A Dog's Life: Hot (Spicy Pakistani Food Loving German Shepherd) Dogs - One Year Ago Today - IMRAN®

A Dog's Life: Hot (Spicy Pakistani Food Loving German Shepherd) Dogs - One Year Ago Today - IMRAN®
About one year ago I started telling the story of Kennedy in a series of ongoing posts.... "A Dog's Life" was the recurring title phrase. Exactly one year ago today, I captured a moment that carries immense meaning in my heart.
My beloved German Shepherd Dog Kennedy (on the left) and his playful puppy companion K2 shared their love for spicy food—a joyful scene. I had made slow-cooked Pakistani beef (Nihari) with marrow-filled bones, a treat too tempting to keep to myself.
Despite knowing their doggie beds would bear the consequences, I brought the bones to them in my cluttered home office. It was worth every bit of mess to see them savor the flavors and stay close to me.
Kennedy had been facing some struggles those past few days, and in his gaze, you might notice a trace of that. Yet, his indomitable spirit—an eternal part of my soul—shines through in the way he acknowledges the spicy treat with a heartfelt smile.
That moment is a cherished reminder of his incredible strength and love for life. Best Dog Ever!

© 2024-2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN, #Florida, #TampaBay, #ApolloBeach, #GSD #GermanShepherdDogs #dogs #memories

Thought For Food: Easy Choice! Why Choose Just One? - IMRAN®

Thought For Food: Easy Choice! Why Choose Just One? - IMRAN®

Start with a sumptuous Japanese buffet in the Tampa area. Then, indulge in the desserts (not counting the ice-cream sandwich I had after these - and not even touching the half a dozen other sweet options). Finally, ponder why losing weight is so challenging.

© 2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #Florida #TampaBay #Tampa #food #foodie #desserts #humor #eating #dining

Wind Weathered White Resilient Remarkable Rose - IMRAN®

Wind Weathered White Resilient Remarkable Rose - IMRAN® 

Twelve years ago, I planted rose bushes in the garden of my blessed Apollo Beach home in Florida. Over the years, some have flourished, soaring to 10–12 feet tall, their fragrant, vivid blooms a testament to nature’s splendor. Yet, a few faced tougher odds—likely due to the rocky soil in some parts of the property.

One such tenacious little bush resides by the edge of my driveway. Unlike its lofty neighbors, this resilient rose has remained modest in height—just two to three feet tall. Nestled in a wind tunnel between my home and the one next door, it has faced countless challenges but has never faltered.

Today, under the already vivid late-March sun, it bore some of its regular gifts: two beautiful white roses. Their petals, though already whipped and worn by the wind’s unrelenting force today, showcased a quiet beauty, a defiant charm. Weathered but wonderful, this rose stands as a remarkable symbol of life’s enduring will to bloom, even against the odds.

© 2025 IMRAN®  

#IMRAN #Florida #TampaBay #ApolloBeach  #roses #flowers #nature #spring #resilience #perseverance #inspiration #gratitude

K2 Sniffs Out the Hidden Stick in Autumn's Natural Carpeting - IMRAN®

K2 Sniffs Out the Hidden Stick in Autumn's Natural Carpeting - IMRAN® 

On the chilly morning of December 3, 2024, my German Shepherd Dog, K2, and I ventured out for one of our cherished walks at my blessed Long Island, New York home of over 30 years. The crisp air had my nose playing frozen tunes, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying nature’s beauty.  

As we walked around the tennis court and wandered through piles of fallen autumn leaves, I picked up a random stick and tossed it for K2. It landed and disappeared amongst the monochrome brown layers of nature’s seasonal artwork. But with just a fleeting touch of my scent lingering on the stick, K2’s remarkable nose sprang into action. Sniff by sniff, he uncovered the hidden treasure like the champion he is.  Enjoy the video I posted prior to this photo. 

