Marriage...is kinda cool.

One thing I like about being married at a young age is, you're kind of in the middle. Sometimes people will take you seriously and your opinion counts. Other times you are not knowledgeable to understand so you're not held on a tight leash.

That doesn't mean don't try to fit it, just means that your view of the world is kind of different from the last generation.

For example I can go hang out with the women when there's something valuable to learn and stay away when the conversation doesn't apply to me. Or just smile and give guests tea - the stuff I'm bound to know.

When I have homework, I can avoid the conversations about peoples kids doing cute things. I wouldn't have much to contribute to that conversation. But if you have teens and need some tips on how to handle them, I can offer some tips.

I've always been in the middle, when it came to friends and acquaintances. A lot of my friends are younger, many are older. Perfect experience for married women.

Besides the things I have to do...I've learned valuable lessons of patience, respect and perserverance.

Megan, I am, I am?

Many people think my name is Meagan. Especially on the phone. It has happened four times. I counted.

And my name, NARGIS, sounds nothing like MEGAN.

I don't mind being a Megan, they're pretty cool people. It's a common American name and has been since the 1990s, according to the U.S. Census bureau.

In Greek, it's a shorthand version of Margaret.

Nar-gis (hard g) is also a universal name, that originated in Persia. It is a flower in the daffodil family, also known as narcissus. Some can argue the name of the flower originated from the Greek mythology of Narcissus.

I don't believe it.

Personality-wise, it means that I'm independent and strong-willed, according to www.kabalarian.com, of Kabalarian Philosophy.

Philosophers around the world compared the pronunciation of names, to determine characteristics associated with it. Your name makes you who you are.

When choosing baby names, weigh-in different accounts of a name before settling on personality traits alone. Everyone will have good and bad traits.

For example, Meagans get into a lot of activities and leave them unfinished. They do not get a lot of rest (relaxation). My friend Meagan does a lot at once and barely sleeps. Not sure if she leaves things "unfinished" though.

So true? Or horoscopey?

Good names make good people, usually.

Personally I've noticed people with the same name have something in common. It may be physical features or their strong personality, such as my friends named Sumaiya.

I know four - but two well - who are very outgoing, set a trend, and are motivated. In history, Sumaiya bint Al-Khayat was the first martyr in Islam, after being beaten by a non-believing leader/king.

In the movie The Message, by Director Moustapha Akkad, Sumaiya was tortured and killed in front of her husband and son.

She was a strong-willed hard-core believer, and she earned herself a place in Jannah.

One of the five basic rights of a parent to child is giving them a good name.

The most popular name in the world is Muhammad, after the last Prophet in Islam. And we all know, he played a significant part in world history.

Converts in Islam...and more.

If you haven't heard of The Muslim Funnymentalists, their name suggests a pun; not to mistake them for Islamic fundamentalists.

The three comedians/public speakers come from different backgrounds - one journalist, a comedian, and a science-guy, are aimed at changing Muslim misconceptions.

Among the group is Baba Ali, who became famous through his YouTube videos, who tackled sticky topics in Islam. With more than 100,000 hits per video, he has reached out to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Later Ummah Films, a Muslim film company spreading halal entertainment, hired Ali.

Ummahfilms.com has a disclaimer, condemning terrorism.

"We are not affiliated with any particular movement, sect, group, etc. We absolutely condemn in the strongest terms terrorism and any extremism done in the name of Islam and we refuse to associate ourselves with those who practice and condone such behavior and thoughts."

Ali has been featured by New York and Los Angelos Times because of his online presence.

He converted to Islam before 9/11, he said in his video titled "Why Islam" featured by Ummah Films and YouTube.

"I'm glad I met Islam before Muslims," Ali said. There's "a lot of confused people with a lot of confusion."

Think about it, he said.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p2Clk5lNUdQ

Narrated by Ali:

"[Muslim's believe in] One God, Prophets, they Worship our Creator, pray at a minimum of five times a day, fast 30 days in Ramadan, give 2.5% zakat, and if required, perform hajj," Ali said.

Islam requires us to obey our parents - unless they order us to do something impermissible, honor and respect women, treat neighbors kindly, help poor, widows and orphans.

"Not even Muslims have a ticket to paradise. They will be judged on their actions," Ali said.

The video closed with this ayah from the Quran,[4:136] O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him). Any who denieth Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messenger., and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray.

