A Rainy Saturday in Las Vegas

Jalal (Glory), 4 Jamál (Beauty) 173 BE - Saturday, April 30, 2016 about 11:47 AM Pacific Daylight Time 

Did the rain wake me 

Whispering secrets to me 

Chilling morning's air 

I woke up about 2:30 AM for some reason. I don't know why I woke up, but I think something woke me up. I took my first morning med before I looked at the clock because I thought it was about 4:00 AM, which is when I usually wake up. I was surprised to see what time it really was. I got up, got online, did a bit of reading and some writing. 

Rainy Saturday 

Looked out my window and saw 

Shiny wet asphalt 

I begin story 11 of the 44 I'm writing this year. Next I did some reviews on writing.com, and then worked on a poem I'm writing. I got a lot of writing accomplished this morning, so I'm going to get offline so that I can take a nap or read.  If I start reading then I may fall asleep. I tried that earlier this morning without any luck. When I got up from the computer and went to lie down I was wide awake. I think I'll try to take another nap because I'm dozing off at the computer. 

Thankful Thursday: The Last Thankful Thursday in April 2016

Istijlal (Majesty), 2 Jamál (Beauty), 173 BE - Thursday, April 28, 2016 about 8:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time 

It is the last thankful Thursday in April 2016, I give thanks for fresh brewed hot black coffee. I also give thanks for hot coffee with rich chocolate Ovaltine in it. In fact I have a lot of things to be thankful for this month and this year. 

I am thankful that I am still alive. At 69 years old I think that is an excellent achievement. I am also thankful for the ability to write poems, stories, and blog entries. Writing these things helps me remember the things I am thankful having and not having. 

Sometimes it is important for a person to realize the things one does not have. Knowing the things I do not have that would only cause me more stress is important. I have to watch my blood pressure, so the less stress I have the better off I am. 

I am grateful that all my prayers have been answered. God has answered everyone of my prayers. Sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is maybe. I know that these answers reveal God's love for me. 

I am grateful for Food Banks where I can receive much needed free food because my fixed income is fixed below the poverty level. Without the combination of the food I receive from the food banks, senior commodities, and SNAP I would either starve or become homeless because I would have to make a choice between food and shelter. 

I am grateful that I have a roof over my head and the ability to pay the power bill. I am also grateful that I have an air conditioner in my apartment because summer temperatures in Las Vegas rises into the triple digits. I am grateful that I can afford my medication. There are other things I am grateful to have; however, I will not list them at this time. I might list some of them in other Thankful Thursday entries. 

Meditation Monday: A Blessed Day

Kamal (Perfection), 18 Jalál (Glory), 173 BE - Monday, April 25, 2016 about 8:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time 

It's Monday again. This is the last Monday in April 2016 and today is cloudy, windy, and chilly. I'd say cold, however, that describes how the wind feels on my arms and face. This morning my breakfast consisted of whipped yogurt, pudding, and coffee. I know that isn't a traditional breakfast and that's all right. It's Monday so a traditional breakfast isn't important. 

Today's meditation is a quote by Prince: 

"Every day I feel is a blessing from God. And I consider it a new beginning. Yeah, everything is beautiful." 

Prince is right about blessings from God, new beginnings, and everything being beautiful. When I look out my front window at the clouds I see the beauty they reflect onto Las Vegas. It's a good day. It's a new beginning. I'm blessed.  I wish everyone reading this a Blessed Day. 

Saturday Contemplations

Jalal (Glory), 16 Jalál (Glory) 173 BE - Saturday, April 23, 2016 about 3:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Weekend afternoon
Listening to a neighbor's dog barking
Neighbor's laughing

It isn't a quiet day in this neighborhood, but that's all right because I don't hear anyone fighting. Everyone seems to be making happy noises including the barking dog. It's always nice to hear happy noises. I like to hear children laughing and playing because it reminds me of my childhood.

Childhood memories
Return when I listen
To happy noises.

As a child we always had a pet of some kind. Most of the time we had dogs, but sometimes we had both dogs and cats. The always got along fine. In fact my Grandmother had a Siamese cat that like to sleep in the chicken house. Jay had one nest that he slept in without bothering Grandma's chickens. The chickens never stopped laying eggs because Jay took his daytime cat naps in a nest. The chickens never bother Jay and Jay never bothered the chickens.

Midweek Reflections on Wednesday

'Idal (Justice), 13 Jalál (Glory), 173 BE - Wednesday, April 20, 2016 about 3:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time

It's half-way through the third week of April 2016, so it's obviously Wednesday. AKA Hump Day or "there are two day left in the workweek so please don't bother me until I get this project finished because the deadline is Friday". Wednesday, the day everyone in the office begins to wonder what everyone else is doing on the weekend.

