August

August a month of joyful memories
Urging me to pay again in cool pools,
Gust of hot summer winds
Urge my aging body to stay indoors and
Sip iced tea from tall cold glasses
Thoughts of my child hood return: Making me smile.

This poem is also posted in Writing in Snow, under Awardicon Items, in my writing.com port.

The Weekend Cometh and I have to plan some changes

Istiqlál (Independence), 8 Asmá’(Names), 173 BE - Friday, August 26, 2016 AD about 3:50  PM Pacific Daylight Time 

I'm not sure whether I'm looking forward to the weekend or dreading it. It's close to the end of the month which means I have bills coming due at the beginning of September. As usual, I'm worried about paying bills and this month I'm especially worried about the internet bill. Maybe I should just drop the landline. That would cut  down a little but not that much. In September I'll also have to purchase some data for my smartphone. I get 250 free phone minutes a month, but I have to pay for  the data myself and I'm out of data. 

So what will I do this weekend. I think the first thing I'll do is decide if I can get by without the landline. It won't make that much of a difference with the internet bill. I can't get rid of the television and the internet. I started to get rid of the landline last month, but then I ended up needing the landline to make calls because I let the phone battery lose its charge and it took a while to charge the battery. This month, I ran out of free minutes which meant I didn't have any left so I needed the landline to make phone calls and stay in  touch with the rest of the world. 

Maybe I won't get rid of the landline. I have to cut down on something because my auto insurance came  up  $20.00. Now that does sound like much but when you're living from Social Security check to Social Security check it's a lot of money. I can't call my insurance agent until Monday. Maybe I can find a way to cut down on the insurance payment, but I doubt it. The payment is as low as it will go now.  

Saturday Afternoon Thoughts

Jalál (Glory), 2 Asmá’(Names), 173 BE - Saturday, August 20, 2016 AD about 2:22 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

The title to this blog entry isn't very original. The only explanation I have is that it's Saturday afternoon and I'm attempting to catch up on my blog entries, story writing, and editing. Of the three, I will get caught up on the blog entries and begin editing of Chapter 4. I finished editing chapter three yesterday afternoon. This morning I copied that chapter into the Scavengers document, which is my second copy of the chapters I've edited. I'm also keeping a copy of the edited chapters in a writing.com folder. 

If I push myself I will finish editing Chapters 4 and 5 this weekend, which means I can start on chapters 6 and 7 on Monday. Monday will be a busy day because I didn't answer my phone yesterday, so I have call I have to make on Monday. In addition, I have to pick up two prescriptions that day  and that means I have to transfer money from my PayPal account to my checking account. Oh well, at least I still have an internet connection. I wonder if I can get the rest of Scavengers edited before September 4. I'll have to give it a try. After that I have to figure out how to upload a .docx from One Drive to one of my e-mail addresses. 

On the First Saturday in August 2016

Jalál (Glory), 7 Kamál (Perfection), 173 BE - Saturday, August 6, 2016 AD about 11:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time 

On the first Saturday in August 2016, 

I fight the tears that want to fall, 

I look into the encompassing darkness 

As it sneaks into my soul and mind 

Like clouds hiding the morning sunshine. 

On the first Saturday in August 2016, 

I want to weep away the disappointment 

My 69 year-old mind feels 

About a body that is no longer young and healthy 

Enough to attract another man into my life. 

On the first Saturday in  August 2016, 

I weep because no one wants to be around me, 

No one wants to know someone who is no longer 

Strong and healthy. 

On the first Saturday in August 2016, 

I write my fears in a poem 

Knowing that I am exaggerating 

The situation. 

The Fourth Week in August 2015: Be Kind to Humankind Week

Jamal (Beauty), 4 Asmá’ (Names), 172 BE - Sunday, August 23, 2015 about 2:19 pm Pacific Daylight Time

According to Holiday Insights the fourth week in August is Be Kind to Humankind Week. I Googled Be Kind to Humankind Week and found out that this is an annual celebration of kindness and reflection on ways we can be kind to others. Each of the seven days has a theme. The website Be Kind To Humankind list the themes for each day of the week.

Here are those themes with links to suggestions for celebrating each day of the week.

