Letter to Julia 20130831

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

As you know, there is a cherry tree outside my bedroom window.  The leaves spread outwards towards the road like a big portabella mushroom, and it effectively hides me from the elementary school traffic like a curtain.  I trimmed it last week, and it looks great right now.  I usually peer outside while watching Shadowplay TV while voice training, and observe the passers by.  The windows don't open up all the way because they're old, I don't turn on the lights, so theoretically I can't be seen, except by an infrared camera of course.  There were these 2 birds perched on one of the branches, staring at me through the cracks of my window while I was voice training today.  They were sitting in the shadows side by side, watching me, shrouded in darkness.  Very creepy.

Freedom is great alhamdulillah, but really, we are not free.  The wise are aware that there are consequences to actions, and if you don't want to taste the consequences, then your actions are restricted.  Unlike the poor man, whose life is a prison of his poverty.  All my musical career, I've been restricted by my finances, by my enemies for the most part.  Now it's come to this, where I have turned to Allah, and Allah has rendered the media groups and consultants irrelevant.  Glory to Allah!  Perhaps they should have given me all the money I wanted, and maybe they would have got the results they desire?  But I don't really want their money anyway.  So instead of practicing sorcery, how about they free one of their slaves?  Or stop their car to feed someone who will work for food?  No, don't poison them.  Or perhaps they could aid one of their relatives who happens to be an orphan?

Ya Allah, please grant me wealth that is 100% halal and comes directly from You, to give my Julia a happy and secure married life, and to obtain all the tools and instruments I want to create music that pleases You.

Letter to Julia 20130829

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

They say that lonely people love cats.  Well, I'm lonely without my Julia, and I have 5 cats.  Do you know them?

Highest in rank is Chee Cheah.  She's been with me for 5 years already, and she kind looks like my Dad.  She's a Siamese cat look alike, and she's about 10 years old, according to the estimate my Mom gives me.  She pretty much shared the same suffering I did since I returned to Malaysia, and now she rules the house.  She only eats the best cat food, and I won't let her leave the house at night anymore.  The law of the house to all cats here is "Don't bug Chee Cheah".  Or they get kicked out.

Next in seniority is Bat Cat.  I first met him 2 Ramadans ago when he was a tiny kitten wandering the road crying during school rush hour, so I called him over to me, and he's been with me since.  He's a black and white tom cat, and he's become strong and beautiful.  He looks like a black and white feline Rottweiler.  I feed him only fresh fish, and low salt cat food, because he's a working cat.  And how rare is that?  He's the only mouse killer here, so mice avoid my house as long as he's home.  He's also the only male cat at my parents' house (where my brother lives with his cats), and at Casa de Julia inshaAllah.  So he has quite a harem to choose from.

Last Ramadan somebody dumped little Fluffy Ramadan on my porch.  She's a blond and white long-haired calico.  She was a hammered little kitty, covered in fungus, lost most of her whiskers, and very depressed.  She's improved a lot since then, she's so sweet, energetic, she follows me all the time, and she always waits for me.  Isn't that cute?  She still has some stubborn fleas though.

When I moved into this little house, my brother left 4 cats here, who I named Scruffy, Scrawny, Frick and Frack.  They were not my cats, so I only fed them.  The males have died since then, so only the twins Frick and Frack are left.  Frick is that drug addict cat I told you about.  She somehow acquired a mouth injury, so I have to feed her drugs daily to control the swelling, otherwise she would be salivating uncontrollably, and would be unable to eat.  Both Frick and Frack are grey short-haired striped cats, but Frick has darkened to a brown since her illness.  I decided to rename her Slobberina Droolsella.  Yeah, it could be a demeaning name, but she's a cat.  The name endears her to me, and anything endearing is good when it comes to Slobby.

I also gave Frack a new name: Simper.  It's because of the way she smiles.  I never paid much attention to the cats my brother left other than to feed them, but somehow Simper has become very beautiful.  Her coat has become bright and shiny.  How is that possible?  To be unloved, yet become beautiful?

Anyway my Julia, please try to be focused when you pray.  If you are 100% focused when you pray, and can understand every word, that already makes you better than me and most other Muslims.

