Letter to Erin 20160301

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

Hi Beautiful!  Hi Gorgeous!  How are you today?  I pray that everything is going well for you.  It's been a busy morning for me.  Whenever I have have an active morning, it always makes me useless in the evening.  Plus I struggle through voice training.  Hey but life isn't supposed to be perfect.

Hm, I can smell flowers somewhere.  Anyway, I went to renew the road tax on my Dad's motorcycle.  In Malaysia, the DMV is called the JPJ, because of translation.  The tax itself is only RM2, but the insurance is expensive.  I want to teach you how to drive a motorcycle, if you didn't already know.  It should be fun, and I get to put my arms around you.  I also payed my phone bill and bought some groceries.  Among other things.  Floofy had been rolling around in her daughter's pee, so I had to give her a bath.  I can't have my snuggle kitty smelling of fermented pee.  By 4 pm, I was out of action.  I find that a more efficient day is to get active after the noon prayer.  That way, I can get all sorts of things done right up to 10 pm.  I guess I'm just not a morning person.

I hope you are not overworking.  Everything becomes work when you get older, whether that be good or bad.  I like to laze around and watch TV.  I want my girl.  I love you and I need you.

Letter to Erin 20160229

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

Hi there, Princess!  Hey there, Darling!  How are you feeling today?  Are you having lots of fun?  I hope you are trying to slow down and giving your heart a break, after all the recent activity.  I think of you all the time, because you are MY girl.  I love you and I need you.

I spent my birthday doing the usual things.  I cleaned my Mom's bedroom in the morning, then she cooked lunch for me.  Thanks Mom!  My Dad asked me if I'm doing anything special for my birthday, I said I'll be doing the things I usually enjoy doing.  Which is enjoying my home, hanging out in my favorite space, watching TV, making music, and enjoying good food.  Alhamdulillah.  I want my girl.  I ate that roast chicken for dinner that my parents gave me.  No I didn't eat the whole chicken, I still have the drumsticks and thighs left.  The kittens had a feast along with me, except ----.  She doesn't seem to like anything other than cat food or raw food.  I have lots of snacks for my TV watching tonight.  I've been eating the expensive English chocolate lately.  The taste is superior of course, but the texture is not snappy.  It has some snap to it, but like cooking chocolate.  I guess that chocolate is snappy when it's thin.  This gives me hope that I can get a good flavor out of cooking chocolate, I just need to try harder.  Oh, so much to do.  Plus I need to laze around.  I'm going to set up for practicing bass now.

Letter to Erin 20160228

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

Hello there, my love!  My love!  I love you and I need you.  You are the light in my life, and I love you with all my heart.  I never told you when my birthday is.  Well, today I am 50 years old.  Yeah yeah, I know.  I have the same birthday as Bugsy Siegel.  We're exactly 60 years apart.  I didn't know that until recently though.  I've already outlived him, and I don't own a gun.  When I was younger, I always wondered why many astrologers were upset with me.  I happen to know, or rather many astrologers knew me.  I don't know if you remember who Jeane Dixon was, but one day before she died, in her last horoscope for Pisces, she gave me such an intense verbal thrashing, telling me to lighten up or something like that.  I know it was a general horoscope, but it sure seemed very personal.  If you believe in that astrology garbage.  Hey, I think I'm rather easy-going.  Anyway, I quit reading horoscopes 9 years ago.

I still qualify for government welfare so I just received a payment, and bought myself a wireless keyboard and mouse set, and a new 2.1 speaker system.  So right now, I'm writing this letter on my back!  Yeah it's lazy, but it's not as easy as it sounds.  I also programmed the mouse as a remote control to advance to the next video on Shadowplay TV.  Finally!  I needed new monitors to mix music with.  This new system I got is only 26 watts but it's USB powered, so that's not bad.  Especially for 5V USB.  And they sound great.

I've been having a craving for eggplant lately, so for dinner I had steak with an eggplant and tofu stir fry.  It was great!  I must do that again.  Plus my parents gave me a roast chicken for my birthday.  Thanks Mom and Dad!  You wanna join me for my birthday dinner, Sweetie?

Letter to Erin 20160227

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

Hello Beautiful!  Hi Gorgeous!  How's my precious girl today?  I pray you are feeling great and having lots of fun.  Please remember to look after yourself properly, and maintain your prayers.  Things may be exciting and out of control right now, but that's all the more reason not to do drugs and alcohol, and increase the pressure on your heart.  Your precious heart.  God is in control, so pray if you need assurance.  Sure it's not the same as being high, but you don't really know what "high" is.  Pray if you need assurance.  And always know that I love you and I need you.

I have crawled into my cave, and I aim to stay in here for a while.  But I had to go out for snacks.  I can't be a hermit without snacks!  I had a craving for potato chips, but the closest supermarket didn't have any potato chips!  Do you believe that?  So I had to go all the way downtown to get my snacks.  I found this big bag of sour cream and onion chips, with Tamil writing on it.  Made in India, imported by Thailand!  I also got myself a big bar of chocolate, English chocolate.  Fruit and nut.  And some blackcurrant chews.  Now if you will please excuse me, I'm going to lie back and watch TV and eat junk food.

