I began the day in what is for me, a typical manner. I prayed Fajr prayer. But somehow, and I have NO idea how – found myself doing something that is simply NOT the typical me. Cannot remember how it all started but I ended up listening to a podcast. I have, of late, been eschewing all things US. What did I do for an entire hour??? Listened to a podcast called Unpacking the Contradictions in American Ideals. It feels like I just now confessed a sinn. This my defense and my salvation – perhaps, is this. The podcast emanated from the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Cooperation and is called IDEAS) Please take note CANADIAN
This is what they say about it.
“IDEAS is a place for people who like to think. If you value deep conversation and unexpected reveals, this show is for you. From the roots and rise of authoritarianism to near-death experiences to the history of toilets, no topic is off-limits. Hosted by Nahlah Ayed, we’re home to immersive documentaries and fascinating interviews with some of the most consequential thinkers of our time.
With an award-winning team, our podcast has proud roots in its 60-year history with CBC Radio, exploring the IDEAS that make us who we are.
New episodes drop Monday through Friday at 5pm ET.”
Well, goodness gracious, great balls of Fire!! I like to think this: thinking and worshiping are my two favorite activities. My least favorite activity?? Water walking in Lyf pool. Hahaha However, there is hope. I can perhaps put the two together. I could listen to Ideas while water walking. At the moment the thought of the technical wherewithal is daunting. However, it just might be possible.
I also value deep conversation and unexpected reveals. This very morning I had a deep conversation with a Lyf staff member. She taught me something I did not know before. In common parlance, she reminded me that behind every successful man there is a woman. I looked at the successful men that have crossed my path recently and realized that was true. If they ever left the wife they would be doomed – they realize that on some level. Poor guys. If I meet another successful man I am going to remember that. Oops just in time. Two successful men have appeared in my life – one a retread. Hahaha (I met him a few years ago; do not know his marital status). Another met this morning. His third wife is very successful. He spoke highly of her – a good sign.
Anyway, it is time for a laugh.A couple of jokes laughing about ‘behind every successful man is a woman’ Comedians have long played with the line; a famous quip notes that behind every successful man is a woman, and behind her is his astonished wife. Then there is the Mark Twain twist: Mark Twain famously joked, “Behind every successful man, there is a woman—and behind every unsuccessful man, there are two.” [
I have a great sense of humor but I could not improve on that. My favorite?? The one with the astonished wife. Hahaha It just may have some applicability in my life. We shall see – well I shall see, I won’t be talking. I tell the truth at all times; but I never promised full disclosure Hahaha
I began this blog in all sincerity thinking it would be super serious but it not turning out that way, immediately anyway. Now a new chapter.
Singing the ‘hot water bottle blues’
I sent a few of my WhatsAppers the following message. “Sandman sent me this good morning greeting. I said how cute 🥰 Cuter than me! Hahaha Having a strange morning. My hot water bottle leaked last night. I did NOT wet the bed. Hahaha
Received responses from a few.
She: Glad you didn’t wet the bed! You’re still cute though. 🥰
Me: Thanks. There is no such thing as a cute bed wetter.. Hahaha
She: Ahahahahah…the housekeeper must be suspecting you wet the bed. 😂
Me: Nope!!! My pee is yellow. The water is white. So there! So there! So there!
She: 😂😂😂
She: That’s very thoughtful
Me: To wet the bed????
She: I was referring to your Sandman’s morning greeting.
Me: Hahaha 😂 I knew it. I was teasing you.
Then this response.
She: It is indeed a cute girl. How did that happened??
Me: I will talk about it on the blog.
I suppose I will. But send a private message?? Spend minutes typing for her sole consumption. Why??? Besides:
Me: How do I know??? Maybe I did not put the lid on right??? Maybe my new hot water bottle has a mind of its own. It is my new hot water bottle. I used to have two. But one is missing because it was in the bed and when they changed the sheets they must have just scooped it up. Woe is me! But in case you are worried about me – do not be. I sleep alone and the bed is big. I just put on different pajamas and moved to the other side of the bed. I went back to sleep and woke up just before Fajr prayer. So, in the words of Shakespeare: All’s well, that ends well!!! Hahaha
Do you realize how long it would have taken me to type that?? Nakooda (a nickname) gave me a stand for my phone forcing me to type with my thumbs, not one finger. But my fingers fly on the computer. Decided that I am going to use WhatsApp only to make dates to meet people etc and save my thinking and communication to the blog. With physiotherapy and water walking my time is getting more precious. So there! So there! So there!
