On the Eve of National Novel Writing Month

Istiqlal (Independence), 16 'Ilm (Knowledge), 171 BE - Friday, October 31, 2014 about 8:56 am Pacific Daylight Time

On Saturday, November 1, National Novel Writing Month begins, I am participating in this adventure in writing. The working title for my 2014 novel is Mark of the Blue Wolf with an expected word count of 50,000 plus.  I am storing my novel in my port at writing.com and intend to print out a copy of each day's work. I have to purchase a cartridge for my printer because I think the black and white cartridge in the printer is empty.

On November 1, I have to go the bank to deposit my check so I will purchase a printer cartridge while I am out. I suppose I should purchase a color cartridge as well; just in case its the color cartridge that is out of ink. I pray that the problem with the printer is the empty cartridges and not something more complicated or expensive to repair.

I also need to get some healthy snacks, but I am not sure what I want. I am on a low potassium, phosphorus, and protein diet so it is difficult to buy things that I can eat. Needless to say I read the labels on everything, so it takes me longer then normal to grocery shop. I have found that many items do not list the potassium or phosphorus levels the contain, which means I also have to check websites for those contents. Grocery shopping has become both an adventure and exercise. It is wonderful when I can get two thing accomplished at the same time in one store.

Midweek Reflections: Meditation at the Laundromat

'Idal (Justice), 14 'Ilm (Knowledge), 171 BE - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 about 1:22 pm Pacific Daylight Time

My mind is silent
focused on the moment,
the job at hand
while all around people
minding their own dirty clothes
put presorted clothes
into top loaders.

In another aisle
the front loaders
now empty
wait for multiple loads
of unsorted clothes.

I watch,
my chosen machine,
waiting
for the single load
of a single woman
to go through the wash cycle.

Tired Tuesday: Resting up after ten days of driving across Las Vegas

Fiḍal (Grace), 13 'Ilm (Knowledge), 171 BE - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 about 10:15 am Pacific Daylight Time

For eight of the past ten days I have worked between 7 and 8 hours, while the other two days I drove all over Las Vegas taking care of business. I am tired! I am not sleepy, therefor, lying down or taking a nap  will do no good. Since I have writing project to do and housework I am going to remain home today to accomplish some of the things I had to put off.

On Wednesday, October 29, I have to wash one load of clothes and do some grocery shopping. I am not sure what I will purchase at the grocery store. I may wait until tomorrow and make my grocery list while I am doing laundry. I have at least two loads of laundry to do, but I will do only one load. The second load contains winter blankets that I have to wash before Thanksgiving, Tomorrow I will wash and dry clothes for work because that is all I desperately need at present.

I will wash two dresses, a blouse or two, a pair of slacks, and some socks. That will get me through the rest of the workweek. I can was another load of clothes on Wednesday or Thursday of next week because I have to work on Tuesday. I hope after Tuesday, November 4, I can get back to my regular blogging schedule.

Waking up on Friday morning

Istiqlal (Independence), 9 'Ilm (Knowledge), 171 BE - Friday, October 24, 2014 about 6:30 am Pacific Daylight Time

It's Friday morning, I can hear my joints creaking as I walk from my computer to the coffeemaker. I pour myself another cup of wake up you have places to go and people to see. Wake up you can't drive when you're sleepy. I'm not sure that another cup of coffee will help me wake up this morning. I'm tired from five days of working the early voting polls in Clark County Nevada.

I can't decide whether to go back to bed or eat breakfast. I want to stretch and yawn, but I don't want to go to sleep. I'm not sure whether I could go to sleep if I laid down for a few minutes. I stretch and yawn, but it doesn't wake me up. After I finish stretching and yawning, I want to stretch and yawn some more. I doze off in the middle of a sentence; fortunately, I haven't fell out off my chair or laid my head on the keyboard.

I have to drive across town on business, but I need to wake up some more before I get into my car. I need to purchase gas so I'll have to stop at the grocery store or the bank to get money for gas. I need to stop at the grocery store for another container of coffee and something else I forgot when I went to the store on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I'm behind on a writing projects and I need to finish both of them today. I don't have the energy to make my self do anything except sit at the keyboard and doze. If I attempt to lye down then I can't fall asleep because I know I have a lot of work to do. I can't do the work properly if I'm half asleep while I'm doing it. I think I cook myself a couple of eggs and a ground turkey burger to see if that helps me wake up on this beautiful Friday morning.

A Long Weary Day

Jamal (Beauty), 4 'Ilm (Knowledge), 171 BE - Sunday, October 19, 2014 about 2:47 pm Pacific Daylight Time

I don't know why I'm attempting to write this except that I'm hoping it keeps me awake. I'm tired! My eye are falling as sleep on their own. I don't want to lay down now because I have too much writing and other work to catch up. I've almost finish catching up on the writing. I don't think I'm going any where this afternoon because I'm in no condition to drive. I'm too tired to drive anywhere today. Walking around helps a little but no all that much. I don't want to brew another carafe of coffee, so I will drink the iced apple tea I have in t he refrigerator. I'm tired and falling asleep at the keyboard. I didn't rest very well last night. I have to rest better tonight because I have to go to work on Monday morning.

Sunday Services

Jamal (Beauty), 16 Mashíyyat (Will), 171 BE - Sunday, October 12, 2014 about 5:58 pm Pacific Daylight Time

I had an inspiring afternoon at the Baha'i Center when I attended the monthly spiritual service. The theme this month was death, which I found intriguing. I begin the following poem.

The cage is broken

the bird is freed from matter

flies to paradise. 

I think I am finally getting out of my shell. I plan to attend the spiritual service in November because I enjoyed myself today. I always enjoy going to Baha'i Feast, Holy Days, and spiritual services. I brought home the program containing several readings from the Baha'i scriptures. I think I will meditate on one of them before going to sleep tonight.

