Happy Last Day of May

Jamál (Beauty), 15 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Sunday, May 31, 2009 about 6:50 AM Pacific Time

Endings and good-bye's are difficult, but necessary. This is the last day of May 2009 and I have no air conditioning. I do have an appointment to get it taken care of Monday. It seems that money doesn't arrive at convent times, but eventually it does come. Anyway, I'm having the air taken care of on Monday.

In the meant time, I have fans to move the air and the temperature in the house is at least 10 or 15 degrees cooler then outside, if it does get too hot in the house Mom and I can always move to the RV home in my drive way. The air in that is cold and it's still connected to the electricity so I have not difficulties connecting anything.

I'm sounding more up beat now then when I woke up, but sometimes I'm down when I first wake up in the morning. I have a tendency to look at difficulties in my path as roadblocks and not stepping stones. This realization is important because it helps in the process of transformation.

I'm too close to the problem to get a view of the rest of the highway, so I just need to get around the roadblock to see the highway ahead. I will reserve any complaining or worrying until after I'm around the roadblocks and have overcome the difficulties. Today I'm focusing on prayer and doing housework, not necessarily in that order.

It's going to be a Happy Last Day of May because I'm going to focus on putting my problems in God's hands and leaving them there.

I’m falling asleep

Jalál (Glory), 14 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Saturday, May 30, 2009 6:49 AM Pacific Time

I'm falling asleep so I guess I should get off the computer and attempt to get some sleep. That wouldn't be my first choice, but today I'm gong to have to do that. The air went out Thursday afternoon or evening, it just blew hot air so I turned it off. There was no use it letting the unit run when it was just putting out hot air. The house is cooler with the air off then it is with it on.

Since I didn't make any post yesterday, I thought I'd better make a post today. I'll get back on line after the house cools down again. I bet back on between 9:00 PM and midnight. I the mean time any writing I do will be in my pen and paper journal. I'll write the stuff off line or off the computer and then copy it into the appropriate journal. Actually, what I'll probably do is take notes in my pen and paper journal about what I want to say and them compose it when I can get back on later today.

I'm sleepy so I'm not sure I know what I'm saying. I'm going to post this entry and get on with something else. I need to download one of my e-mails today or the messages will be two many for me to deal with.

The Sun is brighter where the Pine tree used to be

Istijlál (Majesty), 12 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Thursday, May 28, 2009 about 3:09 PM Pacific Time

The sun is brighter where the pine tree used to stand
gone are the boughs
which waved in the breeze
casting dancing shadows
on the roof of my garage.

The tree had to go
there was no other choice
to let it remain
meant that eventually its roots
would destroy the foundation of the house,
so the tree had to go.

There are still three trees in my front yard
an olive tree and two stone pine trees
to give shelter to the doves and nightingales
in the neighborhood.

May is coming to an end,
there are three days left in the month
and I have to decide what type of desert tree to plant
in my yard to replace the pine tree
I had to have cut down.

I'm having difficulties getting used to my lower plate

‘Idál (Justice), 11 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Wednesday, May 27, 2009 about 4:17 PM Pacific Time

I'm having difficulties getting used to my lower plate. The upper dentures didn't give me any problems at all. True the upper plate gets loose sometimes, but that has more to do with my gums shrinking then anything else.

My lower plate is giving me problems. Even when I put something in to hold them I have problems chewing some foods. I can eat a sandwich, but I have to cut it up so that I can put small pieces in my mouth. All right, so my denture problems aren't really what people want to read about.

If anyone is reading this, who still has his or her natural teeth, I suggest you take care of them. Make an appointment with the dentist, have your teeth cleaned and have any cavities filled. Brush your teeth three times a day with toothpaste that protects your teeth and gums. If I had know getting used to dentures was this difficult, I would have taken better care of my teeth then I did.

It's too late for me to keep my original teeth. The only thing I can do now is put my dentures in the soaking solution and then brush. As for my gums, they are healing nicely. I rinse about three times a day with hot salt water to heal the gums. I have an appointment with the dentist tomorrow morning for a soft line of my lower plate. I do hope that takes care of part of the problem of getting used to the plate.

