Sunday, May 30, 2010

Tomorrow is Memorial Day

Jamál (Beauty), 14 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 167 BE – Sunday, May 30, 2010 about 6:16 PM Pacific Time

Monday, May 30, is Memorial Day and I may spend the morning in the laundromat, if the one I go to is open. I had planned to go to the laundromat this afternoon; however, I did not consider my mother's new nap schedule. After lunch, Mom wants to take a nap and she goes to bed, therefore, we are going to have to start going to the laundromat of a morning.

If the laundromat is closed Monday, we will go on Tuesday morning. Tuesday afternoon Mom has an appointment to pick up a new hearing aid. I think the new hearing aid will help when it comes to communicating with Mom. There is still the question of the afternoon naps, which I think is excessive; however, I have not discussed that with her doctor so I do not know for sure.

Perhaps getting Mom out of the house of a morning will help. I'll load the laundry baskets in the car tonight, if the laundromat is closed tomorrow at least the basket will be in the car for Tuesday.  I bought a new watch a week or so ago, so I can keep a close eye on the time if I have to wait until Tuesday morning to do laundry. This is Las Vegas, so I suspect the laundromat will be open; I will just have to wait and see.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Decoration Day

Decoration Day
Is what Grandma always called
Memorial Day

Driving to the graves
My grandparents remembered
Memorial Day

Thursday, May 27, 2010

A do-it-yourself project

Istiqlál (Independence), 12 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 167 BE – Thursday, May 27, 2010 about 10:21 PM Pacific Time

Most of my do-it-yourself projects consist of creatively combining ingredients for food. However, I did try a different type of do-it-yourself project on Wednesday, May 26. I installed a new doorknob in my front door. I had to install a new knob because I had no key for the old doorknob, so I could not lock the door.

I was a bit nervous about installing the doorknob because of the fiasco with the bookcase. I put a bookcase together several years ago and it did not go well. The shelves sag in the middle and I could not get the sliding door in the bottom shelf. Apparently, installing  doorknob is much easier then putting a bookcase together.

I installed the doorknob. The front door locks and unlocks when I use the keys that came with the knob. I can now lock my door when I want it locked. Since I have a security screen that locks securely, I now have double protection on that entrance.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

A nightingale on my garage roof

Fidál (Grace), 9 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 167 BE – Tuesday, May 25, 2010 about 8:56 AM Pacific Time

I saw a nightingale sitting on my garage roof. He was just sitting there looking around, after I noticed him he flew away. All month, I have heard him or another nightingale singing, but this is the first time I have witnessed one sitting on my garage roof. I guess he was looking for one of the neighborhood cats, not that he or his offspring are in any danger from them.

The cats in this neighborhood are not strays; each cat belongs to someone in this area. The cats roam all over the neighborhood and even get on my garage roof. Because the cats are well fed none of the local birds are in danger of becoming cat food. If the cats chase the birds, it is a half-hearted attempt to show the birds that the cats are the bosses.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

I hear birds happily singing in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 7 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 167 BE – Sunday, May 23, 2010 about 10:29 AM Pacific Time

It's a beautiful day in Las Vegas. The sun is shining, the wind is blowing, and the birds are singing. One bird is singing anyway. I think it might be a nightingale, it's been singing all morning. It's ignoring the slight wind chill factor and proclaiming its joy to the neighborhood.

There are a few clouds in the sky, but they don't cover the sun. The tree limbs are gently swaying. They look as if they are dancing or waving good morning. The fourth week of May is starting out in a joyous mood. This morning everything seems right with the world, of course, that is just my opinion. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week with hope and faith.

Blue sky and white clouds
Wind blowing and birds singing
A new week begins

Saturday, May 22, 2010

My Mother is eating us out of bread and peanut butter

Jalál (Glory), 6 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 167 BE – Saturday, May 22, 2010 about 9:31 AM Pacific Time

Mom's favorite food is peanut butter; she can eat it on or with anything. Mom eats a peanut butter sandwich or peanut butter and crackers without any difficulty. She picks at the rest of her food, she will get a bowl, plate, or cup of whatever I fix and nibble at it.

I fixed macaroni and vegetables yesterday, Mom ate very little of it. She did eat several peanut butter sandwiches. This morning I peeled an orange for her, she is eating that, with her peanut butter sandwiches. When we go out to eat, Mom eats most of what she orders and then brings the rest home.

