Just for the record

Hi Natty!  How are you, my precious?  Still not ready?  I'm not ready either.  I try my best to keep somewhat of a routine, but the only real routine is trying to adapt to chaos.  Rock and roll is a crazy life!  Good thing I don't travel.  Alhamdulillah.  Don't worry, my dearest.  You're going to do just fine, Natty.  InshaAllah.

I want to put down something, to keep a record of what happened today, for my own nostalgia, I don't care if any of you people out there believe it or don't.  I was going over a new song to sing, "Someday We'll All Be Free" by Donny Hathaway.  Beautiful song.  It sure sounds as if he were talking about Judgement Day.  As far as I recall, Donny Hathaway was a soul singer during the 1970s who became insane then apparently committed suicide by jumping out of the window of his 15th floor hotel room in 1979.  Anyway, the song was starting up again and I was about to sing it.  At the beginning of the song, Donny does these remarkable and intricate runs on the electric piano or synth or whatever it was, when 2 birds came up to my window and started singing along with his piano.  They followed his complex and fast runs note for note!  It occurred to me that they know this song!  I recall a story when Donny was living in a high rise in Chicago, and got into trouble with his neighbors for going out on the balcony and singing to the birds.  Donny Hathaway was a great loss.  😢

Qur'an 20190207

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

37.  They say, "Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?"  Say, "Allah has certainly power to send down a sign, but most of them understand not."

(The Cattle 6:37)
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Which is the better version?

Hi Natty!  How are you feeling today?  You don't post as often as you used to, so I have to resort to guessing what's up with you.  I hope you are feeling great and having a fabulous time.  Always know that you are MY girl, and that I love you.

Wow, Adele is such a great singer.  I didn't realize that until recently, when Google made me listen to her more.  I found 2 versions of this song "A Million Years Ago", one live and the other a studio version.  I think the live version is so much more intense and beautiful.  The studio version is softer and gentler.  I suppose I do the same thing, but I prefer intense and beautiful over soft and gentle.  I guess it's a matter of taste.  Which do you think is the better version?

Hi Natty!

Sorry I'm running late, my love.  I just got back from the mosque, because it's Tuesday and I usually spend extra time there.  Today it was a back and forth trip to the mosque and my toilet, I'm ashamed to report.  Shaved ice.  Yet another thing I can't eat.  I used to have an iron stomach.  But all the acid over the years kind of wore it down, I guess.  Then just now I had to give Floofy an enema.  Poor kitty.  There's always something wrong with her, but I love her so much.  How are you, by the way?  I hope you are nice and calm and confident, and that you are healthy and safe.  How's the weather?  Has it warmed up in NYC yet?  It's hot over here.  I would like to send some heat your way, to help you warm up and me to cool down.  Anyway my love, I have more stuff to do so I'm going to go now.  Please pray, OK?

Qur'an 20190205

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

15.  Say, "I would, if I disobeyed my Lord, indeed have fear of the penalty of a Mighty Day."

16.  On that day, if the penalty is averted from any, it is due to God's Mercy, and that would be the obvious fulfillment of all desire.

17.  If Allah touch you with affliction, none can remove it but God.  If God touch you with happiness, God has power over all things.

18.  God is the Irresistible, from above God's worshipers, and God is the Wise, Acquainted with all things.

19.  Say, "What thing is most weighty in evidence?"  Say, "Allah is witness between you and me.  This Qur'an has been revealed to me by inspiration, that I may warn you and all whom it reaches.  Can you bear witness that besides Allah there is another God?"  Say, "No!  I cannot bear witness!"  Say, "But in truth God is the One God, and I truly am innocent of joining others with God."

(The Cattle 6:15-19)
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Snort, growl and snarl

Hi Natty!  How are you feeling?  Aw don't be sad, my love.  You are MY girl, and you are so beautiful, and I love you so much.  I want you to be happy and happy with me.  So please try to relax and have fun, and don't forget to pray.  Oh, it's life in the Public Eye over here.  It's tourist season again, and I have to deal with the many visitors who are in sight plus the multiple more that try to stay out of sight.  But I'm used to it inshaAllah.  I've been doing this business for almost 40 years now.  Lately, YouTube has been putting in line for me to watch some chick singers who snort, growl and snarl like the death metal bands of the 80s and 90s.  Pretty girls too, and they dress beautifully.  But when they open their mouths to sing, out come snorts, growls, and snarls.  Since there are quite a few of them, I suppose it must be some sort of contemporary music.  I can snort, growl and snarl too, but it doesn't go with anything in my set.  And these girls aren't really going their own way either, because they're obviously following the guys who did vocals like that in death metal bands decades ago.  I can imagine though, when these lovely ladies become mothers and answer their kids when the kids ask, "Mommy, can I have another Tootsie roll?"

As for the serious competition, they seem to be children with phenomenal talent.  Sure there are some awesome adult singers out there, but the talented ones don't seem to be working as hard as these children (or their guardians, rather) who seem to have a huge output of videos.  Pay attention to Angelina Jordan, who is 12 years old, but was 7 when she did this video.  No, I don't follow everything she does.  12 year old girls like to flirt, and I find that irritating.

If they can maintain their pace and keep their sanity, some of these child singers will become superstars.  The advantage these kids have is that they are naturally pure, while I had to earn my purity.  Their disadvantage is that they have plenty of time and opportunity to become insane, while I have already gone mad.

Qur'an 20190204

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

11.  Say, "Travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who rejected truth."

12.  Say, "To whom belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth?"  Say, "To Allah.  God has inscribed for Godself mercy.  That God will gather you together for the Day of Judgement.  There is no doubt whatever.  It is they who have lost their souls, that will not believe."

13.  To God belongs all that dwells in the night and the day.  For God is the One Who Hears and Knows all things.

14.  Say, "Shall I take for protector any other than Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth?  And God it is that feeds but is not fed."  Say, "No, but I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah, and be not of the company of those who join gods with Allah."

(The Cattle 6:11-14)
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