You can gripe all you want, but it doesn't do any good

You can gripe all you want, but it doesn't do any good. In my 62 years of life, I have learned that all continual griping does is make the situation worse. At least, it makes the situation or problem appear worse then it actually is.

I don't remember my grandparent's griping continually. I do remember Grandpa griping when gas went up for $0.50 a gallon to $0.75. I think that's the only time I ever heard Grandpa gripe about anything.

As I said, griping only makes the situation appear worse. It also upsets the people in your life if you gripe on a continuous basis. I guess what I'm saying is pick the things you gripe about. In some situations, a complaint to management does more good then griping to someone who can't do anything about the problem.

A Coffee Lover's Dream

Fidál (Grace), 10 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Tuesday, May 26, 2009 about 700 AM Pacific Time

It's a coffee lover's dream to find out there are health benefits to coffee. According to the article 10 Hidden Health Secrets of Coffee by Dan Fields studies show that people who drink coffee have a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's, diabetes and colon cancer.

Other benefits include such things as preventing pain associated with vigorous exercise. Another benefit is guarding against gout. It lowers odds of dying from heart disease. It helps preserve memory. It lowers risk of Parkinson's disease. It reduces the risk of gallstones and kidney stones. It decreases the risk of stroke.

I stayed home today

I stayed home today, I didn't see any reason to leave the house because we had enough food to fix and didn't need to pick up any meds. I did have one appointment with United Blood Services, but I rescheduled it for Friday. Mom need me at home today because she had a bit of a difficult morning.

Sometimes Mom has difficult mornings and I'm not sure why. We stayed home, did housework and Mom tried on some of her dress. After the morning passed Mom seemed all right, I'm going to have to keep track of the difficult mornings in relation to her taking her meds. All though, I'm not sure that there is a relationship there.

I suspect the main problem is the cataract on her left eye. Because of the cataract she can't see very well, especially with the low wattage light bulbs. However, the low wattage light bulbs save on electricity, so I'm going to switch all the light over to them by the end of June.

I'm in a better mood this afternoon, I'm not as worried about finances or getting a new refrigerator. Tomorrow I need to get out and look at refrigerators, so while I'm out I think I'll get some cartridges for the printer. I'm hoping the only thing wrong with the printer is the cartridges.

My Grandmother called it Decoration Day

Kamál (Perfection), 9 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Monday, May 25, 2009 about 7:21 AM Pacific Time

My grandmother called it Decoration Day.
It was a day of driving
from cemetery to cemetery
and placing homemade crape paper flowers
on the graves of veterans
who had passed into the next world.

Grandma knew the name of each veteran
and who he married;
Grandpa knew the routs to each cemetery
and the names of the nearby towns.

Preparation for Decoration Day
began on the first of May
when Grandma bought colored crape paper
and pipe cleaners;
then we made crape paper flowers
with pipe cleaner stems.

On Decoration Day;
on Memorial Day
we drove to the cemeteries
and placed the flowers on the graves;
we took a picnic lunch,
which we consumed outside
the graveyard of a town
in Oklahoma or Kansas.

National Moment of Remembrance

At 3:00 PM on Memorial Day stop and ring a bell three times to remember those who have sacrificed for our freedom. The White House Commission on Remembrance web page gives more information on this commemoration of those who have died in wars from the Revolutionary War to the present.

A Beautiful Sunday Morning in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 8 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Sunday, May 24, 2009 about 10:54 AM Pacific Time

It's a beautiful Sunday morning in Las Vegas and I have cloths to hang on the line. I hung one load of cloths out early this morning. When I was hanging them up one of the neighbors' cats walked through the yard. She saw me hanging out cloths, so she sit down and watched me. Apparently, she doesn't see someone hanging out cloths very often.

