Monday Morning Shock

Kamal (Perfection), 8 Kalimát (Words), 172 BE - Monday, July 20, 2015 about 11:53 am Pacific Daylight Time

Death comes suddenly
Arriving without warning
Takes family and friends

I learned of two deaths this morning when I logged into Facebook. The first was my youngest brother's father-in-law. The second was character actor Alex Rocco. My brother's father-in-law died of cancer, but I'm not sure what caused the death of Alex Rocco. I'm in too much shock right now to cry, so I will wait for the shock to pass so that the tears can fall.

Unexpected news
Even when you know it is
Inevitable

Everyone eventually dies. No human being is exempt from the kiss of the Grim Reaper. The only thing a person can do is prepare for the inevitable by praying, meditating, performing charitable acts, and placing our entire trust in God. Human beings cannot run away from death because we are always moving toward it no matter in which direction we travel.

Intone prayers for
those souls who have ascended
into paradise

Those of us who are left behind pray for the departed. We shed the tears of loneliness because our loved ones are no longer seen in this world. We shed tears because we miss them. The stages of grief pass and eventually we smile when we think of those departed souls.

Meditation Monday: Groundhog Day

Kamal (Perfection), 15 Sulṭán (Sovereignty), 171 BE - Monday, February 2, 2015 about 4:44 pm Pacific Standard Time

Punxsutawney Phil, the official prognosticator of spring, saw his shadow today. Another six weeks of winter with everything that goes with it. I am tired of winter! I am tired of the cold penetrating my bones. I am tired of wearing four or five layers of clothing just to keep warm. I am looking forward to spring and my shadow is looking forward to spring. I want to go outside, look up at Mount Charleston and smile because the mountain is not covered by snow.

the white mountain crest
glistens in sunsets gold rays
where is the green grass

I made soup again today because that is the only food that warms me up enough to get through the chilly desert days and cold nights. I will be glad when I can put my sweaters away (if I can find a place to store them in this apartment) and get out the few spring and summer clothes that I have. I thin my shadow and I will go clothes shopping at some of the second hand stores this spring to see if we can find something cool and comfortable to wear. I know that the arrival of spring means summer is coming, but I will deal with summer when it gets here.

six more cloudy weeks
filled with chilly rain and wind
I want warm weather

Shorter Days and Longer Nights

'Idal (Justice), 5 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Tuesday, December 16, 2014 about 5:43 pm Pacific Standard Time

Shorter days fly by
Longer night tiptoe to dawn
The temperature drops

I feel rushed as the short days fly past and descend into evening. I have so much to do, so what did I do today? I spent the entire day in the car driving across Las Vegas and not getting anything accomplished in the house. Do I feel guilty? No! I am relaxed and unworried. I have things to do tomorrow which will take me out of the house, so I probably will not get back home until after dark.

Night driving stressful
But sometimes I enjoy it
I worry too much

It is past sunset here in Las Vegas. I am tired from my from my drive across the city. My back hurts because I was in the car so long. I enjoyed my day away from my apartment despite the pain and not  accomplishing much. I will get the dishes washed tonight. I will get the trash ready to carry out  in the morning. I will write. I will not  go to bed until about 10:30 or 11:00 pm.

Sunset a new day
The weariness moves on
The pain melts away

November Haibun

Jamal (Beauty), 13 Qudrat (Power), 171 BE - Sunday, November 16, 2014 about 7:15 am Pacific Standard Time

chilly November

ghost clouds float across the sky

sun cast dark shadows

It's typical November Sunday morning with bright sunshine and scattered clouds. I look out my window and notice a slight breeze ruffling the palm fronds. I know the day will warm as the sun rises higher in the sky, therefore, I will wait until around noon to take out the trash.

a chilly morning

the middle of November

hot cup of coffee

I made one carafe of coffee this morning. It's almost gone because I used some of it on my cold cereal instead of milk. Normally I make only one carafe of coffee a day, but this morning I will make another because it warms me and brings back memories of my childhood.

