Ximar

I have never truly appreciate what Thanksgiving is about before. This year I conclude that Thanksgiving is just like hari raya to the Americans.

Went to Haruna's place today for a farewell party for Mbak Pi. There were so much good food - salad with sesame dressing, stuffed mushrooms, baked potatoes, chicken wings, okonomiyaki with shrimps and squids, sticky rice with chicken, and upside-down cranberry cake with vanilla ice cream, and oh, lemon cake too. Yummy, as always. Hanging out there was fun. Everyone with their own antic.

Before we left Haruna's I felt all itchy, and sure enough the allergy episode followed soon after. It didn't last long, the hives were all out in less than 20 minutes. They were small too, about the size of my pinky's nail. But I hadn't had one for a while now, wasn't quite sure what brought it on.

Right now, I'm just keeping D and D company. I want to spend the night here, chill with Mbak Pi for what might be the last time in Boston.

I asked the boys downstairs to clean the bathroom in the kitchen coz it's starting to smell. I think they just sprayed a whole can of air freshener down there. The whole house smells of... something fruity, I think. I dare not venture downstairs (but the chicken tandoori is in the fridge there!) till the smell subsides somewhat.

Malaysia court upholds turban ban.

Tetiba teringat lagu Korie dan Ella...

It's snowing, already. It's not supposed to till tomorrow. It doesn't really matter I guess, as long as Sunday remains sunny and clear.

Rindu dengan suasana raya di rumah dan di kampung. Jauh sangat bezanya dengan raya di sini. Raya di sini sehari aje. Raya di kampung, itulah masa dapat berjumpa dengan semua sanak saudara. Yelah, kan ramai, dah tu duduk pon merata-rata tempat. Raya je lah dapat berkumpul sekali. Itu pon belum tentu dapat jumpa semua orang serentak satu masa. Tak muat rumah. Dulu ada rumah Che, jadi pusat induk berkumpul malam raya, sekarang rumah tu pon dah dirobohkan. Nak buat kat rumah orang lain, minta maaf la, mana ada rumah di bandar zaman moden ni yang boleh muat 10 famili sekali. Lain la kalau mahligai ke, istana ke. Ada sepupu yang dah beranak pinak, tapi suami dia pon kite tak jumpa lagi. Ada sepupu yang nama pon kite tak kenal, lagi kan rupa. Kan elok kalau sekali lagi dapat berkumpul, serentak semua orang, termasuklah yang dah estranged sebab konflik lama. Wouldn't that be nice *sigh*

Don't usually read Washington Times, but saw this at Jaj's: Malaysia's Muslims have 'no way out'

Also: Transsexual Debate in Malaysia

I don't know if I'm getting sick or if it's only my allergy getting worse. Either way, I'm running out of tissues, gotta stock up soon. My nose has also started bleeding again. Another reason why I'm not a big fan of winter and lack of humidity.

It's snowing. Not heavily, just tiny little snowflakes flying around, almost dancing like, floating in the air, refusing to touch the ground and disappear. Took everyone by surprise. I was walking back from Halligan (original plan was to stay there and work, but I forgot my notebook) and could hear people exclaiming "It's snowing" as they came out of their dorms. I think it's just passing through, but it still caught me by surprise.

Fasting these past few days have been harder than the first half of Ramadhan. Not sure exactly why.

The HSC has brought the food for iftar, it's now sitting on the table waiting to be devoured. My nose is being assaulted by the delicious smell and as a result, my mouth won't stop watering. I feel like I'm being tortured slowly into misery.

In my dream last night, I was back in high school. It was really weird. We had blok praktis, but instead of by dorm, it was by class. I was still wearing purple though, I think all my classmates were. The 5Ss were in red. I remember Ija and Pak Yem especially being in the dream. I miss that Math teacher terribly today.

I need the money, but just for this week, I think I should give up my shifts to get all the school and MSA related work done.

