Whats Going On?

November 2013

Saturday, November 30, 2013

I went to the grocery store again because I noticed the previous night that I was $11 short of the amount I need this month to get a 5 cent discount on gas per gallon from them. Otherwise my points would start over in December and my November points would be useless. I ended up spending almost $20 on things I would end up buying later anyway. Maybe I shoulda spent $11 now and $9 the next day to go toward my December points....hmm. Not really I know its not even that much savings. Its more of a mind thing to think Im really saving some money. I really waste a lot more money getting things I dont need (such as snacks or fast food). Saving 5 cents a gallon really amounts to about 60 cents a fill-up when my fuel level is really low (usually amounts to almost or just over 12 gallons each fill-up). I waste way more than that on a bag of chips I dont need. Second of all they’re usually not the lowest gas price in the area (sometimes though) so I may really save only 2 or 3 cents a gallon (around 25 cents each fill-up) if there are lower priced gas stations in the area. Also, I might waste that amount in gas just going out of my way to the grocery store gas station instead of just filling up wherever Im at. So Im really not saving any money by trying to get my points and using them. I may even be wasting money trying to get them. It makes me feel good, though, to be spending less on gas than the next sucker so I’ll probably continue to go after points. Im such a sucker.

Friday, November 29, 2013

I was at the grocery store checking out at a self-checkout and was on the phone at the same time. Since Im not very good with multitasking I lapsed greatly in my checking out. I scanned the items, put them in the bags and grabbed the bags and started walking towards the door... oops. The black guy at the station in front of the scanners stopped me and nicely worked with me to figure out what happened. I dont think he realized I was trying to steal but just knew something wasnt right with my transaction. So I realized I didnt pay and felt really embarrassed. That actually wasnt the first time I did that. At the halal meat store some years ago I was talking to the cashier and started walking off without paying. Im really bad at staying focused on tasks at hand apparently. I feel like I need to do some mind exercises or something to help me focus on what Im doing...I dont know. Oh well. Get it together, Muhs, get it together.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thanksgiving Day at Moms. Shahadah with Safia came very early in the morning (before Fajr). Mom got me up to help bring her stuff down and went back to sleep afterwards. Ruqi and her kids were already there and so were Hana’s kids. I made my pies with Malaika helping out. That was my small contribution. We had a good time. Later in the afternoon Rabia and Iman (Taqwa’s daughter) stopped by. I hadnt seen Iman in a while. I thought for a second it was Mahdiya. Man, these kids are all growing up...makes me feel old. Anyways, we had some delicious food. I hung with the boys upstairs most of the afternoon watching some football and the boys playing video games. The girls were downstairs talking about whatever girls talk about. I had kind of a breakthrough with Safia. She actually played with me for quite a bit. Hopefully she remembers me and stays warm to me. She’s awesome. Well, that was that. It was great seeing everyone. I had to go back that night to get ready for my slave weekend job. Sucks that I couldnt make it up to DC to hang with the boys and my Gramma, but it be what it be...maybe next time.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

This was the last day of work before Thanksgiving so people were leaving early or not there at all. It was a little before 4:30 and some people do leave at that time but some stay till 5 (like me this week only because its not a regular week, but working the 4-10s I stay till 5:30). I was in the break room and had been on the phone, but when I got back the door was locked. That door is hard to close so I was surprised that someone actually made sure it was closed all the way. The back door from outside the building was locked too and my keys were in my jacket pocket inside the office. I was like ‘crap’ so I called the boss. He got in touch with the last guy that was there (he left early so Im surprised he found out who left last cuz I sure didnt know and had nobody’s number). So I ended up waiting almost 20 minutes for the guy to come back to the office to let me in. Good thing he didnt get much further out and I had my boss’s number (which is the only persons number I have from this office) because I dont know what I would do. Most people in the building had left so I woulda been very short on options. Well, fortunately it wasnt worse. Now I gotta make sure I take my keys wherever I go (which I shoulda learned by now).

