Fast Days Are Slow

Today is the 17th of Tammuz. It is a fast day. A minor fast day. Although, I think any day without breakfast, lunch and dinner are MAJOR SLOW days. Today is the day Moses brought the tablets down and smashed them to pieces. I can't really say I blame him. Fasting for a day puts me on edge, so I can only imagine how low his blood sugar must have been after a 40 days without food or water.  At any rate, I always try my best to observe all the fasts. I always seem to manage to need a grocery run on a fast day too. Not sure how that works out, but it works like a science. And, if you've ever gone grocery shopping on a fast day, you know that what comes home has very little to do with nutrition or need. I also had to take my daughter for a check up, where I managed to bite off the  receptionists head and I had to stop at the bank, where the teller didn't know what a "pin" number was. So I'm wondering if my fasting attracted these "intelligent" people into my day or was the lack of nutrition affecting my thought processes. We all go into these fasts differently. My husband goes at them with a vengeance. My son tries to sleep them off. My daughter bemoans the fact that she cannot eat and wonders why she is suffering for the past sins of others. My twins decide that fasting means they don't have to finish their dinner and rejoice at my not really caring and I, well, I love the idea of not preparing any meals for 24 hours. I also REALLY appreciate eating after a fast. I like the idea that I have survived and that Jews around the world have fasted with me. Should you not be a faster and the opportunity arises, grab it. If you find fasting difficult, here are some tips for fasting:
-understand why you are fasting
-stay busy
-drink plenty of water the day before
-stay away from sugar and cafeine a couple days before
-call a friend
-skip breakfast the day before
-think about people who have survived much longer without food