Clouds, humidity, and driving in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 11 Asmá’ (Names), 169 BE – Thursday, August 30, 2012 about Sunset Pacific Time

The sky was cloudy all day. Earlier today it was mostly to partly cloudy with patches of blue sky peeking through. This evening there is complete cloud cover. I know it is close to sunset, but I am not sure how close because of the clouds.

This morning, I had to drive to the west side of town in the heat and humidity. It was not pleasant drive, but it was interesting. Most of the drivers were cautious, with one exception. I am not sure if the person was still sleepy, using a cell phone or the weather was having an effect on him or her. Whatever the problem, the car kept swerving into my lane. Unfortunately, I could not pull over and call the police because I had to focus on the rest of the traffic, while avoiding the car that kept swerving into my lane.

I got to my destination and back home safely. I hope the other person did the same. It is times like this when I wished there were another person in the car with me.

Upcoming Holiday: Labor Day

Kamál (Perfection), 8 Asmá’ (Names), 169 BE – Monday, August 27, 2012 about 11:25 AM Pacific Time

Labor Day, observed the first Monday in September, falls on September 3 this year. Labor Day is a Federal Holiday and there will be no postal delivery. In addition, the banks, Federal, and state offices are closed. Labor Day celebrates the contributions of workers.

I am trying to remember how we celebrated Labor Day when I was a child. I know we didn’t go to school that day. I think my mother worked because she was a food server and the restaurant where she worked remained open. I don’t think my grandfather worked that day, so I suppose we stayed at my grandparents house.

The weather in Oklahoma was warm and summery on Labor Day. I believe Grandpa took us to the Lake on Friday every after school let out or on Saturday morning. At the Lake, we swim, fished, water skied, and played. Grandpa had a garden, so we also worked in the garden.

On Labor Day, the daycare center Mom attends is closed. Since Mom is home all day, I have to figure out what to fix for our breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I also need to find something to keep Mom busy and her mind occupied. I’ll figure out something between now and then.

Dreams and Alzheimer’s disease

Istiqlál (Independence), 5 Asmá’ (Names), 169 BE – Friday, August 24, 2012 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time

Last night, Mom had an easy night. She slept through the night without a bad dream or waking up crying. Wednesday night, she woke up crying about 8:30 PM and it took the rest of the night to get her to sleep. I gave her the pill for agitation, but it takes it about thirty minutes or more for it to work and calm her down.

While I was waiting for the pill to work, I sit next to her and read prayers. Prayers will help calm her as well, but Wednesday night she just did not want to do anything except cry and talk about her parents. Mom wanted to know where they were.

Mom’s parents, my grandparents, have been dead a long time. My grandparents’ gravesite is in Blackwell, Oklahoma. I cannot tell Mom they are dead and buried because she would not believe me. Telling her where their graves are located would only make her more upset, so I tell her they are traveling or living in a senior care village somewhere in Oklahoma. It helps, sometimes.

I hope Mom has a better weekend, but I never know how she is going to sleep until the next morning. Sometimes she will sleep through the night without a bad dream. Sometimes she has pleasant dreams. Whether or not the dream is bad or pleasant Mom does not realize she is dreaming. This is how it is when caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.

Care giving: Cleaning out Closets Day 2

‘Idál (Justice), 3 Asmá’ (Names), 169 BE – Wednesday, August 22, 2012 about 5:25 PM Pacific Time

There are three bedrooms in this house and each one has a closet. I found some more of Mom’s clothes in another closet. I also found some of my clothes that I either never wore or have not worn in ten years. In one closet, I found two formal dresses. One belonged to Mom and the other to me.

The one that belonged to Mom is too small for her and she has not worn it in at least ten years. I put Mom’s in the group of clothes I am giving away tomorrow, but I am having second thoughts. I doubt that Mom will wear the dress again; it is dark blue with a broach. Mom had two formal dresses the other one pink and I left the pink one in her closet.

I think she can still wear the pink dress. In addition, Mom likes bright colors better then dark colors. If I gave her, a choice she would chose the pink over the blue. I think I feel guilty about giving Mom’s clothing away without asking her, but if I ask, she will want to keep everything; including the dresses that are too small and there just is not enough room in the closets to keep everything.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease is difficult. I keep encountering situations in which I have to make decision that I sometimes suspect would be different from the decision Mom would make if she were still capable of making them. I cannot keep all the dresses that are too small for Mom and I probably did not give away enough, but I can still set other things aside to give away.

