All-Bran

Can someone please enlighten me as to why William Shatner's face is on the All-Bran cereal boxes? It's just floating there. Getting fibre has never been so irritating.

Let me not

The moon followed me home today, 'round the many streets and bends we drove by, it stood not changing. It was a strange beige-brown colour. And I saw the man in the moon. Don't know why, but it reminded me of this: Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove: O no! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken. Shakespeare, first half of Sonnet 116 1. Have an exam in a couple of days, haven't started studying. 2. Rush of summer weddings knocks me off my feet. 3. I haven't bounced my bouncy ball since the day before yesterday. 4. Starting work as camp counsellor next week. 5. I haven't felt like using the sheep emoticon on MSN lately. End. I guess.

Blogs are...

A fellow blogger writes: "Blogs are our most inner thoughts that linger in our mind, to a certain extent, in our hearts. Some of us express ourselves better when we write and some of us blog so that from time to time we can always go back and trace our thoughts and find out what our thought process was about an event." My innermost thoughts of the moment: where is my dollarama bouncy ball and why am I not bouncing it?

Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?

There has been a recent surge of emails and articles written about a Somalian girl who apparently turned into a rat because she was disrespecting the Qur'an. So I received one of these emails, which was rather humourous (it included a picture of the "morphed" girl). Needless to say, I had a chuckle, ignored the email, and went on with my life. The next day, a girl that had received the article replied to all the recepients of the original email...I began to read the words that she had written in response to this ridiculous forward: "You need to have your facts straight" (at this point, I felt glad that I wasn't the only person to think it was ridiculous). BUT then I continued reading the email... "You need to have your facts straight, and you need to read the article, the girl is not a Somali girl but an Arab. It happened in Cuman. Next time send reliable information sister." "Oh. Those darn A-rabs. I'm gonna get me ma' gun..."

Lines

My massive Oxford was once a temporary home for the fading petals of small flowers and leaves to be pressed into bookmarks. Words left unlinked, unchained, loose: marched straight out of the dictionary and demanded to be memorized! Like the sun which burns me, even through this thick shade. She, too, demands something from me: my pale skin. I see pages left unturned upon my writing desk. Leaves bookmarks no longer needed.

And You Thought "Asmaa" Meant "Names"

So we were renewing our passports today, and I was looking at my birth certificate...I noticed that it was dated one full month after I was born. So I asked my mom why this was so, and apparently, it took my parents one month to name me. (I was going to be "Khadijah" or "cawthar.") They were also concerned about the literal meaning of the names they were to choose. "Asmaa" means "nice" or "beautiful." (At least that's what I'm told.) It's satisfying to know that my parents put a lot of thought into naming their children. Anyways, I'm glad they named me Asmaa. Otherwise, it would say "Posted by Cawthar" at the end of this post. And something out of nowhere: There's a bizarre recurrence that happens in my household. Here's how it goes: 1. It's night and I am sitting at the computer. I hear someone scream. 2. My (older) sister comes running down the stairs - there's an insect in her room. 3. "quick Asmaa, come help me kill it!!" 4. I leave the computer and go to her room. (at this point in time, I notice that it's a tiny little thing walking around.) 5. The insect lodges itself somewhere under a crack before we can grab a shib-shib (uhh..slipper, that is). 6. We never find it. 7. My sister sleeps on the couch in the living room.

The Life and Times of Asmaa (for the past day)

Yesterday our car broke down on the highway. I think it was because it was really hot so the battery got fried. Anyways, so there we were after Jumuah prayer, stranded on the shoulder of the highway, drinking apple juice from those boxes (don't you love those juice boxes? Reminds me of my youth >:D). We got out of the car because we were too scared someone was going to hit us from the back - and then we would likely die. You know what was odd? People kept beeping at us when they passed. I couldn't figure out why...it's not like we were stopped on the highway to have a picnic - although that would have been nice, it was refreshingly breezy. Long story short, our car had to get towed, it was hot, it was scary. And we had to get some thingamajig replaced. Oh well. After all, TTC is "The Better Way." Hmmmph! I went to Scarborough for an interview today and it took 2 hours. I did get the job, but I don't know if it's worth the two hour commute. I'm not trying to complain. Actually, I am. I'm beginning to annoy myself (i.e. "To cause slight irritation by troublesome, often repeated acts"). The End.

