Monday, September 29, 2008

Eid Mubarak

Tomorrow is Eid. Another month of another year of my life, finished. Hopefully I am a better person for it. I feel better. I feel cleansed. I feel rejuvenated. And I feel blessed that in my time of need, I received so many sweet comments, emails, texts and calls. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The situation I last posted about is still not over, but God tells us that with every hardship comes relief. And I actually feel better, even though nothing is yet resolved. I am OK. This is major for me. With all the uncertainty, I am OK.

But what I am not OK with is that I have to be scared to go pray in the morning. Why? Because of things like this:

On Friday, September 26, the end of a week in which thousands of copies of Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West -- the fear-mongering, anti-Muslim documentary being distributed by the millions in swing states via DVDs inserted in major newspapers and through the U.S. mail -- were distributed by mail in Ohio, a "chemical irritant" was sprayed through a window of the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton, where 300 people were gathered for a Ramadan prayer service. The room that the chemical was sprayed into was the room where babies and children were being kept while their mothers were engaged in prayers. This, apparently, is what the scare tactic political campaigning of John McCain's supporters has led to -- Americans perpetrating a terrorist attack against innocent children on American soil.

And so tomorrow, I shall thank God for the blessings in my life and I shall pray for many things. And among those prayers, I will ask that the hate stop.

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posted by Anisa @ 9:34 PM | 2 comments


Friday, September 26, 2008

Help

Y'all, I can't talk about it, but I need prayers. Badly.

Please pray that God will ease what I am going through, protect me and make the truth come to light.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
posted by Anisa @ 8:22 AM | 10 comments


Monday, September 22, 2008

Reunited!

I had an absolute blast at my high school reunion! I know it's horribly uncool to say, but I loved high school and was really looking forward to seeing everyone again. There were 54 of us, which was great in the sense that you knew everyone in your class. It felt strange and normal all at the same time to be back in the halls of Starkville Academy. But there we were...touring a place we had frequented a lifetime ago. We had a family BBQ and it felt almost normal that all these little kids were running around. That night, we had a great dinner (adults only!) and I really think everyone had a really good time. And so, here are some photos:

It is truly hard to believe this picture was taken ten years ago. I'm fifth from the left on the bottom. It all seems so silly now...wondering who you're going to stand by in the forever immortalized photo of your class. And goodness gracious - I needed some tweezers and to forever swear off pleated pants.


And here we are today! We had around 70% of the class come, so we were thrilled with the turnout!


My and my "beef" - Janx a.k.a. Kendy


With my group of girls! L-R Julia, Lindsey, Katie, Deanna (also my BFF!), me and Loraine


And who doesn't want to show up to their ten-year high school reunion with a smokin' hot husband?! ;)

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posted by Anisa @ 3:45 PM | 6 comments


Monday, September 15, 2008

Moi

Been feeling down and filling out a meme to cheer me up...

Blatantly stolen from Cheryl.

A. Attached or single? Attached.

B. Best friend? I have at least one best friend for each "segment" of my life...high school (Deanna and Kendy), college (Katie, Meggan, Haley and Kim), DC (Amber), etc. And then, there's my mom and aunt who I talk to constantly, so I consider them best friends too, and of course Bert. And then my 1st grade BFF Julie who introduced me and Bert...and on and on. Can't pick one!

C. Cake or pie? Definitely more of a cake girl, but lately, I've been craving blueberry cobbler like a crazy person.

D. Day of choice? Friday...the anticipation of a weekend!

E. Essential item? Eyeliner. I feel naked without it now.

F. Favorite color? Hot pink. I feel like it's me in color form. On my good days, that is.

G. Gummy bears or worms? Bears I suppose, but not a big gummy girl.

H. Hometown? Starkville, MS.

I. Favorite indulgence? Chocolate and shoes.

J. January or July? July...usually, there's some sort of vacation and relaxation this month. Things have slowed with work and school, so definitely July. Although the newness and clean slate of a new year in January is good as well...but I'm not a fan of winter.

K. Kids? Love, love, love kids.

L. Life isn’t complete without? Family, friends, new adventures and experiences.

M. Marriage date? August 14, 2004.

N. Number of brothers and sisters? One sister, Sara.

O. Oranges or apples? Apples. I prefer Granny Smith. A little tart is fine. Oranges are good, too, but I hate the orange thingies between my teeth afterwards.

P. Phobias? I am always a little bit scared of something. My strangest is puppet people. I hate Chuck E. Cheese, Disney characters, mascots, etc. I will literally hide from them they scare me so bad.

Q. Quotes? "I don't necessarily agree with everything I say." - Marshall McLuhan

"Speak up, even if your voice shakes."

R. Reasons to smile? Getting to see my favorite cousins this weekend!

S. Season of choice? This is tough. I have a rationale for everything but winter. Summer-my historical favorite, slower pace, vacations, my birthday. Spring-the beautiful flowers, warmth after the cold months. Fall-crispness in the air, hot chocolate, spending more time outside.

T. Tag 5 people. Don't do tags -- but hope you'll do this fun post!

U. Unknown fact about me? Every time I sit on the couch and put the laptop in my lap, I have to pee. Almost without fail. Drives me nuts.