I took her to the doctor last week and she weighted 99 pounds. Mom needs to gain more weight, but I do not think peanut butter sandwich are going to put the weight on. Mom needs to eat a bigger variety of foods, the problem is getting her to eat. Mom takes a medication to increase her appatite, when Mom gets hungry she eats. She eats peanut butter sandwiches.

Friday, May 21, 2010

We lost Spot today

Istiqlál (Independence), 5 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 167 BE – Friday, May 21, 2010 about 7:02 PM Pacific Time

We lost Spot today. I don't know what was wrong with him because yesterday he seemed all right. My mother seems to be taking Spot's death well. I'm still in shock, so I'm not sure how I'm handling it. I'm going to begin taking the other cats to the vet next week for their shots. I've decided to get them a senior wellness exam and see if there are any physical issues.

Spot curled at my feet
Waited for me to fall asleep
Then found his own bed

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Sunset in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 18 Jamál (Beauty), 167 BE – Saturday, May 15, 2010 about Sunset Pacific Time

It's about sunset in Las Vegas on a warm Saturday afternoon. The sunset today is nice, not beautiful or spectacular, but nice. There are no pinks or reds, which occur when there are clouds above the western mountains.

At sunset the sky
Slowly changes to night black
Another day ends

Friday, May 14, 2010

A new hearing aid

Istiqlál (Independence), 17 Jamál (Beauty), 167 BE – Friday, May 14, 2010 about 3:23 PM Pacific Time

It's been a good week. On Thursday, we picked up Mom's new hearing aid and she is getting use to it. The first thing she noticed when we returned home was the refrigerator noise. Our fridge makes some rather odd noise, which Mom didn't notice before she began wearing the hearing aid.

I took the hearing aid out of her ear last night and then put it back in this morning. However, I think Mom is going to have to start putting in herself. Tonight I'm going to see if she can take it out, it isn't difficult to remove from her ear. The only problem may be finding the little handle that's used to pull it out. The other issue is getting it in her ear.

I had difficulty getting it in this morning. When the doctor put it in yesterday, he said to put a little baby oil in her ear to help it slide in easily. I bought the baby oil yesterday, but haven't been able to open the bottle. The baby oil bottle has a childproof cap and it's more difficult to get open then putting the hearing aid in Mom's ear.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

New glasses and a heart scan

‘Idál (Justice), 15 Jamál (Beauty), 167 BE – Wednesday, May 12, 2010 about 3:30 PM Pacific Time

Mom  got new glasses today and I got a heart scan. I'll receive the results of the heart scan in about ten days. I'm not worried because I don't think there is a problem, but the scan was free so I figured I may as well have one. I'm my mother's caregiver so I need to stay as healthy as possible, which means I need to know if I have any problems with my heart.

Important knowledge
Helps a woman stay healthy
And face the future

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

I felt the wind chill factor today

Fidál (Grace), 14 Jamál (Beauty), 167 BE – Tuesday, May 11, 2010 about 6:29 PM Pacific Time

The wind chill factor
Shivers penetrate my bone
I wore a sweater

Mom had an appointment with her doctor today. I left the house without a sweater, so it was a good thing Mom's yellow sweater was in the car. It was cold, not snow cold but cold enough the shiver if you had to walk very far. Mom wore her blue sweater today, so I was able to put her yellow sweater on when we walked to the doctor's office from the car.

Monday, May 10, 2010

I am Optimistic today

Kamál (Perfection), 13 Jamál (Beauty), 167 BE – Monday, May 10, 2010 about 12:04 PM Pacific Time

I am feeling rested and optimistic today. Normally it is one or the other, but not both at the same time. I woke up this morning feeling this way. Sometimes I wake up optimistic and the feeling does not last, but today the emotion remains.

This is a busy week because Mom has a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I have an appointment to have a heart scan on Wednesday. In addition, Mom is supposed to get her hearing aid sometime this week. She will also be picking up new glasses either this week or next week.

I turned on the cool air at the beginning of the month. The air conditioner has come on two or three times so far this month. The weather in Las Vegas is still cool and the winds are going to pick up again today. My optimistic attitude could have something to do with the weather.  I do not like extremely cold or hot temperatures, so that could have something to do with my mood.

