Good-bye March

‘Idál (Justice), 11 Bahá (Splendor), 167 BE – Wednesday, March 31, 2010 about 9:34 AM Pacific Time

Good-bye March so long
We will miss you and your wind
Partly cloudy sky

I look out my window; I watch the weeds in my front yard sway in the wind. I get up, I walk to the window, and I watch the limbs of the olive and stone pine trees wave in the wind. Last night, I lay in my bed listening to the wind; listening to March roaring like a lion.

This is the last day of March and March is going out like a lion. March also came in like a lion, so I guess this disproves the old saying, "When March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb." The wind began to blow yesterday afternoon, it blew all night long and is still blowing today. This morning the wind is not as strong or noisy as last night, but it is still blowing. I expect the wind to continue for the rest of the day and probably into tomorrow.

March goes out roaring
Carrying litter and trash
Someone sweep the street

Today is trash collection day in my neighborhood. The trash trucks went past my house a few minutes ago. I did not roll the trashcan to the curb this morning because it was only half-full, with the wind blowing I did not want to pick up my trash if the wind blew the plastic trashcan over.

At the Beginning of a new week

Jamál (Beauty), 8 Bahá (Splendor), 167 BE – Sunday, March 28, 2010 about 6:48 PM Pacific Time

A new week begins
New hope blooms with pink flowers
A nightingale sings

A new week always brings fresh hope. The trees are leafing out and the neighbors flowers are blooming. The weeds in my yard are blooming and next week I going to have to do something about them. I'm going to have to get some gardening gloves before I start pulling weeds.

Gardening gloves protect
Sensitive hands from weed sap
And biting insects

I think I’ve solved the technical issues

Jalál (Glory), 7 Bahá (Splendor), 167 BE – Saturday, March 27, 2010 about 3:38 PM Pacific Time

I think I've solved the technical issues for the time being. My browser is still slow and sometimes it gets hung up waiting on a download, but if I click the link a couple of times I get to the website I want. I delete the cookies and the history before closing my browser. I also delete the history and cookies a couple of times while I'm working online.

I'm now typing the website addresses or copying links from e-mails into the address box. I know this is a temporary fix and that eventually I'm going to have to figure out and solve the problem, but for now this works. I have some writing and posting to catch up this weekend, so I'll deal with the technical issues when I get back from my doctor's appointment on Monday.

Mom’s Birthday Dinner

I took Mom out for her birthday dinner today. We went to Marie Calendar’s to eat. We had country-fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy and string beans. We both ate the main course and then we had pie with ice cream.

Mom's turned 89 years old on March 19, we didn't go out that day because we were going to a Naw-Ruz party on March 21. Mom enjoyed the Naw-Ruz party and the food at the party. Mom enjoyed our lunch today and she ate everything on her plate. Mom eats better when we go out to eat then when we stay home.

I'm still encounter technical issues

‘Idál (Justice), 4 Bahá (Splendor), 167 BE – Wednesday, March 24, 2010 about 1:18 PM Pacific Time

The technical issues don't prevent me from working online, at least not completely. The issues prevent me from working efficiently. I don't like to call the problem difficulties, but they are becoming irritating.

The problem is my browser, I don't think it's the Internet connection. Anyway, when I attempt to go to a website the message is "waiting for connection". In addition, it takes longer then usually to download graphics. I've found a way to work around those problems for the present, but I'm going to have to find a way to solve them.

If I can't figure out how to solve them by the first week in April, then I'm going to have to call one of the techs who make house calls to assist with this issues. I'm not looking forward to that, but I don't know any other way to solve this problem.

Technical Issues All Day

Fidál (Grace), 3 Bahá (Splendor), 167 BE – Tuesday, March 23, 2010 about 6:40 PM Pacific Time

I've confronted technical issues all day. My browser running slow and website taking several minutes to load, I'm not sure what the problem was, all though it could have been my virus detection program running a tray icon scan. I rebooted and the problem appears cleared up.

I downloaded a newer version of my virus detection program today. I think sometime after the program completed downloading and I ran the regular virus scan, I inadvertently click on the tray icon and cause it to start scan. After I rebooted that scan wasn't running any more. I'm going to have to be a little more careful about what I'm doing.

