After Sunset on December 31, 2014

Istijlal (Majesty), 2 Sharaf (Honor), 171 BE - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 about 5:46 pm Pacific Standard Time

It is after sunset on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 and in about seven hours a New Gregorian Year will begin in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am sitting at my computer writing this entry while planning the spinach and collard greens soup I will fix tomorrow. I have already cooked the pigs feet for the soup, which I will finish tomorrow.

I cooked two pigs feet with some spices. Tomorrow I will add the spinach, collard greens, and sweet peppers, but I am not sure what else I will add. I may not add anything else or a may add some frozen okra or what ever else I have in the freezer. Along with the soup I am planning on fixing a green salad with some type of dressing. I do not know what type of dressing yet because I want to wait until tomorrow to see how the soup taste before I decide on the salad dressing.

Monday Meditation: A Poem

Kamal (Perfection), 18 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Monday, December 29, 2014 about 4:54 pm Pacific Standard Time

Reading a poem
does not drive away winter's chill,
but it warms the cold nights of the soul.

Writing a poem
does not comfort the body,
but it describes the bone chilling
loneliness of  the soul.

Year End Thoughts

Jalal (Glory), 16 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Saturday, December 27, 2014 about 3:50 pm Pacific Standard Time

Four more days in 2014 and it it time to consider the lessons learned. What lessons did you learn this year? Did your faith increase or decrease? Normally we look at the increase or decrease in profits at the end of the year, but today I want to look at the increase or decrease in faith.

Faith
the evidence of things unseen
and the ability to move forward
through a dense fog while staying
on our chosen path.

Faith is important because it sustains an individual in difficult times and gives hope that the situation will get better. Faith is all that has kept me moving through 2014 because a fog seemed to surround me. I did not know how I was going to survive, but I did. I found help when I needed it. I still need help, however, I know that if I look and ask the help will come.

Christmas Day 2014

Istijlal (Majesty), 14 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Thursday, December 25, 2014 about 1:56 pm Pacific Standard Time

On Christmas Day
I made coffee from freshly ground bean
and sipped it from my favorite cup
while composing blog post
for my writing.com blog.

On Christmas Day
I made gingerbread pancakes
for breakfast.

On Christmas Day
I contemplated my Christmas Eve birthday
and turning 68 years young.

On Christmas Day
I fixed homemade spinach soup
for dinner.

On Christmas Day
I intoned God's Most Great Name
and smiled.

Eight Day and Counting

Fiḍal (Grace), 12 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 about 4:49 pm Pacific Standard Time

Eight days left in 2014. Eight days to review the years and set new goals for 2015. One of my goals for 2015 concerns the low phosphorus, low protein, and low potassium diet I am attempting to follow. I say attempting because sometimes I am successful and sometimes I fail following the diet. The problem I have is that I get some of my food from food banks, which means some of the items are high in either protein, potassium, or phosphorus. Unfortunately, most of the contents list protein and/or potassium, but not phosphorus. This means I have to look up the phosphorus content on the internet or take a wild guess and hope my guess comes close to being right.

I have three handouts my doctor gave me that list the protein, potassium, and phosphorous in fresh foods, but not in canned or prepared foods. Some of the canned foods list the potassium count, but not the phosphorus count. It is difficult to find the phosphorus count. I have almost cut beef out, I still eat a little beef when I fix some soups or stews, but not very much.

I have taken to making my own soups and stew, most of the time. Sometimes I get canned stew or canned beef with the food I pick up at the food banks. I usually use that when I fix soup because I can regulate my portions better. The coming year will be interesting when it comes to finding a way to stay on my diet, while getting enough to eat.

Sunday Morning Meditation: Sunday, December 21, 2014

Jamal (Beauty), 10 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Sunday, December 21, 2014 about 9:47 am Pacific Time

On the next to the last Sunday in 2014, I contemplate the numerous blessings I have received  I have received more blessing then I can count on the fingers of one or two hands. I have survived in a studio apartment for eleven months.

I have enough food in the house to last the rest of the week. I can afford to pay for my medication. I have an internet connection. I have electricity. I can purchase more food or coffee when I go the the store this afternoon to pick up my prescription.

I am going to purchase some more fresh vegetables and some chicken breast to go in the soup I am making for Christmas Even and Christmas. I will make soup for New Year's Day as well. I like soup in winter and it  is easier for me to each my fresh vegetables cooked then to eat them raw.

