I noted, with some degree of consternation that it was Friday the 13th. I, immediately, plugged into AI to find out what it was all about. I was reassured, but a lot of it was unnecessary. This the conclusion:
“The day, Friday the 13th, is often regarded as an unlucky day in Western superstition. The confluence of Friday being associated with misfortune in some folklore and the number 13’s reputation for this bad luck contributes to the perception”.
Consternation ( by the way) is feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected. My favorite synonyms are: perturbation, disquietude, angst, trepidation and stupefaction.
I do admit that in the beginning there was definite disquietude, awful angst, stupendous stupefaction. But we are going to put that aside for the moment. It may be that the unexpected may turn into something propitious.
Propitious is giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable.
Favorite synonyms are:auspicious full of promise, opportune, well timed, lucky, providential. NOT inauspicious.
I was unable to find a necessary document. I was to have my fingerprints to prove to the RCMP that I was not a crook – this will enable my application to the Malaysia is my second home program. I was able to quell my anxiety. Shamir arrived in the Lyf lobby. We decided to reschedule the appointment, instead we went for breakfast which at the Malaysian Hotel – the most incredible view from the eleventh floor. (I paid) We set down to work – crossing things off my list. I sent a photo to many saying: My Personal Assistant at work. Good morning. (Photo will be included).
Did we work!! Did we accomplish everything!! Here are a few examples. I now have train reservations: from Penang to KL in July. Alina promises to pick me up and take me to my hotel I have reservations at a hotel near her home. The cost is less than $60 US for the days preceding our Umrah group tour. This stay in KL will be diametrically opposed to the trip made two months ago. One similarity though: I will take a tour of the Masjid and perhaps go back to the Islamic Art Center, for a longer visit. I will meet many members of the Osman family – including Natasha, her famous daughter. Natasha and I share a May 29th birthday.
Then we made a video which will be also attached to this blog. Last evening Fateha and I went to dinner at Nero Nero, an Italian Restaurant (also one in KL). When we arrived at the restaurant this was the conversation:
She: Before we go into the restaurant I want to give you a present for your birthday.
Me: Really???????
She pulled at Charles and Keith shopping bag out of the back seat. Oh my goodness I went out of my mind in sheer delight. First a hand made card from her daughters (Shamir’s nieces). But then??? Not just what I wanted but just what I needed.
Singing synonyms are: rejoicing, joy, glee, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, ecstasy, rapture, transports (of delight), exuberance.
I tore open the gift but realized the Nieces of Shamir would not see my exultation. I had an idea at the time. I would make a reel, their mother could show it to them.
Singing synonyms are: rejoicing, joy, glee, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, ecstasy, rapture, transports (of delight), exuberance.
Personal Assistant Shamir became my videographer. You shall see the reel at the conclusion of the blog. Me in all my glory. Movie star of the century. Eighteenth century. Hahahah
I am now writing from my new writing perch.. Not bed in my room but the breakfast bar in Mojo Pojo. They are extremely busy – it is lunch time. I brought down my laundry, had help putting in the washer and dryer.. So I am writing and getting clean clothes at the same time.
Later I will force myself – and I do mean force myself. – to put on a swimming suit and go walking in the pool. The exercise recommended by my physiotherapist. I must get my left knee in shape so I can walk around the Kaaba – rather than my December 2022 Umrah when I had to be pushed in a wheel chair, I will now know exactly what I am doing, thanks to Shamir’s birthday gift to me and Alina’a Able Assistance. Alhamdulillah.
June 14, 2025
Well I made it through Friday, the 13 with grace, ease and gratitude. So there! So there! So there! Early in the morning found an Al Jazeera analysis of the Musk-Trump debacle. Debacle has to be the right word for it all. A debacle is a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco. Some amusing synonyms are: foul-up, screwup, botch, washout, fail pig’s ear, car crash, snafu.
That article began in the following fashion.
A disagreement over Trump’s massive tax bill has escalated over the past few days, with Musk going so far as to suggest that the US president should be impeached. In a series of social media posts, Musk launched personal attacks against Trump, culminating in a claim, made without evidence, that Trump is in the “Epstein files”….. Trump, meanwhile, responded with a social media fusillade of his own. He claimed he asked Musk to leave his White House role and suggested cutting the government subsidies and contracts awarded to the billionaire’s companies.So how did the partnership between Musk and Trump collapse? And what may come next for the two men often described as the world’s richest and the world’s most powerful, respectively?
The article first discussed The honeymoon phase.
“A few months before the war of words between Musk and Trump erupted, the two seemed like an inseparable political force…..Musk appeared so powerful that some Democrats started to refer to him as “President Elon” to get under Trump’s skin.”
But along came The Unravelling.
“The cliche in politics is that there are no permanent enemies or permanent allies, only permanent interests. That appears to be the case for Trump, who has a history of firing advisers and disavowing former friends.”
The most significant upheaval was this.
Late in May, Musk criticised the White House-backed tax and budget proposal, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
In the end Musk was asked to leave government, no longer there his criticism of Trump escalated and all bets were off.
The article concludes: What’s next, and who will win?
Musk might find himself loathed by both Democratic and Trump loyalists. This was Trump’s parting shot: “I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago. This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress. It’s a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. If this Bill doesn’t pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase, and things far worse than that.
Now all of suddenly seems totally irrelevant and incidental. Again from Al Jazeera:
“Early this morning, Israel conducted unprecedented strikes on Iran, killing civilians along with senior military officials and scientists and basically forcing the Iranian government into a position in which it must retaliate – as if there already was not enough going on in the Middle East, particularly with Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”
Indeed, this would not be the first time the US government is accused of placing Israel’s policy objectives ahead of its own. The billions upon billions of dollars in lethal aid that Republican and Democratic administrations alike have showered upon Israel can scarcely be said to benefit the average US citizen, who would certainly be better off if said billions were invested in, say, affordable housing or healthcare options in the US itself.”
Then an update, again from Al Jazeera.
Iran says it has launched waves of ballistic missiles towards Israel in retaliation for a major deadly attack on Tehran’s nuclear sites and military leaders. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as sirens sounded across Israel on Friday night. This follows an unprecedented attack by Israel in the early hours of Friday, which targeted Iranian nuclear sites, senior military commanders and scientists..
This world is a scary place, there is no doubt about that. Atom bombs may be raining upon us all. I might be safe in Malaysia but who knows???
It makes me so thankful for my incredible blessings. So many and for so many reasons. This but one example. This morning at my Mojo Pojo breakfast I looked out to see rain cascading from the skies. My alma mater, the University of Alberta in their Headlines magazine spoke of the air quality health consequences of the wildfire smoke in Edmonton, The fires prevalent already this season. I was living there, returned in 2022, left in 2023. The air quality is superb here in Penang, Malaysia. Again an example of hardship leading to incredible benefit. Islamaphobia made it unsafe for me to continue living in Edmonton which is why I am living in Malaysia.
This morning from the breakfast bar I sent a photo of my breakfast with this caption.
Me: My not exactly healthy breakfast. Hahaha Good morning.
Alina wrote back:
She: Looks good. Well there are tiny bits of vege there.
Me: I love your positivity. Cole slaw with carrots inside, I am calling it the breakfast of champions.
Sent her a GIF. We are the champions.
She: No sound though. There is a sound in my head.
Me: I know! Shamir taught me the joys of GIFs
She sent back a sticker of a silly tuba baby dancing
Me; I love it!! And you did it without Shamir, I see it is a sticker. I added it to my favorites.
