The Beauty of Islamic Art

This is what happens when your African-Asian History teacher gives an extra credit option for making a piece of Islamic Art and you, angry about being stuck in a Study Hall instead of a Studio Art class, need something to take up our free time:

It took me a whole marking period minus a week or two of procrastination. I spent an hour or two a day. What I did was draw out a geometric design how many times I did and then, with sharpie, colored it in. I felt that it needed something between the circle-thingies so I made a second design as well. For the second design, I took my inspiration from the Alhambra's Court of Lions. One day I need to go there.

So this is me showing off my art I am so proud of. One day I will try to get a better picture of this and you can fully appreciate Islamic art. For I have learned to really appreciate Islamic artists. They are so detailed, intricate, and creative. Take for example the aforementioned Alhambra. To see it the best way you can, simply click on the following URL. (Ignore the blue box.) http://lmgtfy.com/?q=alhambra Look at the Court of Lions, especially. The patterns, the details, the carvings! The beautiful columns strike me with such awe that I had to base my second design on it.

I hope you enjoyed this moment of artistic enjoyment (as well as some bragging on my part).

Holidays and Celebrations

Sitting And Thinking (Not Me, Sadly)

Here I sit on my computer, not six hours until a birthday party of one of my friends for whom I have not yet gotten a present. And so I sit and think, "What shall I get her?"

This happens to me every holiday or celebration in which people give gifts. I forget about it until the day of or day before and then scramble around to find suitable gifts. A few times for Christmas I have begun to shop a month in advance, but otherwise I am usually getting gifts the week of of the day of the party or holiday. It's not that I don't like the people whose parties I am going to or such. But at those times when I am scrambling around to get something, I feel like a horrible friend. A friend who can not even think of a proper, good present to give to that person for his or her birthday. For in truth, I am at a loss. So I sit and think. And think. And think. What do I know about this person? What does he or she like? And for this friend whose party is in less than 6 hours, all I can think of is music and purple. She wears a lot of colorful, printed pants. She has beautiful, dark hair. She loves to listen to music. She's in color guard. (Most of my friends are in color guard, just like me.) She's Christian, but I feel like anything related to that wouldn't be the best idea just because who wants to get a Bible (ignoring the fact that she probably has two already, if not more) for his or her birthday? Not I. Nor will I ever, since I have four because people like to think I'm lacking one (and I don't mean to imply that they think I'm not a good person, just that my family is very Christian). Back to my friend though, I know that she likes music (as previously mentioned) but I don't know what kind of music.
So I'm at a loss.

Then I try a different approach: universals. Who doesn't like food? (Don't answer that, I get it. But I know my friend well enough.) So what can I make? I now have 5 and a half hours until I need to be there. What does she like and what can I make? Well, I can make a pie. We have apples, a pie crust, and sugar. Just need to run out and get cinnamon. But does she like apple pies? I'm not sure.

The Best Picture I Have of Chocolate, unfortunately not  Eclat

Ah, but who doesn't like chocolate? And I know of a place here in my hometown called Éclat that makes marvelous chocolates. I sent some of that chocolate to my German family (who are not related to me, I stayed with them for three weeks this summer for AATG) and so that is an option. An option I really like. Oooh, look at me! I've decided I want to get her that chocolate. As I recall it was $16....? I have enough!

But then I doubt. Will she like that? Yes, I think so. Is it enough? I'm not sure. I worry that I will not have a good quantity and quality gift. For example, I have similar issues when going to a party: what should I wear? Fancy clothes or more casual clothes? And when I went to Germany this past summer, I asked myself: how much should I bring? Europeans pack lightly and compactly. So should I pack in my large suitcase for 3 weeks or a small one for 3 weeks that requires sitting on it to close? (I ended up becoming the Mary Poppins of the trip, in case you were curious.) So that is my dilemma: too much, too little, or good?

My instinct is saying 'it's fine,' so I think that in my present situation (being sweaty and hungry from color guard practice from 8 am to noon and having only 5 hours and fifteen minutes until I need to be there) I will go for it and give her some chocolate from Éclat.

And now it's time for Silly Songs with Larry: the part of the Show when Larry Sings a Silly Song. Or in my case, I think I'll advertise Éclat, since I am not Larry. Or Bob the Tomato. If anyone comes to my little hometown and finds a sign with Éclat written on it, I recommend you to pop on in and get something. It's good chocolate. There's the PHL (Philadelphia chocolate with pretzels in it) and the CUZ chocolate with corn in it. The CUZ is really good. I might be tempted to get myself some when I'm there. Anyway, there are also a lot of other options there but I just haven't had any of it before.

So to conclude this blog post of mine, I no longer feel like a bad friend. Just a friend who has a lot on her mind with school and the present life (besides being a bit of a LOTR nut and avid fanfiction reader). And a friend, who in tight spots, can and has gotten pretty good presents for her friends. I only hope this is one of them. Being a part of society is a hard thing, my friend.