Breakaway

Grew up in a small town And when the rain would fall down I'd just stare out my window Dreamin' of what could be And if I'd end up happy I would pray Trying hard to reach out But when I tried to speak out Felt like no one could hear me Wanting to belong here But something felt so wrong here So I prayed I could break away [chorus] I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change And break away Out of the darkness and into the sun But I won't forget all the ones that I love I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change And break away Wanna feel the warm breeze Sleep under a palm tree Feel the rush of the ocean Get on board a fast train Travel on a jetplane, far away And break away [chorus] I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change And break away Out of the darkness and into the sun I won't forget all the ones that I love I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change And break away Buildings with a hundred floors Swinging round revolving doors Maybe I don't know where they'll take me But, gotta keep moving on, moving on Fly away, break away [chorus 2] I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye, gotta Take a risk, take a chance, make a change And break away Out of the darkness and into the sun But I won't forget the place I come from I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change And break away Break away Break away...

Kelly Clarkson (2004)

Brownie

The first time I made a batch of brownie, I thought it was a total disaster. That was because I didnt know that Brownie was supposed to have that odd gooey center with crumbly chocolate top. Not dry nor raised. To me it was supposed to be this perfect chocolate cake that was cut to squares and that the color was brown. Hence, the name brownie. Now, I know that that first time more than 20 years ago, was a perfect experience. Today, after spending a weekend long looking at all of my glorious collections of baking books, I decide to make a batch with a slight adaptation. This happens when I look at too many recipes. The below is part Nigella, part Magnolia and part Fitness magazine January 2007 issue. The brownie points?... I should get them from my loyal testers at work tomorrow. :-)

Ingredients
1/2 cup oil
2/3 cup cooking chocolate
3 eggs
3 tablespoon yogurt
1.5 teaspoon vanilla
1.5 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa

Method.
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees (180 degrees), grease and line a brownie pan or swiss roll cake tin
2. Melt chocolate, add cooking oil, stir well, then set aside for 10 minutes to cool
3. Mix eggs, vanilla, yogurt and sugar to cooled chocolate mixture, beat well
4. Put in dry ingredients, mix well
5. Bake for about 25 minutes or the top turn pale brown with crumbly texture but inside still soft and gooey.
6. Set aside to cool. Wrap tightly with a cling wrap and set aside overnight before cutting it to squares.
7. Enjoy with a glass of milk or a cup of black coffee.

40 Year Old Mystery

This was written recently, by putting in the perspective of a someone kind, looking into my experience. A few of the paragraphs were written from my own perspective, relating in words what I felt and thought during the time.

This was written, out of what turned to be the beginning of over a year of most difficult times of my life. But today, thank you to Allah Al Mighty, as because of Him, I have regained my faith. I was able to get through this experience by (still getting by, but much easier now - and only so, if I was suddenly reminded of it and that I had to relive it). Yes, today, I am happy to say that, it's easier now, and that I am getting through it by:

remembering Him, often.
read the Quran, whenever I can,
praying to Him, always.
... and forgiving quickly.


38 Year Old Mystery

the warning came unasked, unexpectedly,
of envy, of jealousy.
becareful please!, was the advise,
of a 38 year old mystery.

the warning came from a stranger,
who claimed sincerity that is only to assist,
becareful please, so you will not suffer,
becareful please! was the advise,
of a 38 year old mystery.

over a year it has been,
to not exercise care is stupidity,
to believe, to suspect truth is haunting,
of a 38 year old mystery.

over a year it has been,
to believe, to suspect possibility has been teary grief,
to not exercise care is stupidity,
of a 38 year old mystery.

the warning came from a stranger,
an initial placed in the center of the palm,
teary eyes, heavy heart,
of a 38 year old mystery.

prayers to ALLAH is the only way,
to protect, to care & to free,
from evil or any wrong doings,
of a 38 year old mystery.

prayers to ALLAH is the only way,
to stop, to care, to free,
from evil deeds or any wrong doings,
by the 38 year old mystery.

nothing to lose, nothing will be lost,
for love shared will surely stay,
those few words to be realised,
by the 38 year old mystery.

nothing to lose, nothing will be lost,
for love shared and given is surely undivided,
but will that will be realised in worldly sense,
by the 38 year old mystery.

open The Book half way through,
written in red are the words for you,
to protect, to shield, to keep you safe,
believing in ALLAH will see you through.

over a year it has been,
ironic outcomes, contentedness realized,
the greatest feeling most thankful of all,
of renewed faith in the power that He,
of keeping thy safe in His care,
from any 38 year old mystery.

- The insight came one day during the month of November 2005