My bowl of stew

Do you like stew?

I figure everybody likes some type of stew or soup. Chicken noodle, tomato, clam chowder, vegetable, meat and potatoes stew, bean soup, etc. So I wonder if the type of soups or stews we like have anything to do with our characters? Perhaps, or maybe not?

Today I'm thinking of making a special stew that possible gives a glimpse into my own character. Let's call it KRahmaan's stew -if you will! I want to start will the cleanest water I can find in these parts. Why? Because clean water is a sign of purity. Not only for the body, but also for the mind. Water so clear that it would be perfect for an infant to drink. I don't live by any flowing streams so the local clear water that can be bought from the stores will do fine.

Next, I would like to add a pinch of salt to my water as it warms to a boil. I'm not sure why, but most recipes call for you to add a pinch of salt. I think it's to add to the flavor of the overall stew. This salt to me signifies a beginning of a masterful dish that is soon to form out of nothingness. Kind of like the first step on a journey to quench thirst of one's goal.

Onward, once my water starts to boil I'd like to add some rice. Long grain white rice. Not because that's my favorite rice, because even brown rice would do. I could even add some rice from a far off country like India, China or Pakistan. This rice once added will start what I call 'a scientific process of evolution' because it will react with the water as well as the pinch of salt I added. Some may ask.. Well how is it science and evolution? It's that because the rice now has or will start to expand as it cooks. It will puff up threw the cooking process to become its full expression to fill my gut. Thus, giving me all the necessary nourishment that uncooked rice could not offer.

Next, let's add some mixed vegetables shall we? My mix will include carrots, peas, corn, Lima beans, sting beans, and broccoli. I like to use these because they are always fresh even if canned or frozen and of course if they are chopped fresh. I don't like to spend too much on extravagances making my dishes, just as long as they taste good in the end. Ooops! These will actually be boiled in a separate pot, because adding these too soon would be a conflict of interests! Ha, now that that's done the rice should be boiling and now it's time to simmer and add a cover to it.

The next thing that I'll be adding will be black pepper to my veggies! It already has salt so pepper will give it a nice and bold flavor. I see this adding pepper as one willing to take chances in one's life. Because if we never take chances in our lives we make little advances.

Now that the veggies are boiling and the rice simmering, time to get a different pot of fiber and protein enriched beans going. I like vegetarian beans, as pork and beans work well too. These are best canned, and should be cooked with speed. More pepper please! For some reason, to me it just brings out more flavor. These beans are rugged and can endure a very high flame just as long as you keep an eye on them, and constantly stir not to let them burn. I believe a man's character should be gentle like a gentlemen of Great Britain, but also as rugged as a Texan cowboy. For then he can be well rounded and more capable of standing up for a ladies honor.

I have one more ingredient that I feel must be added before my stew will be finished. And it will be added to my boiling veggies. I've traveled to the far East to find this (not really, for it can be found at your corner store). It represents a sense of 'calm' that is needed in one's life. To feel at ease is not always easy to attain in this life of 'trials and tribulations' that we endure. But I feel with practice of finding time to relax, we can find our place of calm every once in a while. This ingredient is called Teriyaki -but I only use a few drops! I never overdue anything for it would spoil my stew!

So now that my beans are all cooked, the veggies have almost boiled out the water, and the rice is all puffed up, now it's time to kill their flames. First I'll add the veggies to my rice, then stir. Sometimes the beans need more time to cook, so I'll make sure that they turn out to a healthy and tick consistency. Letting me know they are done.

Alrighty then, now it's time to combine! And there you have it, my stew is all prepared. Adding a side of toast with some butter will make a fine and tasty meal. My bowl of stew is complete to comfort my mind, body, and soul.

~Today's horoscope~

Libra
March 01, 2009

You might not have all the knowledge in the world,
but you have a lot of heart -- and that will count for
a lot today. By using your kindness and compassion
to make stronger friendships with people, you'll be
able to utilize their skills to get closer to what you
want. Don't think of it as using someone, because
you're not. It's perfectly acceptable to align yourself
with people who add value to your life. After all,
they choose to have you in their life because you
add so much, too.



_____________________________________________
K. Rahmaan
Life is what we make it.

What does love got to do with it?

Quite a day I had earlier today.

I woke up and it seemed colder outside than usual. Brrrr, I swore I could see my breath with every exhale. So as usual I started my day, threw some coffee on the stove top and hopped in the bathroom to freshen up. "Knock, knock!" I knew I heard someone knocking at my door but now already preoccupied I can't come to the door. But they know I'm here, because of the music in the background.

