Sunday, April 22, 2007

ranting...

salooooooooooooooom (The Irani way..hehe)

Well well well..It's been long since I've last written a blog entry. Nothing is "thrilling" enough to write about to be honest...other than my dreadful same every-day routine. I don't even think anyone is bothered enough to view my blog..why? cuz no one knows about it :D LOL excepet a few people. And the fact that I blab on a lot. So no point.

Anyway, so speaking of "Iran", I just watched "Children of Heaven" the other day on google video. One of the most tear-jerking, gentle, warm hearted movies I've ever seen. Quite original; that is in comparison to the American ones I've seen in here. Ali and Zahra were so caring that I wished I had such a good two-brothers like him. He sacrificed so much and had to go through such hardships just to get a new shoe for his sister. I admire him and admire Zahra's patience and unspeakable innocence. God bless such children. Unlike the ones here, so arrogant and demanding, if you don't get the thing they want, they'd yell to death until you get it for them. This film was one of a gem.

So I was struggling to choose a topic for my ISU (indpendant study unit) paper that I have to write almost every year. I finally settled on "Racial Profiling". I think that's a good topic since it relates to how we, the minorities, face racial discrimination almost on an every-day basis. Well, not exactly everyday, but quite often. I mean, those countries praise themselves for having such a colourful diverse multiculturalism, and on the other hand, the country men themselves are stamped by prejudicial and delicate discriminatory actions.

There's this quote I am gonna use from Baba Ali (The ummah films brother) when he said in one of his videos, "If you thought black while driving was bad, try Muslim while flying" LOL. And I am gonna elaborate on that ofcourse. I might add this joke at the end or something [ in a formal manner that is]. There was this dog that was about to pounce on this poor little girl and attack her. Fortunately, there was this Lebanese dude who saw the girl, he jumped in and killed the dog to save her life. From thereon, people started praising this life-saver and thanked him for his help to save the little girl. Once asked about nationality, the next day, the headlines in the newspaper read: " A terrorist kills a dog". LOL I just noticed it isn't related to racial profiling...well kind of..I dunno. We'll see. But yes, it is hilarious, in my opinion that is.


akhhhhhhh..it's HOT! The whether here had been such a roller coaster. In January, it was like spring. April, it was damn freezing, and now we're nearing the end of this month, and it's roastingly hot. I don't get itttt. Blame Global Warming. We don't realize the consequence of our actions until it actually starts harming us. :/

ok..got to go
salaams

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Cheese Croissants!!

Salaaaamu alaikum

Made those a couple of days ago...thought I'd share the recipe..hehe alongside the pictures.

Ingredients:
-3 cups of flour
-1/2 cup of milk
-1/2 cup of water to mix with a tablespoon of instant yeast
-4 tablespoons oil or butter if prefered
-pinch of salt
-1 tablespoon baking powder

Filling:
- cream cheese
Now mix all the ingredients together, and remember to stir the yeast well into the water prior to blending it into the mixture. Stir until making a slightly sticky dough. Make it into one big lump.


Cover the dough and let it rest for about 30 minutes.

Later on: Now knead the dough and form a small ball,
(sorry about the messiness; I was in a miserable hurry >< ) Make sure you have some flour underneath, otherwise it'll stick to whatever board you're using. Same goes for the rolling pin. Use the rolling pin to spread them into rectangles, then further cut them into triangles like shown.

Then fill in with cheese/spinach/meat/etc whatever you like. I personally like cheese . Finally, smear with egg yolk and spread some sesame on top, and bake into oven for no more than 10 minutes.

et voila!haha..I burned some of them *blush* But they taste good ;)

wassalam




Friday, October 13, 2006

Condolences...

تهدمت والله أركان الهدى


Friday, September 22, 2006

Ya Rubby....


Sick, tired, burning watery eyes, runny nose, cold, painful headache....O Season Change..tsk tsk tsk...The other day (prior to my sickness) in my English class, the sound of the runny noses of half of my class was echoing throughout the whole period (whoop-whoop-whoop--------whoop- if that sounds like it). Now it's my turn. I could take anything, absolutely ANYTHING, but no to cold. You can't concentrate in class, you can't talk (if you really want people to hear how you sound then go ahead; totally someone else!) can't even write or read in peace! Your runny nose is just going wild thru these moments! Oh boy. What a day. You simply cannot do a single thing. Couldn't take this day off-you are in a MISERABLE state if you even miss one day of this grade; weekend ahead and insh'Allah I'll get better. *goes back to sucking those soups and ancestral remedies*

