Sunday, June 29, 2014

Sundry Sunday: What am I thinking today?

Jamál (Beauty), 6 Raḥmat (Mercy), 171 BE - Sunday, June 29, 2014 about 5:05 pm Pacific Daylight Time

What am I thinking today? I am thinking about the weird noises I hear in this neighborhood. These are noises I cannot identify and, since I do not know what is making them, they are weird noises. Any noise I can identify is not weird. The advantage to hearing unidentifiable noise is story and poem ideas. Once I figure out how to describe the noise then I can write about it.

Today, June 29, I heard a high pitched peeping, squeaking, whistling noise. I suspect it may have been some type of car alarm, but it did not sound like any car alarm I ever heard. It could just as easily have been a burglar alarm; however, I have never hear a burglar alarm sound like that. I did not hear any emergency vehicle sirens, so I do not think it was a burglar alarm. I have no idea what it was, but it went on for about fifteen or twenty minutes.

The noise did not seem to bother anyone else in the neighborhood, so I do not think it was anything very important. Of course, I could be wrong there because maybe people in this neighborhood do not respond to weird noises. I do not think the people in this neighborhood respond to much of anything, except  perhaps neighbors having a knock down drag out fight and then someone usually calls the police.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Foodie Friday: White Fish, Chicken, or Canned Chicken Stew

Istiqlál (Independence), 4 Raḥmat (Mercy), 171 BE - Friday, June 27, 2014 - about 3:01 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Decisions, decisions, decisions, the decisions never end. I have a choice this weekend, i have white fish and chicken thighs in the freezer, while in the cabinet I have a can of chicken in water and several cans of various vegetables. I have to decide what I will fix to eat  this weekend, whatever I fix to eat I will have to open a can of vegetable to go with it.

When I went to the store yesterday, I purchased peanut butter, Ovaltime©, and white fish. I did not purchase any fresh vegetable because I had lots of canned vegetable in the cabinet. If I have fresh vegetable then I will not open a can of vegetable. I have to start opening the canned vegetable and eating  those. I am not sure what other types of canned good I have, so while I looking for vegetables I will see what else is down there.

Maybe I'll fix the white fish with a can of corn or some green beans for lunch. For breakfast I will have hotcakes and eggs with some chicken sausage. This is the first time I have tried chicken sausage, normally I purchase the turkey sausage; however, this time I decided to try the chicken.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Meditation Monday: Take a Deep Breath

Kamál (Perfection), 19 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Monday, June 23, 2014 about 6:44 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Inhale,
focus on my breath,
and then exhale.

Sometimes it helps if I put a crocheted  throw over my head, which seems to help me concentrate. However, many times the only way I can concentrate is to read the prayers in my prayer book. Focusing on my breath doesn't always work, so I have to find another way to meditate and clear my mind.

Take a deep breath,
open the prayer book
 to a random page
and begin to read.

I can focus on the words when I can't seem to focus on my breath. I can focus on the feeling I get from reading the prayers aloud. I can focus on the sound of my voice when I read the prayers. I wonder why I can't seem to focus on my breath when I attempt that form of meditation.

Inhale,
open the prayer book,
exhale,
chose a random page,
inhale,
begin reading the prayer,
and remember to exhale
with each word.

Keep my journal close so that I can write after I finish. This is when I begin my spiritual poem. After meditation and prayer, I can write easily. After meditation and prayer I'm able to focus. After meditation and prayer worry disappears.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Summary Saturday: Summer Solstice

Jalál (Glory), 17 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Saturday, June 21, 2014 about 10:19 am Pacific Daylight Time

Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. It will not be long enough to accomplish everything I want to do today, but then no day is that long. I did do a fair job of accomplishing what I wanted this week; however, I could do better.

I think I need to change the way I do things. I either need a bit more organization or I need to set a time limit on each writing or housework project. I suspect the time limit would be better because every time I attempt to organize I start focusing on one thing to the exclusion of everything else. Also a time  limit would be easier since I have an alarm on my cellphone and an oven time on my desk. I usually only use the oven timer for timed free writes. I prefer to use it for writing I intend to edit later rather then right after I finish, but I can change the way I write.

I can also change the way I do housework. Maybe I should use the oven timer for household chores. Give myself ten or fifteen minutes to do dishes or prepare something to cook. I have no idea how that is going to work, but it will not hurt to attempt using the timer for these chores.




Thursday, June 19, 2014

Thankful Thursday: My Gratitude List for Thursday, June 19, 2014

Istijlál (Majesty), 15 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Thursday, June 19, 2014 about 1:02 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Today I an thankful...

01. ...for iced coffee on a hot Las Vegas day.

02. ...that I am not on kidney dialysis and that I only have stage 3 kidney disease.

03. ...for all of my online friends at writing.com.

04. ...that my checking account is not overdrawn.

05. ...for all of my Baha'i family here in Las Vegas, Nevada, and across the world.