Thankful Thursday: Day 11 of my 95-Day Gratitude Challenge

Istijlal (Majesty), 13 Mashíyyat (Will), 171 BE - Thursday, October 9, 2014 about 12:17 pm Pacific Daylight Time

I have made an entry everyday for eleven days in  one of my writing.com journals and listed two things I am thankful for an Facebook each day.  I have managed to find several things to give thanks for, so in this Thankful Thursday entry I am going to list some of those things.

I am thankful...

01. ...that I was able to get my printer working again. The problem was simple, but I did not find that out until I decided to move the printer from the computer it was supposed to be attached to. When I moved it, I found out that the person who moved the computer and sit it up in my new apartment did not connect the printer to the computer.

02. ...for the apple tea I made by mixing half a jug of apple juice with the tea I brewed on Tuesday. Mixing the apple juice with the tea gives both the apple juice and the tea a new flavor. I like the two mixed because it encourages me to drink the apple juice.

03. ...for the bird that sings in the tree across the street from my apartment. Since the first day of Autumn, when the temperatures here in Las Vegas began getting cooler, the bird has sing. I think it is a sparrow, but I am not sure because I have never seen the bird.

04. ...for the prayers revealed by Baha'u'llah, the Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha because they relieve the stress I feel when my life appears to get out of hand.

05. ...that I have only enough dishes for one person to use because it encourages me to keep the dishes washed and put away in the cupboard. I have a small amount of storage and cabinet space so I have to keep them neat with my cookware easily accessible.

06. ...for the space I have on the other computer desk because now I can put some of the things that are taking up room on my kitchen counter on that desk. I have to cover the computer up with a table clothe because I do not have any sheets.

07. ...for the cooler weather we are experiencing in Las Vegas. It is cool enough that I do not have to turn the air on until mid afternoon  or later. Sometimes I do not have to turn it on at all.

08. ...for the rooster that crows every morning at first light. It does not matter how late dawn comes because that rooster knows when to crow.

09. ...for the ground turkey patties I purchase in the store. I have begun to like them better then beef patties. The turkey patties taste just as good as the beef patties especially when I put cheese and hot sauce on them.

10. ,,,that the calender I received from writing.com for my anniversary has prompts on it because I can use the prompt when my muse is being stubborn about finding a subject for me to write about.

Midweek Reflections: Technology is Wonderful When it Works

'Idal (Justice), 12 Mashíyyat (Will), 171 BE - Wednesday, October 8, 2014 about 2:18 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Technology is wonderful when it works and sometimes the only thing keeping it from working is connecting it properly. I haven't been able to use my printer since I moved into my studio apartment. I didn't know the reason until I decided to move it from the desk with the old computer to the computer I use to get online.

What was the reason I couldn't use it? The printer was connected to the power, but not to the computer.  I disconnected the power cord from the printer, moved the printer, and then realized I was missing a connection. The cord that is supposed to connect the printer to the computer was laying on my old desk waiting to be plugged into the printer and the computer. I figured out the problem after I moved the printer and I wasn't going to move it back to the old desk. This explains why I had an extra cord laying around.

Since I don't use the other computer to get online and plan to download everything on it to a portable back-up drive (I know that isn't the name of the piece of equipment I'll use, but I can't think of the name right now), there isn't any use moving the printer back to the other desk. I am happy, at least for now, so I will post this and get on with my writing or housekeeping.

Saturday Morning Contemplations on Coffee and other necessities

Jalal (Glory), 8 Mashíyyat (Will), 171 BE - Saturday, October 4, 2014 about 5:37 am Pacific Daylight Time

It's still dark outside, which makes having the front door open interesting. I can see lights in the apartments across the street coming on. I can hear the rooster in the next block announcing the approach of first light. I can hear the noise from I95 echoing through the neighborhood. Listening to these noise comforts me as I sip my Saturday morning coffee.

This morning my coffee is a bit stronger then normal. That is because I lost count of the number of tablespoons I put into the coffee maker's basket when I brewed the coffee. I did not add water after the coffee was brewed for two reasons. (1) If I add more water the coffee will be too weak and drink coffee that is too weak is worse then drinking coffee that is too strong. (2) If I made the coffee stronger then normal it means that I needed to drink strong coffee this morning.

An open front door
necessary to for my muse
wake up before dawn.

Watching the arrival of dawn is necessary. Dawn, even on a rainy day, brightens the morning and send positive vibrations through every living creature. I think that is why roosters crow because they want everyone to experience the joy of watching the dawn of a new and fresh day. My attitude always improves when I can experience the arrival of dawn. That is why I like to wake up early and, even on the coldest days, open my front door.

Midweek Reflections: Day 3 of my 95-Day Gratitude Challenge

'Idal (Justice), 5 Mashíyyat (Will), 171 BE - Wednesday, October 1, 2014 about 12:52 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Today's gratitude challenge activity is a bit of a challenge (I couldn't resist that) because I decided to change the format for today. Today I'm writing an alphabetical list of everything I am grateful for. I have A, B, C, and D completed. I am searching for an E, but I can't seem to think of one at the moment. Eventually I will find an E word or an E items to list. Then I can get on with the rest of the list.

I don't feel I should go out of alphabetical order on this. If I do then I'll just have to go back and put in the E item. Writing this list is like writing a poem when I can't find the perfect word or the right word to complete the thought of a line or stanza. It can be frustrating, so I think I will get away from the writing for a few minutes and do something else. I may not get back online until after 5:30 pm because I have a grief counselling group meeting at 4:00 pm. I'm excited to tell them about my newest project which is the 95-day Gratitude Challenge.