"Knock, knock!" There it is again. So I hurry to see who it is, half naked. Just to see that they've already left. Just great! So back to my business. OK, all fresh now. My pot of coffee is ready to go and I notice that I have new messages on my answering machine. I wonder who in the hell this could be? Hopefully not more of these recorded telemarketing messages that have been constantly calling me these days. Makes me just want to rip the phone out the sockets forever!

"Four new messages". One is from my mother, looks like someone else in the family has just died. Too bad, but for some reason. Today I just don't want to feel sad. Just a few days back, I almost lost my dad. My uncle just passed away, but he never kept himself healthy anyway. He always ate whatever, and never cared about his diet. Plus he was very old so I guess he's finally at peace. I know that he died content for he always did what he wanted.

Another message is from a friend, "Hey buddy, I was knocking at your door earlier!" "Give me a call when you're available -later." So that's who was knocking at my door, good old buddy Jay from way back. Hadn't spoke to him in a long old time. My old sparing partner, we used to spar in our prime.

The third message was came from the district. You gotta love those people, "Mr. Rahmaan, we are contacting you in regards to your problems..." Give me a break, I can't stand when they think they'll be able to solve them. I thought I already told that guy I'd call back on Monday, and here he is calling me Friday -three days too early. Good thing I missed the call.

My last message was from my good buddy V. But I'll call him later because all he does is like to talk my ear off. Now on my way, leaving the house is like entering into another realm. I should be feeling down, but for some reason today I feel like I'll be calling all the shots. First trip is to my mailbox.

Nothing there, but the rent is due. There goes another 25bucks! Shucks, oh well on to Best Buy time to get some more supplies! I'm in the media business so Best Buy has exactly what I need, plus the pretty girls there are always willing to help my spree. But today they seem extra specially nice...

Maybe it's because women just have that sixth sense, and they know I'm hiding my pain. But still the same, I continue to just be me. But still they're all nicer today, and I must say they're all seeming to just be surrounding me. So now I wait, this line isn't too great but look a new register is opening and there's another girl there even more beautiful than the rest -oh my!

So exotic, even kind of erotic it seems like one of those moments in time that just last. Now having all my needed supplies, it's time to say goodbye. The most important runs are done now, so time to head back to the lab and continue my project. But not just yet it is time to eat again!

"In and Out, that's what a hamburger's all about!" Yep, I've got this hanker for some In and Out. Should I drive threw? No, I think I'll just walk-in-and-out. Wow, baM, Hubba hubba! You mean to tell me there are mostly only girls working this shift? And most of the customers here are women too, exotic ones at that! Today seems very odd, but I must say a hungry man is unhappy man on the job.

I place my order and sit down to wait, a few minutes barely go by and there's my plate! And who is it there who hands me my order? Well just about the most prettiest girl out of the whole bunch. I say "Thank you ma'am, and no ketchup please." Smile, then I'm on my way. I forgot to stop by the post office on my earlier runs, so after exiting the furlough I drop by. And there it happens again, more candy for my eye!

I see a girl, who I just could have fell in love with. About 5'2, the perfect height and just the right size. Long flowing hair, & think lovely thighs. Oh my! "Hello miss". What a lovely day, to just have had a 'real' loved one to just pass away. All the women that I encountered this day, I'll probably never see again. Man, but was I really in love just fantasizing on the possibilities -I guess?

Today was just one of those rare and odd type of days. Who knows, maybe there's something out that has more love for a guy like me then I could imagine. Maybe a guardian angel, maybe even better than that? I figure mother earth, she's got my back...



~Today's horoscope~

Scorpio
February 01, 2009

Greediness isn't just about money -- people can
be greedy about time, too. And it is just as
negative. So if you feel like someone is
demanding too much of yours, it's perfectly fine
to say something to them about it. Make it clear
that while you enjoy spending time with them,
you have your own life to lead. Too many people
tie their identity to the identity of someone else,
and you shouldn't encourage that. You're your
own person, and they should be, too.



_____________________________________________
K. Rahmaan
You can only control how you see today.

Follow your dreams

It's 8:30 p.m. today on this 3rd day of January.

It's the new year and I'm happy to have made it threw another glorious year! In my neighborhood it's the same thing every year. Bazookas blasting off at sound of 12:00 a.m. The rebels are firing shots into the air. While the local officials close in on the drunken rebels.

Drunken women run about naked in the streets. Bearing breasts shouting at men in carriages. I was at the local bar waiting in the long line for my beer. But hey, it's the new years -well worth the wait. The girls run into the bar screaming, "Happy new years!" Still bubbly, bouncing warm bodies.

I just stand there looking in awe, that this still goes on in my neighborhood. Yeeh haaw! This is bringing me cheer. I guess it been a good year -I'm still here today. Drink my beer and now I'm on my way.

