Incubus x swollen tonsils x nasheeds x scary waitress

Yes.

I am that crazy.

:)

Incubus

Sunday night: DTE Energy, awesome friends, a blankey, and weirdo drunks and/or young hippies. What more can I say??? The concert was AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZING!! ugh, I can't even explain the atmosphere. It was peaceful and exciting!!! It might be because everyone was drunk or high [there was plenty of fun plants to go around], but who cares!? No shooting, no fighting, its allll good. :D

Swollen tonsils
So, after my amazing concert experience, I realized my tonsils were a tad tender. Tuesday, they are feeling a lil' round. Then I had a manly man voice going on. I felt awful. I wanted to roll up in crepe and shiver and die slowly. I didn't know what was going on. No one could understand me. I was pathetic... and kinda still am.

Nasheeds
While I was working on a special project, I decided to find some motivation music. As I was looking around, I bumped into this excellent website where you can listen and download nasheeds for free, alhumdulilah! Once I remember the name of the website, I'll be sure to post it so all you folks can enjoy it as well.

Scary waitress

Well, as I was downloading said nasheeds and working on said special project, I had an unusual experience with a waitress who obviously hated her job. First, my friend, I'll call her CB (short for creme bruille), noticed this waitress gave her a disturbing look. I laugh because her reaction was kinda funny UNTIL... I was minding my business and I innocently looked up and she was staring me down with this weird expression.
Think of Carrie when she was about to kill all those folks...

yea, yea, that one. THAT WAS THE LOOK.

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE..... she was SCAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRY

I hope your life wasn't just wasted from reading about my very non-interesting adventures.

:D Salaam!

Please pay attention in history class

Why?
Because you don't wanna be like a particular person whose name I can't remember. So, I'm at work on break because I was on the verge of death and decided to take hold of a seat in the file room. I was reading Ange's blog when my co worker was playing her alternative Christian talk radio station.
So, I was minding my own business, catching a couple of words here and there while "Mr. Radio Man" (that's his name now) was talking about keeping the Christian community together and how that's what Jesus wanted etc, etc. As I was minding my business Mr. Radio Man was talking about the relativity of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He started off fine saying the were the three largest monotheistic religions and I'm like "okay, Mr. Radio Man", then he said this:

"These religions are considered Abrahamic religions because of their connection with Abraham... I feel this is true for Judaism and Christianity, but not for Islam. I feel this way because Islam is a fairly new religion..."

~~soak that in~~

---ruminate on that---

Now, its not a direct quote, but its 98.9995% correct plus or minus a couple of words, but wallahi thats the shell right there.

I don't even know how to react to this. First, I was like "this effing idiot is effing retarded", but then when I was discussing it with my friend, I realized this dude had absolutely no clue. Its that lack of education that has people thinking that every time a Muslim goes grocery shopping, we're out to take over the world and blow up Christians.

The fact that he made a obvious contradiction could be completely ignored by someone simply because they don't agree with Islam. Fine. I don't care if you agree with Islamic beliefs or not, but a smart person would realize that if Islam is considered a major montheistic religion, how is it not an Abrahamic religion? What god are we (Muslims) worshipping then? Since apparently its not the same God Abraham and Jesus worshipped, it must some complete random moon god or something. Do you understand where I'm going with this? Its logic people need to start using. People are so adjusted to "well this is like this because it is" theory that they won't let go of their ignorance to pay attention to what they are saying or doing.

This is overwhelmingly irritating. I love Islam and I feel blessed and honoured to have to brought to this path of living and because of this, I feel that when someone has a question or has a particular image of Islam that's not correct, I should be the one to educate that person.