Letter to Julia 20130828

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hi Julia.  How are you feeling today?  I pray you are feeling healthy and confident.  Me, I'm feeling listless and lazy for some reason.  I was rather impatient with the dense traffic, moody I suppose.  I don't like regular commute.  I'm tired of travel, even short distances.  But everybody has to commute, and anybody can be a statistic.

But I was too lazy to do anything during the evening.  Then Chee Cheah told me in not so many words to put on my boots and do something.  So I raked some leaves around Casa de Julia inshaAllah, and burned them.  Then I trimmed the cherry tree outside my window.  Not much I know, but I am lazy.  I want my Julia.  I think I'll just play video games until I pass out.

Letter to Julia 20130827

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hello Julia, my love.  How are you?  Are you feeling  feverish?  If so, please get some rest, and don't work so hard.  No?    I was just guessing.  I was worried.

I apologize for not coming in to blog on Monday morning.  I had to take Chee Cheah to the vet for an antifungal shot.  It had been raining lately, and she always seems to have fungal issues.  She's such a sensitive little kitty.  As you know, I don't like to announce my visit to the vet, because they would be packed with fat women ready to pounce on me with their fat cats, and I would be left standing around with a nervous cat.  It's not that I love you less.  I love you with all my heart.  You are my girl, I love you, and I want to marry you.

Ya Allah, please grant me the means soon to give my Julia a happy and secure married life, and all the tools and instruments I want to fulfill my mission for You, to please You with music.

Letter to Julia 20130824

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hi Julia my dearest heart, how are you feeling today?  I pray you are healthy and confident.  I do love you so.  I'm kind of tired right now, I've been on the go since 8am, and now it's almost time for the sunset prayer, and I'm writing to my Sweetie as I wait for the call.

I figured that that fat Bat Cat clone that someone planted in my yard would be claimed by the owner, because he's so fat and pampered, he could only have gotten that way from being spoiled rotten.  Bat Cat does not like his clone.  Now he's hiding, which means he's refusing to be caged.  I bet he wants to lie in wait for his clone so as to chase him away.  To the owner of Bat Cat's clone, if you truly love that cat, please take him away from my yard because my Bat Cat doesn't want him there.  Hark!  I hear cats squabbling!

Letter to Julia 20130822

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hi Julia, my beloved.  How are you feeling today?  I love you, my beautiful Julia.  Please take good care of yourself.  I've been staying pretty much at home, and around the kampung.  I pruned the coconut trees on Casa de Julia inshaAllah, because they were blocking the sun to the ground.  There was a pit filled with coconuts.  It was dry weather, so I torched them.  It burned all night with a scent of coconuts, like incense.  Quite a sight to see.  I dug up some tapioca for my Mom that I planted a couple of years ago on Casa de Julia inshaAllah.  What a laborious task.  I suppose it's a flavor from my mother's childhood.  I'm kind of ambivalent about that food, but I know my grandfather was big on tapioca.  I suppose it's a food from his army days.  Whatever.

Lo and behold, there's a Bat Cat clone in my yard.  People are planting these cats at my house.  This version seems fat and pampered, and I was able to pick him up and show him to my parents without much of a fuss.  If he sticks around, what shall I name him?  Bat Cat Too?  Automated Backup Cat System?  Hey, I like that.  ABCs.

Letter to Julia 20130819

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hi Julia!  How are you feeling today?  I just completed a massive load of grass cutting, and just finished my dinner (leftover fried noodles), now I'm writing to my Sweetie.  I decided to put a little more muscle into my yard work, because I never seem to have enough time beyond maintenance.  For some odd reason, I gained a little more physical strength after Ramadan.  Alhamdulillah.  Wanna make love?  No, we have to marry first!  After this, I'm going to play a round of Mario Party 2.  A game to waste some time until Allah grants the funds to move with our marriage inshaAllah.  Of course, I take the character of Princess Peach.  I have a thing for pretty blondes.  My greatest weakness.  I never seem to win at Mario Party 2.  I have such bad luck at that game.  Even when I'm winning by 4 stars, I still wind up at the bottom at the end.  Sigh!  But I'm not giving up!

Oh, this is my isolation week again.  I have some sort of inexplicable cycle.  So please forgive me if I skip a few days at blogging.  It would be much simpler if you were here with me to share my isolation.  Then I wouldn't have to blog myself to explain that I'm feeling more reclusive than usual.