After work I had set out for mom’s house to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with my family who some I havent seen in a bit. Got there safely, no traffic problems (although it was heavy, but no slow downs). I had brought ingredients for pumpkin pie the night before because I had planned on making it during my lunch break. Since I dont have a kitchen or oven at my “home” I was planning on making it in the masjids kitchen. I thought for sure they would have an oven so when I went there to pray on my break I whipped out my ingredients but to my surprise there was no oven. They had a toaster oven but I wasnt sure if I could use it. I couldnt get it on so I decided to just bring the ingredients (including eggs since I wouldnt need them after this since I dont cook) to moms house where I planned on making them. When I got there they made fun of me because I got the wrong crust. How am I supposed to know the difference between deep dish and regular pie crusts? Oh well. I dont think it woulda made a difference except they would be smaller, but luckily they had some extra deep dish crusts so I would end up using those. I didnt make it that night so I planned on making it Thursday. Oh yeah, Ruqayyah, Mom and I decided we’re going to live in yurts. I didnt know what that was but yes, Im going to invest in a yurt.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

After receiving a Capital One offer the week before I receive another offer for the exact same thing. I was like “What the heck? These people are ridiculous. I just opened it up, filled out bogus information quickly and wrote at the signature line in bold letters for them to not send me any more offers (nothing crazy or explicit which Im sure a lot of people would do and i felt like doing) and put it in the mailbox. They have nerve. I better not get anything else from them.

Monday, November 25, 2013

I got to my room after work and found a note on the desk saying my room was unacceptable so they couldnt housekeep it and they were going to come back in 2 days. They told me I need to clean and organize it and put the trash out. It was true. The room was a disaster. I have been so lazy. I had been there almost three weeks but never got around to putting my crap away and things were very messy. I had been working everyday but thats no excuse to keep it like that. Of course I had been meaning to clean it and I knew at some point they were going to check it, but I keep putting it off. I suck.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

At my other job someone just started the week before and I heard multiple times people wondering if that person was a guy or girl. Its a short, fat, white person with a boyish hairstyle and boyish clothes. I was kinda wondering the same thing but had made up my mind that it was a female. I was pretty comfortable and confident with that. Well at the end of work the night before one of the coworkers (a hottish Asian chick, one of three that hang together but like to talk to me even though they’re married ) who worked across from it and worked across from me the previous night mentioned casually some reference to it as “him”. She said it pretty confidently and it wasnt about questioning it’s sex so I was taken by surprise and now I was unsure. Well, on this day I walked by their computer a few stations away from me when they werent there to pick up one of their boxes and it has their name on the screen so Im like “moment of truth”. Well, I was correct and it had a female name. Well I guess that Asian sure didnt find out it was a girl when they worked across from each other. I dont blame her. Dang ‘Pats’ shouldnt be so ambiguous. Wear a bow on your head or something. Geez.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Theres a small, older woman at my other job (not super old but she’s a grandmother, maybe mid 40s or 50). She’s typical country Southern Christian but isnt racist. Well she was working across from me (our stations are set up where theres a conveyor in front of us that we take boxes of DVDS from it to scan them and we’re directly across from someone on the other side). So we were talking about religion amongst other things and she told me “I feel sorry for you people” since we don’t accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. She kinda said it in a nice tone and continued talking to me nicely a little later. I was surprised because she pretty much said I was going to Hell. Wow. Well, at least she was nice about it.

Thursday November 21, 2013

We had a potluck lunch for Thanksgiving at work (yeah a week early). They have potlucks from time to time, but I never bring anything in. I need to since I partake in it, so I feel kinda bad when that happens. They actually had one a few weeks before for Veterans Day so it was interesting that we had another one so close. They do them for Christmas, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and I think thats it. We may have done others. It was good. Of course I couldnt eat some stuff because of the meat but they have other stuff that I can eat that can fill me. Its all good.