06. ...that I went to my grief counseling group yesterday because I got an idea for a blog or journal entry. The question was ask "What do I want to do?" I will answer that question in one or two blog entries this coming week.

07. ...for homemade celery soup which I am eating for my lunch and dinner today.

08. ...that I have an Internet connection so that I can make some money online and socialize with my online friends.

09. ...for the 16 oz. bottle of water I put in the freezer a couple of days ago. I intended to take it with me when I went to my meeting last night, however, I forget to take it out of the freezer an hour or so before I left the house. Since it was not sitting out where I could see it, I forgot to take it with me.

10. ...that I have some wonderful memories of growing up in Oklahoma that I can use when I write stories or poems.


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Tuesday Ten: Websites I check every day

Fiḍál (Grace), 13 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Tuesday, June 17, 2014 about 3:07 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Ten websites I check everyday or every other day

01. writing.com where I am Prosperous Snow.

02. blogger where I have my blogs and I am Poet 999.

03. Be On for Publishers

04. Facebook

05. Foodfact.com I use this to check the potassium levels in my foods.

06>
Baha'i Reference Library where I find Baha'i Sacred Writings.

07. SocialSpark Blog Marketing

08. SoulPancake

09. YouTube

10. Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Sundry Sunday: Father's Day

Jamál (Beauty), 11 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Sunday, June 15, 2014 about 6:24 am Pacific Daylight Time

Happy Father's Day!
Is the message I would send
Today to Daddy.

I am not sure I ever wished my father a Happy Father's Day. If I did I was so young that I do not remember saying the words to him. I do not remember saying "I love you, Daddy." either. My parents were divorced when I was quite young and I do not have that many memories of my father. I do not remember seeing him after the divorce.

I miss you Daddy
As I write this and I cry
I say a prayer.

My father died on April 14, 1998, but I did not hear about it until I did an Internet search for him and then it was too late to contact  him. I regret that I did not get to see Daddy one last time before he died. I regret that I learned about his death through an Internet search. The only way I can wish him a Happy Father's Day is to open my prayer book and say a prayer for the departed, which I did before beginning this entry.

I miss you Daddy
I want to say I love you
Kiss you on the cheek.

What do I remember about my Father? I remember Daddy carrying me on his shoulders. I remember Daddy holding my hand when we walked down the street or up the front steps. I remember the scent of Old Spice. I remember random words and sometimes I hear his voice in my mind.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Foodie Friday: Happy Friday the Thirteenth

Istiqlál (Independence), 9 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Friday, June 13, 2014 about 10:22 am Pacific Daylight Time

Happy Friday the Thirteenth or perhaps I should say have a lucky Friday the Thirteenth. There are lots of superstitions about Friday, food, and the number thirteen. Some of these superstitions are amusing and some of them cause a person to stare blankly into space shaking his or her head in astonishment.  One of the food superstitions that I grew up with concerned eating black eyed peas on New Year's Day.

Every year I remember Grandma fixing black eyed peas. On December 31, Grandma Mary put the black eyed peas to soak and then, on the morning of January 1, she would put them on to stove to cook. Before turning on the burner, she would add salt, a table spoon of white vinegar, and either pigs feet or fat back. The peas were always cooked by the time the family was ready to eat in the afternoon.

Another superstition I was brought up with concerned salt. If either my sibling or I inadvertently spilled the salt then Grandma or Grandpa would tell that person to throw a pinch of salt over his or her right shoulder. I remember seeing my grandparents and parents do the same thing when they spilled the salt.

A superstition my family never had to worry about was having thirteen guest at the dinner table. I doubt that we could have fit that many people at the table anyway because there was barely enough room for the eight people at our table much less thirteen. Still it is considered unlucky to have thirteen people at a dinner table or a dinner party.



Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Does Not Work for Me Wednesday: This does not work for me

‘Idál (Justice), 7 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Wednesday, June 11, 2014 about 7:27 am Pacific Daylight Time

It does not work for me when you refer to momentary memory issues a A Touch of Alzheimer's. I find this reference offensive because I have dealt with someone who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and I know the devastation it can cause to the sufferer and the family. I you think you may have a problem with Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia then ask your doctor for a referral to a geriatrician or neurologist, either of which are capable of determining if you are suffering from the early stages of these diseases.

I realize that you do not intend to be offensive when you use A Touch of Alzheimer's in a conversation, but the comment is offensive none the less. I watched my gentle and beautiful mother waste away from this disease. I felt her hit me when she got angry, which is something she never did before the disease begin to eat away at her memory, emotions, and personality. So please consider the feelings of those who have had personal experiences caring for family members suffering from Alzheimer's disease and do not use the term lightly in a conversation.

Monday, June 09, 2014

Meditation Monday: Begin the Week with a Positive Thought

Kamál (Perfection), 5 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Monday, June 9, 2014 about 11:28 am Pacific Daylight Time

It is Monday, the beginning of a new workweek. If you have a job that requires you to leave your house and work for someone else take a positive thought with you as you walk out the door. I read somewhere or someone told me (probably my mother or grandmother) that if you begin the day with a positive thought then every situation you encounter goes better and everything runs more smoothly.

