In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hello there, beautiful Erin! How does it feel to be so gorgeous? Well, I wouldn't know. I'm just kicking back here, waiting for them to call the sunset prayer, and watching the "Gong Show". Rindercella! Nothing much going on here. What did I do today? In the morning, I was busy tending crops. There's a horde of little white moths attacking my plants, about the size of an ant each, and invulnerable to my pesticide. Also the canned bug spray. I can't afford a different bug spray right now, so I'm hoping that moving the plants into the bright sunlight would discourage them. I can't move the tomatoes, though. In the evening, I was about to go and cut grass somewhere then suddenly it rained. So I cooked dinner instead. Rice with steak and veggies in spicy sauce. Very filling. What else? That's it. I hope you're having fun with whatever you're doing over there, and making sure your sweet precious self is safe. I love you and I need you.
Monday, November 9, 2015
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151109
Hi Erin! How's it going, Sweetheart? Are you busy, busy, busy? I know it's work, but please don't overdo the partying, OK? I want you to take good care of yourself because I'm not there with you, because I love you and I need you. It's just a normal day for me. Sundays are always busy for me because I have to clean my parents' house, and you know how I feel about house cleaning. My Mom and Dad are out of town right now, so I was able to turn on the AC while I was being maid.
It's cold over there right now, huh? I prefer cool weather, but it hardly ever gets cold around here, and I heat up easily to boot. The morning was hot and sunny, but it rained this evening and it's still raining now. So I spent the evening sitting on my porch, watching the rain. The first day I returned to Malaysia from USA, it rained and I spent the evening watching the rain. A neighbor passed by, and asked me what I was doing. I said, "I'm watching the rain." I don't know what happiness is, but I enjoy watching the rain. Would you like to watch the storm with me? Don't be afraid of the rain! The rain is a blessing from Allah, especially now that the world is running out of fresh water.
I ate simple meals in the morning because I was in a hurry. Just melted cheese in tortillas. For dinner, I made home made chicken nuggets. I didn't use the nugget part of the chicken, just the white and red meat, and I didn't overcook them, so they tasted perfect. I enjoyed them with home made hot sauce while watching the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2013. Want some?
I hope you don't mind if I take this opportunity to ask God for some musical instruments. I'm asking God, not you. Ya Allah, please grant me the following musical instruments:
1. Gibson Les Paul Traditional 12 string Gold Top (right-handed).
2. Music Man Sterling 4 string fretless bass in any color (right-handed), or a Warwick Dolphin Pro 4 string fretless bass in any color (right-handed).
3. Marshall DSL100 Head with a JCM1960A speaker Cabinet (240 volts).
4. SWR Redhead Bass Combo Amp (240 volts) or a Gallien-Krueger MB 112 Combo (240 volts).
I also need drums and cymbals, but that's more complicated to describe and acquire, and more expensive. Thank You!
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151108
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Ah, chocolate. I was watching a documentary on cocoa beans, and I noticed that some of the beans snap when you break them, and others don't. So I'm guessing that the higher grade of beans go snap. Otherwise, it's just a blend of flavors that make the chocolate. I added butter to the mix, and the flavor is now so acceptable that I was motivated to lick the bowl clean so as not to waste any chocolate. The texture is not so snappy, but it's not as cakey as it was the last time. I think this would make a great chocolate mousse. That's my next project.
Plants are growing great in my garden right now. I have so many babies that it's impossible to count them. What's ready to harvest is the kelisa beans growing on my fence. And they need to be harvested or they'll harden, and go to waste. Kelisa has a crisp green flavor akin to lettuce, but it's a legume. So for dinner I cooked up a tenderloin steak, and stir fried the kelisa in a mix of hot red pepper puree, soy paste, chopped garlic and palm oil. Then combined it as a stuffing for a couple of burritos. A perfect match! Alhamdulillah. I must remember this recipe. I also harvested some mustard green sprouts and used them for my noodles lunch. Tasted mustardy! Good stuff.
I pray you are taking care of yourself, and not getting too caught up in the competitiveness of your business. You're MY girl, you're already a winner in my book, so don't try too hard. I love you, and I need you. Next I'm watching the movie "Heathers".
Ah, chocolate. I was watching a documentary on cocoa beans, and I noticed that some of the beans snap when you break them, and others don't. So I'm guessing that the higher grade of beans go snap. Otherwise, it's just a blend of flavors that make the chocolate. I added butter to the mix, and the flavor is now so acceptable that I was motivated to lick the bowl clean so as not to waste any chocolate. The texture is not so snappy, but it's not as cakey as it was the last time. I think this would make a great chocolate mousse. That's my next project.
