My Complaint

I will not complain
except about the weather,
triple digit temperatures,
and weird noises in the middle of the night.

I also posted this in the journal, Writing in Snow, located under the folder  Awardiccon Items, in my writing.com blog  Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

Five Days Left in March

There are five days left in March, 

Five days of weird March weather, 

Five days until Poetry Writing Month 

And unknown April weather. 

I haven't checked the weather for April, 

Because its either going to be hot or cold, 

I like surprises, 

So it doesn't matter to me what the weather 

Forecast indicates. 

I'm going to close now, 

And check the heat 

Because it is cold 

In this apartment today. 

Happy National Weatherperson's Day

Jamál (Beauty), 19 Sulṭán (Sovereignty), 173 BE - Sunday, February 5, 2017 AD about 10:07 AM Pacific Standard Time 

Yes, I know it's Super Bowl Sunday, but since I don't follow football or most other team sports I'm not posting about a ball game. The only teams I'm interested in are those that go to the Olympic Games. This means that I will consider watching gymnastics and ice skating or dancing.  

National Weatherperson's Day, which is also known as National Weatherman's Day, occurs on February 5. On this day (source Holiday Insights) in 1744 the John Jeffries, who was one of America's first weathermen, was born. Mr. Jeffries kept records of the weather from 1777-1816. So, while all of you are watching the Super Bowl, send a message thanking your favorite weatherperson, because without that individual you wouldn't know what the weather forecast was for Super Bowl Sunday. 

Saturday Summary: The Weather in Las Vegas, Nevada

Jalal (Glory), 15 Mulk (Dominion), 171 BE - Saturday, February 21, 2015 about 1:23 Pacific Standard Time

There are seven more day in February 2015. There are twenty-seven days until the vernal equinox when winter is transformed into spring. It sounds like spring here in Las Vegas because the birds are singing. It feels like spring with temperatures ranging from the low fifties to the low seventies, but it is still winter. Even this late in the season the temperature could still turn frigid. I am prepared for almost anything.

I have not yet washed and put away my winter sweaters or blankets. I am not sure where I will store them since I do not have a lot of storage in this studio apartment. The storage I do have is out of my reach even with my step stool. I cannot store them in the cart I use to transport my groceries from my car to my apartment. I have three plastic storage containers that I could use, but I have to go through the stuff in them to see what the items are and then I have to figure out what to do with them. This means I will be doing the spring cleaning, which I started this week, until summer solstice arrives.

It takes me so long to do spring cleaning because I have to do it in sections. I clean little bit and then I write a bit. That way I get some writing and cleaning accomplished each day. That may not be the wash one should do it, but that works for me. It takes me longer to get the work accomplish that all right because I like alone. It also may take longer because I do not have anyone to help. There are advantages to doing your housework without someone to assist.

It is 67 degrees with a few scatter clouds. The high today is expected to be 72 degrees. The weather is nice and warm in the afternoons. In the morning the weather is nice and cool. I have not had the warm air on all month. I will turn the cool air on around March 20. which is the date of the vernal equinox this year. Now the only thing to figure out is whether or not I need to get a filter for the central air unit and then how to put it in the unit.

Midweek Reflections: On Late Winter in Las Vegas

Idal (Justice), 5 Mulk (Dominion), 171 BE - Wednesday, February 11, 2015 about 4:50 pm Pacific Standard Time

It doesn't feel like winter in Las Vegas. The temperature today was in the low seventies with scattered clouds. When I went to the grocery store about 10:30 am I wore a light sweater over my dress. I don't think I needed the sweater outside, but I did in the grocery store. It gets a bit nippy in the store especially in the frozen food department. I purchased some frozen berries to go with my breakfast or to eat as a snack.

I looked for some fresh okra or frozen okra, but the store I went to didn't have either. I will have to go to another store further south on Maryland Parkway to get the frozen okra. Maybe I will check at the Mexican supermarket to see if they have fresh okra. I prefer fresh okra, but the fresh frozen works just as well when frying and it's a bit cheaper then the fresh okra. I don't think I will go tomorrow, but you never know.

It is late winter here in Las Vegas, but it feels like early spring or fall. That is why I thought about purchasing okra. When I eat fried okra it reminds me of Oklahoma. My grandfather always planted okra in his garden. My grandmother would fix fried okra as long as we could pick it. I don't remember her canning the okra so I don't purchase canned okra. I can fix the fresh or fresh frozen okra easier, even when I don't fry it, then the canned okra.