Care giving: Cleaned out Mom’s Closet Today

Fidál (Grace), 2 Asmá’ (Names), 169 BE – Tuesday, August 21, 2012 about Sunset Pacific Time

I cleaned out Mom’s closet today while she was at the daycare center. I removed the dresses and blouses I know are too small for her. She still has several dresses and blouses in the closet, so if she does look she will not miss anything.

The clothes I removed she has not worn for at least five years and they are too small for her. The clothes I took out of the closet I put in a sack to give away. They are still in good condition and someone will be able to wear them. I am going to close this now because I hear Mom crying and I think she had a bad dream.

Cantaloupe in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 1 Asmá’ (Names), 169 BE – Monday, August 20, 2012 about 1:55 PM Pacific Time

Sweet cold cantaloupe

Brings back childhood memories

Of Grandpa’s garden

When I picked up the vegetables and fruit from the Farmers Market last Wednesday, one of the bags had a cantaloupe. I put it in the refrigerator so it could get cold. I cut it up and peeled it today and then, before putting it back into the refrigerator I tasted it. It was delicious and brought back memories from my childhood.

My Grandfather planted a garden every year. One of the things he planted was cantaloupe. I remember waiting impatiently for the cantaloupe to grow and ripen so that we could eat it. This afternoon, when Mom comes from the daycare center she will have a couple of slices. I know she will enjoy it, even if she does not remember Grandpa’s garden; she will enjoy eating the cantaloupe.

Watermelon and a Blueberry Muffin for Breakfast

Jalál (Glory), 18 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Friday-Saturday, August 8, 2012 about 9:45 AM Pacific Time

It’s Saturday and Mom is home all day. I have to make sure that she eats; the problem is finding things she likes that she can eat. I don’t worry about her low fiber diet any more because I have to watch her salt intake closer then her fiber intake. Mom’s feet swell, which means she retains water and salt helps her retain water. She can’t take a water pill because it lowers her blood pressure.

This morning we had watermelon and a blueberry muffin for breakfast. I give her the watermelon for her first breakfast. The watermelon filled her up and she didn’t want anything else after the watermelon. When she said she was hungry again, I warmed up the muffin. She ate the muffin and then took the rest of her morning medication.

I still have half the watermelon left, but I think I’ll wait and fix that on Sunday. The rest of the day, she needs to eat something low in salt and to drink more water. I have some potatoes, squash, and eggs in the refrigerator. I think I’ll fix the potatoes and eggs for lunch and then I only have to worry about what to give Mom to eat the rest of the day. The problem is that Mom doesn’t eat very much at one time, but she wants to eat when she gets hungry rather then at specific time.

Thankful Thursday: Afternoon clouds in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 16 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Thursday, August 16, 2012 about 7:00 PM Pacific Time

Today I am thankful for the clouds,

the beautiful afternoon clouds

holding the promise

of rain.

Today I am thankful for

the way the late afternoon sun

reflects from the clouds

suggesting bright waves.

Shopping in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 14 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Tuesday, August 14, 2012 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time

I need to go shopping. I need to buy some new clothes and new shoes. Now all I have to do is figure out which store. I think maybe a little online research to decide where to shop in Las Vegas.

I know what I need to buy; the problem is getting out in this hot desert city to buy it. Of course, the temperatures are lower so shopping is not as difficult as last week. Last week the temperatures exceeded 110 degrees, but this week they are a bit lower. Therefore, going shopping of a morning is much more pleasant.

This morning I went too the car wash and had the car washed. It was a pleasant trip, not too hot and without any humidity. This afternoon, I noticed the clouds are rolling in so there will be a little humidity, but I don’t think it is very high. Of course, I haven’t been outside since I came home about 10:30 AM.

Tomorrow, August 15, 2012, I’m going to the farmers market, so there will be no other shopping. Even in the cooler temperatures, I can manage only one or two things outside the house at any one time. Since I’m going to the Farmer’s Market that is the only shopping I will do until Thursday or Friday. If I do any other shopping then I have to leave the fruits and vegetable in the car while I’m shopping and I don’t like to do that.

A Neighbor’s Cat: A free verse poem

Jamál (Beauty), 12 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Sunday, August 12, 2012 about 10:15 AM Pacific Time

Stretched out

across the stone on my patio,

a neighbor’s

gray and white cat

watches the sparrows in the oleanders,

listens

to another neighbor’s dog bark,

or stares at me

through the kitchen window;

as I pick up the camera

she switches her tail

and leaves.

