It's All So Strange and New.

Assalamu aleikum to all my sisters here, Muslim, Christian, or whatever you may be.

I don't really think of myself as Muslim yet. I have all of the basics down when it comes to belief, and I'm working on the practice (hello, prayers!). But the label is kinda... "Uhhhh..." at the moment, lol. It's different on the inside looking out, rather than on the outside looking in. I think, given some time, I'll be more comfortable saying that I am a Muslim. Right now people ask me "Are you Muslim?" and I look around wondering who they're talking to, haha!

I think that I'll start to "feel like a Muslim" when I get home and can wear hijab and go to prayers and classes at the mosque. Here, I'm one of a grand total of THREE females, and the only Muslim. It's pretty isolating. :(

Not to say I'm not surrounded by Muslims. Guys. But they're all looking at me like, ooh, is she married? (No.) My sergeant has actually gotten four marriage proposals for me. LOL, he's friends with all these guys, and I'm his soldier, so I guess that makes him my wali in their eyes. : P One guy offered $500 as a dowry. LOL It really cracks me up. But I'm not looking to get married, especially to a local. If and when I'm really to marry, inshallah he'll be an American convert/revert like me. (I prefer the term convert because I don't buy into the belief that everyone is a Muslim at birth and taught differently by their parents.)

Oh, and to my dear sis Sarah -- this wouldn't have happened without you and your willingness to engage in long email and chat Q/A sessions. We couldn't be more alike if we tried. Inshallah, Allah (SWT) will add this firmly to the scale of your good deeds and reward you with many blessings, in this life and the Hereafter. : )

Big news.

I can't really explain the mental hoops I've gone through over the last 2 years. I've shared some of them with you all, but only a fraction of them have made it into this blog, especially in the last year, with my deployment and all. I don't have time to change my blog right now.

However, this is big news. I'm happy, and I feel a sense of peace in my faith that I haven't felt in a while. This will seem abrupt to all but one of you, but...

How about I cut your pay, Mr. Senator?

Is. Very. Annoyed. Half a paycheck? REALLY? Um, did you forget something, oh Federal Government? As in, I'm IN FREAKING AFGHANISTAN!!!!!!!!

GRRRRR....

These politicians will cut everyone's pay but their own, and tax the poor and middle-class more than the rich.

When I am Queen of the universe, these things will change. Soldiers and teachers will be paid at least $70,000, and athletes and movie stars will make absolutely no more than $45,000 a year.

*is fed up with the ridiculi of the world we live in*