Monday, January 31, 2011

A High Wind Watch

Fidál (Grace), 14 Sultán (Sovereignty), 167 BE – Monday, January 31, 2011 about 5:56 PM Pacific Time

The Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch and a Wind Advisory for Clark County, Nevada. Since Las Vegas is in Clark County that means we are included in this weather forecast. This is upsetting because I have two trees in my yard I need to remove and the last time the wind took out a tree in my yard was in February.

The trees are leaning toward the street, so they may not fall on the garage or the house. Still I do not like the idea of the wind taking the trees out before I can afford to have them removed. I am not sure what to do at this point, except pray. Pray that the trees remain standing. Pray that the wind does not blow hard enough to set records.

Living is Las Vegas is interesting because of the weather. It is not always dry in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is in a valley with mountains all around, so we get interesting weather. True we do not get the spectacular change of seasons like other parts of the country, but we do have interesting and upsetting weather.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Sunday Afternoon in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 12 Sultán (Sovereignty), 167 BE – Sunday, January 30, 2011 about 4:34 PM Pacific Time

It is a cloudy Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas. All day the wind has blown. The wind blew clouds in this morning, then cleared the sky for a little while, and now it has blown gray clouds across the sun. The trees appear to be waving good-bye to January.

There is a wind chill factor and it feels cold outside. The outdoor carpet on my patio is wet because I have hung cloths out there to drip dry. Tomorrow, Monday, January 31, I will not hang any cloths out, but I do not think the patio carpet will dry because of the clouds. On Tuesday, February 1, I will hang more cloths out to drip dry (if there is no rain). If there is rain, then I will not do any hand laundry.

Tomorrow afternoon, I have an appointment in Henderson. I have other things to do tomorrow morning and the washing will have to wait. I have not checked the weather forecast that comes to my e-mail box, so I do not know whether to expect rain tomorrow or just wind and clouds. It does not matter; I have to go to Henderson. Before I go to Henderson, I have to go to the banks and to pick up bread. Rain or shine I or rather we (Mom and I) have to go out of the house for a little while.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Happy National Puzzle Day and National Corn Chip Day

Jalál (Glory), 11 Sultán (Sovereignty), 167 BE – Saturday, January 29, 2011 about 5:15 PM Pacific Time

Did you do the crossword puzzle or Sudoku in the newspaper today? If you did then you celebrated National Puzzle Day. My cell phone has a Sudoku puzzle, which I play when I am waiting in line or want to relax. Puzzles are fun and exercise our minds. If you have not celebrated National Puzzle Day, you still have time.

Today is also National Corn Chip Day. Did you know that in 1961 Fritos marketed the first Corn Chips? I love Corn Chips. This snack food is one of my favorites. I remember my Mother and Grandmother putting Corn Chips in my lunch box when I was a young. I like to eat them in soup instead of crackers. I put them in my hamburger sandwiches. I can eat Corn Chips with any type of food. So celebrate National Corn Chip Day and have a bag of Corn Chips with chili and cheese.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Sometimes it’s difficult to find things to be thankful for

Istiqlál (Independence), 10 Sultán (Sovereignty), 167 BE – Friday, January 28, 2011 about 2:11 PM Pacific Time

Sometimes it is difficult to find things to be thankful for on Thankful Thursday. I started making a gratitude journal entry yesterday and I am still working on it today. Life has been especially difficult this week and I am not sure why. Mom has not been any more difficult then usual. True, Mom does not want to take her medication, but if I am persistent and listen to her reasons eventually, she takes the meds.

I have two stone pine trees in my front yard that has to come out. One of the trees is dying and the other one looks very ill. I need to find a way to have them taken out before the March winds begin to blow. One of the trees will withstand the winds, but the other I am not sure will stand up to the winds. If it falls, it will fall toward the street, so I do not have to worry about the garage; however, the power lines are an issue if the tree falls. I wish I could have both the trees taken out, but if I can scrap up the money, I can only afford to get rid of one tree.

I began this entry discussing my gratitude journal entry. I still have three things to add to the entry before it is complete. Perhaps I need to step back and look at my blessings. At least, it is not snowing in the Las Vegas valley, so I do not have to worry about becoming snowed in.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I need new bed linen

‘Idál (Justice), 8 Sultán (Sovereignty), 167 BE – Tuesday, January 25, 2011 about 6:48 PM Pacific Time

I need new sheets; this realization struck me when I was making my mother’s bed. Apparently, we have only two sizes of sheets in this house, too big and too small. I’m talking about the fitted sheets not the flat sheets.

I put the fitted sheet on the bed and took a good look at it. That’s when I realized the sheet was too big for the mattress. I took another sheet out of the linen closet and realized it was too small, so I left the big sheet on the bed.

