Happy New Year everyone!

I fasted today. I woke up as late as I could. Well sort of two in the afternoon. I had to wake up then, because we went to visit Uncle Bahar. He had a heart attack a few days ago, so we went to make sure he was okay.

He looked healthier than he did during Eid, when he had the flu. Apparently, he's so healthy, the doctors weren't sure that he had a heart attack. Apparently, it's hereditary, which sucks, because Uncle Bahar is so fit and healthy it's disgusting.

After that, I followed Kak Mi and Dorah to Bloomingdale's, where Dorah purchased some Clinique stuff, then trundled home. Kak Mi and I went to Barnes & Noble.

Kak Mi bought me my iftar at the Barnes & Noble cafe. I happily broke fast on a turkey fontina sandwich. We got kicked out at six, sadly, because of the New Year's.

We got home and Dorah pestered me to put on her make-up. It was a work of art. I made her gorgeous. Under my artistry, her eyes became huge and heart-rending, and her cheekbones turned delicate and thoroughly kissable. I am awesome.

After that, I squeezed in a little make-up of my own, and poured myself into my new red corset that I bought from H&M my first week in New York.

When I arrived at Jamiri's, Ashwini, Stina and Su-Queen were already there, watching TV, of all things. Sheesh. We ate junk food and watched When Harry Met Sally. We also had a sort-of dinner.

Of course New Year's came along, and we counted along with the TV as we watched the ball being dropped at Times Square. After that, we followed a tradition of Jamiri's. We went outside for a few minutes, holding a shopping bag, and a few bucks, to promote traveling and money for the next year.

We toasted the New Year with alcohol-free apple cider. Then we settled into a game of poker. We didn't use real money. Jamiri had these piles of coin wrappers, all ready-marked to wrap nickels, dimes and quarters.

Janel played like she should be in Gamblers Anonymous. She bluffed very often. I strangely could sense when she was bluffing though, most of the time. She unfortunately lost big time. Jamiri hoarded all the quarters she got, and never put them back into the game if she could help it. Stina played so conservative at first, she surprised everyone when she bet a huge amount of money on a bluff.

I got beatened by Su-Queen twice. Once by a bluff! I folded with two pairs, when she only had one pair!! It was a huge stake too. Evil person. I wanted to sit on her until she gave me my money back. The other time, she bit my straight with a flush. Bah. At one time, I was one card short of a royal straight flush, too

In the end, Ashwini won by raking in nearly all of Stina's money, with the help of a loan from Janel, who was already owing an amount of three dollars to various people.

It was great fun. At three, we all left. Janel took her own cab across town. Stina, Su-Queen, Ashwini and I shared a cab, all the way down 2nd Avenue. I came home and disturbed the parents' sleep, then settled her to blog.

Feel good, but that could just be caffeine....

I really should stay away from it....