I also saw a bird. I think it was a nightingale, but I'm not sure. I'm not a birdwatcher, so I can't identify the different species of birds. Anyway, the bird saw me hanging out cloths and he had to land on the bough of the oleanders and watch me. I must have been an extremely unusual sight because animals normally don't do that.

The bird and the cat are going to have to get used to seeing me hanging out cloths. I have not intention of buy an electric cloths dryer. As it is, I'm going to have to buy a fridge this week and I doubt I'm able to get in on any of the Memorial Day Sales. One of the sales is Sunday and Monday, while another ends May 27. I'm going to have to pay the regular price, so I'm going the buy the least expensive new fridge I can find.

I Googled Blackwell, Oklahoma

I googled Blackwell, Oklahoma; then I clicked on Blackwell Chamber of Commerce. To my delight I found that Blackwell was christened "America's Hometown". Now when anyone ask me where I was born I can answer "In America's Hometown." After that, I can proceed to explain to them where Blackwell is located.

Next I clicked on Area Information, I wanted to find out the name of the lake Grandpa took us to when I was a child. We always called it The Lake, so I've never been sure of its name. I knew it was on the Chickaskia River, at least I think that's the river where the lake was located. The other rivers around or near Blackwell are the Arkansas River and the Salt Fork River.

The only lake I found near Blackwell was Kaw Lake about 15 miles from the city. Fifteen miles isn't very far, a person can drive to it in less then a two hours. Therefore, I guess Kaw Lake was the one where Grandpa's mobile home was located. Let's face it, I'm 62 years old and I lived in Blackwell a long time ago. In addition, I don't remember anyone ever telling me the name of the lake.

My Grandmother’s Cat Jay

Jalál (Glory), 7 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Saturday, May 23, 2009 about 3:09 PM Pacific Time

This afternoon, I am thinking about my grandmother's cat. He was a Siamese by the name of Jay. Grandma found the cat at Lake Blackwell (I think that was the name of the lake near the town we lived in). The people who owned Jay, before my grandmother found him, had two Siamese cats.

I'm not sure why Jay left the woman. It's possible Jay didn't like the woman or the other cat. Also, Jay could have like my grandmother better. Anyway Grandma ended up with Jay and when summer ended, she took him home to Blackwell.

My grandmother had chickens and Jay liked sleeping in one of the nest during the day. He never chased the chickens or stole eggs, which is more then I can say for one of the neighbors cats. Jay was a fighter and very protective of the chickens. As long as Jay lived, Grandma never lost chickens or eggs to the neighbors' cats or any other animal.

The Pros and Cons of Getting a New Refrigerator

Istiqlál (Independence), 6 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Friday, May 22, 2009 about 7:03 PM Pacific Time

I need a new refrigerator. I have no other choice except to get another refrigerator. I have considered getting a used refrigerator because it is less expensive. However, there are other things to consider beside the immediate cash outlay.

One of the main considerations is how would I get a used fridge home and connected. I don't have a truck, I drive a Kia and I can't fit a fridge in the backseat no matter how small the fridge. In addition, a new fridge is easier on electricity. Let's face it any fridge that doesn't run 24/7 is easier on electricity.

The main problem with a new fridge is the immediate cash outlay. The cheapest price I've found for a new fridge is $499.00 without tax, with tax it's over $500.00. That's a lot of money to come up with at one time when your credit rating is in the toilet.

Oh well, this is Memorial Day weekend and perhaps I will find a sale on refrigerators. I don't want a fancy fridge, I don't want a fridge with an ice maker. I have ice cube trays so I can make my own ice. I don't need a fridge that gives me cold water from the door because I buy bottled water during the spring and summer. I just need a fridge that doesn't run 24/7.

I’ve managed to scare myself twice this morning

Istijlál (Majesty), 5 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Thursday, May 21, 2009 about 8:47 AM Pacific Time

The first time I scared myself this morning was when I went to make coffee. I put the filter in the coffee maker, then the coffee grounds, then the water and set the carafe under the basket. I turned the coffee pot on and not green light. It scared me because I thought the coffee maker was broken and it's the only one we have at this time. I solved the problem by plugging the coffee maker into the electricity.

