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The 2nd Review

The good folks at The Muslim Vibe interviewed me and reviewed rose-water syrup. Read what they had to say over this way. Comments closed.  

The Unadulterated Loathing

Brand new, also in my hood. Isn’t she gorgeous? You know what isn’t so gorgeous? Exams. Any and all manner of exams, in fact. But especially, standardized testing (language exams)….

The Evening Off

“Where’s the baby?”, she asked me. “…she’s…she’s where babies go”, was my very serious answer. An answer to which I was very committed, and which didn’t draw any suspicion in…

The Confession

What I am about to share will strip away any cool possibly left in my image. (That I believe I have cool is a testament to the idiocy within, by…

The Parents

Lovely view, isn’t it? In a week or so, it’ll be bleeding red and gold. These views are among the best in Ottawa, I think; and it’s worth a move,…

The Transient Clown

Though I hardly get to it enough, the Central Experimental Farm is one of my favourite places in Ottawa. I was today years old when I discovered that it is…

The Riddling Cerveau

This gorgeous mural is just down the street from me; every time I walk past, I stop to admire it and wonder if this is in fact a real woman,…

The Psychoactive Drug

This is a frog. I like it because it’s not real. Once, in university, a friend’s boyfriend went out to grab our dinner, and returned with two paper bags. Standing…

The Metaphor

We each have a learning style. Mine, I am exactly equal parts visual, and tactile. (Auditory learning only works sometimes and in very particular situations.) Meaning that first, I learn…

The Full-Arab

These dead leaves are one of my favourite things about the Fall. They line the streets with gold and scarlet; what’s not to love? Staring out at them, I spotted…

The Communication

This is my study nook in Montreal. No one should be surprised that I chose a place with white lights. They play the softest music here and the clientele are…

The Near Moon

It looks like a normal street, except it isn’t. It takes me to her and for the last while, Thursday nights have somehow become sushi nights in Montreal. She might…

The Tricksters

This photo might lead you to believe that behind this door are things calm and gentle and hippie-ish, as the heart suggest. Total lies. I have been to three cafés…

The Nerding

I really love studying. Like, really really love it. In fact, every couple of years, I take a Masters-level course to refresh my knowledge. I nerd OUT and take matters…

The Shape-Shifters

Isn’t he the CUTEST? I found him hidden between the flowers and bushes and he is the tiniest little gnome around. I imagine he gets peed on a lot, poor…

The I Am Moments Away

“Is there a time that you miss? That you could go back to?,” she asked. There is. There is one particular moment to which I would love to return. This thing,…

The Fall(ing)

There is lovely ‘velo’ (bicycle) art all over the neighbourhood, such as this one. Though hard to discern from this photo, Canada’s begun to cool down, so all windows are…

The Routine Kink

This is Jules, first of two cuddly companions until Sunday. He’s the fatso who, as soon as I get up, hauls his massive bottom over to where I was and…

The Cycle Closing III & IV

I had to place a reminder in my calendar that today is the third of four (but really five) sunsets on marker dates. First and second pieces of this particular…

The Welcome

They are a married couple named Mary and Joseph, both in either their late 60s or early 70s. When I met them, Joseph was bleeding from a cut on his…

The Cake

I most definitely didn’t bake or ice it. I also haven’t purchased a birthday cake for anyone in years, and apart from celebrating my own birthday in 2017, I’d not…

The Magic of The City

This image is unfiltered, and it is the view from my bed, which I can only describe by referencing an Arabic saying – it opens your nafs, with ‘nafs’ meaning…

The Bridge

I’m sitting in Foley Square writing, after having come from the Brooklyn Bridge, and on my way for good old fashioned pasta in Little Italy. Another beautiful day here, but…

The Tour

Still talking, and still confused by the camera. When in New York, make certain to visit the Tenement Museum for their Under One Roof tour, a beautiful homage to the…

The Hajj’s Footsteps

Jum3a mubarakah, friends. I spent the better part of my day in Harlem, following the spirit of El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, better known still as Malcolm X. I decided to complete…

The Women And The Food

Isn’t this the perfect spot to spend time reviewing 2e group verbs (made even more perfect by the three French people sat to my right)? We had ideal weather here…

The Pedestrian Review Of Sea Wall / A Life

Funny thing about this photo, which began before I arrived at the Wall. See wall? It’s full of life. Clever, innit? When I arrived at the theater, the lovely Natalia…

The Sexless In The City

I bet I got randomly selected! You did! How did you know? Because I’m Muslim! The Immigration officer was not as amused as I was. And this is how my…

The Woman Sacrifice

There recently was a dust-up on Twitter (the hellscape site) after a man posted some awful meme instructing that if a woman won’t be with you when you’re sleeping on…

The Old Man

I really love Ottawa’s mood this close to Fall. Cooking tonight, I thought how I forgot to tell you a story that still has me a little bit confused about…

The Two Under A Crescent Moon

That’s how they start. A blank canvas, and then a very simple outline, around which I complete my doodling. I don’t have a technique, I just create dark doodles around…

The Cycle Closing II

The sun has set on another marker date. Hurrah! As mentioned in the first part of this particular thread, there are four marker dates spanning until the 15th of September….

The PTSD

Her aesthetic is in fact my favourite. Just look at this – If I were to move into the home of one of my girlfriends, it would be Alexandra’s. That…

The Tarot Reader

I don’t believe in it, but I enjoy it when it presents, which it did tonight. I believe that the same energy courses through everything, and so there are answers…

The Planting

When you hear a Muslim describe a thing as Sunnah, what they mean is that it was the way of our Prophet (sAws) – things that he did, means by…

The Gaza Strip

These three beauties? My cousins. I think of them as chickens because I am the eldest on my mother’s side, so everyone after me is a chicken. From left to…

The Courage To Apologize

I mean. Not only is she a stunner, but she’s also the perfect date. Tonight, she got to see me pressure cook, and was PLEASANTLY surprised by what happens to…

The Instagram Man

I’m a little notorious for my t-shirt messages and couldn’t be happier about it. Also, last year I decided to stop buying magnets. I failed really well. We watched a…

The Acknowledgment Male

I spent the day by cool waters, shaded by trees full of birds. It’s a good jum3a. A few friends have asked about the first part of rose-water syrup’s Acknowledgment page….

The Cycle Closing

I haven’t been sure whether I would mark out certain dates. Upon reflection however, I recognize that it’s important for me to appreciate new beginnings and all amazing and unexpected…