Letter to Julia 20130817

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

I love you, Julia!

I do!  When you decorate your Casa de Julia, please make sure there are no statues, or portraits and pictures of human icons and celebrities in the house.  Such things cannot be present in a Muslim home.  It's bad enough that we'll be in the public eye, but at least I'll be there to distract them away from you.  You're my girl!  Anyway, if you've accumulated statues and/or posters of icons/celebrities in your life, please unload them before we get married inshaAllah.  Pictures of family and friends should be OK.

I don't really mind how the house I live in with you is designed, so long as we stick together.  Well, as long as you try to be somewhat moderate.  I like small houses, like I told you before.  If Allah allows us to build Casa de Julia with ease, then you will stay at this little house while we supervise the construction of the main house, then after that's done, I want to use this little house as my office/recording studio.  InshaAllah.

Also, I was wondering if you could fit a small walk-in cooler on the ground floor, and emergency power and water modules in the design.  I want the cooler for my cheese collection inshaAllah, just about the size of a bathroom, where a metal rack can fit in the middle of the room, away from the walls (easier to clean),  We can put the heavy foodstuff in the corners.  I'm sure there are some auto-switching gas or gasoline powered generators out there, plus we can put a water reservoir on the roof.  No, we can't drink flood water.  How about easy access to the roof?  A roof garden, perhaps?  Solar panels, maybe?

Qur'an 20130817

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

181.  Allah has heard the taunt of those who say, "Truly Allah is indigent, and we are rich!"  We shall certainly record their words, and their slaying the prophets in defiance of right, and We shall say, "Taste you the penalty of the scorching fire!"

182.  This is because of that which your hands sent on before you, for Allah never harms those who serve God.

183.  They said, "Allah took our promise not to believe in a messenger, unless he showed us a sacrifice consumed by fire."  Say, "There came to you messengers before me, with Clear Signs, and even with what you ask for.  Why then did you slay them, if you speak the truth?"

The Family of Imran 3:181-183
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There came to you messengers before me, with Clear Signs, and even with what you ask for.  Why then did you slay them, if you speak the truth?

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.

Letter to Julia 20130814

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hi Julia, my beloved.  How are you feeling today, my heart?  I didn't think I had to come out and blog today, in fact I had other chores planned, but God took me by surprise, or perhaps I simply forgot.  I suppose I live day by day, even though I'm committed to an obvious routine.  It would certainly seem so financially at least, but it does run deeper than just money.  I'm a "go with the flow" kind of person.  I pray you are taking good care of yourself, my Julia.  Please eat properly, and get sufficient rest.  And please maintain your prayers.  When we are together in marriage finally inshaAllah, we will be praying together.

Qur'an 20130814

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

168.  The ones that say, while they themselves sit, "If only they had listened to us, they would not have been slain."  Say, "Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth."

169.  Think not of those slain in Allah's way as dead.  No, they live, finding their sustenance in the Presence of their Lord.

The Family of Imran 3:168-169
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Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth.

Letter to Julia 20130813

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hi Julia!  How are you, Sweetie?  How's the most beautiful girl in the world?  I'm just hanging out at home, writing a love letter to my sweetie.  I have my joystick hooked up the the computer, and about 100 N64 games on the hard drive.  Remember those?  Sure, the graphics don't match up to today's games, but some of them are really fun.  Something to waste time with, until Allah gives me a bottomless supply of money, inshaAllah.  Then I have to get busy getting married.  Plus other stuff.  Please pray with me that Allah grants me that soon.

I went to the night market just now, and bought some chicken and soybean milk.  I bought the chicken from those 2 kids I told you about, only this time their mom was there.  I'm very fussy about my chicken meat.  I only eat white meat.  Well, I sometimes have chicken liver (which is 10 times cheaper than beef liver), and chicken wings, but otherwise I only like white meat.  Well, I save the bones for soups and curries, and I separate the skin for a nice crispy fried snack to be tossed or dipped in hot sauce.  Sort of like chicken wings without the wings.

Qur'an 20130813

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

165.  What!  When a single disaster smites you, although you smote with one twice as great, do you say, "Whence is this?"  Say, "It is from yourselves, for Allah has Power over all things."

166.  What you suffered on the day the two armies met was with the leave of Allah, in order that God might test the believers.