oh boy, last year insh'Allah! can't wait to get over with this year! *just started lol*
Chemistry oh God....you can never have chemistry with calculus...a no no. On top of it, this calculus class was supposed to be a REGULAR one, not an AP (Advanced placement-a bit more advanced than the regular one) class!! A bunch of other kids were like "whoaa We CHOSE regular!why on earth were we placed here!!", so we went to the Guidance Councellor..he said" oh no problemo, zis is a meexed class, regular and AP". Apparently, there weren't enough people for the AP class- appx 10 people, so Mash'Allah, bright clever teachers decided to mix regular and AP people altogether. It isn't tough (well it's going to be in the next few chap's *dry*), thing is, when you've got chemistry, English, calculus AND psychology, you ARE really gonna turn into a psycho!

Now my current problem is "the struggle with the shyness disease" . It hasn't just recently struck me-it's been going on for years, but this year is a bit more critical. How do I overcome it? I have no idea. In psycho. class, we discuss countless of things more than we write; as a matter of fact, when do we ever write? :huh: It's plain discussions. God....I love discussions so long I don't get involved (which is something I really despise about myself) and it's like that's the way to get marks!!!UGHH...plus a lot of these topics sometimes touch Islam/culture/marriage issues/etc and I really want to stand up for myself and talk like other people!!!But I can't!!!!I AM tooooo SHYYY and quiet!!! UFFFFFFF...shy from what? I have absolutely no clue. It's been driving me crazyyy lately. As my mother jokes, " the girl talks to her shadow" :( which is something not nice to say about her darling daughter. There was this convo going on in psycho. class the other day, and the teacher was telling us about his experience with one of the "devoted muslim"families while staying in Egypt, and the incident goes like this:

Teacher admiring the big huge vase sitting in the living room...
Teacher to the lady of the house: ohh this is once amazing vase you've got.
Lady: ohhh thank you :) you can take it!!! really!!!take it back home with you.
Teacher :huh: : no really...thanks, but I can't take it home with me.
Lady: noooooo you have to take it!!!
Teacher (embarrased): no really...I was just complimenting it..
Lady: oh come onnnnn...you have to show it to your wife, family,etc...you have to take it.

*cross eyes*
and it just went on and on and on. The poor guy was like "WTW" is this something like common amongst arabs/muslims that "once you admire something, you'll have to take it!" ??and the whole class was like "whaaaa" and me stupid wanted to say: oh this is just a matter of being generous..nothing really hehe" ufff min 3adat il 3arab...

But I didn't.

I laughed with them..ugh. There were some other incidents too...one I actually commented on, when he was "again" admiring the baby and how cute he was, the lady was like "ohhh this is bad...bla bla bla" I am like "huh" then I actually said that this is just some superstitious stuff, evil eye and whatnot...don't take it seriously. So yeah, he's like I know....then continued laughing. Man, what is wrong with those people!!!!3urbaaaan!!What in the world is wrong with complimenting a baby? It's actually nice to say that this baby is cute and adorable and all that. Maybe it's not the same with the Egyptians. huh I dont get those people really. Typical arabs.

Anyway, I am trying hard...evaluating myself daily...I hope I will get over it one day.

gotta prepare Iftar..BTW, RAMADAAAANNNNNNN MUBARAAAAAAAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
probably this sunday insh'Allah. May we get closer to Allah and may He accept all our deeds in this Holy Month insh'Allah.

until then, take care!!!

Friday, September 01, 2006

Munajaat Al-Sha'baniyyah



The most beautiful and touching munajat you could've ever heard of. Stunning.
Recieved it via email from AIM:

Click here for the audio

My Lord, bestow Your blessings on Muhammad and his descendants; respond to my prayer when I pray to You; listen to my call when I call You; and turn to me when I make my submission to You in confidence. I have come running to You and am standing before You imploring You in humility and hoping to get the reward You have for me. You know what is in my heart, and You are aware of what I need. You know my mind and are not unaware of my future and of my present, of what I want to begin my speech with; of the request I would utter, and of the hopes I have in regard to my ultimate lot.

My Lord, whatever You have destined for me up to tbe end of my life, whether concerning the open aspect of my life or the hidden aspect of it, is bound to come. What is to my advantage and what is to my disadvantage - all my losses and gains are in Your hand, not in the hand of anybody else.