Letter to Erin 20160226

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

Halo Angel!  How are you?  Would you like to be with me always?  I want to be with you always.  No we shouldn't use the toilet together, but for all practical purposes, I want us to never be seen without each other.  You are me, my darling.  I love you always.  And I need you.

My filling fell out last night, so I had to visit the dentist first thing this morning.  Good thing I already finished my dinner before it fell out, so I was able to go to the dentist the next morning with an empty mouth.  Did you see that episode of Sailor Moon where Usagi went to the demon dentist which was a combination clinic and ice cream parlor?  It was very windy today.  The wind was screaming and howling all through my voice training.  Do you fear the winds of change?  We shall be married soon, inshaAllah. 

Hmmm.  The news I've been getting is being re-edited as the day progresses.  Let's just say that what was news at 6 am is not the same news at 10 pm.  Damned Internet.  This also applies to what's going on with you, so if you have something to say to me, the best way to say it is to say it yourself on video.  Life in the Public Eye can be really annoying.  Innuendo isn't going to work anymore, Erin: innuendo is being used as a tool by our enemies.  Monkeys!  You're going to have to be as blunt as possible about our relationship.  I think it's time for me to crawl into a virtual and literal cave, and ignore their stupid lives.  Next week my Dad is going into surgery anyway, so I will be busy with that.  Yes, I know it's your birthday next week.  InshaAllah, I will make my presentation at the right time.  I would rather give you a ring, but please be patient with me and pray.  Bear in mind that the ring comes with a house.  When the ring does come inshaAllah, we will begin communicating by telephone.

Letter to Erin 20160225

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

Hey there!  Hi there!  How's it going?  Talk of the town?  I hope you are feeling healthy and having a great time.  I guess you are doing more of the same thing until basketball season comes up.  I wish I could be with you, but the time will come inshaAllah.  My Dearest, have fun with your work, and stuff that bank account of yours OK?  I certainly have much to do here, but I think of you all the time, and of how beautiful you are.  I love you and I need you.

What did I do today?  It seems like I wasted the morning.  Oh yeah, I woke up late so by the time I got all the morning chores done, it was already time for lunch.  After voice training, I spent time with my baby mangoes.  The rainy season hasn't come yet, so there aren't any new fruit.  Then I went downtown to get some fried noodles for dinner.  There was some sort of Siamese bazaar going on, and the area was packed.  I wish I could have stopped by, but I had run out of cash.  Hey, can't endorse anything without the right budget, right?  So I went home.

Letter to Erin 20160224

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

Hey Scrapper!  Hi Smiley!  How is the most beautiful girl in the world?  My girl is the most beautiful girl in the world.  How's business today?  Please don't overwork, get plenty of rest, eat properly, and maintain your prayers.  It's business as usual for me today.  I didn't have to commute anywhere though, which makes it a great day for me.  I hate commute.  I thought of you all day.  I love you and I need you.

I want to remind all of you that it's the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Verdun.  Yesterday my barber confused France for America.  I guess he was thinking about Verdun.  I don't want to paste a video here because it's unromantic, because a war of attrition is absolutely unromantic, Verdun being the most ghastly of them all.  Unlike World War Two, which was a pagan uprising and the revenge of one man, World War One had a very political beginning.  It was a war of cousin against cousin, Christian against Christian.  I do think that you should have knowledge of this matter since you are Mrs. Global, and I found a link for you to study.  Videos can be too graphic: in this case, something to read would be more appropriate for someone as beautiful as you.

Letter to Erin 20160223

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

Hello there, Sweetheart.  How's it going, Pumpkin?  I'm in a better mood today.  The world grinds to a halt for me when I get a cold.  But I'm better today, and was able to work just fine.  How about you?  Are you taking good care of yourself?  I want you to keep healthy and safe.  You are MY girl, and you mean the world to me.  I love you and I need you.

I went for a haircut this morning.  I've been going to the same barber for over 7 years already.  I just want my hair short to help me cope with this hot weather, he just gives me the same cut every time.  I looked into the mirror and saw all my grey hair.  It's mostly on the right side.  I still have thick hair, but it looks like it will be all white soon.  After that, I went back to that new supermarket that recently opened.  This time, I bought a kilo of generic honey, raspberry Jell-o (it's actually generic raspberry flavored gelatin which is halal), and avocado, and a bag of Salt and Vinegar Lay's potato chips.  The chips were made in USA.

Dinner was chicken cooked in mole with avocados.  I've been eating nothing but pizza lately, so it's a nice change.  I'd offer you some, but I ate it all.

