Letter to Julia 20110723

Oh yes, and please make sure you maintain your prayers! It's important that you maintain your prayers, and it makes you stand out from all the other stars out there.

I'm really not much of a talkative person, Julia. I gab away to you in these letters because you're my Julia, and I want to marry you, and I can't neglect you because you're important to me. A few sweet words! My beauty, these love letters are as close to an autobiography the public is going to get, other than the music. Then, when you're at my side, I plan to whisper in your ear (and stop publishing open letters) of my love and appreciation of your friendship. Otherwise, I will be silently sorting out the files in my head, and arranging and rearranging what I have learned from Allah to make some music, while I trim the grass and rake up the leaves in the garden. Please know that I'm no angel, just a musician who was once a wild youngster. Oh dear Julia, it's far from over... are you ready to be the wife of this lowly rockstar?

Ahem! As I was collecting kindle for the bonfire, I came across a full page ad for Chanel in a local newspaper, with the face of some unknown blonde. Trying to tempt me? It didn't work! I want my Julia! Then, I found another full facial shot, this one of Lady Gaga, for some unknown cosmetics company. She didn't try to look her usual unsexy self, she seemed to sport a more demure look. Nah, still unsexy. Why do they advertise in a secondary Malaysian rag which people use to wrap salted fish in anyhow? Don't they have expensive French rags to declare their chic in? Drat! The trash didn't burn, only the newspapers did. It rained last night, so I guess the leaves were wet. I'll have to try again tomorrow.

Letter to Julia 20110721

YOOOOOOOLIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Ah, that was an excellent batch of chili. It was almost as sweet as it was savory... it must have been the red beans. I can't find any pinto beans here in Perlis, but the red beans made an awesome batch of chili. I think I will try to make a batch of chili with lentils instead of beans. I suppose I will be eating chili all through the fasting month, as it's quick n' easy to heat up at 4am for the pre-dawn repast. Fasting month starts in about 10 days. Are you going to try fasting, Julia? Well, you make up your own mind, but fasting during the month of Ramadan is mandatory for Muslims. You don't eat, drink, have sex or swear from dawn to sunset, and you must voice your intent to fast for the sake of Allah on the day before. If you're on your period then you are exempt from fasting, but you must make it up later in the year. I always look forward to the fasting month, because strange things always happen. Strange things happen to me anyway, but especially so during fasting month.

Anyway, here's a recipe for chili, out of many. Actually, it's more of a guess than a recipe- I quit measuring food a long time ago, ever since I quit the restaurant business. I just grab what's available, and eyeball everything. I suppose you could call it laziness. Anyway, before you start, make sure your beans are ready to use. Since you're in the USA, I would just use one of those big, fat cans of pre-cooked pinto beans. Drain all the juice out, because it will drown out the flavor of meat and tomato sauce! Then saute your ground beef in a large saucepan or wok: use the high fat beef, and a quarter pound should be enough for all those beans. Don't overcook the beef, just break it up and dry up the blood, and use a small flame. Remove the beef, then fry up a diced large onion in the grease over medium heat until soft. Then reduce the heat to small, add your beans, beef, a medium can of tomato paste (or ketchup or whatever), chilli powder or paste to taste, then let it cook for about 3 hours or more, stirring occasionally and adding water as needed, until the beans start to break up. Add salt and pepper to taste. Easy, huh? Time consuming, so cook up a big batch! Actually, I don't have a set recipe for chili. It changes everytime. I just grab what's available, and eyeball everything.

And don't worry so much, my love. You're my girl, Julia. I love you! I'll come and get you soon, insyaAllah.

Qur'an 20110721

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

202. But their brethren plunge them deeper into error, and never relax.

203. If you bring them not a revelation, they say, "Why don't you have it together?" Say, "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. These are Lights from your Lord, and Guidance, and Mercy, for any who have Faith."

204. When the Qur'an is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace, that you may receive Mercy.

(The Heights 7:202-204)

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

1. They ask you concerning the spoils of war. Say, "Such spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the Messenger. So fear Allah, and keep straight the relations between yourselves. Obey Allah and God's messenger, if you do believe."

