Letter to Julia 20131031

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

Running hot water!  Julia my queen, how dearly are you attached to running hot water?  There's a water heater in my shower which I never use.  It's electric.  There doesn't seem to be a reservoir, so I assume the water is heated in real time.  All the showers I take are cold.  Well, I use a hose.  Force of habit.  Spartan, not barbaric.  I don't like using running hot water here in Malaysia because I'm sensitive to fungus.  The option to an electric water heater is of course, a gas powered boiler.  Propane again!  Assuming we can get propane-powered appliances, that will be at least 4 active tanks at any given time: boiler, stove top, oven, and clothes dryer.  At least a boiler doesn't need a vent.  I examined the pipe for the faucet in my toilet, and it seems to be running inside the wall through solid brick.  Whether or not it is solid brick or a cavity, it seems that we can run pipes inside the walls.  Pipes here in Malaysia are either steel or copper.  I haven't seen much plastic being used here for water or waste.  We would need a separate pipe system for hot and cold water.  Plus a pump or two to get the water up to the second level and reservoir of Casa de Julia.  Do you really want or need running hot water, Julia?  There won't be running hot water here in my little house.  No room for a boiler.  Well, you can have the electric water heater.  InshaAllah.

It's time for you to get your own Qur'an, Erin my queen.  This is a serious matter, so please be serious about this, for every soul delivers itself to ruin by its own acts.  Shop for a bilingual Qur'an at an Islamic bookstore, so you can browse among many publishers for one that's easy for you to digest.  Buy your Qur'an from Muslims only!  Hard copy, not digital!  Make sure it has the original Arabic text as well as the English translation, so you can naturally learn Arabic, Mrs. Global.  Let's start by doing a simple daily reading.  Offer a prayer first thing in the morning, say "I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the rejected", say "In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful", and say "Ya Allah, increase me in knowledge".  Then close your eyes and choose a random verse.  If you have a question to ask God, then formulate your question silently before you choose a verse.  Then compare what you read with what happens to you and what you observe during the day.  Only ONE verse, ONCE a day for now.  Take it slow!  Don't be in a rush!

Ya Allah, please protect and guide my Julia and Erin.