Let there be light in my Dinning Room

Istijlál (Majesty), 13 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 165 B.E. – Thursday, May 29, 2008 about 6:44 PM PDT

My grandmother cleaned house in the middle of the night. When she could not sleep she would get up and clean house. Of course, she had light. All right I do have lights, in every room of this house I have lights that work, except in the dinning room. The chandelier does not work, even when I put new bulbs in it does not work; so I keep it off, until recently I had a floor lamp that worked, unfortunately, the switch went out and I cannot use it.

I do not intention of getting the floor lamp fixed because I bought it at a yard sale five or six years ago. I paid $5.00 for it and it will cost me more then that to get the switch fixed. For what it would cost to fix it, I can get a new lamp. Eventually I will get a new lamp, but for now I will just have to clean that room during the day.

There is a hospital bed in the dinning room and I'm going to call next week to have it removed. Until I get my dinning room table out of the living room and back where it belongs, I am not going to get a new lamp for the dining room. In the mean time, I will compare lamp prices and see what styles of floor lamps are available. The lamp I have now is black and I do not want another black lamp in my dining room.

As for the chandelier, it is ugly and too big for the dining room, but I cannot complain because it was there when we bought the house. If I get another chandelier, I want one that looks different, is smaller and does not hang down as low.

A Beautiful day in Las Vegas

‘Idál (Justice), 12 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, May 28, 2008 about 7:39 PM PDT

Today was a beautiful day, not too warm and not too cold. There were clouds scattered across the sky and a slight wind. It did not rain today; it was just a beautiful spring day in Las Vegas. Today is the kind of day that encourages sitting on the patio and saying prayers or reading the scriptures.

Today is the kind of day that encourages going to the park. The only problem for me is that both parks closest to my house are closed. They closed one for improvements and the other because the city wanted to discourage the homeless from sleeping there. That was not the reason they gave when they closed it I forget the official reason. Since both parks are closed the only place I can go to write or meditate is on my back patio.

Gas prices are about $3.89 a gallon here so I no longer drive across town just to go to a park. If some of my friends are going or there is a group affair at a park then I will drive across town. I will not drive just to sit in a park by myself and write or meditate.

A beautiful day in Las Vegas,

is becoming a beautiful evening.

The Final Days of May 2008

Fidál (Grace), 11 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, May 27, 2008 about sunset PDT

Memories of summer in Oklahoma

appear in my minds eye

yanking me back to the good times of my youth.

That is about it for my May poem. I am at the end of a long day and the week is almost half over. I returned to work today and realized that having a Monday off throws my entire week off. Sweet dreams and happiness to everyone during these last few days of May 2008. This year is passing swiftly.

I have slacked off recently

Kamál (Perfection), 10 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 165 B.E. – Monday, May 26, 2008 about 4:34 PM PDT

I have slacked off recently. I started working from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM out side the house and as a result, I have not achieved as much at home as I wanted. I used today to catch up on a couple of things. Last night I stayed up later then usually and got up about 5:30 AM instead of 4:00 AM this morning.

I think my problem is a routine. I need to establish a new writing routine. I have not been getting on line in the morning before going to work. Instead, I have watched the local news, which is a bit depressing. I am not sure about getting on line before going to work in the mornings. I think that establishing a new writing routine in the afternoon is the best idea.

I did not go anywhere today. The main problem is gas prices. I paid about $3.71 a gallon the last time I bought gas. I have to get more gas this week, so I will get another $20 tomorrow. I remember when I could fill the tank on a $20 bill and have enough left over for a couple of bottles of soda or coffee. Now all $20 gets is about half a tank or less of gas. Oh well, I suppose it could be worse, at least we are not paying $10.00 a gallon yet.

Too hot for butterflies

Kamál (Perfection), 3 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 165 B.E. – Monday, May 19, 2008 about 7:15 PM PDT

It is too hot out doors for butterflies today. The temperature reach 108 degrees at McCarran airport, which is where the official temperature of Las Vegas is taken. The weather person expected it to get to about 109 before the sunsets and the city begins cooling down. Tomorrow the winds pick up and we are in for the blow dryer effect. After the winds pick up then the temperature will cool down to the 80s and 90s, but for now were in for, at least, one more hot day.

I put a new filter in the air conditioner Friday and turned the unit on. It appears to be working well though it takes a while to cool this house down. Fortunately, I will not know what the power bill for this month is until around June 4 or 5. I know it will come up because the last couple of months I have not had the unit on at all.

I will worry about the power bill when it comes in. I have more import problems at the moment. Starting Saturday, I am going to be doing my own yard work. Saturday I will pick up any trash in the front yard before it gets too hot. Then Sunday, if I can find my gardening gloves, see about trimming the oleanders in the front.

I Think I had a 24 Hour Bug

Jamál (Beauty), 2 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 165 B.E. – Sunday, May 18, 2008 about 2:02 PM PDT

I spent most of Friday evening and Saturday with the dry heaves, which are very unpleasant. I think I would rather have something coming back up then nothing. I think I had a 24 hour bug because it came on suddenly, lasted 24-hours and left suddenly. I am feeling a lot better today. However, there is no use writing about a 24-hour bug in a transformation blog unless I have learned something from it.

I learned several things. First, I learned that there is no use attempting to write anything or posting to a blog when I am ill. Second, when I get ill and have the dry heaves I think I am going to die. I lived, I am feeling better and if it ever happens again then I am going to make sure I have solid food in my stomach.

A new week has begun and I am feeling better. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning for some lab test, not because I was ill, but so I can get back on my meds. I am not sure right now if I will discuss my illness with the doctor or not. If I do it means, I have to stay in the office longer then what I would like. Besides it was only a 24-hour bug, it has left now, so what is the use in saying anything.

Thankful Thursday May 15, 2008

Istijlál (Majesty), 18 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Thursday, May 15, 2008 about Sunset PDT

1. Today I am thankful that the high today was only 90 degrees.
2. Today I am thankful that I only paid $3.59 per gallon the last time I bought gas.
3. Today I am thankful for the wind and clouds of the past few days.
4. Today I am thankful for the meatloaf we had today for supper.
5. Today I am thankful for the prayers revealed by Baha'u'llah.
6. Today I am thankful for the short distance I have to drive to work.
7. Today I am thankful for the telephone line that connects me to the internet.
8. Today I am thankful for the doctor's appointment I had on Monday.
9. Today I am thankful that my alarm is set at 4:00 AM.
10. Today I am thankful for the morning news I listen to before going to work.

Memorial Day Approaches

‘Idál (Justice), 17 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, May 14, 2008 about 7:45 PM PDT

Memorial Day approaches. It is commemorated on Monday, May 26, rather then on the traditional May 30. I still think of Memorial Day falling on May 30, but since everyone has to have a three day week end it is celebrated on a Monday this year.

I will get Memorial Day off, but that is beside the point. I still think of it in the traditional manner. I miss Memorial Day being celebrated on May 30. I doubt that we go out of town. Gas prices are getting close to $4.00 and it would not surprise me if they reached that on Memorial Day weekend.

How am I going to celebrate Memorial Day this year? I have no idea. I think I will do a little research on the history of that day and write a blog entry. Normally I celebrate with a poem, but this year perhaps a flash fiction story is more appropriate. I am not sure yet.

I miss celebrating Memorial Day the way my grandparents commemorated it. I remember grandma making paper flowers to put on the graves. There were family graves all over Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. I have a few days to consider and see if I can find some family photos to post.

Three more days until Feast

Fidál (Grace), 16 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, May 13, 2008 about 7:10 PM PDT

The Feast of 'Azamat is on Friday, May 16. I didn't go to the Feast of Jamal and I think that's part of my problem. I haven't felt like myself lately and I don't know why. On Monday I went to the doctor and received two prescriptions. I got those prescriptions fill today. I have another appointment next Monday for lab tests and blood work. I expect to get another prescription.

All right, at 61 I suppose a person should expect to get a few meds. After all I not young any more and the body is aging. However, I think my problem is more then just needing meds. I think I'll explore this in my off line journal and see what I come up with. It's just that I can't seem to get everything done that I want to complete.

Sometime I feel like I'm running in circles and getting nowhere fast. I suppose if one is getting nowhere it may as well be fast then slow. All right, I haven't lost my sense of humor. So perhaps things are getting better. I did miss feast and the month always goes better if I attend the Feast.

