Saturday Summary: A Good Week

Jalal (Glory), 6 Qawl (Speech), 172 BE - Saturday, November 28, 2015 about 8:01 AM Pacific Standard Time

On the last Saturday of November 2015,
I contemplate the past week,
I look at my accomplishments for the month,
I consider my successes
and my failures.

I realize
that a good week
is one filled with successes
and failures;
the last week in November 2015
was a good week.

I have a lot to be thankful for:
gratitude is an attitude
because no matter how many failures
I encounter
I always have something
on my gratitude list.

Saturday Summary: Seven Days Left in October

Jalal (Glory), 9 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 172 BE - Saturday, October 24, 2015 about 1:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time

There are seven days left in October. Seven days until Daylight Savings Time ends. Seven days to deal with the rest of October's weirdness. This year October has been a bit weirder then previous years, but I'm not sure why. I've had difficulty focusing on writing poetry this month. Normally I have no problem coming up with a theme and subject. In the past, I've had no problems following the specific form of a poem so that the rhythm flows properly.

This month I attempted to write an English sonnet. I got the syllable count and the rhyme scheme down fine. I stumbled over the rhythm, so now I have to rewrite the poem to get the rhythm right. The problem is whenever I start to rewrite, I stare at the screen or the page wondering how to change the poem to fit the rhythm. I suppose I could just give up and write another poem using the same subject and theme. However, that doesn't seem right. I can't give up the idea that this poem, with a bit more work, can become a perfect English sonnet. I wonder if William Shakespeare encountered this problem when he was writing English sonnets.

Saturday Summary: The End of an Interesting Week

Jalal (Glory), 19 ‘Izzat (Might), 172 BE - Saturday, September 26, 2015 about 12:10 PM Pacific Daylight Time

It's been an interesting and noisy week. Most of the noisy occurred between neighbors yelling at each other in the middle of the street. All right, I'm not sure whether the were standing in the middle of the street or on the sidewalk because I had my blinds closes. I close my blinds every day between 6:30 and 9:30 PM usually just after it gets dark outside. For the past three or four nights some of the neighbors (I don't know which ones) have been arguing or shouting at each other in front of my apartment building. The usually end the shouting match around 10:30 pm.

I haven't called the police because all they do is shout at each other. I suspect they may be fighting, but I'm not sure because I refuse to open the blinds or the door to find out. I don't mind the noise because it stops before I begin the process of going to sleep about 11:00 pm. I don't sleep well anyway and I'm sure people shouting at each other would disturb what little sleep I do get.

My sleep pattern is sleep, wake up, and go back to sleep. This occurs a couple of times a night unless I'm foolish enough to bo to bed earlier the normal. I try not to go to sleep earlier no matter how tired I think I am because I know that it won't do any good and I won't get my normal three or four hours of sleep. No matter how early or late I go to sleep I still wake up an hour or so before the alarm goes off at 4:00 am.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Saturday Summary: May 2015

Jalal (Glory), 14 Aẓamat (Grandeur), 172 BE - Saturday, May 30, 2015 about 10:05 am Pacific Daylight Time

Shall I
recapitulate,
perhaps I should write
encapsulate,
the merry month of May.

Was May 2015 a merry, joyful, or happy month? As I look back over the past twenty-nine days, I wonder if merry is a good way to describe May. The weather was nice, which in Las Vegas means that we did not experience triple digit temperatures. According to the weather forecast, this is supposed to change today. Temperatures across the valley are supposed to rise into the triple digits with the high expected to be about 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

What shall I write
about May
that hasn't already been said.

For me, May is passing successfully. I still have $10.00 in my purse. I ate my first watermelon, which I received at one of the food banks, of the year. My checking account was not overdrawn. I wrote several romance stories (a new genre for me). I wrote several poems and one was a romantic poem.

Saturday Summary: Days of Drama

Jalal (Glory), 7 Aẓamat (Grandeur), 172 BE - Saturday, May 23, 2015 9:42 am Pacific Daylight Time

An exciting week
Not what I was wishing for
The drama is past

Except for a barking dog and cooing pigeons, it's quiet in my neighborhood this morning. After all the drama of the last two or three days this is a relief. Beginning on Wednesday evening and extending through Friday afternoon the drama level was higher then I've witnessed. Most of the chaos concerned neighbors shouting, yelling, and cussing each other out either on the street or in their apartments with their windows open.