167.  And the hypocrites also.  These were told, "Come fight in the way of Allah, or repel them."  They said, "Had we known there would be a fight, we should have certainly followed you."  They were that day nearer to unbelief than to faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts.  But Allah has full knowledge of all they conceal.

The Family of Imran 3:165-167
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It is from yourselves, for Allah has Power over all things.

Letter to Julia 20130812

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Dearest Julia, how are you feeling today?  Are you having fun, wearing disguises, being a secret agent, and running your own spy network?  No, I haven't done anything wrong, inshaAllah.  I want to be married, so I just stay at home most of the time, and I go out only to do shopping, and use the Internet.  I spent the day raking and burning around Casa de Julia inshaAllah.  There is so much work to do, and I can't seem to get properly started.  But the lawn seems to have acquired a life of its own, far from the jungle it was 4 years ago, and it's starting to look civilized, alhamdulillah.  I spend most of my time at home.  When I had friends, I had only a few friends, and now I have less than that.  You are blessed to have so many friends.  I don't think it's necessary for you to find new friends, just to cherish the ones you already have.  For you are already on top of the world, inshaAllah.  Because you are MY girl.  I love you, and I want to marry you.

Qur'an 20130811

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

154.  After that of the distress, God sent down calm on a band of you overcome with slumber, while another band was stirred with anxiety by their own feelings, moved by wrong suspicions of Allah- suspicions due to ignorance.  They said, "What affair is this of ours?"  Say you, "Indeed, this affair is wholly Allah's."  They hide in their minds what they dare not reveal to you.  They say,"If we had had anything to do with this affair, we would not have been in the slaughter here."  Say, "Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death."  But that Allah might test what is in your breasts, and purge what is in your hearts.

The Family of Imran 3:154
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Indeed, this affair is wholly Allah's.

Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death.

Letter to Julia 20130810

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

YOOOOOOLIIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Hi there Julia, my dearest.  How are you feeling today?  Did you have a good Eid?  Oh, you were busy working?  So was I.  I have to sing everyday, but besides that, I had a lot of yard work to do.  The grass grows quickly, and I have a lot of area to cover.  Ironically, if my parents hire extra help, then I have extra work to do.  Because the grass is going to grow back anyway, and I don't have the time to clean up after others.  It would be different if I were the one to do the hiring.  Thus, I spent the Eid cutting grass on the area where I will build Casa de Julia, inshaAllah.  Remember, when Allah grants me wealth inshaAllah, the first thing I have to do is to buy the land.  There is so much work to do.  Right now, I have too much to take care of, which is not music related.  When the money comes inshaAllah, then I will have to do some hiring right away.  Oh no, I have to vacuum my bedroom!

Letter to Julia 20130807

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hi, my beloved.  How are you feeling today?  Today should be the last day of fasting, and tomorrow should be the Eid.  I totally enjoyed this Ramadan, alhamdulillah.  I do love Ramadan.  I'm still on the "perfect tortilla" roll, so last night I had steak and cheese wraps.  Actually, it was steak, mushroom, onion, hot pepper, and cheese.  Obviously, I can't bake the tortilla in the oven.  So I greased up a pan, and baked the stuffing until the cheese became gooey and melted, then folded it into a wrap.  Of course, I made one for you.  But I has to eat it, since you weren't here for dinner.  I'm going to get bloated, or so used to these portions, that when you do get here inshaAllah, I'm going to have to make 2 portions for me, and one for you.  Oh, my love.  I want you.  I'll probably be busy all day tomorrow, so I won't be in to blog.  The Eid prayer is first thing in the morning, then back to my parents' house to eat until bloated.  Eat and sleep.  You have a very pleasurable Eid, my dearest Julia.  My the world shower you with love, as I love you.

Letter to Julia 20130806

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

How are you, my Julia?  I pray you are healthy and happy.  I've been making perfect tortillas lately, praise Allah.  So for breaking fast, I had some chicken wraps.  I stopped at the night market and bought some fresh chicken breast from these 2 boys, age about 7 and 12.  They said their dad left them there to mind the stall.  They sure chopped that chicken like pros, though.  I marinated the meat spicy teriyaki style, then pan fried it in butter until it just turned white.  Sliced it flat wise, and rolled it up in the tortilla with oyster mushrooms, fried onions, and tomatoes.  The wraps were FAT.  I made one for you, but you didn't show up for dinner.  So I ate it.  Sorry.  It won't keep in the cooler as a leftover.  Wish you were here with me.