Grandpa drink coffee

he brewed a pot every day

sometimes more then one

November Poem: Daylight Savings Time Ends for 2014

Jamal (Beauty), 18 'Ilm (Knowledge), 171 BE - Sunday, November 2, 2014 about 6:39 pm Pacific Standard Time

extra hour of sleep
end of daylight savings time
for 2014

This is Day 32 of my 95-Day gratitude challenge and one of the things I am grateful is automatic time updates. I do not have to change the time on my computer or cellphone. That means I only have to deal with the microwave clock and the clock in the stove. I will change the clock on the stove sometime today and check to see if I have to change the clock on the microwave. Sometimes I do not spring the microwave clock forward so I do not have to change it back in November.

do sparrows observe
daylight savings time in song
they have their own time

It is November with shorter days, longer nights, and cooler temperatures. These things added to the change in time make the first week of November a bit hectic and confusing. Confusion comes with moving the clock back an hour because I think it should be later then what the clock reads.

morning temperatures
descend into the sixties
I need a sweater

Meditation Monday: The Rain

Kamál (Perfection), 4 Kamál (Perfection), 171 BE - Monday, August 4, 2014 3:24 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Beautiful raindrops
descend from dark angry clouds
melting desert sand.

As I look out my front door on this rainy Monday, I see light as the sun attempts to break through the charcoal gray clouds. I watch people walk past my door; they are dressed as if they think the rain has stopped for the day. I suspect we will get a few more raindrops before sunset.

Beautiful raindrops
carried to earth by angels
blessing the desert.

The dark gray cloud appear to be angry, but that is an illusion. We associate darkness with human anger, so when it is cloudy we think the charcoal clouds indicate anger. We are putting our human emotion into the clouds when neither the clouds nor nature is angry. Rain is a natural phenomenon, it is a gift from nature to the desert.

Beautiful raindrops
some call them the tears of God
baptizing the Earth.

In the desert rain causes flash flooding, dangerous to anyone stranded in low areas or walking down dry riverbeds. Flash floods are a natural phenomenon we must beware of and try to avoid. On days like this, I think about the homeless who are living in the drainage tunnels that were constructed to prevent flash floods from devastating part of the city. The homeless living in those tunnels are endanger during rainy weather because of the possibility of flash floods.

Beautiful raindrops
both a blessing and a curse
to desert cities.

Thoughs on A Friday Afternoon

Istiqlál (Independence), 18 Raḥmat (Mercy), 171 BE - Friday, July 11, 2014 about 5:07 pm Pacific Daylight Time

It is summer
the days are getting shorter,
but they are still long hot days.

My thoughts on this Friday afternoon are scattered. I still have a lot of work to do to put all the dishes back in the cabinets. I have not received the battery for my new upgraded modem, so I did not hook it up today. I expect the battery will come Saturday, at least I hope it comes Saturday otherwise I will have to wait until Monday to call Cox Communications to see why I have not received the battery as yet.

Patience
is a virtue I am short of
on this summer afternoon.

 I am not sure what is causing my impatience. I feel as if time is moving slowly, but the days are speeding past. I know that does not make sense.  I feel as if something has changed and my life is about to take a new turn. I have had any of the dreams that indicate something is about to change; however, I feel as if the air is charged with electricity. I also feel a bit depressed and I do not have a reason for the depression.

Prayer
and the scent of almonds
and vanilla 

I know where the scent of almonds and vanilla originated. I opened the contain of deodorant I purchased the other day and it smells like almonds and vanilla. Normally, I do not purchase perfumed deodorant, but I decided to buy something different this time. I like the scent so I may continue purchasing deodorant with some type of aroma.

