Where do I begin?

So much has happened since...January 4. There was the ten days of Zulhijjah. Now that's a story.

Last year, I remember having the kids fast for Yaum Al-Arafah and how enthusiastic they were about it. This year, I scrambled to remind them of it, yet I wasn't making good time catching up with time itself.

True to my resolution post graduation, which was to pursue Islamic knowledge, I had registered for a class with Almaghrib, which took place in Ann Arbor the weekend of January 6. That meant I was going to leave hubby and kids for the whole weekend and attend a full weekend lecture, my fourth one with Almaghrib.

Yaumu Al-Arafah was to fall on the Monday following that weekend. It goes without saying that a lot of things happened and I was wrought with things to do that weekend. To top it off, I learned the hard way that there are still people out there who don't observe punctuality. It's not a good feeling to have, especially when you go out of your way to be on time, only to have other people mess things up by being late. We work so hard to be on time that the kids would end up wearing different socks on each foot, and to have single, childless people dawdle so much so that it leaves you open-mouthed in disbelief was just...well, it riled me up, but now I guess I should be over it. (yeah right, well I SHOULD be over it..I guess I am. Now.)

I got back home that Sunday night at 12 am. That Monday S had a workshop at 9 am I had to bring her to and the workshop lasted till 1 pm. I knew I'd be sleepy after the full weekend, but I didn't realize i would be that sleepy, that my eyes simply refused to stay open while I was waiting for S to be done with her workshop. To make matters worse, I had to resume teaching that very morniing, and I did so with forced energy. Suffice it to say I didn't feel too friendly with the other parents what with trying to stay awake and remain patient while teching N and H. I was also fasting without waking up for suhoor. Nevertheless, the kids fasted and so did I.

However, Dear Hubby had forgotten to tell them the reason for fasting and of course, as in so many other momentous occasions, I had to pick up the pieces and glue them back together.

"Do you know why you're fasting?" I asked them.

"No."

"Didn't Abi tell you?"

"No."

With a sigh, I told them. Only S fasted throughout, while N broke hers and H didn't even wake up for suhoor.

The next day, was of course Eid. Dear Hubby had gone through all the trouble of preparing for it. He bought meat and everything so I could cook. Well, I still wasn't over feeling sleepy. I got back from the workshop a zombie, tried to get a fulfilling nap afterwards, which turned out far from fulfilling due to constant interruptions from children and husband, and went to do grocery shopping later on in the afternoon. I suppose I feigned some enthusiasm for cooking for Eid, just because dear hubby had taken the initiative in the first place.

however, as the night progressed and I realized I would be stuck in the kitchen cooking the whole night, I grew agitated and went to bed. I slept like a log from 8 pm till the next morning. Dear hubby ended up cooking everything himself.

That was our Eid, having people over and I didn't even do anything! What bliss! Of course we still had problems with people not observing the time and our plan to bring the kids to Chuck E Cheeses was pushed to later in the day. I hated that. If only people would respect the time mentioned: "before 1 p and after 4 pm". Yet there were still people trickling in at 2 pm and we couldn't very well just shoo them out, could we?

Nevertheless, the kids got their deserved time at Chuck E Cheeses and that was all I wanted. After that I was happy.

The second weekend loomed up and I still haven't recovered my lost sleep.

Long story cut short, my plan to drag hubby and kids to Ann Arbor the second weekend ended up a 'no plan' and again, I went to Ann Arbor with my travelling companions.

Now I'm back, and needless to say, work is piling up on me. What else is new?