I was thinking of calling and telling Mr. Radio Man and telling him Christianity is older than Islam by just about 500 years... not 2,000. Its not like Muhammad (pbuh) was born 50 years ago and was "hey, guess what - y'all ain't living right. God told me to tell y'all that". Then I would ask him that wouldn't he think it's odd that we acknowledge EVERY single prophet/apostle that Christians acknowledge? From Abraham to Job to Jacob to Joseph to Jesus, not one person is underestimated nor ignored in Islam, but SOMEHOW we just don't fit with the Abrahamic religion because we are "fairly new".

Let me make something clear because I know some non-Muslims might come through and read this. You must pay attention to what comes out of another person's mouth. I don't care WHO they are, be smart, use your intellect that God has blessed you with. Don't go around bashing something you don't know about. Gaining knowledge and rejecting ignorance and arrogance pleases our Lord and we all know that, so take advantage of that and learn about your fellow bretherin around you.

Don't be like Mr. Radio Man and just say something that is contradicting and could be harmful for others and mislead your community.

I am done now.

OH what's that Mr. Gadget, a Muslim paying taxes? Blasphemy!

So, I was snooping around my favorite website, Muslim Matters, and they had posted something about a particulary website that I thought was really halarious.
Loon Watch is a website that shows all this Tom-foolery called Islamaphobia. It's quite halarious. The satire paired with awesome journalism makes Islamaphobia seem like a game that some kids made up on a rainy day... wait a second, IT WAS WASN'T IT?! But anyway, lol, I was reading an article that made me giggle that was about some dude named Steve Emerson.
Here's a clippet of zee article:

Steven Emerson: “Wowser!”
Posted on 06 May 2009 by Garibaldi

Steven Emerson, a pillar of the Islamophobic movement, promotes himself as an “Investigative journalist” exposing terrorism and the supposed “fifth column activities of American Muslims” through his Orwellian organization, The Investigative Project. He claims, just as his counterparts Douglas Farah and Joe Kaufman do, that all his work is done in defense of America and in order to safeguard the homeland. Yet his claims are as mendacious and exaggerated as the other two.
He is simply the progenitor of some of the vilest, most imbecilic anti-Muslim hysteria on the inter-net and in America today. This is the case because more often than not he is so off the mark in his accusations and conclusions that it makes you wonder why anyone would take him seriously as a so-called “Investigative Journalist.”
His hunt to “expose” American Muslims is almost akin to watching an Inspector Gadget cartoon because of its hilarity if it weren’t for the fact that at least Inspector Gadget was sincere and actually solved a case or two. Unfortunately, it looks like Emerson lacks the high tech gadgetry that was at the disposal of Inspector Gadget and that might show him the error of his ways or at the very least help him get his foot out of his mouth.
Instead of using a magnifying glass to look for evidence, Emerson’s technique of choice is to make up the evidence as he goes along, Andy Birkey of the Minnesota Independent notes:
Emerson has a long history of getting into hot water over his anti-Muslim rhetoric. In the 1998 nuclear standoff between India and Pakistan, Emerson fed reporters with an informant who said Pakistan was set to strike India with a nuclear weapon. The media eventually found the informant to be unreliable - but not until international media had used Emerson’s source and intensified an international crisis.
In 1990, he was accused of plagiarism in his writings about Pan Am 103.
….
He sued a Florida paper after it published reports that he was supplying reporters with documents he said were from the FBI. The Florida Weekly Planet reported that the documents were frauds and Emerson sued. When he couldn’t substantiate his claims, he withdrew the lawsuit.
Emerson once claimed that an extremist Muslim group put out a hit on him and that the FBI offered to put him in a witness protection program. The FBI denied that claim.
In 1995, right after the Oklahoma City Bombing, Emerson was quoted on air stating that he believed the bombing showed “a Middle Eastern trait,” he came to this conclusion because according to him it was done “to inflict as many casualties as possible.” Wowser!

Read the rest here.

