Hello, my Darling

Hi Erin, how are you doing today?  I hope you are trying to keep at home and staying safe, and not doing something reckless because you are bored.  You have to remember that you are a Queen now, you are my Rock and Roll Queen.  And you don't see royalty gallivanting around without an armed guard, do you?  If you are bored, why don't you try an intellectual pursuit?  The Internet is a huge place.  Or maybe you can build something like a model jet fighter.  There are so many things you can do with your mind.  Please realize how important you are, how important you are to me, and keep safe OK?

Hi Natty, how's it going with you?  Are you drinking lots of water, and not giving away all your hard-earned money?  I must say that you always look gorgeous in a bathrobe.  I'm trying to guess where you would be that would have cherry blossoms right now, but those hills don't look like Japan.  They look like USA.  You keep safe as well, especially when you're playing tourist.  Don't forget how beautiful you are and how much of a temptation that is to others.

I watched "Logan" today.  It made me cry.  What a beautiful little girl.  That's such a perfect recipe for a tearjerker, when the hero gives his life fighting to save his daughter, and she stays at his side weeping as he dies, saying "Daddy, Daddy!"  **sob**  I think I'll go watch it again tonight.

Faithful are for the faithful, and sluts are for sluts

I try not to slut around and I don't, with Allah as my Witness.  If I were to do so, the whole planet would instantly know.  I have no privacy!  And it is the same case for you.  While fame for you (unlike me) is great for making a living, it costs you your privacy.  Though there will be no one to stop you if you do decide to give up your chastity, there will definitely be people watching from unseen places, eating their popcorn and enjoying every minute.  It is not something that you can hide!  As it pertains to me, if you give up your chastity then it means that you have absolutely no interest in marrying me, regardless of how you feel later.  Will I have enough money to marry?  That is your leap of faith, as well as mine.  Please protect your chastity.

It's almost Ramadan

Yes, only one month left until Ramadan.  Ramadan is the fasting month for Muslims, where we do not eat, drink, swear, smoke, and engage in sexual activity from dawn to sunset every day for one month.  Most people dread Ramadan because they don't get to stuff their faces whenever they feel like it.  Weaklings.  But I like Ramadan.  It's my favorite time of the year.  I usually stay up most of the night cooking, but then I usually sleep in since there's no lunch to deal with.  I don't eat heavily for breaking fast, because there is extra worship at night at the mosque after the night prayer.  So I generally break fast at home then head out to the mosque.  There's always more food there too, so the challenge of Ramadan is actually not to gain weight.  Ironic, huh?  Also, lots of weird and wacky stuff occurs during Ramadan.  I like Ramadan.  It's my favorite time of the year. 

Is it a man's world?

So let me try to guess what happened.  You were bored, so you went out for an adventure among the grass.  I would even go so far as to say that you were parading yourself.  Then you attracted the attention of a couple of gangs who were busy fighting each other, then they started fighting over you.  After 15 minutes of terror, you finally went home and counted your blessings.  You're a brave one, aren't you?  You are beautiful and brave.  I love you.  I want you to try to keep at home and stay safe, because I love you.

I woke up at 4:30 am.  It happens.  So I fed the cats, and did some extra worship.  Then I prayed the dawn prayer, and fed the outdoor cats.  I had bought some peanuts yesterday evening, so I was portioning them out when I heard Bat Cat and the Cat Bully challenging each other.  Batty is a friend of mine, so I decided to go out and help him.  When I opened the door, Floofy darted out.  It was still dark, so I couldn't see where she went.  I heard yowling over at my parents' gate, so I went there.  Floofy was challenging the Cat Bully.  I chased him away, and went to pick her up but she ran off again back to my house.  It was dark, so I could barely see anything.  I looked for her around my house and I found her in my back yard, challenging Bat Cat.  He left when I came, and I tried to quickly grab Floofy before she took off again.  She was still hyped up, so she clawed the hell out of my hands and I had to let her go.  Ouch.  She went around the corner to my front door.  I opened the door and she went inside.  I blame myself for being stupid.  Next time I'll just let Bat Cat fight his own fights.

Natty, I want you to tell your big brother to apply to be the next James Bond.  Not only is he perfect for the part, he's still young and would have at least 7 movies ahead of him.  He needs to work on his British accent though.

Qur'an 20170427

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

117. If anyone invokes besides Allah any other god, he has no authority therefore and his reckoning will be only with his Lord.  And verily the unbelievers will fail to win through.

