December 31, 2011 New Years Eve at home

Jalál (Glory), 1 Sharaf (Honor), 168 BE – Friday-Saturday, December 31, 2011 AD about 5:15 AM Pacific Time

This is the first in a series of entries themed “Stay at Home Saturday”. On Saturday, I normally remain at home with Mom. If I leave the house, Mom has to go with me or I have to find someone to stay with her. Any business I do I accomplished Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM because Mom is at an Adult Daycare center.

Sometimes staying home with Mom is exciting and sometimes it is mundane. I never know how the day will go. I am never of Mom’s mood. The one thing I can say about Saturday at home with Mom is that it is a blessing. My mother is 90 years old and suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, so sometimes the day getting interesting.

This is Saturday and New Year’s Eve, Mom and I are staying home all day. Tonight, we (or I depending on how early Mom goes to bed) will watch the festivities on television. I am planning to watch all the excitement of the birth of 2012 on Channel 3 KSNV Las Vegas, NV.

The drain behind the washer (again)

Fidál (Grace), 16 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Tuesday, December 27, 2011 about 1:45 PM Pacific Time

The drain behind the washer is doing it again. It is overflowing into the wall between my kitchen and living room. Then it is leaking into the living room. I do not know what the problem is this time. I do know I have no desire to go to the laundromat any more.

I called and left a message for the people who fixed the problem. Someone will get back to me. I will call back again tomorrow if I have not heard from anyone by 5:00 PM today. I will have to go back to the laundromat beginning Monday or Tuesday of next week if the issue is not resolved by then.

I have used the machine for several weeks without it overflowing. This is the first time it has overflowed in all the time I have been washing clothes since having it fixed. At least, I think this is the first time; I am sure I would have noticed water in my living room before this. The problem could be the sewer pipes, which are iron and have tree roots in them. I think there is something I can run down the drains to take care of the tree roots.

I have noticed that my kitchen sink is running slow, so the problem with the pipes behind the washer could have something to do with that. Oh well, at least Mom and I have clean clothes for a while.

Perhaps having the last pine tree in the front yard removed would help solve the issue of overflowing drainpipes. It is going to cost, at least, $800.00 to have the pine tree removed. True I had planned to have the tree removed in 2012, I just did not plan to have it removed until March or April, but now I may have to remove it before the end of January.

My Right Knee is Stiff

Kamál (Perfection), 15 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Monday, December 26, 2011 about 1:00 PM Pacific Time

On Friday, December 23, I hurt my right knee (again). I felt a sharp pain and began limping. I don’t know how I hurt my knee, I have osteoarthritis in that knee so almost anything will cause knee pain. Anyway, my knee has been stiff ever since.

As soon, as a finish dealing with the issue of my left leg; I will talk to my doctor about the right knee. At this point, I can deal with only a few things at a time. Today my knee is feeling better.

More Clearly Myself

Jalál (Glory), 13 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Saturday, December 24, 2011 about 2:45 PM Pacific Time

I received this beautiful birthday card from my health care provider a week or so ago. I decided to wait until today, my birthday, to scan the picture on the front of the card and compose an entry. I was born on December 24, 1946 in Blackwell, Oklahoma. I lived in Blackwell until I enter high school.

I went to high school in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where I graduated. After Shawnee, we move to Oklahoma City where I worked as a waitress. I moved back to Blackwell to take care of my Grandparents. At the time, I thought I moved back to live with them, but I did help take care of them. My Grandparents were buried in Blackwell. I now live in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Inside the card are spaces to list my prescription and over-the-counter medication. In addition, it gives information about the preventive health screenings I need to have. The next time I go to my primary care physician, I will take the card with me and talk to her about those screenings.

More fully myself
This is what is happening
65 years old

“We did not change as we grew older, we just became more clearly ourselves.”
Lynn Hall

Microwaveable Chicken and Rice Casserole

Istiqlál (Independence), 12 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Friday, December 23, 2011 about 10:30 AM Pacific Time

Today I am making Microwaveable Chicken and Rice Casserole, with plans of dividing it into two portions and freezing half for use later. The recipe makes enough for at least four people, so it is more then Mom and I will eat today.

Ingredients:

4 cups of cooked white or brown rice
1 14 oz. can clear chicken broth
1 14.5 oz. can sliced carrots
1 14.25 oz. can whole kernel sweet corn
1 14.5 oz. can cut green beans
1 12.5 oz. can fully cooked chunked chicken in water
½ cup of your favorite cheese grated (if you want more cheese add 1 cup)

Directions:

Step 1: Cook the rice. You may want to cook the rice the night before and let it sit in the refrigerator over night.

Step 2: In a medium to large microwavable casserole dish combine the rice with the chicken broth. Stir until the well mixed.

Step 3: Open cans of carrots, corn, and green beans. Drain the water off the vegetables. Stir the vegetables into the rice and broth mixture.

Step 4: Open the can of chicken. If you want to drain the water off the chicken, go ahead. Sometime I drain the chicken and at other times, I mix in the chicken without draining off the water.

Step 5: Place the lid on the casserole dish and put it in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

Step 6: If you are making this dish for one or two people divide the contents for freezing.

Step 7: Place the casserole in the microwave to cook or rather to heat. Since the ingredients have all ready been cooked, the only thing you have to do is heat it up, which takes about five or more minutes depending on the microwave oven and whether or not you add grated cheese to the dish.

Step 8: While the ingredients are still hot, stir in the grated cheese. The cheese should melt into the hot ingredients.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve this with a green salad of some type. You can buy salad ingredients already mixed at the grocery store.

A bright and beautiful Monday morning in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 8 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Monday, December 19, 2011 about 9:50 AM Pacific Time

The clouds are gone, the sun is shining, and there is no rain predicted for today. I can hang the bed sheets on the line today instead of draping the wet sheets over furniture to dry in the house. It rained on the weekend, but I still had laundry to do. If I do not wash one or two loads, a day I get behind and I cannot take wet clothes to a laundromat.

I just finish hanging the sheets out and I am out of breath. I remember helping Grandma hang clothes on the line. I do not remember either Grandma or me getting out of breath from hanging four sheets on the line. Of course, when I helped Grandma I was a child and in better health. Apparently, Grandma was in better health at 64 then I am.

Today it was easier walking and carrying a clothesbasket outside then last week, so the meds my doctors prescribed are working. In addition, my leg is feeling better and looking better. However, I need to increase my stamina so that I do not get out of breath easily. Perhaps I need to join a gym to build up my stamina because doing laundry does not appear to be doing the job. I will have to talk to my primary care physician when I see her again in January.

One Week until Christmas Day and another week until New Year’s Day

Jamál (Beauty), 7 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Sunday, December 18, 2011 about 3:50 PM Pacific Time

I no longer celebrate Christmas. Christmas Eve is my birthday and Christmas day brings back memories of my childhood in Blackwell, Oklahoma. My Grandmother Newland enjoyed Christmas because she could do one of her favorite things. Grandma enjoyed cooking and baking. Every year at this time, she would bake pies, cakes, and cookies.

Grandma began baking a few days before Thanksgiving and continued until after New Year’s Day. In addition to baking, Grandma fixed turkey, ham, and everything else that went along with the holidays. In addition, Grandma cleaned house. Grandma did a through how cleaning twice a year, once in the spring and again before the New Year.

The holiday season was a busy time for Grandma. For several years, she planned and cooked the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s dinners, while she was cleaning the house for the New Year. Thinking about it make me tired, because I am not sure I can do all the things she did.

Where do I begin writing about my Grandmother’s Christmas and New Year’s rituals? I suppose I should begin with her cooking, especially her pumpkin and apple pies. For years, Grandma made her own pastries for the holidays. I cannot bake pies like my Grandmother, I can cook many of the other dishes she made, but not the pies; therefore, when I want a pie I buy it in the store. Grandma Newland also made her own whipped cream.

One week from today

Jalál (Glory), 6 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Saturday, December 17, 2011 about 4:00 PM Pacific Time

One week from today, I will be 65 years old. I will celebrate my birthday at home with my mother. I want a birthday cake, so I will wait until Friday, December 23, to bake the carrot cake I have in the cupboard. I have some chocolate in the refrigerator, so I will use it to make frosting for the carrot cake. That does not sound like an exciting birthday; however, that is my birthday now that I am over 60 years old.

It would be nice to go out for my birthday, but Mom does not go out anymore, except when she goes to the daycare center during the week. I am not sure what else we will have to eat. I have some canned chicken in the cupboard, so I will fix pasta or rice to go with it. What I would like is a piece of prime rib and a baked potato, since we are not going out to eat prime rib is out of the question.

I miss the birthdays my family celebrated as child. Even if my each of siblings did get to open, a Christmas present when I opened my birthday presents. I used to resent that, but now I miss the celebration and the chocolate cake and ice cream.

A poem waiting

Istiqlál (Independence), 5 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Thursday, December 15, 2011 about 7:15 PM Pacific Time

I stare at the screen
A poem waiting for lines
My muse is laughing

I can’t think. I draw a blank. I’m not tired and even if I were I couldn’t go to bed because Mom has one more pill to take at 8:00. In addition, I have a couple more meds myself. I also have a poem to write, but all I can think of is a title. The title is “Something in the Water”.

The sun finally made an appearance in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 2 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Tuesday, December 13, 2011 about 1:25 PM Pacific Time

The sun finally made an appearance. There are still clouds, but I can see sun and blue sky between the clouds. The sun should dry up the puddle in my driveway quickly. I am doing laundry and hanging the clothes on a drying rack.

I do not intend to hang clothes out today. There are still too many clouds for that. I want the clothes to dry and I think they will do that faster in the house then outside. In addition, carrying a laundry basket full of wet clothes outside is no appealing.

I am thankful that I do not have to go to the laundromat any more. At home I can do the wash clothes between writing or doing housework. If I go to the laundromat, I am limited reading, doing puzzles, or dozing while my clothes wash. In addition, I have to do all the dirty clothes at once. At home, I can do small loads between other jobs.

