Thoughts at the end of July 2015

Istiqlal (Independence), 19 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Friday, July 31, 2015 about 1:34 pm Pacific Daylight Time

July comes to an end
August requires a new action plan
More exercise
A balanced diet

Part of my August action plan is to take advantage of some of the exercise programs offered at the Humana Summerlin Guidance Center on West Charleston in Las Vegas. I also plan to see my doctor to discuss an issues I'm having with my legs. The balanced diet will be a little more difficult because I have to check the potassium count in some of the food I eat. That can be difficult because potassium isn't always listed on the packages and it isn't listed at all on fresh fruits. This means I have to go online to check the potassium count in some of the food I eat.

Midweek Reflections on Writing about My Life Experience

'Idal (Justice), 17 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Wednesday, July 29, 2015 about 5:24 am Pacific Daylight Time

The July 29, 2015 edition of the writing.com spiritual newsletter ask: "What are your life's experiences and how have they changed or affected your writing?" After contemplating this question I realized that my life experience has affected my poetry. I write all genres of poetry, but the majority of poems are spiritual, bitter love poems, and poetry of the tortured soul.

I have had a rather interesting life. I remember the trauma of my parent's divorce. I remember the verbal and sexual abuse of a stepfather. I remember the joy of being with my grandparents. I remember sitting in the hospital room next to my maternal grandfather the day he died. I remember having two different dreams about the return of Christ. I remember getting pregnant and giving my daughter up for adoption. I remember finding out my father had died when I did an internet search for him. All of these experiences go into my poetry and some of them into my stories.

As I write this entry, I realize that I am a bit nervous. I always get nervous when writing about personal and emotional experiences. This is a good sign because it means that I am dealing with experiences and the emotions in a positive way by writing about them. Used to keep things like this bottle up without either speaking or writing about them. No more! While I may not speak about them, I do write about the experiences and the emotions. It is easier for me to deal with these thing in writing rather then any other way. Writing is a positive response to the emotional issues of my life experiences.

Meditation Monday: Changing my Method of Mediation

Kamal (Perfection), 15 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Monday, July 27, 2015 about 11:19 am Pacific Daylight Time

I moved into my new apartment in the first week of June. This month, a friend who was moving to a smaller place gave me some furniture. I have also changed the time and method of method. I now meditate in the late afternoon or evening rather then at random intervals throughout the day.

Since I have both a love seat and a couch, I can chose which one I sit on when meditating. Right now I am using the love seat, but this may change when I get a mattress for my bed and move the chair in the bedroom against the west wall because I face east when I meditate.

My Meditation

1. Say a prayer of protection.

2. Chant God's Most Great Name 95 times using prayer beads to count.

3. Sit quietly for several minutes (at least five) with my eyes closed while breathing deeply.

4. Write something in my journal.

5. Say a prayer of gratitude.

Saturday Summary: A Long Week of Spinning Wheels

Jalal (Glory), 13 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Saturday, July 25, 2015 about 2:25 pm Pacific Daylight Time

It's end of a long week, I feel as if I've been spinning my wheels without getting any where. I don't think that's true, at least not according to the daily account I keep. I accomplished several things, I think the problem is I wanted to accomplish more. I need to be thankful for what I accomplished.

Sometimes it's difficult for me to do things especially if I have to get up on a step stool to get stuff down from the top shelf of a cabinet. I noted this today when I got a bottle of salad dressing down. I think I'll leave the stuff on the top shelves until my sister comes to get them down. I have enough salad dressing to last me this week end. I have some canned vegetables I can get to if I want those to eat. There is meat in the freezer, so it's not as if I'm going to starve. I will do what I can do and ask if help when I need it.

Midweek Reflections on a Partly Cloudy Day in Las Vegas

'Idal (Justice), 10 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Wednesday, July 22, 2015 about 3:24 pm Pacific Daylight Time

The scattered clouds keep getting in the way of the sun. It dims the light coming in my front window which makes it more difficult to see the screen or read a book. I don't like turning on an electric light unless I absolutely have to. The temperature at 2:56 pm was 100 degrees which is a bit below average.

It is a beautiful day. The white clouds stand out against the blue sky. The sun, because of the clouds, cast shadows of varying darkness. The wind is blowing at about 15 mph with gust of 24 mph. I left the house at about 7:30 am this morning and returned about 9:30 am. The drive was pleasant in the refreshing morning. I enjoyed the drive and I enjoyed returning home to my little two bedroom apartment.

I am planning another early morning drive on Thursday and then again on Friday. This weekend, unless someone wants to take me somewhere, I plan to remain home because I have a lot of work both on and offline to do. I have enough salad, fruit, and meat to last me the weekend and into next week, so I will not be going to the supermarket. I might go to the bank to make a deposit into my checking account.