Random Title of the Day: "Goat Meat"

I'm posting this in the wee hours of the night. Doesn't "wee" remind you of the little pig that went "wee wee wee all the way home"? Anyways, so I had this incredible urge to paint a mural on the wall of my bedroom. It was going to be a fantastic mural...really bright and lovely and dark and deathly all in one. And then I realized my mom wouldn't be all that pleased. So I didn't. But I did go through my old papers and stuff from ages ago. It was a little embarrassing to read what I wrote when I was in grade six and seven. "Like, oh my god, life is so unfair" and all that jazz. It makes me feel mature to read my old childish stuff. And then I read my blog and that feeling goes away.

Mercy and Pain

Abu Hurayra narrates that the Prophet said: "When Allah created creation, He wrote a book, which is with Him above the Throne, saying: My mercy overcomes My wrath." Every relationship we are a part of will bring us pain. Whether it's with our parents, siblings, spouse, employer...all relationships will be strained or put to the test during difficult times. In our relationship with Allah (SWT), we will also experience pain - except the pain that comes from Allah is different than other pain which is inflicted upon us in our relationships. According to The Names and Attributes of Allah, by sheikh umar sulaiman al-ashqar, one of Allah’s names is "al-mubtalee" or, "the One who tests with trials." Out of His ultimate Mercy and forgiveness, Allah gives us so many chances to come back to Him. He puts us through tests in order for us to realize our errors...and to be purified just like gold is purified by intense heat. Just because Allah tests us, it doesn't mean He is punishing us for doing something wrong. It is through our actions and reactions to the tests He puts forth, that we determine whether we will be among the successful or not. Allah knows us better than we know ourselves, He knows our weaknesses and our strengths. Allah gives us painful tests in order to bring us closer to Him, to purify us, to cleanse us of our sins. So next time you feel you're going through something difficult, remember that this is your chance to turn back to Allah and ask for forgiveness. "Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous (3:133)" Allah is The All-seeing, The all-hearing, The Just. And so, the only relationship that you can count on through thick and thin, is the one you have with Allah. So don't screw it up. And when you're going through a tough time, don't forget that "With every hardship there is ease, with every hardship there is ease." (94:5-6)

Streetcars and the Case of the Confuzzled Girl

I was on the streetcar today...it was on Spadina, driving through China Town. So the streetcar driver starts singing something like this into the mic/PA system, so all the passengers could hear: "China Town. The best place to go... to buy rice and fish Is anyone here cooking?" WHAT DID HE JUST SAY? I was beyond puzzled. It wasn't that the man had a displeasing voice...the most disturbing thing about the situation was that the driver was clearly Arab. I have to admit though, I laughed. But honestly, can't I ride the TTC in peace? Of course, there are those times where the bus driver decides to park the bus in the middle of the route and walk into Tim Hortons to get a coffee. Now that is truly annoying. Random fact: Did you know that streetcar drivers make $50,000. (And that's STARTING salary). Should I just quit school and aim to be a streetcar driver?!

Misplaced thoughts...

We live in a very individualistic society. We're trained to think only of ourselves, to fulfill our own needs and desires. I've been noticing recently that many, if not most of my actions are to benefit myself alone. I feel my contribution to my community is lacking. So, I was thinking, if I die tomorrow, what will people remember me for? And the answer that I came up with, wasn't what I was hoping for. Does being uncultured make me less of a person? I went to the library with my friend yesterday and she seemed to have it all figured out - the types of books, music, and people that she's interested in. She gets really riled up about books and music. She was genuinly excited about getting a Toronto Public Library card (because she lives in Mississauga and is only eligible for one since she started university in Toronto). It's not to say that I'm not interested in culture. I mean, I like books and some music, but I sort of hover around the cultural periphery and take what I am given, not really venturing any further than I have to. I just don't know. I miss my family in Egpyt. For absolutely no reason, here's a picture of my nephew who lives in Egypt: (say Masha'Allah) My sister just called me...she's coming home in 20 minutes. I have to end this post now, for I have been summoned to make hummus for her. And put some pita bread in the oven so it's hot when she gets here. Sigh. It's been a pleasure. Thank you and goodnight.