I bought the chocolate bunnies today

Kamál (Perfection), 2 Bahá (Splendor), 167 BE – Monday, March 22, 2010 about 3:01 PM Pacific Time

Every year Mom and I eat chocolate bunnies on Easter day. This is a family tradition left over from my childhood. When we were growing up, Grandma and Grandpa would fill Easter baskets for my siblings and me every year. One of the items in the basket was a chocolate Easter bunny; eating a chocolate bunny on Easter Sunday brings back fond memories of my childhood and of my grandparents.

Today I bought this year's chocolate Easter bunnies. Normally, I get hollow chocolate rabbits, but this year I bought solid dark chocolate bunnies. Last year we had white chocolate Easter bunnies, but I prefer the dark chocolate. I like the dark chocolate because that's what Grandma or Grandpa always put in our Easter baskets. Sometimes the rabbits were hollow and sometimes they were solid, but they were always dark chocolate Easter bunnies.

Happy Naw-Ruz

Jamál (Beauty), 1 Bahá (Splendor), 166 BE – Sunday, March 21, 2010 about 6:53 PM Pacific Time

Celebrate Naw-Ruz
Celebrate a New Day and
Intone a prayer

We went out today and celebrated Naw-Ruz, we ate and for desert had chocolate cheesecake. Mom enjoyed herself and she is happy this evening.

Chocolate cheesecake
And a cup of hot coffee
End of a good meal

Spring has Sprung

Jalál (Glory), 19 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE – Saturday, March 20, 2010 about 11:01 AM Pacific Time

The sun crossed the vernal equinox and spring arrived in all her glory. Despite the fact that winter is holding on tenaciously, today is the first day of spring and in a few weeks summer will arrive. There is still snow covering the Rocky Mountains, in fact the ski area on Mount Charleston is still open and people are snow skiing.

It seems a bit chilly in Las Vegas, but this is the first day of spring. The wind is blowing, which means a wind chill factor. The sun is shining and there are clouds in the sky. It is a nice day in Las Vegas, you just have to remember to put on a sweater or long sleeved shirt when you go outside.

A wind chill factor
Clouds moving across the sky
Birds sing and build nests

Excessive Wind Warnings in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 18 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE - Friday, March 19, 2010 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time

We had excessive wind warnings in Las Vegas yesterday. The wind didn't start blowing until after we came home from the DMV, which is good because I don't like walking in the wind. We didn't walk to the DMV, but we walked from the car into the building and we had to park a long ways from the door.

The wind knocked the power out last night, it's weird setting in the house in the dark. I don't know how long the power was out, it seemed like a long time. I did find out I have to buy batteries for the flashlight and for my alarm clock. The alarm clock is electric, but it has a battery back up. I didn't put batteries in the clock when I plugged it into the electricity.

Wind blows through the trees
Limbs caress the power lines
Electricity out

I want to stay home at least one day

Istijlál (Majesty), 17 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE - Thursday, March 18, 2010 about 3:22 PM Pacific Time

Everyday this week, Mom and I have went somewhere. Today we went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew Mom's Nevada Identification (DMV) card. It didn't take long to renew her ID and everyone at the DMV was nice; it was a pleasant experience.

I still have laundry to do, which means going to the Laundromat. I want to stay home at least one day this week. I have several projects to catch up, but not if I'm away from the house. I want to stay home at least one day, so I think I will attempt to remain in the house.

We don't have any plans for leaving the house tomorrow, bu that doesn't mean something won't come up. I'm going to attempt to stay home tomorrow and do a little work around the house. I'm tired and I want to stay home for just one day.

Spend a day at home
Without driving anywhere
It sounds like a dream

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Idál (Justice), 16 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 about 11:50 AM Pacific Time

I'm not sure I know what is meant by Happy St. Patrick's Day, except that this is the day my weird Irish sense of humor show up. On St. Patrick's Day I will laugh at odd situations, so it has to be my weird Irish sense of humor. I've celebrated St. Patrick's Day for as long as I can remember, normally by wearing something green.

St. Patrick's Day green
Is emerald green and silk
Beautiful color

I'm an American of Irish descent, so I have to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Celebrating St. Patrick's day is my way of remembering my Irish ancestors.

I need to have some yard work done

Fidál (Grace), 15 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 about 6:47 PM Pacific Time

We went to Smiths' today so that I could pick up a prescription. I glanced at my front yard and realized that it is a mess. I need to have some yard work done; actually, I need to have a lot of yard work done. The thought of how much yard work I need to have done makes me tired.