Another hot day in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 10 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Friday, August 10, 2012 about 5:45 PM Pacific Time

Friday was another hot day in Las Vegas. The temperature rose to 110 degrees and there was an excessive heat warning. I didn’t go out today because my car doesn’t have a working air conditioner and driving without one is exhausting. Since the air conditioner in the house works I stay home and attempt to get some work done.

I don’t like staying home. I would prefer to go out in the morning and do shopping. I like to go out either two or three days a week, but this week I got out of the house only once. Next week I have to have the car washed and go shopping, but the weather will be cooler; at least according to the meteorologist. Monday the temperature is supposed to get up to 109 degrees and go down from there.

I’m tired of staying home, so Monday while Mom is at the daycare center I think I will plan on having the car washed. There are two or three carwashes close to the house, so I don’t have to drive very far and the waiting areas are cool. It might be nice to set in one while someone washed my car.

I’m not going to wash the car myself. I know it is more expensive to have someone else wash the car, but I would much rather someone wash my car then do it myself. I cut down on something else.

Cleaning out my car in the Las Vegas heat

Istijlál (Majesty), 9 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Thursday, August 9, 2012 about 1:50 PM Pacific Time

I carried two empty plastic juice bottles and two empty food cans to the recyclable bins in the garage. I held the bottles and cans against me with my left arm while I unlocked the security screen using my right hand. As soon as I opened the door the heat sucked all the energy from my body, but I pushed on because I could not leave empty food containers in the kitchen.

In the garage, I put the items into the blue recyclable bin and then opened the driver’s side front door. I need to get some things out of the car and begin cleaning the car out so I can take it to the carwash on Monday. I cannot have it washed until I talk all the trash and stuff out of the car. Since I do not deal well with the heat any more, it will take me all weekend to get everything out of the car.

Leaning across the bucket seat, I unlocked the passenger side door. After I walked around to the passenger side, I realized that the backseat door was unlocked. I thought I locked that door last week, but apparently, I did not. I am going to have to watch that because I do not like driving around Las Vegas with my car doors unlocked.

I removed a long, black wool winter coat from the backseat floor. The coat has been in my car since December of 2011. It has been in my possession since spring of 1998, at least I think that was when I bought it. I have not worn it in at least ten years. It is too hot for this Las Vegas, even in winter and the pockets and lining are torn. Anyway, after looking at it and realizing that I was not going to fix it I decided to throw it away.

I threw the coat away, brought a sheet and a pair of socks in the house. I also folded a winter blanket and laid it in the backseat. As soon as I find the other two winter blankets, I will take them to the laundromat. As soon as I recover from that trip to the garage, I will go out again and see what else I can take out of the car. It is so hot that it is going to take me all weekend to clean the car out. I just cannot handle the heat well anymore.

Midweek reflections on washing the winter blankets

‘Idál (Justice), 8 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Wednesday, August 8, 2012 about 12:45 PM Pacific Time

I have begun washing the winter blankets. Some of them are small enough so that I can put them in the top loader without any difficulty. I will wash the smaller or lighter blankets here at home, but the others I have to take to the laundromat.

I won’t wash the blankets that need to go to the laundromat until the weather gets cooler. It’s just too hot during the day to drive to the Laundromat for three for four heavy blankets. I think I have only three or four heavy blankets, I’ll know more when I finished washing those I can at home.

I don’t expect the temperatures to cool down much until October or November. I won’t have the heavy blankets ready to put on the beds by October, but I will have some of the blankets ready. Mom doesn’t like to have heavy blankets when she sleep at night, she prefers to have several smaller blankets on her bed and those will be ready by the time Autumn and cooler weather arrives in Las Vegas.

I prefer the heavier blankets myself, so as soon as it gets cooler I’ll have to take those to the laundromat. I suppose before I take any blankets out of the house to washed I need the check the prices at the two or three closest laundromats to my house. When I go to the laundromat I prefer to have the change with me so that I don’t have to get any bills changed there.

Monday Musings on Spider Solitaire

Kamál (Perfection), 6 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Monday, August 6, 2012 about 2:40 PM Pacific Time

When I bought this computer, never mind how long ago, it came with several games. One of those games was Spider Solitaire. When I first started playing the game, I didn’t dislike or like it. After playing it several times I began to enjoy the game which lead to me liking it and this is the problem. I think I enjoy the game too much because it interferes with other things I want to do online. Sometime it even interferes with my writing.