Qur'an 20130806

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

119.  Ah!  You are those who love them, but they love you not, though you believe in the whole of the Book.  When they meet you, they say, "We believe," but when they are alone, they bite off the very tips of their fingers at you in their rage.  Say, "Perish in your rage.  Allah knows well all the secrets of the heart."

120.  If aught that is good befalls you, it grieves them, but if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at it.  But if you are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you, for Allah compasses round about all that they do.

The Family of Imran 3:119-120
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Perish in your rage.  Allah knows well all the secrets of the heart.

Letter to Julia 20130805

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Ah, you didn't like my story about the musang?  I can see it on your face!  Don't worry, my dearest.  The little critters are harmless.  Do you remember 3 Ramadans ago, I had a baby musang named Schtinky?  I couldn't keep him alive... such a shame, I would have been the only kid on my block with a pet musang.  They're just a nuisance sometimes, to have to clean up after them.

It's raining again.  It's been a wonderful Ramadan.  The only thing that's missing is you.  I dreamed last night I was building Casa de Julia.  I love you, my dearest Julia.  Please pray along with me that Allah brings us together in a happy and secure marriage soon.  By now, you should have acquired a close circle of trusted friends, from years of association.  Of special importance are the righteous ones who are sincere to God.  Do not try to bring into your intimacy those who are outside your ranks.  They already say that they hate you, and what they hide in their hearts is far worse.  You may love them, but they do not love you.  Glory to Allah, the Most High.

Letter to Julia 20130803

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Whew.  I'm full.  It's the rice gruel that the local mosque gives away, but I like it.  And I ate too much of it, too.  It's raining right now, so I decided not to go for the additional prayer.  I need to make a batch of dough for the coming morning, and of course, I need to write to my sweetie.  How are you doing, my beloved?  You know I love you.  You are my girl, and I love you with all my heart.  I seem to have too much to do lately.  It's because we're so close to the Eid.  I took Friday morning to do some of it, but there's still much to do, and my Mom likes to add more.  I love you, Mom.

Here in Perlis, there is a sort of tree fox the locals call a "musang".  It generally thrives in the trees, and eats the fruit.  But it has a habit of living in houses for shelter, on the ceilings.  You know, how a ceiling hides he framework of the roof, which some people turn into attics?  Well, one can hear the varmints scampering and frolicking on the ceiling, going bump bump bump.  They are generally harmless animals, but when they urinate, the urine drips down to the lower level tenants.  I don't know of any way to deter these critters other than to shoot them.  Perhaps when you design a house, you could just expose the framework of the roof, and abolish the ceiling?  I guess that also means we have to have a pretty roof and frame.

Qur'an 20130803

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

95.  Say, "Allah speaks the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith.  He was not of the pagans."

96.  The first House appointed for humans was that at Bakkah, full of blessing, and of guidance for all kinds of beings.

97.  In it are Signs manifest, the Station of Abraham: whoever enters it attains security.  Pilgrimage thereto is a duty humans owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey.  But if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of God's creatures.

98.  Say, "O people of the Book!  Why reject you the Signs of Allah, when Allah is Witness to all you do?"

99.  Say, "O people of the Book!  Why obstruct you those who believe, from the path of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you were yourselves witnesses?  But Allah is not unmindful of all that you do."

100.  O you who believe!  If you listen to a faction among the people of the Book, they would render you apostates after you have believed!

The Family of Imran 3:95-100
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Allah speaks the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith.  He was not of the pagans.

O people of the Book!  Why reject you the Signs of Allah, when Allah is Witness to alll you do?

O people of the Book!  Why obstruct you those who believe, from the path of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you were yourselves witnesses?  But Allah is not unmindful of all that you do.

Qur'an 20130802

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

92.  By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give of which you love.  And whatever you give, of a truth Allah knows it well.

93.  All food was lawful to the children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for itself, before the Law was revealed.  Say,"Bring you the Law and study it, if you be men of truth."

94.  If any after this, invent a lie and attribute it to Allah, they are indeed unjust wrongdoers.

The Family of Imran 3:92-94
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Bring you the Law and study it, if you be men of truth.