At this precise moment 12:11 I am eating breakfast at Mojo. Eating Eggs Benedict with Gravalaz. It was absolutely delicious. The hollandaise sauce had just the right amount of lemon. The gravalax was thinly sliced. The egg poached perfectly. I shall include a photo = all this and I can cook too. In my prior life I made both Eggs Benedict AND gravalax. But now I have Grandson Cole to make it for me. I can afford it; because paradoxically, I did not have children.
I am now tasting a new sensation. A honeycomb biscuit (of Chinese origin) to be paired with a seafood ceviche. I also just learned that Mojo will be featuring a food and wine pairing in n October. Then in November a culinary event, a dinner, also paired with wine. It fills me with such peace to know I will be here for both events. Moreover, if it is raining I will not get wet because I live in the same building. Hahaha
I suppose it is now time to speak of many things – not of cabbage and kings This is the full quote:
“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—
Of cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings.”
Well, in some ways considering we are going to be speaking of the USA – discussing whether. Or not pigs have wings. Do they?? Well, temporarily Trump seems to have them – the reasons were discussed on the podcast I listened to early this morning. Suppose we shall be speaking of cabbages and kings. Cabbage head Trump seems to think he is a king and the USA seems to agree with him. However, if you look at the history of that country you understand why. If I were you, which I am not, I would listen to the podcast. It does not cost you any money. I intend to discuss portions but then call into play additional information from a book, The Straight Path authored by fellow Canadian Dr. Nazil Khan. I have resumed my Canadian identity. My Malaysian visa is nested in my Canadian passport which was renewed in Jakarta Indonesia during one of my visa runs. Those days are gone. No more visa runs – especially not to Singapore where I was robbed by the Singapore Raffles.
The podcast initially featured Ken Burns in conversation. He has a brand new series. Did follow his previous ones. This new one addresses the American Revolution. The interviewer asking astute questions made me aware of a fact missed before. Please recall I went to law school in the US – therefore studied Constitutional Law. This I missed. George Washington (and therefore the US) were colonists; not overcoming the tyranny of Britain but doing exactly the same thing. They were intent on stealing Indigenous people’s land (they did a helluva job). They had their eyes on California way back then, before I lived there. Hahaha George Washington had 577 slaves. Yes indeed – while talking of freedom of the all people created equal. A bit of a contradiction of terms, you gotta admit.
If you listen to the podcast in its entirety you will hear in the next segment the focus on music of the country echoing every fifty years which reveals the lies and the hypocrisy that has permeated the USA since its very inception.
There is a reason. It is because it is a Godless country. The Godlessness is enshrined in the constitution. That leads to disaster, and it has.
This from the Straight Path pg 53 “ Godless states are, in fact trade societies or cartels whose real job is to extort, not to confer, benefits. They have no spiritual roots, no ethical ideals, and they are supremely unconcerned with the inner selves of their peoples and the welfare of humanity at large. Their attention is focused only on material gain. ….. Radio, cinema and television focus solely as an instrument of entertainment, Instead of educating the masses and refining them morality, it perverts their tastes and makes them frivolous.”
Page 55 announces: “The emergence of materialism provided the thought structure through which the project of colonialism became fashionable.” On page 58 “ In North, South, and Central America, European settlers killed 568 million indigenous people over the course of one century—enough to produce a shift in global temperature. “ The current genocide unfolding in Gaza proves another stark reminder of the brutal violence of colonialism. As Israeli historian Ilian Pappe explains: Zionism is the last remaining active settler-colonist movement or project.. … ,,A New York Times article in 1899 featured a headline expressing that Zionists” will colonize Palestine.”
I will include a photo of the citation page. I am not anticipating any of you will have the temerity to read the Straight Path – much less follow it. Hahaha
Temerity’s audacious synonyms:boldness, nerve, effrontery, impertinence, cheek, gall, brazenness, daring, chutzpah. My favorite??? Chutzpah of course.
Writing from Mojo heard a song from their playlist. Discovered the song title: You Are the Reason. I began to sob. I usually NEVER cry in public. Granddaughter Sara noticed me crying, actually was silently heaving in despair. She ran over and hugged me.
Me: I guess I need to cry in public more often, I get hugs. The eye makeup is a mess but a hug makes it worthwhile.
Who knows??? Maybe somebody will arrive to fix what is broken. They know where I live. I live in Lyf. What if more than one shows up??? Hahaha This army of people marching down Penang Rd. To tell the utter and absolute truth; I am NOT counting on it. Hahaha
Photos of food, Sandman’s very cute message that began this morning, the citation page from the Straight Path and perhaps a link to Ideas. If not just type CBC Ideas into Google. Also a photo of my two reunited hot water bottles. That story in a subsequent blog.