Note to self: Before making coffee check to see if the coffee maker is plugged into the electrical outlet.

The second time concerned the refrigerator. My fridge runs 24/7 and I can usually hear it running. This morning I couldn't hear it and I thought it had stopped working. While a fridge that runs 24/7 needs replacing, I can't replace it today. If it stops running today or within the next few days, I have a problem. I need to find a used fridge and someone to get it home and plugged in. My Kia is a bit too small to haul a fridge home in it, so I'm going to have to find a used fridge for less then $100.00 and a way to get it home.

Needless to say, one of the things on my prayer list for the next week or so it that the fridge continues to run until I can replace it.

Hanging out cloths on a windy day

Fidál (Grace), 3 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Tuesday, May 19, 2009 about 3:00 PM Pacific Time

I remember helping my Grandmother hang out cloths when I was a child. I'm not sure how good a job I did, but Grandma let me help her hang cloths out on laundry day. Now that I'm older and hanging cloths on the line again, I find that I enjoy it.

Today I washed sheets and hung them out on the line. I looked out the kitchen window and watched the sheet blow in the wind. They were beautiful blowing and the hexagon line moving around. The wind isn't blowing extremely hard, but it's blowing hard enough to to cause the line to turn as the sheets blow.

My Grandmother's cloths line (that sounds like a title for a poem) was strung between two stationary polls. The hexagon line I use is capable of moving so that I don't have to walk from one end to the other when I hang up cloths. I can hang cloths on one line and then turn it so that I have an empty line to hang more cloths on.

I haven't been doing very many loads of cloths in a single day, but I think tomorrow I'm going to start doing more then a couple of loads a day. I need to catch up on laundry, so that I can just do it once or twice a week. Grandma did laundry once a week for five or six people and we had enough cloths to last. I've got enough line space to do laundry once a week and there are only two people in the household.

The cloths seem to dry quicker on the line then they did in the dryer. I'm not sure why, perhaps it has something to do with hanging things out in the sun to dry. The only problem I seem to have is the towels aren't as soft a I'd like them, but I think that's because I need to buy new towels.

The lessons about hanging cloths on the line are coming back to me

Kamál (Perfection), 2 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Monday, May 18, 2009 about 12:54 PM Pacific Time

They say that hanging cloths outside on a cloths line to dry, is like riding a bicycle. Once you learn how to do it you never forget. That isn't necessarily true. There are some things that if you don't practice on a constant basis you forget.

When hanging cloths on the line you always remember certain things about the process. You remember how to hang the cloths up. You remember which cloths to hang together and which ones you shouldn't hang together. For instance small light items, like wash cloths and under garments can be hung together. Heavier items like towels and dresses can be hung together. The reason for this is that it takes the heavier items longer to dry then the lighter items.

What you do forget is how hot the sun is when you are standing in one spot hanging cloths on a line. I'm going to have to buy sunscreen the next time I go to the store to prevent sun burn. I've also forgotten that hanging cloths on the line on a partly cloudy day isn't necessarily a good idea. I didn't listen to the weather report this morning nor did I download the e-mail that the daily weather report is sent to, so I have no idea what the chance of rain is today in Las Vegas.

As I look out my living room window, I see more clouds rolling in from the west. They could be rain clouds or just threatening rain. Oh well, my second load of cloths is on the line now. It's too late for me to do anything except pray that it doesn't rain until they are dry enough for me to bring inside.

I bought a new mop today

Jamál (Beauty), 1 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Sunday, May 17, 2009 about 4:07 PM Pacific Time

I bought another new mop today. I went to The Home Depot and bought a heavy duty spaghetti mop with a mop head made with real cotton fibers. In addition to the mop, I bought two extra mop heads, so that when the first one gets dirty I have an extra. Of course, I can wash the mop head if it get excessively dirty (mops have a tendency to do this).

I think I'm going to like this mop because it is similar to the type of mop my grandmother used, when she didn't use a rag mop. I would rather have heavy duty spaghetti mops made with cotton fibers because they clean better and I can clean the mop head easily. Of course, no mop head last forever that's why I bought the two extra mop heads.

