The Last Sunday in March 2014

Kamál (Perfection), 11 Bahá (Splendor), 171 BE - Sunday, March 30, 2014 about 7:41 pm Pacific Daylight Time

It is after sunset on the last Sunday in March. This morning the wind blew so hard that it sent litter blowing down the street and making all sorts of weird noises. The wind woke me up, so I suppose it means that March is going out like a lion.

the lion of March
howls through the streets knocks on doors
rude awakening

According to weather.com, the wind was 10 mph. I think it sounded like it was blowing faster then that, but I did not go outside until about 11:00 am and the wind had calmed down a little. According to tomorrow's forecast the wind is supposed to reach 26 mph which should make carrying trash to the alley interesting.

Summary Saturday: Summerizing the week of March 23 to March 29, 2014

Jalál (Glory), 9 Bahá (Splendor), 171 BE - Saturday, March 29, 2014 about 7:07 am Pacific Daylight Time

It's been an interesting, educational, and stressful week. This is the third week in a row that I have kept track of weird, odd, and intriguing news stories. I keep the links to these stories The Snowflake Chronicles, a journal I have stored in my writing.com port. This week I also kept notes on activities I did each day because I didn't want the stress to produce "senior moments" if I decided to blog about those activities.

Sunday, March 23: Remained in apartment.
Monday, March 24: Went for colonoscopy follow-up, the doctor said he removed two polyps, and he want me to have another colonoscopy in three years.
Tuesday, March 25: Went to doctor & started new poem.
Wednesday, March 26: Decided to day to use the 5 lb. weights in my silver & fit class
Thursday, March 27: The class for clerk so that I can work the polls on election today
Friday, March 28: Went to Lutheran Social Services to pick up 20 lbs. of food.
Saturday, March 29:  I have to fix myself something a bit more substantial for my second breakfast then Greek yogurt, zucchini nut cake, and coffee.

I'm not sure about my plans for this coming week because I have to check my April calender and decide on which day to go the the laundromat. As you noticed in the above summary, I didn't do that this week and that means I have at least two loads of clothes to lug to the laundromat sometime between March 30 and April 5, 2014. I think the best thing to do is just plan two trips to the laundromat instead of just one.

Thankful Thursday: March 27, 2014

Istijlál (Majesty), 7 Bahá (Splendor), 171 BE - Thursday, March 27, 2014 about 5:12 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Today I am thankful...

1.  ...that I had enough gas in the car to get me to the Election Board Office so that I could take the class for clerk.

2. ...for the watermelon I purchased at Smith's Food & Drug Store last week. I ate part of it when I returned home this afternoon.

3.  ...that I have a Brita© pitcher so that I do not have to drink the water straight out of the facet. The water tastes so much better after it has gone through the filter.

4.  ...for the beautiful sun shiny afternoon we are experiencing in Las Vegas.

5.  ...that I still have an Internet connection so that I can access writing.com and other websites.

6.  ...for the two jugs of apple juice I have in the refrigerator because I can heat a cup of apple juice in the Microwave and have a warm refreshing snack before I go to bed.

7.  ...that I have not had to turn the cold air on in my apartment yet this month.

8.  ...for the prayers revealed by Baha'u'llah, the Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha.

9.  ...that I do not have to worry about my writing.com membership until June 30, 2014.

10.  ...for the purple windbreaker I wear when I leave the house. I do not have to put my wallet, keys, or cell phone in my purse because the windbreaker has pockets.

Midweek Reflections: On a Nontraditional Breakfast

‘Idál (Justice), 6 Bahá (Splendor), 171 BE - Wednesday, March 27, 2014 about 9:05 am Pacific Daylight Time

It is Wednesday, halfway through the last full week of March 2014. This morning I am eating a nontraditional breakfast of chicken, spinach, and celery soup. I made the soup myself at the end of last week, so I have to finish it off today because I want to make another batch of bell pepper chicken soup.