2. For believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear God's Signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened, and put their trust in their Lord.

3. Who establish regular prayers, and spend out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance.

(The Spoils of War 8:1-3)

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

93. And say, "Praise be to Allah, Who will soon show you God's Signs so that you shall know them, and your Lord is not unmindful of what you do."

(The Ants 27:93)

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I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. These are Lights from your Lord, and Guidance, and Mercy, for any who have Faith.

Such spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the Messenger. So fear Allah, and keep straight the relations between yourselves. Obey Allah and God's messenger, if you do believe.

Praise be to Allah, Who will soon show you God's Signs so that you shall know them, and your Lord is not unmindful of what you do.

Letter to Julia 20110719

Have you ever wondered why you work so hard yet are unable to make gains despite your efforts? What has occured is a result of basic politics: your work did not influence the people who have power to give you the gains that you desire. You might think it to be unfair, however you are dealing with human beings. And human beings are selfish.

Then what would it take to influence these people? Let's look upon this from their perspective. They have their own family and friends that they interact with on a regular basis, and usually the family takes precedence in all business affairs. This results in a organization that runs the "family business" in a manner that serves the best interests of the family. Does this sounds like gangsterism? Of course! You will discover that even at the lowest level, most gangs are made of family members. As the circle of power and influence gets larger, the same basic principle applies. The family exerts its control over a multitude of "other people". But what to do? Even Allah commands that we take care of our parents and family. But Allah does not command us to do evil, and create mischief and destruction!

Turn away from the ignorant, Julia. Hold to forgiveness, and command what is right. Seek refuge with Allah when thoughts of evil cross your mind, and maintain your prayers. I am your family now, Julia. So let us come together, and I will love you. I am the one who loves you.

Qur'an 20110719

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

186. To such as Allah rejects from God's Guidance, there can be no guide. God will leave them in their trespasses, wandering in distraction.

187. They ask you about the Hour: when will be its appointed time? Say, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. None can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only all of a sudden will it come to you." They ask you if you were eager in search thereof. Say, "The knowledge thereof is with Allah, but most humans know not."

188. Say, "I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah Wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith."

189. It is God who created you from a single person and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her. When they are united, she bears a light burden and carries it about. When she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah their Lord, "If You give us a goodly child, we vow we shall be grateful."

190. But when God gives them a goodly child, they ascribe to others a share in the gift they have received. But Allah is exalted high above the partners they ascribe to God.

191. Do they ascribe to God as partners things that can create nothing, but are themselves created?

192. No aid can they give them, nor can they aid themselves!

193. If you call them to guidance, they will not obey. For you it is the same whether you call them, or you hold your peace!

194. Verily those who you call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you. Call upon them, and let them listen to your prayer, if you are truthful!

195. Have they feet to walk with? Or hands to lay hold with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say, "Call your 'god-partners', scheme against me, and give me no respite!"

196. "For my protector is Allah, Who revealed the Book, and God will choose and befriend the righteous."

197. "But those you call upon besides God are unable to help you, and indeed to help themselves."

The Heights 7:186-195

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The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. None can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only all of a sudden will it come to you.

The knowledge thereof is with Allah, but most humans know not.

I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah Wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith.

Call your 'god-partners', scheme against me, and give me no respite!

Letter to Julia 20110719

Hello there, my beautiful beloved Julia! I hope you are feeling fine and upbeat, for I'm sure you are working hard as usual. Please take good care of your lovely self, and please make sure you eat adequately.

As for me, I had to change my daily menu. For a while there, I had nothing but mackerel and onions, I couldn't even vary the preparation because of the lack of ingredients. Suddenly, the price of mackerel went sky-high. What was once considered "poor man's food" suddenly became unavailable for the poor. It's probably Chee Cheah's fault. I brought this to her attention, and she said "Meow", then gave me a look that said, "No, it's your damn fault." Oh yeah? I don't control the prices of fish and cooking oil! If they want me to buy more expensive fish, then they should give me more money! So, I turned to my Mexican influences (you know, the people oppressed by the drug cartels, as this is a similar situation), and am now living off chili and tortillas. Preparing beans takes forever. I should have soaked the beans overnight, but I got hungry. It takes at least half a day to cook chili, so I cook an enormous batch, and live off that for about a week or so. Most people don't know this, but chili matches well with rice. Hmmm, I wonder what chili with be like using lentils? Lentils are cheaper than beans. Biblical, isn't it? Quranic, rather.