All right, I might be over doing it a bit with this mop thing. However, I don't like sponge mops and I haven't found any other mop that cleans like a spaghetti mop made with cotton fibers. I bought a new mop bucket at The Home Depot a few days ago. Now I have a new mop and I'm looking forward to using the mop. I think I'll try using it in the entrance hall first and then move on to another room.

I could be putting too much into this mop thing. Let's face it no mop cleans perfectly, but some mops work better than others. I just want a mop that I can use with my new mop bucket and will get a floor clean at the same time.

I didn't get the trash out today

Jalál (Glory), 19 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Saturday, May 16, 2009 about 10:09 AM Pacific Time

I didn't get the trash out today, which means I'm going to have to start lugging it to the curb on Wednesday and Friday evenings. This, of course, is until I start using my new plastic trashcan. The new can has rollers on it, so I don't have to worry about lugging anything to the curb. I can just roll it out to the curb.

The new trashcan is sitting in my living room waiting for me to put my address on it. I also need to get the garage door fixed. All though, I guess I could put the new trashcan on the back patio (it's enclosed) and roll it to the curb that way. I still have to put my address on it before I use it though.

I haven't decided what I'm going to do with the aluminum cans yet, but I may just put a note on them and let the garbage truck drivers take them away. That would make more room in the garage and I wouldn't have to deal with the aluminum trashcans any more. I'll talk to my yard guy about it the next time I see him because he may just want to use the aluminum cans for yard trash.

I bought one item on my dream list

Istijlál (Majesty), 17 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Thursday, May 14, 2009 about 9:31 AM Pacific Time

I bought one item on my dream list. I bought a new cloths dryer. True, it's an outdoor cloths dryer, but it's a cloths dryer and I don't have to lug wet cloths to the car and drive them to a laundromat to dry them. I can go into my backyard and hang them on my outdoor cloths dryer. The best thing is that it's a solar cloths dryer.

All right, my outdoor solar cloths dryer is a cloths line. It's one of the hexagon type that turns so that you don't have to walk around it when hanging cloths on the like. When I bought it, the outdoor cloths dryer came with 24 cloths pins, with the pins I already had that will be enough for a couple of days. I'm eventually going to have to buy more cloths pins, but I'll deal with that next week. In the mean time, I'm going to enjoy hanging my cloths out on the line.

I can remember my grandmother hanging cloths out to dry. She did laundry every Friday or Saturday. The day she did laundry depended on whether it rained or the zinc smelter had smoke coming out of their chimneys. If there were smoke, she didn't do laundry because the smell of the smoke got into the cloths.

I'm probably going to have a bit of a problem this winter when I do laundry. Some of the neighbors have wood burning fireplaces they use in wintertime. If I hang my cloths out when the neighbors are using their fireplaces, then the smell of smoke with get into my cloths while they are drying.

I bought a new mop bucket

Kamál (Perfection), 14 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Monday, May 11, 2009 3:19 PM Pacific Time

I finally bought a new mop bucket. The wringer kind that squeezes the mop out. The old mop bucket is a recycled cat litter bucket, but it doesn't have a way to wring the mop out. In order to wring out the mop, with the old mop bucket, I had to wring the mop out by hand.

Yes, that was yucky!. If I didn't want to get my hands wet and dirty I had to use rubber gloves or disposable gloves. Yes, that was yucky, as well. Now I put the wet mop in the basket of the wringer and squeeze the water out. This isn't yucky and I don't have to get my hands wet.

I bought a plastic mop bucket with rollers, so now I can roll the bucket through the house rather then carrying from room to room. It's much easier and less messy because I spill less water then I did carrying an old cat litter bucket from room to room.

Let's face it, my mother is 88 years old and I'm 62; neither of us needs to carry a mop bucket full of water through the house. My mother still insists she wants to mop the floors, so this way I can fill the mop bucket and either of us can roll it through the house.