Thoughts at the end of the day

Kamál (Perfection), 15 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Monday, May 12, 2008 about 6:50 PM PDT

Sunset approaches on a cloudy Monday afternoon. I had a doctor's appointment today at 3:00 PM and naturally I got lost going there. I turned the wrong way on Flamingo. Instead of turning west I turned east. All right, I am directionally challenged, i.e. I have no sense of direction and get lost easily. However, I have lived in Las Vegas long enough to know I need to ask specific questions.

I know where I went wrong. Instead of asking the person on the phone if I went toward or away from Las Vegas Blvd. when I turned onto Flamingo; I ask if the place was east (going away from Las Vegas Blvd.) of Maryland Pkw. I should have ask if I turned toward Las Vegas Blvd. (that is west of Maryland Pkw. Oh well, I will know better the next time. Actually I will not get lost driving to that clinic again. Fortunately, I seldom get lost going to a new place.

I have another appointment on Monday morning for lab tests. I have to fast 12 hours before the tests. I am looking forward to the tests and to getting back on my meds, which is the reason I went to the doctor in the first place. However, as usual the doctor thinks that I need more then just the thyroid test. She is probably right, still I am going to have to take off work Monday because the test have to be done of a morning.

The First Day of a New Week

Jamál (Beauty), 14 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Sunday, May 11, 2008 about 4:24 PM PDT

It is Sunday, the first day of a new week. This week started out good, I said the morning prayer revealed by Baha'u'llah. This particular prayer I have memorized and I say it every morning. I got up about ten minutes before the alarm went off, which was a good thing. Yesterday I listened to the Saturday morning show that my brother prerecords. Anyway when I turned the radio off I turn did not turn the alarm on.

Mom and I went out for prime rib today. We went to a local place close to the Las Vegas strip. The coffee shop has a pleasant atmosphere and you cannot hear the noise of gambling. Mom and I do not gamble, so it is nice to sit in a restaurant and eat without the tinkle of coins. We had the king cut prime rib and horseradish. They served us both types of horseradish, the creamed kind which is not hot and the regular type. The regular type is hot enough to bring tears to your eyes, which is the best type of horseradish.

We brought home some of the leftover prime rib, so tomorrow I will fix it with some potatoes and green veggies. Today was a good Sunday. The weather not too hot and there is a slight wind. Mom is happy and I am happy. I am looking forward to a fulfilling week and the Feast of 'Azamat on May 16.

Happy Mothers' Day

I am making myself a weekly schedule

Jalál (Glory), 13 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Saturday, May 10, 2008 about 2:03 PM PDT

I am working out side my home and not just attempting to make money online. My schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. I have even less time to do housework and writing then I did before. Therefore, I am going to attempt a daily schedule again. I have tried a schedule before, with some success and some failure.

This time I am going to approach the schedule a bit different. I found out that I stress when the changes and chances of life interfere with the schedule. I suspect my last schedule was not flexible enough. Therefore, I am going to put some flexibility in it.

I am going to put the normal items on the schedule such as work and social commitments. In addition, I am putting in housework time, writing time and prayer time. I will post the schedule to my off line journal Writing My Spiritual Journey, which I use to bring myself to account.

I am not sure whether my grandmother used a schedule or not. My grandmother would get up in the middle of the night and clean house. Those nights she could not sleep, she cleaned house. I am not sure about cleaning house myself when I cannot sleep. I would rather write, read or pray if I have difficulty sleeping.

Thoughts on the process of transformation

Istiqlál (Independence), 12 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Friday, May 9, 2008 about 7:13 PM PDT

It's Friday night and I'm weary. I'm think about some of my recent entries, which appear to have nothing to do with the process of transformation and a butterfly emerging from her cocoon. However, as I contemplate transformation and the entries, I realize that many of them were about family. Family assists in the individual's transformation.

On the material plain, we are like the child in the womb of the mother. Here we acquire the attributes we need to live in the next world. The attributes required to live in that world are faith, love, joy, and forgiveness. In this world, we practice those attributes. The families help an individual practice and develop those attributes in this world. When we pass into the spiritual realm these attributes will help us live to our fullest.

It's within the family that we begin to develop these attributes. The individual begins developing these attributes from the moment of birth. However, sometimes we let the changes and chance of the material world come between our souls and us. When we do this the soul is covered with a dross that hides it and interferes with it's development.

As we grow in the family, we learn to love and forgive.
As we grow live in our family, we encounter tests and difficulties.
As with grow and live in our family begin to become are true selves.

Stressing over a Mothers' Day gift

Istijlál (Majesty), 11 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Thursday, May 8, 2008 about 7:17 PM PDT

Why do I do this every time I want to get my mother a gift for Mothers' Day or her birthday? Mom is happy with whatever I get her or wherever I take her. I shouldn't stress over the gift, but I do every year. This year is special because my mother survived her operation and illness of last year. This year is special because we didn't celebrate Mothers' Day last year. At least, I don't remember celebrating the day.

Last year was stressful and this year less stressful. I don't know what to get or do for my mother on Mothers' Day. I've though of writing a poem, but I can't seem to come up with anything that I like. All right, I admit that I can be critical of my own work sometimes. However, a Mothers' Day poem written specifically for my mother is very special. The closes I can come to anything right now is this

You Beat the Odds

Born
on a farm in Oklahoma,
the doctor came to your house in a Model T
he thought you would not live to see
the morning,
but you beat the odds
and survived.

That's about as far as I've gotten on the poem. Perhaps I'll mention how she beat the odds again last year. The doctor who operated on her didn't expect her to survive, but she out witted the medical profession again. I think I'll get a blank book for her to write her memories in and put the poem on the first page.

I want to know why

‘Idál (Justice), 10 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, May 7, 2008 about 5:24 PM PDT

I want to know why all the interesting phone calls come when I don't answer the phone. Mom got a phone call today from somewhere in Oklahoma. She didn't have a pad or a pen to write down the message, which isn't unusual. When I go to write a message or phone number down the first pen I pick up doesn't write. If the pen does write then there is no paper around to put the message on. Maybe that's why I let the answer machine pick it up because at least then I have a telephone number to call back.

Anyway Mom answered the phone and it was from Oklahoma. I know a lot of people in Oklahoma, but I have no clue as to who called. I really hope who ever it was calls back because they way Mom described the call it was interesting. It was probably a wrong number, so no one is going to call back. If someone says they are from Oklahoma then I'm going to answer the phone, if I'm home.

I think what I'll do is leave a pen and paper laying in the places Mom has the phone so she can write a message down, not that the pen will work when she goes to write it down. I can put a working pen by the phone and when I go to use it the pen doesn't work. This has happened to me more then once; I suppose the ink dries up before I use the pen. That's the most logical explanation.

I have a doctor's appointment next week

Fidál (Grace), 9 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, May 6, 2008 about 6:25 PM PDT

I have a doctor's appointment next week. I believe it is on Monday afternoon at 3:00 PM. I changed this appointment last week so I cannot change it again. I am going to have to keep it. I need to get back on my meds. Actually there are many things I need, but the doctor's appointment is the most urgent right now.

I can remember my grandmother going to see the doctor. She would go religiously. I am not like that and I am not sure why. Maybe I take after my grandfater. He did not go to see a doctor unless he absolutely need to see one. I have to absolutely need to see one now.

Maybe I avoid going to a doctor because I have no health insurance. Having no health insurance is a real pain. Without health insurance, I have to let something else go to pay for the doctor. Without health insurance, I have to pay for the entire bill for any lab tests myself. I need lab tests because without them the doctor cannot tell what is wrong with me.

There was a time when I did not realize how important health insurance was and I did not worry about needing this type of insurance. I have changed, I now realize how important it is; the problem is I cannot get and I cannot afford health insurance. I cannot afford to pay the medical bills and I cannot afford health insurance. This is an interesting dilemma.

It's Been a Long Day

Kamál (Perfection), 8 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Monday, May 5, 2008 about 7:29 PM PDT

It's been a long day. I can't do any writing or get online at all between 5:00 AM and 1:30 PM Monday through Friday. Today after I got home we went to the bank and cashed a check, then we went to the west side of town. I had a 2:00 PM appointment, which I thought was on another day. This is the second time this year I've let something like that happen. I don't know where my mind has been, but obviously not on my appointments.

