A sleepy Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 7 Rahmat (Mercy), 169 BE – Friday-Saturday, June 30, 2012 about 2:10 PM Pacific Time

Sleepy Saturday

Afternoon nap inviting

Don’t want to lye down

I’m sleepy, but I don’t want to lye down. I have too much work to do to sleep. I need something to keep me awake, but I don’t want to make any more coffee. I didn’t make coffee this morning because I had half a carafe left over from yesterday. I think there is still a cup left in the carafe, so I will warm it over; however, I’m not sure that it will keep me awake.

I hear people complaining all the time about coffee keeping them awake, but that isn’t my experience. It’s not the coffee that keeps me awake, it the worrying and weird noises in my neighborhood. The worrying I can dissipate by placing the situation in God’s hands. It’s the weird noise that’s a little more difficult to handle, especially since I’m not willing to go outside and investigate. It doesn’t seem logical to get up out of bed, go outside, and investigate a weird noise when 99 time out of 100 you won’t find the cause.

I’m going to reheat the remaining coffee and then see if I can find something to eat. Perhaps a little food will keep me awake. Sugar usually keeps me awake, so perhaps I will warm up one of the toaster pastries I bought when I went to the grocery store on Thursday.

A brother living in Colorado Springs

‘Idál (Justice), 4 Rahmat (Mercy), 169 BE – Wednesday, June 27, 2012 about 6:50 PM Pacific Time

One of my brothers lives near Colorado Springs, so I’m keeping an eye on the fires. I received several texts from him yesterday, but only one today. He also posted a picture of the fire on my Facebook wall, so I think him and his family is all right, but I’m not sure where they are at this time.

I just checked my e-mail and there was another Facebook messages, so their all right. He is asking for prayer for the people affected by the fire. I hope anyone reading this will remember all the folks in Colorado Springs and other cities affected by the fire.

Tired on Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 3 Rahmat (Mercy), 169 BE – Tuesday, June 26, 2012 about Sunset Pacific Time

It’s been a long day and I’m tired. I’m not sure why I’m tired, but it could be that I didn’t take a nap today. I’m not looking forward to going out tomorrow, I would rather stay home. However, if I don’t go across town to pay a bill on Wednesday, I’ll have to do it on Thursday. That might be better anyway. I’ll have to think about it.

One of the reason’s I’m tired is that I woke up about 1:55 AM because I heard Mom crying. I went into her bedroom to see why she was crying. As usual she couldn’t tell me. I think she had a bad dream, but I’m not sure. I finally convinced Mom to go back to sleep, but by then there was no use me going to sleep.

Perhaps I’ll wait until Thursday to go out. All I have to do is drive across town to pay a bill and then go to the grocery store. Neither of those tasks will take long, it’s just that I don’t like doing more then one then when I have to deal with triple digit temperature. I’ll have to see how I feel tomorrow morning.

I hear Mom crying

Kamál (Perfection), 2 Rahmat (Mercy), 169 BE – Monday, June 25, 2012 about 7:10 PM Pacific Time

I hear Mom crying,

so I get up and go check:

did she have another dream?

It’s going to be another sleepless night. There is no use going to bed, so I’ll lye down on the couch or the love seat. I don’t sleep well, listening for Mom. Sometimes it’s her tears; I strain to hear her crying in her sleep or when she wakes up from a bad dream.

It’s the Alzheimer’s disease. Mom can’t tell the difference between a dream and reality. She has a dream and she thinks it’s real. She reacts to the dream as if it were real. Sometimes her reactions to the dreams are amusing. Sometimes they make me cry.

Anyway, I get up. I go into her bedroom and I attempt to calm her. I attempt to reassure her that I love her. If this doesn’t calm her then I give her something for agitation because she needs the sleep. I know this is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.

I hear Mom crying,

so I get up and go check:

“Mom, I love you!”

