slept at 5 am) about how it would be so interesting to document my thought process on a consistent basis and look back at myself in 5, 10, 20 years to see what kind of progress I’ve made as an individual and whether all the things I think I predict so well about the future and how I’m going to turn out are going to end up true. Anyway God help me because consistency when it comes to blogging isn’t my forte. Though in the end, I still have emails and long posts on message boards that I make a point of regularly penning so I could always go by that if I’m SO interested in remembering what I used to be like when I’m 30. Then again I wonder if I’ll be that interested…I mean right now, I’m really kinda embarrassed thinking about life pre-2007 because that’s when I finally grew a brain in my opinion. So I wonder if I’ll be thoroughly embarrassed by my young self enough to block these ‘precious’ years from my mind.
Wow, long rant thus far and I still have much to say before ending. But I think everyone is probably just really happy I’m writing so I’ll stop feeling self conscious.
OKAY AWESOME THINGS HAPPENING TO ME AS OF JUNE 26th, 2008.
In no particular order. because they’re all equally significant to me but in that they evoke different feelings because man, if you’re gonna sit there and tell me I should feel excited about a baby on the way and to someone insanely awesome in my opinion the same way I’m excited about a new album from my favorite band then I’m gonna have to kick you
Okay so I gave two of them away.
But it’s also how it all started masha’Allah. This baby is already good news!
So first I find out my BEST FRIEND FOREVER #1 is having a baby. This is BIG. No one knows or will ever know. Masha’Allah insha’Allah everything works out well. I’m so thankful. Yes at the risk of sounding like a cheeseball to my friends who also don’t do emotion well. although nowadays we’re all in a different emotional zone for various reasons ha-ha…kinda funny guys if you think about it ;) at least one of the ladies has her hormones to blame for that…yeah whatever.."hormones’ I HAVE THEM T OO YOU KNOW, NOT ANY LESS OF A WOMAN! )
Anyway so, I’ve never felt this excited or happy about a baby in my life. With the exception of my brothers birth and I was like 8 then..and that was still different. Awesome but different. And also given the fact I absolutely adooore babies and have for most of my life….it’s strange. It’s like my own sister is gonna give birth. Amazing. I’m learning a million things about pregnancy and this mom to be experience and I’m sure I’ll continue learning.. A-1s (Afshan) life is like an experiment that just keeps turning out better and better masha’Allah so we can eventually follow in her footsteps..i’m sure A-2 (Amenah) agrees. Ok why the heck am I making my friends sound like apartment numbers?
Yeah, then after the baby Coldplay released their newest cd..which is amazing amazing amazing. The one and only band I’d honestly consider seeing in concert and I think concerts are haram. I mean they’d still be haram but you know. Uh. And I’d also be ok with seeing Josh Groban. But more Coldplay. So their songs are awesome, have I mentioned? The music is SO different. Lost has DRUMS. DRUMS HELLLO! They might as well convert to Islam now.
I love all the songs..it’s like I fall in love with one song every other day. It’s great. I remember when A-2 and I would refer to our obsession with listening to a song over and over and over again as ‘KILLING A SONG’… hey sal, what’re you doing? Um, you know..killing a song ;) (we incidentally also like the same type of music..with the exception of that GOLDEN SONG. Living my life like it’s golden..bahahaaha…good times) Anyway it was basically like we’d listen to a song non stop if you hadn’t figured that already :-P so I still do that and I know for a fact she does as well..don’t suppose we’lll be growing out of that one anytime soon. PS MUSIC IS HARAM.
Okay moving on. Though I do sound like I’m writing a PHD thesis. But ok.
The third awesome thing is that A-2 might have finally found the man of her dreams..TAKBEER alhamdulillah insha’Allah it works out well…man I don’t wanna jinx it by writing about it too much but I am insanely ecstatic, that much should be apparent..um, if only because I JUST WANNA DEBKAH AT A PALESTINIAN WEDDING in an american dress with my hair all done not having to worry about guys sneaking it from somewhere crazy like at our lovely crazy supposedly half assed ‘separate’ brown people weddings..like your cousin walks in and it’s ok for you to not wear hijab around him..like WHY? Cuz I thought you could still marry your cousin
MOOVING ON.