After I took care of the appointment, we went to Blue Berry Hill to eat and then came home. I took the messages off the answering machine and then went to the drug store to get a bottle of Mom's meds. I changed another appointment from 11:00 AM on May 22 to 2:30 PM on June 16, at least I think it's June 16. I'm just not with it lately and I don't know what the problem is. I have an appointment next week to see a doctor and get back on my meds. That could be the problem.

The problem could just as easily be stress. Anyway, tomorrow I have to call the air conditioning people to come out and check the central air unit. It hasn't been warm enough to turn it on, but it's going to get warmer, so I need to get them out here this week or next week. It will have to be of an afternoon because I can't take off mornings any more this month. Well that's the blog entry for today. I have other writing to do before I go to bed.

Mother's Day Approaches

Jamál (Beauty), 7 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Sunday, May 4, 2008 about 9:39 AM PDT

Mother's day is coming and I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do for Mom on that day. Thinking back over my childhood I remember things my siblings and I did for Mom when we were growing up. One year we served her breakfast in bed. She enjoyed that, especially since we didn't burn the breakfast or the house down and cleaned up afterwards. However, I don't think breakfast in bed is going to do it this year.

Maybe I'll write a poem for her. I don't think I've ever written a poem specifically for my mother for Mother's Day. I've written Mother's Day Poems, but not one dedicated to Mom. I don't know why I've never written a Mother's Day poem to my mother. I suppose that would be a good subject to explore in my off line journal. I could do a blog entry about memories I have of Mom and growing up.

My mother is 87 years young. I'm worried about some of the things she does, but I think that's normal. She doesn't do anything odd or off beat, it's just that sometimes she does things differently from the way she did them when she went into the hospital last year. I'm going to talk to her doctor about that at her next appointment. Maybe I should write everything down I want to talk to her doctor about.

I want Mom to write down the things she remembers about her childhood and being a young woman. Perhaps I'll get her a blank book for that. Then she can write down everything she remembers and talks about. My mother is an exceptional person. She is wonderful and loving. She raised my siblings and me practically alone. True she did have some help from grandma and grandpa, but she did most of the job herself and held down a full time job. That doesn't seem like a lot today, but when I was a child it was unusual.

A butterfly inside its Chrysalis

Jalál (Glory), 6 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Saturday, May 3, 2008 about 3:17 PM PDT

Life for a butterfly inside its chrysalis is stressful and perplexing. It doesn't really know what's going on as its body changes from that of an earth crawler to a flyer. I've felt like a butterfly in its Chrysalis for the past year. When I began this blog in about 2005, I thought the name was interesting. I didn't realize until recently how appropriate the name of the blog would become.

In the past year life has been extremely stressful. This year the stress has begun to leave or perhaps I'm just reacting differently to it. I'm still seeing ways I need to change, but transformation isn't easy. Transformation is growing wings and growing wings is difficulty for an earth bound creature.

Perhaps I am too impatient. I want transformation to occur immediately without the stress, the tests and the difficulties. Transformation doesn't occur without difficulties. If the human soul didn't encounter difficulties on its physical journey, it would never achieve its true potential.

I think that sometimes I let my fear and my ego interfere in the process. The soul is the spiritual part of the individual. The soul is a gift from God and it seeks to return to the eternal beloved. The ego is the part that is tied to the material realm. It can't see beyond into the next world and so it fears. The ego does its best to stop the process of transformation. The ego doesn't want the soul to develop wings. However, if the soul doesn't develop wings it will be at a disadvantage in the next world.

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.

A Windy Week in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 4 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Thursday, May 1, 2008 about 7:15 PM PDT

It's been a windy week in Las Vegas, earthquake after shocks in Reno. There is a wild fire raging in California. A typical spring in the west, all right, maybe earthquakes in Nevada isn't typical, but they do occur. We're suppose to be due for a big one.

I suppose an earthquake or two is to be expected with everything else going on this year. Gas prices are rising. They haven't quite reached $4.00 in Vegas yet (at least not at the gas stations I shop at), but they will. Gas prices will reach the $4.00 mark and more earthquakes will occur in Nevada. I need to get an emergancy kit prepared just in case the big one comes in my life time.

I'll have to check and see what I need in an earthquake emergency kit. Not that we'll be getting too far from Vegas with gas prices on the rise. I think I'll start keeping track of the miles I get per gallon. There was a time when I didn't worry abut earthquake emergency kits or how many miles I could go on a gallon of gas. Things sure change as you get older and wiser.

We have been lucky this year with the wind. In February we lost the elm, but it missed the garage. I am working Monday through Friday now. Mom is doing well even though she won't use the new microwave. We are slowly converting to longer lasting light bulbs and now I find out that I may have to dispose of the burned out ones different then I did the other type. I think that's all for this entry.

Silver Dollar Pancakes

‘Idál (Justice), 3 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, April 30, 2008 about 5:09 PM PDT

When we were growing up my Mom and Grandmother would make silver dollar and Mickey Mouse pancakes for us. Grandma would make Mickey Mouse pancakes on Sunday morning before we went to church. Grandma would make the pancakes, then we would put maple syrup and real butter on them. I liked my pancakes with over easy eggs and hash browns on the side. I still like my pancakes that way. However, today I prefer to have grape jelly or strawberry preserves on my pancakes.

Mom would make the silver dollar pancakes on school mornings sometimes. I like these because they were small and easy to eat. I didn't have to have syrup on all of them. Sometimes I would put jelly on them rather then butter and syrup. As a child, I liked to experiment with different types of toppings on my pancakes. Even today, I will experiment with different types of toppings on my pancakes, but grape jelly and strawberry preserves are my favorite. However, I have put peanut butter on my pancakes.

I have an electric skillet, so I think I'll try to make silver dollar and Mickey Mouse pancakes. When you make pancakes yourself, not the frozen kind, it's difficult to makes shaped pancakes or hot cakes in a Microwave oven or a toaster oven. Shaped pancakes look better fixed either in an electric skillet or on top of the stove in a frying pan.

Why I Like Ice Water

Fidál (Grace), 2 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, April 29, 2008 about 6:06 PM PDT

I realized today why I like to drink ice water. I drink ice water all year around. I drink it in the winter when there is snow on the ground. I want my water ice cold in the spring, summer and autumn. I can't stand to drink water that doesn't have ice in it or isn't cold.

This comes from my childhood. When I was growing up, we didn't have bottled water. When I was a child, we got our drinking water out of the kitchen faucet. My grandmother and mother would put the water in a glass pitcher in the fridge. If we got water out of the facuet, we put ice in the glass before we turned the faucet on and filled the glass.

Today when I buy bottled water in the store, I buy it cold or I take it home and put it in the fridge before drinking it. If it gets warm before I finish the bottle. I put the bottle back in the fridge or I put ice in a glass and pour the water over it. I cannot stand to drink water that is room temperature or above. The water has to be cold or I can't drink it.

It's amazing sometimes how the things I learned in childhood stayed with me. I'm not sure I could change the way I drink water, even if I wanted to. I can't stand water that isn't cold. If I drink water that is room temperature, I take a couple of sips and can't drink any more. I suppose if I were thirsty I would drink an entire glass of room temperature water, but it would take me a long time.

I ate a pear today

Kamál (Perfection), 1 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Monday, April 28, 2008 about 6:41 PM PDT

I ate a pear today.
My brother brought three of them over Friday night.
Three unripe Bartle pears.
Mom put them in a brown paper bag,
on Saturday night or Sunday morning,
so they would ripen.
Today they were ripe so we each had a pear tonight.

My grandmother always put unripened fruit in brown paper bags. I'm not sure what it is about brown paper bags that causes fruit to ripen, but it works. Of course, you have to be careful with bananas or they get too ripe. Bananas grandma always just left out on the counter until they were ready to eat, but other unripe fruits she put in brown paper bags.

I enjoy pears.
When I eat a pear it always brings back memories
of my childhood.

I remember grandma going shopping for fruit. She always bought fresh fruit for us to eat. The only time I remember her buying canned fruit was when she made gelatin deserts or fruit salad. Grandma always made fruit salad with canned fruit. Grandma would mix the canned fruit together then add coconut, nuts and tiny marshmallows. Usually she used mixed fruit, but sometimes she would fruit that wasn't mixed and make the salad that way.

I’ll have to see if I can find or remember grandma’s recipe for fruit salad. I make fruit salad myself, but not the way she made it. I buy mixed tropical fruit to put in my salad rather then the regular mixed fruit.

