Days 15 - 19 (Completely Summarized)

Yes, it's me, that extremely lazy person who is supposed to be updating this blog, but seemingly has better things to do (read: am such a flake) that I didn't get around to it.

Anyway, for the sake of being true to my goal of blogging every day of Ramadan, I'm going to be summarizing the days that I missed.

Day 15 (Wednesday, August 25, 2010) -

Aikido. I nearly passed out - of course - after doing rolls. I'm glad that this week is going to be the last week of having to do that while fasting.

Day 16 (Thursday, August 26, 2010) -


Okay, today was really very nice. We went to volunteer at a grassroots women's shelter in the city. S had been doing a clothes drive for the ladies there. It was so heartbreaking to see their faces when we spread out the clothes for them - most of them secondhand. It was like we'd given them the best presents in the world. The house mother is an extremely sweet person, and I felt like Ebenezer Scrooge after his Christmas miracle when we left. I can't wait to go back and help again.

Day 17 (Friday, August 27, 2010) -


We spent most of today at home, until we went to Kam's house in the afternoon so my mom could talk a bit with her great-aunt, the one who's sewing all of us girls matching Eid dresses. She's really sweet. I got to play around with Kari (Kam's elder sister)'s Kindle; my mom really liked it too, so that means that I'm really going to get my Kindle for the holiday! :)

Day 18 (Saturday, August 28, 2010) -


Invited Emmy and her family over for dinner. I was actually supposed to have a big, belated post-graduation bash, but no one else could come. It was really nice though, and Emmy made me cry because she brought me all of these gifts, and SHE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO. We had a lovely time (ie. making fun of Joe Jonas, wondering why RobPatz has an affinity for facial hair, and reading quotes about writing). The downside of all of this family bonding was that Emmy's father is like mine (read: extremely long-winded) and they didn't end up leaving until twelve. We got to bed around one-ish, and then had to get back up for Suhur at four.

Good times.

Day 19 (Sunday, August 29, 2010) -


So I probably didn't mention it before, because I probably forgot, but every weekend of Ramadan the masjid was having religious classes for the girls and women - just because. Anyhoo, today was my day to give the lecture. I was freakishly nervous because I had to get all my notes together and it was a big responsibility and my parents really want me to get into public speaking so I couldn't blow it.

It went relatively well - considering only four girls showed up.

Afterwards, there was this huge bazaar in the parking lot, for last minute holiday shopping and stuff like that. Disappointingly, no one was doing henna. I brought a tube, to do on my own, but somehow Mom lost the bag with it - and all the fancy hair clips I bought - somewhere and no one bothered to bring it into Lost and Found.

Boo.

It was pretty nice, though. I got this Native American looking bag. If I can get a nice picture of it, I'll post it later.

Day 13 - Entire Day

So, if you were on Twitter yesterday, you might've read my rather irritable status:

"Cooking pilaf isn't glamorous. At all."

If you weren't, well, this post should provide some explanation. My parents got this brilliant idea in their minds to suddenly invite S&B and parents, and Kam and parents, for iftar last night. This provoked a day of cleaning, cooking and elaborate last-minute planning.

My dad believes that I make amazing pilaf, so I was set to work trying to double the recipe - that serves our family of five - for fifteen. I was switching between the fridge and the stove, and it was muggy and hot and disgusting and I almost spilled oil on my nice new shalwar kameez and...

Okay. I'm done.

When they got here, though, it was pretty pleasant. We had the usual yuks and memories, and a few stand-up comedy moments courtesy of S's mother.

It was nice.

Day 12 - Entire Day

I got to visit Emmy for a few minutes today - well, it was supposed to be a few minutes, but dearest Emmy is so long-winded that the minutes ended up a whole hour before my dad called on the cell phone demanding we come back home.

I love Emmy, and not just because of the fact that she's the only other friend I have who loves the classics and thinks that the B&W version of Pride and Prejudice is the cat's meow.

Okay, so maybe it's that as well.

We broke fast and ate iftar with the masjid community - something we don't usually do because it's crowded and food runs out; not without invitation, so that the night's host isn't inconvenienced. 

It was pretty nice, though, because a group of my (relatively new) friends were there, and we got to sit and talk together.

Day 11 - Entire Day

I should probably just abbreviate the last few days I missed.

Well, anyway -

Um. What did I do on Saturday?

Oh. Yeah. We went to see my mom's friend, and I ended up meeting this girl who's visiting from Saudi Arabia. Her parents teach there at the King Abdul Aziz University. She's really nice, and shy. Her mom pulled me aside to give me this whole lecture on how she used to be an elective (?) mute and was extremely traumatized about meeting strangers.

Bottom line - play nice.

Which I totally did. Promise.

Day 10 - Entire Day

So today was Jumuah prayer, again. That involved getting dressed - white skirt, black tunic in case anyone was wondering - and hieing to the masjid to listen to the sermon, pray and then socialize for a little while afterwards.

Fun, fun, fun.

Um, what else? I was driven crazy by my mom's friend's little - ahem, angels, while she visited with them in the nice air-conditioned house. Apparently, it was better for sis and I to stay outside with them so that their mom could 'have a break'.

Nice.

After that, it was off to the library, where I ended up bumping into dearest friend Emmy (the only other person who sympathizes with me when I gush over the classics) and co. This turned into an hour-long conversation in the parking lot, during which the security guard came out several times to eye us suspiciously.

At least he's more on the ball than Mr. Boy Scout Troop Leader security guard that they just fired/dismissed/gave the pink slip - for reasons unknown - who was more intent on greeting every patron as they entered the library, rather than patrolling the area.

He really creeped me and sis out.

When we got home, my sis had an online meetup for one of the clubs in the high school - formerly my high school - so I got an invite to sit in.

It was a freaking talent show.

One of the boys sang Fireflies by Owl City.

0.0

It was really awkward when he stopped.

I was glad I didn't have a mic so he couldn't hear me laughing.

Is that uncharitable in a month when I'm supposed to be putting others first?

I haven't realized before how cruel I am.

Day 9 - Entire Day

...I can't even remember what I did on Thursday.

Um.

I'm pretty sure that it went along the lines of - wake up.

Eat Suhur.

Fast all day.

Get drained.

Break fast.

Eat and be merry.

So, when I do remember what happened on this surprisingly blank day, I'll let you guys know.

Day 8 - Entire Day

I am not going to get so behind with these entries again.

Seriously.

So yesterday wasn't very eventful. Little bro had swimming. We were parked behind a 'Twilighter Mom' car, and I was half-hoping that it was someone I knew. After that it was aikido, and then we went to visit this Bangladeshi lady my mom is friends with, and she insisted that we stayed for iftar, so we did.

I spent most of the time arguing with the guy at Barnes and Nobles about the Suzanne Collins appearance. I mean, I understand that people have been calling you about it ALL DAY, but please - be a little nice about it. It turns out that you have to come in the day before if you want a reserved copy of Mockingjay. Otherwise, you can just stop by to see her.

My sis isn't too hot on the idea anymore. And since she was the main force convincing my mother, I'm not sure if we're going to get to go.

Darn it.