I have found that the best way to begin the day and the week is with prayer, meditation, and a strong cup of coffee. After that the rest of the day flows smoothly even if sometime during the day you encounter rapids. When you do encounter rapids then take a deep breath, say a prayer for assistance, and attempt to steer yourself through the rapids. One thing about rapids is that they do not last forever, eventually the situation smooths and you get a chance to rest before encountering the next group of rapids.

Saturday, June 07, 2014

Summary Saturday: Sunshine and Triple Digit Temperatures

Jalál (Glory), 3 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Saturday, June 7, 2014 about 4:42 pm Pacific Daylight Time

It is the end of the first week in June, I am sitting in a cool apartment trying to decided what to fix with the chicken I have in the microwave. Every few minutes I glance out the window at the beautiful blue sky and bright sunshine.  Every thirty minutes or so I check the local temperature on one of t he news website.

According to the website, the temperature is 102 degrees right now. It is supposed to drop to 101 degrees about 5:00 pm. I will check the temperature again about 5:30 to see if it dropped. I am planning to go grocery shopping on Sunday morning because I have to purchase some supplies for work on Tuesday.

It has been a warm week here in Las Vegas. The temperatures climbed into the triple digits almost everyday. So I have had to run t he air conditioner during the day, but I do not run it at night. I have a remote control that allows me to turn the cool air on and off at will. I hope it keeps the electricity bill down this summer.


Thursday, June 05, 2014

Thankful Thursday: On Thursday, June 5, 2014 I Am Thankful

Istijlál (Majesty), 1 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Thursday, June 5, 2014 about sunset Pacific Daylight Time

On Thursday, June 5, 2014 I am thankful that...

01. ...Nevada has early voting because it makes it easier to vote when you can do it while you are out shopping or running errands.

02. ...I received a jar of peanut butter with my June senior food allotment. I can now have peanut butter on my hot cakes.

03. ...I stopped at a full service gas station this morning for gas because the tires on the passenger side were low.

04. ...I was able to vote this morning before going the pick up my senior food allotment because now I do not have to worry about finding a pace to vote.

05. ...I have an Internet connection because I can earn some money to help with my bills.

06. ...I received a can of chicken in water with my senior food allotment, so now I can make my owe recipe for sloppy joes.

07. ...I only need 100,000 Gift Points on writing.com to extend my premium membership to the end of December.

I know that I'm supposed to list ten things I am thankful for, but for some reason today I can only think of seven, but I'm going to post it anyway.

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Tuesday Ten: Summer Activities

Fiḍál (Grace), 18 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur), 171 BE - Tuesday, June 3, 2014 about 3:51 Pacific Daylight Time

These are the things I plan to do this summer.

01. Survive the triple digit temperatures in Las Vegas

02. Participate in I Write June-July-August on writing.com

03. Get my hair cut, I'm not planning on dying it because I'm starting to like the gray. I do want it shorter because I can't stand long hair in the summer time.

04. Write a wikiHow article wikiHow. I set up an account under the name of Prosperous Snow.

05. Get a pair of new athletic shoes so that I can workout at the gym without my feet hurting.

06. Write a my own recipe for fresh fruit summer salad.

07. Take an MIT OpenCourse MIT Open Course.

08. Do a "bill reduction" The One Hour Project: Cleanse Your Monthly Bills

09. Read the book, Harley-Davidson 100 Years, that my friend gave me.

10. Make a blog entry on each of the items when I do them.

Those activities, working, and the housework should keep my mind and body busy this summer. Since I want to complete all of them and prove to myself that I can do ten projects in three months, I need to get going. I will post how the project are coming along on Saturday or Sunday.

Sunday, June 01, 2014

Sundry Sunday: Thank God It's Sunday

Jamál (Beauty), 16 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur), 171 BE - Sunday, June 1, 2014 - about 6:04 pm Pacific Daylight Time

I know that it's normal to say Thank God It's Friday, but I'm glad for a new week and a new month occurring on the same day. Last week was confusing and there were days that I wasn't sure of the day or the date. I'm better today, I know the day, the date, and the time. I've caught up on two or three things that I was behind, all though, I still have to go to the laundromat.

I don't want to think about last week, but I'm going to have to face the fact that I still may have a couple of more items to catch up. I know I'll have to take some trash to the alley in the morning when I roll the laundry to the car. I'm not looking forward to going to the laundromat, but I have no other choice. I'm not looking forward to doing anything that I have to stand up to accomplish because my shoes hurt my feet. I need a new pair of shoes.

I'm not going to complain any more because it's a new month. June is looking like it will be a nice month; at least, I'm starting the month with a positive attitude. I don't have anything to complain about this early in the month. I haven't checked my bank account in a couple of day, so I suppose I should check it tonight before I go to bed. I should also balance my books for May, but then I didn't do much book balancing all through that month.