I checked my mail and I got a credit card offer. I got so angry since I knew it was the stupid debt collection agency who sold my address info to them because they’re one of the few places that have my PO Box address. Im like “Why in the heck are you sending me credit card offers when Im in deep debt!!!!.” Thats so stupid. Duh. If I was a cussing man I woulda been cussing so loud but I kept it Kosher. I opened it up and it said something like “We know you’re trying to rebuild your credit yadda yadda yadda” so Im like “So give me a credit card so I can spend money I dont have (with interest no less) so I can be in more debt” Makes sense. Makes a lot of f***** sense. Dummies. I saw the opt out of prescreen offers number so I called that. The automated thing asked if I wanted to add my name, temporarily remove my name, or permanently remove my name. Okay. People really call to add their name to credit card offers? Ok. Yeah I want to temporarily remove my name so I can get more offers when Im either still trying to get out of debt or completely out of debt. Yeah okay. No, REMOVE MY F***** NAME PERMANENTLY DANG IT! They wanted my SS#, address, name, everything and I was giving that info yellingly so they had to ask me over and confirm what I was saying and I was getting more and more frustrated. I quit and hung up. I went online on my phone to their website and they asked for all my information too which I gave. So I submitted the form and I got so mad. Even though I chose to remove my name permanently, the confirmation said something like “we’re so nice we’ll temporarily remove your name for now but you have to print out a form and send it to us so we can permanently remove your name”...... I threw my phone out the window and ran it over 10 times...just kidding. I just quit. They make it so difficult...maybe I shouldnt get myself in this mess in the first place. I took a deep breath and went on to the laundromat to wash my clothes. While I was waiting for my clothes and I was at a store I was thinking about how phony everything is.... money, credit score, government, this whole dang system.... and I was just like “Im probably going to wind up living in the woods somewhere or at least find a simple community in the world without all this crap.” I think isolating yourself is really selfish so I dont know about going into the woods. Anyways, thats that. Im done ranting.

Wednesday November 20, 2013

I met with a group of guys around lunchtime to discuss verses from the bible. One black guy from the office next door to ours invited people to start meeting every Wednesday to have discussions. I occasionally talk with him and we have deep discussions. I accepted the invite because there’s nothing wrong with a healthy discussion about God (not ‘Son of God’, just God). He’s an interesting guy because he says he has visions and gets messages from God and he actually had messages for me and described my folks in a weird long talk we had. I believe some of the things he says and I dont think he’s crazy. I believe that people actually get some truths spiritually but it could be Jinns giving him the info or something but Im not doubting that he actually gets messages, and its not evil stuff. Anyways, a lot of what he says about God and other topics are very much in line with Islam and Quran so I mention Quranic verses when we speak. The only thing he’s screwed up about is Jesus as God, but he may come around eventually. So we met with some other guys (two others) for our first meeting. It was good. I always throw in Quran even though I think he wants me to convert and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior so I think it bothers him when I do that...although he doesnt show it. I dont know. I’ve been meaning to delve into the bible to actually see what it says and point out things that are obvious contradictions or falsities and compare it to Quran (which I need to study a lot more too). I think these meetings will be good. Its always good to discuss God and take ourselves away from worldly things to remind us of Him.

I got a call at my office from a debt collector. I’ve gotten that a few times before since I dont answer my cell phone and ever since I listed my work phone somewhere (I think to Wells Fargo last year when I banked with them, but owed money to them on a credit card) I have received occasional calls from other debt collectors and had to tell them not to call my work phone and told the secretary not to forward those calls. I deleted that info fast but my information was already sold. Anyways, they got through so I talked with them for a minute. I wasnt mean. I try to be nice when they actually get a hold of me. I told them I was at work and would give them a call later. Since I cant lie I actually gave them a call later. This was for a student loan debt that went into default because I stopped paying last year when I was out of work and never got around to making payments again. Apparently its been passed from one debt collector to another and just got passed to these guys. They wanted to put me in some repayment program to clear the default off my record even though I dont care about my credit anymore. They wanted me to give my bank account to start making payments. I said no and that I would rather make online payments or send it in the mail. They were trying to say that wasnt a good idea because I would have to put my SS# on the money order (which I found out was a lie) and that I couldnt make online payments (which I also found out was a lie). I was telling them that I would have to see documentation about the program or information about the debt before I make a payment and they said they already sent out information in the mail (which I did receive eventually). They were saying I had to make a payment in order to begin the program then they would send confirmation that I entered the program. I ended up getting the website from them (she seemed hesitant to give me information and also told me to do a certain search on google to find them...???...) where I could find more information about the program. I ended up looking the information up and found the site. I had to sign up for it and it was legitimate. It had my debt info and had ties to the Dept of Education. I quickly deleted my work phone number so they wont call it anymore (unless they saved it somewhere). I hadnt told them that I didnt want them calling my work phone so if they have it they may still try to call. We’ll see. Anyways I do intend to start paying back again, but I’ll pay on my time and within my budget. They tried to get me to pay some large amount (twice what I was paying) and offered a settlement (which I found out was the amount I actually owe, but they told me I owed more I think because they factored in interest and fees), but of course I cant pay that now. Again, I’ll pay them back when I can, even though I know they can legally start garnishing wages or take my tax refund when they want to get my money legally, but hopefully I’ll start paying them back before it gets to that point. It sucks being a sucker and getting myself into this mess. I cant wait to get debt free and call Dave Ramsey and yell “IM DEBT FREEEEEE!!!!!” (Freedom!!!! clang clang clang!!!!....jk)