What is your favorite room in your home and why?

Jamál (Beauty), 19 Jalál (Glory), 165 B.E. – Sunday, April 27, 2008 about 7:14 AM PDT

Journal Writing Prompt for Friday, April 25, 2008: What is your favorite room in your home and why?

My favorite room is any room with a bookshelf or bookcase in it. I think that's why I prefer to have a books in every room of the house. A room with books is always decorated beautifully. In te kitchen I like to have cookbooks. In the dinning room I like to have poetry books. In the living room I like to have the sacred scriptures. In the bed room I like to have different types of books.

Books always make a good addition to any room in the house. You don't have to worry about matching colors or any other decorating concept. You just match the books with the room. You can even put books in the bathroom. In the bathroom, I like to have amusing books. You don't want books that make you think in the bathroom. The reason for this is that thought provoking books because you to stay longer in the bathroom then you want. Books that make you think should go in the living room.

My Grandmother's Cat

Fidál (Grace), 14 Jalal (Glory), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, April 22, 2008 about 2:40 PM PDT

My grandmother had a Siamese cat called Jay. She acquired the cat because someone had abandoned him on Lake Blackwell. All spring and summer, she fed the cat, then when fall came she got the cat into the car and took him to Blackwell with her.

My grandparents raised chickens; they kept the chickens in a fenced enclosure in the backyard. When Jay arraive at my grandparents' house, the first think he did was go to the chicken house and find a nest to curl up in. From then on he either slept in the house with my grandparents or in the chicken house with the chickens.

The chickens, once they got used to Jay being around, didn't seem to mind him sleeping in a nest. In fact, as along a Jay lived no eggs were lost to any cat. One of the neighbors had a cat that stole eggs, but that cat never came around after Jay arrived. It's too bad that people can't get along as well as Jay got along with my grandmother's chickens. I always thought it was interesting that Jay and the chickens go along better with each other then humans get along.

Jay also go along with grandma's parakeet. The bird, I think his name was Ricky, stayed in his cage and sang most of the time. Jay would lie on top of the Victorla and watch Pete sing. Sometimes Pete got out of the cage; when he did Jay would not attempt to chase him. The bird would fly around the room and Jay would sit on the floor and watch the bird.

I hadn't thought about Jay, the chickens or Ricky in a long time. I'm not sure what brought them to mind today, except I've been missing my grandparents this month. I seem to go through a phase like this every so often. I miss grandma and grandpa, when I do I think about things I haven't thought about in a long time.

Another Laundry Rant

Kamál (Perfection), 13 Jalal (Glory), 165 B.E. – Monday, April 21, 2008 about 7:07 PM PDT

My grandmother did laundry once a week on Saturday for six or seven people. We had clean cloths everyday and clean bed linen all the time. She never had a big pile of laundry waiting. I want to know how she did it and kept us all in clean cloths every day.

We Mom and I do two, three or four loads laundry every day and there is still one load of laundry waiting for the next day. I written about this before, I'm not sure whether I written in this blog about it, but I've written about it before. I even wrote poems about the endless loads of laundry. I'm sure my grandmother must have had some sort of laundry secret, which she didn't tell me. I wish I knew what it was because I'm tired of the endless loads of dirty laundry.

All right, I have to admit that one day last week we didn't do laundry. We didn't do laundry because a water main busted under the street in front of our house. The water was turned off on our side of the block all day, so we couldn't do laundry or anything else that used water. They finally got it fixed and we now have water to do the endlessly cloning basket of dirty laundry.

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.

Photos in My Closet

Jamál (Beauty), 5 Jalal (Glory), 165 B.E. – Sunday, April 13, 2008 about 4:37 PM PDT

I looked in my closet today and found three boxes of photos setting on the floor. I'm going to have to go through them and find out all I can about them. Ask my mother what she remembers, then scan them onto my hard drive and burn them onto CDs. Perhaps compose a document about the photos to go on the CD.

Most of the photos are of family members; my grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. There is no use having photos if you don't know the history surrounding them. My mother is 87 and if I don't get the information now, I'm afraid I'll never get it. Then what do I do with the photo, just throw them away if there isn't any information to accompany them.

Don't get me wrong, I have destroyed photos before. I found the photo of a ex-boy friend and destroyed it. Actually, what I did was tear it up into small pieces and put it in the cats litter box, but that was a different situation. I don't like throwing family photos away because there is a history behind them that needs remembering.

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.

Earth Day is Coming Soon

Istijlál (Majesty), 2 Jalal (Glory), 165 B.E. – Thursday, April 10, 2008 about 5:06 PM PDT

Earth Day is coming soon. There will be a lot of talk about planting trees and recycling among other related topics. The approach of Earth Day got me to thinking about my grandparents. We never thought much about recycling when I was growing up. However, my grandmother was good at recycling.

My grandmother recycled as much as she could. Instead of buying rags to clean the toilet, she used warn out underpants for that. My grandmother would not throw out the coffee grounds, instead she put them on her flowers. When grandpa cleaned out the chicken house, he used that for fertilizer. My grandmother's flowers were beautiful.

My grandfather planted trees, which were appropriate to the climate. He didn't plant a tree that took a lot of care to grow in Oklahoma. If he had lived in Nevada or some other desert he would have used desert landscaping. Of course, my grandparents were farmers before they moved into town. That may have had something to do with the care they took of the environment before it became fashionable.

Butterflies and Milkweeds

‘Idál (Justice), 1 Jalal (Glory), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, April 9, 2008 about 3:19 PM PDT

One of my fondest memories of my childhood concerns butterflies and milkweeds. Every year milkweeds would grow in my grandparents' yard. Either my grandmother or my grandfather would remove them, but one or two would return. No matter how hard my grandparents tried to get rid of the milkweeds, there would be at least one in the yard all year.

The milkweed that remained always had a butterfly chrysalis hanging from it. After the chrysalis formed my grandparents would never remove the milkweed. The let the milkweed remain until the butterfly emerged. We would watch the chrysalis everyday until the butterfly emerged. It was a struggle for the creature to emerge from the chrysalis, but when it did it was beautiful. The wings were dry and the butterfly would take off and fly away.

The tenacity of the milkweed to continue to grow, even after they were dug up always amazed me; however, the butterflies efforts to emerge from the chrysalis that brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps that's why I can't give up, perhaps that why I keep trying and struggling even when life gets difficult.

I find myself missing Oklahoma

Fidál (Grace), 19 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, April 8, 2008 about 12:36 PM PDT

Lately,
I've found myself missing Oklahoma.

Maybe it's the carefree existence of my childhood I miss
and not the state of Oklahoma;
to be young and worry free
without debts or responsibility.

Perhaps that's what I miss
or is it something else about my childhood
that makes me want to see my grandparents again.

Mother's Day is approaching
and I remember not saying good-bye to my grandmother
before she died.

Lately,
I found myself dreaming of my grandparents' home,
the dream is reoccurring
the location is always the same,
but the people are different.

My mother and I
are always in the dream,
but sometimes its my grandparents' house
with cousins and distant relatives,
but not my grandparents.

At other times my grandparents
are in the dream,
with every pet I've ever had.

Four Months into 2008

Kamál (Perfection), 18 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Monday, April 7, 2008 about 2:24 PM PDT

Four months into 2008
and I know how a butterfly larva feels in its cocoon
while its wings are growing,
while its body is transforming from a creature crawling on the ground
into a creature of the air.

Four months into 2008
and I am still in the process of transformation
of becoming my true self.

Four months into 2008
and I know that the process will continue
at varying rates of speed the rest of my life
and into eternity.

My Brother's Blog

Jamál (Beauty), 17 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Sunday, April 6, 2008 about 2:20 PM PDT

My brother has a blog Eclectic Writer. The entry for April 5 is about the gene for ruthlessness. I find my brother's writing interesting and inspiring.

The ruthlessness gene has some interesting implications. Humans are dual natured creatures; we have both a body and a soul. The idea that many of our actions have a genetic basis gives us or rather our souls a great deal to overcome.

A Cloudy Day in Las Vegas

Jalál (Glory), 16 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Saturday, April 5, 2008 about 5:38 PM PDT

It's a cloudy day in Las Vegas
patches of blue sky show through while clouds
the temperatures are warming
highs in the 80s,
lows in the 50s,
and variable winds
moving the stone pine tree's limbs.