Back to the countryside just west. To my homestead where my wife rests. To my surprise, she stands there waiting for me after a long day. Kisses me on the cheek and then says, "Honey, I'm glad you're home." And I say well why? Why wouldn't I be home? She says because she heard gunshots and big bangs while I was gone.

Which gets me to thinking. By golly man, all the noise was kind of ritualistic to me. But I could have just got blown away. Or mistaken by the local officials, or taken for a stay. Maybe even tried for a crime I didn't commit. In a dark way and shallow. Then tied hooked to a noose, secured firmly to the gallows.

As I tell my wife. "Julia, if I were to ever be killed or taken away. Just remember that I loved you and always will. That most likely it wasn't the rebels, but most likely the sheriff who had it in for me" -I'd exclaim. And that is just the way it is when they consider you a rebel. Or any man who endeavors to follow his own dreams...



~Today's horoscope~

Taurus
January 03, 2009

You don't have to prove yourself to anyone, so if
someone is putting pressure on you to hurry up
right now, tell them to mind their own business.
You know what is best for you right now, and you
just have to keep doing it -- at your own pace!
Some people are always in a hurry and they have
a distorted sense of deadlines. So just take your
time and appreciate the smaller things in life.
Those mountains that you want to climb aren't
going anywhere anytime soon!



_____________________________________________
K. Rahmaan
Have you forgotten your childhood dreams?

Is network marketing a scam?

I've been hearing a lot of talk surrounding network marketing calling it 'a big scam'. But is that true? Network marketing is supposed to be a legitimate business where you pull associates into your leg of the business. Most times the company only requires you to pull in three to five people. Then all those people are required to do is pull in three of their own. Sounds simple enough, so why is it always being called a pyramid scheme or a scam? I think that the answer is a simple one. And that answer is that some really are! Some are legitimate businesses and some are conducting unethical business and/or are scamming people out of there money.

Like many others out there, I've had my share of network marketing companies. Going to training seminars and listening to many online and telephone conference calls. And what for? Just a little motivation to keep me thinking that one day I may strike it rich. I learned that there are some companies that are just taking advantage of its associates. There is a site I found called MLM.com. At this site there is a Company Directory that lists just about every Muti-Level Marketing Company out there (unless they're relatively new).

This is a good thing because on this list you mostly likely will find the company that you're currently working with. In the final row of each listing there is something called DSA approval. The Direct Selling Association (DSA) keeps track of what companies have a good codes of ethics, and have not misled their customers or affiliates. You must remember that in most network marketing opportunities the 'affiliate' has to buy product to start. So the 'affiliates' are indeed customers.

At the MLM.com site, it lists if a network marketing company is approved or not approved by the DSA. This my friends is a very important thing in checking to see if the company that you're now with is legit or a scam (a pyramid scheme). Some companies will say NO, on DSA approvals. Others will say YES. The ones that say YES are approved by the standards of the DSA, and enjoin having 'good codes of ethics' towards their members. Or YES meaning that they ARE legit companies.

If the company does not say yes, then it either has not been rated or it will say NO because it is most likely a 'pyramid scheme'. (Some companies are relatively new, so you may want to click to their site and read the 'About Us' or the 'Company History' to find out how long the company has been around. If they've been around for over two years and they still have not been approved by the DSA, then you can bet your hard earned dollar that mostly likely it's a scam.)

I wrote a informating booklet on things like Network Marketing secrets and other things of the such. Not until just recently, did I go back to re-write my tip book into e-book form. Then I thought well why not turn this exciting little information tool into an audio format, so people wouldn't have to only read it. They could load the audio mp3 files into a portable mp3 player and listen on the go. Or they could create a play-list in the comforts of their own home like I do, and read the PDF of the book and take a little adventure threw the little secrets it holds while listening to the audio files.

I don't know, but with all the new gadgets and gizmos they're coming out with these days to help make things easier, someone might just find some ideas from my book to create something really spectacular!


Related links:

http://www.mlm.com/
http://www.dsa.org/ethics/


_____________________________________________
K. Rahmaan
Have you forgotten your childhood dreams?

Don't Give Up

I'm gonna just be upfront with everyone here at my blog, I am trying to market a new audio e-book I just created. I call it The Evasive American Dream. I just saw on the news tonight this story about a man who killed his wife, his children, his mother-in-law and then himself stressing over a financial crisis.

It sickens me to the least. I know a lot of people are already talking about it, and some probably have been too busy to even have heard the news yet. They'll probably hear about it on a rebroadcast of the news or from a friend. I've never been a one to believe in everything I hear on the news or what I read in articles. I'm very critical and skeptical about any source and all sources. But all this made me sad, and it also made me think.

