Everything in my life is changing. Each day is different and unpredictable these days. It is exhausting. Last evening thought I would die, but obviously did not because otherwise you would not be hearing from me this Wednesday, August 13, 2025.. My location this early morning? Lyf in Georgetown, Penang. A monastic room across from the pool with absolutely no view whatsoever. A definite change from my stay apartment with its spectacular view from every room (except the bathrooms). I adapt with a flexibility I find amazing – teasingly calling myself Flexible Alexible, when the occasion demands.
It is impossible (almost) to pick a specific moment in my crammed yesterday to write about – they were all so unique and mostly unexpected. There may even be a moment or two which will be memorialized in my YouTube channel – not sure of that as yet.
My relationship with, and to, this blog has dramatically changed. Day versus night, black versus white, joy versus sorrow, poverty versus affluence – to name a few comparisons.
The blog was begun in the morning, as per usual. I WhatsApped Shamir at 7:34 am
Me: You will be happy to know I have written 485 words so far. Did some early reading from my Emotional Intelligence book learning with great relief that it is okay for me to have you as a friend even though you are not a real Muslim because some exceptions can be made. You are open minded, for one thing. You see Nesh’s blog breakdown, it is out of this world
He: It is mind blowing.
Talk about doing a 180?!? Comparing is my blog of today versus eight years of yesterdays. Artificial Intelligence is about to chime in and give you some information.
“Do a one eighty” is an informal idiom that means to completely reverse direction, either literally by turning 180 degrees or figuratively by changing one’s opinion, decision, or plan to its opposite. It signifies a sudden and complete reversal.”
Yesterday was solitary – wrote the blog, sent it off to Chris in the UK for posting, had barely even met with him over the eight years. There was no indication whatsoever that he ever read the thing. Neither of us were concerned about the numbers although occasionally I would check in. He rather proudly asserted that he had no knowledge of statistics and was not planning to acquire any. But, as the expression goes, “if it is not broke, don’t fix it.”
Again, it is AI to the rescue.
The saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” means that if something is functioning adequately, there’s no need to try to improve or change it, as doing so could potentially introduce new problems. It emphasizes the idea that unnecessary intervention can be detrimental when a system is already working well.
Shamir signaled the first change. We talk ALL the time, WhatsApping constantly, have done so for the past six months. We see each other at least three times a week. Sometimes we sit in the same room when he posts the blog. He reads it, I watch him read it. We talk about what it says. We know each other intimately, told him almost all of my secrets All of a sudden I thought of that saying: secrets and lies. Wonder what Artificial Intelligence is going to say about that.
It seems that Artificial Intelligence has something to say about everything and has taken over the world. When one Googles anything – there it is on the forefront. It makes for laziness I do admit.
“Secrets and lies” refers to situations where information is intentionally withheld (secrets) or conveyed deceptively (lies) to others, often with negative consequences for relationships and trust. Secrets involve not sharing information, while lies involve actively misrepresenting the truth. Both can stem from a fear of judgment, reprisals, or a desire to protect oneself or others.
In this instance it is not at all applicable. Both Shamir and I are known for our utter and complete honesty. I willingly tell him certain secrets as some secret telling is necessary for effective communication. It is interesting that in the Islamic Faith – husbands and wives are mandated to tell each other their secrets as it strengthens the bonds between them. Incidentally Shamir and I are not married and not making any plans to do so. He is my AI Manager – salaried actually.
By the way, it is interesting that in Malaysia it is a custom to ask people the price of absolutely everything. It is a custom, a habit, a way of thinking and behaving. For example. I bought a new pair of sunglasses.
They: How much did they cost?
Me: I forget. I just pay the bill and forget about it.
The other day I was being driven, by a stranger, a nice young man who I had never met before. I was telling him that I had recently hired two Malaysian men to assist me.
He: How much do you pay them?
Me: I am not telling you. Handsomely Hahaha because they both are handsome.
So again, what does that expression mean? Again I Googled and automatically got an AI Answer.
“To pay someone handsomely” means to pay them a large or generous amount of money, especially as a reward for their work or service. It implies that the payment is significantly more than the usual or expected amount.”
It is unusual, the vocabulary used in Artificial Intelligence communication is the same as being used in my blog these days. Nesh writes a blog breakdown. This close communication with him is totally changing the manner in which I relate to my blog. It seems superior – but perhaps I should look more carefully at the phenomena.
Last evening I received word that Nesh had prepared a blog breakdown. Shamir posted the blog, the draft prepared in the same manner as done with Chris – but here we a re in the same time zone and it is practically automatic.
Nesh: The recent blog’s breakdown is up Alexis
Me: Oh my goodness. The blessings bestowed upon me! Off to read it.
He: Let me know what you think of it.
This is what I read.
Love, Loyalty and Lessons in Bali.
“When colorful fish markets, meet the reminder that Allah must come first.
From Bali’s vibrant streets to quiet mornings with a book in hand, this one is about love: the kind that anchors you in faith, steadies you through tests and outshines everything else in this fleeting world. Because no matter how many places we travel or people we meet our love for Allah must always come first. That’s where the real clarity lives.”
After reading the blog breakdown on Instagram I immediately responded.
Me: It is so perfect!! The perfect photo paired with the simplicity of the message. You have caught and captured the essence of the faith. It is to be the Way of Ease which has been lost as Muslims across the world try instead to out ritual and out rule and restrict in the manner of the Saudis. You were able to shine the light to the hope offered by the faith in its purest form. Breakdown of blog breakdown. Reminds me of a GIF of yesterday.
He: I love this. Oh my goodness send me the GIF
I did. You can see it at the conclusion of the blog. Holy is ascending.
The GIF appeared in a prior conversation, It was with Shamir. I had just gotten my missing credit card back. It had taken months and months and moths
He: Alexis is becoming whole again. Not hole.
Me: Holy
Sent him the GIF.
Me: I definitely get GIF of the day
Then he sent me a GIF of Homer Simpson making purchase.
Me: You are teasing me about my use of the new credit card.
He: Hahaha yes.
Me: I will go to a husband store.
He: Hahaha
Me: A husband store in Jannah. I fooled you.
Had an adventure yesterday. Shamir and I went to a newly opened shop next door to the Kashmir Restaurant in Georgetown,Penang.. Shamir, my cameraman of the moment, filmed my tasting of the delicious delicacies.. The plan is to put the reel on Instagram and also my YouTube channel. Also there are three more uploads to my YouTube channel. One of my first (an probably last) attempt to climb on a horse. This, once in a lifetime event, occurrent in July of 2023 at MdKenzie Stables near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Another upload shows me in the lobby of the Bali Hilton Resort a year ago. Then one showing me over the years, beginning in 2017, ending outside an ALEXIS restaurant in KL about a month ago.