Saturday November 16, 2013

I got a call from Amazon saying they had a position open. However, it was for a full time shift, which I cant do. They told me they may not be hiring for part time weekend shift this season. I was kinda hoping for that since that would open up my Fridays, but oh well. I guess I’ll stick around the job Im at now for a while longer, even though I hate missing Friday Prayers. Im hoping that they start up the weekend night shift that I was on earlier this year, which would open up my days on the weekend and allow me to go to Jummah prayer on Fridays. Its a crazy shift because I end up working all night Sunday and have to go into my regular job Monday morning, but I can adjust my regular job schedule if I need to. I may switch to a regular 8-5 schedule like I did when I worked that night shift before or work half the day Mondays and Fridays and work 10 hours the other days, or something like that. It would be worth it, though, to open up Fridays. I know it’ll get to me like it did last time, but Im willing to work this job as long as I can- either by my regular job going back to mandatory five days a week (like earlier this year) or me quitting the other job when I get burnt out (like I almost did before but the shift ended right after I was thinking about quitting)...either way is fine with me. Im just thankful that I have this opportunity to be working an extra job to pay down some debts.

I had a really weird experience. I started hearing a rapid clicking noise in the bathroom so I went into the bathroom to see where exaclty it was coming from. As soon as I got in there the noise stopped. So I went back out and I hear it start up again. I go back and it stopped again. I thought that was really strange. I couldnt figure out where exactly the noise was coming from so that was bothering me. I repeatedly would go back and forth and it would stop when I got near or in the bathroom every time. Sometimes the clicks would linger or slow down for a few seconds when I got in there but would stop while I was in there. I would stay there for a minute or so and soon after I leave I hear it again. I finally gave up and went about my business while the noise was going. I guess it won...whatever the heck it was. That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced I think. As of writing this (11/27) I havent heard it again. Maybe I was being watched. Dang pervs.

Tuesday November 12, 2013

By time I got back in around Fajr time I had decided I was gonna call in sick to work (I dont have much leave time built up, which I normally would use, and have a lot of sick leave, so I was going to just use that...they dont care). I called in after falling asleep and waking up around 10. I was hoping to stay up until 7:30 or 8 to call in but fell asleep. Its no big deal but I think we’re technically supposed to call in by 10 if we’re going to be out or else we get reprimanded or something. I just said I wasnt feeling well (which is technically correct) and the boss said ok. I stayed out the whole day. Sometimes I’ll just come into work in the afternoon if I came back from a trip at Fajr time but since there really isnt much going on right now at work I just took the whole day off. It was nice.

Later in the afternoon I had gone to the SMX recruiting office for the Amazon job since they had called on Saturday while I was at work and left an automated message saying to come in Tuesday to finish the application process. I thought that meant they had a spot open for me, but it ended up being that I needed to fill in some more forms online. I think they were about ready to get me on board, which is what I was waiting on.

Monday November 11, 2013

Mumina and I planned on visiting both her grandmothers in Trenton (about 20 minutes away). Mumina and her mom encouraged me to go to the nearby barber to get my beared trimmed up. I finally gave in. It was a Latino barber shop but they said a negro works there too, but he wasnt there, so it was all Latinos. Thats interesting because Sabriya had been saying I needed to go to a Latino barber shop since the negro barber shops never cut my hair right. They always cut it too low. But anyways I was not going to get my hair cut (which I plan on just growing an afro, kinda like how I plan on just letting my beard grow without cutting it down). I had the barber just edge me up, which ended up alright. He didnt cut my beard down, but just neatened it up, plus my hairline, ‘burns and ‘stache. It took longer than I expected, but he did a pretty thorough job. After that I drove to Trenton with Mumina and her mom. We had a nice visit. They seemed to like me and it was nice meeting them. After that, we got back to Bensalem to their apartment around 4. Muminas aunt and uncle stopped by, and her cousin and her children came by soon before I left. I left around 6 after eating dinner and leading prayers. It was a little later than I hoped to leave, but that was fine and kinda expected. I drove straight back down without any naps at rest stops, which I usually end up doing. I got back around 5am the next morning. I had a nice visit. We are making progress on this and Im feeling better about it too as we move along. Insha’Allah things will work out.

