Grazie mille.

Today is one of those beautiful days where I could think nothing but all sorts of goodness. And more importantly, I feel like I owe people and things around me many thank yous. For a reason or without.

So there, I shall thank you all wonderful souls for being part of my life- knowing you is a joy ;-)

Amidst this silence, I am especially thankful to God for letting me savor this moment of gratitude and thus able to spread His message of Love with everyone else. There is so much to be thankful about when you really think about it. For Islam and knowing its beautiful essence, I am truly honoured to be in this religion. It's always been a pleasant journey to learn so many wonderful insight hidden therein. I could only pray that this beauty stay with me for as long as I live. And even beyond that. Truly, Your Companion is forever felt and cherished :-))

Speaking of which, here is how you could perhaps show your gratitude to little things that have happened in your life. You’ll be amazed at the positive impact you’ll be making on your surrounding and yourself:

- Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth

- Repair before you renew

- Pick up local litter

- Walk

- Make something with leftovers

- Switch your lights off

- Take your own bags to the supermarket

- Dispose of chewing gums carefully

- Only fill the kettle with what you need

- Recycle spectacles/ old mobile phones

- Use paper on both sides

- Use a pen until it runs out of ink

- Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it’s charged

- Don’t print it unless you really, really need to

- Turn your computer screen off

- Buy local products

-... and thank those who help make your day better. It's priceless.

The problem with our society is that we tend to care what other people think. Like it or not, we do something because of acceptance. And we don't do something because of the same reason. To be accepted is nice, that's when we feel most welcomed or appreciated. But sometimes, we have to get out from our comfort zone and do something that many of us won't do. Especially when you know you're doing the right thing. You may think that these little things you do don't count, because you're not on a bigger scale to cause that difference. And because that's what you've been told over and over by most people. But don't be most people. Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does :)

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks!

r_L

Never knew that a " p value" could be so significant...

Alhamdulillah, I made it :-)

r_L

awesome mates

.: Muiz:. .: Alep:. .:Anas:. .:Ayouq:. .:Aynie:. .:Faex:. .:Nana:. .:Me:.

(for better view, please click on the pic)

Just a prose from a friend *smile*

*firstable, i'd like to credit Vanni for this wonderful post*

A Perfect Morning
by Vanni ( A Senior Woodlander )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The morning was too warm, too perfect in it's ultimate serenity as the dancing bits of colourful butterfly wings frolicked amongst the palest blue sky I had ever been privy to so early in the day.

Slowly, I sipped the strong cocoa brew from the worn red plastic mug I hugged in my palms. My heart thrilled as I peered intently at the ethereal theatre of nature abuzz, being acted out before me through the twelve perfect squares of dusty window pane that rested just above the reach of my mother's ambitious flowering garden.

In restrospect, that would have been the most appropriate time to pray- right then when I was totally encapsulated in the refreshing spirit that Life itself presented to me that morning. And if I had been two moments closer to reflection and introspection and perhaps a predilection to praise, I would have been whispering my offerings of thanksgiving to the Most High God.

But instead, my mind was soaking somewhere in the web of tranquility and profuse beauty that was before my eyes. And so, I never noticed that maybe that morning was just a mite too ideal until the clue was unfortunately much too late to decipher.

All it took was one scream. Truly, one heart-piercing, desperate scream was all that was necessarily to send the proverbial dark clouds rolling in on the peace that had, by now, tanned me all over. hurriedly, I lunged out of my chair in a flurried scramble to seek the source of the screaming situation.

By the time I had managed to cross the three feet to the curtained threshold of my squeaky bedroom door, the screams- bounding forth now in an agonized cluster- were being accompanied by an unmelodious chorus of eerie wails and incessant bawling. The bridge of hateful curses being hurled like the lashes of the heavy leather strap I imagined she was using, from the filthy mouth of my neighbour Anisa, was not far behind.

Strangely enough, my brain and I honestly could not decide whose voice was the loudest emitter- hers in all her worldly evil and malice, or that of the frail six year old boy whom was currently begging for mercy from his latest indiscretion. Both were raging with emotion, seeking first place in a who's-louder-than-who contest, that would eventually end in sore throats and shots of Histal straight from the bottle.

I envisioned his little honey-brown face at that moment, contorted as if possessed by demons much like his body must have been curled into the only defensive position he knew- knees tucked tightly to chest, head lowered, tiny hands raised in hope of touching heaven or perhaps the hem of sympathy's garment. And that was the last straw in the hay-basket for me.

I had certainly had enough of the boy's regular beatings- though abuse is truly a much more appropriate word- for misspelling a word, (much as I almost did), or for not knowing as much as she proclaimed he should, or for simply being the outsider in a family that through blood was not his own.