Day 1: Sacrifice Our Wants For Other’s Needs Sunday
Day 2: Motorist Consideration Monday
Day 3: Touch A Heart Tuesday
Day 4: Willing-To-Lend-A-Hand Wednesday
Day 5: Thoughtful Thursday
Day 6: Forgive Your Foe Friday
Day 7: Speak Kind Words Saturday

Saturday Summery of the first week in August 2015

Jalal (Glory), 8 Kamál (Perfection), 172 BE - Saturday, August 8, 2015 about 12:34 pm Pacific Daylight Time

To paraphrase or mess up the lyrics of a half-remembered song "It was a very good week"! Of course it's always a good week when I accomplish something. This week I responded to blog prompts on writing.com, wrote one story, and a couple of poems. I managed to make a few entries in this blog and in Poet 999's Thoughts on Writing and Other stuff. I also did some housework other then taking out the trash and washing the dishes.

Last night, I had to take a prescription pain table for lower back pain. It alleviated the pain, but it's taken me half the day to fully wake up and get moving. I have to go to the supermarket tomorrow for some needed items. I don't think I will get much because I've go plenty of food in the house. All though I think I should check the coffee because I got a coupon for some sort of coffee through the mail.

I encountered issues with afternoon writing this week. I did fine writing before 12 noon, but I couldn't think of anything to find anything to write in the afternoon. I didn't even want to write in my pen and paper journal. I also found myself fantasizing when I was doing dishes. I have to do better this coming week, so I think I will attempt to recite prayers while I'm doing dishes. Reciting prayers helps keep me focused which in turn encourages writing, exercising, and housework.

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.

Thankful Thursday: The Last Thankful Thursday in August 2014

Istijlál (Majesty), 9 Asmá’ (Names), 171 BE - Thursday, August 28, 2014 about 5:39 am Pacific Daylight Time

On the last Thankful Thursday in August 2014, I am thankful...

01. ...for spellcheckers because this morning my fingers don't want to spell the words properly. They keep missing letters in the middle of the word.

02. ...that on Wednesday, August 27, I went to the full service gas station after I stopped at the bank instead of going to the grocery store before getting gas. After the attendant  put gas in my car, he checked the tires and the one on the front passenger side was flat. The gas station attendant put air in the tire, then I went to American Discount Tires (where I purchased my tires) to have them see what caused the problem and got the tire fixed.

03. ...for the rooster that crows every morning at first light because hearing him greet the new day is inspiring.

04. ...that I had a $2.00 off coupon for a box of Depends© that I could use when I went to Smiths Food & Drug store yesterday.

05. ...for the blessing of living in an apartment with thin walls. I can hear the neighbors music, their dog bark when it gets upset, and smell the food they are cooking, It is inspiring to live in such a close neighborhood.

06. ...that I have a push cart with wheels so that I can bring my groceries in from my car. I can also use the cart for taking laundry to the car and boxes to the dumpsters in the alley.

07. ...for Folger© black silk coffee the smoothest and best tasting coffee I have ever consumed.

08. ...that I can sit at my computer each morning and look out my front door. It is inspiring to watch the sky turn from silken black to pale blue and then to sapphire.

09. ...for the Brita© pitcher because I do not have to purchase bottled water to either drink or use to make coffee at home.

10. ...that I had a $1.50 off coupon for a Brita© filter for my pitcher. I purchased the new filter and will put it in the pitcher on September 1.

Thankful Thursday: My Gratitude List on the First Thankful Thursday in August 2014

Istijlál (Majesty), 7 Kamál (Perfection), 171 BE - Thursday, August 7, 2014 about 6:43 am Pacific Daylight Time

Today I am thankful...

01. ...that I have two large plastic covered coffee  mugs because I can put iced coffee in one and ice water in the other.  I can then sit them on the wooden television stand that is placed next to my computer.

02. ...for the cool morning temperatures that allows me to have my front door open while I am working at the computer this morning. I can look out my front door and watch the morning shadow lengthen as the sun rises above Sunrise Mountain.

03. ...that I had some coffee left over from yesterday because I did not have to wait for coffee to brew before I fixed my first container of iced coffee.

04. ...for the weird noises I hear in this neighborhood before the sun comes up. I know they are only weird because I could not see what was making them, but they encourage my muse and make me think of ideas for poems and stories.

05. ...that I can hear a young bird chirping in one of the pine, oak, or palm trees growing in this neighborhood.