I met the humblest Fletcher student yet today. This particular group on campus tends to have the reputation of having I'm-from-Fletcher-therefore-I'm-entitled-to-everything kind of attitude. We aren't very fond of them at the Media Center, but can't really avoid them.

Salem stopped by for a visit. Haven't seen her for a year, I think. She's working in D.C. now and is just here for the weekend.

Went to see The Incredibles last night, Pixar's latest creation. Great family movie, great mindless (no-thinking-involved-just-watch-and-laugh) movie. Nothing stupid.

The thing I hate most about travelling is planning. Which is why I like travelling in group I guess, since then I can always get out of it. Not this time around *sigh*

I hope they do create the student supervisor position. I need the money.

I don't like it when daylight saving enda. It makes me really miserable, getting out of work and class at 5 and it's already dark outside. Winter depresses me.

... we can genetically engineer and customize our kids, I'd like mine to have eyebrows exactly like Shah Rukh Khan's :D

I saw Mr. Schmid last night. Haven't seen him for ages, since school began. He lives downhill, I live uphill, he doesn't go to the library anymore (too busy with the girlfriend, I bet), so the chances of us meeting are practically "0". Too bad.

had just passed. She has left her teen years and is now officially in the 20's club. Welcome.

The campus seemed pretty subdued today. The election, of course. One teacher cancelled all of her classes today, I guess it's fair to say that she's pretty unhappy of how things turned out. I went in to work, and the theme for the display was - the end of the world. I don't think anyone is really that surprised. Just in denial.

Do I really want to stay here?

Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know much about this. What exactly does the Qur'an say about homosexuality?

It has been brought to my attention that a certain department is bringing a "gay Muslim speaker" on campus next year. I can't help but feel concern about this. On one hand, I think it's a good idea to hear various people speak so you can agree or disagree with them afterwards, but bringing a controversional person such as this to speak on a campus where Muslims are vastly underrepresented, really concerns me. Who is going to agree or disagree with this speaker on our behalf?

I think what would be best if the format of such event is a forum - one which there would be different speakers representing different views on the issue of homosexuality. Personally, I do not think that homosexuals are "born that way" but that they are shaped to be that way, either by themselves or by their surrounding. But I really am not a religious nor a scientific expert on this issue. I would love to hear people debate about it, but I rather not hear just one side of the story. I wouldn't like to see other people being misguided about my faith.

I can't help but wonder why this department is bringing such a speaker to represent Islam, when the group that this speaker represents probably doesn't even make 1% of the Muslims. We really have to be careful about who are speaking for Islam. In this vulnerable political atmosphere, of course you don't want to alienate the Americans, but at the same time, you have to be careful not to alienate the vast majority of Muslims who are in favour of you either.

There's another thing too. The nerve of some people to say that they keep giving Islam another chance. What arrogance! Islam is Islam, if you're a true believer, you'd be thankful to have been given various chances to know Islam. We all know, no one would come to Islam if they were to look at the Muslims today. But the religion itself, if you got to know, would humble you like nothing else. Fear God, don't ever let such arrogance even crosses your thoughts. Na'uzubillah!

Sex and the mercy of Ramadhan: Hast the story not reached thee?
Note: Please verify the story and sources yourself.

Somewhere there's another land different from this world below
Far more mercifully planned than the cruel place we know
Innocence and peace are there, all is good that is desired
Faces there are always fair
Love grows never old nor tired

We shall never find that lovely Land of Might-Have-Been
I shall never be your king nor you can be my queen
Days may pass and years may pass and seas may lie between,
We shall never find that lovely Land of Might-Have-Been

Sometimes on the rarest nights comes the vision calm and clear
Gleaming with unearthly lights on our path of doubt and fear
Winds of that far land are blown, whispering with secret breath
Hope that plays her tune alone
Love that conquers pain and death

Shall we ever find that lovely Land of Might-Have-Been?
Will I ever be your king or you at last my queen?
Days may pass and years may pass and seas may lie between
Shall we ever find that lovely Land of Might-Have-Been?