It is hot outside in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 1 Rahmat (Mercy), 169 BE – Sunday, June 24, 2012 about 2:30 PM

it is a dry heat

oak limbs blowing in the wind

birds stay in the shade

I went out to the garage a few minutes ago. It is hot and dry out there, with a dry wind blowing. I do not remember the wind blowing this morning, but it is blowing this afternoon. I still have to go out to the garage a couple more times today and I am not looking forward to that short and hot trip.

I did not put sunscreen on the last time I went out, I think I will the next time. Normally, the only time I put on sunscreen is when I drive across Las Vegas or go to the grocery store. I have to go out tomorrow, so I hope I have enough sunscreen in tube I am using. I do have some spray on sunscreen, but I have not used it because I think I am allergic to the spray on.

Pork Chops and Potato Salad for Lunch in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 19 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Saturday, June 23, 2012 1:00 PM Pacific Time

I bought pork chops and mustard potato salad when I went to the grocery store on Friday. I fixed two pork chops for lunch, one for Mom and one for me. I also gave each of us a helping of potato salad. We ate between 11:30 and noon. I am still full, but Mom is hungry again. I have to figure out what to fix her.

The problem is Mom’s short-term memory loss. Mom forgets she ate and therefore she gets hungry. When Mom gets hungry, I have to find her something to nibble on otherwise she sits and cries. It does no matter how often I explain to her that she just ate, since she does not remember eating she does not think she ate and this explains why she now weight 140 lbs.

I have to find her something to eat that is not fattening. I have ice cream in the freezer we were going to snake on this afternoon, but that is fattening. All though, perhaps if I give Mom a little ice cream she it will satisfy her for an hour or two (I hope). I have to figure out what Mom can eat that is not fattening. At this point, Mom’s weight is close to ideal for her height

Thursday Morning Wasted ~ A Rant

Istijlál (Majesty), 17 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Thursday, June 21, 2012 about 11:30 AM Pacific Time

I am tired. I spent the entire morning dealing with nonresponsive programs and a computer speed that would loose a race with a snail. I am sick of dealing with outdated technology. I rebooted my system twice and it did not help; in fact, rebooting did not have any effect except to prevent me from getting any work accomplished online.

I have a digital camera, but I cannot down load the drivers to my computer because the disk our too small for my outdated disk drives. I cannot find the drivers online and, even if I could, downloading them would probably cause more speed issues.

I am tired (and I am repeating myself). I am frustrated (obviously). I cannot get a new computer or any other technology this month because I have $105.00 worth of prescriptions waiting for me to pick up Friday. On the bright side, the prescriptions are 90 refills which means I do not have to worry about prescriptions for the next three months. However, I am not sure I have enough in the bank to pick up all my prescriptions.

I have been so busy dealing with technical issues that I have not checked the balance in my account today. I will post this document as soon as the computer finishes saving, but I am not sure when that will be since it takes the computer at least five minutes (I may be exaggerating because it could only seem like five minutes) to save anything.

Summer Solstice eve in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 15 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Tuesday, June 19, 2012 about 12:50 PM Pacific Time

Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 20, 2012, is the summer solstice. At 7:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time (4:09 PM Pacific Daylight Time) summer begins. It already feels like summer here in Las Vegas, which is on Pacific Time rather then Mountain Time.

On June 1, the temperature in Las Vegas was 105 degrees, which prompted an excessive heat warning for the Las Vegas valley. I can testify that it was excessively hot because I had to get out of my cool house to drive across the city. Since then we have had several triple digit days and, with the first day of summer tomorrow, it will only get worse.

I am not looking forward to more triple digit temperatures. I do not have working air conditioning in my car (as anyone who has read this blog before knows). I have to go to the grocery store sometime this week. There is no getting out of it, so I may as well go either Wednesday or Thursday. I will see how I feel tomorrow after hydrating myself the rest of the day.

If I hydrate myself today and then tomorrow take a couple of frozen bottles of water with me when I leave the house, it will help keep me cool. Lately, I have found myself getting a bit cranky if I get too warm when I leave the house. I want a car with working air conditioning.