Monday Morning Shock

Kamal (Perfection), 8 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Monday, July 20, 2015 about 11:53 am Pacific Daylight Time

Death comes suddenly
Arriving without warning
Takes family and friends

I learned of two deaths this morning when I logged into Facebook. The first was my youngest brother's father-in-law. The second was character actor Alex Rocco. My brother's father-in-law died of cancer, but I'm not sure what caused the death of Alex Rocco. I'm in too much shock right now to cry, so I will wait for the shock to pass so that the tears can fall.

Unexpected news
Even when you know it is
Inevitable

Everyone eventually dies. No human being is exempt from the kiss of the Grim Reaper. The only thing a person can do is prepare for the inevitable by praying, meditating, performing charitable acts, and placing our entire trust in God. Human beings cannot run away from death because we are always moving toward it no matter in which direction we travel.

Intone prayers for
those souls who have ascended
into paradise

Those of us who are left behind pray for the departed. We shed the tears of loneliness because our loved ones are no longer seen in this world. We shed tears because we miss them. The stages of grief pass and eventually we smile when we think of those departed souls.

Saturday Summary: A Place to keep my small kitchen appliances

Jalal (Glory), 6 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Saturday, July 18, 2015 about 5:35 pm Pacific Daylight Time

I moved the old computer desk into the kitchen and this gave me a place to keep my small kitchen appliances. The desk is large enough to hold the coffeemaker, the coffee bean grinder, the toasters, and the electric vegetable chopper. The only thing I need to do is get a surge protector with several outlets so that I can plug in more then one appliances at a time. Sometimes I like to have toast with my coffee, but I can't make toast and coffee at the same time unless I have more outlets.

Thankful Thursday: I have a lot to be thankful for

Istijlal (Majesty), 4 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Thursday, July 16, 2015 about 3:01 pm Pacific Daylight time

Today I am thankful...

01. ...for the love seat and couch I have in my living room.

02. ,,,that my checking account is not overdrawn today.

03. ...for waking up at 2:00 am because I got a lot of writing accomplished.

04. ...that I had nectarines for breakfast.

05. ...for the beautiful summer days we are experiencing here in Las Vegas.

06. ...that I have written a poem everyday for the past six days.

07. ...for the bedroom sets I now have in my bedrooms.

08. ...that my sister came to Las Vegas today.

09. ...for the white fish I have in the freezer because I can have fish for supper today.

10. ...that this is Thursday and I can find ten things to be thankful for.

Midweek Reflections on Cleaning out the refrigerator

'Idal (Justice), 3 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Wednesday, July 15, 2015 about 8:06 am Pacific Daylight Time

I began cleaning out the refrigerator yesterday. I begin by making chicken soup. I used the leftover chicken from a roasted bird I purchased on Monday. When I purchased the chicken, the first thing I ate was the legs, thighs, and wings. I put the breast part back in the refrigerator because I wanted to use it for a sandwich. I ate part of it in the sandwich yesterday, but then I decided I needed the rest for broth so that I could start cleaning out the refrigerator.

What, you may ask, does chicken broth have to do with cleaning out the refrigerator? I need the chicken broth because I had some sweet peppers, onions, and baby carrots waiting to be used. I didn't know how long they were in the refrigerator, so I decided to fix them in a soup. There appear to be more carrots in the soup then I want, so today I will freeze some of them for later use. I still have more shelves in the refrigerator to do, but I'm not sure I will get to it today.

Today, after I take out the trash, I have to clean off a desk in the living room and move it into my bedroom. I'm getting some furniture on Thursday afternoon. The desk and the living room set I'm getting won't fit in the same room therefore I have to move the desk because I want both the couch and the chairs in the living room. Moving the desk means that my July refrigerator cleaning will take more then one day.

Saturday Summary: Seven things I did this week that made me happy

Jalal (Glory), 18 Raḥmat (Mercy), 172 BE - Saturday, July 11, 2015 about 1:17 pm Pacific Daylight Time

1. I attended the Commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Bab at noon on Friday.

2. I wrote to comedy poems and posted them in my port on writing.com.

3. I purchased four plums when I went to the supermarket on Friday.

4. I purchased a bottle of moisturizing lotion with vitamin E when I went to the store on Wednesday .

5. I put several bottles of water in the freezer so that they will be frozen when I take them with me when I go shopping.