Letter to Erin 20160222

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

Hello Precious.  Hello Darling.  **sniffle**  Yeah I got the sniffles again, so I'm not in a particularly good mood.  I have to work hard to protect my voice whenever I get a runny nose, so I spent my evening draining my sinus cavity.  Got to keep singing, right?  Everyday, right on schedule.  InshaAllah.

I want you to focus on being patient.  There is no perfect feeling while we are alive, but patience is the next best feeling, and something you can control inshaAllah.  The person who sincerely follows the path to God has faith.  To have faith means that you do not despair.  If you despair, it means you have no faith.  Money can't buy you faith.  You can see families raised on the values of money give in to despair, murder, and suicide.  Someone with a family history of suicide will be suicidal.  An angry and arrogant person will take many other people to die along.  This person who inspires despair and violence to others, when they don't get rich quick.  Mass despair, poverty, and hatred.

Again, people of faith do not despair.  Work towards your goal with patience and prayer.  I want you to know that you are loved.  I love you, and I need you.  I will not abandon you inshaAllah.

Letter to Erin 20160221

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

Hi Sweetie!  Hi Smiley!  I've been thinking of you all day.  I've been thinking of you so much, that I found it hard to work.  I couldn't concentrate.  I've been thinking of how beautiful and how sweet you are.  I must really love you.  I do love you, and I need you.

I saw your latest appearance on the Dan Patrick show.  That's a beautiful dress.  It's really nice of Dan to upload the show to Google ASAP, that I'm only a couple of days behind from the taping.  You like those guys, huh?  Well, I maintain that all men are beasts.  They are either beasts or impotent- nothing in between, unless it's an impotent beast.  I'm sure Dan and his gang would agree with me.  You don't know because you're not a man.

I'm not knocking your friends, Erin.  I'm confirming what Dan said, that you have leveled up.  He didn't want to look at your monkey pictures!  You must not underestimate the power of a beautiful woman.  Sure you're nice, but being nice means that you could get suckered into a dangerous situation.  And it could be anybody: a sports star, a game show host, a politician, a tramp on the streets...  You have to figure out how to be nice from your elevated position.  Give your charity from a safe distance.  Better yet, secretly.

Oh well.  You hair is super long now, huh?  Is it the longest it's ever been naturally?  Hair doesn't get extra long automatically.  It grows to a certain length then breaks off.  Either you're wearing extensions or your blood has improved in quality.  Maybe I'm seeing things, but you're definitely more beautiful than ever (I thought you were going to bite the microphone, though).  I'm just an average looking guy.  I'm like everyone else: I'm not pretty so I wish I were pretty.  So you better take a gander at this ugly mug while I'm still alive.  If God were to allow me into heaven, I'm going to ask to be pretty.  I want to look like Megan Fox with a body like Eva Herzigova when she was 19.  But with a big dick.  As for you, I don't want you to change.  I love you just the way you are.  Ya Allah, please protect my Erin and grant us a happy and everlasting marriage soon.

Yeah, we all get older.  I'm the guy who loves you.  I'm the guy who wants to marry you and help protect you.  Anyway, say hi and Go Bulls to Dan for me.  Yeah, I'm a sports wife.

Letter to Erin 20160220

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

Hello Luv.  How's it going, Cutie?  How are those emotions today?  I still can't get over how absolutely hot you are in your SI shoot.  You got that sleepy eye thing going, like wow!  You are so beautiful.  I love you and I need you.

Today is Friday, and I had to attend the Friday prayer.  Otherwise it's an ordinary day.  I did a lot of tidying up and burning today.  It rained today, and I like to do my burning when it rains, if possible.  The neighbor was nice to remove the scrub growing on the west border of your house inshaAllah.  Thanks!  Nothing special on the menu today.  Burger and hash browns for lunch, and rice at Ina's for dinner.  I hope you are giving yourself a break after all that hecticness.  Rest your heart, OK?

Letter to Erin 20160219

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

Hi Honey!  The big news in our world is of course your SI swimsuit edition 2016.  I want you to know that I think you are so beautiful.  You look different than usual, but you are so beautiful.  You are my heart.  I love you and I need you.

I wonder what you ate when you were in Africa.  Be cautious with your tummy, please!  I would have brought a portable kitchen, gone to the market, and cooked everything to death.  I've become very cautious with my tummy in my wisdom.  I suppose it irks some people that I don't want their food, but Allah didn't give them my experience, so how could they know.

I spent the evening after voice training clearing up debris over at your house inshaAllah.  I wish I could have done more, but it started to rain.  So I came inside and made a batch of dough instead.  I wish I were with you to celebrate your success, but I wait for you and for when Allah brings us together inshaAllah.  I might have played this video for you already, but here we go.  Please remember my dearest, that the universe or multiverse belongs to Allah.  If you are beginning to read patterns of existence within the world, within plants and animals, you have to interpret it as it pertains to Allah, not as it pertains to you.

