Monster will learn everything in the park

I literally don't have to do anything. She'll find her teachers herself, like she found this girl to teach her how to ride a tricycle.

I'm not worried

I don't mind that Wizard offered the best piece of the watermelon to his friend.

I'm prettier than him.

On its way

My Sony DSC H10 is on its way to Laredo, TX for repairs.

In the mean time, I'll be surfing through DSLRs just for dreaming...

...Wouldn't be so miraculous if my advance point-and-shoot comes back as a DSLR?

Sigh.

The Concept of Sharing in the park

When you do not share the "borrowed" toy camera,

You are not entitled to "borrowing" a "borrowed" toy stroller

In which case the stronger toddler wins the prize.

PS In the last photo, Monster is NOT crying, she's actually still taking pictures with her toy camera of the girl walking away.

Religious Significance to Yoga

I wanted to address the question "is there any religious significance to yoga."
To people who think they should do yoga just for the sake of exercise, I feel is like saying "pray namaz just because it's fard."

Unfortunately many Muslims do pray namaz just for show, or to fulfill a requirement for access to jannah. Before I confuse anyone, let me say that after learning the philosophy behind yoga, my namaz has become longer and longer and longer....because I finally realize the ultimate purpose of namaz....and yes, YOGA TAUGHT ME THAT!

First let me show you the similarities in surya namaskar and namaz (and also the medical reasons why staying in each pose is so important)

1. Tadasana--we open our heart, spine erect ready for the practice ahead.
1. Qiyyam-- we stand erect hands on our navel (an energy powerhouse btw), and with Allah u Akber, try to leave worldly thoughts behind.

2. Uttanasana-- spine is inverted, head close to knees, and in Uttanasana variation, spine is exactly parallel to floor, so the spinal fluids travel from the base to the brain.
2. Ruku-- spine is straight, parallel to floor, we stay here for 3, 9, or 11 tasbeehahs

3. Ardha sirsasana--Knees on floor, raising the tail bone, the forehead on the ground, weight pressing on the peneal gland (third eye) releasing seratonin that " affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions (wiki)". This pose is preparationg to Sirsasana, also known as King of Yoga poses.
3.Sajood--Knees on floor, raising the tail bone, forehead is laid to the ground, we stay here for 3, 7, or 11 tasbeehats.

4. Vajrasana--a sitting pose, sitting on heels, toes touching each other, knees together. Meditation is done in this pose along with utilizing several mudras (juxtaposition of fingers in hands)
4.Tassahud--sitting on heels, recite Attahayat, and at Asshaduanna Ilaha Il-Allah!" raising right fore finger.

Now on to the religious significance of yoga: According to Patanjali, yoga is a way to separate the Apparant, from the Reality. His words were further interpreted to "the world from the One Conscious Being or Supreme Being" that is Allah!

We are so immensly lucky that namaz gives us that opportunity to shut out our worldly throughts and think ONLY OF ALLAH! 5 TIMES A DAY! However, how many of us are so hung up on world to do that?

There IS a religious significance to yoga but it's not applicable only to hinduism. It applies to every.single.religion. There are so many rivayat about Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w) staying in sajood for so long that his wives would think he has passed away. He was only meditating, and in the process of meditation, often receiving wahi from Allah subhana watallah.

Did anyone ever wonder why we open our hands to face palms up when making dua? There are two extensions of the heart chakra (powerhouse) in our palms. So literally we're opening our heart to Allah, and showing Him our desires.

May Allah subhana wata-allah help us find Him in this world and in the Hereafter. Ameen.

Spontaneous Picnic

I don't know how I will live without my sister!

She the greatest, most loving most involved big sister I've ever met. She was my mother when our mom was emotionally unavailable to us during her Great Depression after our dad's passing away.

She was my friend when I was shunned by every girl in a new school.

She is my best source of advice.

Hers and my relationship is such that gets better and better as we get older. I am not looking forward to aging without her. =(

Making Memories

I'll miss so many things in New York:

The people, sometimes annoying but mostly great, nice, supportive, understanding, sharing people of New York. I've always said: For every one rude person in New York, there are at least 10 super amazing people who will share a sidelong glance with you and roll their eyes at the rude person. It always sends such a blast of warmth through my heart when I share that special moment with people.

The parks and especially the water sprinklers in the summer.

The soft ice cream trucks.

Buttercup Cafe.

The Halal Chinese on 43th street and Greenpoint Avenue.

Gantry State Park and the beautiful curving garden path, where we always stumble upon young Indian couples making out.

Macy's Fourth of July fireworks.

Six Flags Great Adventure!

Coney Island beaches and the cute fat russian grandmoms that Monster loves to chat with.

*sigh* I don't think there is an end to this list.