The only thing I want here at home is an electric clothes dryer. At this point, it is difficult to walk to the clothesline carrying a basket full of wet clothes. Lately, the only clothes I have hung on the line is bed linen, the other things I have hung on the drying rack. I suppose by the time I can afford an automatic dryer it will be summer or my leg will be healed and then it will not matter if I hang clothes outside or dry them in the dryer.

Another reason I need an electric dryer

Kamál (Perfection), 1 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Monday, December 12, 2011 about 10:45 AM Pacific Time

My first reason is the difficulty I have hanging sheets on the line outside. Rain is the second reason I need an electric clothes dryer. I realized yesterday, when I hung four sheets on the line how difficult it was becoming. I am not sure what causes this problem. I could be issues with my rotator cuff or arthritis, but whichever it is it makes hanging clothes, especially sheets hard.

In order to hang a sheet on the line, I have to stretch my arms over my head to reach the clothesline. I do not know how my Grandmother did it, but she hung clothes on an outside line all the time. Grandma’s clothesline like mine was taller then her, yet she hung sheets neatly on the line. I cannot manage hanging them that way, my sheets always seem to hang lop sided on the clothesline. My sheets look pathetic hanging lopsided on the cloths line and if I am not careful, they drag on the ground when I turn the line.

Grandma did not have to worry about sheets dragging on the ground because her clothesline did not turn. My clothesline turns; I like this feature because I can stand in one place and turn the line instead of dragging a basket full of clothes across the yard.

Today is cloudy and the meteorologist predicted rain, so I cannot hang any of the clothes on the line. Fortunately, I have a drying rack so I can wash and hang the clothes on the rack.

Two AM wake up call

Jamál (Beauty), 19 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Sunday, December 11, 2011 about 6:38 AM

Mom woke me up about 2:00 this morning crying. When I went into her bedroom to investigate the problem, she asked, “Where is my husband?” My parents were divorced when I was in grade school and both my parents eventually remarried.

Of course, I am not sure my mother was talking about my father, but considering she has Alzheimer’s disease and is loosing her memory; I doubt she was talking about later husband. Mom remembers things that happened in her young adulthood, but not some of the thing that happened later in her life.

I told Mom that he was called into work because the business was short a person. She did not calm down. In fact, it took me several minutes to get her to listen to what I had to say. Even then, she did not stop crying. I finally had to give her some medication for agitation. Mom finally went back to sleep.

I went back to sleep for a little while myself, however, I did not sleep very long. I have too much work to accomplish today to lay in bed any later then necessary. I am going to let Mom sleep later today then usual, she had a tough night and she need her sleep. This is Sunday and Mom is not going to the Daycare center.

Note: The picture is of my parents when they were first married.

Café Mocha in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 18 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Saturday, December 10, 2011 about 2:35 PM Pacific Time

It’s that time of year again, when I buy instant hot chocolate mix. It’s been a few months since I had hot chocolate mix in the house, but I had a coupon for Swiss Miss mix so when I went to the store on Monday I bought a couple of boxes. I made Mom some hot chocolate this afternoon and I made myself a cup of café mocha. In the morning, I’ll make Mom and I both a cup of café mocha.

The way I make café mocha is to open a package of instant hot coco mix, in this case the Swiss Miss, and empty it into a coffee cup or mug. After the mix is in the cup, I pour the coffee in and stir it with a spoon. It makes great café mocha and I do not have to go out of the house to have a cup.

I feel cut off from the world in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 13 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Monday, December 5, 2011 about 2:05 PM Pacific Time

I cannot make or receive calls on either my landline or cell phone. I e-mailed my cell phone provider this morning. The reply they sent said it would take about 48 hours to solve the problem. The phone connected to my landline does not work. I either need to get a new phone or a cable to fix the phone, in the mean time I am out of contact with the rest of the world.

I need to get a headset and a microphone so that I can download Skype to my computer. I do not like the feeling cut off from the world. I can check my landline voice mail online, but I cannot contact anyone back until I get either the landline phone fixed or cell phone.

One of the blessings of modern life and technology is a connection to the rest of the planet. I have been lax in checking my Facebook page, but no longer. From now on, I will check my Facebook page at least every other day, if not everyday. In addition, I have to get a headset and microphone so that I can use Skype.

The Pine tree is still standing

Jalál (Glory), 11 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Saturday, December 3, 2011 about 4:20 PM Pacific Time

The pine tree still stands
After the high wind warnings
Birds set in the limbs

I was relieved to wake up this morning and see the pine tree still standing. Perhaps, I should say leaning because that is how it looks. The tree appears to lean toward the street and the power polls. The high winds did not knock it down, so far, this weekend. I can only hope it contuse to stand.

It will cost between $400.00 and $1,000.00 to have that tree removed. I have to find the money to have it removed in 2012. In the mean time, I can only pray that it remains standing. This weekend, there were high wind warnings for the Las Vegas valley and winter storm warning in the mountains.

I think the winds have slowed down for a while, but I do not know for how long. We (Mom and me) still do not have enough money in the savings accounts to pay for tree removal. Therefore, I can only pray and hope that the tree remains standing until we have the money. I think we can have the tree removed sometime in May or June of 2012. I would like to have it removed before that, but the finances are not there yet.

Winter has arrived in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 9 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Thursday, December 1, 2011 about 11:40 AM Pacific Time

Winter has finally arrived in Las Vegas, with High Wind Warnings in the valley and Winter Storm Warning in the mountains. Today is cloudy and chilly. I did not let this prevent me from doing a couple of loads of laundry and hanging them on the line. Since I did not do laundry on Tuesday and Wednesday, I had to do it today. I am behind and I need to catch up this week.

So far, it has not rained, I did hear thunder earlier, but that has stopped. If it rains, I can do nothing about it. I just hope that it holds off until some of the clothes are dry. True it takes longer for cloths to dry on a cloudy day, but the eventually dry. I have to consider getting an electric dryer and then I would not have to worry about the weather and the clothes drying. However, the dryer has to wait a while because other things take priority.

I have a small space heater for the bathroom and a clothes rack. I can always put the cloths rack in the bathroom and turn on the space heater. That will allow me to dry some of the clothes in the house. I would prefer to hang the clothes outside or use an electric dryer. The space heater and the clothes rack will help me catch up on the laundry, which is what I want to do this week.

Hanging Laundry outside in Autumn

Jamál (Beauty), 5 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Sunday, November 27, 2011 about 2:05 PM Pacific Time

It’s autumn and I have to hang wet laundry outside. I remember my grandmother hanging cloths outside, I always wondered why she got started doing laundry so early in fall and winter now I know. The days are so short that one is lucky to if the cloths dry.

Saturday and Sunday, I washed bed sheets and hung them out. On Saturday, I hung four sheets out (I am only washing small loads) and they were dry before noon. So today, I hung out eight sheets, which dried before noon. I figure I can wash three or four small loads and they will dry (depending on the cloths) before sunset.

I can use my washing machine at home, so I am finally catching up on the laundry. If I washed larger loads, I could catch up faster if I washed larger loads, but I have to work with my physical condition and other work I have to complete. The three or four small loads allows me do the laundry without wearing myself out. It also allows me to time my work while I am online or writing because I have to stop and add the fabric softener to washing machine.

Saturday afternoon Coffee in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 4 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Saturday, November 26, 2011 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time

I made a fresh carefree this morning about 5:30 or 6:00 AM, but due to various issues with my mother I am just getting around to drinking a hot cup of coffee. The coffee maker turned off several hours ago, so I had to reheat the coffee up in the microwave. I put the coffee in a large mug and then placed the mug into the microwave and reheated the coffee for 1.25 minutes.

The only way I can reheat coffee in the microwave is by putting the liquid in a mug. I have not taken the trouble to reheat coffee in a small cup, the mug works good and it hold enough coffee for me drink while I am writing or surfing the internet.

As I wrote before, Mom had several issues this morning. Mom spent most of the morning crying for her parents and cousins. Most of the people she wanted to see are probably no longer alive, but there is no use saying that to Mom because she would not believe it and she would be upset. I finally got Mom calmed down and all the morning’s issues resolved or she forgot about them.

Right now, Mom is taking a nap on the couch. The nap probably means she will stay up late or get up early Sunday morning. The problem is that getting upset and crying always wears her out. Mom does not take naps often on the weekend, but when she does, there is no talking her out of it. I have to wake her up about 3:00 PM for a pill. After this morning, I am tired myself; however, I cannot take a nap because there is no one else to take care of Mom. Instead of a nap, I will reheat another mug of coffee.

Black Friday 2011

Istiqlál (Independence), 3 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Friday, November 25, 2011 about 1:50 PM Pacific Time

It is Black Friday and I am at home with my mother because the Adult Daycare Center closed for the holidays. The Daycare will reopen Monday, but in the mean time, I am at home with Mom who is crying. Mom misses her parents and wants to see them.

My grandparents, Mom’s mother and father, died years ago; Mom does not remember attending their funeral. She thinks they are still alive and living in Blackwell, Oklahoma. Mom is upset because she thinks she left them without saying good-bye. I do not know how to help her with this issue. I cannot tell her my grandparents are dead because that would make her cry more.

It is Black Friday 2011. My mother has Alzheimer’s disease and does not remember her parents are dead. Mom still has a Risperidone tablet to take, but I cannot give that to her until 3:00 PM. She takes one tablet three times a day.

It is Black Friday 2011 and my mother is home crying for her parents. No matter what I say, it does not comfort her. Mom wants to see her parents, but they are dead. I cannot tell her they are dead because she would not believe and it would make her even more upset. I am going to attempt to distract Mom with food sometimes that helps. There is one chocolate pudding left in the refrigerator that I can give her, I hope it helps. It might help for a little while.

A Thankful Thanksgiving in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 2 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Thursday, November 24, 2011 about 2:55 PM Pacific Time

It is a Happy and Thankful Thanksgiving in our house. Mom is home because the Adult Daycare center closed for Thanksgiving and Family day (Black Friday). Mom is in a good mood and singing Jingle Bells. We had a delicious Thanksgiving meal, which someone delivered to our home yesterday.

