Summer's drying up

Wow, it finally hit me that there is less then a month of summer and I'm headed right toward high school!!!(cringe). I think I'm finally adjusting to my new house and do nothing at home except read, garden , or feed the occasional creatures that happen to land in my yard ( don't worry, they are none other than flamingos or ducks). Last week, I forgot I live in Florida and almost started a parade in the neighborhood when these flamingos flew to my driveway. Here are some pics:
My friend,her family, and I went on a visit to the waterfront in Key Biscayne and had an ugly encounter with this fisherman for stepping on his "highly delicate fishing rod" :O I thought some of these scenarios seem pleasant enough for those tourist brochures. Take a look:

A Book Critique: Does my head look big in this?

There are always those moments in childhood where you want to become an actor, NBA star, singer, or a big-namer whose production is always on the spotlight. For me, it was becoming a writer and I was greatly inspired after reading this very witty book: Does my head look big in this?
As a critique, this book had no extraordinary literal merit, a lack of authenticity, but to an outsider it gave an image of a Muslim family living in the western society and personally as a hijabi it relates to the daily struggle in my life.

Summary in my own word (read below for my personal view):
Amal Mohammad Abdel-Hakim belongs to an elite and snobby private school where she faces prejudice as an only Muslim. Already the "odd" one from the crowd, Amal becomes a favorite target when she decides to show her Islamic Identity by wearing the hijab full-time. Amal being a typical teen battles with the daily "body image, shoulder-to-hip ratio, boys, rumors, crushes”" and have friends with everyday concerns. Her friend Eileen hatched from a strict Japanese family with laws of traditions and her blonde pal Simone thinks of herself as a “fat molecule” in life after she is harassed by the high school bully Tia Tamos and the “Mini Mes”. Tia and her cliché try her best to drive Amal and her friend’s crazy until they think she can take no more. From her former Islamic School, Hidaya she dearly misses her best friends Leila and Yasmeen is which throughout the book they have many reunions. Leila’s mother Gulchin is more persevered for Leila to earn a marriage certificate instead of a high school diploma whereas Leila wants to major in law soon. Yasmeen on the other hand is the daughter of a British convert and Pakistani father and is a major shopaholic. Gulchin scowls at Yasmeen for not shawling up and Amal stands up for her friend and tells her “It’s what in your heart that counts, Aunty”. Amal falls for a boy at school, but stands strong with her religion and faith and makes her entire school proud when she makes a great rebuttal at the district wide debate.
Personal views:
Well, truthfully there are parts of this book where you’ll be laughing out loud and there are times where you will be saying “Can it get any cheesier?” Over all, to the author Randa Abdel-Fattah she deserves a compliment for writing a piece of literature showcasing modern Muslims in a very humorous, but thoughtful way. I thank her for giving me faith that there are people out there who want to read about hijabis . What I didnt like about the book was that Ama ldoesn't follow many of the islamic rules(e.g the movies she watches). My absolute favorite part comes at the end of the book where she states: “All this time I’ve been walking around thinking I’ve become pious because I made the difficult decision to wear the Hijab. I’ve been assuming that now I’m wearing it full time, I’ve earned all my brownie points. But what’s good of being true to your religion on the outside, if you don’t change what’s on the inside, where it really counts? “
“I’ve been kidding myself. Putting on the hijab isn’t the end of the journey. It’s just the beginning of it”.

Which is worse: Arrogance or Narcisssim

Yesterday, I came across an article describing the celebrity cook on food network Gordon Ramsay " an arrogant narcissist " and I questioned myself on which was worse. A narcissist is someone with usually high ego and simple selfishness. On the counter, someone who is arrogant displays it's own self importance. Very similar definition, eh? A person who is arrogant will always be narcissist is what I had always thought, but what the critique has shown me is either that or she is wrong. Personally, I think a narcissist is far more selfish than an arrogant one. So, which is worse.. to be arrogant or be an narcissist?

