Chocolate and Coffee

Chocolate and coffee
are always necessary items,
but in times of stress
when sheltering in place
or under lock down
they are essential foods
for remaining sane.

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Chocolate Questions

Can you see the taste of chocolate?
Can you hear the sound it makes
as it melts in your mouth?
Can you feel its silky radiance
as it flows down your throat?

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Comfort Rain

The pitter-patter of raindrops
on the cement outside my front door
takes me back to my childhood.

Walking home from school in the rain,
wrapping my books in my coat so they won't get wet,
jumping in every puddle on my way home,
and soaking myself to the bone.

When I got home
my mother had me take off my wet clothes
wrapped me in Grandma's patchwork quilt
(the one that always smelled like moth balls),
fixed me a cup of hot chocolate--
with whole meilk and real Hershey© chocolate--
gave me a hot bath,
and put me to bed.

Never mind that I had homework to do,
the important things was
that I didn't catch my death.

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Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies
I celebrate the International Day of the Older Person
with a sweet treat.

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Roses and Chocolates: Memories of My Mother

Mama loved roses:
her favorite blossoms were red,
and she like rich dark chocolates.

 

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2016 in Review

Istiqlál (Independence), 19, Masá’il (Questions), 173 BE - Friday, December 30, 2016 AD about 6:29 AM Pacific Standard Time 

It's been a good year 

And it's been a bad year 

Through all the stress and mess 

The coffee has remained hot and strong 

While the chocolate has remained dark and sweet 

 There are a lot of things about 2016 that have pissed me off, but since there's not much I can do about that now I have to move into the future with a smile on my face and a cup of strong hot coffee in my hand. Two things that have put a smile on my face is hot coffee and dark chocolate, as long as I have those two along with a prayer book then I can face the weird events that will occur in the coming year. 

Summary Saturday: The Good, The Bad, and The Painful

Jalál (Glory), 11 Jalál (Glory), 171 BE - Saturday, April 19, 2014 about 10:24 am Pacific Daylight Time

I'll start with the painful, which occurred on Thursday night. I had another episode of stomach pain which caused me to get offline early, curl up in the fetal position, and attempt to get some sleep. I didn't get much sleep because of the pain, so I sit up and slowly said the long healing prayer, which helped more the curling in the fetal position. The pain eventually subsided and I was about to get a little bit of sleep.

I know the pain was caused by something I ate, but I can't figure out what. The last doctor I talked to about it suggested that the problem was eating fat; however, I hadn't eaten anything with fat or even any red meat for over a month. One of the condiments I ate could have caused the problem, but I don't know which one. I'll just have to make sure I don't eat all three condiments on the same day and see what happens.

The bad occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, I had a panic attack and was unable to do anything for a two or three minutes perhaps more. On Wednesday night I dealt with a bout of insomnia and could hear every strange noise that my apartment makes as well as those coming from the apartments on either side. The weird thing about that is that one of the apartments is empty, so there shouldn't be noises coming from an empty apartment.

The good concerns a new library card and shoppers' card. On Monday, I went to Von's and got one of their shoppers cards. After that I went to the library, got a library card, and checked out a book of poems by an author I'd never heard of. I like reading poem and stories by unfamiliar writers. On Wednesday afternoon, I gave away the chocolate Easter bunny I had in my freezer because I checked the potassium after I purchased it and found out that the bunny wasn't on my low potassium diet plan.

Midweek Reflections: Giving up Chocolate

‘Idál (Justice), 13 Bahá (Splendor), 171 BE - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 about 6:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time

I have to give up chocolate! I purchase a milk chocolate Easter bunny on Monday, March 31, when I went to the store to pick up a prescription. I read the nutritional facts on the back of the box, since it did not give the potassium content I figured I did not have to worry about that issue. Today, I did an Internet search for the potassium content of chocolate.

I discovered that milk chocolate has 625 mg of potassium for one cup of chips. The chocolate bunny contains about 16 oz. of chocolate, which means the potassium in the bunny exceeds my low potassium diet. Dark chocolate has 158 mg and white chocolate 243.1 mg of potassium, this means I cannot eat chocolate Easter bunnies or any other type of chocolate candy. I have not checked the potassium content of hot coco mix, but I suspect the potassium content in that product excludes me from drinking hot chocolate or cafe mocha.

I think I will miss the cafe mocha the most, but I could be wrong. I might miss chocolate ice cream or chocolate candy more the cafe mocha. I will just have to see and write about what I miss most. I know one thing for certain, I will have to do an Internet search for potassium content in food and make a grocery list accordingly.

