March 18, 2026
Well it was up and at ‘em – this the last day of fasting. (I thought) I did enjoy my banana split – bananas, ice cream chocolate sauce. I wonder if I will ever be able to go back to eggs – even the full breakfast at Common Man does not seem as appealing as it used to be. Hahaha I guess we will see tomorrow morning. Ann and I will probably have breakfast (not break fast) there with my vouchers.
Immediately after that I playfully sent a good morning greeting to most of my WhatsAppers.
The message was ‘Laughter is the Best Cosmetic’. It was actually from the box that contains a facial. Just texted Ann telling her of an idea..
Me: Hey we can give each other facials. I got the stuff – that was the box I took the picture from this morning.
Got an immediate answer.
She Of course can!!
The funniest response to the Good Morning message was from Henry.
He: That’s true. Happiness really shows on the face.
Me: True. And laughter takes away wrinkles!!
To get back to my conversation with Ann. She and I are definitely going to look glamourous when we pull up at Raffles tomorrow. I think I am going to wear my signature Indonesian batik dress – the one I wore a couple of months ago when first pictured by the handsome Sikh doorman. Such fun, the anticipation .
The next thing I did this morning was to causally looked at Instagram viewing a startling and fascinating post. Wait until you hear about it!! Your are about to, in an announcement.
Me: Good morning from the Malaysia, the land of land of sunshine and early-morning banana splits! I am floating on a cloud of high spirits today, and it’s not just the sugar rush. The news from the “Great White North”—my dear Alberta—is absolutely joyous.
In a historic, unanimous move, the Indigenous Chiefs of Alberta have issued a vote of No Confidence. No confidence in Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. They have stated clearly that she lacks the “moral capability” to lead. While the her political party, the UCP might try to brush this off as a political stunt, the reality is far more powerful: They have rendered her impotent. You cannot build a pipeline through a heart that does not trust you, and you certainly cannot build one across lands where the sovereign Treaty holders have stood up and said, “No more.” They are standing tall, reclaiming their narrative, and reminding the world that their Treaties are with the Crown—not with a provincial government playing at separatism.
It’s a stark contrast to Mark Carney, who seems to be running around the world—Davos one day, Australia the next—trying to fix the “global order” while his own country’s internal foundations are cracking.
I’ve always been a staunch supporter of the Indigenous people—I have my own “strange connections” with the Indigenous of Alberta which run very deep and seeing the unity and strength of the Indigenous Chiefs of Alberta brings me such peace and joy. e.
Here is the the official statement from the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs may be found at https://www.treatysix.org/post/assembly-of-treaty-chiefs-passes-vote-of-non-confidence-in-ucp-government
Definitely read it it is MOST powerful. Go ahead DO IT – I insist. You need to be informed, particularly if you are from Alberta. I have many readers from Alberta – from Edmonton and St. Albert. You will see that the vote was taken at River Cree. I was there once, a long time ago… Seems very strange as I am soon to be a Malaysian.
This is my dream scenario. If the next Premier of Alberta could come from the Assembly of Chiefs… now that would be an answer to my dreams. Imagine a leader who understands that “as long as the sun shines and the rivers flow” isn’t just a phrase—it’s a legal and moral mandate.Until then, I’ll keep wearing my laughter as my best cosmetic (shoutout to Sephora!) and cheering from afar as the rightful stewards of the land take back their power.
Back to my life and times. I am planning ahead – entertainment for Ann upon her arrival. Texted a friend: “Ann and I are going to be watching Alexis Alaa McBride on the big screen in the two bedroom unit rented for the evening. Many reels, different topics, different approaches: religion, travel, bedtime stories and reflections.
Obtained the help of Gemini preparing a preview of the YouTube reels choosing some over others. I spent just a couple of minutes watching Episode 3 of my “Behind the Blogs” series. So again, gentle reader, what you NEED to do is to go to my YouTube channel and watch Episode 1, 2, and 3 so that we are on the same page so to speak.
After you watch at least Episode 3, come back and read what I have to say about it now. It was a surreal experience to see a version of my life from just a few months ago. In that footage, my landscape was crowded with people who have since been, shall we say, pruned away. Elina, who I spoke of highly in the reel, is no longer in my life. I have realized that the “deep friendship” I had hoped for was simply impossible; the alignment wasn’t there, and the depth I expected was nowhere to be found. Then there is Nesh, sort of the power behind the throne – interviewed me, scripted the questions, hired the videographer and did a masterful job of editing. While I was genuinely impressed with the work he did on Episode 3—it was a great job—reliability is non-negotiable for me. He proved absolutely unreliable and terribly inconsistent. I have made it clear: he has until April 15 to settle his accounts with me, or I will be publishing his full name and pursuing legal remedies. He may have studied law in England, but he should know better than anyone that I will not be victimized. I value my independence far too much to let a lack of professionalism slow me down. But as the “scaffolding” of these professional disappointments falls away, I can see the genuine support that remains.