Letter to Erin 20160218

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

Hello, my dearest.  Hi there, my darling.  How's business today?  Are we stepping up?  Well, you go on ahead.  I'll keep guard at the flank.  Please make sure you keep healthy, maintain your prayers, and stay clean.  You are my girl.  I love you and I need you.

I have a house to build.  Yesterday, I cut the grass over at your house inshaAllah.  I also have been cutting down the trees over at the southwest corner.  There's a tree that's tangled up with an old cross link fence and barbed wire.  Barbed wire?  What was my grandfather thinking?  Whatever the reason, as long as that's still there, I can't run the chainsaw through it.  The chainsaw needs a new spark plug anyway.  But it's still brand new...  Oh, it's so hard to get started.

But today, I had a lot of kitchen work to do.  Allah gave me some knowledge of cooking as well as music.  Whatever Allah gives must be used, for it will be taken away, sooner if not later.  That avocado I bought was finally ready to use, so I made a chicken and avocado pizza with mole as the sauce.  I used the whole avocado on the pizza, which made it a very expensive pizza.  I gave a couple of slices to my parents, then I spilled the rest on the floor.  I couldn't let it go to waste, so I scraped up what I could and ate it.  The cats loved it too, but they didn't eat the avocado.  I planted the seed.  InshaAllah, it will grow.

Qur'an 20160218

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

222.  They ask you concerning women's courses.  Say, "They are a hurt and a pollution, so keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean.  But when they have purified themselves, you may approach them in any manner, time, or place ordained for you by Allah."  For Allah loves those who turn to God constantly, and God loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.

(The Heifer 2:222)
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Letter to Erin 20160217

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

How's it going, Gorgeous?  How about you, Slick?  I saw your video for SI that you shot at the One World Trade Center.  Hey, nice outfit.  You look like an intellectual.  A beautiful intellectual.  For some reason, I was browsing the SI site looking for you, but so far they haven't listed this year's model roster.  You people don't seem to grasp the connection Erin and I have.  It's by the grace of Allah.  So if a freak current rubbed her body and her body painting off on the rocks, she didn't do it on purpose.  It just happened that way.  It's like this morning, while I was sleeping, a mouse that was being hunted down by cats squeaked its way into my bedroom and hid in my lap.  Like I'm going to protect a mouse!  Besides, those cats are my family, and it's their job to remove mice from my house.  So I chased it out of my bedroom to the mercy of the cats.  It went and hid behind and under the closet in the next room, and refused to be dislodged.  Damn.  That closet is heavy.  I would have to empty it out in order to move it.  I sure hope it doesn't die there.  That would create a frightful pong.

Anyway, you people be grateful to Allah that my Erin is gracing your swimsuit issue.  Didn't that issue sell out last year during her first appearance?  The most beautiful girl in the world.  She's not a mouse, she's MY girl.  So give thanks to Allah.  I love her, and I need her.

Qur'an 20160217

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

219.  They ask you concerning wine and gambling.  Say, "In them is great sin and some benefit for humans, but the sin is greater than the benefit."  They ask you how much they are to spend; say, "What is beyond your needs."  Thus does Allah make clear to you God's Signs, in order that you may consider,

220.  On this life and the hereafter.  They ask you concerning orphans.  Say, "The best thing to do is for their good."  If you mix their affairs with yours, they are your brethren.  But Allah knows the man who means mischief from the man who means good.  And if Allah had willed, God could have put you into difficulties.  God is indeed Exalted in Power, Wise.

(The Heifer 2:219-220)
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Letter to Erin 20160216

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

Hello Precious!  Hi Pumpkin!  I'm writing this letter kind of late today.  I just got done putting doen vocal tracks.  Yeah, three days in a row, singing the same phrase over and over again.  Singing is not easy.  I mean singing WELL is not easy, I mean anybody can bark into a microphone, and besides, I hate my own voice.  It's never perfect.  And it's so hard to get comfortable, so that my discomfort doesn't reflect in my voice.  Plus it's not the same as singing live, where I can ride the acoustics and hide behind feedback.  So I do it over and over again, until I get a take that I can tolerate listening to.  Since it's so important, since it means so much to me.

I wish I could give you a trinket or something, it would be much simpler.  Don't you agree?  I can give you a pizza, if you like.  I've been making great pizza lately, praise be to Allah.  Even though I can only afford sliced cheese.  Anyway, I hope you are looking after yourself and not overworking.  Sometimes it's hard to kick old habits, and we drag them around like carrying two large garbage bags with us wherever we go.  Just chuck them in the dumpster Sweetie, and start again.  You will find it's not so difficult to do.  I think of you always.  I love you and I need you.

Please give a donation of a minimum of one US dollar or one Euro to a worthwhile charity.

Qur'an 20160216

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

215.  They ask you what you should spend.  Say, "Whatever you spend that is good is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in need and wayfarers, and whatever you do that is good, Allah knows it well."

216.  Fighting is prescribed unto you and you dislike it.  But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you.  And you love a thing which is bad for you.  But Allah knows, and you know not.