I know I'm going to be the one doing it because I can't afford to hire someone to pull weeds and clean up my front yard. I don't even want to think about the backyard because I know it is worse then the front yard. I'm going to have to have both the front and backyard cleaned before the 4th of July. Perhaps I should plan on starting the yard work Saturday.

Saturday yard work
Prevents me from leaving town
I have no place to go

The Last Week of Winter

Kamál (Perfection), 14 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE - Monday, March 15, 2010 about 3:53 PM Pacific Time

It's the last week of winter, according to Equinoxes and Solstices 2000-2010 spring begins on March 20 at 1:32 PM EDT, which is the time the sun crosses the vernal equinox. Already there are green plants growing in my yard and in my next door neighbor's yard there are flowers. When I went out to pick up the morning paper, I saw purple flowers growing next door.

This year spring begins on a Saturday afternoon or in the case of Las Vegas, on a Saturday morning at 10:32 AM PDT. Spring is a time to celebrate warmer weather, new life, and green plants. All right, the green plants in my yard are weeds, even the flowering plant in my yard are weeds. Apparently, I can grow nothing except weeds in my yard.

Weeds in my yard bloom
Pink, red, white oleanders
Pollen and sneezing

I have ice cream in the freezer

Jalál (Glory), 12 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE - Saturday, March 13, 2010 about 5:19 PM Pacific Time

I have ice cream in the freezer and it's too cold to eat it today. The wind is blowing causing a wind chill factor, which makes it too cold to eat ice cream. It's amazing how a one perspective change with age. When I was a child, it never got too cold to eat ice cream.

When I was a child it could be snowing outside and I would say yes to ice cream. Now if I eat ice cream in winter, I wrap myself up in blankets while I eat ice cream. The day I bought the packages of chocolate and chocolate chip ice cream, it was warm and getting warmer. Today with the wind and the clouds it's chilly again and too cold to eat ice cream. I'm looking forward to warmer days.

Midweek reflections on March 10, 2010

It's been a long and difficulty day because Mom had a difficult morning. The afternoon is a little better, but not much. Part of the problem is the clouds hiding the sun; I've discovered that Mom has a more difficult time on a cloudy day because the lack of sunshine seems to effect her mood.

Mom has Alzheimer's so she has good days and bad days; good mornings and bad morning, etc. Mom can wake up in a good mood and her mood changes suddenly; I get no warning until she gets angry over something, the Alzheimer's meds help, but their not a cure.

I'm gong to have to talk to Mom's doctor at the next appointment. I need to know why cloudy days seem to make her mood worse. I don't understand why lack of sunshine should make Mom's mood worse and her day more difficult. This afternoon, she is in a better mood, but I'm not sure for how long. I hope that it last the rest of the day.

Mixing Apples and Oranges

‘Idál (Justice), 9 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE – Tuesday, March 9, 2010 about 6:52 PM Pacific Time

It's said don't mix apples and oranges. I mixed apple juice with orange juice this evening and it taste delicious. Of course, I made sure that both juices were cold before I poured them into a glass. It was easy, I just pour a glass half-full of apple juice and then I poured orange juice in the same glass. I had both juices in the fridge and I needed to get them out. I decided to mix them and found that I liked the taste of the juices together.

Apple and orange juice
poured cold into the same glass
a refreshing treat.

I'm having a plumber coming on Wednesday

Kamál (Perfection), 7 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE – Monday, March 8, 2010 about 2:43 PM Pacific Time

The problem is the kitchen sink, it's either the garbage disposal or the drain; I'm not sure which one is the problem. I do know I'm eventually going to have to have them back for other things. Mom enjoys the house, but she doesn't have to find the money for repairs. Actually, Mom doesn't have to worry about finances at all, she does worry about them, but Mom doesn't have to.

I'm glad the plumber isn't coming until Wednesday afternoon because I have to go to the bank and get some cash to pay the plumber. It does make washing dishes a bit of a challenge; I got the dishes washed today without using the kitchen sink or dumping water down that drain. If figuring out how to wash dishes without using the kitchen sink or the dishwasher is the biggest problem I have then the rest of my life is going to be easy.

Is it a hairless raccoon or a chupacabra?

Jamál (Beauty), 6 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE – Sunday, March 7, 2010 about 11:03 AM Pacific Time

Today's weird news story is Rescuers capture hairless raccoon. According to the story, there are those who think the animal is a chupacabra, a mythical creature that sucks the blood of goats. I find this story intriguing because I live in Las Vegas close to the Nevada Test Sight, Area 51, and the Alien highway.