Mom's Favorite peanut butter cookie

Jalál (Glory), 18 Mulk (Dominion), 169 B.E. - Sunday, February 24, 2013 about 4:10 P.M. Pacific Time

I bought a box of Mom's favorite peanut butter cookies yesterday. I went to to store to pick up a package of paper towels and other items. When I arrived, there were Girl Scouts selling cookies in front of the store. I bought a box of peanut butter patties, which were Mom's favorite cookies.  Mom liked these cookies because they have both peanut butter and chocolate.

a box of cookies
chocolate peanut butter
are crispy and sweet

Easter Traditions and Alzheimer’s disease

Jamál (Beauty), 19 Bahá (Splendor), 169 BE – Sunday, April 8, 2012 about 1:35 PM Pacific Time

Every Easter Mom and I each eat a chocolate Easter bunny. This is a tradition we’ve practiced for at least the last twenty or twenty-five years. Sometime between April 1 and Good Friday, I buy two chocolate Easter bunnies. This year I bought us solid chocolate bunnies instead of hollow bunnies.

After I bought the bunnies, I placed them in the refrigerator. When I buy the hollow bunnies, I place them in the freezer until Easter morning. On Easter Sunday, I make a carafe of fresh coffee and then Mom and I eat the bunnies for either breakfast or lunch. This year we ate them for brunch, with fresh hot coffee.

I opened Mom’s bunny and gave it to her. She looked at the chocolate and asked me “How do I use it?” At that moment, I realized Mom had forgotten our Easter tradition. It was upsetting and I wanted to cry, but instead of crying (Mom wouldn’t have understood why I was crying) I explained to her that she could eat the chocolate bunny.

Mom ate her bunny. During the process, she got chocolate all over herself. She had chocolate on her face, hands, and dress. This is the first year Mom got chocolate all over herself when she ate the bunny. I’m not sure whether Mom got the chocolate all over herself because it was a solid bunny or because of the progression of the Alzheimer’s disease. Perhaps next year I will go back to buying hollow bunnies.

Thankful Thursday: The bandage is off my left leg

Istijlál (Majesty), 3 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Thursday, February 9, 2012 about 4:55 PM Pacific Time

I am thankful that the bandage is off my left leg and I am wearing both of my thigh-high compression stockings. I did not know anything could feel so good, but they do.

I am thankful that today’s ultrasound revealed no blood clots. I still have to get up every hour and walk around, but that is easy to do. I have many things to do so it is not a problem to walk for ten minutes every hour. I gave another ultrasound scheduled for March and I am praying that it does not reveal any blood cloths.

I am thankful for KFC. I bought a six-piece dinner before coming home today because I did not want to cook anything. I still have a great deal to do this evening and tomorrow before Mom returns home. I do not have to worry about making Mom’s bed, but I do have to take her clothes off the drying rack and hang them in her closet. I also have one more load of her clothes to do before she gets home tomorrow evening.

I am thankful for chocolate chocolate chip cake; I bought a cake at KFC as well as chicken. I think I will have another piece after while and then save the rest until Mom gets home tomorrow.

One week from today

Jalál (Glory), 6 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Saturday, December 17, 2011 about 4:00 PM Pacific Time

One week from today, I will be 65 years old. I will celebrate my birthday at home with my mother. I want a birthday cake, so I will wait until Friday, December 23, to bake the carrot cake I have in the cupboard. I have some chocolate in the refrigerator, so I will use it to make frosting for the carrot cake. That does not sound like an exciting birthday; however, that is my birthday now that I am over 60 years old.

It would be nice to go out for my birthday, but Mom does not go out anymore, except when she goes to the daycare center during the week. I am not sure what else we will have to eat. I have some canned chicken in the cupboard, so I will fix pasta or rice to go with it. What I would like is a piece of prime rib and a baked potato, since we are not going out to eat prime rib is out of the question.

I miss the birthdays my family celebrated as child. Even if my each of siblings did get to open, a Christmas present when I opened my birthday presents. I used to resent that, but now I miss the celebration and the chocolate cake and ice cream.

Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011

Jamál (Beauty), 16 Jalál (Glory), 168 BE – Sunday, April 24, 2011 about 5:31 PM Pacific Time

It is Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011; I am sitting in front of my computer attempting to write. I have a newsletter to finish this evening; the problem is that I am tired. I cannot seem to think of anything to write. I am having difficulty making this entry. The subject for today’s entry is “Spiritual Subjects” and Easter Sunday is a holy day, but that is as far as I can get.

As a child, we celebrated Easter. Grandma and Grandpa would take us to church every Sunday, but Easter Sunday was special because we always received new Easter cloths. My sister and I would get pretty, new dresses and my brothers’ new suits for Easter. On Easter Sunday, we would put on our new cloths and go to Easter Services.

Today, the only thing my mother and I do to commemorate Easter is to eat chocolate Easter bunnies with our coffee. Usually, we eat the entire Easter bunny in one day; however, this year we will spread the bunnies out over the next week. I think it has something to do with age.

The last time Mom eat a lot of chocolate in one setting was on her birthday March 19 and Mom got sick. I have to admit that I was not feeling very good my self, but I did not get sick. Therefore, to prevent either of us from getting sick, we ate only the bunnies’ ears. We will eat the rest of the chocolate rabbits over the next week or so.

