Tuesday, November 30, 2010

I won NaNoWriMo in 2010


It took a lot of work and some sacrifices, but I won NaNoWriMo in 2010. I finished writing 50,013 on November 29, 2010, one day before the deadline.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Renaming the Cats

‘Idál (Justice), 2 Qawl (Speech), 167 BE – Wednesday, November 24, 2010 about 2:50 PM Pacific Time

My mother is renaming the cats. She has been renaming them for a couple of months now. She forgot that they already have names and so she had decided they need names. I don’t mind her giving them new names and the cats don’t seem to mind. The only things the cats care about are clean litter boxes, full food dishes, a full water dish, and someone to stroke their fur. As long as they have these things, the cats are happy.

Since I am, the one who makes the appointments with the Vet it doesn’t matter what Mom calls the cats. Mom enjoys petting them and she enjoys thinking up new names. If there is a problem, the cats come to me meowing and I have to figure out what they want. Unusually it isn’t difficult to figure out what they want all I have to do is check their water, food, and litter boxes; if all of those items are in order, then the cats probably want their fur stroked.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Freeze Watch in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 1 Qawl (Speech), 167 BE – Tuesday, November 23, 2010 about 2:48 PM Pacific Time

According to the subject line of today’s weather e-mail there is a freeze watch. Apparently, cold air is moving into the Las Vegas valley early on Wednesday morning and we can expect daytime temperatures 20 degrees below normal. In addition, the wind speed is supposed to increase and there is a chance of rain tonight.

All right, I expected this, but I hoped it would wait until after Thanksgiving. This means I have to start the car sometime tomorrow morning to see if there is a problem. I don’t expect any big problem, but you never know. It doesn’t hurt to start the car and let it run for a little while after the sun comes up. I think I’ll go check in the garage to see if I can drive the car in, the door won’t close, but at least the car will be in the garage.

I have to get gas tomorrow, so I’ll stop at the full service station and have the fluids checked just to be on the safe side. I have to wait until tomorrow because my check doesn’t hit the bank until Wednesday, November 24. I’m a member of Triple A, so if I do have difficulty starting the car, I can call the eight hundred number.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Autumn wind in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 18 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Sunday, November 21, 2010 about 1:40 PM

The wind blew all night. It is still blowing this morning, but not as hard. The sky is mostly cloudy. The sun is shining. The clouds are two toned. Their under parts are a light charcoal gray, the outside rims are bright white. It is a beautiful autumn day in Las Vegas.

The wind moves the limbs of the trees and oleanders. It chills me when I go outside. I am not going outside very much or staying very long. I took the trash and the recyclables to the garage; I also went out pick up today’s paper that was lying in the driveway.

Even with the wind chill factor, it is a nice autumn day in Las Vegas. The temperature in the house is a brisk 65 degrees, so we have to wear sweaters. I have to look for my fall and winter sweaters because I am not sure where they were stored. I found two sweater, but I know I have more then that and I know I am going to need to wear more then one sweater as autumn turns into winter.

The leaves on the neighbors oak trees are turning yellow, so it is beginning to look like fall as well as feel like fall. Thanksgiving is Thursday and after that, winter is on its way. Winter in Las Vegas is usually a nice time of year, but it does get a bit cold.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

A Dreary Day in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 17 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Saturday, November 20, 2010 about 3:18 PM Pacific Time

This morning the sun came out from under a cloud for about five minutes. Dirty gray clouds completely hide the desert sky. I think I heard thunder earlier today, but I could have heard a jet flying above the clouds.

This morning Mom and I went out for bread. I know a place that sometimes has day old bread to give away. I got two loaves of bread and two bags of bagels. I got a loaf of white bread, a loaf of wheat bread, plane bagels and onion bagels. Yesterday, I fixed vegetable soup and I thought the onion bagels would go good with the soup.

Today I cooked chicken breast in the slow cooker. After the chicken cooked, I took it out of the cooker and put in rice. While the rice cooked, I took the chicken off the bones. I completed the dish by adding the chicken and some of the vegetable soup to the rice. We will have soup for the next several day.

I knew this was soup weather this morning. When I came home from picking up the bread, I noticed that leaves on one of the neighbor’s oak tree had changed from green to gold. When the leaves change color then it’s time for homemade soup.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Next week is Thanksgiving

‘Idál (Justice), 14 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Wednesday, November 17, 2010 about 4:47 PM Pacific Time

Thanksgiving is next Thursday and I am going to make homemade cranberry sauce. I have the cranberries, the nuts, and the sugar. I have brown sugar, so that is what I am going to use. I know it is not traditional cranberry sauce recipe, but I am not going to buy anything for the recipe unless I absolutely have to buy it or have a coupon.

All right, white sugar is not that expensive, but I do not keep it in the house for one simple reason. If I have it in the house, I will use it on my cereal. I keep brown sugar on hand, because I use it on oatmeal rather then milk. I use milk on my regular cereal, but no sugar.