118.  So say, "O my Lord!  Grant You forgiveness and mercy, for You are the Best of those Who show mercy!"

The Believers 23:117-118

If you feel afraid, then pray

I hope you are settling down into a relaxation mode, and enjoying your beautiful and comfy surroundings, eating fancy foods and snacking on expensive ice cream while watching TV.  Have an easy life, because I love you.  You are a Rock and Roll Queen, Erin.  And don't you forget it.

Did something scare you, Natty?  Something on the Internet perhaps, and made you afraid to express yourself?  It's OK to be afraid.  But learn how to focus your fear.  Pious people put their fear in God.  Focus this fear on God, and no one else will scare you, whether human or not.  Please pray, and talk to God in your prayer.  There, by now whatever scared you earlier has dissipated, and you are back to having fun.  Right?  You're such a beautiful girl, Natty.  Talk to your big brother, have him tell you to challenge yourself.  Please drink lots of water.

Hello Sweetheart

How are you feeling today?  Feeling good?  Are you planning more journeys, more plans, and more visitations?  I do pray that you be cautious and take care of your health.

How's life in your private plane, Natty?  I'm glad to see that you're flying high.  Remember what I told you, don't eat just to be polite.  I don't want you to get sick or something.

Are we getting clumsy in our old age, Pina?

I took it easy today.  My feet feel unstable, and my voice sounds like gravel.  I did drive my elderly mother around in the evening, to visit her relatives.  Yesterday was a busy day, so I'm kind of worn out today.  No, I don't believe in luck.  I believe in God.

Qur'an 20170425

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

86.  Say, "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne Supreme?"

87.  They will say, "Allah."  Say, "Will you not then be filled with awe?"

88.  Say, "Who is it in whose hands is the governance of all things, Who protects, but is not protected, if you know?"

89.  They will say, "To Allah."  Say, "Then how are you deluded?"

90.  We have sent them the Truth, but indeed they practice falsehood!

91.  No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with God.  Behold!  Each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others!  Glory to Allah, from the things they attribute to God!

92.  God knows what is hidden, and what is open.  Too high is God for the partners they attribute to God!

93.  Say, "O my Lord!  If You will show me that which they are warned against,"

94.  "Then O my Lord!  Put me not among the people who do wrong!"

95.  And We are certainly able to show you that against which they are warned.

96.  Repel evil with that which is best.  We are well acquainted with the things they say.

97.  And say, "O my Lord!  I seek refuge with You from the suggestions of the evil ones."

The Believers  23:86-97
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Thank you for your love

Qur'an 20170424

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

78.  It is God who has created for you hearing, sight, feeling, and understanding.  Little thanks it is you give!

79.  And God has multiplied you through the earth, and to God shall you be gathered back.

80.  It is God Who gives life and death, and to God the alternation of night and day.  Will you not then understand?

81.  On the contrary, they say things similar to what the ancients said.

82.  They say, "What!  When we become dust and bones, could we really be raised up again?"

83.  "Such things have been promised to us and our fathers before!  They are nothing but tales of the ancients!"

84.  Say, "To whom belong the earth and all things therein?  If you know!"

85.  They will say, "To Allah!"  Say, "Yet, will you not receive admonition?"

The Believers 23:78-85
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Ya Allah, thank You for all You have given me.  Please forgive me as I will never be able to thank You adequately.

Happy Earth Day

And so to celebrate Earth Day, I cut the grass over at your house inshaAllah.  Here it's not a matter of growing more trees, it's more a case of controlling the growth here.  The weeds here are the size of trees, well because they are trees.  And the vines, you can swing on them like Tarzan.  I took down some jackfruit and gave it to the neighbor, and I harvested some young coconut for my Mom.  It's been a while since I rode a bicycle, but I used to back in the mountains of Utah.  Instead I rode my motorcycle to town to get gasoline.  It's not a car, at least.  I do so much gardening and yard work, I must be giving back to the earth.