When I went to the store on Saturday, at least I think it was Saturday, I bought a package of chicken leg quarters and a steak. At the time, I was not sure whether I wanted to make beef stew (I never use stew meat for beef stew because other cuts of beef are tenderer) or chicken soup. After checking my refrigerator and the cans I have in my pantry, I decided that chicken soup with celery and spinach would be a better choice. I will use the steak for something else, perhaps get some barbecue sauce to marinade the steak.

I like the soup I made, but it needs something. Therefore, before I make the bell pepper soup I will check the spices I have on hand. I do not keep salt in the house because I would rather cook with spices then with salt, besides sometimes I use canned vegetables in my soup and those have enough slat in them.

Unpacking the Gray-Blue Suitcase

Jamál (Beauty), 3 Bahá (Splendor), 171 BE - Sunday, March 23, 2014 about 9:09 am Pacific Daylight Time

On Monday, my sister brought the blue-gray suitcase I packed and put into storage in her garage. I found four dress, which (with  the three I already had here) gives me seven dresses to wear this spring and summer. This is nice because now I do not have to wash my dresses more then once a week. In addition, to the dresses I packed a pair of slacks with a matching blouse.

The only problem with the slacks and the blouse is that every time I bend over the slacks ride down and show areas of my backside I would prefer to remain concealed. This means I cannot wear the slacks and the blouse to the gym. If I have to wear the slacks to the gym, I will have to find a long t-shirt to wear. I hope there are other t-shirts in the suite case because I have only three I could wear with the slacks, if they matched.

I have two more problems with the clothes in that suitcase. First, I need more hangers because I have used almost all of the hangers I brought with me. Second, I do not think I have enough room in my closet to hang everything up. I will have to leave some of the stuff in the suitcase or give it away. I think giving it away would be the best option because then I would not have to open the suitcase every time I wanted to find something to wear.

Thankful Thursday: March 20, 2014

Istijlál (Majesty), 19 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Thursday, March 20, 2014 about 10:42 am Pacific Daylight Time

Today I am thankful...

01.  ...that today is the first day of spring because now I can turn off the heat and turn on the cool air.

02.  ...for the chicken thighs I have in the refrigerator because I can fix them for lunch.

03.  ...that tomorrow is Naw-Ruz and I get to go to a Naw-Ruz party tomorrow evening.

04.  ...for the different colored bell peppers I have in the refrigerator because now I can make bell pepper soup with the chicken thighs.

05.  ...that I decided to stay home this morning and gets some writing accomplished. I have already written over 1,500 words today.

06.  ...for the beautiful sunshiny day we are experiencing here in Las Vegas.

07.  ...that I have a box of cherry cordial ice cream in the freezer.

08.  ...for the love seat I sleep on because if I did not have it I would have to sleep on the floor.

09.  ...that when my modem took a nap a few minutes ago I did not loose this entire post.

10.  ...for everything I have to be thankful for that I have not listed.

Travel Tuesday: Places in Las Vegas I want to visit - Part 1

Fiḍál (Grace), 17 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Tuesday, March 18, 2014 about 11:54 am Pacific Daylight Time

This is a list of local museums in want to visit,,,

1. The Neon Museum

2. Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas

3. The Mob Museum

4. Las Vegas Natural History Museum

5. The Nevada State Museum

6. The National Atomic Testing Museum

I think six museums is all I am planning to visit in the near future. After I visit these attractions and write poems, stories, and/or blog entries about them, I will look for six more place in or around Las Vegas to visit. The first thing I need to do is check the prices and the days the museums are open or for any special events occurring within the next nine months. After that, I just need to decide on which days I can go because the only type of vacation I can take is a staycation.

Spiritual Sunday: Cleaning out My Coffeemaker

Jamál (Beauty), 15 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Sunday, March 16, 2014 about 4:56 pm Pacific Daylight Time

As I write this, vinegar water is running through my coffeemaker to clean it out. I do this once a month to make sure that the coffeemaker last longer and the coffee taste good. As I was pouring the water into the tank, I realize that tests and difficulties doe the same thing for the human soul that vinegar water does for a coffeemaker.

Tests and difficulties clean our souls, when a person encounters a tests and turns to God that person's soul is cleaned. The person is prepared so that he or she can better serve God. The soul is cleaned of the dross that daily living deposits, which comes between the Divine Essence (God) and the individual.