Beautiful Wednesday
the temperature is about
eighty-six degrees

Wednesday is a good day to write. Of course, for me everyday is a good day to write. However, today is special because it's the First Day of Ridvan. I celebrated the day by writing a poem about the day. I will write another Ridvan poem tomorrow and for the next twelve days. On Saturday, April 22, which is Earth day, I will write two poems. One about Ridvan and one about Earth Day.

Monday Meanderings

Kamal (Perfection), 11 Jalál (Glory), 173 BE - Monday, April 18, 2016 about 1:56 PM Pacific Daylight Time

I'm beginning this on Monday afternoon, but I'm not sure how long it will take me to compose this entry. Right now my muse is working hard to help me write, but I don't know how long this will last. Sometime my muse suddenly decides to take a short vacation and just leaves me sitting in front of the computer staring at the monitor. This is the third blog entry I've made today and I still have a couple of writing project to finish before sunset.

Monday afternoon
My muse working overtime
Does not want to rest.

Sometimes I wonder if blaming my muse for writing difficulties is just an excuse. If my muse does take a short break then I have an excuse to stop writing for a little while. My muse taking a break normally doesn't stop me from writing, especially since I too stubborn to stop in the middle of a blog entry, story, or poem. The only thing that really stops me in the middle of a writing project is food. I stop writing when I have to eat.

Difficult to eat
and use a keyboard
at the same time.

 

Creation Saturday: Time to Create Something

Jalal (Glory), 9 Jalál (Glory) 173 BE - Saturday, April 16, 2016 about 10:18 AM Pacific Daylight Time

It's creation Saturday! It's time to create something. Time to exercise my muse, imagination, and creativity. Not that I don't exercise these attributes everyday, but today is the day I attempt to get outside the box to create something different or find a new theme for my blogs, poems, or stories.

Creation Saturday
the day my muse takes a walk
not down memories lane
but across the internet to find
a new subject to use to create
a story, poem, or blog entry.

Today I don't have to look very far for a subject to research. I'm participating in a 30-dau poetry challenge on writing.com. In this challenge, which started yesterday, I write a poem each day based on prompts given by the by the judges. Yesterday's prompt concerned a birthday poem. In today's prompt we (the participants) pick one of three phrases to use in the poem. These phrases are (1) old winds, (2) unfinished journal or (3) possibles bag. I've decided to use possibles bag in the challenge poem. I will save the other two phrases to use in other poems or stories.

What will you create
on Creation Saturday?
A poem,
a new sandwich,
a story,
a new coffee creation
with chocolate
or some other
exotic flavor.

Thankful Thursday: Giving Thanks in Las Vegas

Istijlal (Majesty), 7 Jalál (Glory), 173 BE - Thursday, April 14, 2016 about 2:42 PM Pacific Daylight Time

It's Thursday,
a beautiful Las Vegas day
a day to give thanks.

I'm not going to list ten things I'm thankful for this afternoon because I have so many I don't know where to start. I know that I'm grateful for a roof over my head and shoes to wear. In fact, I purchased a new pair of shoes lost week. I purchased pink flip flops at Walgreens. I usually stop at this drug store once every couple of months because it isn't close to where I live and I have my prescriptions filled at a supermarket closer to where I live.

Anyway, we (my friend and I) stopped into Walgreens to get a package of personal items and some power steering fluid. When I went in, I found that the personal items were buy one and get one at half price, which I couldn't pass up. My friend brought two small bottles of power steering fluid to the cash register and some flip flops that looked like they would fit me. I hadn't planned to get the flip flops, but I saved so much money purchasing the half price item that I decided to buy the shoes as well.

Until I put the flip flops on I had forgotten how much I enjoyed wearing them. I hadn't bought myself a pair of new shoes in at least five years and it's been longer since I purchased flip flops. When I was younger I loved wearing flip flops in the summer, but I stopped wearing them when Mom and I lived in a second story apartment. I think I stopped because I couldn't wear them outside the apartment on a rainy day.

Thankful for flip flops
and a new phase of my life
summer is coming.

 

The Ides of April Approaches

Fidal (Grace), 5 Jalál (Glory), 173 BE - Tuesday, April 12, 2016 about 3:09 PM Pacific Daylight Time

It's not halfway through April, so it isn't the Ides of April yet. Friday, April 15, is the ides of the month. I'm thinking about the middle of the month because either April 15 or 16 is someone's birthday. I think it's one of my siblings birthday, but I'm not sure which one. It could either be the birthday of my sister or one of my brothers. Unless it is my Grandmother's birthday. I know it's not my Mother's or my Grandfather's birthday.

