Seven Ways to Have a Happy Monday

1. Pray: Before you get out of bed on Monday morning whisper a prayer. It doesn't have to be a long prayer or even a prayer you have memorized. Something like "Thank you, Lord. I place this day in your hands." Then get up and go about your day.

2. Coffee: Brew a fresh carafe of coffee, find your favorite coffee mug, and then pour yourself a nice hot cup. Don't worry about whether you washed the coffee mug the night before because it's your cup. You don't have to wash the stains yesterday's coffee from it if you don't want to.

3. Meditate: In hale and exhale a deep cleansing breath. Then stare into your filled coffee cup for a few seconds focusing on the steam or the rich dark liquid. Take another cleaning breath and then take a sip of the coffee.

4. Variation: Do something different. Vary your routine. Drive to work a different way. Stop at a different coffee shop on your way to work. Set in a different seat on the bus you take to work. If you read a paper back on the bus then try watching people or writing in a journal.

5. Smile: Smile at people even those who frown at you. Smile at the bus driver when you get on the bus. Smile at the traffic light that always stops you on your drive to work.

6. Unplug: Don't use your technology for the first thirty minutes to one hour after you wake up. Turn your alarm off without pressing the snooze, turn off the phone, get up, and begin your day technology free. If you use technology both at home and work then don't use technology until you get to work.

7. Exercise: Take a five or six minute walk through your house or the neighborhood. When you take the trash into the garage or to dumpster alley don't go back inside immediately walk around outside for a little while.

Saturday Summary: At the End of an Historic Week

Jalal (Glory), 4 Raḥmat (Mercy), 172 BE - Saturday, June 27, 2015 about 10:00 am Pacific Daylight Time

The last week in June 2015 was an eventful and historic week so I'm not sure where to start summarizing my feelings. I'm not sure I can at this moment because I haven't a chance to full digest or meditate on the events that occurred. The one thing I'm sure of is that God's will is always done.

I'm 68 going on 69 years old, I've lived through the twentieth and into the twenty-first century. I've witnessed a lot of cultural, political, and spiritual changes in the six decades I've lived upon this planet. Some of those changes were immediately perceived as good, some as bad, and some ambiguous. No matter what the change that occurred God's will always wins out in the end.

Thankful Thursday: The Last Thankful Thursday in June 2015

Istijlal (Majesty), 2 Raḥmat (Mercy), 172 BE - Thursday, June 25, 2015 about 4:05 pm Pacific Daylight Time

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am thankful for the cool air I felt
as I stood at my front door
staring into the morning
and sipping my first cup of coffee.

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am grateful that my checking account
is not overdrawn today.

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am thankful for my first breakfast
of freshly brewed hot coffee
and two Oreo cookies.

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am grateful for a working air conditioner
to keep me cool on these triple digit
summer days.

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am thankful for a working refrigerator and freezer
because I can put my water bottle in the freezer
so that I can have ice water to drink
when I leave the house.

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am grateful for a working electric range
because I can fix eggs
and turkey sausage for lunch.

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am thankful that my sister
will be moving into the apartment
with me on the first of July.

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am grateful for the turkey sausage
and eggs I had for lunch today;
breakfast tastes better at noon
then at 8:00 am.

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am thankful that the laptop my sister brought
begin charging as soon as I inserted the power cord.

On the last Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am grateful for coconut milk
which tastes better on fruit
then cows milk.

Tuesday's Topic: Summer in Las Vegas

Fidal (Grace), 19 ‘Núr (Light), 172 BE - Tuesday, June 23, 2015 about 5:58 pm Pacific Daylight Time

At 2:56 pm the temperature was 105 degrees. According the the predictions the temperature is supposed to reach 107 degrees before the sun descends behind Mount Charleston. I have remained in the house all day because of the heat. Don't get me wrong, I love Las Vegas, but the triple digit temperature get to me. Even carrying a bottle of ice water the temperatures still make me cranky.

I moved into a two bedroom apartment for a one bedroom (studio) apartment on June 9. It is much more difficult to keep a two bedroom apartment cool the a studio (one bedroom). I suspect it will be a bit more expensive to cool this place during the summer and heat it during the winter, but I will deal with the power bill when it comes in. My focus for the next few days is getting everything arranged the way I want it.

I don't have enough cabinet space in the kitchen. I'm too short to reach the top cabinets without a stool and even then it's difficult to get stuff down off the top shelves. I like the electric range because it's much easier to use then the one in the studio-one bedroom apartment next door. I don't know how the oven is because it doesn't work, but I expect the rental company to get someone out here to fix in in the next couple of weeks. It's not as if I'm desperate to cook any thing in the oven.