Work Story

It is something about kids that just crack me up. They are just so adorable [at times].
Example:
So, Monday morning I'm making some phone calls at my other job to confirm eye exam appointments. So, I called this family whom I realized, had a Muslim last name.
*ring* *ring* The phone rings (lol as if you didn't figure that out) and someone answers and the most adorable child goes,
'SALAAMULAIKUM!!!'
OH
MY
GOODNESS
I MEAN I JUST WANTED TO GO "WALAIKUMSALAAM LIL' GUY! HOW ARE YOU?" He'll be all "i'm 4!" and I'll be all "AWWW HOW CUTE! oh and by the way so and so has an appointment tomorrow at blah blah time" lol
it was great...
Cute kid.
I still don't want one though.
Too much... childness for me.


P.S. the greatest quote ever .... "da greatest soap from da heavens above... and dat's Dove." knowledge from Ghostface. So awesome.

oh yea, I'm at work and I'm on Polyvore... again.

So, I'm anxious for school to start and I can't stop thinking of fall fashion... THE BEST FASHION! The varying textures, mixing of colors, and of course the reimergence of HEELS. Yes... drool...

Drool fest #1:

Ugh, I wish it was fall by Roshan88 featuring Rupert Sanderson shoes

So, I LOOOOVE grey compiled with contrasting colors. mmmMMMmmm it makes me smile. I like wool too, it just makes my skin burn.

Drool fest #2:

Untitled by Roshan88 featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

Need I say more? The random desk/table thing, I just thought that was sweet lookin' and I wanna go furniture shopping.

10 Things [that you should be warned] About ME!!!

So, I decided to take Ange's invite to do this tag thingie.
Let's see what happens, shall we?

#1: I claimed Islam before I took my actual shahada. To some this may not make since, but when I started looking into Islam and I was reading about how to convert, I instantly thought "I'm Muslim". So, like every other day I was thinking or saying the shahada. It took me a while to realize that I needed a witness, so on St. Patrick's Day, I took my shahada via Why Islam. These guys are awesome, I even got a little new convert package!!! Sweeet.
#2: When I was younger, as in, like 3rd grade, I thought I was Muslim. Yea, where I grew up (which was Crackhead Central mind you, wallahi) there were a couple of Nation [of Islam] "mosques". My mom attended them a few times and since I didn't know the difference of Muslim and "Nation folk" (that's what I call 'em), I just assumed they were Muslim. I thought it was cool and claim Islam for.... hmm a couple years. Until some strange Nation man was all up on my mom and doin all types of haram shit, then I was like uhh.... no.
#3: I went to Catholic school for 13 years. Yes, it is as awful as it sounds.
#4: If it wasn't for Islam, I'd probably be a suicidal whore. Seriously, a little over a year ago, I was in the midst of a panic attack and one day away from a nervous breakdown and 30 minutes away from cutting my wrists down to my central nervous system. Not only that, I was beyond willing to accomodate my physical needs by any means necessary. :( Astaghfir Allah!
#5: I was Arabic in my past life. This is a strong possibility.
#6: I'm actually 7 years old.
#7: If I don't get to marry my POI (person of interest) wallahi, I'm not getting married til I'm 30. seriously... POI is really awesome. HE MUST BE MINE!
#8: I had crazy feelings for this Bengali guy like a year and a half ago. I don't know what happened, but he had to stop talking to me and I must admit, I was shattered.... *sigh* oh well, ANWAY,
#9: I got baptized 9 months before I converted. Yea, long story.
#10: Waiting to Exhale + Tylenol + Burger King fries = amazing

Allah Sent...

So, the other day I had the craziest dream. I feel like maybe Allah was trying to tell me something.
So check this out:
So, I was going to Jummah and I was chillin' exchanging some 'salaams' with some sistas, but when I was talking an older sista she ask me why I didn't observe hijab. I said that I wasn't sure if my imaan was strong enough to exude a good Muslim. she says that, you believe in the shahada, you believe in Islam right? I said yea, of course. she's like, "well whats stopping you? Allah knows your intentions. Don't let shaytan make you doubt you imaan."