The next thing I need to get is another new mop. I have one new mop, but it's not the type to use with this type of mop bucket. The new mop is one of those that lets you squeeze the water out with an attachment to the mop. I've never liked that type of mop, they never work like there supposed to work. So now I have to get a new mop to go with the new mop bucket.

Happy Mothers' Day

I wish everyone a Happy Mothers' Day

and happy memories.

My mother is 88 years old.
In her long life she has witnessed a lot of first.
In her long life she has gained a lot of wisdom.
My mother is 88 years old and wants to live to be 100.

I’m following a family tradition

Jamál (Beauty), 13 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Sunday, May 10, 2009 about 1:58 PM Pacific Time

I'm following a family tradition. I'm using the same brand of salt to rinse my mouth out as my grandmother did when she had all her teeth pulled. On Thursday, I had the rest of my teeth pulled and my false plate put in and the doctor told me to rinse my mouth out with salt water to heal the gums.

I found we were out of salt so I went to the store and bought another box. It's setting on the vanity in my bathroom waiting for me to use it again today. When I brought the salt into the house, my mother said that's what my grandmother did when she had all her teeth extracted. I'm even using the same brand of salt my grandmother use.

I bought a box of Morton's Salt with the umbrella girl on it. My grandmother used that brand of salt to season her food and to rinse out her mouth when the dentist pulled her teeth. It's nice to know I'm keeping a family tradition alive. In this age of transition, traditions, especially family traditions need to be remember and documented because our descendants will want to know the family traditions handed down to us by our parents and grandparents.

Behind and catching up

Jalál (Glory), 12 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Saturday, May 9, 2009 about 6:48 AM Pacific Time

I'm behind and catching up. I won't get caught up on everything today, but I can get caught up on some of the stuff. This week we've left the house everyday for something and we've been gone for several hours at a time.

Today I have to pick up my meds at Food 4 Less, Mom's meds at Walgreen's and then go to The Home Depot. While I'm at Food 4 Less I need to get some groceries because we're out of salt and I need salt to rinse my mouth. I think I'll also get some liquid fabric softener because we're not using an electric dryer anymore. When you hang cloths outside you need to use liquid fabric softer.

At The Home Depot I have to get cement for a post hole. When I got the outdoor dryer, I neglected to read the directions before I left the store, otherwise I would have gotten the cement then. Since I'm going there I will see if I can get a real mop bucket. I'm not sure what else I'll get while I'm there perhaps a mop to go with the bucket.

I’m back and with a full set of dentures

Istiqlál (Independence), 11 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Friday, May 8, 2009 about 5:03 PM Pacific Time

Yesterday, Thursday, May 7, the dentist extracted the other four teeth in my lower jaw and put the rest of my dentures in my mouth. I described part of the experience in More Snow Melt my writing.com blog. The title of the entry is be careful what you wish for. So if you want to read it go ahead, be aware that the rating of that particular blog has a rating of 18+.

I have a full set of dentures, which I will get used to over the next few days. Today the dentist said to wear them two hours and then extend them by an hour each day. That's all right with me, since eating is a bit of a problem right now. My gums are healing and I can't use anything to hold the dentures in until the gums are healed.

Today I'm eating unsweetened applesauce, which I'm not crazy about. However, that is what I took out of the cupboard. Since Mom can't eat applesauce at all, I'm going to have to eat all that we have in the house, which is a lot. I think later I will a eat another can of applesauce, but mix it with yogurt. I like yogurt and it ought to give an interesting flavor to the applesauce. Of course, after my gums heal I may never want to eat applesauce again, but I'll deal with that when the time comes.

I'm also rinsing my mouth with warm salt water about five times a day. The salt water helps the gums to heal and I'm looking forward to the gums healing. After my gums are healed then the dentist will line them. At that time, Mom and I are going out for prime rib with raw horseradish sauce. The raw horseradish is for me, Mom eats the other kind.