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Mother’s Day 2010

Jamál (Beauty), 12 Jamál (Beauty), 167 BE – Sunday, May 9, 2010 about 6:00 PM Pacific Time

Mom and I stayed home today and I fixed one of her favorite meals. Mom likes fried potatoes and gravy, therefore, I fried some finger potatoes with a couple of cans of chicken. After that was cooked, I made gravy using canned milk. Mom enjoyed the meal and she enjoyed talking to my brothers and sister.

All three of my sibling called Mom today and she talked with them and with a few of her grandchildren. My mother has eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. I know Mom would enjoy having all of them in town at the same time, but that is difficult to arrange. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to send Mom to visit them at different times of the year.

Mom's getting a new hearing aid next week and in about ten days she will have a new pair of glasses. The hearing aid and the glasses will make life a little easier because she will hear and see better. Mom's still going to have to use a magnifying glass to read, but then I think I may have to get a magnifying glass myself because the words in some of the magazines are so small.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Allergy Weather in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 9 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Thursday, May 6, 2010 about 12:01 PM Pacific Time

Allergy weather
Wind in the oleanders
I inhale and sneeze

The wind is blowing again today and the oleanders are in bloom. I am sneezing and I want to stay at home, but we have to go out this afternoon.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

My mother is getting a hearing aid next week

‘Idál (Justice), 8 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Wednesday, May 5, 2010 about 2:24 PM Pacific Time

My mother is going to get a hearing aid next week. We had her hearing checked again yesterday at a place on South Rainbow. I qualified for a large enough loan to pay for most of the hearing aid and there was enough in one of the accounts to make a down payment, which covered the rest of the money.

Once Mom get the hearing aid, we will start going back to poetry readings. Mom is goig to like hearing conversations again and talking on the telephone. The hearing aid will go in her right ear, she really needs a hearing aid in both ears, but right now we can only afford a hearing aid for one ear. I am looking forward to Mom getting her hearing aid.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

I’m trying get a hearing aid for Mom

Fidál (Grace), 7 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Tuesday, May 4, 2010 about 8:37 AM Pacific Time

Mom has an appointment with a different hearing aid store this afternoon. I don't know if the outcome will be any different, but I'm hoping this place my have some other ideas or know of some funding or grants to get Mom a hearing aid.

I'd like to get Mom a new hearing aid, on fitted especially for her, but that may not be possible. If we can't find a grant or qualify for funding, then I'm going to have to get Mom a reconditioned hearing aid because she needs a hearing aid.

Mom can't hear very well, so she doesn't always answer questions or respond to comments that's said. She responds to what she thinks people are saying instead of what they do say. As a result, people think her Alzheimer's is worse then what it is. A hearing aid in her right ear would help.

Actually, Mom needs two hearing aids, one for each ear. However, she can hear better with her right ear then her left ear. An over the ear hearing aid in the right ear would letter her hear what is being said and so that she can respond appropriately.

Monday, May 03, 2010

I turned the cool air on today

Kamál (Perfection), 6 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Monday, May 3, 2010 about 2:07 PM Pacific Time

I turned the cool air on this morning, but the air condition has not come on all day. I set the thermostat at 79 degrees when I turned on the cool air and the temperature is about 74 degrees in Las Vegas. The air condition will not come on until the temperature in the house reaches 79 or 80 degrees.

This summer the temperature in Las Vegas will get over 100 degrees, so we will need the cool air this summer. I'm not looking forward to the power bill when temperatures rise into the triple digits, but those are the conditions you have to deal with living in Las Vegas.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

I bought a Mother’s Day Card today

Jamál (Beauty), 5 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Sunday, May 2, 2010 about 3:27 PM Pacific Time

I bought the card at the 99-cent only store, when I went to pick up some vegetable butter-like spread. I went to the regular grocery store this morning and bought, but I forgot to get butter. Since we're almost out and I have bagels, I decided to get some sort of buttery spread.

At the check out counter, there was a selection of giant Mothers' Day card. I bought one with pink flowers on the outside and a nice verse on the inside. I'll add my own poem to go along with the verse and give the card to Mom on Mothers' Day.

Saturday, May 01, 2010

A Beautiful May Day in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 4 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Saturday, May 1, 2010 about 6:15 PM Pacific Time

Beautiful May Day
A gentle breeze in the trees
Birds in my front yard

The birds seem to like the new look in my front yard. There are no weeds to hinder them when the scratch in the dirt. I saw two mourning doves scratching in my front yard; I think they were looking for food. I don't know what type of insects mourning doves eat, but whatever they eat the two birds were finding something good.