There’s something magical about moments like these—celebrating the little joys with our canine companions amidst the backdrop of autumn’s splendor. 🐕💛  

© 2024-2025 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #Autumn #Morning #Walking #Nature #GSDAdventures #Gratitude #Blessed #IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #EastPatchogue #HeronPointe #GSD #GermanShepherdDogs #dogs 

6 Years Ago, Playful Kennedy MidSummer 2019 On Florida Home Dock. Best Dog Ever! - IMRAN®

6 Years Ago, Playful Kennedy MidSummer 2019 On Florida Home Dock. Best Dog Ever! - IMRAN®

© 2019-2025 IMRAN®  

#IMRAN #Florida #TampaBay #ApolloBeach #GSD #dog #GermanShepherdDog #Kennedy #seaside #beach #summer #memories #BestDogEver 

Thought For Food: Opposite Of Fast Food, At A Snail’s P(l)ace - IMRAN®

Thought For Food: Opposite Of Fast Food, At A Snail’s P(l)ace - IMRAN® 

Once in a while I’ve tasted unusual delicacies at cosmopolitan buffet meals in places like Las Vegas. But I couldn’t bring myself to have one of these fairly large sized snails recently. Would you and have you tried them?

© 2025 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #food #foodie #curiosity 

GSD K2 Chilling Seaside Tampa Bay Keeping Lookout Roadside Apollo Beach Florida First Sunday In March - IMRAN®

GSD K2 Chilling Seaside Tampa Bay Keeping Lookout Roadside Apollo Beach Florida First Sunday In March - IMRAN®  

© 2025 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN, #Florida, #TampaBay, #ApolloBeach, #GSD #GermanShepherdDogs #dogs #winter #seaside #beach #weekend #Sunday 

Tonight’s Tampa Bay Beautiful Saturday Sunset - IMRAN®

Tonight’s Tampa Bay Beautiful Saturday Sunset - IMRAN® 

© 2025 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN, #Florida, #TampaBay, #ApolloBeach, ##Sunset #sky #clouds #Saturday #weekend #seaside #Maghreb #Ramadan #gratitude 

Thought For Food: Air Fryer Mustard Honey Wasabi Salmon, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus - IMRAN®

Thought For Food: Air Fryer Mustard Honey Wasabi Salmon, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus - IMRAN® 

Yes, I wrote mustard separate from (real) honey along with wasabi, which was my random experiment recipe, not honey mustard. Delicious home cooked dinner iPhone photo May 14, 2021. 

© 2021-2025 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #food #foodie #dining #gratitude #nutrition #health #lifestyle 

Breathtaking Hibiscus At Apollo Beach Home - IMRAN®

Breathtaking Hibiscus At Apollo Beach Home - IMRAN® 

© 2025 IMRAN® 

#ApolloBeach, #Floral, #Florida, #flowers, #green, #IMRAN, #iPhone, #Nature, #pink #red, #yellow, #winter, #hibiscus

Six Years Ago: Kennedy Commanding His Kingdom On Tampa Bay, Florida. Best Dog Ever! – IMRAN®

Six Years Ago: Kennedy Commanding His Kingdom On Tampa Bay, Florida. Best Dog Ever! – IMRAN®

March 2, 2019—a twilight drenched in magic, a loyal dog wrapped in majesty. Kennedy, my noble German Shepherd, stood tall—a living monument of poise and elegance. Together, we embarked on a journey of transformation. His arrival didn’t just change my home, it transformed me.  Inspiring me to walk 25,000 steps a day—12.5 miles—within just two weeks of his forever homecoming, daily 10-12000 steps walking remain my routine.

That evening, Kennedy claimed his realm from an old dock, its weathered planks creaking under his confident stance. His tail, tipped with white thanks to an accidental brush with fresh paint, seemed to wave a banner of victory. He gazed over the now-vanished golf course, surveying a legacy that only his keen eyes and regal bearing could bestow.

Just past and around the corner of homes on the right, my sanctuary—the bayside blessed home I’m grateful to call mine—waited for our return. Beyond the canal, opening to the infinite embrace of the bay, Symphony Isles was destined to become Kennedy’s canvas, his stage, his kingdom.

© 2019-2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #GSD #memories #dog #GermanShepherdDog #autobiography #Kennedy #TampaBay #ApolloBeach #Florida #BestDogEver #MansBestFriend #sunset #seaside

Red Rose White Wall Fabulous Friday Pretty Petals Morning Moisture - IMRAN®

Red Rose White Wall Fabulous Friday Pretty Petals Morning Moisture - IMRAN® 

© 2025 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN, #Florida, #TampaBay, #ApolloBeach, #flowers #roses #winter #RedRose #nature 

New Year’s Eve Morning Flight Around Empire State Building & Manhattan, New York - IMRAN®

New Year’s Eve Morning Flight Around Empire State Building & Manhattan, New York - IMRAN®

The last morning of 2024. Another opportunity to fly in the amazing airspace above my forever American hometown, Manhattan, New York City. The Empire State Building, the United Nations, Harlem (East) River, and midtown architecture gleamed beneath me. Later, I would enjoy walking my city streets where, by evening, a million revelers would gather to ring in the new year 2025 with the Times Square ball drop.