217.  They ask you concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month.  Say, "Fighting therein is an offense.  But graver it is in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny God, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque and drive out its members.  Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter."  Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can.  And if any of you turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the hereafter.  They will be companions of the fire, and will abide therein.

(The Heifer 2:215-217)
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Whatever you spend that is good is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in need and wayfarers, and whatever you do that is good, Allah knows it well.

Fighting therein is an offense.  But graver it is in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny God, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque and drive out its members.  Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.

Letter to Erin 20160215

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

Hi Princess!  Hi Angel!  How's my love doing today?  You are so beautiful, I wish I were as beautiful as you.  I just finished my dinner- it's pizza night again!  I wish you had been here to share it with me.  I've been eating a lot of pizza lately, and it looks like I'm going to eat more tomorrow.  But that avocado I bought is due to ripen finally, so I'm thinking chicken and avocado in mole sauce with fresh tortillas.  Wanna come over and join me?  I don't know why I've been eating so much pizza lately.  But it's so yummy!  Ach!  I want another pizza!

No, I can't eat another pizza.  After this, I have to set up for recording vocals again.  I'm singing a song for somebody's birthday.  I'm very fussy about recording vocals, especially about how I feel.  The worst part is trying to get comfortable, which can take hours, or even days.  I hate singers!  I wish I could give her a diamond ring, but I hope she'll be OK with a song for now.  I love her dearly.  And I need her.

Letter to Erin 20160214

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

Hello Beloved.  Hi Sweetie!  Are you having a great day?  I'm just kicking back right now, watching TV.  It's an episode of "Daria": "The Lost Girls".  I'd share it with you, but MTV won't let me embed it.  It was their exclusive cartoon, back when they had music videos.  But I gave up on MTV back in 1986.

I'm in the process of setting up vocals for recording.  One year ago, I didn't even have a pair of headphones, but this time I should do much better.  You probably haven't come across Shadowplay material on the Internet, but I'll give you a hint: CD Baby.  Keep in mind that they haven't given me a penny.  I have been working on a new cd/album.  I actually started it in 2007, then I lost my home and stuff like that.  But I was able to save the music, the most important being the last drum tracks I did.  The album is called "Woo Hoo".  When I was younger, I would put all my time into finishing albums.  I'm sure I would eventually get back to that attitude, but right now I'm taking my time.  "Woo Hoo" is a dark album anyway, and if you connect with the concept of music being the soul of the composer (like in the movie "Amadeus") then you would understand that I'm really cautious about the music manifesting into reality.  It's inspired by the Qur'an.  It's a story based on the curse of Allah on those who impose interest and slavery.  It's actually one song away from being done: I just need to do the last song, all the vocals, plus I promised an old friend to put down piano tracks.  Hey, anything to slow it down, huh?  I don't think I will ever trust a record company with the music again.  I'm just going to set up a stall by the side of the road, and sell cds like a fruit seller or burger vendor.  I'll probably make more money that way, and reach more people.  I should probably get my ass in gear and start putting down all this music in my head on cd, but I don't have all the equipment I need.  Ya Allah, please grant me all the computer and musical equipment I desire.

There are other important items on my agenda, of course.  Like marrying you.  Oh, how involved that is, huh?  But I do love you.  I sincerely love you.  And I need you.

Letter to Erin 20160213

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

Is something wrong, Erin?  Something is wrong, isn't it?  Now look at me, and let me hold you.  I want you to know that I love you deeply, and I will marry you inshaAllah.  I want to kiss you, Erin.  You are my girl.  I love you, and I need you.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  I remember we once had an argument about it, that I told you I don't celebrate Valentine's Day.  You didn't seem to accept my spiritual reason why I don't celebrate Valentine's Day.  So let me explain in a business way: as I am a servant of Allah, it is in conflict of interest to my mission to please Allah with music for me to endorse Valentine's Day.  That said, I repeat that I don't need one day a year to love you.  I love you every day.

Letter to Erin 20160212

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

Hello Peaches!  Hi Strawberries!  Are you hungry for sweets?  I'm sorry, I don't have any desserts right now.  I've been eating leftovers all day, and I just had some leftover curry puffs for dinner.  Hey, can't let them go to waste, right?  Maybe I'll go out for ice cream later, and you can share it with me.  OK?  I love you, and I need you.

There was recently a new opening of a supermarket around these here parts.  Perlis is still technically rural, so the opening of a large supermarket is big news with the locals.  It's nothing like the malls you and I are familiar with, but the building does house the supermarket plus a food court, some kiosks,  and some extra shops.  I was there this morning, and it was crowded.  There was a traffic jam going into the place. and the place has been open for a week already.  The locals sure are thrilled about it.  As for me, I did find some items I usually can't get locally.  So I bought a ceramic omelet pan, an avocado, and a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos.  The Doritos were made in Saudi Arabia.