I am going to make the cranberry sauce on Monday or Tuesday. Someone told me to make the cranberry sauce a few days ahead because it taste better. I, also, remember my grandmother making cranberry sauce on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Now the only thing I need to do is find some recipes for cranberry sauce.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

I Wish I Could Work Outside the Home

Fidál (Grace), 13 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Tuesday, November 16, 2010 about 10:35 AM Pacific Time

This morning Mom said, “I wish I could work outside the home.” I agree with her, unfortunately, neither of use can work outside the home. Mom cannot work because of her medical problems and me because I am her caregiver.

Mom had Alzheimer’s disease and needs around the clock care. True she suffers from moderate Alzheimer’s disease, but she still needs assistance when it comes to taking her medication and going to doctor’s appointments. Of course, Mom does not think she needs any assistance and I wish she did not.

Thanksgiving is next week, which is one of Mom’s favorite holidays. Mom always enjoyed cooking Thanksgiving dinner. This year I will make cranberry sauce from scratch. I remember Mom making cranberry sauce, when I was growing up. I will fix cranberry sauce here, but we will go out to eat on Thanksgiving Day.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Attempting to fix the pasta soup

Kamál (Perfection), 12 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Monday, November 15, 2010 about 2:11 PM Pacific Time

I am attempting to fix the pasta soup. It did not start out to be pasta soup, when I first made it I intended to make macaroni and cheese. However, after the macaroni finished cooking an interruption occurred. I had to leave the house for some reason, I do not remember why, but at the time, it seemed important.

I sit the macaroni aside and then took care of whatever business called me away. By the time, I returned home, the macaroni was cold. The next day, I mixed some of the macaroni with leftovers and made soup, which tasted bland. Since I have pasta soup, I am going to try to fix it and get it to taste better (not so bland).

Today, I put the soup in the slow cooker and added crushed basil leaves. The basil helped, but the soup still needs something else. I think the next thing I will cut up some cheese and add it to the soup. After that, I may add the rest of the salsa. I have to do something to make it taste better because there is too much pasta to throw away.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

A peanut butter and blackberry jam sandwich

Jamál (Beauty), 11 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Sunday, November 14, 2010 about 11:55 AM Pacific Time

I eat breakfast earlier then usual this morning. I had a hot cup of coffee and peanut butter and blackberry jam on toast. I made a sandwich for breakfast and enjoyed it while I read my Sunday paper.

Normally, I do not eat breakfast, but this morning I decided that I wanted a peanut butter sandwich. In fact, I had two sandwiches. I made one sandwich on French bread and another on Italian bread. For both sandwich I used blackberry jam and peanut butter. Today my morning started nicely, very pleasant beginning to the day.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Time for another Doctor’s appointment

Jalál (Glory), 10 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Saturday, November 13, 2010 about 2:13 PM Pacific Time

I noticed that Mom’s Galantamine has zero refills, sot it’s time to make an appointment with her doctor. I’ll have to call for that Monday because the office is closed today. I also have to make an appointment for Mom with a dermatologist.

On Friday, I took Mom into the office to get a Vitamin B12 shot. Mom bumped her leg and it caused a wound. I don’t know how she bumped it, I didn’t even know until she wore skirt at the beginning of the week. Anyway, while we were in to office I asked the nurse to look at it. She said the wound looked infected, so I took Mom to the urgent care.

The doctor prescribed some antibiotics and referred Mom to a dermatologist because. When I called the dermatologist office yesterday, the referral hadn’t arrived; therefore, I have to call the dermatologist office Monday to make an appointment. I think I’ll call the dermatologist first and then her regular doctor.

Mom doesn’t like the idea of going to a dermatologist office because she thinks it’s unnecessary. Mom will be happier seeing her regular doctor, she want to tell him that she doesn’t need any of her medications any more and she wants him to take her off them. Fortunately, most of the time she takes them without a fuss, however, I’m not sure how long that will last.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Thursday, November 11, is Veterans Day

‘Idál (Justice), 7 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Wednesday, November 10, 2010 about 3:01 PM Pacific Time

Tomorrow Thursday, November 11, is Veterans Day. I am posting this entry a day early to remind my readers to say thank you to a Veteran. Look at the following website, Veterans Day - November 11 and watch the video presentation about Veterans Day.

Veterans Day has a special meaning for me because my father served in World War II and Uncle Roy, my grandfather's brother, served in World War I. On November 11, take time to say Thank You to a Veteran.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

An autumn morning in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 6 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Tuesday, November 9, 2010 abpit8:52 AM Pacific Time

Finally, autumn has arrived in Las Vegas. The trees have not changed from summer green to autumn orange; however, the mornings feel chilly and damp. This morning, when I checked the thermostat it read 69 degrees, so it is still too warm to turn on the heat. I will not turn on the heat yet; I will wait until the temperature in the house drops into the high fifties.