We had desert first today

Jamál (Beauty), 10 Jalál (Glory), 167 BE – Sunday, April 18, 2010 about 4:56 PM Pacific Time

Mom and I went to a fundraiser this afternoon. There was food, face painting, a silent auction and all sorts of fun things to do. Before getting in line for the main course, I bought Mom and I each a chocolate cupcake, which we ate before getting in line for the main course. The main course consisted of chicken or beef kabobs with rice and salad.

Mom and I had the combo plate that contained both the beef and chicken kabobs. I ate all of mine, but Mom did not eat all of her rice so we brought it home. I am glade we had desert first because Mom could not have ate a cupcake after the meal. I think we are going to have desert first when we go out because Mom likes desert and a meal. If we get desert first Mom can have her desert and we can bring her meal home if she cannot eat everything.

I bought the chocolate bunnies today

Kamál (Perfection), 2 Bahá (Splendor), 167 BE – Monday, March 22, 2010 about 3:01 PM Pacific Time

Every year Mom and I eat chocolate bunnies on Easter day. This is a family tradition left over from my childhood. When we were growing up, Grandma and Grandpa would fill Easter baskets for my siblings and me every year. One of the items in the basket was a chocolate Easter bunny; eating a chocolate bunny on Easter Sunday brings back fond memories of my childhood and of my grandparents.

Today I bought this year's chocolate Easter bunnies. Normally, I get hollow chocolate rabbits, but this year I bought solid dark chocolate bunnies. Last year we had white chocolate Easter bunnies, but I prefer the dark chocolate. I like the dark chocolate because that's what Grandma or Grandpa always put in our Easter baskets. Sometimes the rabbits were hollow and sometimes they were solid, but they were always dark chocolate Easter bunnies.

Happy Naw-Ruz

Jamál (Beauty), 1 Bahá (Splendor), 166 BE – Sunday, March 21, 2010 about 6:53 PM Pacific Time

Celebrate Naw-Ruz
Celebrate a New Day and
Intone a prayer

We went out today and celebrated Naw-Ruz, we ate and for desert had chocolate cheesecake. Mom enjoyed herself and she is happy this evening.

Chocolate cheesecake
And a cup of hot coffee
End of a good meal

I have ice cream in the freezer

Jalál (Glory), 12 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 166 BE - Saturday, March 13, 2010 about 5:19 PM Pacific Time

I have ice cream in the freezer and it's too cold to eat it today. The wind is blowing causing a wind chill factor, which makes it too cold to eat ice cream. It's amazing how a one perspective change with age. When I was a child, it never got too cold to eat ice cream.

When I was a child it could be snowing outside and I would say yes to ice cream. Now if I eat ice cream in winter, I wrap myself up in blankets while I eat ice cream. The day I bought the packages of chocolate and chocolate chip ice cream, it was warm and getting warmer. Today with the wind and the clouds it's chilly again and too cold to eat ice cream. I'm looking forward to warmer days.

Café Mocha with marshmallows

Kamál (Perfection), 9 Mulk (Dominion), 166 BE – Monday, February 15, 2010 about 12:09 PM Pacific Time

All right, I admit that café mocha with marshmallows is a bit unusual. The explanation is actually simple. I make café mocha using hot chocolate mix and the last time I bought the box of hot chocolate mix it had the little marshmallows. Since that is the type of mix I have in the house that is the way I make café mocha.

When I bought the hot chocolate mix I didn't read the ingredients on the box. The only think I looked at was the price. That particular brand of hot chocolate mix cost less the other brands on display. I do read ingredients on some items, but when it comes to hot chocolate mix I usually by the cheapest box I can find because most of the time I mix the hot chocolate with coffee.

Happy Valentines’ Day

Jamál (Beauty), 8 Mulk (Dominion), 166 BE – Sunday, February 14, 2010 about 12:50 PM Pacific Time

A Valentines' wish
For a heart shaped box of candy
Mints and chocolate

I don't have a heart shaped box containing mints and chocolate. I have a small box of chocolate covered mints by my computer, in the fridge, I have a chunk of bitter-sweet cooking chocolate, and on the kitchen counter I have some envelops of hot chocolate mix.

Happy Valentines' Day

Christmas Eve 2009

Istijlál (Majesty), 13 Masá’il (Questions), 166 BE – Thursday, December 24, 2009 about 1:44 PM Pacific Time

It's Christmas Eve, my birthday, and Thankful Thursday. There are about seven days left in 2009. Today I'm staying home, I'll go out for a birthday lunch or dinner next week. I thought about going out today, but I don't like driving in Christmas Eve traffic in Las Vegas.

I have a pumpkin roll in the cupboard and some chocolate ice cream in the freezer, so I can celebrate my birthday. It just doesn't seem like a birthday if I don't have cake and ice cream. All right, it's a pumpkin roll, but it's close enough to a cake to make me happy.

Chocolate ice cream
and a birthday pumpkin roll
Las Vegas living.