For two years I had not been able to hold the “annual” Fund Raiser Dinner for the Islamic Center of Quincy. For a tiny community of Muslims that we have here, we had major internal politics and the issues divide us into those wanting to have the dinner and invite the public, and those that didn”t. Each person would be charged, and the food we would serve, would be different ethnic dishes from different parts of the world. And they ranged from India and Pakistan, to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Philippines, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Indonesia to name a few. Unfortunately, some of the members of our group are such fanatics, and think that all the monies we get for the building and upkeep of the mosque should come only from Muslims. To me this is ridiculous, to say the least. We don’t beg for money. We cook the food and we sort of sell that food and the money we get we use to repair and remodel the building we have. We are only about twenty Muslim families here, and when I founded the mosque in 2001, we had only about four families. None of these families here are so rich that they can just write a check for ten or fifteen thousand a piece as they do in the larger cities. I have always wondered why these guys came to  USA. Why should they feel happy to receive a check from their employers who are not Muslims?  Ours is a humble place and all I want is that we have some funds in our bank so that we can finish the building with dry walls and ceilings and roof or other sundry repairs.

For two years I couldn’t hold this event. This year in early October I decided that I would hold it all by myself, and if anyone was interested in helping me, they were welcome to cook and bring a dish. The arrogant people pretended to not hear my voice. But there were others who bent over backwards to help me. Each of them brought two ethnic dishes, and last night was the biggest affair, and the most food that was served, with about twenty different dishes!

Don’t my princes look so handsome? The last picture is of Noah and Sayeed, with Andrew and Zain.

The hall (kindly lent to us by a church locally), was packed to capacity;  I had a table set with different donations from local artists and merchants to use for silent auction, which included my services to go to someone’s home and cook an Indian Dinner for 4 to 8 people. All the items were sold, and my services went for $500. The tables were choking with food, and I saw some plates that had mountain of food loaded on them. They kept coming for seconds and I had containers available for any one interested, to take some home for an additional donation that they could pay if they wished.

Needless to say the evening was a huge success, and those who had opposed the event, well I hope they can get the stench of raw eggs off their faces!! (Did I say that?)

Yam said not to worry, no Spud would get HER into the sack and make a rotten potato out of her! But on the other hand, she wouldn't stay home and become a Couch Potato either. She would get plenty of exercise so as not to be skinny, like her shoestring cousins.

When she went off to Europe , Mr. and Mrs. Potato told Yam to watch out for the hard-boiled guys from Ireland and the greasy guys from France called the French fries. And when she went out West, they told her to watch out for the Indians so she wouldn't get scalloped.
Yam said she would stay on the straight and narrow and wouldn't associate with those snooty Yukon Golds, or the ones from the other side of the tracks who advertise their trade on all the trucks that say 'Frito Lay.'

Mr. & Mrs. Potato sent Yam to Idaho P.U. (that's Potato University) so that when she graduated she'd really be in the chips. But in spite of all they did for her, one day Yam came home and announced she was going to marry Tom Brokaw.

Tom Brokaw!

Mr. & Mrs. Potato were very upset. They told Yam she couldn't possibly marry Tom Brokaw because he was just...

Are you ready for this?
Are you sure?
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OK!

Here it is!
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A COMMONTATER !

Davis says he is not going to do any more of the Halloween silliness. No more costumes! and he went only to two homes , (one of them ours). He spent the night at our place, and when he went back to his home in the morning, he left his basket of candies, behind in our house.! M had to take it over later in the day. I think the costume is still here in our home. Saadi had ordered it from UK! We knew that it wouldn't be long before he quit on this Halloween shenanigan. We were not surprised with his decision.

Davis, the Robot!

I know a boy
and he loves Robots.
He walks like one sometimes...
and stares at his i-pad
with his mouth open.
I walk in to his home
and his smile lights up the place
this little robot, has a heart;
this robot knows compassion
this robot, is Davis!