Izzy Mo’s apartment swatchorama

Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo

Here’s some Spring cleaning and redecorating going on in casa de Izzy Mo. Or Bayt Izdihar, chez Izzy Mo or whatever.

I made this little flickr mosaic for Aaminah (and for anyone who’s interested) to the new look that I’m giving to my apartment.  It all started quite innocently.  I just wanted to change my bed sheets.  But then I realized that I had been living in pink, Pepto Bismol bliss since 2005. Aaminah’s theory for my pink obsession, a color I hadn’t thought about since I was six, was due to my need to see something cheerful and pretty after Hurricane Katrina.  So now that I’m over my pink love affair, the whole look had to change.  Right now in my office/studio, there’s a box filled with all my pinky, purple-ly stuff.  I’ve gone over to the opposite side of the color spectrum.  I’ve fallen in love with green, my second favorite color. 

That thing off to the side is my swatchorama or samples of things that are a part of my transition to a calm, soothing decor.  If you click the picture, you’ll see what each pic is.  A vase. A pattern from a pillow or curtain panel.  Freshly painted glass waiting for their finishing touches. 

I’ve also started this fixer-upper project.  Here’s the slideshow.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/98756806@N00/sets/72157605045152326/  You can see how this small, white vanity table will become (within a few days, insha’Allah) a sleek black table with a lacquer finish.  I’ll put a new classy knob on the drawer and I may use sandpaper to “rough up” the edges so that the finish looks more natural and refined.  And I’m debating on putting…wait for it, zebra print fabric onto the bottom part of the drawer. I KNOW that sounds dingy but I like surprises like that.  Plus, no one will see it unless they open the drawer so if it looks crazy, they can just shut the drawer and pretend like they didn’t see it.  If it looks like it could be remotely tacky, I won’t do it…but we’ll see. 

I’m taking a lot about color here but there’s so much more to interior design than that.  It’s about patterns, natural light, the feel and durability of fabrics, symmetry and the overall sensory response from the one(s) who live within the environment. It’s also about scents. Every person or family seems to have their own special scent.  When you open the door of a home, you can discover a million things about this occupant(s) lifestyle upon smelling the interior.  You know what I mean.  Do you smell potpourri or scented candles?  Do you smell pasta or roast beef?  And we’ve all heard the stereotype about how single men are incapable of creating nice homes/apartments.  You’ve also probably heard that single men (or straight men in general) are messy and their living quarters smell like corn chips, feet and sweat. 

Anywho, I’m still waiting on the day when some crazy imam or mosque will allow me to design the inside of a masjid.  I believe it will come, insha’Allah.  Anyone who’s willing to trust me (and pay me :::snicker:::), let me know. 

Cyclones, earthquakes, tornadoes and even volcano eruptions.  And we haven’t even entered hurricane season. 

And as a Katrina evacuee, I wish I could say that I learned something about why natural disasters happen.  There are no beneficial words or advice I offer.  Unlike Rev. Hagee, I don’t believe the children who drowned in the flood waters of Katrina are the collateral damage in God’s war against homosexuality and carnival parades.  I can only tell you that the fear of losing your possessions and having your life disrupted is easily overwhelmed by the relief that you survived.  But of course, this reaction varies person to person.  After all, everyone that I knew and loved survived. 

Even the words “natural disaster” are problematic.  We know that the good and the bad come from God Alone.  We know these are His acts but we don’t discuss it.  It’s not polite conversation.  We know that from our vantage point as human beings, we have a distorted view.  We are not the Al-Aleem, All-Knowing.  We don’t have all the facts.  We can only perceive that which is within our physical and psychological range of senses whereas Allah’s knowledge encompasses everything. 

Some people ask, “How can good and bad come from God when God is supposed to be all good?”  Well, Muslims don’t believe in Manichaeism.  What is khayr for one person is sharr for another.  One person’s loss is another’s gain.  That’s the cosmic balance played out across the universe.  And what we perceive to be bad could be good and vice versa. 

While I think that assuming that natural disasters are punishments for sins seems rudely simplistic (and overly confident about guessing the will of God), I think we should take these disasters as reminders that this earthly form of existence will come to pass.  The day is coming when the veils of the dunya will be torn and everyone’s eyesight into the reality of God will be piercing.  The day is coming when we will perceive things as they are–without the filters of our hangups, prejudices and mental mechanisms.  The day is coming when the debts fall due.