My Lord, if You deprive me, who else will provide me; and if You let me down, who else will help me?

My Lord, I seek Your protection from Your anger and from earning Your displeasure. If I am not fit for gaining Your Mercy, You are certainly fit to be generous to me by virtue of Your Magnanimity.

My Lord, I see as if I am standing before You protected by my trust in You. You said what befitted You and covered me with Your forgiveness.

My Lord, if You forgive me, then who is more suited than You to do that? If the time of my death has come near and my deeds have not still brought me close to You, I make this confession of my sins a means of approaching You.

I have been unjust to my soul for I have not looked after it. It will certainly be doomed if You do not forgive it.

My Lord, You have always been kind to me during my life time. Therefore do not cut off Your favour from me at the time of my death.

My Lord, how can lose the hope of Your looking kindly, in me after my death, when you have always been good to me during my life.

My Lord, in my case do what befits You and bestow Your favour on me - a sinner enwrapped in his ignorance.

My Lord, You have concealed many of my sins in this world. I am in a greater need of their being conceded in the next. As You have not revealed my sins even to any of Your pious bondmen, do not expose me on the Day of Resurrection before everybody.

My Lord, Your generosity has expanded my aspiration, and Your forgiveness is superior to my deeds. Therefore gladden my heart by allowing me to meet You on the day You administer justice to Your bondmen.

My Lord, my apology to You is the apology of him who cannot afford his apology being not accepted. Therefore accept my apology, You the Most Magnanimous of those to whom the evildoers tender their apology.

My Lord, do not turn down my request; do not foil my desire; and do not cut off my hope and expectation of You.
My Lord, if You had wanted to disgrace me, You would not have guided me; and if You had wanted to expose my faults and vices, You would not have kept me safe and sound.

My Lord, I do not think that You will turn down my request for that in asking You for which I have spent my whole life.

My Lord, all praise is due to You, always and forever, growing not diminishing, as You like and please.

My Lord, if You condemn me for my crimes, I will cling to Your forgiveness, and if You hold me for my sins, I will cling to Your granting pardon. If You haul me into the hell, I will tell its inmates that I love You.

My Lord, if my deeds are too small in relation to how I should obey You, my aspirations are high enough as compared to what I should expect of You.

My Lord, how can I go away from You unsuccessful and disappointed, when I had a high hope that You will be kind enough to send me away enjoying safety and deliverance.

My Lord, I have wasted my life committing the crime of forgetting You and played havoc with my youth, intoxicated with keeping myself away from You.

My Lord, I did not wake up when I was under a delusion about You and was inclined to earn Your displeasure.

My Lord, I am Your bondman, son of Your bondman. I am standing before You, trying to use Your own magnanimity as a means of approaching You.

My Lord, I am a bondman of Yours, I want to rid myself of the sins I used to commit in Your presence because I lacked the sense of feeling ashamed that You were looking at me. I request You to forgive me, because forgiveness is a characteristic of Your Kindness.

My Lord, I was not strong enough to move away from Your disobedience, except when You awakened me to Your love. I was exactly as You wanted me to be. I am thankful to You for introducing me to Your Kindness and purging my heart of the impurities of being inattentive to You.

My Lord, look upon me as the person whom You called and he responded to You, whom You helped by using his ser-vices, and he obeyed You. You Near One, Who is not far from one who is away from You. You Munificent, Who does not withhold His reward from one who hopes for it.

My Lord, provide me with a heart, the passion of which may bring it near You, with a tongue the truth of which may be submitted to You, and with a vision the nature of which may bring it close to You.
My Lord, whoever gets acquainted with You, is not un-known; whoever takes shelter under You, is not disappointed; and one to whom You turn, is not a slave. One who follows Your path is enlightened; and one who takes refuge in You, is saved.

My Lord, I have taken refuge in You. Therefore do not disappoint me of Your Mercy and do not keep me secluded from Your Kindness.

My Lord, place me among Your friends in the position of one who hopes for an increase in Your love.

My Lord, inspire me with a passionate love of remembering You so that I may keep on remembering You, and by Your Holy Name and Pure Position cherish my cheerful determination into a success.

My Lord, I invoke You to admit me to the place reserved for those who obey You, and to attach me to the nice abode of those who enjoy Your good pleasure. . . I can neither defend myself nor do I control what is advantageous for me.

My Lord, I am Your powerless sinning slave and Your repentant bondman. So do not make me one of those from whom You turn away Your face, and whom his negligence has secluded from Your forgiveness.