On Friday afternoon we had a bit more excitement. The police blocked the Eastern entrance to my alley off. They also block the Fremont entrance to 21st street off. I don't know what was going on. I don't know who or what they were looking for. I just happy the excitement is over with for a little while.

Despite all the drama and excitement, I accomplished a few things this week. I wrote two short stories and finished a poem. I also managed to pick up my medication and make some blog entries. I didn't get everything done I wanted to do, but that's all right because no one ever accomplishes everything they want done in a week's time.

Saturday Summary: It was a very good week

Jalal (Glory), 5 Jamál (Beauty), 172 BE - Saturday, May 2, 2015 about 1:09 pm Pacific Daylight Time

It was a very good week
for for writing romantic stories,
making blog entries,
and listening to the ice cream truck
every afternoon.

It was a very good week
for listening to the birds singing
in the trees across the street,
for waiting for the post man
to deliver the mail,
and for cleaning out
the refrigerator.

It was a very good week
for breaking dishes
(I only broke one),
for taking afternoon naps,
and washing dishes.

It was a very good week
for celebrating the beginning
of a new month.

Saturday Summary: Summarizing the Week of April 19 to April 25, 2015

Jalal (Glory), 17 Jalál (Glory), 172 BE - Saturday, April 25, 2015 about 4:01 pm Pacific Standard Time

I received the official news that there will be no Municipal General Election in Las Vegas because all the races were decided in the primaries. This means that I have all of June free to either work or look for another place to live. I also received my new triple A card through the mail.

I tried Gatorade again. I used to drink it several years ago, but stop for some reason. I'm not sure why I stopped drinking it because I've always like it. On Tuesday or Wednesday I purchased a box containing several 12 oz. bottles. I placed the bottles on the first shelf of my refrigerator when I clean it out on Wednesday or Thursday. Now I can take a cold bottle of Gatorade out of the fridge and drink it.

I wrote a number of blog entries, but I haven't worked on a story. I haven't written a story in two week. I suspect the problem was depression because I couldn't focus on anything except items less then 300 word. I'm not depressed today, but I don't know how long that will last. I think I will push myself to write at least one story in this coming week

Saturday Summary: Take Action

Jalal (Glory), 10 Jalál (Glory), 172 BE - Saturday, April 18, 2015 about 3:44 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Take action!
Move forward through your fear,
even when the voice
of your fear shouts
"It will do no good!"

This has been a week of ebb and flow negativity. A week of focusing and unfocusing on the fears that creep into my mind unbidden. This has been a week of prayer and taking action. Sometimes the only actions I have taken is to write or do surveys. I am waiting for a check that will take care of one financial issue for a little bit, but the check has not come. If the check does not come by Monday, I do not know what I am going to do because I have to deposit it to take care of a bill.

Take action!
Pray and work,
work and pray
do not allow the voice of fear
to paralyze
either your thoughts
or your actions.

I discovered the following quote by Richie Norton: “To escape fear, you have to go through it, not around.” As I read the thought I realized that I needed to take that advice. I have to go through my fear. I have to confront my fear and go through it because if I do anything else I can't find a solution to my problems.

Saturday Summary: The Week of March 29 to April 4, 2015

Jalal (Glory), 15 Bahá (Splendour), 172 BE - Saturday, April 4, 2015 about 12:12 pm Pacific Daylight Time

It is the end of an interesting and exciting week for someone. Was it such a week for me? I went to the optometrist on Thursday and then I went to the grocery store. It doesn't sound exciting, but it was because I learned something. I have a problem with dry eyes so I use an over-the-counter eye drop in addition to the prescription eye drops because I have glaucoma. I also have thyroid disease. After discussing the dry eyes with my doctor he came to the conclusion that I am sleeping with my eyes open. He suggested another over the counter drops to put in my eyes after I put the glaucoma eye drops.

The next exciting thing that occurred on Thursday was that I went to a different supermarket. Before I left for the eye doctor Thursday morning, I decided that I would go to the grocery store after the appointment. I like to plan my trips so that I can do at least two things while I am out. I left the optometrist's office and headed for the grocery store. I decided on a different supermarket this time because the one I normally go to was out of my way. Going to a different grocery store or supermarket is exciting because the aisle arrangements are different. It is always an adventure finding the items on my grocery list (when I take a grocery list) in a new store.