I don’t seem to have this problem when I make my own bed; however, I recently put a new mattress on Mom’s bed. The mattress I put on Mom’s bed was from a hospital bed that Mom used in 2007. When they picked up the hospital bed, they left the plastic covered mattress in my garage. It stayed in the garage for the appropriate time and when no one came after it, I brought it into the house.

The mattress leaned against a wall in my dining room for a couple of years. Recently, I took Mom’s old mattress off her bed and put the other mattress on. I’ll have to measure the mattress and then find some bed linen to fit.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

I turned the radio on today

Jamál (Beauty), 5 Sultán (Sovereignty), 167 BE – Sunday, January 23, 2011 about 1:57 PM Pacific Time

For several days, Mom has wished she could listen to the radio. We have three radios in the house, two clock radios and a cassette radio combination. I plugged the third radio in today and turned it on. Finding a channel on it was easier then on the clock radios. I found an oldies channel that both Mom and I enjoy. Mom is sitting in the breakfast room listening to the radio.

The cassette radio also takes batteries, but I don’t know what type. I got the radio off freecycle two or three years ago and it didn’t have batteries. I’d like to put batteries in it so that Mom could carry it into her bedroom at night. If it has batteries then she can carry it in and out of her bedroom without worrying about plugging it into the electricity.

I could show Mom where the outlets in her room are, but I don’t think she would remember. Sometimes she remembers things, but she forgets a lot, so showing her where the outlets are located it her bedroom wouldn’t do any good. If the radio doesn’t have batteries then I have to go into her room and plug the radio in each time she want to listen to it in that room.

I think Mom would feel more independent and be happier if she didn’t have to have someone plug her radio in each time she want to listen to it at night. It is important to Alzheimer’s patients to be as independent as possible; I know that when Mom can do things for herself she doesn’t get a depressed and angry.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Watching the sunset in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 4 Sultán (Sovereignty), 167 BE – Saturday, January 22, 2011 about 5:03 PM Pacific Time

It is Saturday evening and the sun has begun to sit. Sunlight reflects off the underside of beautiful white clouds reminding me of snow. The only snow in the Las Vegas area this year fell in the higher elevations. Mount Charleston looks inviting. Sometimes I miss the snow and sometimes I only think I miss it.

I miss the snow on evenings like this, when I look out my window and see the sun reflecting off the bottoms of the clouds. Today we had a wind advisory, but no wind. At least, no wind in my neighborhood and I doubt the wind blew very much in any area of Las Vegas. I do no know what type of weather the meteorologist predicted for tomorrow because I have not watched the news or weather on T.V. and I have not read the weather e-mail waiting in my inbox.

I will wait until later to find out because now I have to take trash out to the garage. I also have to make sure Mom takes her evening medication, so I will close this entry now.

Friday, January 21, 2011

I am cooking rice this morning

Istiqlál (Independence), 3 Sultán (Sovereignty), 167 BE – Friday, January 21, 2011 about 10:30 AM Pacific Time

I am fixing rice in the slow cooker this morning. I put about 12 cups of water in the slow cooker, with about a tablespoon of cooking oil. I let the water heat for thirty minutes to an hour and then added the spices. I put in nutmeg, allspice, salt, and cinnamon; so now I am waiting for the water to come to a boil before adding the rice.

I know the rice will taste good when it is finished, but I am not sure what to call the recipe. This is a new cooking experiment, I have plenty of rice in the house and I have to figure out different ways of cooking it every time. Perhaps I will try this with milk because I think this is close to the recipe my grandmother used when she fixed us rice for breakfast.

I mixed a pitcher of milk as well. I used dry milk this morning. We do not have bottles or cartons of milk in the refrigerator, so I mix dry milk with water in a pitcher. After I mix the milk, I put the pitcher in the fridge. The dry milk taste all right, it does not taste exactly like milk from a carton, but it tastes all right.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

I want to stay home at least one entire day

Istijlál (Majesty), 2 Sultán (Sovereignty), 167 BE – Wednesday, January 19, 2011 about 6:30 PM Pacific Time

We (Mom and I) have gone somewhere every single day this week. On Monday, we went to the store. On Tuesday, Mom had her ears cleaned out and then we went to the Feast of Sultán. I enjoyed the Feast. Mom enjoyed the Feast. Attending the Feast of Sultán (Sovereignty) was the highlight of the entire week.

Today, Mom had a appoint for an chest x-ray and a mammogram. I have to admit it was an interesting experience. I was also a tiring experience for both Mom and me. When we returned home, Mom fell asleep on the couch. I think I might have dozed for a little while myself.

