The countdown is on

Well folks, it's almost Ramadan and I am actually starting to get excited. I've signed up to volunteer at the mosque during iftaar and I'm volunteering with a Muslim women's clinic. Now I'm starting to feel like a productive member of society again. I can't go to tarweeh during the week but I'm going every weekend........no excuses. Also, like every Ramadan, I'm trying to swear off bad behaviors and such. I'm giving up romance novels (I really don't have much time to read for pleasure during Ramadan anyway) and gossip. More importantly, I'm going to work on not letting people push my buttons as much. I may not say much to the person but I'm cursing you out in my mind and that just won't work during Ramadan. My goal is to ignore, ignore, ignore. Hopefully, this will carry over into post-Ramadan life. Wish me luck!

Home Sweet Home

I'm so glad to be back home. It's funny but in the last few months, Raleigh has become home. On the way back it hit me, I felt like a visitor the entire time. There are all of these changes that I didn't know about and no one mentioned to me, for obvious reasons. Changes have been made to my old stomping grounds (Mason). I didn't even have time to see everything. Hopefully, I'll have time for a good look around when we go back for Thanksgiving. Fortunately, the trip wasn't as bad as anticipated so going back for Thanksgiving is an option for me. Here's what happened in a nutshell:

PROS
Got my granola bars from Wegman's (This may seem like a small thing but I love them and they are a convenient and healthy snack. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find them anywhere down here.)

Got to see the family and all engagement rings up close and personal.

Now that my uncle's fiance has moved in, the house is totally put together. There were even enough beds for all of us. Good times.

Didn't have to deal with too much drama.

The dogs had so much fun playing together.
(wow is that it?)


CONS
Drama the minute we walked in the door (We got there late, my uncle wanted the dogs to go outside but our dogs are indoor dogs. There was much drama and lots of me and my sisters talking about how we wanted to and should have stayed at a hotel. It was so bad even my mom was thinking about leaving the very next day. Drama.)

Was forced to swap rooms with Little Sis and wound up sharing a bed with mom. Of course, the joke was on her because her bed was super uncomfortable and mine was a comfy, king sized bed. Also the room had tons of nice accommodations and hers was just bare bones. Serves her right for trying to be a brat in the middle of the night.

Didn't get to see one of my cousins (she flaked as usual).

Didn't get to see any so-called friends (ditto).


InshaAllah, next time we'll stay in a hotel and I'll be able to rent a car of my own. I'm not deluded enough to think I'll have my own car by the time Thanksgiving rolls around. For that, I would need a steady job.

On the road again

That's folks, we are hitting the road again. Actually, it's been awhile since we last went to VA. It is, however, our first trip with the dogs. Oh, let the good times roll. Already it's been a logistical nightmare so I can't wait to see what will happen when we hit the road tomorrow. In all honesty, I'm not even looking forward to the trip that much. I don't know why but I'm not. I think it's just because there's already been so much drama anticipating the trip, I'm expecting more. InshaAllah, it'll be fine but I just can't muster up much excitement. Whatever. I'm going to try to enjoy my last weekend before Ramadan. We'll see how it goes. In the meantime, you won't be hearing from me as I will have little to no internet access. I'll be lucky to check my email. We'll be back on Sunday so I'll talk to y'all then.

Remember

Instead of posting about myself, I'd like to dedicate this day to all of the victims and hero's of 9/11 (including the little ones and the four-legged ones). You are loved, you are missed, and we will never forget. I could have lost my big sister that day but due to the grace of God I didn't. Others were not so lucky. My heart goes out to the friends and families left behind. Please, everyone, take the time to remember those that lost their lives in those attacks, as well as the aftermath. Let's stop the hate and start the healing. United we stand, divided we fall.
God Bless America.

P.S. I would have done this sooner but I havn't been home all day.

And so it begins

The Eid madness has started. In light of the fact that Ramadan is later this month, Big M has come to me with a Eid list. A three page Eid list, complete with Coach items and a tiara. I got her a very nice tiara last year from Silver Dolphin in Springfield, VA. She would like a replica Miss Teen USA tiara this year but no one seems to make one. Of course, my sister/her mom hates the entire beauty pageant, prom, cheerleading, "I'm a princess" thing. She's very against it. My sister is so anti-girly things. She thinks it's all very shallow. Whatever. It's fun. I have no problems buying a tiara but really. The girl's handing an unemployed person a three page wish list that includes designer items. Not cool. I told her that I will happily buy a tiara and/or a Coach bag if I have a job and if I can't, no attitude. She agreed so I don't anticipate any problems. However, I have told her that she cannot add to her list unless she takes something off. My brother is completely different, he hasn't even thought about what he wants.

I can't even believe that it's time for Ramadan already. I'm so not ready. God, before I know it, it'll be during the summer. I really won't be able to handle that. Really. I wonder if it's wrong to hope that I'll be married and pregnant by that time? Obviously, I need to work on my deen. Wanting to be pregnant to get out of fasting is not cool.