Letter to Erin 20141227

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

Erin, please make a donation of a minimum of US$1 to a worthwhile charity.

Hi Erin my Sweetheart.  As you know, my mission is to stand my ground here and build a tourist attraction in the name of Allah, own the land that my little house and my grandfather's old house stand on, and build a house for you and studio for myself.  InshaAllah.

I have a problem though: I can't draw.  Well, I can't draw well.  I don't even have a vision of what kind of house would please you.  I suppose it would be a 2 level house with a master bedroom and 3 or 4 smaller bedrooms, with all the modern amenities.  What kind of house would you like?  Perhaps you would like to take up a new hobby: architecture.  Install one of those home design programs on your laptop, and build your house gradually as you travel, or relax.  The dimensions are 17 by 19.5 meters just for the house, and doesn't include the yard.  Again, that's meters.  Asia is metric.  Parking would be on the north side of the house, and the house is on the west side of the street.  And pray that Allah grants me the wealth I need to do this properly.

If you don't have anything by the time Allah grants me what I need inshaAllah, then I guess I'll have to turn to a professional architect.  We'll have to go to a pro anyway, but if you have your own vision, then I can build you the house of your dreams inshaAllah.  Please try to be modest, and not gaudy   A house where we can take root and raise a family.  There's an elementary school just a few houses away.  I'll probably be the runt of the family, but I still have a little bit of strength left.  I really like the Essex house that was on "This Old House".  Not so much the shape, but the modern amenities and the Universal design.  What do you think?  We won't have such a huge yard, but big enough inshaAllah.

Erin, you are my girl, and I want to marry you.  You are the most beautiful girl in the world.  It has become too easy to fall in love with you, so please hide your beauty and don't be complaisant in speech.  Try to stay at home if you're not working, and study the Qur'an.  I love you, and I need you.

Letter to Erin 20141225

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

Hello there, my beloved sweetheart Erin.  Are you feeling good today?  You are such a sweet, nostalgic girl.  Muslims don't celebrate Christmas.  Muslims celebrate Ramadan and the 2 Eids.  This is a Muslim community, so the Internet cafe is open and I am able to blog this love letter today.  I love you, and I need you.

I did grill a fish this morning.  I'm not celebrating Christmas, I'm just grilling a fish.  My Dad gave me a huge hardtail scad, and I spent the whole morning yesterday processing it.  Hardtail scad has no scales, but a thick skin which makes it perfect for stiffing and grilling.  It is the big fish that have the flavor, a strong and thick flavor, and a strong smell so when you gut it, the fishy smell lingers.  Yeah, it's fresh: it's just a fish with strong flavor.  I filleted it and kept the flesh for sashimi, took off the head and tail, and saved the skin and bones for grilling.  It was a big fish, so there was still a lot of flesh left.  The key to stuffing is that the stuffing has to be ready to eat before you stuff whatever.  For this fish, I blended onions then strained them and sauteed them in vinegar and anchovy bouillon.  Then I grilled it and basted it with butter.  Fancy some?  I'm not celebrating Christmas.  I'm just grilling a fish.

Letter to Erin 20141223

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

Hi there, Dreamer Girl.  Any ordinary person would think that after all those sweet words I used in the last letter, you would be in a cuddly mood.  Instead, it put you in a fighting mood.  I hope you're not the type of girl who believes that two people who quarrel with each other all the time are actually really close.  The Japanese think that too.  That philosophy didn't work for Lupe Velez, though.  I believe patience works better.  I don't know what happiness is, but I'm absolutely certain that quarreling doesn't make me feel good.  Besides, I don't want to say anything to you that would hurt your feelings.  I want you to feel without any doubt at all that I love you, I would do all I can to protect you, and I will never abandon you inshaAllah.  I love you, and I need you.  But Allah is the Best to Protect.  You do me no favors by embracing slam.  Rather, Allah has conferred a favor upon you by guiding you to the faith.