I warmed the turkey, dressing, potatoes, peas, corn, and gravy up in the microwave. In addition, we had dinner rolls, cranberry sauce (fixed with whole cranberries) and pumpkin pie. The Thanksgiving Feast contained enough food for breakfast and lunch, with enough potatoes and dressing left over for two meals tomorrow.

For breakfast on Friday, I will fix potato pancakes. For lunch tomorrow, I will make a green bean salad and warm up the dressing. I still have to fix dinner tonight, but I think it will be fruit or some type of sandwiches. Mom still has pills to take and she has to eat something with the meds. I am not hungry; however, Mom will want more to eat this afternoon.

I finished off the coffee a few minutes ago, so this afternoon I will pour Mom some orange juice or grape juice. Mom does not need any more coffee because I suspect it keeps her awake if she drinks it after 3:00 PM, Mom needs to drink more juice and water. I wish I could get her to drink more water. She wants to drink anything except water; I am going to have to figure out a way to get her to drink more water.

Midweek Reflections: Giving an Alzheimer’s patient medication

‘Idál (Justice), 1 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Wednesday, November 23, 2011 about 12:55 PM Pacific Time

As I have written before, sometimes Mom doesn’t want to take her medication. Normally, it’s simply a matter of gentle persuasions. At other times, it’s a matter of backing off and waiting a few minutes for Mom to calm down and forget that I attempted to give her the meds. Then there are those times when the only way to get her to take a pill is to hide it in her food.

The doctor recently increased one of Mom’s medications from once a day to three times a day. During the week, the nurse at the Adult Daycare center gives her two of the tablets and I give her the third at home. Since Mom usually goes to bed about 6:00 PM, this requires me to wake Mom and give her the third tablet.

In some ways it’s easier to give Mom the medication and in other ways more difficult. I know that sounds like a paradox, but it’s true. Mom does not argue about taking the medication, therefore, once I have convinced her that she needs to take it and drink water with it she does. However, Mom does not wake up easily from a sound sleep; in fact, none of my family wakes up easily from a sound sleep.

Once I have Mom sitting up in bed. I have to make sure she is awake enough to take the pill and then drink some water. I think tonight, I will use a teaspoon to put the pill in her mouth. I’m not sure how well it will work that time of night, but it may be easier then putting the pill in her hand and then having her put the tablet in her mouth.

2011 a Stress Filled Year

Fidál (Grace), 19 Qudrat (Power), 168 BE – Tuesday, November 22, 2011 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time

2011 a stress filled year, which may explain why I got this Baha’i year (168 BE) confused with last year (167 BE). The stress was so bad that my psoriases got worse instead of better. The situation has calmed down a bit, my psoriasis is getting better and I have got my dates straight again.

What caused all this stress? I think it was a combination of issues. I am my mother’s caregiver and she has Alzheimer’s disease. Then there were the financial issues plus a bunch of other things; everything just pilled up and I stressed out. Even though the stress is still present, my life is becoming calmer.

I am meditating on the prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah, and the Bab, as well as those written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. I am writing my problems in an offline journal, instead of using the journal as a place to rant. Ranting seems to increase the stress, while free writing about the issue helps find a solution. Prayer and journaling is the best way to alleviate stress and find solutions to my problems.

Happiness is twenty recipes for green beans

Fidál (Grace), 19 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Monday, November 21, 2011 about 6:10 PM Pacific Time

All right, it doesn’t take much to make me happy any more. For the past few weeks, we’ve eaten a lot of green beans, can chicken, and rice. It’s good, but I think I’ve overdid it because Mom doesn’t eat it very good any more, so I have to find different ways to fix green beans because I have an over abundance of canned green beans in my pantry.

A friend sent me a link to 20 Ways to Cook Green Beans. I glanced through the recipes a few minutes ago and they all sound good. Since I’m making a green bean salad this week, I’ll begin fixing one of the other recipes next week. The first thing I need to do is make a list of the ingredients and then check my pantry to see what I have on hand. I’m looking forward to cooking these new (to me anyway) recipes.

Thanksgiving Week begins

Jamál (Beauty), 17 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Sunday, November 20, 2011 about 4:00 PM Pacific Time

Thanksgiving week dawned cloudy and chilly. I fixed Mom the rest of the rice casserole this morning, so she had something hot to eat. However, I have to change the recipe when I make it again to make it more appealing to Mom. I’ll deal with this recipe next week because this week I have Thanksgiving to plan.

I don’t have to plan the Thanksgiving meal because I’m expecting the meal to be delivered. Someone is providing the Thanksgiving day meal for Mom and me, which is a relief because now I can focus on other things. I have to find something for Mom to do at home on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday because Mom will be home all day for four days instead of two.

I plan to remain home Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday because I have laundry to do. I can use my washing machine now; I have to hang the cloths on the line to dry, so I hope the sunshines a little more then it did today. If there are clouds, I still have laundry to do, so I’ll have to hang the cloths indoors to dry.

I found out yesterday, that when Mom’s home I can only get one or two loads of laundry washed and dried. I still have to hang those cloths in the closet, but I can do that this evening after Mom goes to bed. I hope I can get more then two loads of laundry done tomorrow while Mom is at the daycare.

A Recipe in Progress – Microwave rice casserole

Jalál (Glory), 16 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Saturday, November 19, 2011 about 9:55 AM Pacific Time

At the beginning of the week, I fixed a package of rice in the slow cooker. I fixed the entire package because I wanted the rice to last all week. This time I did not add any bouillon cubes to the rice, but the next time I make it I think I will add some chicken or shrimp bouillon cubes.

On Thursday, I added a can of chicken and a can of green beans to the rice. Thinking about it now, I realize I had too much rice for one can of either item. However, since I did not use a measuring cup when I transferred the rice to the microwave casserole dish, I do not know how much rice I used. When I tasted the rice, I realized I needed more chicken and green beans.

Today, I added the rest of the rice to the casserole dish, but I did not add any other items. I wanted us to finish the casserole this weekend so that I can begin fresh on Monday and keep track of the amount of the ingredients. Right now, the ingredients are rice, chicken, and green beans. Next time I make this recipe I will add corn, peas, and perhaps carrots or switch to cans of mixed vegetables. I have not decided which just yet. I also have to buy some chicken bouillon cubes because I have only shrimp cubes in the refrigerator. Yes, I keep my bouillon cubes in the refrigerator.

A New Week Begins: Hope sees a bright future

It’s Sunday, November 13, 2011, and a new week begins. I realized today that hope always sees a bright future. Even when clouds hide the sun, hope remembers the warm rays and smiles. I’m just recovering from a bad case of psoriasis brought on by stress and worry.

Ever since Mom lost her hearing aids and I had to pay for a new pair, I’ve worried. I’ve worried over everything and it’s brought on a bout of psoriasis. I know that worry doesn’t cause psoriasis, but it does encourage an outbreak. The psoriasis on my left leg is especially bad, but all I have right now is the topical that I apply once a day. It helps, but it’s slow.

Everyday this week I’ve encountered a situation that cause stress and I can’t afford any more stress. My Medicare kicks in December 1 and I can’t see my new doctor until after that date. This means I have to handle stress differently because worrying about the stressful situation doesn’t make sense when I know the worry will encourage a psoriasis outbreak.

Writing and prayer help alleviate the stress. The problem is that I haven’t been doing a lot of either for a while. I need to get back to my old routine of prayer and writing. In order to do either, I need a little alone time. The situation does not encourage this. I now have my brother-in-law sleeping on a couch and it’s stressing me out.

I’m almost to the point of giving up, but that won’t help. Besides giving up isn’t an option. It’s something I think about when every occurrence in my life causes stress. I need to look at the coming week with the eyes of hope because hope always sees a bright future.

I am Tired in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 10 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Sunday, November 12, 2011 about 5:15 PM Pacific Time

It’s Saturday evening sometime after sunset. I’m tired. It’s been a long and weary day. I had to put my plans to go to the bank this morning on hold because of issues with my mother.

Mom had a difficult day. Mom cried all morning, I called the on call nurse and she refilled prescription Mom takes for agitation. I think it helped a little. Mom cried about her grandparents, I don’t know if she meant her maternal or fraternal grandparents. She cried because she thought her grandfather had ran away with another woman. I don’t know the woman’s name or anything, just that she thought he had ran away with someone besides her grandmother.

I finally got Mom calmed down enough to eat. She ate, took her meds, and then went to bed. I went back into her bedroom once to reassure her that I’m still here. I turned out the light in her room and in the hall, so that she could go to sleep. I think she’s asleep now, at least, I don’t hear her crying.

Usually, on Saturday I watch television after Mom goes to bed, but I don’t feel like doing that tonight. I’m tired, but not sleepy. I’ll see what I can get done while Mom’s asleep. She may not stay asleep very long or she may sleep all night.

Feeling like autumn in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 7 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Thursday, November 10, 2011 about 2:20 PM Pacific Time

It’s beginning to feel like autumn in Las Vegas. Today the clouds cover the sky and hide the sun. It feels damp and slightly chilly. The temperature in the house is 75 degrees. It’s a depressing day. It’s a day that hints at the coming of winter.

It’s beginning to feel like fall in Las Vegas. This morning was chilly. Mom complained about the cold this morning. It didn’t feel cold to me. The morning felt damp, which suggested a chilly temperature.

It’s beginning to feel like autumn in Las Vegas. I don’t think we have reached freezing temperatures at night, but the leaves on my next door neighbor’s oak tree are beginning to change colors. It will soon be looking like fall in Las Vegas.

It’s beginning to feel like fall in Las Vegas. Each day I go out and look up at Mount Charleston. I’m looking for snow on the mountain. Every day I expect to see Mount Charleston’s crest covered with a layer of snow. One of these days, I won’t be disappointed. I’m looking forward to see the Mountain’s snow capped crest.

