A dreary Thursday in January

Istijlál (Majesty), 7 Sharaf (Honors), 173 BE - Thursday, January 5, 2017 AD about 11:28 AM Pacific Standard Time 

It's a dreary Thursday 

In January 

The weather matches my mood 

Wind carrying dead leaves 

And litter across the sidewalk 

While clouds promising tears 

All right that's enough of the darkness. I have too much work to do to huddle in my own depression. I know it's January and the probably the worst financial month of the year. This depression and wanting to cry isn't helping any. Perhaps I need to take a different approach and instead of ranting about my problems try writing encouraging and inspiring blog entries. I know there must be something to laugh about. I'll try making at least one positive entry a week. I would like to make more, but I think one a week may be a good start. 

Friday Rant

Istiqlal (Independence), 13 Mulk (Dominion), 172 BE - Friday, February 19, 2016 about 8:30 AM Pacific Standard Time

I suppose I should get up from the keyboard and lay down on the couch or in bed for a short nap. However, I'm going to attempt to write and post this before I fall asleep. I'm not sure it would do any good to lay down anyway because once my head hits the pillow or the arm of the couch I will be wide awake. As usual I didn't sleep all the way through the night, but I did sleep better on Thursday night then I did on Wednesday.

I didn't sleep good Wednesday night because I was in pain and had the dry heaves. I think the problem is my gallbladder. I'm supposed to consult with a specialist sometime in the next month or so (I hope). I've been trying to consult with one since January 24, but every time I talk to the surgery specialist office they need a specific referral. I called my primary care doctor's office yesterday and left a message about the referral. They haven't gotten back to me yet, so I'll have to call them again after they open at 9:00 AM.

If I have to go into the hospital for gallbladder surgery, I want to get it done and over with so that I can get on with my writing and my life. I am going to post this and then set on the couch so that I can say the Long Healing Prayer before I decide whether to nap on the couch or in my bed.

Thursday Thoughts and Events: January 21, 2016

Istijlal (Majesty), 3 Sulṭán (Sovereignty), 172 BE - Thursday, January 21, 2016 about 3:30 PM Pacific Standard Time

I could call this Forgetful Thursday, but that wouldn't be completely true. I did remember to do everything except on thing today. I forgot to take the pill I'm supposed to take once a week. Since I have to take it on an empty stomach, I'll have to take it on Friday morning this week and continue that the rest of the year. I know why I forgot to take. I didn't put it down on my schedule and it is not in the pill box I use to keep track of my medication.

On the bright side, I did remember to get my car smog tested today and then go to the DMV to have my car tag renewed. However, I'll have to return to my old method of keeping track of my pill. Until this week, I put it down on my calendar to take the pill. I'll do that from now on and that way I'll remember to take the pill.

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

Summary Saturday: Looking back over the week

Jalál (Glory), 7 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 170 BE - Saturday, March 8, 2014 about 5:30 pm Pacific Standard Time

I just finished eating a grape sucker for my snack today. I know that isn't a good snack, but it was lying on my desk and I didn't want to throw it away. I got it when I went to the bank on March 3, to withdraw the money for the rent. At the time I didn't think about the type of snack it would make or anything else because it reminded me of my childhood.

This has been an interesting week, I went to the gym on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and today. I worked out  on  the  treadmill, the stationary bike, the cardio machine, the machine  that lets you do leg stretches, attended an hour long exercise class, and I did balancing exercises.  Today I planned to attend a yoga class but got confused about the time. I thought the class started at 10:30 instead of 10:00 am. I worked out on the machines for an hour and then went to the grocery store.

On Thursday morning, I went to the laundromat. On Friday, I stayed home and remained in the house almost all day. I did go outside twice to take trash to the dumpster in the alley. I ate only one meal Friday, so I ran out of energy before I accomplished everything I wanted to do. I went to bed early on Friday and I overslept this morning, which may be one reason I thought the yoga class started later in the morning.

I like going to the grocery store on Saturday after my gym workout. The reason is the free food sample, which I think count as a snack. The samples were good, unfortunately I couldn't purchase the products because most of them aren't on the diet plan my doctor gave me. However, I doubt the samples had very much potassium in them because they were all small and less then bite size.