Friday Morning Shower

Istiqlál (Independence), 13 Sulṭán {Sovereignty}, 170 BE - Friday, January 31, 2014 about 7:15 am Pacific Standard Time

I look south, out of the living room window, and watch the charcoal rainclouds as the move across the desert sky. I noticed the clouds earlier, but I didn't realize that it rained until I took some trash out to the garage, saw the rain wet cement, and felt a few drops on my head.

This morning, the rain slipped up on me. It came silently, without the warning of thunder and lightning. That's the way showers come sometimes, the clouds drop their blessed water on the desert without announcing it's coming. It's a wonderful surprise when it happens because it shows that God has a sense of humor and gives us blessings without any warning of their approach.

charcoal gray rainclouds
angels escort each each raindrop
blessing the desert

As I glance out the window, I see white-gray clouds, charcoal gray, and blue sky. I think the rain may have passed, but it could rain again today or the sky could clear and become a beautiful post rainstorm blue. It's too early in the day to say what will happen and I don't have time to check the weather website right now. Maybe later in the day when I've finished writing and taking out all the trash.

I have a new five-cup coffeemaker

Jamál (Beauty), 13 Sharaf (Honor), 170 BE - Sunday, January 12, 2014 about 1:39 pm Pacific Standard Time

I went to the store on Saturday, January 11, to purchase some necessities and to check if a prescription was in. I have waited for over a week for the doctor to fax that prescription, so tomorrow I will have to call her again to see why. While I was at the grocery store I purchased some necessities and a new 5-cup coffeemaker to replace the 12-cup that stopped working.

I like the new coffeemaker better because it is smaller and does not have anything fancy, such as a clock or timer; neither of which I need on a coffeemaker. The only issue I have is the size of my coffee cups because they are bigger I get only three cups instead of the five. All though, that could be an advantage because now I stop drinking coffee when to carafe is empty and I do not have to heat leftover coffee in the microwave.

This coffeemaker does not turn off automatically, so I have to check it before leaving the house or going to bed at night. Normally, I turn it off after I empty the carafe, but I will have to check it to make sure because sometimes I encounter senior moments. Another thing I have to start doing is using the carafe to fill the coffee maker with water especially when I fill it  in the morning before the sun comes up.

fresh cup of coffee
everyday without fail
and no leftovers

Thoughts at Sunset in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 14 Qawl 170 BE - Friday, December 6, 2013 about 3:44 pm Pacific Standard Time

the sun is setting
neighbor's are returning home
from work and shopping

 I went to the store yesterday and wouldn't you know it, I forgot two of the items I went in to purchase. I forgot laundry detergent and dryer sheets. I have to check my account to see if I can purchase those this weekend. If I can't then I'm going to have to do without those items until the end of the month. Oh well, it won't be the first time I washed clothes without laundry detergent or dryer sheets.

the sun is setting
the cold day is cooling down
tomorrow hot soup

A Cloudy Tuesday Morning In Las Vegas

Fiḍál (Grace), 16 Qudrat (Power), 170 BE - Tuesday, November 19, 2013 about 8:23 am Pacific Standard Time

a cloudy Tuesday
charcoal gray clouds hide blue sky
the coffee is hot

I will be moving soon and one of the t hings I will miss is looking out this living room window at the sky. This morning, the clouds conceal the sun and the blue sky. There is a slight wind, blowing through the neighbors' oak and olive trees. The weeds in the front yard are turning from green to light gray, while the leaves on the oak tree next door are yellow and falling to the ground.

a cloudy Tuesday
the damp in the morning air
penetrates my bones

There are other things I will miss when I move out of this neighborhood, but then I will have new things to discover in my new neighborhood. I am, on one level, looking forward to the move and, one another level, I do not want to move. A move means changes and sometimes change is difficult or painful; however, it is necessary to the advancement of the individual soul and humanity.