On Thursday, I have an appointment for an ultrasound of my left breast. On Friday, I have an appointment with a breast specialist. However, after today’s experience I want to stay home. Alternatively, going to my appointments without taking my mother with me would be nice, but not possible. Since I cannot leave Mom home alone because she suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, I have to take her with me on Thursday and Friday, which she is not going to like.

I am looking forward to Saturday or Sunday, I know I can stay home one of those days. I just do not know which day I can stay home all day.

Monday, January 17, 2011

I am out of Coffee

Kamál (Perfection), 18 Sharaf (Honor), 167 BE – Monday, January 17, 2011 about 2:04 PM Pacific Time

It’s Monday, January 17, and we still don’t have any coffee in the house. Mom doesn’t understand why. She doesn’t understand that sometimes other things take priority. This week I have bought Depends and cat litter, but necessary items. Since we have tea bags to make hot tea (I know it doesn’t take the place of coffee) I didn’t buy any coffee.

Mom just doesn’t understand and I know it’s the Alzheimer’s disease that is her main problem. When I do get coffee I will get two types. I will buy regular ground coffee and instant coffee (I also know that instant coffee doesn’t take the place of brewed coffee), which I will use as a back-up to the brewed coffee.

I miss my coffee. I am tired of hot tea. I want a cup of regular brewed coffee.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

A trip to the Pet Store

Jalál (Glory), 16 Sharaf (Honor), 167 BE – Saturday, January 15, 2011 about Sunset Pacific Time

Mom and I went to Pet Smart this morning. The reason we went was to buy cat litter. I like to get cat litter at a pet store because it is less expensive then in a regular grocery store. Of course, when I buy cat litter I buy about 40 lbs. at a time.

I buy litter in 40 lb. boxes or bags for two reasons. First, it is cheaper to buy large amounts at a time. Second, it allows me to buy cat litter once a month or once every two months. The biggest problem I have is carrying the 40 lbs. into the house. Once I get the 40 lb. of cat litter in the house then I empty it into two plastic buckets. The two buckets originally held cat litter and once they were empty, I kept them to hold the 40 lb. boxes or sacks I usually buy.

The biggest problem I have with the 40 lb. containers is carrying them into the house. It takes energy to carry a 40 lb. bag of cat litter into the house. However, I think carrying the 40 lb. box of litter is much more difficult. Perhaps I need to buy a little red wagon to haul the litter into the house.

Friday, January 14, 2011

A Busy Week Ahead

Jalál (Glory), 16 Sharaf (Honor), 167 BE – Friday, January 14, 2011 about 8:55 PM Pacific Time

The week of January 16 is going to be busy because both Mom and I have two medical appointments each. Mom’s appointments are Tuesday and Wednesday, while mine are Thursday and Friday. It’s a good thing Monday is a holiday because if it weren’t I’d have an appointment that day. As it is, I’m going to have to change my appointment with Blood Service which is also on Tuesday, January 18.

The Blood Services appointment was to donate blood, so I’ll set it for the following week. I can’t deal with two appointments in one day, four medical appointments in a single week is going to be stressful enough. Getting Mom ready for any medical appointment is stressful, but it is necessary.

The appointments are scattered all over Las Vegas and Henderson. That’s a lot of driving in one week, with all that driving I’m going to have to get gas before I planned. I filled the car up the last week of December. Until this week, I haven’t driven the car very much. This week we (Mom and I) did a lot of driving, but next week even more.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

I received good news today

Istijlál (Majesty), 14 Sharaf (Honor), 167 BE – Thursday, January 13, 2011 about 3:26 PM Pacific Time

This morning, Mom and I went to pick up some food and other items. When we returned the mail carrier had left some mail. One of the items was a card concerning my last mammogram. It said that the there were no significant changes since my previous screen. This is good news because I have a mass in my left breast.

The mass in my left breast is benign; however, I still have to have a mammogram every year. The process is uncomfortable and it takes, but it is necessary. The American Cancer Society recommends breast exams and screen mammograms every year beginning at 40. I urge every woman who has not had a mammogram to have one. I also urge every woman to do a monthly self-exam and if you feel something even slightly suspicious, then go to your doctor.

As women, we are often so busy taking care of others that we forget to take care of ourselves. One way a woman can take care of herself is to exam her breast every month to make sure there are no lumps or masses in her breast.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Tomorrow is the Doctor’s appointment

Fidál (Grace), 12 Sharaf (Honor), 167 BE – Monday, January 10, 2011 about 6:18 PM Pacific Time

Tomorrow is the doctor’s appointment with Mom’s new doctor. The appointment is at 7:30 AM and we have to be there about twenty minutes early. This means I have to get Mom up between 5:30 and 6:00 AM. It is not going to be easy. It is not easy to get Mom up at 9:00 in the morning. Mom does not want to get up before 11:00 AM. Normally I let her sleep until I hear her talking to one of the cats, but sometimes I have to get her up before 9:00 because we have to be out of the house by 11:00 AM.