Is it the season or my age?

Istiqlal (Independence), 7 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Thursday, December 18, 2014 about 6:56 pm Pacific Standard Time

I feel rushed. I feel as if I do not have time to do anything. Is it the season of the year? Is it my age? I am not sure which one causes me to feel rushed. It could be that I have spend the last three days running all over Las Vegas, which put me behind (even farther) at home. I remained home today, but I still did not get everything accomplished that I needed to get done.

Tomorrow, Friday, I will be out of the house all afternoon because I have to have someone take me to Boulder City so that I can drive my sister's truck into Las Vegas. My sister will be in Sunrise Hospital for I do not  know how long. Tomorrow I will go to the hospital, pick up the keys to the truck, and drive it back into Las Vegas. Then I will see if I have to go to Searchlight on Saturday to take care of her house there.

I feel rushed

pushed to the limits

of my daily schedule.

I just need to trust in God that everything I have to do will get done. After I have the necessary stuff accomplished then I can do anything else I have time to accomplish or work on. I am going to post this now, so that I can go back to doing something else.

Shorter Days and Longer Nights

'Idal (Justice), 5 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Tuesday, December 16, 2014 about 5:43 pm Pacific Standard Time

Shorter days fly by
Longer night tiptoe to dawn
The temperature drops

I feel rushed as the short days fly past and descend into evening. I have so much to do, so what did I do today? I spent the entire day in the car driving across Las Vegas and not getting anything accomplished in the house. Do I feel guilty? No! I am relaxed and unworried. I have things to do tomorrow which will take me out of the house, so I probably will not get back home until after dark.

Night driving stressful
But sometimes I enjoy it
I worry too much

It is past sunset here in Las Vegas. I am tired from my from my drive across the city. My back hurts because I was in the car so long. I enjoyed my day away from my apartment despite the pain and not  accomplishing much. I will get the dishes washed tonight. I will get the trash ready to carry out  in the morning. I will write. I will not  go to bed until about 10:30 or 11:00 pm.

Sunset a new day
The weariness moves on
The pain melts away

Sunday Supplication: December 14, 2014

Jamal (Beauty), 2 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Sunday, December 14, 2014 about 4:38 pm Pacific Standard Time

I give thanks
for all the blessing
I have received.

I give thanks
for the beauty of this day
and the cloudless sky.

I give thanks
for the warm hoodie
I wear when I leave the house.

I give thanks
for the shelf of music CDs
and for the CD player
I just purchased.

I give thanks
for the tests that
I encounter everyday.

For everything
I give thanks.

I went to the Laundromat on Friday

Jalal (Glory), 2 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Saturday, December 13, 2014 about 10:45 am Pacific Standard Time

I went to the laundromat on Friday morning after I picked up my eye drop prescription at Smith's Food & Drug store. I knew rain weather report called for rain, but it was my understanding that the rain would not arrive until late afternoon. I figured I would have time to pick up my prescription and finish the laundry before the rains started.

I was wrong! I picked up my prescription and then went to the laundromat. I arrived at the laundromat before the rains started. I put clothes into one triple load machine and blankets in another. Then I went to the change machine to get $5.00 in quarters. Next I put one load of clothes into a single load washer. While the clothes were washing I went next door to Money Tree to get a new card from them because I lost my old one in the move.

I went back to the laundromat without getting wet because it rained. I relaxed a little while I waited for the clothes to finish washing. I took the clothes out of the washers and put them in dryers. Just as the clothes finished drying (about 1:30 pm) it begin to rain. When the clothes were dry, I put them into my push cart, covered them with a couple of sheets, and took them to the car.

After loading the clothes into my car, I drove home in the rain. I unloaded the clothes from the car and put them back into my cart. I pushed the clothes to my apartment, while it was still raining. It did not stop raining until after I got the clothes into the house. Fortunately, the blankets did not get wet. The sheet that did get wet I hung over furniture to dry. I do not have a drying rack in my studio apartment because I do not have room for one.

I am glad I can stay home today and recover from yesterday. I am eating hot homemade chicken soup. I am drinking hot tea or hot coffee. I cannot warm up the apple juice because my microwave throws a breaker when I use it and I do not  have a kettle to heat the apple juice on the stove. I do not want hot apple juice anyway. I would rather drink hot coffee, tea, or water to warm up.