To see a snake in a dream is a sign of deception, treachery, and danger thereof.  You must make an effort to kill any snake you see in a dream.  If I am there with you, I will kill the snake inshaAllah.  If the snake is the size of a python or anaconda, there is also a serious illness present.  If the snake is bigger than a python or anaconda, say maybe the size of a skyscraper, then the evil of human nature is meant.  Like conflict against countries, or international organizations criminal or otherwise.  No human can kill a giant snake, but that doesn't mean that you should just let it do whatever it wants.  You must find a way to defeat it.  Only God can kill that snake.  It is a dream though, so perhaps God might supply you with a giant sword or gun to fight the snake.  The cleaner your body is, the more reliable the information is that you get from your dreams.  So please stay clean, my beloved.

Qur'an 20141223

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

14.  And if an entry had been effected to them from the sides, and they had been incited to sedition, they would have certainly brought it to pass, with none but a brief delay!

15.  And yet they had already covenanted with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must be answered for.

16.  Say, "Running away will not profit you if you are running away from death or slaughter, and even if, no more than a respite will you be allowed to enjoy!"

17.  Say, "Who is it that can screen you from Allah if it be God's wish to give you punishment, or to give you mercy?"  Nor will they find for themselves, besides Allah, any protector or helper.

18.  Verily Allah knows those among you who keep back, and those who say to their brethren, "Come along to us," but come not to the fight except for just a little while.

19.  Covetous over you.  Then when fear comes, you will see them looking at you, their eyes rolling like one over whom hovers death.  But when the fear is past, they will smite you with sharp tongues, covetous of goods.  Such men have no faith, and so Allah has made their deeds of no effect, and that is easy for Allah.

The Confederates 33:14-19
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Running away will not profit you if you are running away from death or slaughter, and even if, no more than a respite will you be allowed to enjoy!

Who is it that can screen you from Allah if it be God's wish to give you punishment, or to give you mercy?

Letter to Erin 20141220

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

Hey there, beautiful heart.  How are you today, you wonderful, gorgeous girl?  How I long to be with you, my dearest Erin, and give you all my love.  Please don't you ever feel sad, because I want you to feel loved and loved and loved.  For I am the one who loves you, from here to the afterlife.  You are my heart, my wife.  I love you, and I need you.

I pray you are taking good, loving care of yourself.  I would love to be with you and help put your hair up in a knot, and make you a nice cashew shoot salad, but since I can't right now then I want you to eat properly, stay fit, and get lots of rest.  I hope you realize that you don't have to chase after the crowd anymore.  I am your public relations machine now, and you are my girl.  All you have to do is be beautiful.  And you are beautiful.  You are the most beautiful girl in the world.  I love you, Erin.  Sweet, beautiful Erin.

Letter to Erin 20141218

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

The song goes, "The waiting is the hardest part."  I've been waiting my whole life- I've never been married, even though I've always wanted to be married.  And I will never be successful in music business in the conventional way.  You know what I mean: aerobics in sync with dancers behind me while singing, and getting tattoos etc.  I have to make my own way, and that way is inspired by God.  While of course I can't let what people say corrupt my vision, the worst thing you can do is let the crowd tell you what to do.  Please remember that the crowd is not your friend.  A school of fish is a bait ball.

You must be patient and wait.  Ignore the crowd, and wait.  Yes, I know you have a tender heart which I so adore, but this time you must protect your emotions from the crowd.  My world is your world now, because you are MY girl.  So be in my world, and be oblivious to what people say.  You're taller than most of them anyway, so look over their heads, and think about your house.  How would you like your house to be?  Please have faith in God, maintain your prayers, and know that I love you, and I need you.

The smell of home made pizza is driving my kittens berserk.  You want some pizza?

Qur'an 20141218

28.  They say, "When will this decision be, if you are telling the truth?"

29.  Say, "On the Day of Decision, no profit will it be to unbelievers if they believe, nor will they be granted a respite."

30.  So turn away from them, and wait: they too are waiting.

The Prostration 32:28-30
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On the Day of Decision, no profit will it be to unbelievers if they believe, nor will they be granted a respite.