DEAR EVERYONE!
Good news! I have decided my life's path! Now to get God to agree with it.
Anyway, God willing, I'll graduate in December with my Associate's. After that, I'm going to apply for, and be accepted to, CalArts' BFA in Character Animation.
This is where you come in:
I AM SPREADING THIS TALE ABOUT THE INTERNET SO THAT THE SHAME OF SO MANY PEOPLE KNOWING MY FAILURE WILL GUARANTEE THAT I SUCCEED. SHOULD I NOT SUCCEED, YOU MAY COMMENCE SHUNNING, JEERING, AND TAUNTING.
DO THAT ANYWAY. MAKE ME SUCCEED.
Thank you,
Me
Welcome to my blog!
This blog is an honest look at what life is like for this particular American convert to Islam. We're taught in Islam to cover our sins, to not air them, for fear of lessening the severity of sinning. In this blog, I may relate past indiscretions from time to time. This isn't to make light of them, but in the interest of educating Muslims and non-Muslims alike as to the realities of life as an American convert, I present my mistakes honestly. I make no excuses for them, nor do I claim that they were okay to make. I am not perfect, and I make no pretenses as to that. If others can learn from my past, know that Islam, and religion in general, is open for people no matter what mistakes they've made, then I will gladly air my sins when needed.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
ONE YEAR AND ONE WEEK AGO ...
I took my Shahada like a champ! It was amazing, and awesome; my Daddy, who doesn't quite agree with my religious choices, was there, supporting me like the totally awesome and amazing man I'm blessed to call Daddy. Which I still do. Stop judging me.
So! It's been a crazy year. Wow. I do mean crazy. Right now, I find myself 3 quarters and 8 classes away from my Associate's degree (finally), still at my Restaurant of Awesome job and kicking butt & taking names, in possession of a new sister-in-law, psyching myself up to apply for a Pixar internship next spring, and more content and happy in my faith than in any faith I've ever tried or looked into.
I was also sick with the flu for a week, then not sick for a week, and now I've got strep or something. My manager was so mad when I called in sick for the weekend, but what can you do?
Over this past year, I've been blessed with so many amazing friends; I'm continually astounded by how much I'm loved. We've done amazing things this past year. I am so blessed. I'm looking forward to many more years with every.
So! It's been a crazy year. Wow. I do mean crazy. Right now, I find myself 3 quarters and 8 classes away from my Associate's degree (finally), still at my Restaurant of Awesome job and kicking butt & taking names, in possession of a new sister-in-law, psyching myself up to apply for a Pixar internship next spring, and more content and happy in my faith than in any faith I've ever tried or looked into.
I was also sick with the flu for a week, then not sick for a week, and now I've got strep or something. My manager was so mad when I called in sick for the weekend, but what can you do?
Over this past year, I've been blessed with so many amazing friends; I'm continually astounded by how much I'm loved. We've done amazing things this past year. I am so blessed. I'm looking forward to many more years with every.
Specials:
'verts,
freaking awesome,
friends,
fun,
islamiversary,
pixar
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A review of Captain Planet: Episode 1.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers was an environmentalist cartoon that aired in the United States from September 15, 1990 through December 5, 1992. It ended two days before my sister was born, and I'm sure its cancellation is somehow her fault. I barely remember the show, more that it was cheesy, the theme song is amazing, and it started my love of blue men. So, I decided to watch the first episode again. And then I decided to review it.
All opinions are mine, and I'm making no money off of this. Captain Planet and the Planeteers is copyright Turner Program Services and DiC Entertainment.
All opinions are mine, and I'm making no money off of this. Captain Planet and the Planeteers is copyright Turner Program Services and DiC Entertainment.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
An open letter to Mike Huckabee.
Mike Huckabee, rumoured to be the Republican Party's main Presidential candidate in 2012, has made inane and idiotic (is that redundant? Close, but no) remarks about Natalie Portman's pregnancy.