06. ...for the rain we received over the weekend. Listening to the rain and the thunder was a pleasant and cooling experience.

07. ...that is it monsoon season in Las Vegas, which means we can expect some more cooling rain and thunder storms before the end of August.

08. ...for the two containers of milk I got with my senior commodities allotment yesterday. I can now have some Ovaltine© in regular milk instead of making dry milk to drink with the Ovaltine©.

09. ...that I have cheese in the refrigerator because I can make a grilled cheese sandwich with English muffins today.

10. ...for the dry cereal I have because I can open a can of apples sauce to dump over my cereal. I do not care much for cereal and milk anymore.

Supplication Sunday: On the First of Five Sundays in August

Jamál (Beauty), 3 Kamál (Perfection), 171 BE - Sunday, August 3, 2014 about 7:14 am Pacific Daylight Time

On the first of five Sundays in August,
I give thanks for the rooster I heard crowing this morning,
for the cloudy skies that foretell rain,
for the cool summer temperature
that encourages me
to open my apartment door
so that I can listen
to the mysterious neighborhood noises.

On the first of five Sundays in August,
I praise the beauty
of a cloudy morning in Las Vegas
by writing poetry
and giving thanks to the Lord
for four more summer Sundays.

On the first of five Sundays in August,
I inhale the beauty of dawn
before I whisper
a prayer of thanksgiving and praise
to the Creator of the Universe.

Monday Musing: August 26, 2013

Kamál (Perfection), 7 Asmá’ (Names), 170 BE – Monday, August 26, 2013 about 10:55 AM Pacific Time

It has been a busy morning. I got a lot done online; in addition, I washed the dishes, did a load of laundry, and turned in (online) a refill for my prescription eye drops. That sound like a boring morning, which is all right with me because exciting mornings can be stressful.

Sometimes Monday is not my favorite day of the week and this last week in August. There are four months left in 2013, I do not feel I have accomplished anything; however, this is not true. I know I have accomplished something; I am just not sure what.

It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the New Year of 2013. Now here it is almost September and I still feel like I am spinning my wheels. I do not know what causes this feeling. I know I have been depressed, so that may distort my perception and lend to the feeling of hopelessness and the idea that I have made no progress this year.

Another reason for me being down today is the lack of sunshine. The sky above Las Vegas has been cloudy all day. Looking out the living room window can be depressing, especially when I do not see any birds or other animals flying or scampering about. Maybe I need to stop working and fix myself something.

August Approaches

Fiḍál (Grace), 18 Kalimát (Words), 170 BE - Tuesday, July 30, 2013 about 7:24 AM Pacific Daylight Time

August approaches
triple digit temperatures:
Can we expect rain?

August is the start of school, at least that is the way I remember it from my childhood. Now August means more triple digit temperatures. Now August is just another hot month with worries about the power bill and staying cool. Sometimes I miss the Augusts of my childhood, but them I remember the Oklahoma heat and humidity. I was miserable! I did not like the heat rash and I could not get rid of it throughout August.

July is ending
wind and monsoonal moisture:
Will I miss the rain?

The heat and humidity does not bother me as much  in Nevada. During monsoon season, I notice the drop in temperature that come with the clouds and the rain. Is this because I am older? Is this because I can cope better with the heat? Is this because I have more important things to worry about? The answer to all three of those questions could be yes.

Good-bye August

Istijlál (Majesty), 13 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Wednesday, August 31, 2011 about 9:14 PM Pacific Time

Good-bye August
Hello September a month to remember

I am not sure where that poem is going. I may take the second line and write a poem about September 11. It was a traumatic day. It was a day that changed our lives. At that time, I was still working outside the house. I was running late and so did not turn of the television, as a result I did not find out about the Twin Towers until after I arrived at work.

The Last Sunday in August

Jamál (Beauty), 9 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Saturday-Sunday, August 28, 2011 about 9:25 AM Pacific Time

It is the last Sunday in August. Mom is sitting on the couch watching the CNN, the news about Tropical Storm Irene. We began watching the news on Friday evening or Saturday morning. We have watched the news about Irene all weekend. This week is busy because Monday and Tuesday I am planning to go to the laundromat. I have enough money this week to do all my laundry, with the exception of the winter blankets. Those I will take to the laundromat at the end of September.

