September 2, 2026 morning. That word came to mind and does describe how I feel. I will look it up. It means Dispirited means being down in the dumps or depressed.
Perhaps a better definition is cause (someone) to lose enthusiasm or hope. The list of synonyms is downright disheartening. Here goes: discourage, demoralize, cast down, make dejected, make downhearted, depress, dismay, daunt, deter, unnerve,, crush, sap, shake, cow, subdue, undermine; dampen someone’s spirits, bring low, knock sideways, knock the stuffing out of, give someone the blues.
Actually knock the stuffing out of did bring back some enthusiasm. I have had the stuffing knocked out of me has a particular panache. Panache in this usage is a flamboyant confidence of style or manner. Used in a sentence: She entertained society wedding guests with great panache. Hahaha Such flamboyant synonyms: flair, elan, flourish, verve, zest, vivacity, vigor, gusto, zip, zing. My favorites are pizzazz, oomph, zip and zing.
September 2, afternoon. Well Gentle Readers, you will be comforted to know that I got my pizzazz, oomph and zing back. Got dressed, met with Nixon and then went for brunch at Mojo. It all came together. The stuffing was knocked out of me because two people let me down. Rather than being my usual nice self – I let both of them have it telling them of my displeasure. The distinct feeling of being abandoned was horrific, moreover, I had indulged in too much Artificial Intelligence. Prolonged exposure to its soullessness left me feeling bereft. So far no interaction with them. One never gets the same robot – you develop a sort of relationship, go back with a tidbit of information and you get another one of them who does not know what you are talking about but tries to fake it. It is a dehumanizing experience. Why would not it be? Artificial Intelligence is not human; it is artificial and often not very intelligent.
I am seriously considering a return to the world of books. Down with the Internet, Artificial Intelligence, magazines. Books will, of course, include the Quran.
I had a fascinating experience yesterday. It in directly involved books.
Yesterday went to Kenny Hills Bakery for breakfast and then my life became complete. Ran into (not literally) a woman with a banner that said Birthday Girl. She and a group of her friends had English accents. All seven of them were celebrating her 50 birthday, having SO much fun. I was at an adjacent table so joined in the fun. Learned that they were members of a book club. I stood to leave, I will try to recreate my goodbye to them
Me: I feel so privileged to have been sitting here and sharing this birthday celebration. But it did make me feel sad. I have adjusted SO well to my new life in Malaysia. I am surrounded by the best of people (well and the worst sometimes but they disappear.). The fun you are having reminded me of the wonderful times I had with my girlfriends – our laughter our silliness, our shared sorrow. So in a way it was painful. I loved my book club buddies.
You will never guess what happened next. They invited me to their next boo club in October and said they would come and pick me up. YES!! I shall have everything! I promised them light reading. I am going to talk about my book – the unwritten biography of my Uncle Dave Dryburgh. I went to graduate school in London 2013-2017. A dreadful school, never finished the book because the head of the program, Julie Wheelwright tried to destroy me. I was cracked – that allowed the light to come in as Leonard Cohen so eloquently sings. The light gave birth to alexismcbride.com instead of the biography.
Yesterday I dried my tears, left my contact numbers and limped off to Lyf, where I live my Malaysian life. What a life it is.
Remembering what happened yesterday, suddenly thought of the good life, as indeed that is what I am now leading. I am definitely living the good life. I am wondering if it is a song or a movie or maybe both. So went against my principles deciding to ask Artificial Intelligence to get an over view. Off I go to do it.
Found out that it is all three but AI cannot give me the lyrics of the song; just useless information I do not need. So I will use Google to get the lyrics. As usual with AI – one gets TMI – to much information, most of it useless. So, apparently, Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen is supposed to be the most upbeat and happiest song. I googled the lyrics – did not fit. But I did find a song that I think will be perfect. Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles. Off to find the lyrics, which is impossible with AI – do not know why, but do not care.
Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo
Here comes the sun
And I say, “It’s all right”
Little darlin’
It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter
Little darlin’
It feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun, doo-doo-do
Here comes the sun
And I say, “It’s all right”
Little darlin’
The smile’s returning to the faces
Little darlin’
It seems like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
And I say, “It’s all right”
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Little darlin’
I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darlin’
It seems like years since it’s been clear
Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo
Here comes the sun
And I say, “It’s all right”
Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo
Here comes the sun
It’s all right
It’s all right
Why is this perfect?? Well for me here comes the sun is particularly poignant as I now live in Malaysia – not Canada. It is much sunnier (and more rain as well) than the frozen north. So for me it was 24 years of a long cold lonely winter AND I went back to Edmonton, living there for about a year in 2022. The smile is returning to my face in Malaysia after living in Saudi Arabia for over six months. Hahaha The ice is certainly melting – if there is any in Malaysia – it melts instantly – hahaha At the moment there is a problem with ‘clear’ because of the haze. However, it the rain comes, and there is enough of it – then here comes the sun.
My disparateness is temporary because of my faith – Allah is always with me.Although people may come and go and may let you down; t Allah is always there and is constant. This Invocation, says it all.
“O Allah! By Your Knowledge of the Unseen and by Your Omnipotence and Power over all of creation, grant me life as long as You know it will be good for me, and let my life end if You know that death will be better for me. O Allah! I ask You to make me conscious of You in secret and in public. I ask You to keep me truthful when I am content and when I am angry. I ask You for moderation in richness and poverty. I ask You to grand me blessings that will never end. I ask You to grant me contentment that does not cease. I ask You to make me satisfied with what You have preordained. I ask You for a fair afterlife past my death, and I ask You for the pleasure of seeing Your Face. I ask You for yearning to meet You, when I am not in harm’s way nor in a trial that would lead me astray. O Allah! Grace us with Faith, and make us rightly-guided and good leaders.”
September 3, 2026
Well, it is a great day today. I am in an EXCELLENT mood, I sent a joyful message to my WhatsAppers. A photo of me which you shall see. The caption: Good morning! Here I am just in case you forgot my name or where I live. Hahaha
I got many messages back. Some I shall share.
She: Come on, you’ll never be forgotten.
Me: Well, just in case!!!
She: This could hardly happen!!!
Me: Thanks!! You are going on the blog. Anonymously of course.
She: 😜
Then a greeting sent from the mother of the groom The wedding I attended on August 29.
She: Please know that your presence at the wedding meant a lot to me and I really hope you had a pleasant evening. See you soon.
Me: I had an AMAZING time. I feel utterly blessed to be invited.
She: ❤️
He: Say hi to my friend.
The friend was a Panda eating eucalyptus leaves
Me: Hi there Panda. How are you. I prefer my breakfast. Hahaha
Sent the Panda a photo of the pancake I was eating.
Me: Yummy to my tummy
She: Wow! You look like a super star. It’s amazing
Me: Thanks. Hahaha I am a superstar.
She: How long will you be staying in Penang
Me: For a long time. I have too much Lyf for KL. But will come back for visits.
She: I totally get you. Penang is a nicer place for retirees. I would do the same too.
Me: Thanks!!! You are going on the blog. Anonymously so not to invade your privacy
Now onto something completely different. I heard that Chef Ton (of Sood etc) had opened a restaurant in San Francisco. I confirmed this with AI. The name of the restaurant is SAAM. A map was sent showing the location. I pointed out to AI that this was sheer folly for several reasons.. Clearly Chef Ton must have relied on AI, not me who lived in the Bay Area for fifty years and was well acquainted with the restaurant scene. Anyway, it is not my problem Do not have to go to San Francisco to eat Thai food – there is a place right next door. Hahaha Malaysia has EVERYTHING, including me. Hahaha
Photos will include my morning greeting, the panda, my breakfast pancake and the dessert I enjoyed at Mojo last evening.