For those who don't know, Ms. Portman, who is 29 years old, an Academy Award-winning actress, and a Harvard graduate with a B.A. in psychology (obtained during the filming of the three Star Wars prequels), and who's had a 4.0 GPA since grade school, is pregnant by her partner and fiance, Benjamin Millipied.
Mr. Huckabee slammed single mothers in general, calling them "very poor, uneducated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and never have health care." He neglected to comment on single fathers, or men who abandon the women they've knocked up, as if it's only women who have a hand in getting pregnant.
For those who don't know, Ms. Portman, who is 29 years old, an Academy Award-winning actress, and a Harvard graduate with a B.A. in psychology (obtained during the filming of the three Star Wars prequels), and who's had a 4.0 GPA since grade school, is pregnant by her partner and fiance, Benjamin Millipied.
Mr. Huckabee slammed single mothers in general, calling them "very poor, uneducated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and never have health care." He neglected to comment on single fathers, or men who abandon the women they've knocked up, as if it's only women who have a hand in getting pregnant.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
An open letter to my hormone and menstrual cycles.
* Disclaimer: I am going to discuss, in vague detail, the act of my uterus trying to kill me on a monthly basis. If you are male, this will probably make you feel icky inside. Therefore, if you are male, and you read this, you acknowledge that you have absolutely no right to whine that I made you feel icky inside, because you read this disclaimer, and you read the post anyway.
Dear hormone and menstrual cycles;
I realise that, me being of the female persuasion, you are a natural fact of life. I understand quite perfectly that you have your uses, that you wish my body to harbour a baby as quickly and as often as possible, so that I might contribute to the human race continuing. I know this. I get it. And hey, that's dandy, because I don't want the human race to die out any time soon.
But that being said, I hate you. I hate that you make me burst into tears for no reason. I hate that I bleed like a stuck pig every month. I hate this immense welling of despair that I feel, that I can't control, just because my body is going crazy because ZOMGWHYISN'TITIMPREGNATEDTHISMONTH?!?!?!?!?!
This, despite the fact that is has NEVER been impregnated and, God willing, never will be.
Hormone cycle, I hate that you make me hate myself. I hate that you make me feel like no one will ever love me because I'm too "me" to be loved. I hate the surges of insecurity that you give me. I hate that you make me want to crawl pitifully toward people and timidly ask, "Will you like me?" You take an already-present yet well-controlled shyness and multiply it like a schizophrenic hobo on crack cocaine while riding a rollercoaster.
Which, coincidentally, is what you do to ALL of my emotions.
I really wish you'd stop. I wish that you'd stop making my body cramp up to the point that I'm doubled over in pain.
So what I'm really trying to say, body and various shrieking-and-crying-rage-inducing cycles, is piss off.
Dear hormone and menstrual cycles;
I realise that, me being of the female persuasion, you are a natural fact of life. I understand quite perfectly that you have your uses, that you wish my body to harbour a baby as quickly and as often as possible, so that I might contribute to the human race continuing. I know this. I get it. And hey, that's dandy, because I don't want the human race to die out any time soon.
But that being said, I hate you. I hate that you make me burst into tears for no reason. I hate that I bleed like a stuck pig every month. I hate this immense welling of despair that I feel, that I can't control, just because my body is going crazy because ZOMGWHYISN'TITIMPREGNATEDTHISMONTH?!?!?!?!?!
This, despite the fact that is has NEVER been impregnated and, God willing, never will be.
Hormone cycle, I hate that you make me hate myself. I hate that you make me feel like no one will ever love me because I'm too "me" to be loved. I hate the surges of insecurity that you give me. I hate that you make me want to crawl pitifully toward people and timidly ask, "Will you like me?" You take an already-present yet well-controlled shyness and multiply it like a schizophrenic hobo on crack cocaine while riding a rollercoaster.
Which, coincidentally, is what you do to ALL of my emotions.
I really wish you'd stop. I wish that you'd stop making my body cramp up to the point that I'm doubled over in pain.
So what I'm really trying to say, body and various shrieking-and-crying-rage-inducing cycles, is piss off.