Ach!  I just got back from an ice cream run, and they were out of the big tubs of vanilla ice cream!  All the big tubs were gone.  Everything that's left is chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.  I know you like chocolate, but I prefer vanilla.  But there wasn't anything vanilla left.  In the end, I bought a pomegranate ice cream bar.

Letter to Erin 20160211

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

Hi Precious!  Hello Cutie!  How are we today?  Is everything running smoothly for you, and fun?  Well, please take good care of your health and get lots of rest.  Please maintain your prayers.  Of course I want the best for you, and for you to be happy and happy with me.  Because I love you and I need you.

Oh, not much happening here today.  I mostly did a lot of taking care of my plants today.  I went to get a deterrent for those pesky little white moths, which by now have gained so much confidence in my yard that I can see their cocoons underneath the leaves of my eggplant.  I also sprayed some pesticide over my mother's jasmine. 

I wasn't too pleased with my fried flat noodles with cockles.  It's the boiled cockles I bought: all the flavor had been cooked out.  Which is a good thing, because it's sanitary for public consumption.  I don't want to be blunt about this, because fried flat noodles with cockles is such a local delicacy.  Let's just say that the cockles carry most of the flavor.  So the trick with pre-cooked cockles is to put the flavor back.  I marinaded it in a broth of anchovy bouillon, fermented anchovies and "belacan" (fermented shrimp cake), which tasted passable by itself, but not within the context of the dish.  I guess I'm getting fussy in my old age.  Fried flat noodles with cockles is the only dish I make with anything close to a formula.  I still have half of those cockles left in my cooler.  I'll try again in a week or so.

Letter to Erin 20160210

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

Hello, my love.  How are you feeling, beautiful girl?  Are you keeping busy as usual?  There's nothing out of the ordinary going on here today.  My waking and sleeping hours have been strange lately, and I trying to take my time.  As usual.  I went to the main market downtown right after dawn prayer.  I have a craving for fried flat noodles with cockles.  I bought almost a kilo of pre-cooked cockles.  No flavor whatsoever: all the flavor had been cooked out for public consumption, so I'm going to have to put flavor back somehow.  So I didn't eat that today.  I grilled a fish instead.  I grilled the scad I bought yesterday.  I had a lot of leftover "sambal" (red hot chilli pepper condiment) which I wanted to use up, so I stuffed the fish with sliced tomatoes and drowned it with "sambal".  Awesome.  Alhamdulillah.

I spent the evening with my chainsaw.  I had to sharpen the chain, which is a tedious task filing the blades one by one.  Then I cut down some stumps by the side of the street which were in the way of my weed whacker.  There was also an dead tree leaning towards the old house which my Mom had been bugging me to cut down.  Fascinating.  The dead tree was being held up by dead vines, so when I cut through the tree, it wouldn't fall.  So I threw a cable around it and pulled it down.  Macho work, huh?  Army ants crawled up my pants and bit my balls while I was trying to cut the tree.  I'm sure you will never have that problem.  Having ants bite your balls with a 2 ton tree looming over your head.  My chainsaw was smokin' hot!

Praise be to Allah that you are at the top of your game.  I don't want you to overwork!  Please choose your work wisely, and take your time.  Slow down your stride, and relax your heart.  Please pray.  I want you to know that you are loved.  I love you, and I need you.

Qur'an 20160210

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

189.  They ask you concerning the new moons.  Say, "They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in men and for the Hajj."  It is no virtue if you enter your houses from the back: it is virtue if you fear God.  Enter houses through the proper doors, and fear Allah, that you may prosper.

(The Heifer 2:189)
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They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in men and for the Hajj.

Letter to Erin 20160209

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

Hi Precious!  Hello Dahlink!  How are we feeling?  Isn't it nice to be at the top?  So give thanks to Allah, and be a good girl.  Please don't overwork.  Make sure you eat properly and get plenty of rest.  You are MY girl.  I love you and I need you.

I just got hooked on a new game!  The concept is simple: I have this ball, you see.  Then then there's this hoop attached to a backboard that's elevated by a pole.  Then I try to toss the ball so that it goes into the hoop.  It's called "Basketball".  It's a video game on my cell phone!  It's quite addictive.  You should try it some time.

I was getting some peppers for my Mom this morning, and I noticed that the woman had some fresh scad.  Large sized!  So I bought one to grill tomorrow.  Scad is good for sushi as well, but it has a strong flavor.  I had some packets of pressed rice so I boiled those up, and used the fillet I cut out of the scad to make room for stuffing.  So the sushi is pressed rice, scad, and egg.  I also had some fish jerky, if I can call it that.  It's dried, cooked and spiced fish in a sprinkled form.  So I sprinkled a layer of that on the sushi.  Oh my God!  It was heavenly!  Want some?

