Someone once accused me of overusing the word “beautiful.” I didn’t ask for further clarification, so I’m not quite sure what exactly she meant by “overusing,” unless she thought that I throw around the word “beautiful” so much that some of its meaning chips off. But I don’t know how that’s possible, and so I […]

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Eid mubarak!
Or, “Akhtar de mubarak sha,” as we say in Pukhtu.
Here’s hoping you all have an absolutely beautiful day, insha’Allah.

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‘cause it’s me, and my life/it’s my life, it’s my life
I got a letter in the mail a few days ago. I had been expecting it but not watching for it, waiting patiently but not wondering unduly. After a while, I even forgot that it was supposed to be coming.
But I came home the […]

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slip of the tongue
I called up a local mechanic early this morning because my car’s brakes needed to be looked at. When the guy answered the phone, instead of asking if the shop was open already for customers, I accidentally said, “Hi. I was just wondering if you’re awake already.” It took him what seemed […]

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one for me, one for you
I figured my mother needed a change of scenery, so last Friday I drove her up to Sacramento to visit the psycho soap-opera-drama familia, also affectionately known as the relatives. After all, there’s only so many times one can wander around the yard and talk to the rose bushes and […]

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680 to the 80 to the 113
February 2001: During my freshman year of college, driving home late one night, I got pulled over on a dark, empty stretch of freeway for going 85 miles per hour. “In a rush to get somewhere?” asked the highway patrolman, face set in implacable lines. I was so rattled […]

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multiple choice
Felt like updating, but I’m majorly exhausted, as evidenced by the fact that I made it to Taraweeh at the masjid for the first time in a week, and then kept dozing off while standing in prayer. Terrible, isn’t it?
I need lots of sleep, and you all could use some constructive breaks from […]

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bartering is the way to go
For iftar today, I ate a kit-kat bar and three mini Reese’s peanut butter cups. But wait, don’t worry, there’s still more left. I have here at my elbow: one king-sized Snickers bar, two mini Snickers, five mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, and a pack of Mambos (they taste just […]

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who, me?
I’ve just managed to sneak hot chocolate (with whipped cream!) into the computer lab, which, let me tell you, is no small feat, considering the fact that the hawk-eyed computer room consultants stare at me suspiciously every time I nonchalantly saunter in and out. I find the level of observation they direct my way […]

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and, finally, we get with the times
I’m in love.
With my brand-new high-speed wireless cable internet connection.
I’d marry it if I could, yes I would.
And all this in the midst of Ramadan, too.
Lord, grant me the strength and discipline to refrain from trivialities and time-wasting.
Meanwhile, I’ve figured out how to network all the computers.
This seems kinda […]

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