April bring poetry
and not showers this
early in the month,
while the triple degree temperature
are weeks away.

Spring and Butterflies

Istijlál (Majesty), 14 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Thursday, April 3, 2008 about 5:19 PM PDT

I always associate spring with butterflies.
Maybe it is the beauty of the season
the flowers,
brightly colored birds building nest,
cottonwood trees and lilac bushes,
but I always associate spring with butterflies.

Now I really am Worried about my memory

‘Idál (Justice), 13 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, April 2, 2008 about 6:53 PM PDT

April is poetry month, I forgot about it being poetry month. So now I really am worried about my memory. I didn't remember April being poetry month until I read a newsletter on the subject today. I'm a writer and a poet, so you would think I'd remember April was poetry month. I suppose it could be stress or not reading the newsletter until today.

April Showers and Poetry

April showers bring more then flowers

poetry grows

with every drop of rain

angels carry from heaven.

Happy April Fools Day 2008

Fidál (Grace), 12 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, April 1, 2008 about 3:26 AM PDT

Have a happy April Fools Day.

April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day received its name because in 1582, the Gregorian Calendar replaced the Julian Calendar and the date of New Year's Day changed from Apil 1 to January 1. Not everyone was happy about this date change and continued celebrating New Years' Day on April 1. Those who celebrated on January 1 made fun of those celebrating on April 1, thus the name April Fools' Day.

There are problems of course with this explanation of April Fools Day because it doesn't explain the spread of the custom; ror more information see April Fools' Day: Origin and History. Personally, I think that having a day to celebrate foolishness is a good idea because it helps relieve stress.

Is this a sign of a short-term memory problem?

Kamál (Perfection), 11 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Monday, March 31, 2008 about 7:42 AM PDT

I worry about my memory sometimes. Is my short-term memory is going or am I just distracted? I have no problems remembering login names and passwords not even when I change the password. The problem this morning is coffee. My coffee cup sets on a wooden T.V. stand beside my computer desk.

Anyway, I reached for the cup and started to drink the coffee in it. However, there was no coffee; I drank the entire cup of hot 100% Columbian brew and didn't remember drinking it. Now I'm worried about my short-term memory. Not that I don't have other, probably, more important things to worry about.

I'm a writer and a coffee drinker so does not remembering I drink the coffee in my cup a sign of a problem. I don't know, I certainly hope not. I guess as long as I can remember my login names, passwords and bank pin numbers, I'm all right.

An Evening in March

Kamál (Perfection), 11 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Sunday, March 30, 2008 about 7:15 PM PDT

The days grow longer
as spring movers toward summer
and March moves into April.

This year the lamb of March bleats
waiting as sunset
announces the coming rain.

March winds are past
we wait for April's showers
and look forward to flowers
on an evening in March.

Family and Transformation

Jamál (Beauty), 10 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Saturday, March 29, 2008 about 10:07 PM PDT

I haven't written much about transformation lately. Most concerns family memories and events in my life. On the surface family doesn't appear to have much to do with transformation or a butterfly emerging from her cocoon. However, if you think about the way a family influences a person growing up or living from day to day, you realize that they have a great deal of influence on a person becoming his or her true self.

We all have memories from our childhood that we would just as soon forget. Events happened in everyone's childhood that effected the person adversely. As we grow up we realize that we can control the way those memories influence our present situation. We do not have to hold onto the past, we can put the bad memories in the hands of God and let the divine guide us through the rest of our lives. A person can learn to forgive him or herself and everyone else. Just because we forgive doesn't mean we have to forget.

I need a new pair of shoes

Istijlál (Majesty), 7 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Thursday, March 27, 2008 about 5:09 PM PDT

It's spring and I haven't gotten a new dress or a new pair of shoes. I'm not talking about second hand shoes, I'm referring to a brand new pair. It's been several years since I bought myself a brand new pair of spring shoes. I don't even know what colors are in fashion this year. Not that it would matter when it comes to buying the shoes. I don't get the colors that are in fashion this year.

I'm much to practical to buy the in fashion colors. I take after my grandmother in that respect. She always bought dark brown or black shoes. That way the shoes went with any dress she had in her closet. Grandma would buy the colors of dress that were in fashion, but not shoes. Grandma grew up in a time when shoes had to last a long time, so black shoes were the proper color to buy because they went with everything.

I remember one Easter my grandparents or my mother, bought me a pair of white "Mary Jane's" to go with a pink dress and bonnet. I wore those shoes all year, but when Easter came around again I needed a new pair. I don't know what happened to those shoe because my sister got a pair of new shoes as well. My dresses were handed down to my sister, but I don't remember the shoes being handed down.

When I do get a new pair of shoes this year, I'll get either flats or a pair of sports shoes. Probably the sports shoes since they're more comfortable.

There are times in my life

‘Idál (Justice), 6 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, March 26, 2008 about 4:12 PM PDT

There are times in my life when I wish my grandparents were still around.

I miss them very much.

I miss my grandfather's advice and my grandmother's laughter.

I miss the security the presence always gave me.

I'm 61 years old, so my grandparents would be over 100 probably closer to 200, which means I'd probably be taking care of them. That doesn't stop me from wishing they were here sometimes. Grandpa would find the gas prices outrageous. He would wonder how people could afford to go any where.

There is one thing that I know my grandfather would like and would have. Grandpa would have a computer and internet access. How do I know? Because when he was alive he always made sure he had the latest technology. He didn't buy it when it immediately came out, but would wait a little while to get it; when my grandfather was a farmer he had the first Fordsen tractor in the the area.

On a Late March Evening

Fidál (Grace), 5 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, March 25, 2008 about 5:57 PM PDT

On a late March evening
when the sun approaches the western horizon
I look through my prayer book
at all the prayers revealed by the Bab,
at all the prayers revealed by Baha'u'llah,
at all the prayers written by 'Abdu'l-Baha
and realize
that as my life advances toward its western horizon
and my fortune changes
like the pendulum of a Grandfather clock swing
back and forth
these prayers give me comfort and joy.

The Long Way Around

Kamál (Perfection), 4 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Monday, March 24, 2008 about 6:12 PM PDT

Daily Writing Prompt for March 22, 2008: Write about taking the long way around

I always take the long way around because I have no sense of direction. I am probably the only person in the world that can follow MapQuest directions and get lost. It's frustrating and amusing at the same time. I don't see the amusing part though until latter.

I remember going places with my Grandfather, he never got lost. It didn't matter where we were going he always got us there without getting lost. That didn't mean not taking the long way around. Grandpa always took the rout with the best view. I remember driving through Oklahoma and Kansas. The country was always beautiful and Grandpa always took the long way around.

All though with today's gas prices, he might not have taken the long way around. I remember Grandpa gripping when gas prices increased from, I think, $0.50 or $0.75 a gallon to about $1.00. He gripped about the increase in prices, but didn't stop taking the long way around when his grandchildren were in the car.

Easter Memories

Jamál (Beauty), 3 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Sunday, March 23, 2008 about 7:49 AM PDT

Easter morning, the sun dawns bright over the eastern mountains and memories of East return. As a child, growing up in Blackwell, Oklahoma, my grandparents would take us to church for Easter services. After the services, we would go on an Easter egg hunt and each of us would get an Easter basket.

In the Easter basket were colored eggs, candy eggs and a chocolate Easter bunny. Before lunch my grandparents allowed us to eat one items from the Easter basket. I would eat my chocolate bunny with a glass of milk. It is interesting what traditions stayed with me and what traditions I let drop as I grew up.

I do not celebrate Easter, this time if year I celebrate Naw-Ruz and a New Year. However, every Easter morning I eat a chocolate Easter bunny. I do not eat the bunny with milk any more, instead I have a cup of coffee with my Easter bunny.

We bought an electric skillet today

We bought an electric skillet today. I can now cook my own hamburgers and fix chicken without putting it in the slow cooker. I am happy, at least for a little while. We bought one of those large family size skillets that you can cook a entire meal in at once. Life if wonderful and I didn't get caught in a traffic jam today.

I really like modern conveyances like electric skillets. They make life so much easier. The next thing I have to get is a working Microwave. I have a Microwave, but it doesn't work. I'm going to have to take it out to the curb next Tuesday, but it's too heavy to carry out so I'm going to have to figure out a way to roll it to the curb.