I have a microwave, which I haven't used since I moved in because I wanted to use my cookware set. The top of the stove works just fine with the cookware. All the burners work, but I only use one because that all I can focus on at once. It's been a long time since I have to cook several things on top of the stove at the same time. I'll have to approach that slowly.

The kitchen, like every other kitchen I've dealt with since moving to Las Vegas, is big enough for only one person wot work in at a time. As my mother would say there's not enough room in the kitchen to cuss a cat. No I don't know why anyone would want to cuss a cat in the kitchen anyplace else in a house because it doesn't do any good to cuss a cat. That's enough cliché for today. I'll close this now and get on with something else.

A Summer Solstice Father's Day 2015

Jamal (Beauty), 17 Núr (Light), 172 BE - Sunday, June 21, 2015 about 3:01 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Summer at last
long hot watermelon days pass
into short warm nights.

Summer solstice
and Father's Day
coincide this year.

I eat watermelon chunks
and wonder
why I can't find a melon
sweet as the ones Grandpa grew
back in Oklahoma.

Saturday Summary: Now all I need is a digital camera

Jalal (Glory), 16 Núr (Light), 172 BE - Saturday, June 20, 2015 about 4:03 pm Pacific Daylight Time

My new printer came today. I ordered it just before I moved from apartment 2 to apartment 3, so I didn't expect it to arrive for another couple of weeks. I will hook it up either Sunday or Monday, depending on how much more work I have to do in the kitchen and living room. I've been in this apartment for eleven or twelve days, which means I have a lot more unpacking and rearranging to do.

Today I finished seasoning my cookware set and now I have to find a place for it. I don't have room in my kitchen and I don't have a digital camera to take a before picture so that I can take an after photo. I suppose I could use my cellphone, unfortunately I have no idea how to upload a picture from my cellphone to either my blog or my e-mail. The phone was free so I don't think it has an attachment to connect to my computer to upload pictures.

Right now I'm cooked ground turkey (I think it's ground turkey, but it could be ground chicken) in the stew pot. When the meat is finished and seasoned to my liking then I will decide whether to make Spanish rice or turkey stew. My doctor told me to cut down on the beef therefore, I have to use turkey or chicken if I want meat with my meal. I would love to take a picture of whichever recipe I decide to make for Foodie Friday. The problem is that I don't have enough points on the survey website to purchase either a digital camera or a fancy phone.

Thankful Thursday: June 18, 2015

Istijlal (Majesty), 14 Núr (Light), 172 BE - Thursday, June 18, 2015 about Sunset Pacific Daylight time

Today I am thankful...

01. ...for cool indoor air because we have an excessive heat warning for the Las Vegas valley.

02. ...that I received a packet of coupons from Smith's Food and Drug store today.

03. ...for bottles of ice water that helps to keep me cool on hot days.

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

05. ...for the three individual containers of yogurt I have in the refrigerator.

06. ...that I have enough coffee to last me the rest of the month.

07. ...for what little sleep I get at night.

08. ...that Baha'u''llah revealed prayers for every situation I encounter in life.

09. ...for afternoon naps.

10. ,,,that I have an apartment to get in out of the Las Vegas heat.

Tuesday's Topic: Triple Digit Temperatures

Fidal (Grace), 12 ‘Núr (Light), 172 BE - Tuesday, June 16, 2015 about 6:07 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Five days until summer and here, in the Las Vegas valley, we are experiencing triple digit temperatures. Today the predicted high was 108 degrees Fahrenheit, but right now the temperature is 104 degrees with a wind chill factor of 104 degrees. The wind speed is 23 mph, so we are experiencing the blow dryer effect here. On Wednesday, the temperature is supposed to reach 109 degrees.

These high temperatures means I have to change to times I take the trash to the alley. I don't want to get out during the heat of the day, so I will have to have the trash ready to go lug out right after I take my bath in the morning. There are other changes I'll have to make as well. One of them is keeping the cool air on all day. I moved last week, so I'm living in a two bedroom apartment instead of a studio apartment.

In the smaller apartment, I had the temperature sit at 83 degrees, but in this apartment I set it at 78. I like the feel of the cooler air during the heat of the day. I still turn the air off when I go to bed because the unit is right above the loveseat I use for a bed. I can't sleep comfortably with the air blowing on me. Plus there is the noise the unit makes when it's running. I can't sleep all the way through the night as it is; if I leave the cool air running then I wouldn't get any sleep.

In the studio apartment, I turned the unit off when I wasn't working at the computer. I can't do that in this apartment because doing housework in the heat stresses me. At my age I don't need to stress myself anymore the necessary, therefore, I will leave the air one while I'm doing housework. On Thursday, the temperature is supposed to reach 110 with an excessive heat warning. I think I'm prepared, as long as I don't have to leave my apartment or go any further then the alley. I will know on Thursday just how prepared I am.