It is the last Sunday in August. I have decided to fix homemade macaroni and cheese. This will last us a couple of day, I hope. Of course, we could eat the entire thing in one day. If that is the case, then I will fix spaghetti with meat sauce. I think I have a can of sauce in the cupboard. I am not attempting to fix homemade spaghetti sauce this week or even next week because I have to buy some ingredients.

It is the last Sunday in August. I am looking forward to September because dreading the coming month does not prevent September from arriving. It will be a busy month and an interesting month. It will not last long enough and I will not accomplish everything I want to accomplish. That is life.

August memories

Kamál (Perfection), 1 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Monday, August 1, 2011 about 7:25 PM Pacific Time

August always brings back memories. The memories that I have now concern attending the Feast of Kamal (Perfection). I miss attending the nineteen-day feast; I remember attending the Feast of Perfection with my mother. Now, Mom is usually in bed by 5:30 or 6:00 PM and since I cannot leave her alone; I stay home as well.

Mom likes the prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah, since she has difficulty reading the prayer book I read the prayers for her. She sits next to me on the couch and listens. I know she hears me because, even when she is not wearing her hearing aids, she sits quietly and listens. She also smiles when I am reading the prayers.

Good-by August 2009

Interesting August
hot beautiful desert days
praying for rain.

All right, I couldn't resist writing one more haiku in August. September begins at midnight and September always brings back intriguing memories from my childhood. Labor Day is always a day to remember my grandparents and Blackwell, Oklahoma.

On the last Day of August 2009

Kamál (Perfection), 12 Asmá’ (Names), 166 BE – Monday, August 31, 2009 about 6:41 AM Pacific Time

On the last day of August 2009, I'm remembering Grandma Newland and applesauce. I opened a can of applesauce for breakfast this morning. The applesauce brought my Grandmother to mind because she made her own applesauce.

When Grandma made applesauce, she would peel the apples, core them and then cut them into slices. After preparing the apples in this way, she would put them in a large boiler, add sugar, and cover them with water. I'm sure Grandma added sugar, I also think she add ground cinnamon. I don't remember how much sugar or cinnamon Grandma added.

After the applesauce finished cooking, Grandma would let each of her grandchildren have a small bowl of hot applesauce. I will eat homemade applesauce hot; however, when I open a can of store bought applesauce I want it cold.

Midway through August

Kamál (Perfection), 17 Kamál (Perfection), 166 BE – Monday, August 17, 2009 about 7:26 AM Pacific Time

It's midway through August,
I want crisp bacon
and over easy eggs for breakfast,
I will settle for
hamburger patties and over easy eggs.

The first Thursday in August 2009

Istijlál (Majesty), 6 Kamál (Perfection), 166 BE – Thursday, August 6, 2009 about1:45 PM Pacific Time

It's the first Thursday in August 2009 and cooler today in Las Vegas. I know it's cooler because the air conditioning hasn't came on as much today. I went to the doctor's this morning, got my meds refilled and made an appointment with an eye doctor. I need new glasses and I have to have a referral from my regular doctor.

I still have to take the prescription to store; I'm going to do that this afternoon. This morning I came back home because I didn't eat breakfast before I went to the doctor. After I ate breakfast, I got busy online, so now I have to take the prescription in and have it filled.

The first Tuesday in August 2009

Fidál (Grace), 4 Kamál (Perfection), 166 BE – Tuesday, August 4, 2009 about 6:09 AM Pacific Time

It's the first Tuesday in August 2009 and the morning sky is mostly cloudy, with a few patches of blue sky peeking through. I awake about 4:50 AM in a good mood. True my knees hurt, but my knees always hurt when I wake up in the morning. It has to do with sleeping curled up in the fetal position. My knees hurt when I stretch my legs out in the morning.

I've said my morning prayers. My mother is awake and getting ready for her day. I haven't made coffee yet, which is unusual. However, I was thirsty this morning so instead of making coffee immediately, I drink water. I rinsed my mouth out with salt water last night before I went to bed, so I think that's why I'm thirsty this morning.

The first Tuesday in August started out well. I haven't put in a load of laundry yet, but I will do that when I go into the kitchen to make coffee. I think I'll have eggs today for breakfast and perhaps toast as well. All though, the toast I'm not sure about since my gums are still sore from my false plate. I had the plate adjusted yesterday and the sore spot on my gums hasn't healed yet.