I got caught in a Traffic Jam today

Jalál (Glory), 2 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Friday, March 21, 2008 about 10:21 PM PDT

I got caught in a traffic jam today. Mom and I were returning home from going to the pet store on Charleston and Nellis. Charleston was closed down at the freeway and traffic was redirected onto the west bound lanes. I finally got onto 95 and then off on Eastern Ave.

It took us about an hour and a half to get onto and off 95. After we got off we stopped to get something to eat. I had not intention of coming home and putting something in the slow cooker. Tomorrow we're going to get an electric skillet. At least with an electric skillet I don't have to wait an hour for something to cook in the slow cooker.

We had planned to go to a poetry reading tonight, but the traffic jam took care of that. By the time we got home and ate, it was 7:00 PM ant the time the reading started. To get to where the reading is held on the third Friday, takes about 35 to 40 minutes so we stayed home tonight.

I Miss Spring in Oklahoma

Istijlál (Majesty), 19 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164B.E. – Thursday, March 20, 2008 about 3:38 PM PDT



I miss spring in Oklahoma,

I miss the new leaves of the cottonwood trees

as they appear in early spring.



I miss the lilac bushes

the lavender blooms decorating

Easter gardens.



I miss spring in Oklahoma

the winter wheat in the fields

sedectively beckoning.



I miss the Easter pageants

telling the story of resurrection

and eternal life.

Spring in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 17 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Tuesday, March 18, 2008 about 2:24 PM PDT

It's spring in Las Vegas
the monsoon season is near
rain and wind
foretell streets full of water.

This year
the streets are water covered
not because of the lack of flood control,
but because the drainage into the sewer system
is block by trash and litter.

St. Patrick's Day in Grade School

Kamál (Perfection), 16 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Monday, March 17, 2008 about 12:43 PM PDT

When I went to grade school in Blackwell, Oklahoma, we wore green on St. Patrick's Day. Everyone in the class including the teacher wore something green. Some of the girls coordinated their outfits so that they wore all green, while other girls wore a green blouse, skirt, or anklets. The boys wore green shirts.

For the students this was more then just a fashion statement celebrating St. Patrick. It was protection. Back then if you did not wear green you got pinched, so you had to wear green. It was an odd custom. I did not think much about it then. Now I consider it not only odd, but also an inappropriate response.

It is interesting how people have changes since I went to grade school fifty some years ago. Now if another student pinched you not wearing green, you would go to the teacher or the principle. Pinching someone for any reason is inappropriate and should be treated as such. However, fifty years ago we had different opinions and did not understand how something like that can affect a child. Pinching for not wearing green was just as inappropriate then and as it is now, that was a different time. It was a different century.

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.

Saturday Again

It's Saturday again and I'm looking out my living room window at a partly cloudy sky. The wind is blowing through the boughs of the stone pine tree. It's a bit chilly in the house, but not so cold that the heat is coming on.

Palm Sunday is on March 16 and then on Monday St. Patrick's Day. Next Friday, March 21, is Good Friday, the first day of spring and Naw-Ruz, while next Sunday, March 23, is Easter; all good days for a poet and a writer. Each holiday has its own memories for me. Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday bring back memories of my childhood in Oklahoma and my grandparents. Naw-Ruz is a holy day and has its own special quality. This is indeed a week to look forward to and should be extremely productive.

This week I am working on a Monotetra poem

Jalál (Glory), 14 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. –Friday, March 14, 2008 about 10:42 PM PST

This week I'm working on a Monotetra poem. I haven't decided on a theme or subject yet. The form was posted on the Stretch Your Style page today, with a suggestion on a subject, but I'm not sure yet if I'm going to do the suggested subject or not. I'll think about it tonight and decided in the morning.

The only thing I am sure about tonight is that the poem will contain more then one stanza. It will be at least three stanzas perhaps more. The number of stanzas depend on the subject I write about. Palm Sunday is on March 16 and St. Patrick's day is coming up, both are good subjects for a poem. I haven't written a Palm Sunday poem in a while so perhaps I'll use that as a subject. I'll have to research Palm Sunday and see if there are any little know facts or small details I can focus on.

On a Thursday in March

Istijlál (Majesty), 12 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Thursday, March 13, 2008 about 5:54 PM PST

On a Thursday in March
I am thankful for the beauty
of a partly cloudy day
and for the clouds that the wind
carries across the valley.

On a Thursday in March
I am thankful for hot coffee
brewed fresh this morning
and for the leftover coffee in the fridge
I will warm up tomorrow.

On a Thursday in March
I am thankful for the answers
to my prayers
even when those answers come
in unexpected ways.

On a Thursday in March
I am thankful for the neighbors cats
that use my backyard as a playpen
they are three happy cats playing in my yard.

On a Thursday in March
I am thankful for the wind blowing
through the stone pine trees.

Inside the Cocoon

Fidál (Grace), 10 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Tuesday, March 11, 2008 about 10:36 AM PST

Stress
flows through
cells that are
transformed by it;
wings grow to carry
this new creation up
above the ground of its birth
where it flutters from flower to
flower and consumes nectar instead
of leaves; it soars free to pursue new life.

Note about the form: this is an Etheree with a syllable count of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

My Grandmother cleaned house at Midnight

Kamál (Perfection), 9 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Monday, March 10, 2008 about 6:12 PM PST

My Grandmother cleaned house at midnight. It didn't matter whether it was spring or autumn, when she couldn't sleep she got up and cleaned house. I don't remember her running the vacuum cleaner, but she could have. My Grandfather could sleep through any type of noise. Once Grandpa went to sleep nothing could wake him up. Grandpa would snore and grandma would clean house.

Once I get to sleep there is only one thing that will wake me up. That is a baby crying, if there is a baby crying in the house or anywhere near that I can hear it wakes me up. That is the only thing that will wake me up. So my grandmother could have vacuum in the middle of the night and never woke any one else in the house up.

I always found Grandma's habit of cleaning house in the middle of the night intriguing. A few times I would wake up and find her dusting or washing dishes. I would ask her why she was up and she would say "I couldn't sleep."

Daylight Savings Time

Jamál (Beauty), 8 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Saturday, March 8, 2008 about 9:08 PM PST

It's that time of year again. We set the clocks forward an hour at 2:00 AM. Everyone loses an hour of sleep this Sunday. I don't know what difference an hour is going to make. It's suppose to save energy, but I doubt that my power bill will be lower because of it.

I have to set all my clocks forward one hour. All right, not all of them. The clock on my computer will do it automatically. The clock in my car never fell back last fall. It's just too difficult to set the clock in the car. I'm going to have to have a new cable on the battery anyway, so when I get the money for that then I'll set the clock. I have only two clocks in the house to set, so I guess this is a good time to move them.

The alarm clock is in the living room now, setting on my dining room table. I'm going to move it to my bedroom; not the dining room table, but the alarm clock. I'm eventually going to move the dining room table back into the dining room. Right now, a hospital bed is in my dining room. I'm going to call about March 20 to get the hospital bed removed. Then I can put my dining room table back in the dining room.

Tomorrow I'm dong it again

‘Idál (Justice), 4 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Wednesday, March 5, 2008 about 4:00 PM PST

Well I'm doing it again, I'm participating in the Follow the Leader Journal contest on writing.com. I'm using my writin.com blog Snow Melt to write my leading entry and the responses to the other leading entries.

I'm not sure what the subject or theme of my leading entry is yet. I'm scheduled for March 10, so I suspect something will come up between now and then. Maybe I'll try something completely different this time. I have some books on journaling with a exercises I've wanted to try for a while. I'll check out those and see what I come up with. In the mean time the other leading entries should be very interesting.

I think I'll take an entirrly different approach to the contest this time around. Before I've simply read and responded to the entries without giving a lot of thought to them. I think this time before I write an response, I'll pray and meditate about what I'm going to write.

Butterflies and Transformation

Fidál (Grace), 3 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Tuesday, March 4, 2008 about 1:12 PM PST

These are my thoughts today.

Butterflies and moths are the symbol of the soul. These beautiful creatures transform in their pupa cases becoming completely different from the larva; the larva crawls on the ground and feeds on plants, while butterflies and moths fly and feed on nectar. The larva are not as beautiful as the adult butterflies or moths.

The human soul while partnered with the physical body is bound to earth. At death, when the soul and body separate the soul is free to soar in the firmament of God's love. When a soul is with the body, it has a chance to develop spiritual attributes. These attributes go with the soul when the body dies.

