Letter to Erin 20151221

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

**sniffle**  I'm writing this letter later than usual because all that smoke and dust gave me the sniffles.  **sniffle**  I spent almost 2 hours draining my sinus cavity and struggling through the sunset and night prayers with a glass cup and a roll of toilet paper for company.  I started to get the sniffles before I had voice training, but that didn't stop me from finishing my set, even though I wasn't feeling 100%.  I think I got most of the snot out, so I should be ready to work tomorrow inshaAllah.  I can't sing at all with a stuffed up nose or sore throat.

If you didn't already know, I believe that infected sinus fluids are extremely dangerous, and the best way to get rid of them is to empty out the sinus cavity.  So I let it all drip into a cup, which amounts to about a quarter cup of snot, until the vacuum gives me a headache.  The only medication I take is a couple of aspirin to remedy the headache.  The sinus fluids will be renewed, so it's important to remove all of the infected stuff, otherwise it will infect the new fluids.

Sorry to be so gross.  If possible I prefer to doctor myself than to put my life in the hands of a stranger.  I wasn't always this way, just a couple of bad experiences wised me up to my situation.  I won't do the same for you, though.  You will have to go to hospital, but at least I will be there to keep an eye on suspicious doctors inshaAllah.  Meanwhile, please try to stay healthy.  I love you, and I need you.  **sniffle**

Letter to Erin 20151220

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

Hello Sweetheart!  Hi Darling!  How's it going today?  Staying busy?  I've been busy all day.  I had kitchen work in the morning, like making dough and such.  Then my parents have been re-landscaping their yard lately, so in the evening I helped them do some burning.  So I'm kind of tired right now.  I hope you're not overworking yourself, or over partying.  Please look after yourself, OK?  I love you and I need you.

So I'm too tired to practice bass tonight, I think I'll just take it easy and rest my feet, because I'll be busy again tomorrow morning.  I usually write bass first, and I have a lot of music in my head.  When I was younger I was influenced by Led Zeppelin, but not anymore.  Nowadays all the music I write is inspired by the Qur'an.  People like to compare in accordance with their own desires.   But nowadays, the music I write is inspired by the Qur'an.

All animals belong to Allah, and I am grateful for my kitties, to be able to share my like with them for a while.  Alhamdulillah.  This kitty is ----.  She's such a sweet little kitty, and the most well behaved of all my kittens.  She's the most like her mother in personality.  She's in heat right now, so I try to hug her as often as possible to relieve the tension.  She loves my singing, but she gets alarmed when I make kissy kissy sounds.  Mwah!  For dinner, I had a cheeseburger.  My Mom gave me a can of tuna the other day, so I also made a tuna melt.  My other female kitten ------- has acquired a taste for dirty old mop water for some reason.  How gross!  Here -------, have some tuna juices instead.  Now doesn't that taste better than old mop water?  By the way, I want you to please try to stop drinking those funny tasting beverages, OK?

Letter to Erin 20151219

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

Hey there, you beautiful creature!  How are you feeling today?  Oh, it's so hard for me not to be there with you to help take care of you.  Are you keeping your nose clean?  You might think that you're just playing around, but accidents do happen so please play safe.  I want to look after you, my beloved.  I love you and I need you.

Letter to Erin 20151218

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

Hi there!  Are you feeling better today?  Are you feeling more confident today?  Good.  Please try to get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat properly.  I want you to look after yourself, because I love you and I need you.  OK?

I was quite busy today.  I spent the morning with my crops, so I only had time for a simple lunch, which was bread sticks and marinara sauce.  I spent the evening in the yard again, this time my parents' yard.  After that I got the craving for "sambal belacan" cheeseburgers again.  So I cooked up and ate 3 of them.  Yeah, I ate your burger. 

Letter to Erin 20151217

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

Oh dear, what a day of mood swings.  I told you not to worry so much.  It's all that worrying that allows you to be influenced by other people to do what you don't want to do and feel how you don't want to feel.  No, not me.  I'm the guy that has to help protect you, and provide for your happiness and security.  There's no such thing as "the perfect feeling."  I told you this already!  No matter how much drugs or booze you ingest.  Instead of coming down from a high, just be patient.  Patience is the next best feeling.

Yeah, I get mood swings too.  But I already know what I want to do and where to make my stand.  Please try to stop drinking those funny tasting beverages.  Don't binge yourself into unhappiness with tons of food either.  Go running instead.  I heard someone say that running helps her think clearly and also releases endorphin, so she can't help but feel good later.  A friend of yours?

By the way, I love you and I need you.

Letter to Erin 20151216

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

In the light of the current attitude towards Muslims, of course there would be people pressuring you to be treacherous to me.  This is not clairvoyance, it is common sense.  This is compounded by that you have become successful, and are enjoying the comforts that come with the success and wealth that your connection to Islam has helped you nurture, by the Will of Allah.  Certainly they would say that you don't need me, and perhaps you don't.  I can't force you to marry me.  But again I remind you that the goal of our marriage is to stay put here, in this kampung in Malaysia, and raise a family, and you are my Muslim wife.  Who knows what happiness is?  All I know is my mission, to please Allah with music.

On the contrary, my situation hasn't changed since I proposed to you a little over 2 years ago.  Now that I think about it, my situation hasn't changed since 1989.  Allah granted me more piety alhamdulillah, but my situation hasn't changed.  Always on the edge.  Who knows what happiness is?  I am an old musician.  I have discovered that I am unable fall in love anymore.  Love has to be calculated and negotiated.  Sure I like pretty blondes, but I was very taken by your sincerity.  I believe it is genuine.  When the time comes inshaAllah, that sincerity will be tested with a ring.  But for now, for what it's worth, I love you and I need you.

Letter to Erin 20151215

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

Hi Sweetie!  Hi Gorgeous!  How are you feeling, my love?  I pray that you are feeling great, looking great, and having a great old time.  Please take good care of yourself and don't forget to pray.  I love you and I need you.

Today is Monday, and it's HOT as usual.  I'm grateful to have AC, but I do miss the four seasons.  Strawberries and daffodils.  But at least I still have pizza!  Alhamdulillah.  My dough is finally ready.  I like to make hard dough lately, so they take some time to rise.  Today's flavor is mole chicken with sweet red peppers.  A sweet pizza.  I've seen some sweet pizzas out there, and most of the time they overdo the sugar.  Mole sauce is hot pepper puree and chocolate.  Yeah today's pizza is sweet, but it doesn't overdose on sugar.  Plus there's a touch of spiciness in there.  Want some?