Well, that is about it for  this week,  tomorrow Day Light Savings Time begins. Since I haven't plugged in the clock radio, I have only two clocks to sit ahead. I have to manually set the clock on the stove and the microwave.

Thursday Memories of My Mother

Istijlál (Majesty), 10 Asmá’ (Names), 170 BE - Thursday, August 29, 2013 about 12:25 PM Pacific Daylight Time

I suppose it has to be this way,
like clouds
moving across the desert
randomly hiding the sun
without cooling the air
or depositing rain.

The memories arrive
in groups
and flocks
remain for a few moments
and then depart
leaving behind
unshed tears.

On Thursday afternoon,
when the central air
hides lesser noises behind
air current echoes,
I remember
the song she sang
in her last years on Earth
I smile,
I cry,
I am grateful
for the sudden arrival
of memories.

Thanksgiving approaches

Fidál (Grace), 17 Qudrat (Power), 169 BE – Tuesday, November 20, 2012 about 2:25 P.M. Pacific Time

Thanksgiving is Thursday and I think we will have canned chicken with some type of canned vegetable. I’ll miss the turkey or, at least, I think I’ll miss the turkey. I have to go to the store on Wednesday to purchase laundry detergent, but I don’t think I’ll buy any type of turkey unless it’s a frozen dinner.

This has been a strange year. I think our situation is getting better, but I’m not sure right now. I’m still trying to scrape the money together to have the area around the hot water tank brought up to code. I’m still warming water in the microwave for baths and dish washing.

I’m impatient. I know everything will work out; it’s just not working out fast enough. Oh well, on Thursday I write my gratitude list for the week or for the year. That depends on how I feel Thursday; Mom will be home Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week, so I don’t know how much time I will have to write or do anything else.

Another day at home in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 10 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 169 BE – Thursday, October 25, 2012 about 1:50 PM Pacific Time

Another day spent at home mopping water off the floor. All right, I didn't use a mop instead I placed newspaper where the water was draining from the hot water heater. In addition, I attached a garden hose to the hot water heater to see if I could drain some of the water into the kitchen sink, but not water came out. I'm not sure what is causing the problem. The only thing I'm sure of is that when I stand by the hot water tank (which is turned off) I hear water dripping so I know the tank is causing the problem. The issue with the water draining onto my floor should be solved when I get a new hot water heater.

I can't have a new tank installed until I bring some items up to code. I'm in the process of getting that accomplished now. Since this is Thursday, I doubt the tank will be installed this week. This means another week of heating water in the mircorwave for dishes and sponge baths. I'm tired of this, but I'm not sure that there is much I can do about it.

I have to go to the grocery store on Friday. I don't like leaving the house with water draining onto my floor; however, I need to get laundry detergent, bread, and chocolate ice cream. I also have to purchase more hot chocolate mix and a few other items. I don't want to purchase anything until after I get everything up to code and the hot water tank in, but I to buy some stuff.

 

I am in recovery

Jalal (Glory), 4 Mashiyyat (Will), 169 B.E. - Sunday, September 30, 2012 about 12:30 P.M. Pacific Time

I got sick Wednesday, September 26, 2012, about 12:55 A.M. and I am now in recovery. No, I did not go to the doctor because (1) I could not drive myself to the office and (2) I did not have an appointment and I would have to wait too long to see the doctor. I did not call an ambulance because it would have taken me to the Emergency Room where I could have died waiting to see a doctor. If I was die, I was going to die in my own home where I could be in misery without encountering other human beings in misery.

 The following two days I fought the dry heaves, while attempting to get as much work accomplished as as a sick woman can do. On Thursday and Friday I left the house once each day because I was now capable of driving a car without putting myself or anyone else in danger. On Wednesday and Thursday I had beef broth and water for nourishment. On Friday, I ate chicken soup, with milk or water. In addition, on all those days I got Mom out of bed and ready for the C.N.A. give her a bath. I also think I took several naps in between everything else.