Sunday November 10, 2013

Conveniently I was able to participate in the Google Hangout with the family while at Hasheems, which is hard for me to normally join since Im working every day now (except of course when I take off or have a holiday). Its going to be even harder for me going forward, even nights, since I dont have proper technology (yet) or wi-fi at the hotel Im staying at. Im thinking about getting a tablet to put on my T-mobile plan which would make it possible to connect to the Hangouts, even briefly on my short lunchbreak at my other job if we do it at same day/time. Anyways, it was great being able to see family and chat....I definitely need to be better at staying in touch with family. Hopefully I can join the family in future Hangouts. Insha’Allah.

Immediately after the Hangout I set out to continue my journey to Philly. I got to town about 9:30 and I went straight to Mumina and fam’s house to stay the night. I was hoping to get their a few hours earlier to join them for dinner, but because of the Hangout and making too many stops, I got there later than I wanted to. It was well worth it, though, to stick around for the Hangout, so I had no problem with that. We didnt really do anything that night since it was kinda late. Muminas dad had to work early the next morning so her parents went to bed as soon as I got there. Me and Munina talked for a little bit before going to bed.

Saturday November 9, 2013

I drove to Blacksburg after work to spend the night at Hasheems apartment on my journey to Philly. I took Sunday off work since I was off Monday for Vets Day so I can make a quick trip (no not the gas station QT) to see Mumina and fam. I got there around midnight, a few minutes before Hasheem got there. We ended up staying up pretty late after talking about some stuff for hours. We mainly talked about whats wrong with this country and humanity in general, but starting with Hasheems theories about art, which led to discussion about other things. That was that.

Wednesday, November 7, 2013

I checked out another hotel which is off the same exit as the place Im staying now but on the opposite side of the highway. Its a lot cheaper but I was surprised that it wasnt run down for that price. The fridge is smaller and it doesnt have a kitchen area, but it would still serve my needs. Its a pretty big hotel too. I checked out a room on the 6th floor (which is the highest) and it had a pretty nice view. I dont know if thats the room I’ll get when I check in, but it doesnt matter. Thats my kinda place. I can see myself staying there for at least a month as I save the money to take care of my previous apartment business.

Monday, November 4, 2013

I stopped at QT before work to get a hot cocoa/cappuccino/coffee mix I like to get sometimes. The total was $1.72 and I pulled out my wallet and my debit card was missing. I was like “Oh crap” and tried to remember where it could be. I remembered using it the previous night but wasnt sure where I put it. It could either be in the car or at the hotel. The guy was like he’ll just write it off and I didnt want to go check the car only to not have it in there and come back in emptyhanded. I did have some change in my pocket (about 90 cents) so I accepted his offer, but gave him my change anyway. So that worked out alright. Well, when I got back in the car, lo and behold, my debit card was sitting right there in the middle console. Oh well, I win. JK

I received a certificate for passing the concrete test. Now Im officially certified to test concrete. Its a national certification so if I was to get a job elsewhere, I could use it there. My other certifications are mostly good for just South Carolina. All these certifications expire in a few years so either way I’ll have to retake those tests at some point to keep them. Im certifies to test earthwork, asphalt, and now concrete.

Saturday November 2, 2013

At my job at Exel they finally had me scanning, which is what they put me in that department for initially. They took forever to get me a login ID so I could do that. I stopped asking them about it. They still didnt get me a stamper, which Im supposed to use to stamp my number on the boxes I fill. Im actually supposed to have one anyway if Im doing putaway (which is what I’ve been doing) to stamp my number on the boxes I put away too. Anyways, I had to get into my groove scanning. I did scanning when I was working there at the beginning of the year. I like doing putaway, though. Theres more variety and I was able to interact with more people (which takes me out of milah muhs mode, which I can embrace in small doses). Over the last few weeks, they brought on three other black guys who are actually pretty cool (not niggerish, which I wouldnt expect to find working anyway). They remained on putaway and I think they’ll be scanning too eventually. Scanning has its pluses- being to myself, having my own work station, and time actually goes by quickly because we have target number of scans to reach. I would rather do putaway, though. Maybe I should do a terrible job scanning and they’ll put me back on putaway. Nah, thats too niggerish.