Unfortunately, my gums won't be healed by Mothers' Day, so the only thing I'm eating when we go out is an ice cream desert. I doubt that I could handle much else since my lower plate wants to move in my mouth. Fortunately, I can still drink coffee.

Thursday is National Day of Prayer

I received this information in one of my e-mail boxes and I thought I would pass it along: Thursday is National Day of Prayer. Prayer is essential to the soul and a way to express faith. It doesn't matter what religion one practices because prayer is common to all religions. Neither does it matter by which name a person calls God because the Creator is know by many different names. So take a few extra minutes Thursday and say an extra prayer.

Sometime I just want to give up

Fidál (Grace), 8 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Tuesday, May 5, 2009 about 7:26 AM Pacific Time

Sometimes I just want to give up; to throw in the towel and accept the inevitable (whatever that is). However, life and faith requires that I just keep on keeping on. Giving up isn't an option, it's a thought that occurs when I appear confronted with a dead end. The thing about dead ends is that there is always an exit; a portal going somewhere you just have to look for it or retrace your steps.

Everything difficulty in life is a test designed to strengthen the soul and guide it toward God's will. When things look dark or there is a dead end, then look for the light or a ladder. Ladders out of dead ends turn up when you least expect them, a person just has to have faith and pray for guidance.

So today, I appear confronted with a dead end, but something will turn up. I will find a ladder or an exit into faith. I idea is not to give up, you let the thought of giving up pass through your mind, but you don't hold it there. Instead, you just keep on keeping on and you will come through with stronger faith then before.

I'm going to get my dining room back

Kamál (Perfection), 7 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Monday, May 4, 2009 about 12:24 PM Pacific Time

I'm finally going to get my dining room back. I called the people who own the hospital bed and the wheel chair. Someone is supposed to call in two or three days to arrange a time for pickup. I'm going to have to arrange for them to pick it up next week because both Mom and I have doctors appointments all this week.

After the hospital bed is picked up I have to move one table back into the breakfast room and then the dining room table back into the dining room. I also have things I have to do before they pick the items up. The floor needs mopping; of course, floors always need mopping so that is an on going job.

I'm looking forward to getting my dining room back. I'm looking forward to putting the T.V. back in the living room. Not that we're going to be able to watch the T.V. too much longer. We're not prepared for the change over to digital and I'm not sure we're going to be prepared before June. Not that it really matters because there are appliances that are more important then a televisions set.

I still need to get a new refrigerator and now I need a new dryer. The dryer went out a couple of days ago, which means I'm back to hanging cloths outside again. Not that hanging them out is any big deal, it's just a bit of a hassle to carry the cloths basket out to the backyard or patio and hang the cloths up.

It's going to be nice having my dining room back. I haven't had a dining room since 2007 and I'm going to enjoy sitting in the dining room eating at the table. Having my dining room back makes me think that the situation is changing and things are looking up.

I’m getting nostalgic

Jalál (Glory), 5 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Saturday, May 2, 2009 about 6:25 PM Pacific Time

I'm missing my Grandparents. Perhaps it's the time of year, today is the first Saturday in May. This is the time of year Grandpa began taking us to the Lake on weekends. We would go water skiing, boat riding and fishing. All right, I'm not real crazy about fishing basically because I don't care to put worms on hooks. Grandpa liked to fish and I like eating fresh fish.

Perhaps it's just because I'm getting older and thinking about the Good Old Days. I'm not sure precisely what the problem is or even if there is a problem. I've just been thinking a lot about my Grandparents lately. As a child, my mother worked so Grandpa and Grandma took care of us while Mom worked.

Perhaps I should write a poem or story about my Grandparents. That would help with this nostalgic feeling that I'm getting. It's a wistful feeling, like there is something I'm missing. I did write a short piece about my grandparents and Memorial Day. Maybe I need to write something about my grandparents and Mothers' Day or Fathers' Day.

I don't think I've ever written anything about Grandma and Mothers' Day or Grandpa and Fathers' Day. Grandpa was my father figure, so perhaps that's why I'm feeling nostalgic; I haven't written anything about Grandpa for Fathers' Day.