Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri
To all our malaysian and muslim friends, and especially to my best friend and best neighbor Syed Faidz, Selamat Hari Raya! May the year usher in a more peaceful world and a deeper understanding of the peaceful religion of Islam.

Background / History:
Hari Raya Puasa is also commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri. In Malay the word Hari Raya means ‘A Great Day’ and Puasa derives from Sanskrit meaning ‘fasting or abstention’. So, Hari Raya Puasa literally means ‘great day of fasting’ or in actual terms ‘the festival marking the end of a period of fasting’.

One of the tenets of Islam is to fast during the month of Ramadan, ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. This is a compulsory fast where faithful Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and other sensual pleasures from dawn to dusk. The virtuous aspects of life are emphasised during the month of Ramadan, a holy month.

Hari Raya Puasa is ascertained by the religious authorities by the sighting of the moon from several vantage points in Malaysia. The first day of Shawal, the tenth month of the Muslim lunar calendar is Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya Puasa is announced by the Keeper of the Royal Seal over all forms of media.

In Malaysia, Hari Raya Puasa is a public holiday celebrated over two days. It is ushered on the first day with prayers at the mosque early in the morning and a visit to the cemetery for prayers for the departed souls of loved ones. This festival marks an important time for Muslims to unite as a family in the exchange of love, blessings and forgiveness.
-excerpted from www.geovision.com.my

Pop Playlist
Maybe it's the season, maybe it's the radio season, maybe it's my mood, but I've been listening to more pop songs than usual. For some reason, I'm hooked on Avril Lavinge's - I'm With You. The first time I heard this song was when I was driving back from Lexington last saturday, but I didn't figure it out what song it was till yesterday night.

It's kinda funny because admist all my Korn, Drowning Pool, Linkin Park and the assorted rock songs that I've downloaded, there is one very sappy pop song in the playlist.

"I'm With You"
I'm standing on a bridge
I'm waiting in the dark
I thought that you'd be here by now
There's nothing but the rain
No footsteps on the ground
I'm listening but there's no sound

Isn't anyone tryin to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Wont you take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you

I'm looking for a place
Searching for a face
Is anybody here I know
'Cause nothing's going right
And everythings a mess
And no one likes to be alone

Oh why is everything so confusing
Maybe I'm just out of my mind
Yea yea yea

Yeay! It snowed!
On Fox2 last night: Snow forecasted.

2am this morning: Woke up. Look out of the window. Nothing except for a flickering street lamp.

7am this morning: It was gloriously white this morning! My car was snow covered. And snow was still coming down.

Gotta snap some pictures soon before the snow turns into slushes.

updated: Took some pictures from the corner office on the 4th floor. Not all that great, but you can see it was still snowing when I took this. It's probably right around noon, and the parking lot, which is normally packed by 8.30am, is unusually empty.

Winter Weight
I think I'm gaining weight again. It's always the case when cold weather rolls around. It's too cold to go running at the Creve Couer Park now, and the indoor gym at my apartment building is always crowded. So I always resort to resting on the couch instead...

This is sad because I've managed to lose some of my baby fat this summer by running a whole lot. I haven't been out running for two months now. My pants fits a little bit too snug. Either that or they have shrunk in the dryer. Heh.

I'm having my weekly lunch out with my buddy today. That'll add to the problem at hand I'm sure. It's a no-win situation.

Turkey Day
It is always a riot when the aunties get together. Turkey day was no exception. Elaine, Mike, and I joined Diana in Knoxville for Thanksgiving. We ate, played cards, ate, ate, and ate.

And then we did the unthinkable: we got up at the crack of dawn, took our showers, got dressed, and drove 40 minutes to the outlet malls for the ultimate black friday shopping experience. You see, the stores at the outlet malls open their doors at 6am, if you get there before 10am, there is additional 15% off. Normally I would have to be quite out of my mind to join the crazy shoppers on this day, but when the three aunties get together, we were 3x out of our minds. I think Elaine came up with the highest grand total, with me in the runner-up spot, and then Mike. Diana was the cautiuos shopper always. I do envy her will-power to not overspend. Heh. It was a very good day.

This is the most memorable Thanksgiving ever. Thank you Diana, for your hospitality, and letting me 'share' your bed :)... and for the great times!