October Wind in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 13 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 170 BE - Monday, October 28, 2013 about 6:22 AM Pacific Daylight Time

the wind was scary
things going bump all night
chilling the darkness

I am not sure what time the wind started blowing last night. I know I heard it when I went to sleep on the couch, which was between 6:30 and 10:00 pm. It blew hard enough to rattle the mail slot in the front door and it sounds like someone is attempting to break into the house. I have lived here long enough that I am used to the sound, but when I first moved into this house it frightened me until I figured out what made the noise.

the wind is scary
pushing trashcans down the street
waking me from sleep

I woke up, before the alarm sound this morning, to the noise of plastic trashcans blowing in the street. At least, I think it was sound of plastic trashcans blowing in the wind. It was still dark outside, so I did not open the door or go outside to find out what made the noise. I choose to remain in the house because 3:30 am is too early to go out looking for the cause of noises.

Isolated Thunderstorms in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 11 Asmá’(Names), 170 BE - Friday, August 30, 2013 about 9:03 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Isolated thunderstorms is what t it said on weather.com. I have not turned on television this morning, so I cannot say what the local meteorologist  have to say. When I looked at the news last night, something was mentioned about rain and thunderstorms today, but I did not pay much attention. The only time I watch the weather report closely is when I plan to leave the house.

Do I hear thunder?
A distant rumble echoes,
I see no lightning.

I like to stay home when it rains. There are two reasons for this, first I do not like to drive in the rain. People in Las Vegas seem to forget how to drive on the slick roads, so I would just as soon stay home or have someone else drive me around when it rains.

Raindrops gently fall
Making the slick asphalt shine,
Driving dangerous.

Second, I like to watch the rain from my living room, kitchen, or bedroom window. Watching the rain brings back memories of my childhood. When it rained on Friday evening or the weekends, I could sit in my Grandparents' living room and watch the rain. Grandma's couch was placed against the wall so that anyone sitting on it could look out the window. This gave a good view of the rain in summer and the snow in winter.

Birds, birds, and more birds

Fiḍál (Grace), 1 Asmá’(Names), 170 BE - Tuesday, August 20, 2013 about 7:50 AM Pacific Time

This morning, I saw a flock of birds flying south east. The black or dark brown birds stood out against the grayish, moisture bearing clouds. I think there were about half-a-dozen birds in the flock. I am not a birdwatcher so I do not know the names of the birds.

a flock of black birds
are flying southeast toward
the outskirts of town

This is the third time this week I have noticed the bird in this neighborhood. On Sunday, I saw a mourning dove sitting on my garage roof. I watched it for about five or six minutes before it flew away. Then on Monday, I saw another mourning dove (or perhaps it was the same one I saw on Sunday)  sitting on my garage roof.

Sunday mourning dove
sits on top of my garage
then it flies away

There are only a handful of birds I can identify by sight, sound, and name. I can identify mourning doves, sparrows, and nightingales.  Mourning doves are grayish with pigeon shaped bodies and they sound like they are crying. Sparrows and nightingales are small birds, with the sparrows somewhat smaller then the nightingales. The nightingales song is the sweeties and most beautiful of any birdsong I have heard.

Monday mourning dove
makes an encore appearance
but does not remain

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.

Friday morning inspiration

Istiqlál (Independence), 3 Núr (Light), 170 BE – Friday, June 7, 2013 about 6:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time

I looked out my window about dawn and watched the oak tree across the street. Dawn’s light appeared to transform the leaves from green to orange. It was a beautiful and inspiring sight on this Friday morning. Sights like that make me want to write haiku.

dawn’s beautiful light
turns green oak leaves to orange
summer is coming

This always happens, in the few weeks before summer. I will miss this sight when I move. I know I will find new inspiration for poems wherever I live. I know that, no matter where I find myself, I will find inspiration for haiku, but I will still miss the way dawn’s light turns the oak trees green leaves orange.

bright morning sunlight
casting dark tree shaped shadow
on neighborhood lawns

It is a beautiful morning in Las Vegas, the sky is cloudless and the sun is bright. This is a good day to find inspiration for all types of poetry. I like writing haiku because they are quick (sometimes) and short. I can write them and post them without worrying about syntax or grammar the way I do with prose.