I am enjoying the springlike weather here. I just hope it doesn't suddenly get cold because I h ave not turned on the warm air in about seven or eight days. I like it when I don't have to turn on the warm or cold air because I can have the door open most of the day without it getting either too hot or too cold in my apartment.

Sundry Sunday: At the Beginning of the New Week of May 18, 2014

Jamál (Beauty), 2 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur), 171 BE - Sunday, May 18, 2014 about 9:11 am Pacific Daylight Time

It is the beginning of a beautiful new week in May 2014 and I am looking forward to warm seven days here in Las Vegas.  I have checked the seven day forecast on weather.com, it shows the highest upcoming temperature as 98 degrees. This means I may not have to worry about triple digit temperatures until next week. This is not very much comfort because I still have to turn the cool air on or I cannot work on-line, but I guess that is the price I have to pay for living in a beautiful place like Las Vegas.

I have set my writing and housekeeping goals for this week and began making my To Do List. I check the local news every hour or so to see what the outdoor temperature is so I know when to turn the cool air on to keep me and my computer comfortable. I considered working on-line at night, when it is cooler, and doing housework during the day, but I would still have to turn the air conditioner on while I am doing housework.

Since I need to get a little sleep, I cannot do housework all day and write all night. I cannot write if I am too tired either mentally or physically, so I have to get some sleep. The power bill is not that high in this apartment, but it still causes me worry. I think I have spent so long worrying about the power bill or something else that I cannot stop worrying without focusing on something else. When my mind is busy I do not worry.

A Joyful, Sorrowful, and Chilly Saturday Morning

Jalál (Glory), 12 Sharaf (Honor), 170 BE - Saturday, January 11, 2014 about 6:36 am Pacific Standard Time

On this joyful Saturday morning
I place my trust in God,
I know that the pink clouds of dawn
are the start of a glorious day.

On this sorrowful Saturday morning
I place my trust in God,
I am entering a new stage of life
I know that the sorrow I feel
is caused by leaving
the past behind.

On this chilly Saturday morning
I place my trust in God.
because no matter what the weather
I know that the Divine Essence
is there for me to lean on.

On a Windy Sunday in September

Jamál (Beauty), 15 ‘Izzat (Might), 170 BE - Sunday, September 22, 2013 about 6:47 AM Pacific Daylight Time

The wind is blowing between at 15 to 20 mph. I do not know how fast it is blowing, but I know it is fast enough to slam the patio door and make the limbs of the oleanders move. Since the dead limb on the pine tree, in the front yard, was cut off last week I do not have to worry about it falling across the drive way.

oleander limbs
waving in the morning wind
a new week begins

I did not turn turn the television on this morning. I checked the weather.com for the information on wind speeds. According to the information on that website, the UV index in Las Vegas is "very high" and the humidity is 32 percent. As I look out my living room window, I can see that the sky is partly cloudy, but I have to go back to the website to find the temperature. Right now the temperature is a nice 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sunday wind and clouds
a nice day in Las Vegas
autumn temperatures

I think the autumnal equinox occurs about 1:44 pm local time. This morning, when I went outside pick up the newspaper, it felt like fall. It is time for me to start hot coffee instead of iced. The temperatures are becoming cooler, so I need a hot beverage to warm me up in the morning. I plan on finishing off the iced coffee today and washing the ice cube trays I use to make my coffee ice.

Midweek Reflections on Weather

‘Idál (Justice), 14 Mulk (Dominion), 169 B.E. - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 about 6:50 A.M. Pacific Time

According to weather.com the temperature in Las Vegas will be in the high fifties with A.M. showers. I can remember when the only way to get the daily weather forecast was to turn on the television or radio and listen to the news. Now I can find out the weather for Las Vegas or any other part of the country or the world by turning on my computer and going to a website.

I also checked the weather across the country, especially in the central plains. The weather map of that area indicated snow for Kansas and norther Oklahoma. My father's family lives in Kansas, while Mom's relatives live in northern Oklahoma. I was born and raised in Blackwell, Oklahoma, which is close to the Kansas border. I can remember snow storm from my childhood that closed roads and caused brown outs.

I think, the snow storms I remember took place around Christmas or New Year and not in late February. Of course, that was a long time ago and I was a child. Children remember snow storms and bad weather conditions different from the way adults remember them. Still, I think the weather patterns and conditions have change a great deal since I was a child.