I’m going to be in Atlanta in two weeks exactly insha’Allah..for a wedding in the extended family. The groom is the relative but I don’t really know know him. I know the bride as an acquaintance (Atlanta friend circle clash) but she’s nice. And her sister in law is of course a pretty good friend of mine and relative more recently ;) and plus a million bazillion people from my family/extended family are gonna be there..it’ll be amazing. I’m beyond excited about this one..and duh I get to see A-2. although she’s heading to California for some wedding and I’m only hoping she gets back in time to meet me because otherwise that would be just so SAD. I need a hug from my arrrb girl. Wow, I can’t believe I just said that…but it should be noted that in recent days the two of us established that it’s OKAY to be emotional because um EVERYTHING IS CHANGING..for the better but still..let the tears rollllllllllllllll down..okay maybe not that dramatic.
Also, I discovered last night that there’s something like a fitness convention for muslimahs. (http://www.fitmuslimahsummit.com) Talk about awesome. At some point I’d hoped to start something like that..but hey it already exists…that’s just great. This year the meeting/conference is in Hartford, Connecticut on july 26th and 27th. I’d love to go…we’ll see though.
Then the NBA draft is tonight…which always makes me happy..i don’t know why. And the Euro 2008 soccer games are still keeping me interested..though Turkey did lose. Oh well.
Also I’m turning 21 in 3 days…scary. Scary. Scary. But good insha’Allah..i hope for lots of good things this year iA. It’s gonna be a good year…I can just feel it.
And also also also, last but not least…actually there are other awesome things happening so this is definitely not the last one to note but…my leg feels a lot better..it had been injured slightly for almost a month bc I started training for the November half marathon a little too obsessively…but now I’m good…just needed time and patience..kept up with a lot of other stuff and my running endurance has gotten SO much better masha’Allah, alhamdulillah. I truly can’t believe sometimes how far I’ve come
In the end, I realize good things happen almost as frequently as bad things so I should definitely prepare myself for things to go wrong here and there…wait, who am I kidding. This weekend was pretty much one of those most awful weekends I’ve had in a good while. Just a whole host of emotions I’d thought I’d left somewhere far away (since they hadn’t surfaced for a long long time) appeared from out of nowhere..but for good reason. I don’t really want to get into that. One of the disadvantages of having a publicized blog. But hey, maybe it’s not meant to be voiced eh. It’s not that important. And the people who really matter who are reading already know. Nothing too crazy but I definitely would be lying if I said I didn’t slip into an emo, teenager self destructive mode for a couple days there. But it was nonetheless, a more advanced, mature version of that mode..if that makes sense. I didn’t wanna slit my wrists or anything but I was basically like WTF is this crap, man! And I truly felt like a nice escape would come in handy. Thankfully, I had the two awesome ladies with equally awesome news to keep me going alhamdulillah..that really really kept me on track and reminded me that there’s still good in the world..i mean HELLO why do I sound so dramatic? I’m just being honest. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to die every once in a while, right?
…or uh, not?
Anyway I’m back to ME…the ME I like and want to continue building on..minus a few (too many) things here and there but hey my core is the epitome of happiness and that’s all that matters..
As I was saying, good things come and go..i just gotta hang on to the rope of Allah swt. Because it is from His grace and the blessing he’s bestowed on me that I’ve been able to come back to my healthy perception of things and life...those two days completely sucked and dragged..anyway I understand such goodness can be taken away from us at any point and I can only hope for His mercy and gratitude to continue uplifting me IA
I’ve never referred to them as the ‘Beloved As’ before…but it’s time I did. I LOVE how the most significant people in my life both have names that start with an A..And it’s the first letter of the alphabet. It makes my OCD do jumping jacks. Oh and obviously we can’t forget Allah? I mean how freaking awesome is that? Uh, and Atlanta. Ok wow, that’s just crazy.
Also, all the first letters of the names of my immediate family members spell STAR. Kind of cheesy but I like how that works out. So um I just had to mention that.