DEEP

I woke up stunned. I felt like I knew what to do, but I was floored. This is the most forward "message" I've ever gotten in my entire life. When I converted, it was more of an emotional revelation than say... dream direct revelation I guess you could say.

I know what I have to do....

I just feel like I don't know where to start.... or when.

ITS HULK TIME!!!

OH MY EFFING GOODNESS.....

I

HATE

DETROIT METER MAIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WALLAHI, I COULD JUST METAMORPHOSIZE INTO THE HULK RIGHT NOW!!!!

ARG!

GRRRRRRRR!!!

I CAN TOTALLY DO MJ'S SCREAM VIDEO RIGHT NOW!!!!!

STUPID METER MAID!

UGH!

I WISH I HAD A WATER BALLOON TO THROW AT HER SO SHE CAN HATE HER JOB EVEN MORE!!!!!

ARG!!!!!!

Want This

Her name is Aamina and she's a talking Muslim doll that speaks Arabic. Lol... I want this because its awesome.

I mean who wouldn't want this????

She's so cute!!!!

If you want this (or your "child", of which I'm assuming is you) buy it here.

Come on now ladies

Now, I was talking to my best friend last week, while indulging in some tasty cake, about the BET awards. She happened to mention that Mary Mary was there. I'm like, "oh that's cool. Back in the day, I was a big Mary Mary fan" Then she added that one of them had on "tight leather pantses" <<<>>> So, I'm thinking, those are some pretty thick sistas to be running around singing Gospel with "tight leather pantses". Then I really thought about it - if these sistas are singing Gospel, what happened to the modesty. Just because you at the BET awards doesn't mean all you thighs and whatnot gotta be known too. As far as I'm concerned, modesty isn't just for Muslim [women/men], its for all people.

Especially the thick one... Lawd the wrong man get a gander at those thighs, ALLAH ONLY KNOWS WHAT'LL HAPPEN!

I don't think you understand the importance yet....

Soooooo, you see those tight leather PANTSES! I see em! I see those thighs too! I told my friend that I didn't understand why people made it seem difficult to dress at least DECENT [i.e. no leather pantses and thigh meat]. It really isn't! This can go for my Muslim sisters as well [a few of us are shapely too!], so I found some gawjuss dresses!

Seriously its not that hard by Roshan88 featuring Versace

As you can see, all of them are floor length and if you're a hijabi [or anemic like moi] get down with some shawls, cardigans, SOMETHING, but there isn't an excuse for sad fashion decisions or compromising your modesty to look fashionable.

*sighs* I'm down now. I feel much better.

I'm bout to eat some cookies.

Love,

Dedra

OMG ITS HERE!

YESSSSSSSSSS!

ZEE PRECIOUS IS HERE!!!!

ISN'T IT JUST AMAZING! IT WAS CREATED JUST FOR ME AND MY INNER CHILD!!! SUBHAN'ALLAH!

I HAVEN'T STARTED COLORING YET BECAUSE I GOT IT WHEN I WAS SITTING IN BED AND THE CRAYONS WERE ALL THE WAY AT MY DESK WHICH APPROXIMATELY 3 FT AWAY.... BUT CHECK THIS OUT.

ZAMZAM!!!! YUMMY!!!! I LIKE SOME FRESH, ALLAH SENT ZAMZAM!

"The moral of this story is that believers who, despite their hardships, follow the path of Allah, will find that, Allah will remain with them and help them in miraculous ways, just as the child Ismail was saved by the miracle of the Zamzan spring."

That's too real Mr. Coloring Book.... too real.

Love,

Dedra

A Month in Half!

So, the past two months I can't stop thinking about Ramadan! I'm so dang excited because I know I will learn so much (hey, I might even make a friend, yes!)... but then I realize that I should prep first right? hmmm, but I wouldn't know where to start said prepping. If you have any ideas, let me know. I hate to start Ramadan, then get sent to the hospital because I was doing too much lol. ugh, I CAN'T WAIT! It's gon be grand y'all! lol, I still need those tips though.