I did much better on Saturday and washed two loads of clothes. Today I washed only one load, but I may do another later on; if I have enough energy after washing the dishes and taking out the trash. I still have a cough, but since I am not planning on going out of the house until Tuesday, I am not going to worry about spreading anything around. On Monday, I have to close the books for September and make some online payments.

Friday afternoon in Las Vegas

It's Friday, September 14, about 4:56 PM Pacific Time. I've spent the last two days getting my new computer set up and accessing the Internet. This entire situation is my fault. I wasn't prepared for the new computer. I knew last Wednesday I was getting a new computer. I knew last Wednesday I would need a new surge protector; so why didn't I get the surge protector last week.

Last Wednesday, after turning my other computer off for the third time; I called MyGait to inquire about their senior computers. After talking to the customer service rep and finding out the computer was affordable, I ordered one. The computer was delivered this Wednesday and that night I moved Mom's old computer off her desk and moved the desk closer to my cable modem. On Thursday, I bought the surge protector and today I got the systems going properly, after I figured out which one of my cable connections was an Ethernet connection.

I haven't gotten my journal or anything else transferred from my old computer to the website I now use to compose my documents. I'll discuss this in another post because right now I'm composing this directly into my blog.

Thursday Morning Wasted ~ A Rant

Istijlál (Majesty), 17 Núr (Light), 169 BE – Thursday, June 21, 2012 about 11:30 AM Pacific Time

I am tired. I spent the entire morning dealing with nonresponsive programs and a computer speed that would loose a race with a snail. I am sick of dealing with outdated technology. I rebooted my system twice and it did not help; in fact, rebooting did not have any effect except to prevent me from getting any work accomplished online.

I have a digital camera, but I cannot down load the drivers to my computer because the disk our too small for my outdated disk drives. I cannot find the drivers online and, even if I could, downloading them would probably cause more speed issues.

I am tired (and I am repeating myself). I am frustrated (obviously). I cannot get a new computer or any other technology this month because I have $105.00 worth of prescriptions waiting for me to pick up Friday. On the bright side, the prescriptions are 90 refills which means I do not have to worry about prescriptions for the next three months. However, I am not sure I have enough in the bank to pick up all my prescriptions.

I have been so busy dealing with technical issues that I have not checked the balance in my account today. I will post this document as soon as the computer finishes saving, but I am not sure when that will be since it takes the computer at least five minutes (I may be exaggerating because it could only seem like five minutes) to save anything.

A change of themes

I have decided to change some of the blog entry themes for this blog. The themes I am using for the rest of 2012 are (1) Recipe of the Week Sunday, (2) Monday Mumblings, (3) Tuesday Thoughts, (4) Midweek Reflections Wednesday, (5) Thankful Thursday, (6) Family History Friday, and (7) Spiritual Quote of the Week Saturday.

A beautiful Thursday in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 8 Asmá’ (Names), 166 BE – Thursday, August 27, 2009 6:39 PM Pacific Time

At the end of a beautiful Thursday in Las Vegas, I am thankful for the nice weather lately. It rained over the last weekend. Today felt cooler and it was nice to get out of the house this afternoon.

At the end of a beautiful Thursday in Las Vegas, I am thankful that I live in Las Vegas. It's an international city, when I go out I meet people from all over the world. It's nice to live in a city with so many interesting citizens.

Making the beds

Jamál (Beauty), 5 Rahmat (Mercy), 166 BE – Sunday, June 28, 2009 about 12:14 PM Pacific Time

Daily writing practice prompt for Friday, June 26, 2009 is “Write about the making of beds.”

I remember watching Grandma Newland make the beds. Grandma made the beds everyday, but on Friday she would remove the dirty from the bed, put clean sheets on the the beds and wash the dirty sheets.

I remember watching Grandma make hospital corners because she used flat sheets and not fitted sheets. I don't remember Grandma putting fitted sheets on her bed, I think she did have a couple of sets of sheets that were fitted, but I don't remember her putting them on her bed.

I watched Grandma smooth the corner of the sheet and then fold it under the mattress. Once Grandma made a bed the bottom sheet remained in place until she took it off the bed on Friday, laundry day. Grandma did laundry once a week, usually on Friday unless Grandpa planned on taking everyone out of town and then she did laundry on Thursday.