Almost a lost weekend in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 14 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Monday, June 18, 2012 about 7:30 PM Pacific Time

It was almost a lost weekend. I did very little except focus on taking care of Mom, which is full time job in itself. Getting Mom into and out of the wheelchair takes energy and effort. I use a “gate” belt to help transfer her from the bed to the wheelchair and to get her from the wheelchair to the toilet.

Mom weighs approximately 140 lbs. so if she falls on the floor, I have to call the paramedics to help get her up. Fortunately, this past weekend I was able to transfer her from one place to another without much difficulty. Mom was able to help a little bit by using her walker for short distances. Still it was tiring.

I did some writing over the weekend. Writing relaxes me and helps me cope. I made a couple of blog entries in my writing.com blog Snow Melt. I also completed editing the June 20 edition of the writing.com fantasy newsletter. That was about all the writing I accomplished Saturday and Sunday. I am tired, but I am not sleepy. Perhaps I will go to writing.com and do a few reviews.

An Alzheimer’s Morning: “Oh, no!”

Istiqlál (Independence), 11 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Friday, June 15, 2012 about 9:50 AM Pacific Time

It’s an Alzheimer’s morning; this is how I refer to it when Mom is upset, crying, angry, or agitated and this morning, she is crying and saying “Oh, no!”

“Mom,” I ask her, “what are you crying about?”

“Nothing,” she replies or “I don’t know.”

Mom begins crying and then a few minutes later, she says “Oh, no!”

Again, I ask, “Mom, what is wrong?”

“Nothing,” she replies. I fix her a bowl of dry cereal and this stops the crying for a few minutes, but again she says “Oh, no~” I adjust the dolls on her lap; however, this doesn’t seem to help.

The “Oh, no,” conversation could go on all morning or all day. I can’t get may to why she is upset because she doesn’t know herself. I’ve gen Mom all her morning medication, including the pill for agitation. I don’t know what else to do.

Mom moves the wheelchair with her feet. She tries to leave the room. I ask, “Mom, where are you going?”

“Anywhere,” she replies.

I pull the wheelchair back to the couch. Fortunately, if she tries to open the front door, the alarm system will say, “Front door open.”

The hospice C.N.A. came to give Mom her bath. Then about ten or fifteen minutes later, the bus from the daycare center picked her up. By the time the van got here, Mom was in a good mood and wanted to go outside. She didn’t cry or get upset when the driver pushed her wheelchair to the bus.

Primary Election Day in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 8 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Tuesday, June 12, 2012 about Sunset Pacific Time

Today was the primary election in Las Vegas and in the rest of Nevada as well. However, the only city I am interested in is Las Vegas. I voted today. I am registered nonpartisan, so the ballet was not very long and consisted of only judges, but I voted anyway.

This morning, I went to the doctor and then on the way home stopped off at my polling place to vote. I parked my car in the shade of a tree because it was hot out and I did not want my car get too much warmer while I was voting.

I voted in the primary election because it is a family tradition. My grandparents voted in every election. My mother, when she was capable of making a logical decision, voted in every election. Therefore, I feel it is my duty to vote in every election.

I used to work the election polls, but since I became Mom’s caregiver, I no longer do that type of work. Mom goes to the daycare from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and the polls are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. I have to be home with Mom before she leaves for the daycare center and when she gets home, so I cannot work the polls. However, I can still vote.

A Baby-boomer comes to terms with her mortality

Kamál (Perfection), 7 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Monday, June 11, 2012 about 5:20 PM Pacific Time

I thought I’d come to terms with this years ago. I purchased a plot, pre-paid for a burial plan, and, I think, I even picked out a casket. Now I find out that if, I choose cremation, I can have my ashes carried into space. As much as, I want to go into space, I’m not having my body cremated just so my ashes can be carried into orbit.

All right, it’s the cremation idea that bothers me. If my entire body, uncremated, could be carried into space then I don’t think I would object to the price. I’m sure I don’t want my body cremated; I don’t care how dignified or economical the cremation process. I do not want my body cremated! I want my body put in a casket and buried in the ground. Or I want my body put in a casket and shot into orbit.