Speaking of family members, I didn’t mention my cats yet. Lord have mercy. Um, I got coupons in the mail from this pet resort/hotel/overnight care place we dropped them off when we went on vacation in April (yeah, that rich white peoples golf resort…WTF) and I just saw this morning they’re addressed to MANO Nav**** (our last name). How amusing I thought. For those of you wondering, although I doubt anyone should be, because if you’re wondering that much you shouldn’t be reading my blog to be honest (but then it is open for the world to seek out, speaking of which, no shady/inside family/friend jokes on comments please…privacy and all. anyway so Mano is one of my cats. one year old calico female)
So I was brushing my teeth last night (or this morning considering I slept at 5 am) about how it would be so interesting to document my thought process on a consistent basis and look back at myself in 5, 10, 20 years to see what kind of progress I’ve made as an individual and whether all the things I think I predict so well about the future and how I’m going to turn out are going to end up true. Anyway God help me because consistency when it comes to blogging isn’t my forte. Though in the end, I still have emails and long posts on message boards that I make a point of regularly penning so I could always go by that if I’m SO interested in remembering what I used to be like when I’m 30. Then again I wonder if I’ll be that interested…I mean right now, I’m really kinda embarrassed thinking about life pre-2007 because that’s when I finally grew a brain in my opinion. So I wonder if I’ll be thoroughly embarrassed by my young self enough to block these ‘precious’ years from my mind.
Wow, long rant thus far and I still have much to say before ending. But I think everyone is probably just really happy I’m writing so I’ll stop feeling self conscious.
OKAY AWESOME THINGS HAPPENING TO ME AS OF JUNE 26th, 2008.
In no particular order. because they’re all equally significant to me but in that they evoke different feelings because man, if you’re gonna sit there and tell me I should feel excited about a baby on the way and to someone insanely awesome in my opinion the same way I’m excited about a new album from my favorite band then I’m gonna have to kick you
Okay so I gave two of them away.
But it’s also how it all started masha’Allah. This baby is already good news!
So first I find out my BEST FRIEND FOREVER #1 is having a baby. This is BIG. No one knows or will ever know. Masha’Allah insha’Allah everything works out well. I’m so thankful. Yes at the risk of sounding like a cheeseball to my friends who also don’t do emotion well. although nowadays we’re all in a different emotional zone for various reasons ha-ha…kinda funny guys if you think about it ;) at least one of the ladies has her hormones to blame for that…yeah whatever.."hormones’ I HAVE THEM T OO YOU KNOW, NOT ANY LESS OF A WOMAN! )
Anyway so, I’ve never felt this excited or happy about a baby in my life. With the exception of my brothers birth and I was like 8 then..and that was still different. Awesome but different. And also given the fact I absolutely adooore babies and have for most of my life….it’s strange. It’s like my own sister is gonna give birth. Amazing. I’m learning a million things about pregnancy and this mom to be experience and I’m sure I’ll continue learning.. A-1s (Afshan) life is like an experiment that just keeps turning out better and better masha’Allah so we can eventually follow in her footsteps..i’m sure A-2 (Amenah) agrees. Ok why the heck am I making my friends sound like apartment numbers?
Yeah, then after the baby Coldplay released their newest cd..which is amazing amazing amazing. The one and only band I’d honestly consider seeing in concert and I think concerts are haram. I mean they’d still be haram but you know. Uh. And I’d also be ok with seeing Josh Groban. But more Coldplay. So their songs are awesome, have I mentioned? The music is SO different. Lost has DRUMS. DRUMS HELLLO! They might as well convert to Islam now.
I love all the songs..it’s like I fall in love with one song every other day. It’s great. I remember when A-2 and I would refer to our obsession with listening to a song over and over and over again as ‘KILLING A SONG’… hey sal, what’re you doing? Um, you know..killing a song ;) (we incidentally also like the same type of music..with the exception of that GOLDEN SONG. Living my life like it’s golden..bahahaaha…good times) Anyway it was basically like we’d listen to a song non stop if you hadn’t figured that already :-P so I still do that and I know for a fact she does as well..don’t suppose we’lll be growing out of that one anytime soon. PS MUSIC IS HARAM.
Okay moving on. Though I do sound like I’m writing a PHD thesis. But ok.