If the person prays daily, instead of only turning to God in times of crises and tests, the person will have a smoother ride through the tests. However, no amount of prayer or scripture reading will prevent the soul from confronting tests and difficulties.

Foodie Friday: I like Turkey Sausages

Istiqlál (Independence), 13 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Friday, March 14, 2014 about 11:29 am Pacific Daylight Time

I like turkey sausages! I tried them for the first time this morning and I realized that I like them. When I went to the store yesterday, I decided I needed some kind of meat to go with breakfast. I knew I didn't want beef, pork, or chicken, so I purchased two packages of fully cooked turkey sausages. I fixed them this morning with my hotcakes and eggs.

I don't know why I didn't try them before today, maybe because I wasn't raised eating anything except pork sausages. I purchased the link sausages because I can't eat the patties (not in the pork sausage anyway). The next time I get this type of meat, I'll purchase the turkey sausage patties and see if I can eat those better then the pork sausage patties. I may even purchase the turkey sausages that are not fully cooked and see how I like those.

I have to change the way I eat by cutting down on the beef  and the pork. Since I don't want to cut meat out entirely I have to start eating chicken and turkey. I think the next time I make Spanish rice, I will purchase the ground turkey and see how that works with my recipe. I prefer to have a little bit of meat in my diet, so poultry is a good substitute for beef and pork.

Workout Wednesday: An hour long exercise class at the gym

Idál (Justice), 11 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Wednesday, March 12, 2014 about 3:22 pm Pacific Daylight Time

This morning I went to the Silver Sneakers Fitness class at 24-hour Fitness on South Eastern, just past the corner of Sahara. I enjoyed the class, all though I think when I go next week I'm taking water with ice. As I was drinking my water (at a short break) I decided I didn't like to drinking it at room temperature. Drinking cold water winter and summer is something I picked up in my childhood, I don't like  the taste of tepid water.

I got a good workout this morning and decided to come home after the class instead of going to the grocery store or the bank. I was tired, but it was a good tired because I wasn't exhausted. My mood was and still is positive despite the fact that I have financial worries. The exercise appears to decrease my depression, while causing me to feel better.

happiness increased
by an hour of exercise
a bright sunny day

Meditation Monday: Random Thoughts on Meditation and Exercise

Kamál (Perfection), 9 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Monday, March 10, 2014 about 5:46 pm Pacific Daylight Time

It's Monday and I'm not feeling well, which has affected both my exercise and meditation. I have to force myself to concentrate. I don't know if something I ate last night caused my "illness" or if it's a side effect of the time change.

I had to force myself to go to the gym this afternoon and once I got  there my body didn't want to cooperate. Specifically my left knee, it hurt when I attempted the leg stretch and when I was on the bike it make cracking or popping sounds. The only machine I was able to work on was the cardio machine.

I like the cardio machine because I can repeat prayers, affirmations, or scripture verses while I'm on it without slowing down the workout.  When I'm on the bike or the treadmill, I have to focus on what I'm doing and not let my mind wonder or I slow down. Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to focus on much of anything today.I hope and pray that tomorrow I will be able to focus on the exercises.

Summary Saturday: Looking back over the week

Jalál (Glory), 7 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Saturday, March 8, 2014 about 5:30 pm Pacific Standard Time

I just finished eating a grape sucker for my snack today. I know that isn't a good snack, but it was lying on my desk and I didn't want to throw it away. I got it when I went to the bank on March 3, to withdraw the money for the rent. At the time I didn't think about the type of snack it would make or anything else because it reminded me of my childhood.

This has been an interesting week, I went to the gym on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and today. I worked out  on  the  treadmill, the stationary bike, the cardio machine, the machine  that lets you do leg stretches, attended an hour long exercise class, and I did balancing exercises.  Today I planned to attend a yoga class but got confused about the time. I thought the class started at 10:30 instead of 10:00 am. I worked out on the machines for an hour and then went to the grocery store.