Inside the larva case, the butterfly or moth acquires wings and its body shape changes. Through tests and difficulties faced while with the body, the soul acquires spiritual attributes. Once the human soul separates from the body it has only the spiritual attributes developed while on the material plain. It is on the material plain that we must grow our wings to ascend through all the worlds of God.

Family Memories Spring Edition

Kamál (Perfection), 2 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Monday, March 3, 2008 about 3:02 PM PST

Like photos in an old album
yesterday returns
as hardwood tress transform
winter death masks
into spring's verdant greens.

March winds carry with them
the memories of Oklahoma at planting time
grandpa digging up the ground,
grandpa putting chicken manure
onto grandma's flower beds
so that in a week or two
she could plant flowers that blossomed
red, gold, and violet.

An ancient cottonwood tree
growing new leaves proclaimed
the joy of a new season,
while the birds built nests
and hens sit on eggs
waiting for them to hatch.

A Time for Reflection

Jamál (Beauty), 1 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Sunday, March 2, 2008 about 7:34 AM PST

Today the nineteen-day Fast begins. The fast consist in abstaining from food and drink between sunup and sundown. Baha'i in good health, over a specific age and under a specific age don't eat or drink between dawn and sunset.

The act of abstaining from food and drink is symbolic of detachment from everything except God. ‘Alá is a time of meditation, prayer and reflection. The old year is coming to an end and a New Year begins on March 21. The nineteen days between March 2 and March 20 are for recharging spiritual batteries.

In ‘Alá I set my goals for the coming year. The time I look at the past year to see what is and is not working in my life. The year 164 B.E. was stressful for me. So I will look at the reasons for this and see what I have to change on a personal and spiritual level to make the coming year of 164 B.E. less stressful and more productive.

March Winds

Jalal (Glory), 5 Ayyam-i-Ha, 164 B.E. - Saturday, March 1, 2008 about 1:52 PM PST

March winds

bring April showers

that bring May flowers

Day light savings time begins on Sunday, March 9, when we spring forward. Palm Sunday is on March 16. St. Patrick's Day is Monday, March 17. Good Friday is on Friday, March 21. Naw-Ruz is on Friday, March 21. Easter Sunday is on Sunday, March 23. This year March is an inspiring month for poets so I ought to get a lot of interesting poems written.

Spring is coming

Istiqlal (Independence), 4 Ayyam-i-Ha, 164 B.E. - Friday, February 29, 2008 about 5:10 PM PST

Spring is coming
bringing back memories of Oklahoma
and my grandparents.

Spring is coming,
Easter is coming
bringing back memories of Blackwell
and Easter Egg Hunts
in the field of the air port across
the road from my grandparents' house.

Spring is coming
and when the sun crosses the vernal equinox
I will celebrate Naw-Ruz
and a New Year.

Spring is coming
I am older,
I am wiser,
I am looking forward to eating a chocolate Easter bunny
I am remembering my grandparents,
I am celebrating a New Year,
I have changed in many ways since I left Oklahoma.

I am Thankful for coffee

Istijlal (Majesty), 3 Ayyam-i-Ha, 164 B.E. - Thursday, February 28, 2008 about 10:16 AM PST

I am thankful for coffee
for the rich robust flavor of a
100% Columbian brew.

I am thankful for coffee
the aroma of French roast
on a rainy evening.

I am thankful for coffee
for the bitter "cowboy"
coffee my grandfather drank;
the coffee that left a few grounds
in the bottom of the cup;
the coffee that tasted bitter
after heating in the pot
with the grounds still in it
all day long.

I am thankful for coffee
for Turkish coffee sipped
from a dainty cup.

I am thankful for coffee
for the percolator needed
to make "cowboy" coffee that
reminds me of Grandpa.

I am thankful for coffee
for the drip coffee maker needed
to make a rich French roast
in the early evening.

I am thankful for coffee
for the paper filters
needed to make coffee
that goes well with the setting sun.

I am thankful for coffee
for the coffee plantations where
the beans for this wonderful brew
is grown.

I am thankful for coffee
for the men and women
who earn a living by picking
the beans that are ground
for my morning cup of "joe".

I am thankful for coffee
for the electric coffee grinder
I use with gourmet beans.

I am thankful for coffee
no matter what kind of cup I drink it from,
or where I get it,
or how its brewed.

I am thankful for coffee
for everything that goes into
creating a good cup of coffee.

The Days of Há

Fidal (Grace), 1 Ayyam-i-Ha, 164 B.E. - Tuesday, February 26, 2008 about 8:38 AM PST

The Days of Há, Intercalary Days, have begun. This year is a leap year so there are five days instead of just four. These are the days Baha'is prepare for the Fast. Intercalary days are for charity, hospitality, and gift giving. I'm not sure what I'm going to do for Mom this year, we're probably going to remain home until February 29. On the 29th I take her to pick up her senior food allotment, but I don't think we're going until after 9:00 AM because we have to go to the bank first. I can't go anywhere without gas and I think I have just enough gas in the car to get us to the bank and then to the gas station.

Mom's birthday is March 19, I'm not sure what we're going to do for her birthday either. She wants to go out for pie and coffee, which would be nice. I'll see what we can do, she has a birthday coupon for Marie Calendar's, so we'll probably go there, but not until after March 1. That won't be a problem because neither Mom nor I are going to Fast. Mom's 86 going on 87 and she doesn't have to Fast anymore. I'm on medication so I don't have to Fast either.

Naw-Ruz is on March 21 that begins a New Year. I have to finish rewriting my personal mission statement before the 21st. I also have a lot of other things I have to finish before then. I'm going to be busy for the next few weeks and won't have time to worry about anything, which is probably good because worrying interferes with writing and solving problems.

The Empty Place in My Front Yard

Jamal (Beauty), 18 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Sunday, February 24, 2008 about 4:02 PM PST

There is a empty place in my front yard. An elm tree used to stand there, but early Valentine's Day the wind blew it down. Last week it was removed and now there is a empty place in my front yard. I can see the sky much better then when the elm tree was there. I can now look out my living room window and see the corner across the street. The streetlight shines directly into my front yard and night.

I miss the elm tree. I will get used to not having it there, but for now I miss the elm tree. The empty place in my front yard looks naked and lonely without the elm tree standing there. I still have two stone pine trees on that side of the driveway and an olive tree on the other side, but I miss the elm tree.

I still have to get rid of the stump, but that won't be for a while because I have other more pressing matters to attend. The elm stump will remain where it is for at least another couple of months or until I can find a way to remove it without too much difficulty.

There is an empty place in my front yard, like the empty place in my soul that misses Oklahoma winters and springs.

I'm fixing Leftovers

Jalal (Glory), 17 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Saturday, February 23, 2008 about 11:46 AM PST

I'm fixing leftovers today in the slow cooker. I don't have a Microwave any more it died, so the only way to cook anything is in the slow cooker, the toaster oven or the toaster. The leftovers I have aren't the type I can fix a toaster oven or a toaster, so the slow cooker is my only option.

I'm going to have to start pricing Microwaves next week. I think the first place I will look is super pawn. I don't know if the have this type of thing in there or not, but I can go in and see. Besides I want to see what the have in the digital camera line as well.

I may have to go to Walmart or K-mart for a Microwave. Having a new Microwave would be nice. The last two I've had in the house were used when I got them, so a new on would be nice. I think the first place I'll look is online see what type of options I can get and the prices. I don't want to go looking for something like that without knowing what I want and what I can get within my price range.

If I don't get a Microwave soon, I'm going to have to learn how to baking a cake in a slow cooker and I don't think that's going to work out too well. I much prefer baking in a Microwave. I think I'm going to have to wait until close to the end of March to get it though. So far this year I've had to get new tires (January) and have the elm tree removed (February). I looking forward to the next ten months of 2008, I can't wait to see what else comes up.

On the bright side I now have three computer mice. I sent for a three button mouse with some gift points I had and received three mice through the mail. One was the mouse I sent for and the other two were smaller. Last year I sent for a radio alarm clock and received two. I have some other gift points to use, so I am looking forward to see what I get through the mail when I use those.

A Week without Coffee

Jalal (Glory), 17 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Friday, February 22, 2008 about 6:18 PM PST

A week without coffee,
without the robust aroma
of 100% Columbian beans
wafting through the house.