© 2024-2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #NY #NYC #Manhattan #flying #architecture #travel #aviation #landmarks #UnitedNations #EmpireStateBuilding #NewYearsEve #morning #NewYear #TimesSquare

Breathtaking Hibiscus At Apollo Beach Home Today - IMRAN®

Breathtaking Hibiscus At Apollo Beach Home Today - IMRAN® 

© 2025 IMRAN® 

#ApolloBeach, #Floral, #Florida, #flowers, #green, #IMRAN, #iPhone, #Nature, #pink #red, #yellow, #winter, #hibiscus

Five Years Ago Tonight: A Breathtaking Sunset Set The Sky Ablaze Over My Beloved Tampa Bay Home – IMRAN®

Five Years Ago Tonight: A Breathtaking Sunset Set The Sky Ablaze Over My Beloved Tampa Bay Home – IMRAN®

On the evening of March 3rd, 2020, I had the privilege of capturing a breathtaking sunset—a radiant masterpiece of nature I merely stitched together from six Nikon D850 images. While the original panorama is a massive 360 MB in size, this smaller version allows me to share its beauty online.

For three magical years, I was blessed to call this serene corner of Tampa Bay my home. Just a month before this moment, life had thrown some challenges my way. Yet, the infinite grace of Almighty Allah, the Creator of the universe, shone upon me once more, filling my heart with gratitude.

I remain eternally thankful for His countless blessings.

© 2025 IMRAN®

#ApolloBeach, #Beach, #BeachLife, #Cloud, #Florida, #GulfOfMexico, #IMRAN, #Lifestyle, #Nature, #Nikon, #seaside, #Sunset, #TampaBay, #winter

Hope Inspiring Resplendent Roses & Blossoms At Blessed Home Long Island, New York, Day Before My Birthday 2012 - IMRAN®

Hope Inspiring Resplendent Roses & Blossoms At Blessed Home Long Island, New York, Day Before My Birthday 2012 - IMRAN®
A dozen years ago before I penned these words in 2024, the rose bushes at my blessed home on Long Island, New York, were in full, glorious bloom. It was the early summer of 2012, the day before my 50th birthday.
The tornadoes and droughts of total economic meltdown, brought on by the policies of Republican President George W. Bush which enriched the super-wealthy with one trillion dollars of tax cuts, had wreaked havoc on my life as on millions of ordinary individuals, families, and entire towns. The next few years were spent on surviving, recovering, and rebuilding. Even then it was a rocky road.
By the time 2012 rolled in, after a labyrinthine journey of heart-sinking troughs, fleeting peaks, and unexpected drops into new valleys, life began to hint at a promising change ahead. I had to remind myself that life’s most exquisite blooms often come accompanied by the piercing thorns of reality.
The key is to persistently tend to one’s garden of dreams, rooting it in unshakeable faith, nurturing it with the water of hope, showering it with the rain of love, fortifying it with the grains of gratitude, and ceaselessly illuminating it with the lights of confidence, and perseverance.
No matter the adversities you face, remember, they are but temporary. You possess the strength to surmount them. Never let go of your dreams. Never relinquish your authentic self. Within you lies an indomitable spirit. You are capable of blooming despite the thorns. Are you ready to live the life you dream of?

© 2012-2025 IMRAN®

Whitestone Bridge & New York City From Throgs Neck Bridge As Snowstorm Began Winter 2024 - IMRAN®

Whitestone Bridge & New York City From Throgs Neck Bridge As Snowstorm Began Winter 2024 - IMRAN® 

I captured this fleeting image from the rear seat of a limousine being driven home to Long Island after a speech on artificial intelligence and innovation in New Jersey late on December 4, 2024. 

We were about to cross Throgs Neck Bridge as I watched Whitestone Bridge and the New York City skyline in the distance. It was frigid and windy as snow was starting. So it wasn’t very tempting to roll down the window for a better picture. 

© 2024-2025 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #travel #driving #NewYork #NewYorkCity #ThrogsNeckBridge #bridge #WhitestoneBridge #landmarks #night #winter