The day began with prayer and then an elevator ride to the 8th floor where I again marveled at the sunrise, its background being the huge and wonderful city of KL. OF COURSE, I took a photo and sent it to my morning friends with this caption. Me: Good morning from the 8th floor of Societe. I confess to obliterating several buildings with the erase too. What power. Hahahaha
After photo taking and sending went to my room and got dressed as I was absolutely starving. Ordered a huge breakfast – the pancakes. They were the best pan cakes I have ever eaten. Sent the photo to some, but not all of my morning friends.
Then to some, but not all, sent a photo of my Flat White coffee of the morning.
Nixon responded, in a rather unusual way
He: Positive feelings is a determination of everything. Also a definition
Me: I totally agree
Then a text from a dear friend. Our lunch had been sidetracked because she was going to final prayers for a woman she was once very close to. The prayers ended early, she said she could arrive at Societe in twenty minutes. We could go to a nearby bookstore and then to lunch. It made me extremely happy as I love bookstores. Told her I could watch her eat because t I had eaten a huge breakfast. (Fast forward, I consumed the most delicious ceviche I have ever eaten.) Hahaha. Just look at it!! The chips are SO crispy, made by the restaurant in-house.
Back to the bookstore, which preceded lunch. It was was absolutely unbelievable. We drove but I could walk there. It would take me about twenty minutes, when my knee starts to improve. I purchased four books and we spent what seemed like hours talking, sharing stories, grabbing books. She purchased one, I purchased four. Photographs of the books, the name of the bookstore and me in it will be shown at the conclusion of this blog.
After that, at her suggestion we went to a Mexican restaurant. The food in Malaysia is SO good, everything so fresh. It is heaven on earth.
I was absolutely exhausted after consuming the ceviche, the lemon water and a taco. I was delivered back at Societe where I showed the Bamboo Hospitality staff photos of the food.
I can be SO cruel.
To my room for a power nap. Woke up, began reading one of the newly purchased books. books. It was most inspirational, instructive, and reading it will I am sure, be helpful in my writing.
Received a WhatsApp that did give me a total sense of belonging. It was from dear friend Elina. She: Heard you went to my cousin’s Mexican restaurant.
Me: Your cousin???? Oh my Allah. Amazing food, I loved it.
Elina sent photos of the good, she, her cousin and the staff.
She; Impressive. There was a write up about them. Nadzirah is my cousin married to Ivan who is Mexican.
Me: Mashallah. You people SO interconnected. Me an outsider who connects with you blessed people. Alhamduillah. Saw your photo with them, I am so inspired.
Then later overwhelming attention from the bookstore. Two amazing opportunities – one I participated in which you will hear about later. There is an Islamic Learning Mastery Class – a year long structured class beginning the 8th of February. Guess where it is held?? At the blessed bookstore which is a 20 minute walk from where I live. The instructor is supremely quailed with an MA in Islamic Studies from SOAS University of London, as well as several other degrees.
Then since writing about writing and writers seems to be a new obsession I decided to listen to a podcast which featured another writer. A totally different genre. It was featured on Here’s The Thing.
E Jean Carroll was once described by one of her editors as being “institutionally incapable of being uninteresting” – and Carroll is exactly that. Elizabeth “E” Jean Carroll is a journalist, author, and advice columnist. Her “Ask E Jean” column was one of the longest-running advice columns in American publishing, featured in Elle magazine from 1993 to 2019. In addition to Elle magazine, she has written for New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Esquire, and Outside Magazine. Carroll is also the author of six books, including her 2019 book What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal, in which Carroll accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-90s. As a result, Carroll faced Trump in court and has since won multiple civil cases against him. In this conversation Carroll reflects on her career of honest and bold writing, and her own resilience.
All I can say is this – that woman has a life that even I could never emulate.
(Emulate: match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation. Synonyms: mirror, model oneself on, take as a model, be on a par with, be in the same league as, rival, vie with, surpass, take a leaf out of someone’s book. My favorite? Take a leaf out of someone’s book. We are, after all, talking about books.)
I feel absolutely dull compared to that woman. She is approximately my age. She spoke of years that I also lived through, endured, not only survived, but thrived. “Women never gained equality, because of sexual violence, she said. It was fascinating. Although my life is dull compared to hers we do have one thing in common. Our residency. She made her living from her writing, being on television and then her writing of Donald Trump’s assault upon her brought her media attention and 88.5 million in damages when she used him in a a civil court. The assault occurred during a shopping trip at Bergdoff Goldman’s New York department store. She had met Trump before, considered him a fop but harmless. Questioned about whether or not she had the money in hand she said: “Not yet. But the money does not matter! I proved he was a liar – that was my read goal.” Alec Baldwin asked her what advice she would give her younger self. It was amazing in this. Nesh asked me that question publicly. It will be shown on my YouTube channel. Our answers were exactly the same – E. Jean Carrol’s s and mine.
I recommend you listen to the Here’s The Thing podcast on a device near you. Hahahaha
Many photos will follow. Ones sent by Elina, photos of the Mexican restaurant and a write up that appeared in a Malaysian publication.