On Thursday morning, I went to the laundromat. On Friday, I stayed home and remained in the house almost all day. I did go outside twice to take trash to the dumpster in the alley. I ate only one meal Friday, so I ran out of energy before I accomplished everything I wanted to do. I went to bed early on Friday and I overslept this morning, which may be one reason I thought the yoga class started later in the morning.

I like going to the grocery store on Saturday after my gym workout. The reason is the free food sample, which I think count as a snack. The samples were good, unfortunately I couldn't purchase the products because most of them aren't on the diet plan my doctor gave me. However, I doubt the samples had very much potassium in them because they were all small and less then bite size.

Well, that is about it for  this week,  tomorrow Day Light Savings Time begins. Since I haven't plugged in the clock radio, I have only two clocks to sit ahead. I have to manually set the clock on the stove and the microwave.

Thankful Thursday: March 5, 2014

Istijlál (Majesty), 5 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Thursday, March 6, 2014 about 9:23 am Pacific Standard Time

This morning I am grateful...

01. ...for the blueberries I received when I picked up food from Lutheran Social Services on Friday, February 28. I fixed blueberry pancakes for my breakfast today.

02. ...that I still have a complete roll of quarters for laundry money. It cost me $3.00 to wash one load of clothes and $1.00 to dry them.

03. ...for the five bottles of water I received from Lutheran Social Services on February 28, 2014. I still have one bottle I can take to the gym with me this afternoon.

04. ...that I only have two bags of trash to take to the dumpster in the alley because two small bags of trash is all I can carry at a time.

05. ...for my portfolio on writing.com and the ability  to keep my premium membership by reviewing the work of other writers.

06. ...that today is Thursday because I need to find something to give thanks for at least once a week.

07. ...that I was able to join a gym so that I can get fit or at least as fit as my health will allow.

08. ...for a connection to the Internet so that I can stay in contact with my family and friends.

09. ...for a free senior cellphone with 250 free minutes each month.

10. ...that I know how to cook so I don't have to go to a restaurant every time I get hungry.

Travel Tuesday: I'm staying home until this afternoon

Fiḍál (Grace), 3 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Tuesday, March 4, 2014 about 10:46 am Pacific Daylight Time

This is travel Tuesday, which means an entry about traveling somewhere. Today, the only traveling I'm planning are a couple of trips to the alley with some trash and a trip to the gym this afternoon. On Monday, I went to the bank, to pay the rent, and then to the gym. On Wednesday, I will make another trip to the gym in the morning and then to a grief counseling meeting in the afternoon. On Thursday, I plan to go to the laundromat in the morning and then to the gym in the afternoon. Friday is grocery shopping day, so I will pick up some senior food in the morning and the stop at the grocery store on my way home. I will go to the gym again on Saturday, but I'm not sure whether it will be morning or afternoon.

Those are the extent of my travel plans this week. I could complain about not being home, but since it's my choice to do these things I can't complain. The two projects I'm focusing on this week going to the gym and attempting to organize my apartment. Since I can't let these project interfere with writing 2,000 words a day, my life is full, but at least I'm not bored. Happy traveling to everyone who is getting out into the world or just traveling the Internet.

Spiritual Sunday: Thoughts on Spiritual Life

Jamál (Beauty), 1 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Sunday, March 2, 2014 about 11:19 am Pacific Standard Time

Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life. 

Buddha 

I am a candle
lit by the will of God,
my flame burns bright
when I pray.
meditate,
and fast.

Today is the first day of the nineteen day fast; unfortunately, I am on medication and cannot abstain from food and liquid between sunup and sundown. My physical condition does not prevent me from praying and meditating; therefore, my spiritual life moves forward though prayer, meditation, and abstaining from those things that create veils between God and me.

In order to find out what comes between my creator and me, I read the Baha'i scriptures and I write in a pen and paper journal. My journal entries consist of letter to Baha'u'llah and to my Mother. The letters to my mother are new, I did not begin writing her until this year. The letters help me focus on what is important in my life and on what I can do to advance my soul spiritually. I know I am only on this earth for a short time and that I will spend eternity in the next world. The only thing my soul will take with it when it separates from my body are the spiritual attributes it develops in this world.