I can get everything we need to take with us ready tonight, but the issues is getting Mom up and convincing her to put on a dress. Usually Mom wears slacks, but since we are going to the doctor and he may want to give her a shot, it is easier if she wears a dress. This is a new doctor so I do not know what he will want. TI am worried about other things as well, but I am going to place everything in God’s hands and believe that everything will go well tomorrow.

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Mom wants to celebrate her 90th birthday

Jalál (Glory), 9 Sharaf (Honor), 167 BE – Saturday, January 8, 2011 about 4:38 PM Pacific Time

Mom will be 90 years old on March 19, 2011. She wants to celebrate her 90th birthday. At least she wanted to celebrate it last night. I haven’t discussed it with her today. Mom has short term-memory issues and has a tendency to forget easily.

At this point, I don’t know if celebrating her birthday would be a good or bad idea. I suppose that depends on how Mom is doing when March arrives. March is only a couple of months away and it doesn’t seem like a long time. However, since Mom has Alzheimer’s disease I have to consider other things when it concerns celebrating her birthday.

I think I’ll put off making the decision about the birthday party until after her appointment on Tuesday morning. The appointment is at 7:30 AM, which isn’t a good time, but it was the only time we could get with this doctor. Mom isn’t used to getting up before 10:00 AM, so starting Sunday morning I am going to have to get her up earlier. I need to know how long it takes to get her up and dressed for a 7:30 appointment before Tuesday.

Friday, January 07, 2011

I think I need a pill crusher

Istiqlál (Independence), 8 Sharaf (Honor), 167 BE – Friday, January 7, 2011 about 2:18 PM Pacific Time

Mom is protesting taking her medication. She has not refused to take it, but each time I give her the meds she says it is the last time she is going to take them. I am not sure what to do if she refuses to take the medication perhaps I need to get a pill crusher so that I can mix the tablets with her food.

She is supposed to take all of her medication with food, so I do not think there will be a problem mixing them with food. I will discuss it with her doctor on Tuesday. Mom has an appointment with a new doctor at 7:30 AM; not an ideal hour, but that was the only one this doctor had available and Mom needs her meds refilled this coming week.

It is cloudy and Mom is upset. She seems to be more depressed on cloudy days then on sunshiny days. I will have to take to the doctor about her depression because I do not think the tablet she is taking helps. I also have to discuss why she is cold all the time; all right, this is winter, but she still should not be complaining about the cold. There may not be anything I can do about that except encourage her to wear sweaters.

The biggest issue Mom has is the Alzheimer’s disease. I do not know the medications this new doctor will prescribe. He may continue the medications she is taking or he may change them. He may know of something that works better then what Mom is taking. I am just going to have to talk to the doctor on Tuesday, January 11, and see what he says.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Driving in Las Vegas and Henderson on a winter afternoon

I spent the afternoon driving from Las Vegas to Henderson and back again. I went to Henderson to pick up some x-rays and bring them back to an imaging center here. I had to have them from some tests last year and did not bring them back, so I had to do it today.

Of course, I took Mom with me because I take Mom with me everywhere I go. We went to the Olive Garden to eat before coming back to Las Vegas. Mom enjoyed the outing, especially the meal at the Olive Garden.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

New Year’s Soup

Jalál (Glory), 2 Sharaf (Honor), 167 BE – Saturday, January 1, 2011 about 4:18 PM Pacific Time

I made New Year’s Soup today. It contained the following ingredients

1 16 oz. pkg. of black-eyed peas
1 tablespoon of salt
1 teaspoon of pepper
1 onion diced
4 pork neck bones
1 pkg. of frozen green peas
1 pkg. of frozen carrots

On New Year’s Eve, I browned the pork neck bones in a skillet and then put 1 cup of water in the skillet and cooked the pork completely through. While the pork was cooking I added dried basil leaves. After the pork was done, I placed it and the water I used to cook it in a covered container and placed it in the fridge.

I washed the black-eyed peas and then put them to soak in 8 cups of water. I let the peas soak over night. On New Year’s Day, drained the water off the black-eyed peas and washed them again. Then I put them into a slow cooker with the salt and pepper and 8 cups of water. I turned the slow cooker on and then I diced the onion. I then put the onion in the pot with the black-eyed peas.

I let the black-eyed peas cook for about 1 ½ hours. Then I put the pork and it water in the slow cooker. After another 1 ½ hours, I put in the frozen green peas and carrots. Then I let the mixture cook, stirring periodically until it was hot and the black-eyed peas completely cooked.