Las Vegas autumn
Mornings feel chilly and damp
I need a sweater

Sunday, November 07, 2010

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Jamál (Beauty), 4 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Sunday, November 7, 2010 about 10:32 AM Pacific Time

Daylight savings time ended at 2:00 AM and I got all my clocks set back at 4:00 AM. Normally, it takes me about a week to get all the clocks tuned back, but not this year. It could be that I only have two clocks to take care of because the cell phone and the computer reset the time automatically. Now I have to check all the calendars to see if they either Mom or I tuned from October to November.

All right, I am the one who normally turns the calendars over at the end or beginning of the month. Mom forgets to change them; in fact, Mom forgets she has a calendar in her room. I think I will cut down on the amount of calendars in the house next year. Mom needs a calendar in her room, even if she does not remember she has one she still needs a calendar. I need a calendar at the living room entrance, by the telephone, and at my desk. That is four calendars and that is all we need.

If I receive more then four calendars then I will give some away. There is no use having a calendar in every room if I cannot remember to turn it over at the end of every month.

Friday, November 05, 2010

The First Friday in November

Istiqlál (Independence), 2 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Friday, November 5, 2010 about 10:15 AM Pacific Time

It’s the first Friday in November, the month of gratitude, giving thanks, and celebrating Baha’u’llah’s birthday. November an autumn month, when the leaves fall from trees and people began looking for the first snow of winter.

I live in Las Vegas and haven’t witnessed leaves changing color. October was warmer then normal. It’s too early in November to say whether it will be warmer or colder then normal. Not that I’m looking forward to the first freeze because that’s when I have to turn on the heat.

It’s the first Friday in November, I don’t know if it will be a good month or a crappy month. I expect a good month, but I never know precisely how the month went until the last day. It’s best to take a month one day at a time. I know the first four day of November went well for both Mom and me.

Mom had a good Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but she is having a crappy Friday. Since Mom has Alzheimer’s disease, I expect her to have a crappy day occasionally. For the past three day, I haven’t heard Mom say “crap” very much. This morning it is every other word coming out of her mouth. For Mom, the first Friday in November is crappy. I’ll be happy just to get through the day without crying.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

It’s going to be a long night

Istijlál (Majesty), 1 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Thursday, November 4, 2010 about 3:55 PM Pacific Time

It's going to be a long night, probably a long cool night. I haven't turned the heat on yet because we don't really need it. Sometimes it gets a little cold in the mornings, but putting an extra blanket or sheet on the bet takes care solves that little problem.

I don't think I'll have any problems getting cold tonight. I have too much work to do to get cold. It's going to be a long night because I can't do housework during the day. Mom gets upset if I do "her job", but she doesn't seem to want to do anything except set on the couch or the love seat. I think I'm going to have to take to her doctor about this. I don't know if tere is anything he can do except prescribe another medication.

It's going to be a long night. The only thing Mom did today was work in her bedroom. It would be nice if she got some of the cloths hung up, but Mom spends most of her time looking for stuff she has misplaced. Usually the item isn't difficalt to find.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Deviled Egg Day

Fidál (Grace), 18 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Tuesday, November 2, 2010 about Sunset Pacific Time

November 2 is deviled egg day. I guess you’re supposed to eat deviled eggs today. I liked deviled eggs. I specifically like the way Grandma Newland made deviled eggs. Unfortunately, I can’t remember her recipe, but I don’t think there are very many different ways to make deviled eggs.

Most recipes call for eggs, mayonnaise, and mustard. I suppose you could use hot or spicy mustard, I’ll have to try making deviled eggs with spicy mustard. Thanksgiving is this month and Grandma always served deviled eggs on Thanksgiving.

Monday, November 01, 2010

Epiphany on All Saints Day

Kamál (Perfection), 17 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Monday, November 1, 2010 about 10:06 AM Pacific Time

I don’t celebrate All Saints Day, but since today is All Saints Day and I experience an epiphany that’s the title I gave this entry. The epiphany concerned my mother, Alzheimer’s disease, the General Election tomorrow, and my mother medication.

I was supposed to work the polls tomorrow, but today I realized that I can’t find anyone I can trust to give Mom her medications. I have divided her medications into morning, noon, and evening. I place the tablets in pill holders with the appropriate label. Mom has Alzheimer’s disease, so expecting her to remember to take her meds is unreasonable. I am responsible for making sure she takes her meds at the proper time.

I can find people to stay with Mom, but unless it is a professional caregiver, I can’t trust them to give her the meds at the proper time. It would cost more for a professional to come in and stay with Mom then I would make working the polls. Therefore, I can’t work at the polls tomorrow.

Of course, I didn’t tell Mom that was my reason for not working the polls. I give Mom another reason because if I tell her why I’m not working the polls, she will just get angry. There isn’t any use making her angry or upsetting her. Anyway, that was my epiphany on All Saints Day.