Plants are growing great in my garden right now. I have so many babies that it's impossible to count them. What's ready to harvest is the kelisa beans growing on my fence. And they need to be harvested or they'll harden, and go to waste. Kelisa has a crisp green flavor akin to lettuce, but it's a legume. So for dinner I cooked up a tenderloin steak, and stir fried the kelisa in a mix of hot red pepper puree, soy paste, chopped garlic and palm oil. Then combined it as a stuffing for a couple of burritos. A perfect match! Alhamdulillah. I must remember this recipe. I also harvested some mustard green sprouts and used them for my noodles lunch. Tasted mustardy! Good stuff.
I pray you are taking care of yourself, and not getting too caught up in the competitiveness of your business. You're MY girl, you're already a winner in my book, so don't try too hard. I love you, and I need you. Next I'm watching the movie "Heathers".
Friday, November 6, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151107
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
This music is both a burden and a blessing. God knows what it is I have to wield, but no other human alive would know. Allah is the One Who makes it rain. I am not a political nor spiritual leader, and the Last Prophet (peace be on him) has passed away. I am a musician. To the world, what's occurring here may be fascinating, but to me this is a network of chains. My reward is with Allah, and I have received zero public funding or donations for my work in this country, but at least Allah has faith enough in this music to house and finance me if the humans don't. You are my wife. I don't want your hard earned money. What I care about is your Islam. You don't have to be an extremist, just do the best you can with the situation that Allah has given you. Please give thanks to Allah for the advantages given to you that no other woman in the world has. I love you, and I need you.
The business situation that is here and has been networked all over the world is at least 7 years old already, by the Will of Allah. It is simply obtuse to try to get me to sing and build another business situation somewhere else. This is the place (pardon the Mormon simile), and you are my wife inshaAllah.
I had to use up the rest of the squid, so it was fried calamari for dinner. If the food tastes good, why not have it as a full dinner even if it is an appetizer? And the fried calamari tonight tasted awesome, and there was a lot of it, so I'm definitely full. I would have left some for you, but you weren't here. Sorry. It sure generates a lot of dishes, though. Oh well. Alhamdulillah.
This music is both a burden and a blessing. God knows what it is I have to wield, but no other human alive would know. Allah is the One Who makes it rain. I am not a political nor spiritual leader, and the Last Prophet (peace be on him) has passed away. I am a musician. To the world, what's occurring here may be fascinating, but to me this is a network of chains. My reward is with Allah, and I have received zero public funding or donations for my work in this country, but at least Allah has faith enough in this music to house and finance me if the humans don't. You are my wife. I don't want your hard earned money. What I care about is your Islam. You don't have to be an extremist, just do the best you can with the situation that Allah has given you. Please give thanks to Allah for the advantages given to you that no other woman in the world has. I love you, and I need you.
The business situation that is here and has been networked all over the world is at least 7 years old already, by the Will of Allah. It is simply obtuse to try to get me to sing and build another business situation somewhere else. This is the place (pardon the Mormon simile), and you are my wife inshaAllah.
I had to use up the rest of the squid, so it was fried calamari for dinner. If the food tastes good, why not have it as a full dinner even if it is an appetizer? And the fried calamari tonight tasted awesome, and there was a lot of it, so I'm definitely full. I would have left some for you, but you weren't here. Sorry. It sure generates a lot of dishes, though. Oh well. Alhamdulillah.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151106
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
It's raining right now, so I'm writing this letter earlier than I usually do, which is right before sunset, while I wait for them to call the sunset prayer. Obviously I can't do any yard work, but I do have a craving for hot rice. I asked Ina if she would be cooking up a new pot of rice and if she did, I would have dinner over there. It doesn't look like she will, so I'm going to roll up more of that chicken in dough then deep fry it. When my Mom makes "rendang" (meat in spicy coconut/lemongrass sauce), she normally uses beef, but this time she used chicken for some reason. So I separated the chicken from the sauce, and that's what I've been using to make deep fried stuffed pies. Sorry Mom, but it just doesn't taste the same with chicken. I have some beef, but I'm thinking of mixing the sauce in with ground beef to make "rendang" sausage. What do you think, Mom?
I'm pleased to report that my mustard green experiment was a success, and now I have mustard greens growing in the yard. A LOT of mustard greens. In pots, peat pots, all over the yard. Praise be to Allah! Mustard greens can grow pretty large, and have a lot of body. I use all of the plant too, stems and everything but the roots. I'll save some for seed, and use the rest for wraps, soups, stir fry, whatever. Next, I'm going to roll out some dough to make pies, and make sausage. You want some? Please eat properly and get sufficient rest, OK? I love you, and I need you.
It's raining right now, so I'm writing this letter earlier than I usually do, which is right before sunset, while I wait for them to call the sunset prayer. Obviously I can't do any yard work, but I do have a craving for hot rice. I asked Ina if she would be cooking up a new pot of rice and if she did, I would have dinner over there. It doesn't look like she will, so I'm going to roll up more of that chicken in dough then deep fry it. When my Mom makes "rendang" (meat in spicy coconut/lemongrass sauce), she normally uses beef, but this time she used chicken for some reason. So I separated the chicken from the sauce, and that's what I've been using to make deep fried stuffed pies. Sorry Mom, but it just doesn't taste the same with chicken. I have some beef, but I'm thinking of mixing the sauce in with ground beef to make "rendang" sausage. What do you think, Mom?