You will see in that episode that I was covered, wearing a headscarf given to me by close friend Sonny. That scarf is coming with me to Kuching; it will be the very thing I use to cover when I visit the Floating Mosque. There is a Penang Floating Mosque, which was within walking distance of the dreadful stay apartment I rented in Rainbow Paradise Beach Resort. It was the opposite of paradise, believe you me. It should have been called Rainbow Hell Beach Resort. Hahaha It was another one of the schemes of Penang’s Mohan Anandani, of Penang Kashmir Restaurant’s dying fame. More about him later.
Finished the viewing just in time for a 10:30 appointment. The appointment was for a fitness evaluation as I will be undertaking a twice a week fitness program addressing the problems I have with my left knee as well as other concerns. The YouTube reels reveal my dowager hump posture, Learned that strengthening my upper back muscles will eventually fix the problem. Then also strengthen my core and lift arm weights. My flabby upper arms are not seen as I dress modestly, but none the less, having a little more muscle mass can’t hurt. All of this will commence upon my return from Kuching on March 29, 2026. The evaluation went well, I am motivated!!.
So this summarizes the day so far. The “Great White North” is shifting, the Chiefs are standing tall, and here in KL, I am doing the same. My 10-year visa is moving forward, my new fitness chapter has begun, and my writing remains my unshakable North Star.
Let’s Go Back to the Great White North. If you have not done so yet You can link directly to the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs Official Press Release. It contains those powerful quotes from Grand Chief Joey Pete and Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi about the government “lacking the capacity” to navigate the chaos they’ve created.
There was also a Legislative Confrontation On March 9th, more than a dozen Chiefs actually took their message to the Alberta Legislature gallery in Edmonton. The Edmonton Journal and CBC reported that Indigenous leaders cheered and clapped from the gallery as the opposition challenged the Premier.
I have more updates about the Moral Capability the Chiefs are talking about and some very good news about an action for injunctive relief filed by Multiple Nations, including the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Not only that, the Chiefs visit to King Charles III but that is going to have to wait until the next blog, because the funniest thing happened. It is rather embarrassing.
Late in the afternoon I was chatting with Ann, thinking she was going to arrive at any minute – found out she was coming tomorrow. HUH???? Well I thought it was March 19, 2026 and it was actually March 18, 2026. It was sort of a laugh and half actually. So the bad news was I had another day to fast – but the good news was that I had another whole day to pack. I definitely had to laugh at myself – as did everyone else around here. Oh well, it humanized me. Hahaha What is a laugh and a half? Turned to Gemini again to find out. “This is a great way to describe something that isn’t just funny, but spectacularly or unexpectedly amusing. It implies that “one laugh” isn’t enough to cover how entertaining the situation was.”
Ann’s reaction to my stupidity was classic.
She: Now I am clear. But can you share with me your flight details heading to Kuching please. I need to take care of you throughout till departure.
A friend in need is a friend indeed. Hahaha I need this assistance it seems. I immediately sent her the information. Then went to Gemini to ask about the idiom. Got this answer: Gemini: This one is a bit of a linguistic puzzle. Most people interpret it as: “A friend who helps you when you are in need is a true (indeed) friend.” It perfectly suits someone like Ann, who is today, literally speeding toward you to help out.
Now, in a way, I am about to get ahead of myself. Photographs will include Laughter is the Best Medicine and photographs of the Alberta Legislative Building in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. I have a familial connection to the building where Premier Danielle Smith sits, hopefully not for long. Read about that tomorrow as well.
I did ask about the idiom getting ahead of oneself and this is what I learned.
Gemin: The idiom “getting ahead of oneself” dates back to the late 1700s and early 1800s. It is rooted in the physical imagery of a person moving so fast that their upper body or “spirit” seems to outpace their legs. Historically, it was used to describe someone who was physically overextending or rushing. By the mid-19th century, it shifted from a literal description of movement to a figurative one about mental pacing. It suggests a “disconnection” between your current actions and your future goal. Imagine a runner leaning so far forward to reach the finish line that they lose their balance. In writing or research, it means you are providing the “conclusion” or the “final image” before you have established the necessary foundation.
Me: Well that is what I am doing with the Legislative Building photographs.