I’m 65 years old, so I know that eventually the angel of death will sever the cord that holds my body to my soul. At that point, my body will begin the process of decomposition and my soul will ascend into the spiritual realm. Once my soul begins its ascent into the worlds of God, it won’t need my body any more. Then place the casket containing my body in a grave or shot it into orbit, but don’t cremate my body. I’m sure my soul wouldn’t like that idea.

The bandage is off my left leg

Jalál (Glory), 5 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Saturday, May 9, 2012 about Sunset Pacific Time

It’s late Saturday afternoon of an interesting and stressful week. The doctor took the bandage off my left leg on Thursday. At this point, my leg feels fine, but I haven’t been out of the house since Thursday. I haven’t worn my compression stockings since Thursday. Normally, the only time I wear them is when I go out for shopping or a doctor’s appointment.

I suspect I may be allergic to the fabric in the compression stockings. That would explain why my left leg gets sores on ir and why the sores weep. However, I’m not sure because my right leg doesn’t get sores that weep, but it does get red and itch when I wear the compression stockings.

I have to go out Monday because I have to deposit a check (I can’t do that with my phone) and go to the grocery store. Then on Tuesday, I have an appointment with my doctor. I’m planning on wearing my compression stockings on one or both of those days. If I am allergic to the material in the stocking then my leg will begin weeping again and I’m not looking forward to the prospect.

I don’t like having knee-high bandage on my leg. Perhaps I’m worrying over nothing. The problem with my left leg could have more to do with my age and the problems with my veins then it does with the compression stockings that I wear.

My mother thought her pills were apple seeds

Istiqlál (Independence), 4 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Friday, May 8, 2012 about 7:35 PM Pacific Time

Mom takes medication better in the afternoon then the morning. In the afternoon, I can put the pills in my mother’s hand and she will put them in her mouth and swallow them. In the morning, Mom doesn’t want to take her meds. I have begun putting them in applesauce because she normally swallows without a problem.

This morning, I put one of the meds in a spoon of applesauce and she tried to take it out of her mouth. I ask her not to, but she said it was a seed. I finally convinced her it wasn’t a seed. Once she was satisfied that the pill wasn’t an apple seed, she swallowed it without any trouble.

I like to use applesauce because it is easier for Mom to swallow. After I give her the applesauce, I give her a glass of water and most of the time she drinks the water without any difficulties. If Mom continues to think the medication is a seed, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I suppose I’ll have to find something else to hid her medication in so she will take it. Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s disease is interesting.

I am walking like a zombie

‘Idál (Justice), 2 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Wednesday, May 6, 2012 about 3:40 Pacific Time

I have a three layer, knee-high bandage on my left leg. I have osteoarthritis in my right knee. The best way to describe my walk is stiff and zombie-like. It looks as if I’m in pain, but most of the time I’m stiff. It is an effort, especially this time of year in Las Vegas.

I try to park as close to the door of a supermarket or bank as possible, but most of the time the parking closest to the doors are full. In these situations, I have to take whatever parking place I can. When I go to the grocery story, I usually try to park close to where the shopping carts are because I can lean on the cart as I push it into the store.

I haven’t tried the motorized carts the supermarkets have yet, but I may in the near future. The problem I find with those carts is that I can reach only the middle and lower shelves when sitting in them. I like to buy thing from the top shelves, so using the cart means I have to get up and down. I’d rather just push a regular cart rather then get up and down.

Pushing the shopping cart doesn’t change the way I walk. I still walk like a zombie. I expect I will have the stiff zombie shamble the rest of my lie. As I’ve said before, getting old isn’t for wimps.

Water in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 1 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Tuesday, May 5, 2012 about 6:00 PM

It’s Tuesday afternoon and the Las Vegas Valley Water district is considering raising the water bill again. A few months ago, they added an infrastructure charge of approximately $5.00. This brought our water bill up to about $20.00.