Besides this newly-launched comedian, there are other familiar faces in Islam. Some are rappers Busta Rhymes, Ice Cube, Akon, and Napolean; singers Dawud Wharnsby and Yusuf Islam; and Imams Hamza Yusuf and Zaid Shakir.

Who would've knew, some are featured in the video below.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YB5QBzquBrU&feature=related

I love the Articles of Faith nasheed played in the background of the clip. Nasheeds are Islamic songs.

If you have the chance, I'd recommend doing research on Yusuf Islam, Imam Hamza Yusuf, and Muslim scientist Harun Yahya.

They have a story to tell - about Islam.

Girls, research Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood, a United Kingdom, an author of over 30 Islamic books. Or, shoot an email to Dr. Jamillah Karim, Assistant Professor at Spellman College to learn about her journey as an African American woman growing up in Islam.

Dr. Karim - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSlt39-uvzk

Jazakallah khairan.

Muffincrumbs with Cinnamonhoney green tea

Yum. I'm one of those people who drink tea a lot. I don't believe in having it the same way all the time.

So I try new things.

Some of my favorite teas are raspberry, orange, and green teas.

I also like traditional British Blend with Nidoo milk powder. Red tea is not bad either.

Some of my favorite adds:

Cinnamon
Honey
Sugar
Lemon juice

There's no wrong way - unless it tastes bad.

Tea helps remove gas in your stomach, release stress and headaches, and is an ideal part of a mid-day break.

It's one of the many blessings we were given by God.

Chai, or tea, originated in China, traveled to India and spread throughout the world. Americans banned tea during the Boston Tea Party in the 1800s. They were avoiding, taxation without representation of the English crown.

Although coffee became popular in America, tea has had an uprising in the past few years.

Enjoy!

Soul 'n body

I look down at my hands
Which are not mine at all
They form a perfect shape
Of obidience

Not only are they beautiful in that light
They are purified
Their sins soon to be forgiven
If their aims were accomplished

Not only will they burn if I burn
So will the rest of myself
Not only will my soul be punished
My body which was given to me as a gift - will too

How greatful am I
Not only has my Lord perfected my religion
He has given me means to worship him
A soul and a body

My hubby likes bleach

If you give my husband a bottle with bleach in it, he'll happily accept it as a very kind favor.

Not only does he like it as a household cleaning supply, but he will also use it conventionally for an all-purpose mechanism.

And with laundhry detergent, he'll dump 'just enough' to make his clothes come out squeaky-clean.

So what do I do?

I bleach-clean and do laundhry when he's not home.

However he still notices the bleachless smells and the tiniest spot of dirt on any given piece of cloth. So forever hold your peace.

Yet, I enjoy having someone to keep me on my toes and at times, a little neat-freak.

Prayer in City Office

I used to be reluctant to take on offers to help count election votes. Well the truth is, you don't count them. You just report the totals to AP.

Simutaneously you meet people while you're sitting through 20 min - 1 hour intervals. Fortunately I met quite nice and polite elderly women. Some were men too, but they didn't talk much. Though I was the only person in the office who didn't quite fit-in, I felt perfectly normal in my long black robe and sparkly golden scarf layered on black and white headpieces.

Who was different? It wasn't me.

I found it to be the perfect opportunity to spread a little deen (religion). As Maghrib approached, the prayer right before sunset, I wondered where I could disappear for a few moments to get some blessings in. However, I would've rather prayed right there in my half-wall cubicle I was assigned for the night. Only problem was, there was a guy standing directly - you know - watching me. Didn't think it would be appropriate to pray there.

So I asked a young lady where I could go to pray...while hearing someone else gasp "Did she say...?!" Unfortunatley people don't think it's okay to pray wherever whenever, but gotta do what you gotta do. The young lady pointed out the lobby where it should have been "nice and quiet."

Entering the room, I discovered three victims of election-boredom, waiting on the couch. Two women, one man. I figured it wasn't going to get quieter where I was before. There were nearly 10-15 people in the first area and about three in the second. As soon as I asked about directions to lay my head to the ground, "You wouldn't know which was East is would you?" The guy pointed it out.

I went to the bathroom, grabbed a piece of napkin and silently began to pray near the right side of the couch. A lady squirmed. It seemed like someone was going tickling her or appauled her greatly. Actually to her it was more of a joke - a joking matter which needed hysterical laughter.

But it's cool. She didn't know any better.

I entered the lobby with three people seated. I left with about seven or eight. So much for peace and quiet =)

I resumed to my desk and the numbers started coming in.