I know there are many people out there selling information on solving debt, making money and positive thinking. Much of what we as Americans need today in this over stressed environment. But most of the information requires you to buy additional information to cover questions we may have on the initial information. Kind of like, if it's some good information then they'll only give us bits and pieces that will keep us coming back for more.

But when I wrote my e-book I had the idea that I could write something from the stand point of someone who has been threw the type of stress that could drive others crazy. So I figured why not share this information? Of course this society doesn't give us too much of a luxury to just give away secrets that we may find or experience. But I've thought, why not just charge people the worth of the time I spent revising my e-book into an audio technology form? And then not charge people for what the priceless information may bring to them latter? Why not give them more for basically pennies?

So that's what I've done. I don't want to lie to anyone here now, especially threw these hard and stressful times. I actually wrote this book 2 years earlier, but I kind of just let it sit on the back burner on a shelf and forgot about it. Until recently, I knew that the information it contained could really be helpful to people now. With this about a man being so stressed that he could snap and take the life of another, and then his own is why I write this blog. I know now that maybe this information I have to share could just do some good to prevent giving up on one's self.

I named this blog "Don't Give Up" because I wanted to say from my heart that no matter how hard I've ever had it threw my own life there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. My step-brother used to always tell me, "You gotta thank POSITIVE, you just gotta thank positive!" Meaning "Think Positive" no matter what hand you may be dealt, nor when circumstances may seem unbearable.

So I wanted to share this good advice with anyone on the web who may stumble onto my blog, this message to "Think Positive". Threw all these hard and stressful times, at least to try and think positive. Please, whatever you choose to do -don't give up.



K. Rahmaan
Have you forgotten your childhood dreams?

The Broken Home

Once upon a time there lived a boy who grew up in a broken home. Just like all the other broken homes out there, the boy was faced with a deep confusion of why deep inside himself he felt so unhappy. But he wasn't alone, for he did have a little sister, a mommy and a daddy. But everyday he would wake up to see his mommy and daddy fighting.

After each fight, daddy would storm off and stay away for weeks at a time. One fight, mommy even tried hit daddy with a metal poll and threw rocks at him. The boy couldn't believe his eyes because mommy and daddy always told the boy not to fight with his sister. So the boy walked around with this chip on his shoulder.

He'd go off to school and everything would be OK. He did well in school, and even got good grades. But every time he got picked on by someone at the school the boy would lose it. Time and time again he would get sent to the principal's office for fighting. Not just tousling and wrestling, but actual fist fights where blood would be involved.

The kids all started to say, "don't mess with that boy, he's going to cry and then get really angry -and then he's going to hurt you bad." Some of the teachers tried to sit the boy down and talk to him, but the same thing always happened. He would stop crying, calm down and be OK again. But all that needed to happen was for him to be picked on again, and once again he would lose it.

One day there was one of those kids who had been held back a few grades and was older than all the rest of the kids. All the kids in the school were afraid of the guy because he was a lot bigger than the rest. Even the boy tried to avoid him. But one day the guy decided to hassle our troubled boy. A fight broke out! All of the kids and the teacher of the class were trying to hold on to the boy. Teacher scrammed, "You better run home now, before he starts crying!" So the older boy ran off campus and headed threw the park. But the boy say him and at that point broke away from all the students and his favorite teacher.

The boy ran as fast as he could with tears in his eyes shouting, "You just couldn't leave me alone! Could you?" And he caught up with the older boy who harassed him then started pounding him until his nose bleed. His baby sister caught up to the fight and screamed, "Not again! Why did you have to make him bleed? I know he's bigger than you, but you're stronger. Why did you do it again?" So the boy stopped, and the older kid ran home crying.

So now the principal of the school got worried telling the parents, "We suspended him for fighting, we've tried paddling him and nothing works. You're gonna have to do something or he's going to have to find another school." So the parents told the boy, "The principal and teacher knows that you only fought because that boy has picked on just about everyone in the school. But you can just go off like that and hurt him so badly. We've only taught you to defend yourself, not to go off in this way!"

The boy knew that he couldn't get into any more fights or he wouldn't be able to go to his school and be with all his friends anymore. So he did not know what else to do. So the boy ran away crying thinking he did nothing wrong, and thinking that everybody must hate him because he never bothers anybody but still gets in trouble. So he left the school that day, went under an overpass and just cried. His teacher knew he had ran off. It so happened to be lunch time and she came after him. So she found the boy and took him to Mc Donald's to try and cheer him up.