What have you done with your life?  What have you done with the talents We’ve given you?  Who is your Lord? Who is your prophet? How did you spend your time? 

Munkar and Nakil, alayhi salaam, will question us all in the grave. 

Allah will question us on the day when our excuses will fall short. 

Take these storms and ecological uprisings as a reminder. 

“Die before you die.”

Take yourself into account before He does it for you.

Salaam alaikum,

I have yet another reminder of how journalistic integrity has all but disappeared from the mainstream American media.  Just like the American writer in Yemen who had her interview butchered by Jezebel.com, we have another person who had good intentions and thought that her opinions would be expressed truthfully.  (Oh, Aaminah, great niqaab’ed one, you do rock!)  Then again, did you really think they were going for the truth anyway?

This article includes an eight minute response from Representative Mindy Greiling. 

She wrote a letter to the editor of the Star Tribune on Wednesday, calling for Kersten’s resignation, citing “reckless journalistic standards” and “gross misrepresentation of the facts.” Her letter was picked up on Thursday by Power Line’s Scott Johnson, a friend of Kersten’s, who says publication of the letter is an “act of thuggery” by Greiling and the paper.

She also wrote a letter to the editor of the Star Tribune. 

Hee-hee, she called her a thug!  Go Greiling!

Rep. Mindy Greiling on Katherine Kersten’s Tariq Ibn Zayed Academy column

By the by, reading the NYT will give you ulcers.  Don’t read it!

The Feet of Baby Taj!

Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo

Salaam alaikum

Hee-hee. I just wanted to post this. It’s my friend newborn baby son named Tajudeen. Look at those cute wittle toes!

There are no words. 

No words at all. 

Sister Umm Zaid said enough for me.  And so did Brothers Tariq and Umar Lee.

We’ve all heard about this stuff happening in Germantown, PA (or Carjackistan, according to some).  Subhan’Allah, I guess there’s a reason why that trip Iwas supposed to make to Philly was cancelled.  We’ve heard the nicknames.  Filthy-delphia and Killa-delphia.  But we also know that what goes down up there, goes down in many parts of the US.  (After all, the National Guard *was* called in to handle the crime problem in NOLA)

But the biggest questions are right before us. 

How do we deal with this insanity inside and outside of our community?  How do you save a brother or sister from his/her destructive behavior?

I’ve had more than my fill with people who upon converting to Islam, change their name, their clothes and their speech (by using a blend of Arablish), but they change nothing else.  They think that not eating pork and going from Michael to Muhammad is all they have to do in order to get themselves right with the Most High.  That whole thing about “changing your condition” is serious business and it takes your whole life to perfect your character.  It takes a lifetime to learn how to guard that tongue, to be nicer to people (especially when they aren’t nice to you), and to slowly wittle away those silly attachments to the dunya. 

I don’t mean to be a cynic but I learned years ago that if you want to help someone, they have to want to help themselves.  I remember one close friend who I cried for day and night for because she was steadily destroying herself. She and I were both 13 years old and she already been with numerous men.  For her, sex seemed to be some sort of rebellion.  Allahu ‘alim.  It could have been her restrictive upbringing in a conservative Christian home (Muslims, take notice!)  It could have been her lashing out or reacting to some childhood abuse.  But whatever her reasons, nothing justified her downward spiral and the men who were willing to take advantage of her.  Of course, her partners were signifignatly older than her. They could have easily been arrested for statutory rape. 

I along with her friends used to beg her to stop sleeping around.  But the threat of AIDS and/or pregnancy meant nothing to her.  She certainly didn’t stop when she went to a party and woke up the next morning inside of a closet.  She didn’t know where she was.  She couldn’t remember what happened because she was smashed.  And she didn’t know where her underwear was.  To this day, I still don’t think she knows what really happened.  It wasn’t until she got pregnant that she had no choice but to stop.  Alhamdulillah, the child was a tremendous blessing because he gave her a reason to clean up her act.  But look what it finally took for her to snap out of her ghaflah.  And how many people do we know that STILL act stupid and immature long after the children have come?  Or how many people can you name who still act crazy after the years in prison or loss of respect among friends and family? 

How do you deal with someone who seems hell bent of self destruction? 

I haven’t done thorough research on the ATL community yet because it’s so big.  But I know there’s at least two domestic violence organizations and one crisis management organization.  In pre-Katrina New Orleans, there was Milati Islami, a group for Muslims and non-Muslims recovering from substance abuse.  But I’m not sure of any programs out there that can tackle the universial problem of triflin’ people. 