Thankful Thursday: December 11, 2014

Istijlal (Majesty), 19 Qawl (Speech), 171 BE - Thursday, December 11, 2014 about 11:59 am Pacific Standard Time

I am on day 72 of my 95-Day Gratitude Challenge, which I have listed on Facebook and kept a separate journal on writing.com. I have struggled with writing, keeping the journal, and doing housework for the past 72 days. I do not think the housework issue has anything to do with the difficulty I have at finding things to be thankful for, but I could be wrong.

I am thankful for
cloudy skies in December
and cold autumn rain.

I have 23 days left in this 95-day Gratitude Challenge. I am going to finish the challenge and the entries in my writing.com journal Welcome to My Weird Life. One of the issues I am facing is making entries in this blog, Poet999 - A Butterfly Emerges from her Cocoon. I cannot do daily entries so I have attempted every other day entries, which seems difficult as well. I am pushing myself, but I don't think I'm pushing myself hard enough.

I am grateful for
a rooster's call at first light
the birds are singing.

This is catch up day because I have spent the last three days running around the city. On Tuesday and Wednesday I had doctors appointments, while on Monday I did grocery shopping. On Friday I have to do laundry and pick up a prescription. I'm not sure what else I will have to do that day, but I know something will come up.

Take it in the Ear Day

Kamal (Perfection), 16 Qawl (Speech), 171 BE - Monday, December 8, 2014 about 11:54 am Pacific Standard Time

This is Take It In the Ear Day it is one of those days that is celebrated for no particular reason. No one know who created this day or the reason it was created. I live alone, so I can understand why it was created and by whom. It was created by someone who lived alone and did not have a pet. That person did not have anyone to talk to so he or she created Take it in the Ear Day in order to find someone t o talk to. That may not be the reason, but it sounds good to me. At least it would sound good to me if I said it  aloud.

When you live alone then saying things aloud means you are talking to yourself. That is not a good idea when you live in a studio apartment and the walls are thin. You can hear everything through the walls or all most everything, so it is not a good idea to talk to yourself when you live alone in an apartment with thin walls.

A Stressful Time of Year

Jamal (Beauty), 15 Qawl (Speech), 171 BE - Sunday, December 7, 2014 about 2:01 pm Pacific Standard Time

Is December just a stressful time of year? I don't remember last December being this rushed or stressful, but then last year I still lived in the house instead of an apartment. I wonder if that could have anything to do with the stress. It could be that I feel the financial crunch more this year then last year.

I don't do Christmas shopping so the only financial issues I have are paying bills that are not holiday related. I feel rushed and when I feel rushed then I stress. Sometimes I just want to give up, but I know that I can't. perhaps the problem today is the need to fax some information on Monday or Tuesday, but the person I need to talk to hasn't called me back.

I think I'll get offline for a little while and do some housework to see if that relieves the stress I'm feeling. I'll also say some prayer because prayer always helps when I'm feeling stressed. I don't know what else to do at this point. I have to do something about the stress because it is interfering with my creativity.

A Cloudy Friday in Las Vegas

Istiqlal (Independence), 13 Qawl (Speech), 171 BE - Friday, December 5, 2014 about 10:46 am Pacific Standard Time.

It is a cloudy 56 degrees here in Las Vegas. I think my mood has something to do with the cloudy and dreary look of the day. I am feeling down, however, the birds are singing and chattering in the trees. The joy of the birds contrast the look and feel of Friday, December 5.

I have the front door open so that I can hear the birds. I hope they can brighten my mood because something has to otherwise I will not accomplish anything today. All morning I have felt gray and depressed, which is the way the clouds look. I am tired of feeling down because I do not  think I have a reason to be depressed..

I am going to take the trash out  as soon as the postman comes. Perhaps the walk to the alley and back will cheer me up. I have a lot to do today and this weekend, I cannot afford to be depressed because I will not accomplishing anything. I am posting this before it becomes a rant.

Happy Tuesday

Fiḍal (Grace), 10 Qawl (Speech), 171 BE - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 about 11:38 am Pacific Standard Time

It is a happy Tuesday
waiting for the postman to come
looking forward to reading
the mail.

It is a happy Tuesday
reviewing on writing.com
and considering the next chapter
of Mark of the Blue Wolf.

It is a happy Tuesday
saying prayers,
intoning the revealed word,
meditating on the beauty
of a cloudy day.

It is a happy Tuesday
looking forward
to taking out the trash
and then checking
my mail box
to see if I received anything
besides bills I need to pay.