Laundry Day in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 4 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Monday, November 7, 2011 about 3:12 PM Pacific Time

It’s Monday afternoon and the only thing I accomplished this morning was laundry. It took me 2 ½ hours to do three loads of laundry. The only cloths I washed today were mine. I still have some of Mom’s to do, but that will have to wait until Thursday. I still can’t use the washer here at home because it needs a sleeve to prevent the water from over flowing into the wall during the spin cycle.

I could get a lot more accomplished at home if I could do laundry here. I could do one or two loads a day and hang them on the line. I have a wonderful cloths line in my backyard. It’s circular and turns so that I can stand in one spot and hang cloths out.

I like the scent of cloths dried out doors. I remember my grandmother always hung her cloths outside to dry. They smelled so nice and fresh. I use fabric softener; however, I can’t use the fabric softener. When I hang cloths outside they have a nice aroma without using a scented laundry detergent or fabric softener.

Rain in Las Vegas and the environmental unit

Jalál (Glory), 2 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Saturday, November 5, 2011 about 3:40 PM Pacific Time

It rained in Las Vegas last night. This morning, when I looked out my kitchen window the ground was wet. When I went out front to roll the trashcan to the curb there was a small puddle of water in my driveway.

Because it rained yesterday, it is chilly today. My central heat is not working properly because hen the auxiliary heat comes on the temperature in the house moves down and not up. The regular heat seems to work, but I don’t know how well it works. I called the company that does maintenance on our unit and they can’t send someone until Tuesday afternoon. So I guess we’re not the only household dealing with heating problems.

I’m going to a store tomorrow to buy a small heater for the bathroom. The bathroom needs to be warm for Mom to take a bath on Monday and Tuesday morning. I’m not crazy about having a space heater, but I have no choice Mom can’t take a bath unless the room is warm.

I’m tired of having problems with the environmental unit (central air or in our case heat pump). This year we’ve had more problems with that unit then in the past few years. I suspect we may need a new unit and I don’t want to think about that right now. Therefore, I will place this situation in God’s hands and get on with my life.

A Beautiful November afternoon in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 1 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Friday, November 4, 2011 about 2:50 PM Pacific Time

It is a beautiful November afternoon in Las Vegas. The wind is blowing and clouds hide blue sky. I went to the car and the wind seemed a bit chilly. It was not cold enough for a coat or jacket, but it was cool enough for a long sleeved blouse or shirt.

I am waiting for Mom to come home, so that I can fix her something to eat. Mom has to take her meds with food, which is nice because it makes it easier to hide her pills in the food. Sometimes Mom does not want to take her medication.

I am not sure what type of mood Mom will be in today. Since the wind is blowing, she will think it is cold. Therefore, I suspect she will not be happy. Mom does not like to go out in the wind. Mom has a nice new coat that keeps her warm, so I think the problem is the wind and the clouds. Mom thinks that clouds mean rain.

In Oklahoma, where Mom grew up, clouds do mean rain. However, this is Nevada and clouds do not always bring rain. Even if the clouds do mean rain, it may not rain in this section of Las Vegas. It would be nice if these beautiful November clouds brought rain, but the only thing we may have is wind and clouds.

Medication and The price of peanut butter

‘Idál (Justice), 18 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Wednesday, November 2, 2011 about 7:32 AM Pacific Time

What, you may ask, has the price of peanut butter to do with medication? In our house, a great deal. Peanut butter is one of the foods I use to hide my mother’s medication. Sometimes, because of the Alzheimer’s disease, Mom does not want to take her meds. She fights taking her meds, so rather then argue with her; I hide the tablets in food.

I can always tell how difficult Mom is going to be. Mom has two meds that are capsules rather then tablets. One of these she takes first thing in the morning. Sometimes she takes the capsules without too much of an argument. At other times, she refuses to take it. This med is for her stomach and prevents heartburn, which she has if she does not take the capsule on a regular basis.

The problems with time-released capsules are that she cannot chew them, but must swallow them whole. The capsule (a different medication) she takes of an evening is easier because she is happier in the afternoon then in the morning. As I was writing, I hide the tablets in her peanut butter or ice cream. If peanut butter prices get too high, I will have to find another food to conceal Mom’s meds.

Time to close the books on October

Fidál (Grace), 17 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Tuesday, November 1, 2011 about 3:23 PM Pacific Time

I like to stay home on the first day of the month. This is when I close the books. This morning I couldn’t stay home, so it’s afternoon and I don’t have October’s books closed or November’s books open and this mean a late night bringing everything into balance. Oh well, it is my own fault.

The only financial work I accomplished today was setting up the house payment to come out of the checking account on the seventh. Usually, I close the proceeding month’s books before going to the mortgage website to make the house payment. That way I can put the payment amount in the budget spreadsheet with the confirmation number. I wrote down the confirmation number, so I have it when I set up November’s spreadsheet.

I will close October’s books after Mom goes to bed. I don’t like doing this because I prefer to close the books when I am by myself and don’t have to listen for Mom. Sometimes Mom gets out of bed and walks down the hall. The problem is that she doesn’t always remember to use her walker. It’s difficult to close books when I have to listen for footsteps in the hall.

A rough day in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 15 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Sunday, October 30, 2011 about 4:50 PM Pacific Time

I feel like I’ve been riding the rapids, going up and down, down and up all day. Mom woke up in a good mood; in fact, she got up by herself. She used her walker to move safely from her bedroom to the living room. She was a bit upset when she didn’t find me in the living room, but she calmed down as soon as she saw me.

The first pill she takes is a capsule, which means she cannot chew it, but has to swallow it. It was easy to convince her to take that pill. That was the last pill she took easily all day. The rest of the tablets she didn’t want to take, I finally got her to take the last tablet by hiding it in some ice cream. I’m going to have to start giving her the tablets in her food, the problem is the capsules; I don’t think I can hide them in her food because they are capsules.

I didn’t feel very well this morning myself. This afternoon I feel better, but I haven’t eaten very much today. I think I’ll fix me an egg or some other type of sandwich. I did eat some cut okra this afternoon, so perhaps I’ll eat some applesauce or some ice cream. Maybe fix a hot cup of tea and just relax this evening because I’m still a little tired.

Cooking for someone on a low fiber diet

Istijlál (Majesty), 12 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Thursday, October 27, 2011 about 2:52 PM Pacific Time

I am learning to cook again. My mother is on a low fiber diet, this means that she can have 3 grams of fiber or less per meal. The dietitian told us per day, but I have found that it is easier to count the dietary fiber content per meal rather then per day.

According to the information on the vegetable labels, ½ cup of the vegetable counts as a serving, this means if the veggie contains 3 grams of fiber that is per serving. There is not enough fiber in most meats to make the label, so I do not have to worry about the fiber in the meat. While rice (according to the labels I have read) does not contain dietary fiber.

To keep Mom’s dietary fiber within the proper range, I mix rice with meat and veggies. Most of the time I use canned chicken and green beans. Therefore, the ½-cup serving of green beans becomes a serving of rice, chicken, and green beans. I use the same method with carrots, peas, etc.

This works all right unless Mom we have frozen dinners. The problem with the T.V. dinners I have encountered so far is that none of them has less then 2 or 3 grams of fiber. Since this is the case, I cannot fix Mom more then one per day or she exceeds the 3 grams per day limit. This also means that instead of getting a vegetable with her rice, she can have only chicken.

This also means that, since I do not know the fiber content of meals in restaurants, I cannot purchase meals and bring home for Mom. Occasionally I would like a break from cooking and meal planning. I would like to go to a restaurant, order something to go, and bring it home for us to eat. Oh well, such is life.

Rice, Canned Chicken, and Green Beans

Kamál (Perfection), 9 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Monday, October 24, 2011 about 3:40 PM

Today I fixed rice, canned chicken, and green beans. I mixed the green beans with the other ingredients because it had only 2 grams of dietary fiber. Since Mom is going to eat this for her supper, I had to make sure it had the least amount of dietary fiber.

Mom is on a low fiber diet, which means she can have no more then 3 grams of fiber in a meal. The rice and chicken have very little or no fiber, so this is a good mean for a weekday afternoon.

I mixed one can of chicken and one can of green beans with the rice. I am not sure how many cups of rice because the casserole dish I used already had rice in it. When I cooked the package of rice, I flavored it with one shrimp bullion cube. Since the cube contained a great deal of salt, I did not want to use more then one. I am not sure what size package of rice I used; I had enough rice to fill two medium casserole dishes.

All right, that may not be the best way to cook rice, but that is how I do it. This way I only have to cook rice once a week. I cook the rice and then I decide what to add to it for our meals the rest of the week; it saves time and energy.

At 3:05 AM October 23, 2011

Jamál (Beauty), 8 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Sunday, October 23, 2011 about 11:55 AM Pacific Time

At 3:05 AM, I heard someone walking down the hall. I got up to see if I had left the door unlock, but instead of an intruder, I found Mom in the living room. I managed to convince her to go into the bathroom and change her cloths. Then we went back into the living room so that I could start giving her, her morning medication.

I convinced her to take the first pill and then began my day. After she took the pill, I went into the kitchen. Instead of taking my second pill of the morning, I started a carafe of coffee and then got us each two slices of pound cake. I did not realize until a few minutes ago that I forgot to take my pill. Getting old is not for wimps.

Since Mom got out of bed at 3:05 AM, I did not get my morning shower taken. It is a good thing I took a shower last night before going to bed. I took a shower last night because my psoriasis was itching and burning. I put baking soda on a washcloth and used that on my psoriasis. I did think the baking soda helped much last night, but this morning the psoriasis feels better and itches less.

In fact, Mom got up so early that I did not get a chance to do many things I planned to accomplish this morning. If Mom is going to get up early on the weekends, I have to rearrange my morning chores and activities so that I can do them in the evening.