Another storm is headed for Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 6 Sultán (Sovereignty), 166 BE – Sunday, January 24, 2010 about 4:19 PM Pacific Time

According to the weather report, which I receive in my e-mail box several times a day, another storm is headed toward Las Vegas. According to the e-mail, we can expect rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. The meteorologist says it won't be the same "intensity" as that we received last week. I hope not because I have business to transact on Wednesday and I don't relish driving in the rain. Unfortunately, I have no choice because I have to get the business accomplished on Wednesday.

I don't suppose that little poem we always said as children when we wanted to go out and play, but couldn't because it was raining too hard will help. I think the poem went something like this:

"Rain, rain go away

come again some other day

little [child puts first name here] wants to play."

That poem didn't help when I said it as a child because it didn't stop the rain anyway. I'm just going to have to deal with the rain on Wednesday. Before I leave my driveway, I'll say a prayer of protection. I'll also plan my route, if I work it right I may be able to get all my business done in one or two locations. I'll do only what is necessary on Wednesday and leave anything else until Thursday or Friday.

It rained in Las Vegas last night

Fidál (Grace), 16 Qawl (Speech), 166 BE – Tuesday, December 8, 2009 about 4:00 PM Pacific Time

It rained last night. It was a nice steady rain lasting for more then an hour. This morning when I went out to get the paper, I noticed that it give my car a good bath. I'm still going to have to take it to the car wash because the rain didn't get the car completely clean.

A natural car wash
the cold December shower
washed away autumn.

The weather report, which arrived in my e-mail box this afternoon, said we could expect more rain this coming weekend. I guess I could wait until next week to take the car to car wash and see if the rain washed the rest of the dirt away.

Las Vegas weather report

‘Idál (Justice), 15 Qudrat (Power), 166 BE – Wednesday, November 18, 2009 about 5:37 AM Pacific Time

I received the weather report in my e-mail box last night. I subscribe to a daily weather forecast from Channel 3 Las Vegas. A series of fronts are moving into the Las Vegas area, which means interesting weather over the next few weeks. We can expect warm, cool, breezy, and calm weather in the Las Vegas area.

Changeable weather
fronts make life interesting
Las Vegas autumn.

I have the Blahs today

Jamál (Beauty), 18 Jalál (Glory), 166 BE – Sunday, April 26, 2009 about 11:35 AM Pacific Time

I have the blahs today and I don't want to do anything. I'm not sure what the problem is except, perhaps, the weather. We've had some weird weather lately, first it warmed up to about 90 degrees and then it cooled down again. I haven't checked the weather report today, so I'm not sure what the forecast is for this coming week. I don't think the weather was this way last year.

Lately, it's been too cold to have the cool air on and too warm to have the heat. Not that I'm complaining or anything like that. The longer the temperature stays this cool the lower the power bill is. If the air outside the house is 90 degrees then inside it is 80 degrees. Anything under 80 degrees is too cool for the cold air to be on.

Anyway, I have to push myself to get any work done because I have the blahs. I know that isn't a scientific term. However, it does explain how I feel lately. Of course, there could be a physical reason I'm feeling this way, but I don't know what it could be. Since I have to push myself, make myself do anything I'm behind on almost everything.

I'm sleepy

Istiqlál (Independence), 5 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Friday, May 2, 2008 about 3:24 PM PDT

I'm sleepy, throat is soar and my sinuses are draining. It isn't that I feel bad, it's just alergies. The wind has blow and gusted for the past week. I'm allergic to Oleanders and olive trees among other things.

I enjoy the wind when I don't have to go out. If I can stay home and watch the wind blow I'm happy. However, this past week I've been in it every day. It seems when I go out in the wind it is worse then when I stay in and watch it blow. I know that isn't true, but it seems that way.

This past week has been interesting with earthquakes in Reno and wild fires in California. There were some fires here in Las Vegas, but in residential areas. The were started by accident. I called in some meds for Mom and we have to go pick them up. I just looked out the window and the wind is blowing. I thought they said there would be no wind today. The sky seems cloudy this afternoon as well. This weather isn't helping me at all. It's warm outside, but the wind makes it seem cooler.

This is monsoon season in Las Vegas, but it hasn't rained. We did have water main break in front of the house. In fact there were several water main breaks in the past month. I don't know if it has anything to do with the breaks and the water district putting in new pipes, but my toilets flesh better now.

The Wind is Calm

Istijlál (Majesty), 9 Jalal (Glory), 165 B.E. – Thursday, April 17, 2008 about 7:20 PM PDT

The wind is calmed
it doesn't push litter across the street today
and I can walk without being pushed
in the opposite direction.

