Light of Islam

I don’t know whether to be sad because it looks raggedy or happy because that means plenty of people have been sitting in it, but the poor pink chair is falling into disrepair:

Before

After:

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Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at www.light-of-islam.org/.

I’ve lost a total of 6 pounds as of today’s Weight Watchers weigh-in.  That’s 6 pounds in 3 weeks!

My eyes have been giving me a lot of trouble over the last few weeks – hurting and tearing up and being blurry.  On Saturday I finally went to the optometrist, who told me I need a new glasses prescription.  The burning issue is whether to get another pair of progresives (this will be my third) or good old bifocals.  I have never gotten used to progressives, so I’m thinking maybe the bifocals are the way to go.  I’ve been going around trying to imagine how much I’d be able to see in the top part of the bifocals, and that’s what makes me nervous – looking down and seeing nothing but blurriness.  I have to make the decision soon because my eyes are killing me and this is the second day in a row I’ve had a killer headache.  Until I get the new glasses reading and computer work are painful – so I’m outta here for now.  I guess it’ll be an evening of TV.

After months and months of seeing low stats in people reading my Constant Contact newsletter, it seems to be really catching on.  Over the last week or two people have come in to the store or called and when I ask how they heard about the store they say I’m on your newsletter list!  I’ve been walking around saying what I always say – that mailing list is gold!

Preparations for the fundraiser are proceeding apace.  I’m not stressing over table decorations and such like I did last year.  I’m going to have balloons on the tables and gift bags for everyone.  MAS Media was kind enough to give Light of Islam copies of the video “On Common Ground,” created by Zahra Pictures, and I will be giving all my guests a copy of that.  I’m not sure quite what else is going into the bags.  I recently ran across a wonderful artist and I’ve left her a message asking if she will donate gift cards with her art.  I’d also like her to donate artwork for our silent auction.  My friend who donated artwork last year is doing so again, so we will have a silent auction after all.  I guess I can put candy in the bags too.  Who doesn’t like candy, right?  Anyways, I’ll figure it out.  Even if it’s just the video and candy I’ll make the bags look nice and everyone will be happy  

I’ve also been focused on my report that I’m distributing to the guests (and mailing to donors who don’t attend) as well as my presentation for this event.  I’m also giving input to the filmmaker so the film will suit the fundraising dinner’s objectives.  The program will consist of: My presentation, then the film, then four speakers from the community, then dinner.  I’ve decided to forego the traditional fundraising-by-harassment that’s done at so many Muslim organization’s functions.  As at previous events, the program will contain a donation and a pledge form which gyests can complete, and I guess I’ll have the kids going around with baskets collecting the donations.  I’ve split the major categories of tasks between my husband and me and hopefully that will streamline getting set up.  I’ve bagged the idea of also having a book sale.  Way too complicated.  I haven’t decided on the food yet.  Things are coming along!

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Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at www.light-of-islam.org/.

I got my 5 pound star at Weight Watchers yesterday!  I’ve lost a total of 5.4 pounds so far.

New on Our Shelves:

* Radical Reform: Islamic Ethics and Liberation by Tariq Ramadan

* The Forever War  by Dexter Filkins

* For Prophet and Tsar: Islam and Empire in Russia and Central Asia by Robert D. Crews

* Al’ America: Travels Through America’s Arab and Islamic Roots by Jonathan Curiel

* The Right to Life, Security, Privacy and Ownership in Islam by Mohammad Hashim Kamali

* A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman’s Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide by Mark D. Siljander

* Your Islamic Marriage Contract by Hedaya Hartford and Ashraf Muneeb

Also notable:

* War and Peace in the Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Zakaria Bashier

* The Story of the Qur’an by Ingrid Mattson

* Complete Fiqh us-Sunnah

* Ibn Kathir’s Life of the Prophet Muhammad

* Qur’an translations in English, Spanish, Hindi, Chinese and Vietnamese

We are a local distributor of Azizah,

the magazine for North American Muslim women.

Hours, directions and more information at www.light-of-islam.org.

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Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at www.light-of-islam.org/.

As I mentioned a couple posts ago, I’m working on getting better organized, better focused and more disciplined.  I’m developing habits and a daily schedule in an effort to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.  

I lost 2.8 pounds in my first week on Weight Watchers!  

One thing I have to do more of is read.  Sounds crazy since I run a bookstore, but I tend to let other things get in the way of reading, even when I’m enjoying a book.  When people ask if I’ve read a particular book, I need to be able to say yes rather than “I just skimmed it.”  I mean, I do skim at least, but that’s not the same.  There are a couple sites that have been very helpful to me as far as book reviews go – MuslimMatters and Goodreads.  I have to do more of my own book reviews, though.

Besides the books, I have a few things in the works:

• I am close to finalizing the Azizah event.  On Monday I’m meeting with the brother from the Dawah Center downtown, as it looks like it will be a collaborative effort between them, me and Azizah.  That will be in May, exact date to be determined.
• I am starting a Light of Islam Toastmasters club.  If you’re interested, e-mail me at ruth @ light-of-islam.org.
• Of course, the Shining the Light fundraiser is on March 7.  I am compiling a list of people who will be honored at the dinner, both donors and volunteers.
• I’m hoping the next Saturday Afternoon Poetry series will be on March 28, but I don’t seem to be able to pin down the poets.
• I still want to do a communications and leadership workshop, but that’s kind of on the back burner right now.

In the meantime, all the regular activities are still ongoing.

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Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at www.light-of-islam.org/.

I finally saw a new ENT doctor yesterday in hopes of addressing my sinus issues in a more appropriate way than surgery.  This doctor had a quite different opinion than the one I saw before.  He said it seems like my problem is less the result of obstructed sinuses and more soft palate issues, especially since my sinus congestion has decreased a lot but my snoring has increased, including some episodes that sound like apnea according to my husband’s description.  So I will be doing an at-home sleep study (I never heard of that but I’m glad it exists because there was no way I was going to go sleep in front of strangers in some sleep center) as soon as the machine is available from the doctor’s office.  The best treatment may end up being a procedure where they put Dacron mesh into the soft palate.  

My weight is doubtless also a factor, although the doctor didn’t specifically mention it.  The literature he gave me did.  I have reached a record weight and decided that really and truly enough is enough.  I’ve set a weight loss goal that I hope to reach in 15 months.  I’m re-starting Weight Watchers tomorrow.  I have been overall getting more disciplined and organized, which can only be good.

Today I am completing the mailing of the invitations for the fundraiser on March 7.  I am debating whether I want to go downtown to do the bulk mailing or just go ahead and get a permit with the Webster post office.  Ironically, when I got the permit last year to do the June fundraiser mailing, the woman who processed it said are you sure you don’t want to do it in Webster?  (That downtown post office and the Webster post officer are the only two places in this area that process these business mailings.)  I said no, I’m here, let’s just do it here.  And of course the store ended up being in Webster.  The only issue with Webster is that I’d have to pay for another permit (which was $180 last year), but since that permit expires in May, if I do another bulk mailing this year I would have to get a new permit anyway.  I hope to do another fundraiser this year, so the chances are good I will do another mailing and need another permit.  Buying the actual postage will be no problem, since I have plenty left over from last year – in fact, probably more than I will use even with two mailings.  Anyway, one way or another I have to get that mailing out before the end of the week, since this Saturday will be four weeks before the event.

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Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at www.light-of-islam.org/.