It is Friday Evening

Jalál (Glory), 7 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Friday, October 21, 2011 about 7:10 PM Pacific Time

It is Friday evening and I have to stay home Saturday and Sunday. Ordinarily, I would find this a problem, but after the last couple of days, it is refreshing. True, I probably will not get everything caught up, but that is all right. I need to learn to relax and chill out. I am going through a horrendous out break of psoriasis and I think the main problem is stress.

I need to learn to accomplish what I can without stressing over everything that I need to accomplish. I need to learn to chill out and stop stressing over a slow computer. Stress will not increase the speed of my computer. Stress will not help me figure out why my computer slows down at the most in opportune times. Stress will only increase the psoriasis outbreak that is starting to cover my body.

I have to call the pharmacy and get another tube of the cream I put on the red itchy patches. I know the prescription helps a little. My doctor suggested I use Vaseline fro the dryness, which helps a little. It does not do anything for the itch. I am going to try a remedy for itch that my grandmother used. She made a paste out of baking powder and spread it over the itchy areas when we had chicken pox. It stopped us from scratching then, I am not sure how well it will work in this case, but it is worth a try.

A busy Morning in Las Vegas

‘Idál (Justice), 4 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Wednesday, October 19, 2011 about 2:50 PM Pacific Time

It was a busy morning. My computer has been running slow so I ran the disk cleanup program followed by the defragmentation program. It took a while, so I sorted cloths and took three baskets to my car. I will be so glad when I can use my machine here at home, then I can do a load of laundry whenever I want to instead of having to wait until I can get to the laundromat.

Tomorrow, after I stop at the bank to get quarters, I will wash the three baskets of Mom’s cloths. I still have sheets and a basket of my cloths, but those can wait until Friday. I am going to the laundromat Thursday and Friday this week. I know I am pushing myself, but I have no other choice because I want to get as many cloths washed this week as possible. I still have one more basket to wash, but those cloths need pretreated before I put them into a washing machine.

I do not like pretreating my cloths at the laundromat because it takes too long and I have to remain standing up longer then is comfortable. I can stand up just so long before I have to sit down and rest. Therefore, I will pretreat the cloths at home and then take them to the laundromat either Monday or Tuesday.

Being a Caregiver Isn’t Easy

Fidál (Grace), 3 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Tuesday, October 18, 2011 about 1:58 PM Pacific Time

As my Mother’s caregiver, I have to make choices for her that she cannot make for herself. This afternoon, I realized that one of the choices concerns my mother’s wardrobe. I was hanging cloths for her to wear and I came across two pairs of my mother’s slacks. Mom does not wear slacks any more, she used to wear them all the time, but now she wears only skirts, blouses, and dresses.

Mom does not wear slacks anymore because dresses and skirts are easier for her to get on and off, especially when someone else is assisting her to dress. Mom does not seem to notice that the only that the only choices presented to her are dresses or skirts. Perhaps it is because she was born and raised in a time when women did not wear slacks. I do not think she began wearing slacks until World War II.

Anyway, as I was hanging Mom’s cloths up I came across two pairs of slacks she used to wear. Since there is no use hanging them where she can find them and want to wear them, I put them in a box I am planning to give away. Because Mom suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, she will get angry if cannot wear them and this would happen if she wanted to wear them and I had to say no.

I miss the woman my mother used to be. The woman I could reason with and discuss issues without her repeating herself or getting angry over a difference of opinion. I pray everyday that medical science will find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

The price of peanut butter

Kamál (Perfection), 2 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Monday, October 17, 2011 about 3:20 PM Pacific Time

The price of peanut butter is increasing. I don’t suppose it should surprise me because everything, except my income is going up. If the price rises too much, I may have to stop buying peanut butter. I’m not happy about it, but I’m not sure there is anything else I can do. Mom and I live on a fixed income, which means we’re living close to the bone all the time.

The majority of our money goes for other things besides food. Peanut butter is one of Mom’s favorite foods. Mom could make an entire meal of peanut butter and crackers. I don’t know what I’m going to tell Mom if I have to take peanut butter off the menu.

I like peanut butter myself. If I stop eating it then the peanut butter will last longer. That may be one solution. I buy the peanut butter for Mom, instead of buying it for Mom and me. I will miss eating it, but I can get buy with something else. I can eat grape jelly sandwiches, I don’t have to have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I will miss them; however, I don’t see any other solution to the problem.

A change of plans for this week

Jamál (Beauty), 1 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Sunday, October 16, 2011 about 4:30 PM Pacific Time

I had planned to go to the laundromat on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. As it turns out, I have to remain home on Monday. If I let it, this will mess up my schedule for the week; however, I do not think I will let it. I have plenty to do here at home both on and off line.

I need to clean out the pantry and move some of the canned goods to another cupboard in the kitchen. I need to clean out Mom’s closet and my closet. We both have dresses that we will never wear, so I need to pack those in a box and give them away. I also need to get the spare room ready to rent. I am not sure the renting idea will work out, but it is worth a try because we need the money and I am tired of using that room as a “catch all”.

I suppose I need to write a “to do list” tonight so that I accomplish something tomorrow. If I can check a job off a list then I know I have accomplished something.

An interesting Saturday in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 19 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Saturday, October 15, 2011 about 5:25 PM Pacific Time

It has been an interesting and frustrating Saturday. The frustrating concerned my computer this morning. I am not sure what caused the problem, but it seems to have cleared this afternoon. This morning the computer slowed down and I had to reboot several times because the CPU kept running at 100%. Because of the frustration I am tired and behind completing online work. This means staying up late tonight and tomorrow night completing work.

The interesting part of the day concerned my mother. This morning Mom was happy and singing or humming. She was singing “Yankee Doodle” and humming a John Philips Sousa piece, but I am not sure of the title. This afternoon Mom was crying. I have no idea why she cried because she never tells me. Actually, she does not know why she is crying.

I ask Mom why she is crying and she always says, “I don’t know” or “I’m not crying.” The reasons concern the Alzheimer’s disease and I suspect she forgets why she is crying. If I have a choice, I would rather she were singing. I suspect the reason Mom cries concerns her belief that her parents are still alive.

My laundromat schedule in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 17 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Thursday, October 13, 2011 about 1:05 PM Pacific Time

Mom’s physical condition requires that I go to the laundromat more then once or twice a week. My physical condition requires a one-day recovery period between trips to the laundromat; therefore, my laundry schedule has to change. Today I have three baskets of laundry ready to go to the laundromat tomorrow morning. I have one more basket to load in the car today.

In addition, I think I am allergic to my fabric softener. I bought a new jug of unscented fabric softener to use in my cloths. I will use the scented softener in Mom’s cloths. Next week, I will go to the laundromat on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Monday is going to be a long day because I have to go to the bank and the grocery store before going to the laundromat. I need to get quarters at the bank and more fabric softener for Mom’s cloths. I am almost out of the scented fabric softener and I have to use it when I wash Mom’s cloths.

Thinking about next week’s schedule makes me tired. I have to increase my protein intake this weekend to prepare for next week’s schedule. I hope that helps. Going to the laundromat is strenuous exercise, which means the next time someone ask me if I get strenuous exercise, I can say “Yes, three times a week.”

I Gave the Cats to Becky

‘Idál (Justice), 16 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Wednesday, October 12, 2011 about 6:55 PM

Due to physical and financial, I could not continue to take care of both Mom and the cats. Therefore, with the help of my brother, I took the cats the animal shelter earlier this year. When Mom first noticed that they were gone, I told her I took them to the Vet and they had to stay there for a while. That seemed to satisfy Mom at the time.

Recently Mom asked, “Where are the cats?”

My reply, “I gave them to Becky.” I explained to Mom that Becky wanted some cats to keep her cat company and that satisfied Mom. I do not know a Becky, but apparently, Mom has known someone by that name because it satisfied her.

Because of the Alzheimer’s disease and short-term memory issues Mom usually forgets that we had cats. When she does remember it is unwise to tell her that I took them to the Animal Shelter because she will get angry. This forces me to come up with plausible explanations that will satisfy her when she asks the question. Fortunately, she does not ask the question vary often.

How to wear yourself out in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 15 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Tuesday, October 11, 2011 about 1:35 PM Pacific Time

How do you wear yourself out in Las Vegas? Go to the store and laundromat in the same day. I bet you thought I was going to write something about going to one of the hotel-casinos to see a show or do something else. I just got back from washing three baskets of cloths. Before I took the baskets to the laundromat, I stopped at Walgreens to pick up a couple of prescriptions for my Mother.

I am tired, worn out and sleepy. As I write this, I am yawning. I still have to go to the grocery store and wash four more baskets of laundry this week. No, the pipes behind my washing machine are not fixed, which means I have to take all my dirty cloths to the laundromat. Up until today, my physical limit was three baskets of cloths. I am changing that, especially if I have to go to a store before or after I go to the laundromat. Since I have rested a little, I will post this entry and bring the clean cloths into the house.


I still have to lug three baskets of clean cloths into the house and fold the sheets. All right, I realized when I folded the towels that I had reached my physical limit and would have to bring the sheets home without folding them. I do not like to do this, but there is a limit to how much laundry I can finish in a single day at the laundromat. Tomorrow, I will wash only two baskets of cloths before going to the grocery store.

I Gave the Chickens to a Farmer

Kamál (Perfection), 14 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Monday, October 10, 2011 about 10:45 AM Pacific Time

This morning Mom asked, “Where are the chickens?”

My response, “What chickens?” I have to remember not to ask the “what” question, when asks me about where animals or people are because sometimes she gets upset. She did not get upset this morning.

Mom said, “I thought we had chickens.”

My response, “We could not get a permit, so I gave the chickens to a farmer.”

When Mom was a child, she lived on a farm in Oklahoma and they had chickens. When my grandparents moved to Blackwell, the also had chickens. I suspect Mom still thinks she lives in Blackwell, Oklahoma. I have not broached the subject because I do not want to get Mom upset. My answer seemed to satisfy her, so I will leave it at that right now.

When dealing with an Alzheimer’s patient, you have to put yourself in their world. Mom does not remember attending her parents’ funerals; she thinks they are still alive. Mom does not think she is 90 years old, which is another subject I have no intention of broaching.