The wind is calmed
it is time to clean the yard and roof
of pine needles and debris
left by the wind of yesterday.

Windy in Las Vegas

‘Idál (Justice), 8 Jalal (Glory), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, April 16, 2008 about 5:13 PM PDT

It's windy in Las Vegas. The wind has blown for the past couple of days scattering litter and pieces of palm trees across the streets. Small branches have blown off the stone pine trees and lay in my yard and driveway. I'm not sure when the wind is going to die down. I haven't watched the news in a couple of days.

If the wind keeps up, I'm going to have to have someone get the pine needles off my roof. I can't leave them lying up there because when it rains they get wet. It isn't a good idea to leave wet pine needles lying on the roof. True my shingles aren't wooden, they only look that way. Still the wet needles will mildew and mold.

The wind's been strong and the wind chill factor has kept the temperatures low. I like that because the cooler it temperatures outside the house, means I don't have to turn the air conditioner on. The air conditioner that runs up the power bill. The later I turn the cool air on, the lower my power bill is. I like seeing a power bill under $200, I'm not sure I will considering that the rates have gone up, but I hope I will. I'm not sure that I'm looking forward to summer because of the cost of electricity.

Saturday Afternoon

Jalál (Glory), 4 Jalal (Glory), 165 B.E. – Saturday, April 12, 2008 about 2:24 PM PDT

It's Saturday afternoon
the sky is a cloudless blue
a slight breeze blows through
the stone pines and olive trees
in my front yard.

It's Saturday afternoon
there's a slight chill in the air,
the neighborhood is quiet
and there is nothing on T.V.

It’s Saturday afternoon
I don’t have to plan the week ahead
because it’s already planned;
Monday through Friday
from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM job training;
Monday afternoon a 2:00 PM appointment;
Tuesday afternoon more to do then I have time for
in one afternoon;
Wednesday through Friday unplanned as yet.

It's Saturday afternoon
and I still have income tax to do,
but all I want to do
is listen to the wind blowing
through the stone pine trees.

It's Saturday afternoon
and I'm going to finish this poem
before making another pot of coffee
and doing the income tax.

A Rainy Palm Sunday

Jamál (Beauty), 15 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Sunday, March 16, 2008 about 8:43 AM PST

It's a rainy Palm Sunday in Las Vegas,
The wind is blowing through the stone pine tree,
The sky is a patchwork quilt of charcoal, gray and white,
It's a wonderful day to stay home and pray.

It's a rainy Palm Sunday in Las Vegas,
The wind chill factor sends chills up your spine,
The blacktop covering the city streets glistens,
And there are puddles in the driveways of each house.

The Elm Tree is Gone

'Idal (Justice), 14 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Wednesday, February 20, 2008 about 11:38 AM PST

The elm tree is gone, blown down by the wind, then cut up and carried away. I can see the sky clear for the first time since moving into this house. The tree planted by the former owners and stood for many years. Until today, I did not realize how much of the sky those limbs hid.

Today it is partly cloudy to mostly cloudy. There are patches of blue sky peeking through the white clouds. The clouds look like the wool of newly washed sheep. It is beautiful and windy out today.

The stone pine trees still stand and their limbs blow in the wind. I notice the absence of the elm tree more today then I have since it blew down on Valentine's Day. I will miss the elm tree, but my new view of the sky is beautiful. Another advantage of the missing tress is that the street light now shines directly on my front lawn and into the living room window.

Another Cloudy Day in Las Vegas

Fidal (Grace), 9 Sharaf 164 B.E. - Tuesday, January 8, 2008 about 11:40 AM PST

It's another cloudy day in Las Vegas and this is the eighth day of the 2008. I don't remember January being this cloudy in 2007. Of course, 2007 was a stressful year so I may be having a "senior moment" when it comes to the weather. I don't mind cloudy or rainy weather when I'm at home, but I don't care to drive in the rain.

A few years ago, you had to be care about driving west on Charleston. The Charleston underpass flood when it rained. That problem is taken care of, but now the problem is clogged storm drains all over town. People just throw their trash out of the cars and it clogs the drains. The clogged storm drains cause the streets to flood.

The next thing to do is educated the public on litter and the problems it causes. There is a telephone number people can call to report clogged storm drains, but I suspect the problem isn't going to be solved until people stop littering. Maybe some of the car dealer ships or gas stations could give away trash bags for people to put their litter in instead of throwing it on the street. Of course, people could always fill the trash bag and then throw it on the street.