Love,

Dedra

Movie Time!

So, I randomly went to the Blockbuster the other with my best friend/god-sister/most awesome person in the world (tehe) and I was gandering around wondering what these young ones were watchin' nowadays and I bumped into this little guy:
So, I immediately got excited because I had been looking for something to intrigue me... so, I just finished the movie and the whole time, my jaw is like dragging against the ground in awe because the movie was so realistic and very needed.
I hate ruining movies for people, so check it, this is what I'll do...
Zee characters and dey purpoze. So, the Muslim family is Egyptian (*cough* Ange *cough*) and let me tell you they are all just adorable, especially the pop, Mustafa.


This is a ridiculously small picture of him being interrogated in the airport by the FBI (he didn't do a thing, but be adorable). He's the main character who owns a falafel joint in LA and his whole thing is living the "American Dream" so his family can have a nice life in the States and whatnot and let me just say, this man's iman is so strong because considering he kept getting arrested over ridiculous speculations and he still sat and said, "I believe in the country". He's a good one... I was born here and I don't give a rat's tail. lol but that's neither here nor there haha.


Mohammed
Trust me this lil' guy is cuteness. He's Mustafa's son and he's the one who's question why he's Muslim, why did those Muslims bomb those buildings, and so on and so forth. I think his character is pretty precise because I can only imagine how your 11 and 12 year old Muslim brother and sisters felt when 9/11 happened.

Omar
This young man is the son who works in the movie industry as an actor. Lately, he had been typecasted as a terrorist (shocker, not) and he finally landed on this wack TV show called American Safety as a doctor, until he went in to rehearse and the had him play as a terrorist instead. That's all I'm gonna tell you about him (and other characters) because that would get me into describing the movie - and I want you to watch it first before I say anything about it.


Moral of the story: SEE THIS MOVIE! This movie wasn't released at American theaters, but I suggest hitting up an online movie site or Blockbuster... whatever floats your boat. Its an awesome movie! Check it out!
Love,
Dedra

So awesome...

I totally just ordered an Islamic coloring book about the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)!!!! I will post pictures of it and my awesome coloring skills when I get it in!!!

Who wants to be my friend?

So, lately I've been dying to go to Jumma, but there's one little problem. I'm horrified.

WHY? Let me explain:

I've read soooooo many stories about sisters' first experiences at Jumma and it's mortifying. I mean people judge everywhere and I shouldn't be shocked, but what if some random person is all "why do you have on that?" or what if I don't pray right or what if I get so nervous from being around strangers (of which I must remind you I don't like) that I destroy my wudu?

I know it sounds silly and I know I'm over thinking, but I'm like a 6 year old trapped inside a very small 20 year old and when I get around people who have been Muslim like their whole life, I just freak. I don't know why. I try to ignore mean people who think its their duty to judge every Muslim in world on how weak or strong their iman is, but damn its hard. And I cry!

Yea, that's right I cry.

About everything.

So, basically, I don't think I'm emotionally prepared. I don't effing know. Maybe I shouldn't go alone. But as I said before I have like one Muslim friend and we haven't hung out outside of class.

Ya Allah! I don't know what to do! I'm starting to get clammy just thinking about it.



Now, I know I shouldn't care because Jumma is to praise Allah and praising Allah should be my motivation and whatnot, and it is trust me, but *shivers* strangers. EVERYWHERE! All around me. Looking at me, wondering where I'm from, staring at me, backbiting (and don't act like people don't do it - Dedra knows), it just throws me off.

So, now I'm hoping maybe I'll just make a new Muslim friend who'll convince me that I should't feel the urge to pass out when praying with other brothers and sisters who are, insha'allah, there to do the same thing; praise Allah.

So, who wants to be my friend?
Love,
Dedra