If Mom brings up the subject of the chickens again, I will take an egg from the refrigerator, cook it, and tell her the farmer brought us some eggs from the chickens we gave him. It will make Mom happy and I really do not think the store where I buy my eggs cares what I tell Mom about them.

Saturday is Trash pick up day

Jalál (Glory), 12 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Saturday, October 8, 2011 about 4:48 PM Pacific Time

Saturday is trash collection day in my neighborhood and I did not get the trashcan rolled to the curb this morning. This is the second time this week that I missed or forgot to roll the trashcan to the curb. Wednesday was also trash collection day on Bracken Avenue.

It is all right to miss one day, but missing two days is a problem. I now have to make sure that there is no fifty plus pounds of trash in my trashcan. I do not remember why I missed rolling the trash to the curb on Wednesday, but today I was involved in getting Mom up and dressed. I also had breakfast to fix for her. I think the breakfast part of the morning was the issue.

Perhaps the best solution is to roll the can to the curb the night before. This means that Tuesday and Friday evenings I have to roll the can to the curb. I do not like doing this because there is always the chance of a stray dog running loose in the neighborhood.

Normally the only animals that run loose in this neighborhood are the cats. Most people keep their dogs on leashes or behind fences, so it is unlikely that a neighborhood dog would knock over the trashcan, but there is always the possibility of a stray coming into the neighborhood. However, I think I will start taking the trashcan to the curb the night before trash collection day.

Laundry Day in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 11 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Thursday, October 6, 2011 about 7:30 PM Pacific Time

Thursday was laundry day. I took three baskets to the laundromat and it took me all morning to wash, dry, and fold them. I had just enough detergent to do the three loads. Tomorrow I have to go to the store for more detergent. Then I have to go to the laundromat again and do three more loads. I should also go to the bank and get some more quarters.

I am tired of going to the laundromat. The only thing I enjoy there is the soda machine because it contains cans of mango juice. Every time I go to the laundromat, I buy a can of mango juice and drink it while I wait for the cloths to wash.

Monday was an interesting rainy day in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 8 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Tuesday, October 4, 2011 about 11:05 AM Pacific Time

Interesting days are usually full of excitement or stress. Monday was a stressful day. After Mom left for the Adult Daycare Center, I got ready to leave the house. The lens fell out of my glasses, it turned out that the screw came out. I could not find the screw, so I had to figure another way to fix my glasses.

I used a needle and thread to sow the glasses together. This method is simple. I find a needle small that is enough to go through the screw hole. The eye of the needle must be large enough for me to thread it, which was not easy with one lens missing from my glasses; however, I did find the appropriate sized needle and fixed my glasses.

I went to the bank to get some gas money and a roll of quarter for laundry. The line at the bank was long and slow moving, so I went to the ATM. While waiting in line at the ATM, it began to rain. I did not rain very much, just enough to get my windshield wet. I then went to the gas station before going to pick up my mother’s hearing aids.

After picking up Mom’s hearing aids, I went back to the bank because I still needed money for laundry. The line, with different people in it, was same length as earlier that morning. I had no choice, but to get my quarter. I left the bank and went home because I need to eat something. After I finished eating, it rained again this time with thunder and lightning. A friend came by and took three baskets to the laundromat. So now, I have enough clean cloths and sheets to last until Wednesday or Thursday.

Since I have a technician coming into check the air condition on Wednesday, I will have to go to the laundromat, the pharmacy, and the grocery store on Thursday. Today, I am waiting on a delivery and catching up on writing projects and other stuff.

Upgrading my technology

Jamál (Beauty), 6 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Sunday, October 1-2, 2011 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time

I changed browser in September. I am now using Google Chrome. I like this Google Chrome browser because it is easier to use then the browser I used before. It is also faster. I do not know why I did not change browser earlier this year. I am enjoying working online again.

My next project is to upgrade my computer. Until I can get a new computer, I need to clean off my hard drive. I have too much stuff save to it so I have to decide what I need to keep on the hard drive and what I need to move to a back up desk. The problem is I do not know where to start, so I guess I will start with the photos I have saved and work from there.

Keeping a Food Diary for my Mother

Jalál (Glory), 5 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Saturday, October 1, 2011 about 4:31 PM Pacific Time

Yesterday, I thought I would create a daily menu for October; however, I have changed my mind. I am going to keep a food diary for Mom and myself. There was an issue with Mom this morning and I am not precisely sure what caused it. I suspect the hot cakes we ate this morning caused the problem. However, I am not sure whether it was the hot cakes or the oil used to cook them.

I did not give her any margarine, but she did have syrup on them. Anyway, I will keep a food diary for the rest of October and see what causes the problem. Since I am keeping a diary for Mom, I may as well keep one for myself.

For lunch, we ate frozen dinners, which contained peas, meat, and potatoes. For dinner, we will have rice (cooked with shrimp bullion) and green beans. I am adding any meat to the rice because we have canned chicken and I do not want to use anything else that has salt.

Mom retains water (which was not the issue this morning) and her feet swell. Since a water pill lowers her blood pressure, she cannot take water pills.

Thoughts on our October’s Menu

Istijlál (Majesty), 3 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Thursday, September 29, 2011 about 11:05 AM Pacific Time

I have to make a daily menu for October because I am tired of trying to figure out what I want to eat. I have plenty of food in the house, which could be the issue when it concerns fixing something to eat for myself. Mom spends Monday through Friday at the Day Care Center, so she gets two meals there.

Mom can eat four means a day, so I have to find two meals for her during the week and four meals on weekends. Sometimes I can eat four meals a day and sometimes only two. We have pasta and canned vegetables, so most of the meals in October will consist of that. I know that for breakfast, I will eat cereal, but I think I will cook rice for Mom to eat.

There is only one box of Mom’s cereal left and she cannot eat my cereal because of the high fiber content. White rice has little or no dietary, so I will fix that for her breakfast. If she wants something to go with it, I will give her canned fruit or milk. Mom likes milk, she drinks at least one cup of milk in the morning.

Because the hearing aids require a co-pay, the October budget is tight. I only hope that Mom does not lose the new hearing aids. If she does, I do not know what we are going to do.

My last Doctor’s Appointment

Kamál (Perfection), 19 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Monday, September 26, 2011 about 1:46 PM Pacific Time

At my last appointment, the Doctor said my blood test looked good, so she gave me a 90-day supply of meds with three refills. She said I did not have to make another appointment until August of 2012. This is nice; because that is one thing, I will not have to worry about. In addition, I had lost four pounds.

I turn 65 in December and go on Medicare. I have picked a Medicare Advantage plan and a new Doctor. I have to have my first Medicare physical in December or January. I am going to make an appointment in December with the new Doctor. Even though my present Doctor said I did not need an appointment until next year, there is no use putting off Medicare appointment because I have to have a mammogram in December or January.

I think my last mammogram was in December 2010. Therefore, I need to get one this year. I have my Medicare Advantage card in my purse; the only thing I have to do now is make the appointment. I am looking forward to meeting my new Doctor.

A Beautiful Sunday in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 18 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Sunday, September 25, 2011 about 6:30 PM Pacific Time

Beautiful Sunday
Last night’s rain cleaned Las Vegas
Washed the city air

A new week begins. The rain cleansed the air and the city (at least my part of it) looks fresh and clean. It was a beautiful morning to sit on the couch with a cup of coffee reading the Sunday comics.

Water cold or at room temperature

Jalál (Glory), 17 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Saturday, September 24, 2011 about 4:55 PM Pacific Time

I read somewhere that a person drinks more water at room temperature then when the water is cold. This is not how it works for me. I do not enjoy drinking water at room temperature. I prefer my water cold and I will drink more water if it is cold then if it is at room temperature.

I believe I acquired this habit or perhaps I should say this taste when I was a child. My Mother and Grandmother always kept water in the refrigerator. At that time, when I drink water I always got it out of the fridge or I put ice cubes in it.

Today, I will not drink water at room temperature. Before I take a sip of water, I put ice cubes in the glass. If the ice cubes melt then I go to the refrigerator and get more ice cubes. I am not talking about one or two cubes. I fill my water container full of ice cubes before I pour the water into it. Then when I put the water in the container, I get it out of the pitcher I keep in the refrigerator. I do not like water at room temperature. If I have to drink it because I am thirsty and have no ice, I will drink it, but only as a last resort.

Powdered Milk and Warmed over Coffee in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 16 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Friday, September 23, 2011 about 7:20 AM Pacific Time

Powdered (dry) milk does not taste like the regular milk any more then warming leftover coffee taste like fresh brewed; however, I am getting used to the taste of both. Fortunately, with coffee I can make another carafe fresh coffee when I have drank all the leftover.

It is a little more difficult with the dry milk. I have to mix another pitcher of dry milk today. I can make it taste better by ignoring the directions of the package and mixing it a little stronger. Alternatively, I can follow the directions and pour in a can of condensed milk. Condensed milk tastes more like the milk from the plastic jugs or cardboard containers. Adding chocolate syrup powder also helps the taste, unfortunately I do not have any type of chocolate mix.

Mom does not mind the taste of the powered milk. When it come the milk, the only complaint Mom has is that it is cold. Perhaps I should start warming her milk up in the microwave before I give it to her. I will have to practice warming it in the microwave so that I do not burn the milk.

Eventually I will get used to the taste of the milk. It has taken me longer then I thought, but I just have to be persistent. I will get some chocolate mix next time I go to the store for food and household items. Right now, I am closing this entry so that I can heat up another cup of leftover coffee in the microwave.

After my Wednesday Doctor’s appointment in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 15 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Thursday, September 22, 2011 about 7:15 AM Pacific Time

I went to the doctor yesterday for the results of my blood test. My thyroid levels are in balance, so she refilled my prescription. I dropped the prescription off at the Smith’s Food & Drug pharmacy. I bought a few items we needed and came home. I will pick the prescription up on Friday because today I have to stay home and make some phone calls.