I'm pleased to report that my mustard green experiment was a success, and now I have mustard greens growing in the yard. A LOT of mustard greens. In pots, peat pots, all over the yard. Praise be to Allah! Mustard greens can grow pretty large, and have a lot of body. I use all of the plant too, stems and everything but the roots. I'll save some for seed, and use the rest for wraps, soups, stir fry, whatever. Next, I'm going to roll out some dough to make pies, and make sausage. You want some? Please eat properly and get sufficient rest, OK? I love you, and I need you.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151105
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Ah, chocolate. I told you before that I couldn't find cocoa butter anywhere around here anywhere. So the only thing available around here, besides the name brand chocolate, is cooking chocolate. Cooking chocolate has that greasy feel and taste about it, so I figured that I could add a layer of water, and the grease would float to the top. I had to "wash" the cooking chocolate 3 times before the greasy flavor disappeared, but the "feel" of it was still wrong. So I added some powdered milk to it which improved the taste, but it still felt wrong: it turned out more cakey than snappy. I don't think I diluted the powdered milk in properly. But I think this is a losing battle: the fundamental nature of cooking chocolate is just plain gross. I think I'll try adding some butter in next. Otherwise, we're going to have to serve you British or Dutch chocolate. The quality stuff, and IS available here.
Dinner was much more successful. I still had that batter from yesterday that I made for the fried calamari, plus I also had that chicken rolled up in dough. So I rolled that around in the batter, then deep fried it. It turned out great! Alhamdulillah. Like a stuffed pie with a crispy shell. I'm sorry but I only had one serving, but if you had been here, I would have split it with you. Because you are my girl, and I love you and need you.
Ah, chocolate. I told you before that I couldn't find cocoa butter anywhere around here anywhere. So the only thing available around here, besides the name brand chocolate, is cooking chocolate. Cooking chocolate has that greasy feel and taste about it, so I figured that I could add a layer of water, and the grease would float to the top. I had to "wash" the cooking chocolate 3 times before the greasy flavor disappeared, but the "feel" of it was still wrong. So I added some powdered milk to it which improved the taste, but it still felt wrong: it turned out more cakey than snappy. I don't think I diluted the powdered milk in properly. But I think this is a losing battle: the fundamental nature of cooking chocolate is just plain gross. I think I'll try adding some butter in next. Otherwise, we're going to have to serve you British or Dutch chocolate. The quality stuff, and IS available here.
Dinner was much more successful. I still had that batter from yesterday that I made for the fried calamari, plus I also had that chicken rolled up in dough. So I rolled that around in the batter, then deep fried it. It turned out great! Alhamdulillah. Like a stuffed pie with a crispy shell. I'm sorry but I only had one serving, but if you had been here, I would have split it with you. Because you are my girl, and I love you and need you.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151104
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hi Erin! How are you doing today, my love? Mwah! I love you! Oh, it's just another average day for me. What would you want happen? Allah has all the Power. I'm watching the Gong Show right now. The old Gong Show from the 70's. That has to be the best talent show ever, not just because the losers can be more entertaining than the winners, but also because Chuck Barris is the best host ever! My favorite show was when that dog couldn't leave his crotch alone. That's entertainment!
I spent the evening cutting grass by the side of the road. I had rolled up some chicken in dough this morning to be deep fried, so I could have had a quick dinner. But I wanted to change the pace a little, and went for fried calamari instead. And instead of the old squid dipped in egg then flour, I decided to make a crispy batter instead. It was OK, but I like the old way better. The battered squid was much more filling though. Crunchier, too.
Erin, please make sure get plenty of rest and are eating well. Take good, loving care of yourself because I need you, OK?
Hi Erin! How are you doing today, my love? Mwah! I love you! Oh, it's just another average day for me. What would you want happen? Allah has all the Power. I'm watching the Gong Show right now. The old Gong Show from the 70's. That has to be the best talent show ever, not just because the losers can be more entertaining than the winners, but also because Chuck Barris is the best host ever! My favorite show was when that dog couldn't leave his crotch alone. That's entertainment!
I spent the evening cutting grass by the side of the road. I had rolled up some chicken in dough this morning to be deep fried, so I could have had a quick dinner. But I wanted to change the pace a little, and went for fried calamari instead. And instead of the old squid dipped in egg then flour, I decided to make a crispy batter instead. It was OK, but I like the old way better. The battered squid was much more filling though. Crunchier, too.
Erin, please make sure get plenty of rest and are eating well. Take good, loving care of yourself because I need you, OK?
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