Spiritual Sunday: The Sound of Thunder is Angels bowling

Jamal (Beauty), 10 Núr (Light), 172 BE - Sunday, June 14, 2015 3:37 pm Pacific Daylight Time

I hear the sound of thunder
echoing through the street
so I know that somewhere lightning
is streaking through the sky.

It's going to rain here in Las Vegas because I hear the rumble of thunder. Thunder always makes me smile because it brings back memories of my childhood in Oklahoma. My grandparents, my mother's parents, are always featured in my Oklahoma memories. When I hear thunder I remember my Grandfather's words and I smile. Grandpa always said that thunder was the sound of angels bowling. At least I think it was my Grandpa, but it could just as easily have been Grandma who said it.

I like the idea of angels bowling because it makes the thunder less scary. It is not the thunder of a thunderstorm that a person should be afraid of, but the lightning and, in some cases, tornadoes. I just looked outside and saw the rainwater running down the street. I turned off the cool air and then opened my door and windows. I like the scent of rain in the afternoon.

Aroma of rain
the desert soil is thirsty
water floods Las Vegas streets

Saturday Summary of the Second Week in June 2015

Jalal (Glory), 9 Núr (Light), 172 BE - Saturday, June 13, 2015 about 3:03 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Tuesday, June 9: Signed lease papers and, with the help of my neighbors, moved from apartment 2 to apartment 3.

Wednesday, June 10: My sister came into Las Vegas and signed her part of the lease paper. After she left I moved boxes into bedroom 1 and bedroom 2. Next I moved the computer desk to the west wall of the living and then decided that the south wall would be a better location. I moved the loveseat from the south wall to the north side of the room. I moved the computer desk to the south wall and then the television to the west wall. The other desk was placed at the east wall when the furniture was moved in, so I left it there because both computers will fit on one desk.

At sometime during the day I looked into the freezer, found out the refrigerator wasn't working, and called the leasing agent. Then I call a neighbor to put the meat in her freezer, which she did.

Thursday, June 11: I spent the day doing stuff around the apartment while waiting for two different technicians. One to connect the internet, land line, and television to the cable. The other to fix the refrigerator. The refrigerator technician was early and he brought a working fridge with hie. The cable tech was late; however, I go a new cable box and remote for the television.

I took everything out of the nonworking fridge and then put it back in the one that worked. At sometime during the day, I called the pharmacy to see if the doctor had faxed my levothyroxine prescription into the pharmacist. I then called my doctor to let her know about the prescription because I knew I would be out by Sunday. After that I tossed leftovers that either spoiled because of the nonworking refrigerator or because I put them in the refrigerator in apartment 2 and forgot about them.

Friday, June 12: I called the doctor again about the prescription. I then decided I had to go to the grocery store for a few things. I went to the store and purchased the food items I wanted. Latter in the afternoon, the pharmacy called to say the doctor had faxed the prescription and my medication was ready to pick up. I called the pharmacy to say I would pick it up on Saturday.

Saturday, June 13: I woke up and I realized I hadn't been eating properly for the past four days. When I went to pick up my meds I also purchased a whole roasted or baked chicken because I had a dollar off coupon and the whole chickens they bake tastes much better then those I bake (I'll take care of that when I can get a roasting pan). I had chicken for lunch with enough leftover to have it again tomorrow. I warm the chicken up on top of the stove and bake a cherry pie in the oven. I purchased an unbaked cherry pie on Friday with the specific intent of trying out the oven.

Not Foodie Friday: Moving and Murphy's Law

Istiqlal (Independence), 8 Núr (Light), 172 BE - Friday, June 12, 2015 5:55 am

I spent the last three days moving from one apartment to another. It wasn't a long move because I only moved from apartment two to three. It wasn't a traumatic move, but it was a bit weird. After I moved I realized I couldn't find the pill box containing my thyroid tablets. I didn't pick the box up before I left the apartment and one of the women helping me move put them in one of the moving boxes, but she could remember which one. I found the pill box on Wednesday afternoon so I was able to take the pill this morning.

The refrigerator in this apartment died, so it was replaced. The new refrigerator works, but for some reason the items don't feel cold to me, so I may have to turn it up a notch. I'll see how they feel tomorrow. It could be that the beverages haven't been in long enough for the entire bottles to get cold. Most of the bottles are large containers of fruit juice or soda. It could be that I like my juice to feel colder in late spring and summer.

Then the Cox tech was late arriving and my internet connection didn't get back up until later then I thought. After the tech left my router couldn't find the internet so I had to manually reboot that. I finally got back online and started catching up with the online commitments I have. I have not encountered a new problem, which I suspect has to do with the new furniture configuration in this apartment.