There is no rush to pick up the thyroid meds because my Doctor did not change the dosage. I still have about three or four tablets left, so I do not need the prescription immediately. I will pick the meds up tomorrow and buy anything else we may need for the weekend.

Where oh where have the hearing aids gone

Kamál (Perfection), 12 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Monday, September 19, 2011 about 11:06 AM Pacific Time

I opened the bed in the couch to see if Mom’s hearing aids feel down into the mattress. I did not find the hearing aids, but it was not a total waste of effort. I found a teaspoon and fork that had fallen into the couch. I still have to figure out what Mom did with her hearing aids. I am sure she took them out of her ears at home, but I cannot figure out where she put them.

I looked in her purse a dozen times. I have searched the ground outside along the driveway. I have not found them yet and I do not want to give up looking for them, I just cannot figure out where they could be. It is almost as if the ground or the floor opened and swallowed them. Since we have not had any earthquakes recently I do not think that happen, but it would make a good plot to a story.

Looking for my mother’s hearing aids

Jamál (Beauty), 11 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Sunday, September 18, 2011 about 10:55 AM Pacific Time

My mother lost her hearing aids last week. It occurred on Thursday, after she came home from the daycare center. She had her hearing aids in her ears when she got out of the daycare van. Sometime between the time she got out of the van and went to bed, she took them out of her ears and laid them down or dropped them.

It is possible she took them out of her ears before she got into the house and dropped them on the ground. I have looked and looked, but I cannot find them outside. With some help, I moved the couch and looked under it, but no hearing aids.

Her hearing aids had batteries in them, so I should be able to hear the noise they make. I have not heard that noise, so I am not sure where they are. I am at my wits end and do not know what to do. I am beginning to think it will take a miracle to find them because I do not know where else to look.

Every time I go outside, I look for them; I find nothing. I have to look for them somewhere else, but I think I have exhausted the locations. This is just another one of those things that happen when one is taking care of an Alzheimer sufferer.

Half way through September in Las Vegas

It is half way through September. I downloaded Google Chrome on Monday and enjoying suffering the Internet again. I like the ease with which I can find websites. I also find it easier to tab browse and access e-mail links.

It is half way through September. Today I went to Office Depot and bought cartridges for my printer. I am not sure how long the cartridges will last, so I need to buy another pair by the end of the month. I use my printer to print coupons, as well as everything else. Because I needed print cartridges, I could not print anything for the past couple of weeks.

It is half way through September, my browser is faster and I can print again, even if it is only one page at a time. My printer jams when I attempt to print more then one page at a time. This is frustrating because when I print something off a website it is usually more then one page.

Disclaimer Policy for Poet 999 – A Butterfly Emerges From her Cocoon

Unless otherwise indicated in the post title, the opinions in this blog are my own. If the title contains the words “Guest Post” then that entry is by another author and the opinions are those of the writer of the post. Any products or services I mention in this blog are those I have used, and, therefore, I may or may not receive compensation for writing about them.

A Rainy Wednesday in Las Vegas

‘Idál (Justice), 7 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Wednesday, September 14, 2011 about 8:10 AM Pacific Time

Cold drops of water
Striking my arms face and hair
Invigorating

It is raining. When I took a bag of trash to the garage, the raindrops fell onto my arms, face, and hair. Perhaps I need to buy an umbrella or a raincoat to wear on days like this.

Thunder, Lightning, and Rain in Las Vegas

It is a beautiful cloudy day in Las Vegas. I hear thunder and last night I saw lightning. It rained a bit in my neighborhood. It was nice to see the rain because it has been so hot. I am glad it is raining and cool today because I have no air conditioning again. I do not know what the problem is this time, all I do know is that it would not come on yesterday even though the temperature rose to 88 and the thermostat is turned to 82.

I turned the unit off, called the tech, and now I am waiting for someone to come out and check it. Since it is raining off and on I do not need the cool air because it is cold enough for now. At least the temperatures will not get into the triple digits today.

Sweltering in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 6 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Monday, September 12, 2011 about 7:40 PM Pacific Time

It was humid today; I do not think it was very hot because the temperature air conditioner did not come on. It did not get over 82 degrees in the house, but it feels muggy. I prefer a dryer heat; however, I enjoy sitting in the house and watching the rain. I do not enjoy the humidity.

Humid and cloudy
Not a single drop of rain
In my neighborhood

Follow the instructions in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 3 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Saturday, September 10, 2011 about 12:45 PM Pacific Time

Yesterday, when I went to the grocery store I bought a package of hotcake mix. The type I bought required me to add water, so I did not make “from scratch” hotcakes. I followed the directions that said it would make eight to twelve pancakes. I got only seven from the batch I mixed.

I suspect the instructions referred to smaller servings of hotcakes then I make. I want good-sized servings when I make hotcakes because the small servings do not fill either Mom or me. This morning, Mom was satisfied with amount she ate. I was happy, but not satisfied. Tomorrow when I make hotcakes, I will also fry eggs to go with them.

Comparison Shopping in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 2 ‘Izzat (Might), 167 BE – Friday, September 9, 2011 about 1:04 PM Pacific Time

I went grocery shopping this morning. I needed to get a few stuff for the weekend. One of the things I bought was crackers, Mom likes peanut butter and crackers. Until today, I thought cracker did not have any dietary fiber in them, I was wrong. Some brands of cracker have it and some do not.

I did find a brand that did not have dietary fiber, but it cost about $4.00. The brand I bought had only 1 gram of fiber and it cost about $2.00. I bought the brand with the 1 gram because could buy two boxes of crackers for what one of the other brand cost.

Since the doctor put Mom on a low fiber diet, life has become much more complicated. There was a time when I did not read the ingredients on the label. I went to the store and bought the item I wanted without checking the label. I spent less time in the grocery store, now it takes me longer to shop because I have to read the labels.

A mostly cloudy day in Las Vegas

Mostly cloudy sky
Patches of blue and sunshine
A breeze kisses trees

It is a beautiful afternoon in Las Vegas. White fluffy clouds dance across the sky. The clouds imply humidity, but do not promise rain. All though, just to be on the safe side I think I will make sure my car windows are rolled up.

Happy Labor Day

Kamál (Perfection), 17 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Monday, September 5, 2011 about 12:00 PM Pacific Time

Happy Labor Day, the day we celebrate the contribution of the ordinary working person to civilization and society. I sent one of my brothers a text wishing him a “Happy Labor Day”. He responded with a message that said “Happy” and “Labor” are contradictions in terms.

Perhaps, since I have not worked outside the house in a long time, I am not sure one-way or the other. Anyway, have an enjoyable Labor Day and picnic if it is not raining. It is cloudy here in Las Vegas. When I took a bag of trash to the garage, I felt a drop of rain hit my left arm.

Clouds cover the sky
Promise rain in Las Vegas
The day is cooler

My mother is looking for something

Jamál (Beauty), 16 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Sunday, September 4, 2011 about Sunset Pacific Time

My mother is looking for something, but she cannot tell me what it is. When ever I ask she holds her hands together forming a round or square shape about an inch around. That could be almost anything.

She gets upset because she cannot find it. She gets angry because she thinks I should know what she is about, so I have to figure out what it is and where she put it. Whatever it is I suspect she placed the item on one of her dresser drawers.

The last time I looked in the drawers, I found her extra shoes. Every one of the drawers is full of stuff, so I will have to go through each one until I find something similar to Mom’s description.

Mom has Alzheimer’s disease, which comes with short-term memory lose and anger. The problem is that Mom knows what she is talking about, but cannot think of the name. I just hope that whatever she is looking for it is easy to find or I can find something that resembles the item. My only option is to find small object and keep showing them to her until she finds one she likes.

Writing.com is 11 years old this month

Writing.com is eleven years old. This is a wonderful place for writers because of the feedback you get on your work. Another nice thing about writing.com is the encouragement and contests. I encourage writers and readers to check out writing.com.

An evening in September

The sun has set. It was not a spectacular sunset because there are no clouds. It was a pretty sunset, with the sun descending slowly behind the western peaks. The streetlights are on casting pools of pale light at regular intervals along Las Vegas streets.

Good-bye August

Istijlál (Majesty), 13 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Wednesday, August 31, 2011 about 9:14 PM Pacific Time

Good-bye August
Hello September a month to remember

I am not sure where that poem is going. I may take the second line and write a poem about September 11. It was a traumatic day. It was a day that changed our lives. At that time, I was still working outside the house. I was running late and so did not turn of the television, as a result I did not find out about the Twin Towers until after I arrived at work.

I found a great deodorizer for my car

Fidál (Grace), 11 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Tuesday, August 30, 2011 about 11:45 AM Pacific Time

After I went to the laundromat the other day, I left the bottle of fabric softener sit in the car. I carried all three baskets in the house. I then went back to the car to roll up the windows and lock the doors. The fabric softener and laundry soap sit in the front seat on the passenger side, so I left them both sitting there. When I went back to the car, I could smell the fabric softener rather then my usual weird car smell. Perhaps I should buy a small bottle of fabric softener just to keep in my car.

The Last Sunday in August

Jamál (Beauty), 9 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Saturday-Sunday, August 28, 2011 about 9:25 AM Pacific Time

It is the last Sunday in August. Mom is sitting on the couch watching the CNN, the news about Tropical Storm Irene. We began watching the news on Friday evening or Saturday morning. We have watched the news about Irene all weekend. This week is busy because Monday and Tuesday I am planning to go to the laundromat. I have enough money this week to do all my laundry, with the exception of the winter blankets. Those I will take to the laundromat at the end of September.

It is the last Sunday in August. I have decided to fix homemade macaroni and cheese. This will last us a couple of day, I hope. Of course, we could eat the entire thing in one day. If that is the case, then I will fix spaghetti with meat sauce. I think I have a can of sauce in the cupboard. I am not attempting to fix homemade spaghetti sauce this week or even next week because I have to buy some ingredients.