My Lord, grant me complete severance of my relations with everything else and total submission to You. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts with the light of their looking at You to the extent that they penetrate the veils of light and reach the Source of Grandeur, and let our souls get suspended by the glory of Your sanctity.

My Lord, make me one of those whom You call and they respond; when You look at and they are thunderstruck by Your majesty. You whisper to them secretly and they work for You openly.

My Lord, I have not allowed my pessimistic despair to overcome my good opinion about You, nor did I ever lose my hope of Your benevolence.

My Lord, if my errors have degraded me with You, You may forgive me in view of my unqualified reliance on You.

My Lord, if my sins have made me unfit to receive Your tender affection, my firm belief has reminded me of Your Compassion.

My Lord, if my disregard for preparations to meet You has put me to sleep, my knowledge of Your kind bounties has awakened me.

My Lord, if Your severe punishment calls me to Hell, the abundance of Your reward invites me to Paradise.

My Lord, I ask You and pray to You earnestly, I desire and request You to show Your favour to Muhammad and his descendants, make me one of those who always remember You and never violate the pledge they make to You, who do not fail to show You their gratitude and do not take Your orders lightly.

My Lord, let me be attached to the Light of Your Majestic Glory, so that I may know You alone, be away from others, and have a heart fearful of You and an eye watchful of You. May Allah's blessing and peace be on Muhammad and those of his descendants who are pure.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Duaas please!!!

Assalamu alaikum to all those reading my dull and boring entries; Ins'Allah you're all doing super good.

I am SOOOOOO exhausted. I can't even lift my legs no more. My eyes are almost going to pop out of their sockets. My hands are about to fall off as well. ya3ni we had to make this pre-school shopping today..tsk tsk tsk..I don't mind shopping at all, but TODAY???!!!And tomoryrow is my biggest day ever!!! Why? Well, because I am going to meet one of my bestest and closest friends on SC TOMORROW SATURDAY!!! I am sooooooooo nervous, thrilled, confused, super happy, preplexed ahhhhh...I am not going to make this long, because I've got to finish my packing and get ready to wake up early tomorrow morning. I am going all ALONE *tears* by the train/metro for appx five hours and then I'll be meeting her there in the subway station insh'Allah. I CAN"T wait Ya Rubby. The first time I met her OMG. It was such a hilarious scene and I mean it. It lasted for like 5-10 minutes, and I was going crazyyy I swear...loool..I'll talk about this later. She's invited me a couple of times early this July for her wedding party and all..but I couldn't go unfortunately :( . Now this one is going to be a small party for the girls only and I'll get to see her as much as I want *yay going crazy* AHHHH. I can't wait. Btw, I'll be staying for one night there and coming back sunday night INSHA'ALLAH.

All I want from you guys is to make lottts of duaas for me *blush* as I am easily getting used to being lost. What if I don't get off at the right station? What if I don't see her in the station? What if I fainted from emotions overwhelming me? *tears* Pleaseee..ya Allah...make this journey run smoothly and at ease and may there not be a dopey person sitting beside me on the train ya Rub.

OMG...12:49 a.m I better hurry up!!!

I will update this as soon as I come baaaaack insh'Allah.
keep me in your duaas please :(
Wassalam
p.s this banner works on I.E browser but not firefox :( oh well.

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UPDATE:

Where do I start? I wanna go through it all over again :cry: only if I can rewind the tape :( . It was the most fANtAstIc night I've ever lived through. We kept on hugging each other every second and the other *blush* lol.

So as I mentioned earlier, we've met one time before, as it was at the hussayniyah in her town but it was tooooooo quick. ya3ni we talked for like 5-10 min's and then I said I have to go since my father and uncle were waiting me down stairs. Though it was crazy I swear. I am like "OMG ...OMG" " Is this really A.H before me or who" " OMG why are those people staring at me" Not to mention the number of colours my face kept changing to. Red..yellow..green..normal...red again LOL. I was too shy and so excited simultaneously :$ .

Early this summer,the girl invited me a couple of times to her wedding party and a few other girls get-togetheres but I couldn't make it unfortunately. After a couple of weeks, when the girl does her first visit to her parents' house, they do a small party too. I couldn't resist not going this time. ya3ni we really had to meet. We were desperate to see each other again lol. Alhamdullilah I was able enough to go on the train all the way to there all by my self. My first time travelling alone :'(. My father kept checking on me every second and the other literally, lol. It was def. a loong journey, but Alhamdullilah I made it there safe and sound. Luckily I got the window seat, and then there was this chinese girl sitting beside me, then she disappeared somewhere else. I got to own the two seats for myself hehe.