Letter to Erin 20160208

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

I had a litle bit of insomnia last night.  I went to sleep about midnight, and woke up about 2:30 am.  Which is no big deal, because I often do that and when I do, I just perform some extra worship then computer work, then I plunge right back to sleep.  So this morning I got done with that, I had blogged my letter to you, and was about to call it quits.  But before then I decided to check if there were any new videos under your search string, then I found that new skit of you in "The League".  Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep last night.  Oh, Erin.

You did seem a little embarrassed, though.  I wonder how you find time to do cameos like that with how busy you are.  Please make sure you get sufficient rest, and eat properly.  If you get tense in the shoulders, it's because of general stress and more because you're thinking too much.  I'm fairly experienced at giving massage, and I can help loosen your shoulders.  Musician's fingers.  If it's your left shoulder that's in pain, then of course it means a heart problem.  And vice versa: if you sprain your left shoulder from exercise for example, you will find it difficult to breathe.  Of course I would love to give you a full body massage.  Hopefully our schedules coincide.

Oh, I'm tired.  I think I'll take a nap before I go to sleep.  You take care now, my beautiful Sweetheart.  I love you and I need you.

Letter to Erin 20160207

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

To be absolutely serious, I wish we were married.  I wish I were with you when you be a businesswoman, I wish you were here with me so I can appreciate how beautiful God made you.  I'm sorry if my words hurt your feelings lately.  I thought that I would be best to talk so as to not hurt you, but I make mistakes, so please forgive me.  You know your heart means the world to me.  You are my girl, and I want to take care of you.  I love you and I need you.

Please make a donation of a minimum of one US dollar or one Euro to a worthwhile charity.

Letter to Erin 20160206

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

Hello there, hi there!  How's it going today?  Are you feeling absolutely great!  Oh, it's just another average day for me.  An average day in the average life of an average person.  I'm so average!  La de da de da de da... Whoop de doo!  Yahoo!  I love you!  And I need you.

Oh, don't be so serious.  Today is pizza day!  I've been eating pizza all day.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Allah granted me some knowledge, for which I am grateful.  I love sausage and basil pizza.  Making pizza at home becomes much simpler folks, if you focus on the bread first.  Make sure the crust is ready to eat before you put toppings on it.  It's like making a pre-made crust at home to make pizza at home.  In my case, my oven is very small so it's pointless to cook bread in there.  I deep fry the crust, then I bake the toppings.  The cheese goes on last, and only to melt.  Then it's done!  Sounds simple, huh?  Want some pizza?  Well, make sure you say, "In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful" before you take the first bite or sip of whatever it is you are eating or drinking.

Letter to Erin 20160205

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

Hello Dearest!  Hi Darling!  Is it business as usual today?  It's almost Super Bowl time, and I'm sure you are deeply entrenched in acts of commerce.  You work hard, so you deserve success.  Don't forget that as my wife, you are automatically a professional endorser of food products.  Yes, you as well.  This business affects all business, because everybody must eat.  So don't just limit yourself to caviar and crackers.  Try all sorts of food out that appeals to you, as long as it's lawful and good.  Lawful meaning halal.

What is halal is not limited to just food.  Income and sex must also be halal.  For instance, I came across a link (which started for me at Yahoo news) that some people were using verse 4:3 of the Qur'an to legalize gang rape and sex slaves.  The entire verse reads (and I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the rejected):

If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice: two, or three, or four.  But if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly then only one, or that your right hands possess.  That will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.  (The Women 4:3)

What "the right hands possess" generally means captives or slaves.  Justice aside, since these women are captives, some people consider it lawful to have sex with them.  If you were to read the entire verse, one must marry these slaves or captives in order to be just.  "Marry" meaning giving her a place to live, protect her and provide for her.  Rape clearly being an act of oppression, and uncontrolled lust clearly being the path of the devil, brings to scrutiny the legality of the capture AND the legality of the war.  She is what the LEFT hand possesses: an income of oppression.

Some people with thick beards, wearing sheets and turbans, claiming to be "ulama" (learned), create "fatwa" (edicts) that legalize acts that are clearly oppressive.  But you know as well as I that having a pretty face and wearing pretty clothes and a pretty hat doesn't mean that a girl has a good heart.  So these "ulama" look the part.  I refuse to believe in them, and I am not a follower of them.  I am a follower of prophet Muhammad (peace be on him).  And if you are still confused as to who the hypocrites are, then know that prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) never oppressed his captives: he released them.  And Allah is the Most Merciful.

Getting back to food, it's time for more pizza.  So I made a batch of dough this morning, and marinara sauce.  My favorite pizza is sausage and basil, and that can be the only type of pizza I eat.  I don't desire variety in my pizza.  My Mom wants a chicken and pineapple pizza.  That will be tomorrow or Saturday, Mom.  It depends on whether the dough is ready or not.  A caviar pizza?  I don't know about that.  Dinner was chicken wings again.  My stomach has become more sensitive since it got attacked by a sour pineapple, so I had to dilute my home made hot sauce with ketchup.  The next batch of hot sauce I make will have to be mild sauce.  Would you like to share my food with me?  You are welcome, because I love you and I need you.