It is the last Sunday in August. I am looking forward to September because dreading the coming month does not prevent September from arriving. It will be a busy month and an interesting month. It will not last long enough and I will not accomplish everything I want to accomplish. That is life.

Keeping an eye on Hurricane Irene

Jalál (Glory), 8 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Saturday, August 27, 2011 about 3:15 PM Pacific Time

I have watched CNN more today then for the past week. I am keeping an eye on Hurricane Irene. I am listening and watching where the Hurricane is going and where it has been. The reports of this hurricane fascinate me.

The coverage is detailed and interesting. I am 64 years old and I have never witnessed a storm this huge. I remember watching reports of the aftermaths of other hurricane, but I have never watched a report covering the movement of a storm along the coast.

I intend to leave the television on CNN the rest of the day. My mother is watching as well, but I am not sure how much of the report she understands. Mom seems to be content to watch and not comment on the events she is seeing. I am glad I have my computer in the living room near the television because I can listen to the events while I am working online.

Temperature Records broken in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 6 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Wednesday, August 24, 2011 about 8:30 PM Pacific Time

Today the temperature record was broken. The temperature outside got close to 110 degrees. I do not remember what the meteorologist said because I was dozing. My nap was a result of my morning shopping trip. I do my shopping in the morning because it is cooler, but the trip today wore me out.

I made three stops this morning, but I should have made only one or two. Driving across Las Vegas without a working air conditioner is tiring. I am cutting my stops down to one or two until the excessive heat warnings end.

My Mother’s Wardrobe

Fidál (Grace), 4 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Tuesday, August 23, 2011 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time

I was looking for Mom a dress to wear and found she has many nice cloths that she does not wear any more. Some of them are dressy, but we do not go anywhere for her to wear them, so I am going to let her wear them to the daycare center. Mom enjoys wearing them and when she sees them she wants to put them on.

When she takes them off, I have to check them for stains. I also have to be careful when I wash them. I have to wash them in warm water and dry them on low heat. I do not mind that as long as Mom enjoys wearing them. The dresses fit her well, so I will start putting them out for her to wear once a week or so.

I can hang the cloths for Mom to wear on the back of the bathroom door. If I hang an outfit there each night then the next morning it will be out and ready for Mom after she gets her shower. Today, Mom wore a pink dress she was happy when she left the house to go to the daycare center. I think the color of her dress affected her mood because usually it takes her thirty minutes to calm down from receiving a shower. I will have to do a little research to see if color does affect the mood of an Alzheimer’s patient.

Partly Cloudy in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 2 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Sunday, August 21, 2011 about 4:30 PM Pacific Time

It is a beautiful partly cloudy summer day in Las Vegas. A gentle wind is blowing causing the limbs of the trees to wave. It is a nice day to go to a pool or out for a picnic. I wish I could take Mom for a picnic, but that is out of the question. I wish I could go on a picnic myself, which is equally out of the question.

In order to take Mom out, I need to have air conditioning in my car. When I go out by myself, I roll the window down so that it is not too hot in the car, but I cannot roll the windows down when Mom is in the car. Since I do not have a working air conditioner in the car, Mom and I will stay home on this beautiful summer afternoon.

A Good Saturday in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 1 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Saturday, August 20, 2011 about 1:15 PM Pacific Time

It is a good day. Mom is in a talkative mood. Mom is in a good mood. She ate a good breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, she ate two strawberry Pop Tarts grapes, a banana, and coffee. For lunch, she ate a smile piece of pork and celery. I used orange juice to marinade the pork and fixed it with celery. For supper, I think I will fix her a peanut butter sandwich and cereal.

It is a good day. It is a nice day in Las Vegas. I forgot what the meteorologist said about the temperatures, but I suspect they will be in the triple digits again. Since we have a working air condition and I do not have to go anywhere today, the out door temperature does not bother me.

Thankful Thursday

Istijlál (Majesty), 18 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Thursday, August 18, 2011 about 2:20 PM Pacific Time

It is Thursday again; it is time to make a gratitude list. Sometimes I get so involved in the mundane activities of life, that I have difficulties finding items for my list. This is not one of those days.

I am grateful that I found three pairs of Mom’s shoes in her dresser drawers.
I am grateful that I have a microwave to use when I warm up coffee.
I am grateful that I bought a dozen brown eggs when I went to the grocery story on Monday.
I am grateful for the breeze this afternoon.
I am grateful for the clouds decorating the blue sky.
I am grateful that my air conditioning unit works.
I am grateful that Mom can go to adult daycare five days a week.
I am grateful that I have a package of chocolate chip cookie mix sitting on the kitchen cabinet.
I am grateful that I have a refrigerator that works.
I am grateful that I have a high-speed internet connection.

Weary Wednesday

‘Idál (Justice), 17 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Wednesday, August 17, 2011 about 1:00 PM Pacific Time

The title of this entry was almost Wintery Wednesday, because my system is running like molasses in January. Early this morning it ran fine, faster anyway, but when I got back on it slowed down. Then my browser had difficulty finding the website I wanted.

I think part of the problem was my anti-virus program was updating. Because when I used Windows Task Manager to check if Real Player was running, it did not show up on the list. I know if Real Player is running that will slow my system down, but it does not prevent the browser from locating websites.

I am tired and stressed. A slow computer does not help. A printer I cannot use does not help. The printer is my own fault because I let the print cartridges run out. I cannot get any more print cartridges until next week. Therefore, I will not be able to print, which could be a problem. I will simply have to live with that.

What I would like to know now is why my computer is slowing down. It is extremely difficult to work when my computer is slow and I cannot access a website. I have a high-speed modem, so that is not the problem. I will eventually figure out the problem and solve it; at least, I hope so. Right now I am tired.

Traumatic Tuesday

Fidál (Grace), 16 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Tuesday, August 16, 2011 about 3:30 PM Pacific Time

All right, perhaps traumatic is an over statement. Any way I figured out why my printer only prints in color, specifically red. Washed out red is a better description because I can barely read it. Obviously, my printer is out of ink. At least, I hope that is the problem. The printer usually sends an error message when the ink is low, but not this time.

In fact, the printer is not sending any error message. The paper was stuck in it earlier and I go no error message. I suspect there is something more wrong then simply no ink in the print cartridge. I need to get two print cartridges so that I can print and copy. I can tell when the printer is out of paper or the paper is jammed, so I do not need to see error messages for that.

The situation with the printer is just one more issue for me to deal with. I have other issues and lately they seem to mount, all most like my laundry, which I need to do sometime this week. I will post this now before it became a rant and I become more stressed.

Memorable Monday

Kamál (Perfection), 15 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Monday, August 15, 2011 about 6:40 PM Pacific Time

I received my Medicare card today. The effective date is not until December 1, 2011, but the time will pass quickly. The first thing I have to do is sit down and read the booklet that came with the card. I glanced through the book while I waited for my mother to come home from adult daycare, but I did not have the time to read it carefully.

Memorable Monday
My Medicare card arrive
A new phase of life

Friday I have an appointment to investigate a Medicare Advantage Plan. I need to read the booklet carefully before then. I also need to write down some questions to ask at the seminar on August 19.

The choice between laundry and fresh vegetables

Jamál (Beauty), 14 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Sunday, August 14, 2011 about 9:30 AM Pacific Time

The choice this month is washing laundry and having fresh vegetables on the table. I know that sounds like a weird choice to have to make, but that is the choice. There is enough money in one account to pay the Power bill and go to the laundromat or buy fresh vegetables.

I like fresh vegetables and my mother likes them, we also like to have clean cloths. In the refrigerator, I have a bag of celery, a head of cabbage, two zucchini, and an individual watermelon. In the freezer, I have lima beans, green beans, corn, and a bag of beans. I might be able to spread those items over a week, depending on how hungry Mom and I get during that week. After that, my only option is to use canned vegetables for the rest of the month and probably next month as well.

I will pay the power bill online and then on Monday or Tuesday, I will go to the bank and get $20.00 to do the laundry. Considering I will have about four basket of laundry by then, it will mean going to the laundromat two days this week. I will be so glad when the drainpipe behind the washer is fixed because then I can do laundry at home.

What is joy?

Jalál (Glory), 13 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Saturday, August 13, 2011 about 3:30 PM Pacific Time

The August 10, 2011 edition of the writing.com spiritual newsletter asks, “What is joy?” My answer to that question is this. Joy is a spiritual attribute. Joy gives a person’s soul wings and helps an individual overcome any difficulty.

One of the things that give me joy is a summer shower. It rained this morning in Las Vegas, in my neighborhood anyway. I watch the gentle raindrops fall and I smiled. I inhaled the aroma of the cool summer shower and I laughed. The rain gave me joy. The rain made me happy.

My joy came from more then just the necessity of rain. We need rain in Las Vegas, but that is not why I smiled. I smiled because the rain is a blessing from God. I smiled because the rain reminded me of angels. It reminded me of angels because there is a saying about each raindrop being carried to earth by an angel.

What is joy? Joy is watching the raindrops fall. Joy is feeling the cool raindrops on my exposed face and arms. Joy comes from knowing I roll up my car windows before the rain started. Joy is watching the rain soak into the hard dry ground of my front yard.

Turning that Golden number in December

Istijlál (Majesty), 11 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Thursday, August 11, 2011 about 3:05 PM Pacific Time

I am turning 65 on December 24 and able to receive Medicare. I have struggled for several years because of medical cost. I have not had medical insurance because I could not afford it. That did not prevent me from going to a doctor when necessary. It made getting medication more difficult.

I am looking into Medicare supplement or advantage plans. I do not know which on I will chose. I made two appointments for seminars to investigate the plans. I will look at them and see which one fits my circumstances. I am not sure what each of the different plans entail, but I will find out.

I am looking forward to this process. I am looking forward to this adventure. I know that sounds strange, but that is how I feel. Perhaps it is the idea of doing something completely different from my normal routine. Sometimes my normal routine is boring and encourages rut getting deeper and deeper. I have to look at my dresses and see what I have to wear to the seminars.