When I poked him, this is how I was carrying my shitty single-use plastic cup, previously filled with ice, decaffeinated coffee, and cream. I walk pretty fast, even though I…

This is T, one of my favourite people. She happens to be married to another one of my favourite people – J. T and me met some years back at…

Rainy drives are the best drives. Another thunder and lightning show here in Ottawa, but no rainbows to show for it. At least none that I could see; let me…

These steps, they are some of my favourite steps in Ottawa, because they lead me to her. Do you have a family doctor? A dentist? An optometrist? A priest /…

Hi Ottawa you’re so pretty. I finally figured out that this is why I am so exhausted when I am ‘home’ – life. I have social commitments and responsibilities, I…

Always talking, I am. They are visiting from Istanbul, where they’re situated for two more years. When dealing with last summer’s situation, I had an extensive conversation with Ryan about…

It was such a full day that I, a night-owl, am having trouble writing when it’s only 11.30 in the evening. I wonder, is it possible that I am shifting…

While she was speaking, the word effortless came to mind; everything from her garden, to this porch on which we sit very regularly on Saturdays from Spring, right through to…

‘Trail Magic’ is defined as ‘an unexpected act of kindness’ received by someone hiking the Appalachian Trail (which takes months to complete, should people even manage to do it). Isn’t…

Tonight’s sunset at home wasn’t so bad either. As I have repeatedly written before, Ottawa summers are gorgeous and today was the perfect example – it felt like 41 with…

This is an untouched photo, and that is indeed a stag at the left of the image. My last night in Lethbridge and this was the sunset view from our…

at street corners you’ll find her constellations quietly created small bouquets of weeds and wildness delivered from rain. this is how you know she has visited. -rose-water traveler Today, I…

We spent the day in Banff celebrating Canada Day, and I can’t stop taking fisheye lens photographs (thanks, Lolo!). Because it’s not an actual lens, but rather how you take…

First, I went to the playground and spent the better part of 30 minutes on the swing set all by myself. The sun was shining, the playground is by a…

Since arriving in Lethbridge, I’ve not been able to write as I normally do. This wasn’t a conscious decision; rather, I believe that it’s because I’m processing things which, for…

Tonight’s sunset is the only thing I want to share about this lovely day. Today, I am grateful for: 1. Watching awful rom-coms with my cousins the moment we’re alone…

Ducklings and their momma crossing the street (in response to which I opened my door to make certain all traffic behind us had stopped, which they in fact already had)….

This is Omar, my brother-in-law. Somewhat of a big brother, too. He is, without a doubt, one of the kindest and love-full men I have ever met. Omar and me…

Who wants to think of the future when the present is this fucking monumental? (1) I came across that yesterday evening and haven’t stopped repeating it to myself. Because this…

There are two intertwined feelings right beneath this surface – failure and resentment. Only today was I able to actually see them for what they are, though they have been…

I think that God’s been smoking all afternoon. His sky’s heavy with thick grey clouds, thinning as they move away. Small splashes of neon gold confirm that this year, the…

She commented on something which I had published, and I loved it enough to trace her back to her site. She was pregnant and healing through an extremely traumatic divorce;…

This is Denver. He’s a polydactyl baby, and very much Master of this home. One of my favourite things about family time is the doing nothing part, the not thinking…

A little over 24 hours ago I decided to surprise my family in Lethbridge. This is the freedom for which I can only thank the Sabbatical. I arrived in time…

Preamble: To anyone who would defend a Muslim ‘leader’s’ hiding of his wife, and active pursuit of women other than his wife, because ‘TECHNICALLY FOUR’, know that your voice is…

That’s my baba and his brother, my amo. Do you now understand why people sometimes think we have a different ethnicity running in our veins? (Like, the actual and highest…

A thing I love to do is people-watch, and then make up stories about their lives. To myself. All alone. For abnormally long periods of time. Certainly this has something…

She was in town, and brought with her the sunshine. We couldn’t decide where to look, and were discussing just this very thing. Though the entire conversation was, as it…

I love thrift store shopping for two reasons. First, it’s where you find the greatest records. Second, it’s where you can imagine the most interesting stories. I counted the number…

This is a photo of my old journal, surrounded by the items which Hannah and me picked to create of it something new. This is what she looks like now…

Father. Mother. Grandfather Ross, the three small markers at the bottom of the image. Muslims are gently encouraged to remember death. Do for this world and the next, always. And…

When home, I bind myself to routine, rather than discovery. I’ve lived here all but four years of my life and have never wandered to learn that with which I…

I love having guests. As equally, I hate being idle. I get too much into my head when I’m busy; it’s a recipe for disaster when I’m idle. To no…

Going for a walk in a warm summer rain is one of the most relaxing things I can do for myself. Today was one such day and I kept stopping…

While out to dinner a couple of night ago, Kareem asked me what I’ve learned so far during this sabbatical. I gave him my two instinctive responses, which still hold…

I love Ottawa’s summer vibrancy. Yesterday was our first actual hot day, carried into today and tomorrow. We are officially and fully in. Ottawa is an interesting city. I am…

Our first evening together, he said it was like watching two people on an incredible date. We couldn’t share enough, and it was impossible to tone down the excitement. Little…

Our friendship is 30 years old this Fall, my longest. We met during our first year of high school and never looked back. I spent the better part of this…

Two nights of long and deep sleep, and a wake-up for morning coffee with this girl, in town from Afghanistan. Spending time with her was a perfect way to roll…

That’s us at Eid prayer. Two out of three don’t know where to look. Someone needs to give a course. Nearly ten years ago, I spent the Fall long weekend…