i think i'm not in kansas...at all actually

ok, so, first things first. check out the new design. there's no way you can't say that it isn't awesome! i love the color and the way it all plays together...it makes me happy to look at it (take a quick bow). so things have been pritty crazy around here since the last time we spoke. days full of girls nights, guys nights, sleep overs, birthdays (well, just Khat's actually) and family dinners and devotionals; playing guitar, writing little vignettes based on the life of Wolfgang Small (yes, he is fictional), exercising (not really), work, lots of work, and bicycle obtaining; i have also been the star of my own reality real life show, a divine comedy called, Spending Too Much Time At Home On Couch Can Lead To Brain Damage; there have been staff visits, wonderful wonderful staff visits, and most importantly.....FASTING. today is the last day, and i decided here, laying in my bed, that to put up a post, and to get back in the swing on things, would be a very nice and proper thing to do on the advent of the new year. Bahar was also here for a couple of days, and hopefully we'll be getting some photos soon.

terribly sorry for the inadequate description above of what i've been doing, but to be honest, it's all i remember at this point. and my negligence has dug me into a hole where time, but not space, quietly and methodically taps on the back of my shoulder with one hand and with the other shoves me forward. before i forget, here is a picture from our girls night...i can't even remember when. it was taken by good friend Jonathan (not pictured: Jonathan, cause he's taking it, and Roya, who at this point in the evenings merriment was slowly drifting to sleep holding a stuffed polar bear stage right of us.

(l to r: luis, khat, anjali, ezra, me)

it's a wonderful picture huh!

i've also been reading Muhammad and the Course of Islam. amazing book. it has changed my life...or at least certain perspectives. i can remember seeing it on our books shelves at home. i always thought about picking it up and delving into it, but it always seemed so daunting. needless to say, well, it is. BUT it is an incredible achievment of historical literature. balyuzi does a masterful job.