I try to avoid playing the game, but sometimes the temptation is too strong and I waste hours. If I didn’t have other things to do then it wouldn’t be a waste of time, but since I have other things to do such as writing and it takes away for that time then playing spider solitaire is a waste of time.

I have considered the option of uninstalling the game, but I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to uninstall a game I enjoy because of an issue with my will power. It isn’t the games fault that I use it as a means of procrastination. I suppose the first step to overcoming a problem is admitting you have a problem.

I think I need to sit a time limit when I play spider. If I sit a time limit then I can use the oven timer I have next to my computer. Normally, I use the timer for timed writing, but it would work just as well to limit the time I play spider.

Low sodium diet: A green salad

Jalál (Glory), 4 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Friday-Saturday, August 4, 2012 about 3:25 PM Pacific Time

a nice green salad

lettuce carrots and cabbage

low sodium diet

This afternoon, Mom ate a little bit of salad for her snack. It was from a package I bought in the grocery store the other day. I didn’t put any type of salad dressing on it, but Mom didn’t complain. The only type of salad dressing Mom likes is ranch dressing and since that is a cream dressing she can’t eat very much of it. Even without dressing, Mom enjoyed the salad. I think I will get vinaigrette dressing the next time I go shopping.

Cooking for someone on a low sodium diet

Istiqlál (Independence), 3 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Friday, August 3, 2012 about 6:00 PM Pacific Time

Mom is now on a low sodium diet as well as a low fiber diet. I am going to focus more on cutting down the salt then on cutting down the fiber. It is easier to cut down on the fiber in her diet is a lot easier then on the salt. I did find a new way to help cut down on the salt I dump my canned vegetables in a colander and then run water over them.

I think this weekend; I will mix everything with rice or pasta. I will have to read on the packages, but I do not think packaged pasta has salt unless you add it when cooking and I do not add salt to the pasta water. I have to be very careful with the salt Mom gets because she is retaining water and her legs are swelling. I have been putting her legs up on the couch when she is in the living room and at night, her legs are up.

I need to get some fresh vegetables and other unprocessed items for her to eat, which I will do on Monday. The problem with the weekend is I have no one to stay with her while I go to the store. I did not get to the grocery store today; therefore, this week end I will just have to focus on getting as much salt out of the food she eats as possible.

I do not like cooking for just myself

Istijlál (Majesty), 2 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Thursday, August 2, 2012 about 6:30 PM Pacific Time

I don’t like cooking just for myself and that is what I do five days a week. Mom goes to the daycare center Monday through Friday and she gets two or three meals a day there, when she comes home in the evening there is someone else to fix a small meal for her. Mom has evening meds to take and so she has to eat something.

I cook for myself five days a week. The problem is that I don’t fix a balanced meal just for me. I have tried frozen dinners and they don’t satisfy me; perhaps I need to try larger frozen meals instead of the one I am buying. I get hungry in the evening. I think I will fix myself a salad and eat that this evening. Perhaps that will satisfy me. A salad is easy to fix and I don’t have to warm it up in the microwave.

On weekends, when Mom is home I fix a balanced meal because Mom needs to eat. I eat balanced meals on the weekends and that seems to satisfy me, I have to start fixing myself balanced meals during the week.

Midweek Reflections: Closing out July’s Books

‘Idál (Justice), 1 Kamál (Perfection), 169 BE – Wednesday, August 1, 2012 about 5:15 PM Pacific Time

Wednesday, August 01, 2012, time to close out July’s books and see if everything balances. It is the middle of the week and the first day of a new month. I stayed home today; I try to remain in the house on either the first day or the last day of a month. The reason is to close out the books and make the mortgage payment.

I went to the mortgage company’s website earlier today and set the payment up to come out of the bank account. Now all I have to do is close out last month’s books, which under normal conditions is not difficult; especially if I check the bank accounts at least every other day and put all the cash payments in the spreadsheet on the day I make them.

The only thing I did differently this month is to wait until afternoon to close July’s books. Normally, I do that in the mornings, today I decided to do it in the afternoon because this morning was somewhat hectic. I do not work online or on important documents until after Mom is bathed, dressed, and off to the daycare center.

This morning I wrote and posted to some items to challenges on writing.com. This afternoon, I am more relaxed and ready to work on the books. I do not like doing the financial books I have to do them. I follow my own system and it seems to work all right. Most of the time everything balance and when it does not balance then I know the problem is a cash outlay I forgot to enter.