Seriously, is he not human too? Did he not matter because he was adopted by a plump, dark witch with a nose as shiny as dear Rudolph's, who is yet to understand the concept of nurturing and affection. Is he to blame because his skin is shades lighter and his teeth more wee and crooked than the two harboured minions and the thoroughly untrained grandchild that she claims as her own diseased flesh? How could anyone not see the glow of a child as it shakes and trembles before him?

Well, that was it for me. The fever of indignation was arched and prepared to escape from within me with a single leap, as my chest was rapped painfully with every pound of my heart against it's fragile barrier. I knew within myself that I had to do something. And so in one swift move, I wrestled the phone from it's charging stand resting serenely on the table, butting my poor elbow in the process.

Still, not to be deterred by the now twanging pain riding the length of the lower region of my right hand, I began to dial with my left. However, somewhere between the first and the second digit, I finally tuned in to my mother's disapproving presence rigidly seated on the nearby sofa bedecked with white lace throw cushions and cream doilies that always managed to appear askew.

I could tell that she too was riled up about our dear neighbour's total disdain for the delicacy of young life, but it took me another two digits to realize that her disapproving frown too was centered on me.

"Put that phone down." The timbre that rolls on the waver of her voice when she's angry always sends chills down my spine, and that time was no exception- not that I would ever mention this to her. Still, immediately, in place of the expected compliance, a ripping burst of defiance took over me and I kept dialing.

Numero cinco, numero seis. One more to go...

And that was the moment she stripped that phone out of my hand like paper off a Christmas gift without giving me a moment's reaction time.

"Are you out of your mind, Mummy? We can't just sit here and listen to this child go through this day in, day out! We have to do something! Can't you understand that?"

"Now, you understand me," she tersely replied. "We don't mingle in people's affairs no matter what's going on in their household. It's their business. Let them fix it. Don't get me wrong, I feel sorry for the boy and if I had my way I would be puching her lights out all the way to Calvary on the Mummy Express just to give the police enough time to turn up and collect her sorry carcass. But we don't get in the disaster of other people's lives. That's the way it's always been and that's how it's gonna stay."

And that's exactly what it wrong with this world. We are so afraid to change what poor foundations we have laid and to step up to build a more secure future. We are so terrified to help someone who is of no means to a greater end for our greedy selves that we forget what the true meaning of love is. We are defeated by the binds of the selfishness that dwells within our own souls and are too ensconced in our problems to find a remedy that could solve someone else's.

And so I obeyed. I sat down at that breakfast table with a steaming plate of fried eggs and bacon laid out lavishly before me, as I regained the warm comfort of that ragged red mug of cocoa in my palms. I thought it strange that it hadn't lost much heat in the ten minutes I had wallowed and depressed myself in the wails of one who was steeped in an eternity of disgrace.

Then I took a slow sip anyway, and closed my eyes to the mocking elegance of a perfect morning.

Of classmates and new things

So, it's been over a month since classes began. Well, actually, I'm having only chemistry and physics lessons for the core courses this semester. How heavenly that is, ay? Right right. But not really. Hurm, truth be told, I've gotta say I was somewhat nervous to be in that class. Especially now having made friends with them and recently been forming a discussion group; Nana, Hanista, Eny, Fahex then some good guys..Muiz, Alep, Anas & Farouq. Hmm, pretty good a company I have there, eh? :)) Of course, I have fun. Despite the fact our DG ( discussion group) occurs 24/7, things are so far so good. (Though it's killing me every now and then, I'm getting used to it alright). Haha, just kidding. So all in all..this is my life. It's inevitable, and I've gotta get going. No matter how hard things are, life should never be this hard. Ever.

"On NO soul does Allah place a burden, GREATER it can bear" - (2:286)

...how true :))

r_L

Just pictures*

BEST MEMOIRS OF MATF '06

Ma famille: Dad, me, Mom, Angah & Mizae

Charlie's Angels (only that there's one extra here)

My old mates and I in the great hall

Me, Rus, Farhana & Mizae

School Memoir

BACK TO SCHOOL: yup, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing. I mean, there’ll be a special school occasion on the 30th June 2006, Friday. It’s the Golden Jubilee Celebration 50th of Sekolah Tun Fatimah. Well, yeh...my school will turn 50 very soon. There’s nothing much to brag about the years, really. (Though half a century could really mean something lol).But what matters most is that the memories it has kept since 1956 until now. Why, there’s been a lot of changes as well- generations after generations, ups and downs, rapidly changing educational system, etc. etc. Almost everything’s changed for the better. While some still remain for the well-known trademark among the students and the teachers, like school routines and some language terms which has created our very own “school tradition”. Anyways, back to the programme, there’d be a TF Award Ceremony on the first day of celebration (in which I’ve been honourly invited..not arrogance, just a fact), then followed by some events and tahlil prayers. Well, too bad I can’t stay for long because I’ve gotta register at the matriculation centre of IIUM the next day (ugh, that’s when the celebration gets more exciting). Well, you know what they say..we can’t always have things both ways. Sad, but true. *sniff*sniff*

r_L