Just the usual today for me

The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is say a prayer.  It's an "after difficulty, there is relief" prayer.  It's in the Qur'an.  Then I feed Floofy and her daughters.  I had already done extra worship earlier on, so all I had to do this morning was the dawn prayer.  Then I fed the outdoor cats, and watched Chee Cheah eat, while keeping a watch for the Cat Bully.  Chee Cheah eats so slowly.  I was about to clean the cat room and water the plants, then my Mom wanted to go to the downtown market and get a kilo of hot peppers, her breakfast, and my Dad's newspaper.  So I did that, and when I got home after eating breakfast (which was glutenous rice with salted fish and fresh tomatoes) and cleaning up after the cats, I planted another mango tree.  Then I watered the plants, then my Mom wanted me to hang up some curtains.  By the time I got done with that, it was time for a nap.  I was tired, but I didn't really sleep well.  I made my lunch, which was a chunk of sirloin steak.  Just the steak, ma'am.  It was awesome.  Alhamdulillah.  It was also the most convenient.  Then it was time for the noon prayer followed by voice training.  After that I tidied up my Mom's kitchen, then after the Asr prayer I had to go back downtown to do more shopping.  It was raining, so I took the car.  I had to go to the supermarket, the pharmacy, and the furniture supply store.  I stopped by Ina's for a quick dinner.  Then when I got back, I had to fix the my parents' cutlery drawer.  It's almost sunset now, and I'm writing a love letter.  I love you.

Natty you generous little sweetheart, are you giving your buddies another treat?  I want you to save up your money for yourself, so you can have wealth that's all your own.  OK?

There are two types of jackfruit trees growing on the compound.  I don't particularly like either one, and I mostly give the fruit away to the locals.  This type is the not-so-sickly-sweet kind.

To brood or to gloat

Let's face it- public speaking can be a tremendous strain on the heart.  Whether your heart be young or old, you get your emotions boiling in the heat of battle, and you go home still seething and thinking about the fight as you toss and turn in bed.  It's impossible to say the right thing all the time.  It's easier to look back and think to yourself, "Oh I should have said this, and I should have answered that, etc etc".  Well you have to calm your heart down somehow, and if you're going to be thinking about it anyway, then you might as well write down what you should have done, so you can use the wisdom you've learned the next time the situation comes up.  And it will too, because people are repetitive.  But pour your heart out then let it go, and get some rest.  Nurture your precious heart that I love so much.

Gloating is a different matter, because you're so pleased with yourself that you want to live the moment over and over.  Our own ego keeps the gloating going, and it never ends even years later.  May I ask you to be humble, please?  Give thanks to God, and do a kind deed.  Hug and kiss your kitty.  Then get some rest.

You are above me in this matter

I told you a while ago that you were me, because you are my wife inshaAllah.  So people look upon you as an extension of me.  But I'm not there with you to distract them when they talk to you, so you will have to talk for us.  I don't expect you to protect me, I am more concerned with protecting you.  I am difficult to talk to.  I have a psychic wall made of steel, and I take pleasure in yanking out souls by the scruff of the neck and shaking it about for the world to see.  But you are easy to approach, because you are kind and sweet.  This puts you above me in this matter.  But that also means that people prefer to pick on you instead of me.  That's why I have been urging you to express yourself more, and practice practice practice.  I'm sorry I'm not with you to take the shots as I should be.  It's time for you to become a strong talker.  The only advice I can give you is that in an argument, seek emotional weaknesses not intellectual weaknesses.

You Natty, are too kind.  Too generous beyond your means.  You need to make your fortune first, before you give things away.  Yeah I know I have no money but I give things away too, but you don't copy me.  I want you to be safe and pampered.  I want you to be treated like a princess.  Please remember to eat only what you feel like eating.  Don't eat something just to be polite.  And drink lots of water.

Pina, are you hungry?  Today for lunch, I made spaghetti with eggplant sauce.  It was great, but it would have been perfect if I had added sliced steak or chicken breast.

Chee Cheah is so terrified of the Cat Bully, that she didn't eat for 3 days.  Here's a snapshot of her finally getting some food, along with my other outdoor cats Emma and Bat Cat.

Hello, how are you feeling?

Erin, are you able to express yourself better?  Have you been practicing writing, in a journal perhaps?  Oh, you probably are too busy, you don't have time.  This is important though, so you have to make time to express your feelings, even if it is only a few words.  You don't have to show it to anybody.  It's for your heart.  Your precious heart.  If you "don't have time" to write it down, then speak into your cell phone, talk about your feelings.  Try to use the most beautiful words you can.

Natty, did you eat a lot yesterday?  You were probably trying to be polite, and people want you to taste their cooking, and the like.  You have to learn to turn people away.  We may love them, but some people just can't cook.  If you don't feel like eating something, just say "Sorry, but I don't feel like eating."  And please remember to drink lots of water.  You need lots of water.  You have a nervous tummy, and you need to drink lots of water.

Pina, now that your Mom is in town you're finally eating well.  Go home, Pina.  Maintain your beauty and chastity.  Learn how to cook well.