I guess one thing that can help is our refusal to be silent and call out the behavior for what it is.  Another thing that can help is to not tolerate it.  (Why do we tolerate it?  American Muslim women really need to answer this question for themselves.)  After all, why are sisters choosing to marry triflin’ men who want all the wives in the world but can’t afford the proverbial pot to pee in and a window to throw it out of!  This religion is for people who think and reflect.  Read that again! 

I know of one sister who did a lot of activism in the Philly community so I will have to ask her more about this particular community.  But it seems like this nonsense had been going on for far too long.  I sorta agree with Brother Rasheed’s suggestion of having manhood training classes.  Let’s add some womanhood training classes while were at it.  Please, let’s end the conspiracy of quicky marriages and even quicker births.  Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah!  Atlanta has its issues but this kind of mentality is not too prevalent down here.  Many Muslims are on the “Sunnah or Haqq” or whatever but they also have jobs, education and good old fashioned common sense. 

Agh!

I’ll have to come back to this. I’m through. 

Red Hot Sunflowers in a vase

Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo

How did that happen?

Oh, I know. I’m Spring cleaning and redecorating. Yes, Aaminah. You will be happy to know that I have changed the color scheme of my decor. Pink, purple and red have been driven out! I’ve been looking at that cheery, girly color scheme since 2005 and I needed a change. So now the color scheme is a calm, soothing green accented with neutral colors and a touch of soft blue.

I started running errands on Monday and now suddenly, it’s Thursday. Just when I thought May was going to be a slow and boring month. Where *did* all this work come from? When did that article for Azizah evolve into this huge project demanding meticulous research? And why am I writing a 10 page report even though I’m outta school?

Wow, time flies when work piles up.

Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo

Please.

Stop.

Think before you use that weapon.

Your tongue ain’t just a mere piece of flesh.

Words aren’t just sounds filling the air.

You say it’s venting and I understand having frustrations.

But you’re pointing that weapon at me.

And I did you no wrong.

I’m not your friend who stood you up

Or the husband who didn’t listen to you

I’m not the needy, crying son or spoiled daughter

I didn’t act rude to you at the mosque

Or cut you off in traffic

And while you can continue to scream and bite the backs of everyone who’s getting on your nerves,

I gotta hang up the phone.

Now!

You wreckin’ reputations with a mere phone call.

The mala’ika are busy taking notes.

And I don’t want to be a conspirator in your plot to drag us both to hell. 

Don’t take it personal.

I just don’t want to know about your sex life. 

Or about your  brother-in-law. 

Your mother will always get on your nerves and talking to me won’t change it.

There will always be rude people, racist people, stupid people.

So complain to Allah. 

He won’t tell your daughter what you really think about her choices in life.

Or complain to the one your tongue is so willing to malign

Tell your son he’s lazy and he should help you around the house—not me!

And do me one more favor.

If I start talking about other people

Don’t hesitate.

Just walk away while I’m in mid sentence

I’ll know what ya mean. 

You might have read the first part.  Now here’s some little add-ons.

9) A Neat, User-friendly Website

Please understand that we are in the digital age.  The days of word-of-mouth advertising have been replaced by email and pixels.  There’s nothing more annoying than seeing a Muslim selling this awesome product, only to have them tell you that you can only contact them through a cell phone or Yahoo. How do they expect to grow and make money?  The majority, an overwhelming 97%, of my sales come from outside of Georgia.  I hoping to remedy this in the near future but it is partly because of my website and the familiarity of my blog. 

Umm Zaid has written about this before.  Whether your business is a mosque, bakery or car shop, you should have a website.  We would all love to have a slick website designed by Brother Ruh or Sister Shazia or Dynamite Soul.  Whenever you get the money, please patronize these talented Muslim designers.  But until then, try to get someone computer savvy to help you.  After all, our community is filled with graphic designers.  I got an email from an organization that’s been around for 16 years and they don’t have a website.  I’ll end there. 

10) Listening to what you don’t want to hear

It’s not nice.  It’s like a verbal punch to the gut.  You believe you have the best idea since slice bread and suddenly, someone says, “Um, do you think that’s wise?”  The difficult part about this piece of advice is that you don’t know if the person is being sincere or throwin’ salt on your game.  Is this a Muslim concerned for your finanical well-being or the nafs al ammara getting jealous? 