People have sighted Unidentified Fly Objects (UFOs) and other weird things, but I don't remember anyone ever sighting a hairless raccoon or a chupacabra. I don't know what chupacabra looks like; however, I don't think it resembles a hairless raccoon. I do know what a raccoon looks like, I suppose a hairless raccoon would look like an ordinary raccoon except without the hair. The last raccoon I saw in the Las Vegas area was at the zoo.

My mother's birthday is March 19

Jalál (Glory), 5 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE – Saturday, March 6, 2010 about 3:09 PM Pacific Time

My mother turns 89 on March 19, 2010, I'm not sure how we're going to celebrate. I'm not sure if Mom even wants to celebrate her 89th birthday. When we discuss the subject, sometimes Mom wants to celebrate and sometimes she doesn't want to celebrate her birthday.

Mom has some medical issues, one of which is Alzheimer's disease. It's the early stages and she is taking medication, that seems to be helping. Still Mom gets upset when she forgets where she put an item and sometimes I can't figure out where she put the item. I have found some stuff she puts away in some of the oddest places, but I think that's to be expected under the circumstances.

I think celebrating Mom's birthday would do us both good, I just don't know where to celebrate it at this time. Maybe I'll take Mom some place that has nice deserts, Mom like ice cream, pie, and cake. If I take her somewhere with good deserts we can eat desert before the main course. I don't think Mom's every had desert first, so that might be a nice way to celebrate.

My next appointment is on March 12, 2010

Istiqlál (Independence), 4 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE – Friday, March 5, 2010 about 4:40 PM Pacific Time

In November of 2009, my doctor found a mass in my left breast; an appointment was made for a mammogram. Since I don't have health insurance, a local group that provides mammograms to senior woman took care of the procedure. At the time of the mammogram, an ultrasound of my left breast was preformed. After that, I made an appointment with a breast specialist.

She suggested another ultrasound, so I had a second ultrasound done and then I went back to the breast specialist. The procedure on Friday, March 12, is a different procedure because the ultrasounds revealed very little. I still don't know if the mass is benign or cancerous. This next procedure should reveal more about the mass, at least I hope it does. After the next procedure, the only thing left is a biopsy, which means sticking a needle into the mass.

At this point, there are only two things I can do; first, is to encourage other women to do a self-exam every month. If you have any questions at all about anything you find, then go to your doctor and if you don't have any health insurance, then find a medical clinic which charges a sliding fee. Second, click on The Breast Cancer Site every day. Click on the pink button because the sponsors will pay for free mammograms.

Always check your Planning Calendar

Fidál (Grace), 1 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE – Tuesday, March 2, 2010 about 5:52 PM Pacific Time

It's wise to always check your planning calendar, both in the morning and the evening. I didn't check my calendar yesterday fortunately I this morning I went to Henderson to pick up my mammogram and ultrasound results. My appointment with the beast specialist is tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM instead of 11:30.

This means I'm going to have to get going in the morning. I won't be able to get online until after I get back. That's all right, today I couldn't find anything to blog about. I think I'm worried about the appointment and what the doctor will find. I've had one mammogram and two ultrasounds, without any conclusion one way or the other. I would really like to know the prognosis.

March is a busy month

Kamál (Perfection), 4 Ayyám-I-Há (Intercalary Days), 166 BE – Monday, February March 1, 2010 about 12:47 PM Pacific Time

It's the first of March as busy and fun filled month. I have an appointment with a breast specialist on March 3 and on March 5 I have an appointment for a heart scan. Of the two appointments, the appoint with the breast specialist is the one that concerns me.

In November or December of 2009, my regular doctor found a mass in my left breast. For the past three or four months I have dealt with that. The heart scan doesn't worry me because I haven't hand any problems in that area. I don't have high blood pressure. I haven't smoked in over twenty-five years. I get some exercise, true I don't get enough exercise, but I'm working on that.

My mother's next appointment is March 31, when she is scheduled to have a cataract removed from her left eye. Mom is looking forward to that because she thinks she can see better once the cataract is removed. I am not going to state an opinion on this one way or another at this time.

On Thursday, we have to go pick up some food. In addition, I'm getting the information together for my Income Tax return, which is due on April 15. I'm not sure what day April 15 falls on this year because I'm too busy to look further ahead then a week.