the life of wanda

right now I’m trying to decide what im gonna do with this blog. im not erasing it, but i’ll probably try to clean it up a bit. i have a lot of irrelevant posts and i want to take it in a new direction. ill be thinking about it.\

love,

wanda

While I belong to no political party or ideology, it tires me to constantly hear supporters of the Iraq War spouting about how we are “bringing democracy” to the Mid-East. Recently citizens of Mynamar (aka Burma) came out in the thousands for the past few days protesting thier oppressive monarchy.

swiped from Forbes

Thousands of people again protested against the military government, despite an intensified attempt to stifle a pro-democracy movement that has grown rapidly. The prominence of monks in the demonstrations has given a new dimension to popular protests that erupted after an August rise in fuel prices.

The events of the past week have been compared to 1988, when massive popular protests against General Ne Win’s regime led to an army crackdown, in which over 3,000 people are estimated to have been killed. This time, as many as 100,000 people are thought to have taken to the streets of the former capital, Rangoon, and other cities to protest against the incompetence of the military regime, demand better living conditions and call for a return to democracy.

The people of the country are tired and disgusted by the military junta that has taken over the country and effectively ended and hampered freedom of speech and press in the nation. On thier own accord and not with the help of another nation, the citizens expressed thier frustrations and anger with the government by forming a protest.

Mind you, no one came in to save Mynamar. America did not have to proclaim the Mynamar needed saving from the evil dictators of the country. They figured it out themselves. They desire democracy and freedom in their hearts. IMHO, those are the kinds of people you help and the kind you stick your neck out for.

I am not of the opinion that Iraqis and other groups don’t deserve democracy or can’t even live in a democracy (if that is what they want), but I believe that they must be first willing to fight and die for those beliefs. Then, they have a deep and invested interest in the success of that fight.

Yesterday, the United States imposed sanctions on Mynamar officials which requires an end to any financial transactions by the 14 military rulers and freezes all assets they may have in the United States (don’t even get me started on how they have “assets” here anyway).

I believe that if we would have waited for the Iraqi to get angry, then went in to assist them, the outcome/death toll/financial pressure/political impact would not be where it is today.

Gucci Mane feat. Ludacris - Freaky Gurl

This man looks like death. The song is about not bringing a freaky girl to your mama. Luda gives a decent verse, but still…

T-Pain feat Akon - Bartender

She gave us drinks to drink/We drunk em (got drunk)/And now she thinks I’m cool…

need I say anymore?

50 Cent feat (my 1st husband) Justin Timberlake - Ayo Technology

Curtis sings about a woman tired of using vibrators. In order to satisfy him, she pole dances, breaks it down, lap dances and is a nymphomaniac. I understand pleasing your man, but I’m still trying to figure out how that replaces or has anything to do with a vibrator.

(also see: Disco Inferno [absolutely NSFW])

God save me.

I love St. Louis, its my home and all my family is here, but I need to go. Right now, I’m working a pretty decent (yet boring) job and live with my mother, so I’ve started saving for a move. I want to move to a big city in the midwest/east coast, that has all the arts/entertainment, but a decent Muslim community. I’ve narrowed it down to Philadelphia, Chicago, New York City.

Help me out, which would you choose?

When you deprive yourself of something you begin to constantly think about it. This is the first time i’ve deprived myself on a consistent basis and seeing how i’m pretty much by myself (also being the only muslim i know in st. louis) I spend half my day planning on how im gonna break my fast.
Ive had church’s chicken okra, veggie nachos from Qdoba, shakes from Jack in the box. Today I’m thinking of Kfc. a leg. i have 2 days left on my challenge, but screw it…i want some chicken.

i really dont know why im writing this. just came to mind.

update: I am such a punk. I figured 2 days until your challenge is over. Why give up so easily. So today I broke fast with a Starcrunch, Lucky Charms and a Lean Cusine meal. Tomorrow I am going to try and get up to eat something early. I have to be at work at 8, so its hard for me to get up any earlier than I have to. Its so early for me, I hate getting up for prayer, because I barely remember doing it by the time I’m in the shower. 

As I’ve written in the past, I am a huge fan of Netflix. Even moreso now, because they have Instant Viewing, which allows members to watch movies, documentaries and television shows on the computer.

For the past few days, I have been all over watching seasons 1 and 2 of “The Office”. Currently I’m watching season 1 of the original U.K. “Office”, but I must say I prefer our American version. Rainn Wilson, as Dwight Schrute, just makes the whole show for me.

i wrote this a few days ago, so please excuse its tardiness.

 Today is my first day of Ramadan. Or, more accurately, my first official day of Ramadan as a fully open and medically fit Muslim. There will be no water breaks or mini meals as prescribed by a doctor. This year, I’m in it to win it. And though I write that statement with confidence, I am already struggling with fasting during these first few hours. Obstaining from food has never been my strong suit. (more…)

well, it hasn’t been that long truly, but longer than normal. I used to be able to post at work (I was in training and had no work), but now I’m in my cubicle and so I can’t speak to you all as much. Also my first days of Ramadhan were HARD. Thank God, I get a few days off so I can regroup and prepare better. I think it was because of the difficulty I was having with my emotions, my vegetarian challenge and fasting alone that put me in the my most depressive state this weekend. I also banned myself from any large purchases (other than charity), so I couldn’t even shop my emotions away. I’ve really had to confront my feelings and it has been “kick ass“.

I have an essay that I’ll post later today about my Ramadhan realizations during this first week. Talk to y’all laterz.

wanda

Assalama Aliakum to everyone.

Tomorrow night will be the start of Ramadan where Muslims around the world will fast for an entire month, from sunup to sundown. I had planned to write more, but it has been a stressful evening, for myself and my mother. God willing though, I’ll write about that later.

For this month, I’ve decided to challenge myself.

1. Have all my prayers committed to memory. I still read them.

2. Read the entire Quran again.

3. Study my Arabic at least one hour a day. Even if that means not watching television or getting on the internet

4. Keep up my vegetarian challenge for the entire month. It’s going good so far and I feel lighter and better.

5. Write and edit essays on topics that are important to me for my blog.

6. Develop my blog for converts. God knows I could have used the help.

7. Stay off those damn gossip blogs. That means you Concrete Loop and Crunk & Disorderly

Alrighty all. Thanks for reading! Wish/Pray that I have a successful Ramadan. It will be my first 100% Ramadan (in the past I was required to at least drink water).

Peace and Love,

wanda