After my arrival, her father picked us up from the station and we were talking non-stop all the way to the hairdresser. She's such a sweet sis. I miss her already :(. So we stayed for a couple of hours, then we went to her house afterwards. Her mother was such a nice khala, so sweet and welcoming (keeping in mind that I am her friend whom she's met on the hussayniyah rofl). We ate then got dressed, and made ready the anasheed and mawaleed for the party. She looked so charming Masha'Allah. The tears kept flowing by every now and then.

So as usual, the party was scheduled at 6 but we arabs have this tendency of coming late to such occassions. some came at 8, others at 9..it was crazyyy lol. I told her next time, make it at 4 and they'll be here at 6. It always works that way, especially with my mother. tsk tsk tsk. Nevertheless, it was soooo much fun wallah..we had a blast. There were a lot of Lebanese and they did their "dabka" too. hehe. I was the camera man video taping, and taking numerous pix of alll different angles. I couldn't help myself but drop a few other tears too. Just seeing her smiling is a lot for me. So as the 7aflah came to an end, the girl, her mother and her sis were begging me to stay overnight and sleep at their house, but I just couldn't. My uncle, who lives there, was like you come all the way here and not even drop at our house...no way. I couldn't postpone my date of return either, as it was scheduled to be right the next day, so I just had to go to ammo's house and spend the night there. We didn't get enough to see each other :( butttt Alhamdullilah atleast I GOT to see her. I go all the way back home and I have forgotten my book, my toothbrush, my tooth paste, my ring..I broke my purse's zipper..loool all that in one night. I wonder how I would do in a one-month trip lol.

It was an amazing trip. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.

What an awesome day to spend my b-day on. I didn't tell her that it was my b-day today (past Saturday) muhahahahahaha. But it was all good Alhamdullilah.

ahhhhhhhhh...now I am relieved....Thanks all for your duaas :).

Saturday, August 19, 2006

w000t!!

If a train is approaching or the signal lights near the track are flashing, you must stop no closer than:
1) 5 m from the nearest rail
2) 10 m from the nearest rail
3) 15 m from the nearest rail
4) 20 m from the nearest rail

A driver convicted of failing to stop for the school bus when required can be fined...
1) $ 50 to $100 and lose 3 demerit points for first offense
2) $400 to $2000 and lose 6 demerit points for the first offense.
3) $90 and lose 2 demerit points for first offense.
4) $75 and lose 4 demerit points for first offense.

I PASSED!!!! I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST!! woohoo :D

Pheww..A load on my shoulders. Alhamdullilah I am done with it. Got 18/20 on the rules section and 19/20 on the signs part. Endless days and nights of cut-off studying for this damn test...finally done it and got over with it.

oh and btw, that's just the written/theoretical test; the practical one will be done 20 years from now :P j/k. Sooner than that.

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Ok so yeah as you may have noticed already, my blog has gone a li'l "weird". I got tired and bored from my old template. I like to change. But the problem is I don't know where the banner is :'( . It's B E A U T I F U L . Click on the pic below for a clearer view:
The background is lighter though...sooo, this will be just a temporary one; as I will give it sometime to "adjust" itself if it needs to. LOL. I don't think that'll work, but we got nothing to lose.

Anyway, nothing lately happening much...more than a friend of mine got married those two recent months (including my cousin). Those must be the "matrimonial" months of the year. Guests coming in..guests coming out. ah..I am also "still" having this dialogue with the sunni friend of mine via email. And to be honest, we have not yet moved on to any other topic save the beginning part and ever since we got into "intercession" we never got out of it. Though, the topic is branching off somewhat... But it's really getting frustrating.

worship..worship..bidaaa bidaa...shirk...*rolllll eyes* I am fed up with it honestly. I think all sunnis are like my friend. Salafi influenced. I feel so sorry for them. I mean not even logic works with them!!!LOGIC and reasoning ya Allah!! How on earth can a "fallible" human being who is prone to making mistakes be promised paradise? Can the mind even comprehend that? (concerning the hadith with the promised Ten) That's just one example out of a million other..akhhhhhh...

May Allah guide her on this Umrah journey she's experiencing for the first time, and may Allah grant us the opportunity to visit this majestic sight someday insh'Allah.