The third awesome thing is that A-2 might have finally found the man of her dreams..TAKBEER alhamdulillah insha’Allah it works out well…man I don’t wanna jinx it by writing about it too much but I am insanely ecstatic, that much should be apparent..um, if only because I JUST WANNA DEBKAH AT A PALESTINIAN WEDDING in an american dress with my hair all done not having to worry about guys sneaking it from somewhere crazy like at our lovely crazy supposedly half assed ‘separate’ brown people weddings..like your cousin walks in and it’s ok for you to not wear hijab around him..like WHY? Cuz I thought you could still marry your cousin
MOOVING ON.
I’m going to be in Atlanta in two weeks exactly insha’Allah..for a wedding in the extended family. The groom is the relative but I don’t really know know him. I know the bride as an acquaintance (Atlanta friend circle clash) but she’s nice. And her sister in law is of course a pretty good friend of mine and relative more recently ;) and plus a million bazillion people from my family/extended family are gonna be there..it’ll be amazing. I’m beyond excited about this one..and duh I get to see A-2. although she’s heading to California for some wedding and I’m only hoping she gets back in time to meet me because otherwise that would be just so SAD. I need a hug from my arrrb girl. Wow, I can’t believe I just said that…but it should be noted that in recent days the two of us established that it’s OKAY to be emotional because um EVERYTHING IS CHANGING..for the better but still..let the tears rollllllllllllllll down..okay maybe not that dramatic.
Also, I discovered last night that there’s something like a fitness convention for muslimahs. (http://www.fitmuslimahsummit.com) Talk about awesome. At some point I’d hoped to start something like that..but hey it already exists…that’s just great. This year the meeting/conference is in Hartford, Connecticut on july 26th and 27th. I’d love to go…we’ll see though.
Then the NBA draft is tonight…which always makes me happy..i don’t know why. And the Euro 2008 soccer games are still keeping me interested..though Turkey did lose. Oh well.
Also I’m turning 21 in 3 days…scary. Scary. Scary. But good insha’Allah..i hope for lots of good things this year iA. It’s gonna be a good year…I can just feel it.
And also also also, last but not least…actually there are other awesome things happening so this is definitely not the last one to note but…my leg feels a lot better..it had been injured slightly for almost a month bc I started training for the November half marathon a little too obsessively…but now I’m good…just needed time and patience..kept up with a lot of other stuff and my running endurance has gotten SO much better masha’Allah, alhamdulillah. I truly can’t believe sometimes how far I’ve come
In the end, I realize good things happen almost as frequently as bad things so I should definitely prepare myself for things to go wrong here and there…wait, who am I kidding. This weekend was pretty much one of those most awful weekends I’ve had in a good while. Just a whole host of emotions I’d thought I’d left somewhere far away (since they hadn’t surfaced for a long long time) appeared from out of nowhere..but for good reason. I don’t really want to get into that. One of the disadvantages of having a publicized blog. But hey, maybe it’s not meant to be voiced eh. It’s not that important. And the people who really matter who are reading already know. Nothing too crazy but I definitely would be lying if I said I didn’t slip into an emo, teenager self destructive mode for a couple days there. But it was nonetheless, a more advanced, mature version of that mode..if that makes sense. I didn’t wanna slit my wrists or anything but I was basically like WTF is this crap, man! And I truly felt like a nice escape would come in handy. Thankfully, I had the two awesome ladies with equally awesome news to keep me going alhamdulillah..that really really kept me on track and reminded me that there’s still good in the world..i mean HELLO why do I sound so dramatic? I’m just being honest. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to die every once in a while, right?
…or uh, not?
Anyway I’m back to ME…the ME I like and want to continue building on..minus a few (too many) things here and there but hey my core is the epitome of happiness and that’s all that matters..
As I was saying, good things come and go..i just gotta hang on to the rope of Allah swt. Because it is from His grace and the blessing he’s bestowed on me that I’ve been able to come back to my healthy perception of things and life...those two days completely sucked and dragged..anyway I understand such goodness can be taken away from us at any point and I can only hope for His mercy and gratitude to continue uplifting me IA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