Ok, whatever...
Oh yes, btw people actually read the blog because yesterday my friends reminded me that I h should post more often, so hmmph I am not an failure after all. I am hoping to do some book critique sometime today... so tune in ;)

It's summer and I am bored.

Salaam,
Yep, I know it's been over three months since I've posted on this blog because I was busy updating my other blogs and halfway through forgetting the passwords to sign in. Bad memories runs in the family. So, its almost one and an half month in summer and the only accomplishment I have made so far is running my own "summer camp" which consists of about three children(don't laugh, that's about enough to give me nightmares through out the night). Next month I will be in high school and I am neither excited nor nervous, sort of out of feelings if you know what that means. All of my close friends are heading toward private schools and it's time to meet new people. Ugghh, that same first-day-of school routine is marching butterflies in my stomach.

Tired outtt

Today, my math teacher gave back my math test and I got an A! Im so happy because the honors tests are pretty hard and my math teacher is horrendous at teaching math and she is a great big distraction to me if you know what I mean. Like for example, the last time I was taking my math test she kept staring at what I do as if I will cheat( and I dont know how you really cheat on a math test b/c the rest of the class probably has wrong answers ) and I got heavily distracted and I flunked the previous test( I probably would've either way even if she didnt stare at me) but she is annoying as hell!

Last Sunday, this girl from my mosque come to me and asks me help about an issue she has to deal with as a new hijabi at her new school. HAHA! Ask me for help on that topic is probably not the best decision because I ( a hijabi for 10 years) have difficulties on these same issues as well. :(
Kids at my school are nice but pretty snobbish and they don't really understand about my relgion like the rules and regulations.

Yes. I am totally aware that no one reads my blog so you don't have to start to laugh ;)

My First

So.. This is the first blog post I've ever done in my life. I sorta feel like this is my online diary. I know people out there think it weird of have a personal blog.. well I feel perfectly fine about it unless you post some ridiculous things.:) . I am perfectly aware that no one will read this post, so I don't really care. Well, today I am absent because I'm sick and missing out on a math quiz and a history test.. uggh two tests to make up for and if i haven't mentioned yet my math teacher is absolutely the worst and the list for that is about 2 page and growing. I finished one of my entries for the Literery Fair it's an editorial and not my best writing at all :( I'll post it here for you to see(BTW I haven't come up with a title yet):

Is the cell phone really worth dying for? A rising issue facing teen drivers is the use of cell phone while driving which is a significant cause of automobile accidents and death. Drivers should be banned from using their cellular devices while controlling their vehicle.

Distractions while driving is a hazardous situation risking the lives of those behind the wheel and also the innocent ones in their proximity. Using a cell phone while driving make people four times more likely to injure themselves in a serious crash. Cell phone, alone causes 25% of the car accidents and these accidents play a role in the white "Drive Safely" signs surrounded by flowers in your nearby highway. "ONE NEW TEXT MESSAGE", teens scramble in their drivers seat and in the next minute, Crash!. Each year, distracted driving cause approximetly 330,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths. Twenty-One percent of automobile crashes involving teen are directly linked to cell-phone usage. These long rows of death could've been prevented if only cell-phone usage while driving would be banned. A recent study conducted by the University of Utah reveals that someone using a cell phone while driving exhibits the same damage as someone driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.8 percent. Florida law states that driving with a BAC greater than or equivalent to 0.8 percent is illegal.Surprisingly, no Florida law prohibits texting or talking on their phone while driving.

Many citizens say that cellphones are convenient for emergencies, but what they fail to realize is that several of these emergencies are caused by the cell phones themselves. As individuals, citizents should step up and stop texting to create a more safer environment on the wreckless roads.

Half of a all teen drivers and 1/5 of all experienced adult drivers admit to texting while driving and as the trend grows on the graves are being dug for those who have been fatally killed as an individual who texted while driving or was a victim of one.