It worked, the boy was so happy that his teacher cared. But she told the boy if anyone hurt him to tell a teacher and try not to fight back if teachers were around. So he agreed.

The moral of this story was that of a broken home. The boys parents had been going threw a divorce since before he was born. Thus the fights and arguments. They only stayed together because of he being in the womb at the time. But after his birth, the parents decided to go threw with the divorce. So the boy not knowing any of this thought he was the reason why his parents never stopped fighting. He also carried with him this feeling of sadness and anger that he could not understand at his age being only a 3rd grader.

I hope people reading this can see how great the importance of a child having both parents really is. If it took two to create the child then it should take two to raise it. Because of the psychological effect it could have for the child to see it's parents not getting along as man and wife.

This was based on a true story.



______________________________
KRahmaan
Have you forgotten your childhood dreams?

Why you should never marry

For many years now I've been having these same dreams. Dreams where I'm married, have kids, a house, nice cars and enough money to never have to worry. Just last night a dream recurred. But this time it was a little different than the others. This time it had a message that sent a chill up my spine.

I guess you can say I keep having dreams about the good old American Dream if you will. In this particular dream I was with this woman presumably my wife and our child. We were sitting on a ledge talking. My wife being so caring was warning me not to look over the edge of the ledge because I guess she didn't want me to fall. Of course dream can get strange, and most people don't really think dreams mean anything. But in the dream I looked over the edge anyhow. When I looked over I saw a wooden floor with holes in it, as if someone was reconstructing the floor to make it safe. I said to my wife, "It looks like they're doing some reconstruction down there. It's not that far down maybe I should jump down to make sure it's safe if we ever decide to walk on that particular floor.

My wife said no. She told me to look to my right and I did. There I saw a big opening to who knows where. "Wow!" I said, "That looks dangerous, take Manna back in side and don't let her get close to the edge. She did and then she came back. I lovingly looked into her eyes and tried to take her hand to tell her how I felt about her. Then suddenly she abruptly took a step back, then turned her head and walked away from me.

I know this dream sounds strange, as if you've never had strange dreams yourself. But I woke up with this eerie feeling. I know that it was only a dream, but I thought "Now why would my wife act like she loves me so, only to play with my emotions and totally blow me off like that?" Now mind you, I've never been married but I have been deeply in love before. So I started to reevaluate what my desires truly are.

I still desire to marry and produce children, but now I wonder is it worth it? I started to think about all the people I know who were, or got married. First, I thought about my own mother and father -they got divorced. I even had a friend who got married and now he never has time to pursue his childhood dreams. I also thought about two neighbors I knew who were once married, but their spouses committed adultery on them, and ever since that happened they've never been the same. Now always trying to find a way to create a kind of relationship with their children that a broken household can not create.

So all these thoughts crashed my brain and I started to wonder, "Marriage, is it really worth it? Is it really worth the pain should something go direly wrong?" Then, I started to think of reasons why I shouldn't get married. And I made a list:

1) If I get married and create a fortune my wife could commit adultery, divorce me for half my fortune and spend it with some other man.

2) If I have a divorce, how would that impact my children? It could destroy them, and their lives. Their minds being so fragile at such a young age, they could end up in such a great depression or worse.

3) What about child support and alimony? My ex-wife could make me out to be the worst husband to the courts (a deadbeat) just out of spite, and create some sort of custody battle that could drag on for years.

4) What if my wife only married me for the money?

5) How do I know my wife won't cheat on me? She could get away with it for years with a younger man, and I would never find out.

6) Marriage in most religions states that if two people marry, then it should be 'Till death do they part'. I know now this is mainly for the children, to keep their minds safe and not to toy with their fragile emotions. If ones were to divorce because of infidelity, they should never remarry. Neither the man nor the woman -for the sake of the kids until they're grown. They should still act as if man and wife so that the children can grow up having both parents, and become more mentally and emotionally stable. So am I ready to step up to THE plate and handle this kind of challenge? I'm I really ready, I'm I really prepared?

7) Phew, that's really a lot and I wonder if people who marry are just jumping into it without thinking all this over? I wonder is that why we have so many cases of these broken homes, bad marriages, cases of infidelity and even murder out of jealously or money?

I know all this may sound like I'm looking at marriage negatively. That being possible, I'm also looking at it realistically as well. The truth always hurts, but it also fashions us to want to do better. So no since in always running away from it. What good will that do? Just prolonging the inevitable.

So this is my new blog titled "Why you should never marry". I'm not telling anyone not to, just listing reasons why not to. With all that said, I can only find one thing wrong it. That being I still want to experience fatherhood.



KRahmaan
Have you forgotten your childhood dreams?