A warm spring day in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 9 Bahá (Splendor), 170 BE - Friday, March 29, 2013 about 6:25 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time

birds singing all day
a chilly morning becomes
a warm afternoon

This morning it was a bit chilly, without any clouds. This afternoon it warmed up and now the clouds are rolling in. After it warmed up, I went to the store to purchase a couple of things. I bought a chocolate bunny and some personal items. When I came home the car began making the odd noise again.

I am not sure what the problem is because it only makes the noise after I have driven the car for a while. I did not notice how long after I begin driving that the noise begins. It sort of sounds like metal on metal; unfortunately I will not have any money to take it to the mechanic until after April 3; however, I will call my mechanic on Monday to see what he says. I will avoid driving it this weekend and do stuff around the house.

on a warm spring day
it is nice to work at home
listening to birds

Haibun-Haiku Tuesday: March in Las Vegas

Fiḍál (Grace), 4 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 169 B.E. - Tuesday, March 5, 2013 about 8:35 A.M. Pacific Time

scattered morning clouds
white ghost in a pale blue sky
birds and bright sunshine

March in Las Vegas is normally a pleasant time of year because the temperatures are not too warm or too cold. Sometimes there are strong, tree felling winds, but not this year. This year the winds are gently, leaf combing winds. March did not come in light a lion or a lamb.

March winds whispering
though olive, oak, and pine trees
birds sing joyfully

The old saying says that when March comes it like lion it will go out like a lamb; however, this year it felt more like a trotting horse. So there is no forecasting how it will go, all though it could go out the same way it came; unable to decided whether it wants to roar or bleat.

A late winter afternoon in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 4 Mulk (Dominion), 169 BE – Sunday, February 10, 2013 about 5:10 P.M. Pacific Time

the charcoal gray clouds
and a cold wind is blowing
then the sun peeks out

I am looking forward to spring and warmer days. I have turned the thermostat down to 70 degrees. I would like to turn it down lower, but I cannot deal with colder temperatures. As it is, the arthritis bothers me; it is a dull pain in my joints. I have not taken a pain pill because the pain is dull and it is not continuous.

the sun is setting
behind charcoal and white clouds
a cold wind blowing

The wind feels cold to me, but I do not think it is as cold as it feels. The clouds make it seem colder. Clouds covered the sky most of the day and now sunset approaches. I have not checked the weather today, so I cannot say what the temperature is in Las Vegas. I know we do not have snow, so it cannot be as cold it feels to me.

my thermostat
my body’s temperature gauge
has not worked in years

I think it feels cold to me because my body’s thermostat does not work properly. It has been several years since I felt comfortable in winter. I used to like the winder, but now I prefer spring and fall temperatures. As I have said before, getting old is not for wimps.

An Osteoarthritis Morning in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 2 Mulk (Dominion), 146 B.E. - Friday, February 8, 2013 about 8:35 A.M. Pacific Time

an arctic wind blows
the bright sun cast dark shadows
no birds are singing

It's an osteoarthritis  morning, my knees are stiff so I walk like a zombie. When I went outside for the paper the wind chilled me to the bone. It's the type of day I would like to remain indoors, but that isn't possible. I have to take some items to the storage unit this afternoon which means I have to load them into the car here and unload them at the storage unit.

The loading and unloading isn't going to help my knees. The last load I took was on Wednesday, I didn't take a load Thursday because my back hurt; I must have strained it on Wednesday. I will load the car after I have breakfast and decide whether I'm going to take a pain pill before I go to the storage unit or waiting until I get home.

I may wait until I return home because if I feel today the way I did Wednesday then I will want a nap. I have difficulty sleeping when I'm in pain, so the medication will do me more good when I get home. I don't like to take pain medication unless it's absolutely necessary. My doctor advised against taking the medication unless I was in extreme pain.