Think about who’s giving you the advice.  Do they belong to the same business you’re dealing in?  If you are starting a plumbing business, is this the advice coming from a master plumber with years of experience?  Just take a moment to consider their advice and see if it’s benefical.  Otherwise, you may find yourself regretting that “better than sliced bread” business idea.

11) Pray

Pray, pray, pray and pray some more.  And then pray again! Allah is your Provider and your Sustainer. Remember that!

Brother Shaik Abdul Khafid is back!  You must remember this awesome graphic designer as he is the brainchild of our lovely blog buttons.  Yes, I finally broke down and added his latest buttons to my blog because they are so creative and chic.  He has now started creating these hilarious cartoons.  Check out his awesome blog and give him your duas and support. 

Salaam alaikum, 

So everybody’s feeling the pinch.  Or maybe it’s more like a financial headlock.  And for anyone who has little debt or no at all, they must be singing right about now.  You might have heard of the massive layoffs in the Atlanta City government.  Or you could have come across the article about Americans selling precious family heirlooms in order to make ends meet.  Some Italians are boycotting pasta, believe it or not.  And as hard as it is for us Americans and Europeans, it’s so much worse in poorer countries. 

There have been riots in Egypt over rice prices and the poverty of Haiti is so severe, some have been driven to eat mud.  Alhamdulillah, Venezuela is sending 364 tons of food to help them.  The world is facing a financial and agricultural crisis.  And while I could complain about the difficulty in finding a decent job, I have a roof over my head and food in the fridge.  It’s a lot more than most people.

But don’t these hunger crises have less to do with high prices and environmental pollution and more to do with wealth distribution?  I guess its a mixture of them all.  There will always be richer nations but…

Despite all of this wealth that we have, as people of this earth who are living in an ecosystem of abundant natural resources, why do so many countries lack basic necessities such as clean drinking water and proper sanitation and sewage systems?  Why haven’t we established a standard that ensures that everyone is entitled to health care, education, a decent income and a clean environment. 

When will our politicians start talking about that?  Maybe I wouldn’t have so much political cynicism if the majority of our politicians actually dealt with these huge problems.  Even with this election, I’m getting worn down by all the sound bites and attacks.  But this is entry would go on forever if I would start talking about this election and how I wish would we could settle on a Democrat candidate already! 

The closer we get to November, the more nervous I get.  There are certain issues that bug me about all three candidates but Obama is the only one that doesn’t scare me to death.  I hope, insha’Allah, that he’s the lesser of three evils because Clinton has some serious race issues and she’s on running on what she did while she was married to President Clinton–which wasn’t much.  She had the opportunity to reform health care and she didn’t.  And yeah, I’m still raw about her vote authorizing the war in Iraq.  She could have shown a little more courage.  And Mc Cain…well, he doesn’t know the difference between Shia’s and Sunnis and loves to sing Bomb, Bomb Iran! 

Now with Obama, I do fear his policy of going into Pakistan while our army is already stretched to its limit.  Not to mention how I believe the last thing America needs is another prolonged, senseless war.  For every war we start over there, that just brings on more recruits for Al-Qaeda.  Speaking of which, does anyone talk about Bin Laden anymore? 

*****

But in other news…yes, I’m sick of this Reverend Wright issue. 

I’m sick of the hypocrisy. 

Hagee and Parsley can say all the crazy, wackadoo things they want but they get a pass.  Why isn’t the media playing footage of Hagee calling the Roman Catholic Church a whore or saying we New Orleanians deserved to drown and die because there was going to be a gay parade!?!!?  I’m not even touching the stuff he’s said about Muslims.  Is it because, despite Hagee’s horrible rhetoric, he’s a huge supporter of AIPAC, an AIPAC has at its disposal, among other things, devoted journalists in the mainstream media?  And no, it doesn’t matter that Mc Cain didn’t attend his church.  Mc Cain sought Hagee’s support.  He asked for it. 

But America got a dose of some Black Liberation theology from Rev. Wright and did not like it!  Like one sister said, “Those folks are gonna wish they were making sujood with the Muslims after hearing what really goes down in the Black church!” 

But if you want to hear from the man himself, just check out the links below. 

Bill Moyers interview with Rev. Jeremiah Wright  Gonna give credit to Moyers for having some journalistic integrity. 

Rev. Wright Press Club Meeting part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5

Please listen to the q & a session in part 4 and 5.  It is a riot!!!!  Each piece is about 10 minutes long. 

But ya know, despite all this mess with his minister, people STILL believe Obama is a closet Muslim!

La howla wa laa quwatta illa billah.