The third exciting thing to happen was earning money from two different survey groups. This will come in handy because I have to purchase two over-the-counter eye drops this week. In addition I have to purchase a package of Depends© which is the only type of disposable undergarment I will wear when I leave the house. Fortunately, I have coupons for all three of the items I need to purchase. Now the only thing to do is figure out where I can get them for the least money without the coupons. I will use the coupons, but I don't want to spend any more money then I have to.

Saturday Summary: A Warm March Afternoon

Jalal (Glory), 8 Bahá (Splendour), 172 BE - Saturday, March 28, 2015 about 1:55 pm Pacific Daylight Time

The weather is getting warmer, soon I will have to start closing the door and turning on the cool air. Today, at 12:56 pm, the temperature was 85 degrees and rising. It does not feel like that in this apartment. According to the online weather report I checked it is supposed to get up to 90 degrees today. I do not know it it will or not. I have accomplished all my writing and reviewing goals today, so I will log out and turn the computer off. I am going out this evening and have to start getting ready. I also have some housework to do this afternoon.

beautiful March day
sunny with warm temperatures
a nice Saturday

Saturday Summary: I Need New Tires

Jalal (Glory), 13 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 171 BE - Saturday, March 14, 2015 about 3:20 pm Pacific Daylight Time

I went to Discount Tires this week to have air put in my tires. The young man who aired the tires also inspected the tires and informed me that there were cracks in the sides, which means I will have to purchase tires sometime withing the next two or three months. I already knew I would have to get tires this year because I had the two front tires fixed last year and have had to watch the air in the tires this year.

I will get the tires at Discount Tires because that is where I always purchase new tires. I had planned on November or December, but the cracks in the sides have changes that. Since I cannot qualify for a credit card or a payday loan (I have tried both) I will have to figure out how to get the money. I suppose I could go into a depression over this, but that is not going to help me find a solution to the problem. Instead of going into a depression I am going to put the issue in God's hands.

Saturday Summary: An Interesting Week in Las Vegas

Jalal (Glory), 6 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 171 BE - Saturday, March 7, 2015 about 12:50 pm Pacific Standard Time

It's been an interesting and somewhat stressful week here in Las Vegas. I managed to accomplish some of my goals, but not all of them. I got the refrigerator and the freezer reorganized. When I reorganized them Thursday and Friday, I thought I would make the job a week goal. However, after thinking about it, I have decided to stay with the monthly reorganization of both the refrigerator and the freezer.

I still have a lot of housework to do this month. Because I can only stand on my feet for a certain amount of time before I have to sit down it takes me longer to do housework then it used to. I think that is normal because I remember my mother and grandmother slowing in that area as they aged. I always said getting old wasn't for wimps. Anyway I can do some stuff like cleaning off the desk or the side stand next to the couch while I am sitting down.

This week I also managed to submit a story to a contest. The story was shorter then I wanted it, but I did submit it. This coming week I have to watch the word count to make sure any story I write is longer then 1,000 words. One of my weekly goals is to write a short story of 1,000 plus words each week. I can write between housework chores if I can pull myself away from the story, poem, or blog entry I am working on. Blog entries and poems usually are not a problem, but pulling myself away from a story is difficult because I want to finish it in one setting.

Saturday Summary: At the End of a Hectic Week

Jalal (Glory), 3 Ayyám-i-Há (The Days of Há), 171 BE - Saturday, February 28, 2015 about 8:02 am Pacific Standard Time

The last week in February 2015 was a weird and hectic week. I believe part of the problem concerns the way I go about accomplishing my goals I establish. My housework goals need to bee more concrete, while I need to set a time limit on I know this because of what happened yesterday. I did some port housekeeping and editing in one of my books. I spent a couple of hours (I think) working on the same items and I got so mentally tired at the end that I could not think. When I do this type of work I have to set a time limit so that I have a break between editing sessions.

As for the housework, I am going to follow my mother's example on that. Mom always set a time limit on each task. If she did not get a task finished, such as cleaning out the cupboards, in the time allotted then she would continue the task either later in the day or the next day. Another thing Mom did is list the housekeeping chores she wanted to accomplish or had accomplished during the day (usually before she went to work). Mom always knew what she had finished and what she had to work on the next day or after she got off work. I should have known when she stopped doing this (after she officially retired) that something was wrong