My mother was born of March 19 and my Grandfather (my mother's father) on November 29. At one time I didn't worry about wishing my sibling a Happy Birthday, but since I turned 69 years old, on December 24, 2015, it seems more important to wish them happiness on their birthday. I tried to call my sister, but her line is busy, so I'll have to wait until later today or in the morning to call her. However, I'm thinking her birthday is in June while one brother was born in August. Oh well, I'll figure out whose birthday it is before April 15.

It Rained Yesterday

Jamal (Beauty), 3 Jalál (Glory), 173 BE - Sunday, April 10, 2016 about 12:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time

It rained yesterday,
an on and off rain all day
washed the cars
parked across the street
and in the alley.

It rained yesterday,
a gentle rain
that didn't flood
the streets
in my neighborhood.

It rained yesterday,
it cleaned the air
for a little while
and left clouds
covering the Las Vegas sky.

Flash Flood Warning for Las Vegas

Jalal (Glory), 2 Jalál (Glory) 173 BE - Saturday, April 9, 2016 about 1:51 PM Pacific Daylight Time

A flash flood warning is in effect for the Las Vegas area until 4:00 PM this afternoon. This makes me thankful that I don't have any appointments today. I don't like driving in Las Vegas when it rains because drivers here forget how to drive in the rain. I don't like driving when there is a possibility of a flash flood because I never know which streets will flood.

The flood control district did a lot of work a few years ago which helped prevent a little of the flooding. One place it did a great deal of good was the Charleston Underpass. The Underpass no longer fills with water during a flash flood situation. The problem now is the storm drains on the city streets. Specifically the litter that clogs the storm drains.

Litter clogs the storm drain, this prevents flood water from draining off the streets, and this causes the streets to run curb deep in rainwater draining off yards and parking lots. As a results, it is difficult to drive because of the standing or flowing water. When you look at the water it appears easy to drive through, but it's not. You can drive your car into the water and the car will stall because the water is too high and floods the car out. The best way to deal with overflowing streets in Las Vegas is "Turn around don't drown!"

Tuesday Afternoon in Las Vegas

Fidal (Grace), 17 Bahá (Splendour), 173 BE - Tuesday, April 5, 2016 about 6:18 PM Pacific Daylight Time

On Tuesday afternoon
in my neighborhood
the temperature rose
to 87 degrees.

It's getting warmer in the afternoon and early evening so I'm going to start taking my walks in the morning between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. If I set that time for my walk then I can walk about 30 minutes. Tomorrow I might try walking down to the end of the block and then around the corner up to the alley. I'm not sure how long that walk takes, but it seems to be a bit easier then going the other way.

Is my life boring?
My muse finds it exciting:
I like the people.

All though walking east instead of west is more interesting because I always encounter people which gives me a chance to stop and talk. If I walk west and then turn the corner to walk up to the alley I don't encounter many people. Friday is the exception because someone holds a yard sale in the parking lot of the corner apartment house that day.

The Apartment Building I lived in Last Century

Jamal (Beauty), 15 Bahá (Splendour), 173 BE - Sunday, April 3, 2016 about 12:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time

This morning I took a thirty minute walk. I walked from my apartment up the street to 2218 Sunrise. Across the street from that apartment building is 2217, which was the building Mom and I lived in around 1989 or there about. The building has changed quite a bit since I lived there. When I was living in apartment 13, which was on the second floor, the building had a swimming pool in the center of the courtyard.

Today the building is boarded up, with no swimming pool. I think it must have been condemned sometime in the past few years. Now the building is green. Even the boards covering the windows are green. It is the ugliest two-story apartment building on the block. Of course, that may be because there is grass growing wild in parts of the courtyard. The building looks lonely, but then all empty buildings look lonely and forlorn.

I suppose eventually someone will purchase the property and remodel or whatever they decided to do. I don't know how long the building has been empty, but I suspect at least ten or fifteen years. Perhaps I should write a poem about the building from the building's point of view.

Living on Pacific Time

Istiqlal (Independence), 13 Bahá (Splendour), 173 BE - Friday, April 1, 2016 about 6:26 PM Pacific Daylight Time

I'm living on Pacific Time
not Mountain Time
so please don't call me
before 9:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time
unless we're related
and it's an emergency.

I'm tired of strangers calling me between 7:30 and 8:59 AM then attempting to sell me something or collect. I growled at someone a couple of days ago because he called me at 8:00 AM to sell me insurance. I like in Las Vegas and we use Pacific Time instead of Mountain time. I know that when you look at a map Nevada is in the mountains, but that doesn't mean we live on Mountain Time. Las Vegas and the rest of Nevada is on Pacific Time.