All right, $20.00 a month doesn’t seem like a lot. Actually, $20.00 isn’t a lot of money, I put $20.00 of gas in my car about every two weeks (it doesn’t fill the tank up; if I filled the gas tank up every month it would cost about $50.00). The problem is, that Mom and I are living on a fixed income and those $20.00 bills add up.

If the water bill goes up another $5.00 or $10.00, we’ll have to cut down on something else. I’m not sure what that would be. Right now, we do laundry everyday. If cut down to once or twice a week that just means doing more loads on those days. I suppose I could cut down to small loads instead of large loads. That would work unless I’m washing bed linen.

Oh well, I’ll figure out something. We’ve already cut down on going out to eat. I can use more coupons when it comes to buying laundry detergent. When I use the coupons, buy the smallest bottles or jugs that the coupons allows. I have a while to consider my options because the next reading of the meter is June 17, which means the next bill is due sometime in July; probably around July 18. However, the bill will arrive in my mailbox or inbox about June 23. Until then I will continue washing clothes as I normally do.

A trip to the supermarket in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 19 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 169 BE – Monday, June 4, 2012 about 9:55 PM Pacific Time

I went to the supermarket this morning. The trip this morning wasn’t as tiring as the ones I made the last couple of weeks. The reason is that the only stop I made was to the supermarket. Therefore, from now on I will plan grocery-shopping trips as the only stop I make that day.

It’s difficult to shop for food or anything when I’m tired. I think the problem is that I have difficulty walking. Wearing compression stocking help, but only if the supermarket is the only stop I make. I know I could use the motorized shopping carts the stores have, but sometimes the trip to the grocery store is only exercise I get. It’s also difficult to get up if I set down too long.

Sometimes I like to buy the items on the top shelves rather then those on the middle or bottom shelves. As long as I can lean on a shopping cart, I’m usually able to make it through a shopping trip; especially if the supermarket is the only stop I make that day. As I’ve said before, getting old isn’t for wimps.

A good Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 18 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 169 BE – Sunday, June 3, 2012 about 5:45 PM Pacific Time

It’s a good Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, which is nice because this morning wasn’t that great. However, after taking a short nap on the couch the day improved quite a bit. I sat down on the couch to watch T.V. and went to sleep. Mom was sitting in her wheelchair beside the couch, but she didn’t wake me up.

It wasn’t a long nap, it was just long enough for me to rest. I do this every day, so I think the best solution is to lie down rather then sit and watch T.V. because I always go to sleep that way in the afternoon.

It’s a good Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, Mom walks better then she did the last two day. She seems to be feeling better because she wanted to get out of her wheelchair without the walker. She also decided she wanted to go to bed early. She still has another pill to take, but not until latter this evening. I’ll have to wake her up when I give it to her.

I don’t expect to have difficulty giving her the pill because today she takes her meds without an argument. Usually, Mom argues about taking the meds. She also wants to chew them instead of swallowing them with water. The problem with that is that two of the meds are in capsule form and she should not chew them. Oh well, that’s life.

Saturday at home, June 2, 2012, in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 17 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 169 BE – Saturday, June 2, 2012 about 1:00 PM Pacific Time

I’m spending Saturday at home because Mom doesn’t go to the daycare center today. Normally, I miss going somewhere, anywhere, but not today. I spent all morning on Friday, driving from the east side of Las Vegas to the west side and back again. Today I’m happy to remain home and indoors.

On Friday, June 1, the weather bureau released an “Extreme Heat Warning” and I can testify to the fact that we did have extreme heat on Friday. It effect me more then other people because I don’t have working air conditioning I had the driver’s side window rolled down all the time I was driving. In fact, I’m not sure I rolled it up when I got home, so I have to go out after while and make sure that it’s rolled up.

Extreme heat warning

A good day to remain indoors

Sipping ice water

This morning, I fixed beans and ham. The beans were hot, probably not the best things to eat on a hot day, I enjoyed eating them. I used honey baked home pieces to season the beans. Mom enjoyed some of the beans as well. I still have a lot left, so I well freeze a container and mix the rest with the rice I have in the fridge.