6. I opened the container of cranberry juice in the refrigerator and drink some of it,

7. I purchased some blueberries on Friday so that I can have blueberry hotcakes on Sunday.

Midweek Reflections on Changing Addresses

'Idal (Justice), 16 Raḥmat (Mercy), 172 BE - Wednesday, July 8, 2015 about 12:21 pm Pacific Daylight Time

I've lived in this apartment for over a month and I'm still changing addresses. It's my own fault because I didn't keep a list of all the addresses I need to change. As a results, I have to change each address as I think about it. I'm listing all the address I have changed so that I can remember them when and if I move again. I don't like moving. Moving is stressful, even when it's only moving into the apartment next door.

Today I changed four addresses. I changed my drivers license address online, the website ask me if I wanted to change my voter registration address and I said yes. That's one address I don't have to worry about dealing with, but I still have a lot more addresses to change. I haven't checked to mail yet so I may have more to change when I check that. I still have one more address to change before I check the mail.

The address I have left to change are long distance calls. I think the offices may be back east or in the middle of the country; this means I have to call them between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time or Central Daylight Time. I guess I'd better post this and then make the telephone call to change the next address.

Four things to do on a Cloudy Morning in Las Vegas

Kamal (Perfection), 13 Raḥmat (Mercy), 172 BE - Monday, July 6, 2015 about 6:38 pm Pacific Daylight Time

1. Take the trash to the dumpster in the alley. Walk slowly and notice beautiful the clouds. While you are out there say a prayer of gratitude for the cool double digit temperatures.

2. Go to the gas station to get gas. You don't have to purchase more then $20.00 and you can purchase less. It is pleasant to get gas on a cloudy morning when you can watch the clouds while you're putting gas in the tank.

3. Go to the grocery store or to a food bank to get groceries. Cloudy mornings make standing in line easier and less stressful.

4. Roll down the car window and enjoy the cooler temperatures.

Independence Day Memories: A Poem

Jalal (Glory), 11 Raḥmat (Mercy), 172 BE - Saturday, July 4, 2015 about 12:53 pm Pacific Daylight Time

We always celebrated Independence day
around water.

Grandpa either drove us
to Lake Carl Blackwell
or to The Lake,
outside of Blackwell, Oklahoma.

The sights and sounds
of exploding cherry bombs
and Roman candles
decorate memories of my childhood.

Each time I see
a fireworks display
because the patriotic colors
bring back fond memories.

Foodie Friday: Seven things to do before going to the supermarket or grocery store

Istiqlal (Independence), 10 Raḥmat (Mercy), 172 BE - Friday, July 3, 2015 about 8:48 am Pacific Daylight Time

1. Coffee: Drink at least one carafe of coffee before leaving the house. Remember, you have to be wide awake while driving to the supermarket or walking to the bus stop.

2. Eat: Eat a substantial breakfast or lunch before leaving the house. You do not want to be hungry when you enter the grocery store because you will purchase more then you intend.

3. List: Make a grocery list and take it with you when you leave the house. Put the list in your purse or packet and do not leave it lying on the kitchen counter or in the refrigerator.

4. Coupons: Check your coupons before you leave the house to make sure you have all of them. If you use e-coupons downloaded to your shoppers card then you need to download them 24 hours before going to the grocery store.

5. Cellphone: Make sure your cellphone battery is fully charged before you leave the house because you will need it in case of an emergency. Traffic being what it is there is no guessing what could happen on the drive to and from the grocery store.

6. Aisles: Take a logical approach when moving through the grocery aisles. Even if this is the only exercise you get during the week, you still need to take a logical approach so that you don't forget to get anything. A logical approach to walking the grocery store aisles means less stress.

Midweek Reflections on Monsoon Season in Las Vegas

'Idal (Justice), 8 Raḥmat (Mercy), 172 BE - Wednesday, July 1, 2015 about 5:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time

It's that time of year again and the monsoonal moisture is rolling in. The temperature for the past couple of weeks have ranged between 100 to 110 degrees. When I went to the bank this afternoon the temperature was around 106 degrees with fluffy while clouds in the sky. Normally I don't go out when the temperature exceeds 100 degrees, but I had no choice today.

I'm home now, but all I want to do is drink water or some other type of liquid. I'm not hungry so I don't think I'll eat anything. I might drink some almond or coconut milk after while. I took a bottle of water with me and when I stopped at Seven-Eleven I purchase a cherry Slurpee. The Slurpee satisfied my hunger because it was sweet. Now all I want to do is drink water and relax a little while. I still have some housework today, but that's going to have to wait for a little longer.

I don't mind the monsoonal moisture, as long as I don't have to deal with triple digit temperatures. The only thing we've had for that past few days is clouds and high temperatures. Neither thunder storms nor rains have materialized so all we have is humidity and triple digit temperatures and that isn't an enjoyable combination.