V. Vegetable? Grilled corn, potato anything, green beans, broccoli with cheese...

W. Worst habit? I am an obsessor and analyzer to a fault. I work myself up about everything. I mean everything.

X. X-ray or ultrasound? Hmm...this is tough. I think X-ray because I don't feel that my personal space is as violated.

Y. Your favorite foods? Cheese pizza and Lindt chocolate.

Z. Zodiac sign? Cancer. My positive traits are supposed to be: emotional and loving, intuitive and imaginative, shrewd and cautious, and protective and sympathetic . My negative traits are supposed to be: changeable and moody, overemotional and touchy, and clinging and unable to let go.

I have to be honest: all are dead on.

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posted by Anisa @ 4:49 PM | 4 comments


Saturday, September 13, 2008

Little Ones

Bert and I visited with my cousins last night in Atlanta. My cousin Omer and his wife Naima are the only people in my family that are really close to my age...most are my mom's age or little kids. So...it was a real treat to hang out with them last night! We also got to visit my newest little cousin who was born on Thursday. There's really nothing quite like family!


Naima, Zakir and me...anxiously awaiting yummy seafood to arrive!


We stopped by the hospital to welcome my newest cousin, Baby Boy Sarim. We are pictured above with Anji, who looks fabulous after giving birth!


And, of course, I couldn't resist snapping a picture the other weekend of Bert napping with our cat baby Matty.

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posted by Anisa @ 12:30 PM | 3 comments


Thursday, September 11, 2008

Rembrance

NUKE THE BASTARDS.

That's what the bumper sticker said on the old, beaten-up car in front of me this morning. The sticker was faded and the background was an American flag. Just your everyday example of 9/11 (tm).

9/11 should never, ever be used for political gain. It should never be used to paralyze us with fear and hate. I will not buy into that ideology.

Rather, what I will do is pause and remember the fallen. I will reflect on an America that joined together on that horrible, horrible day. I will hope and pray that I live in a land where one day those bumper stickers go away because we are better than that.
posted by Anisa @ 3:27 PM | 3 comments


Monday, September 08, 2008

Thirst

Another year, another month of fasting.

The first one of this year started on Labor Day, so Muslims across the world are in Week #2. Many people I know love fasting...they look forward to it and really soak in what it means to focus on God this month and work to carry that devotion throughout the year.

Me, well...so far, I have been tired, thirsty and cranky. BUT I am hanging in there. It's amazing that I can be parched all day and that first sip of sweet, cool water instantly quenches my thirst. I often think about the people in other countries that don't have access to clean water, something we take for granted. It really saddens me that there can be such poverty and such wealth in one world. Our country is so wasteful and we have so much. In fact, did you know that HALF the food in our nation goes to waste? Fasting has really made me aware of not being wasteful and being grateful for all I have.

I am also a big believer that food, water, relief, etc. should in no way be tied to religion and that we as human beings should help our fellow man simply because of that connection. No ministering, no nothing. If someone is thirsty, give them water - no questions asked.

So here I am...not even halfway through. So far, so good. It's not easy to not eat or drink from 6am-8pm, but the gifts that can be obtained make it worth it. I say my prayers and whisper to God to please help give me strength. And without fail, He always does -- whether it's fasting or something emotional I am going through or anything else. This month is definitely a journey, but one I feel blessed to embark upon.

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posted by Anisa @ 11:15 AM | 2 comments


Thursday, September 04, 2008

Stranger

Over the past week, my internet has been on the blink and my phone was so staticky that I could hardly hear anything. Dealing with AT&T is not my favorite thing in the world and I was mentally prepared for more calls to them in an effort to get something done. However, when I approached my driveway yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised to see the AT&T van out front and a guy looking at the phone lines.

Bert was in class, so I plopped down on our swing in the backyard and chatted with best friend Katie. I really could hardly hear her because our neighbors recently got a trampoline and the kids yell at the top of their lungs while jumping on it every.single.day, but that's neither here nor there.

Anywho-wait I hate that phrase-AnyHOW, about an hour later, the red-headed AT&T man walks up the driveway and says he needs to check the phones in the house. Well, hello! I am scared of strangers! So what do I do? Well, of course what anyone with any sense would do.

I informed Katie she had to stay on the phone with me while the telephone repairman and I were alone in the house. Like a dutiful friend, she immediately understood and was happy to stay on hold with me. I had to show Mr. AT&T where all the phones were, so of course I came armed with my cell phone and keys. Did I mention my keys have pepper spray in a bright yellow holder on them?

I can see that Mr. AT&T is amused, but only later when I tell Bert about it do I realize how silly I looked walking around with my phone and pepper spray. But hey - no one kidnapped and threw me in the back of a van, now did they?
posted by Anisa @ 12:38 PM | 4 comments


Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Last Names

I've never been a big fan of my last name - and Bert is sick of hearing about it. It is a Spanish last name that is hard to pronounce and is very uncommon - although it is a common name in Spain, but no other Latino countries. I am always complaining about how I should've kept my maiden name, especially now that I plan on getting my Ph.D. And I REALLY get tired of people thinking I speak Spanish...you don't know telemarketers until you have been harassed by Spanish telemarketers. Sheesh.

But then I realized things could be much worse.

As we were watching the news about Gustav, I saw a weatherman's name flash across the screen. His name? Joe Bastardi.

I'm really going to try to stop complaining.
posted by Anisa @ 10:43 AM | 4 comments