So many goodies in today's letter, huh?  Let's end with a cartoon.

Letter to Erin 20160204

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

Hi there!  How's it going today?  Are you feeling OK?  How about you?  Are you doing OK?  Well, please make sure that you take good care of yourself.  Be safe, and stay healthy.  I love you and I need you.  Thank you for being so patient with me.

It's just another normal day for me.  I had to give my baby mangoes fertilizer today.  They're almost one year old.  Pure bred Harumanis take 8 years to bear fruit.  I'll raise them until they're 2 years old.  Then I'll see if anybody wants to buy them.  After my morning routine, I was ready to start lunch.  It's BBQ today!  This time it's fish.  My parents gave me a scad yesterday.  Thanks, Mom and Dad!  I'll have to admit that I don't have a permanent recipe for stuffing scad for grilling.  I have discovered that Tom Yam (Siamese tamarind based hour sour) paste goes great with this fish.  Today I thought I would mix that in with chopped garlic, tofu and fish balls.  It took a while to grill that fish because I had to do a little shopping, but it turned out pretty good.  My cats loved it, too.  In the evening, I worked on my tomatoes.  I also had to collect more tamarind for my Mom.  For dinner, I had to use up the rest of my sliced bread, so I cooked up cheeseburgers.  Good thing too, because it was going moldy.  I just cut the mold off, but I ate a little of it.  Antibiotics.  Now it's time to lay out my bed and set up for bass practice.

Letter to Erin 20160203

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

Hello, my most precious beloved.  Hi Princess!  And how are we feeling today?  Oh, it's all business hey?  There's always something going on with you.  After the Super Bowl, then it's March Madness, and so on.  That's part of being successful, right?  Please make sure you get lots of rest and eat properly.  Don't forget to pray.  I love you and I need you.  Thank you for your love.

Oh, there's nothing special going on here today.  I did a lot of running around on my motorcycle in the morning, doing shopping.  Mostly for my Mom.  She wanted some pineapple, coconut milk, plastic bags, coffee and chicken feet.  Yeah, chicken feet.  Don't ask me, I don't eat that stuff.  The chickenmonger didn't want to sell me any, but I managed to get RM1 worth.  I needed more T-shirts, so I got some used T-shirts at the Tuesday market.  Then I got home in time to make lunch, which was a huge bowl of noodles in beef broth.  The broth was from I boiled the ribs for my BBQ.  I try not to waste anything!  I also added garlic, onion, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and sliced steak.  Dinner was much simpler: I ate rice over at Ina's restaurant.  Now please excuse me, I'm going to lay out my bed and set up for guitar practice.  Ya Allah, thank You for the knowledge and the bounty that You have provided for me.

Letter to Erin 20160202

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

Hello Sweetheart.  I love you and I need you.  I'm sitting here waiting for them to call the sunset prayer, while watching "Groundhog Day".  No, I don't endorse Groundhog Day- the computer chose the movie.  It was bloody hot today, and I'm in an air conditioned room.  I like the movie, though.  Funny as hell.  I have the notion in my head of taking a few photos or movies of the homestead and how it's coming along to show you for your birthday, but as I was snapping the photos, I didn't like how poor it still is, and how unready it is for marriage.  It's not a problem for me, my beloved.  I just keep trekkin' on, and inshaAllah the day will come when I can afford to give you the best married life.  Always remember that the faithful do not despair.  If you despair, it means you have no faith.  To Allah we belong and to God is our return.

I did take a photo of my kitty.  The one I haven't shown you yet.  Her name is Emma, also known as Simper.  She was part of a gang of four cats that used to live here when my brother lived here, and now I take care of her.  Her siblings have died, and she is an outdoors cat.  She's almost 8 years old.  It took me a while to appreciate her, but I felt sorry for her because she's a nice kitty.  I love all my kitties, and I do the best I can to look after them, but I can't keep all of them inside.  The only ones I keep locked up inside are the 3 fertile females.  So I have a total of 7 cats: Floofy, Bob Cat, Bat Cat, Chee Cheah, ----, -------, and Emma.

Besides being rich with cats, Allah granted me some knowledge of cooking.  Alhamdulillah.  While working in restaurants injured my feet, at least  I have the skill to eat quite deliciously within my meager budget.  For lunch, I had barbecue beef ribs, messy with home made barbecue sauce, made with fermented anchovies.  The cats were going berserk!  They were banging at the door trying to get out while I was outside grilling.  Squid was cheap today at the night market, so for dinner I had fried calamari.  Baby squid is too tedious to even dig into my pocket for change to buy, but today's squid wasn't so small.  I guess they were adolescent squid.  I like to remove the eyes, bill, backbone and ink sac of squid, but when the squid is too small, I can't do that without getting a heart attack.  Fried calamari is definitely girlie food.  I have a lot.  You want some?