There is the type of man who receives the Signs of God, but he passes them by. Therefore, the devil takes the opportunity to exert control over him. God could have elevated this guy with the Signs of God, but the human preferred the material over the spiritual, so he followed his own desires. Like a dog, if you beat it, it lolls out its tongue, and if you leave it alone, it lolls out its tongue. So, is it evil in his nature? Rather, God rejects those who reject the Signs of God. We often ask ourselves, "Why do these people who refuse to take heed, get away with their evil?" But they don't. The Compassionate One cuts them a break, and gives them respite until the punishment gradually reaches them, in ways that they do not perceive.

Letter to Julia 20110716

As for the house I live in now, it is far from ready for you. I have been focusing on the yard, but the interior still needs much work. The walls and window sills needs scraping and painting, the ceiling and roof need work, the bathrooms need work, the kitchen needs updating, there needs to be central air-conditioning installed, not to mention appropriate cat-proof furniture, etc etc etc. The yard takes a lot of my energy, as I hand-trim the grass, and am planting and tending more fruit and spice trees, and am constanly raking and burning. I barely have energy left to keep the insides tidy, and the spiders still rule the house. Then the outside needs painting too, and I'm still too poor to buy a can of paint. I dare not even let you look at the inside, I have to admit I have at least a few years left before I let you look at the interior.

I do enjoy the garden, though. The grass is long, because I don't use shears. But it only grows so high, so all I really need to do is remove the flower stems. The grass flowers are white and blue: one doesn't notice the blue unless one looks very closely. I also have many other white and blue flowers, but I don't know the name of the plant. I just help it spread and flourish. Among the grass are other white and blue flowers, some of them very tiny, and the balsam I sowed is finally growing and flowering, which coincidentally happen to be white and blue also. There are many curry leaf shrubs, but I had to prune most of them down because the quality was poor. There is a cashew and a mango tree up front, and I am adding more, along with some chilli plants, and a young bamboo of course, which will grow to be huge if I don't check it. I have an ancient fruit tree called an amra growing by the gate (which needs to be replaced). The fruit is a white, snappy, slightly sour flesh but it bears fruit all year long, and the skin tastes like it's packed with antioxidants. I also have a child of the amra which I keep in a flowerpot as a bonsai. There is a tropical cherry tree growing right beside the house. It's a very pretty tree, which gives a lot of shade, but only the songbirds can eat the fruit. There are some other shrubs with black stems and red fruits, I don't know what they are, but my Mom told me to keep them because the red fruits are high in vitamin C. Hmmm. But there is a large area of concrete where cars can park, so I don't have much space for more plants.

The back of the house is not so attractive, because the vegetation is immense. I'm doing what I can, but cleaning up the leaves is difficult, because of the preponderance of army ants. Yes ma'am, BIG red ants! If I dance around them then they leave me alone, but sometimes I need to hose down the concrete, and that makes them aggressive. There are 2 tall mango trees growing over the cesspool... I don't eat the fruit, but they do give out a wonderful scent during mango season. Beyond the cesspool is a ditch with a miniature swamp, which is someone else's property, so the back of the house needs to be bricked up. My grandfather's house is right beside mine, and it is abandoned, hence the thick vegetation. I would like to tackle that area eventually if I have the manpower, for there are many natural treasures there, but for now I have to focus on this house.

But the front yard is very quaint, and I barely got started, so I have great hopes in the future for a very pretty front yard. Ya Allah, I would like some money to start painting the house, and I would like to put a new roof, too. Plus many other things. Alhamdulillah. For now, I like to trim the grass on the evenings, and Chee Cheah is often at my side. My brother left his chickens here, so sometimes it's quite a soothing pastoral scene as I tend the garden. There is an elementary school just a few houses away. My mother's family has been in this for many generations, and it is a perfect place to raise a family.