I put both computers on the same desk, which is a bit crowded, but at least I don't have to move half way across the room when I need to use the other computer. I also moved the location of the television. It is now on my right side instead of behind me. This makes watching the news a little easier. I missed watching the news on television. I don't think I missed watching too many other programs, but I will have to see about that when I get back into my news watching routine.

It feels weird having both computers on the same desk. It is a bit uncomfortable, at least I feel uncomfortable which could be caused by the new furniture configuration. The other desk is sitting across the room. Right now it has my coffeemaker on it, but I think I will move the coffeemaker into the kitchen and put the lamp on the desk. I can use the desk to hold books or for writing in my journal. I'm still sleeping on the loveseat, but I expect to begin sleeping my my bedroom as soon as I can get a bed or a recliner.

Spiritual Sunday: A Quiet Sunday Morning in Las Vegas

Jamal (Beauty), 3 Núr (Light), 172 BE - Sunday, June 7, 2015 10:55 am Pacific Daylight Time

The white and gray clouds that decorated the blue sky have departed. The sun is casting dark shadows across the sidewalk and street of Sunrise Avenue. The birds are no longer singing. I just heard a dog barking, but other then that are no other noises. It's a quiet morning in this part of Las Vegas.

People are walking up and down the street without shouting or arguing. It feels like Sunday morning. The neighborhood is tranquil and the neighbors are silent. There is a spiritual feeling about the day that doesn't occur very often in this neighborhood or in Las Vegas.

I intone God's Most Great Name,
I inhale the tranquility of Sunday morning,
A good beginning to the second week of June.

I just checked the temperature. According to a local news website it's 87 degrees. It doesn't feel like it's that warm. I'll have to close my front door because I'll have to turn the cool air on this afternoon. It's supposed to get up to 96 degrees today. I'm going to post this and then get off line because I have some housework to do today.

A spiritual Sunday
A feeling of tranquility
A good start to a new week.

 

Foodie Friday: To A Donut

Istiqlal (Independence), 1 Núr (Light), 172 BE - Friday, June 5, 2015 about 5:30 am Pacific Daylight Time

Beautiful round holey cake,
a coffee lover's delight
when consumed for breakfast
or a lunch break.

This delicious treat
comes in chocolate,
glazed,
plane,
or with sprinkles on top.

This beautiful round holey cake
always hits the spot
and satisfies my sweet tooth
when consumed with
a tall glass of milk
or a venti coffee
iced or hot.

I wish everyone a happy National Donut Day. Enjoy a hot or iced cup of coffee with your donut and then take a nice long walk in the park or the gym.

Thankful Thursday: The First Thankful Thursday in June 2015

Istijlal (Majesty), 19 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur), 172 BE - Thursday, June 4, 2015 about 9:50 am Pacific Daylight Time

On the first Thankful Thursday in June 2015,
I am thankful...

01. ...for freshly brewed hot coffee to start out the day.

02. ...that I received a small jar of peanut butter when I picked up my Senior Commodities allotment on Wednesday.

03. ...for the beautiful gray and dirty white clouds covering the morning sky.

04. ...that I received two bottles of grape juice when I picked up my Senior Commodities allotment on June 3.

05. ...for the leftovers in the refrigerator so that I don't have to fix anything except leftovers today.

06. ...that I have an appointment with either my doctor or her nurse practitioner on Friday. I have an issues, which showed up after Sunday, May 31, that I have to talk to one of them about.

07. ...for neighbors and strangers in h is neighborhood who honk their car horns for no apparent reason. This startles me, which makes sure I'm awake.

08. ...that, despite the stress I've dealt with the past couple of years, I still have my sense of humor.

09. ...for the sun peeking through the cloud cover and casting palm tree shadows across the sidewalk in front of my apartment.

10. ...that sparrows and other birds are singing in the pine tree across the street.

Meditation Monday: Counting My Breath versus Counting my Steps on Monday

Kamal (Perfection), 16 Aẓamat (Grandeur), 172 BE - Monday, June 1, 2015 about 6:39 am Pacific Daylight Time

Inhale,
take a deep breath,
count one
as I exhale.

I sit with my eyes closed listening to Las Vegas. Morning noises pass through my ears and flow across my mind. Each is identifiable and therefore ignored by my morning mind. I get up to make coffee and begin my day.

Walk
count each step to the refrigerator,
remove a cold bottle of water
and then count each step to the coffee maker;
pick up the bottle of medication
sitting beside my favorite coffee cup
remove a table,
swallow it with several sips of water;
it is time to make coffee.

It is more relaxing to count breaths. Counting steps gets me moving and encourages exercise. As I watch the coffee began to brew, I wonder which method of meditation is better on Monday morning. Is it better to sit with my eyes closed counting breaths? Is it better to focus on counting my steps? Is it better to recite my prayers or a scripture verse as I begin my day rather then focusing on counting breaths or steps?