Specials:
crises,
i hate everything,
rage,
random,
ugh
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Muslims: Trust more, forbid less.
This is mainly about adoption, but will go into other things.
For my non-Muslim readers, when you adopt in Islam, the children aren't considered your blood relatives - thus, the rules for non-blood relatives still apply, such as women covering in front of men, no touching between the genders after the onset of puberty, and so forth.
This started with me being irritated that I get flack for being honest with my Muslim friends and telling them that I want to adopt and/or foster --- mainly this comes up when they ask for what qualities I want in a spouse; I'm not just randomly offering this information. A lot of them have brought up that I'll need to cover around male children, or that if my daughters choose to cover, they'll have to cover around my husband. Also brought up is the question of, "What if your husband develops feelings for the girl?" Also, probably what if I develop feelings for a boy. That's probably implied. These are put out as examples of why I shouldn't adopt and/or foster, despite the fact that adopting and fostering is a very Islamic thing to do, as evidenced by Zayd, the adopted son of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be with him).
For my non-Muslim readers, when you adopt in Islam, the children aren't considered your blood relatives - thus, the rules for non-blood relatives still apply, such as women covering in front of men, no touching between the genders after the onset of puberty, and so forth.
This started with me being irritated that I get flack for being honest with my Muslim friends and telling them that I want to adopt and/or foster --- mainly this comes up when they ask for what qualities I want in a spouse; I'm not just randomly offering this information. A lot of them have brought up that I'll need to cover around male children, or that if my daughters choose to cover, they'll have to cover around my husband. Also brought up is the question of, "What if your husband develops feelings for the girl?" Also, probably what if I develop feelings for a boy. That's probably implied. These are put out as examples of why I shouldn't adopt and/or foster, despite the fact that adopting and fostering is a very Islamic thing to do, as evidenced by Zayd, the adopted son of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be with him).
Saturday, October 9, 2010
To the one I love: Back off my hijab.
I love you. You are amazing. You are intelligent, you are funny, you are inquisitive, you are strong, you are sassy, you are beautiful. You are one of my favourite people, and I love telling others how much I love you. I love, have always loved, and will always love, that you are a part of my life.
But I need you to back off my hijab. I need you to stop asking why I wear it, because I've explained it to you several times. I need you to not insinuate anymore that women who cover their heads because they believe that God wants them to haven't yet come into the 21st century (Catholics, Muslims, Jews, anyone). The idea that I'm somehow stuck in the 7th century simply because I, and I alone, choose to not show anything but my face and hands to men who aren't related to me is insulting, rude, and, depending on how you're phrasing it, hurtful.
Love (because I do love you), my intelligence, strength, sense of humour, and strength don't diminish every time I put my hijab on. My IQ doesn't diminish point by point with every layer that goes around my head. The tightness of my hijab doesn't squeeze out my individuality, nor my sense of self, nor my self-esteem --- though sometimes it can make hearing and/or breathing a bit difficult, depending on the thickness of the material and how badly I've wrapped and pinned it. Also, I'm just deaf sometimes.
But I need you to back off my hijab. I need you to stop asking why I wear it, because I've explained it to you several times. I need you to not insinuate anymore that women who cover their heads because they believe that God wants them to haven't yet come into the 21st century (Catholics, Muslims, Jews, anyone). The idea that I'm somehow stuck in the 7th century simply because I, and I alone, choose to not show anything but my face and hands to men who aren't related to me is insulting, rude, and, depending on how you're phrasing it, hurtful.
Love (because I do love you), my intelligence, strength, sense of humour, and strength don't diminish every time I put my hijab on. My IQ doesn't diminish point by point with every layer that goes around my head. The tightness of my hijab doesn't squeeze out my individuality, nor my sense of self, nor my self-esteem --- though sometimes it can make hearing and/or breathing a bit difficult, depending on the thickness of the material and how badly I've wrapped and pinned it. Also, I'm just deaf sometimes.
Specials:
family,
god,
hijab,
inter-faith,
islam,
letters,
life,
manners,
stereotypes,
teenagers
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