There is no reason for this
I am not fasting
or giving up coffee
for anything other
then lack of planning,
lack of forethought.

A week without coffee,
drinking only hot herb tea
is not a joyous occasion
or a reason to celebrate
anything other then
forgetting to keep change
in the box marked
"Coffee Money."

Thankful Thursday in Las Vegas

Istijlal (Majesty), 15 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Thursday, February 21, 2008 about 10:13 AM PST

This morning I am thankful for the Tablet of Ahmad revealed by Baha'u'llah. Every time I repeat or read this prayer I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. I have the prayer memorized, but sometimes I read it. Especially in the early morning before Mom gets up, I read the prayer aloud. That is how I memorized the prayer; I read it aloud over several different day. I think about a month or two.

This morning I am thankful for the bright beautiful sun I saw when I went to the garage to see if I turned my light off last night. I looked out my living room window and saw my headlight reflecting the rising sun. I thought I had left the light on, so I went out to turn them off, but found I had turned the headlight off last night.

This morning I am thankful for the rain we received yesterday. It was a cold winter rain, the type that you expect to turn to snow at any minute. I enjoyed the rain, even though I was driving in it and the window on the driver's side won't roll up when it is raining.

This morning I am thankful for the slow cooker that I am cooking the chicken in this morning. When the chicken finishes cooking, I am going to take it out and put in some bow tie pasta.

This morning I am thankful for the cloudy sky after the bright sunrise. It looks as though it may rain again today, since I didn't look at the news this morning I don't know what the weather report for today says.

This morning I am thankful for the neighbor's cat that walks across my yard every day. She is a black cat with orange and yellow markings. If I am outside when she goes through the yard she rubs against my leg.

This morning I am thankful for having dirty sheets to put in the washer. I like to turn the water on, put the soap in the machine, and then watch the washer fill up with water before putting the sheets in. I like to see the suds the soap makes as the water runs into the machine.

This morning I am thankful for the chill in the morning air in late winter. It reminds me of winter in Oklahoma and staying at my Grandparents' house.

This morning I am thankful for the view of the sky that I now have through my living room window. The elm tree is gone, while I will miss the tree, the new view of the sky and the streetlight shining directly into my yard makes is absence less noticeable.

This morning I am thankful for the slight breeze that is blowing. The breeze moves the limbs on the stone pine trees in my front yard and the limbs appear to be waving good morning.

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.

My Microwave Finally Bit the Dust

Fidal (Grace), 13 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Tuesday, February 19, 2008 about 9:33 AM PST

My Microwave oven went out yesterday. I checked the breakers to see if a break had tripped, but no luck. The Microwave is no longer working. I am going to have to either get another used microwave or buy a new one. This is not a good time for the Microwave to die, I just had the elm tree removed from the front yard and at the beginning of the month got a new set of tires for the car.

For the next few weeks, I will use the slow cooker or the toaster oven to cook everything in. That is unless I can find a used one on Freecycle or Vegas Trader. I have announced on Freecycle that I want a Microwave, but no responses yet. I have not ask on Vegas Trader yet because I am not sure what the budget will allow. I am going to miss that Microwave because I have enjoyed learning to cook new things in it.

The Never Ending Pile of Laundry

Kamal (Perfection), 12 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Monday, February 18, 2008 about 11:37 AM PST

I don't remember my Grandmother having a never ending pile of laundry. She did laundry once a week on Saturday. My Grandfather built her a laundry room at the side of the house where she kept her washing machine. I remember Grandma doing laundry in a wringer washer. She would was the cloths in the machine and then put them through the wringer to get the excess water out before putting them into the rinse tubs. She put her cloths through two rinses, the first had blueing in it and the second was just plain tap water.

I do remember Grandma using a washboard to scrube cloths with stains in them. She had a special tub for prewashing clothes. She would prewash the clothes with a scrube board, wring them out and then put them in the washing machine. I remember her using the old wringer washer for years until Grandpa bought her an automatic washer.

Grandma never seemed to have a never ending pile of laundry and she did it only once a week. I on the other hand do laundry everyday and it seems I'm doing the same amount of cloths everyday. I know there has to be something that I'm doing wrong, but I'm not sure what it is. If I let the laundry go just one day it gets bigger.

I'm writing a Linked Lune

Jalal (Glory), 10 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Saturday, February 16, 2008 about 5:12 PM PST

A Lune is an American poetry form similar to the Haiku. There are two forms of the lune one is written using a syllable count and the other a word count.

Lune form one is 3 lines with 5 syllables, 3 syllables, and 5 syllables.

Lune form two is 3 words, 5 words, and 3 words.

See Write a Lune and Write an instant lune".

The Elm Tree in My Front Yard

Istiqlal (Independence), 9 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Friday, February 15, 2008 about 10:48 AM PST

The Elm Tree in my front yard is now lying across the yard. The wind late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning blew the tree down. It uprooted the tree and it feel across the yard toward the street. Some of the limbs were blocking the sidewalk and the street, but the city trucks came yesterday and removed those limbs. I have to deal with the rest of the tree, which means I have to find someone with a buzz saw to cut the tree up and remove it.

I suppose I'll have to get estimate from tree removal services to find the cheapest. I haven't had trees removed from the yard since we moved in several years ago. Then I had palm trees taken out. That didn't cost me anything except gifts for the guys who removed the trees. I think having the elm removed might be a little more expensive. On the bright side, the tree didn't fall on the garage roof or take out any power lines or street lights.

Happy Valentines Day

Valentines Day brings back pleasant memories from grade school. Every year when Valentines Day feel on a weekday, my grade school class would exchange Valentine cards. I remember making little mail boxes out of card board. I think we used the empty cereal boxes and decorated them with red hearts. Each student would put his or her name on the box. The teach always made sure that every student gave cards to all the other students in the class.

I remember going to the store with my mother and buying Valentine cards. The type of cards we bought came in little books and I removed the cards along to dotted lines. The cards came out of the book easily, I would sign my name to each card, put the card in the envelope and then write the name of a class mate on the outside. I remember writing the first name of each student and then on Valentines Day, I would take the cards to school and put them in the proper "mail box".

We would open our mail boxes and take the cards out about an hour before class ended. That day we had cupcakes, decorated with hearts, chocolate milk and little candy hearts with messages on them. I still like the little candy hearts, all though I prefer chocolate candy most of the year.

Backing into my Garage

Istijlal (Majesty), 8 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Wednesday, February 13, 2008 about 6:52 PM PST

I finally did it, I backed my car into my garage. Now this may not sound like a great accomplishment, but my driveway is one of those that curves when it goes into the garage. Normally I don't back into it because of the trashcans and everything else setting inside. However, my car wouldn't start yesterday because the battery was too low.

The reason the battery lost the charge was a combination of leaving a door slightly open and a loose cable. I'm going to have to get the cable fixed, but in the meantime I'm going to be backing into my garage because it's easier to put jumper cables on the car. If I drive it in the way I normally do then the car has to be pushed out of the garage before the jumper cables can be attached.

I'm going to have to get the cable and have someone attach it. It's times like this that I wish I had taken shop in high school. When I went to high school it wasn't considered proper for girls to take shop classes and boys to take home economics. I took home economics, like all the other girls, I made a suite and I learn a little about cooking. The only thing I use from that class are the cooking skills. A shop class that showed me how to work on cars would have been more useful, but women then were suppose to go to high school, on to college and then get married. Once they got married, they were expected to stay home and raise children while their husbands went to work and made a living.

Is the Glass Half-Empty or Half-Full?

Fidal (Grace), 6 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Tuesday, February 12, 2008 about 1:08 PM PST

Is the glass half-empty or half-full? I am asking myself this question. I always thought that I looked at the glass as half-full, but my perspective changed in the past year. Recently I realize that I have view the glass as half-empty for the past year. I know this is simply part of the process of transformation, but the realization that my perspective had change was somewhat of a shock.

I have had several "break-throughs" in the past few months, but the one about my perspective shook me up the most. I like the half-full perspective much better then the half-empty view of the glass of my life. I know it is just a matter of perspective because the two glasses have the same amount of liquid in them, it just how I see the level of the liquid and which part of the glass I am looking at. If I focus on the top half of the glass and see only the empty space then the glass is half-empty. If I focus on the bottom half of the glass and see the liquid then the glass is half-full.

My grandparents always saw the glass as half-full, but they lived for over seventy years and probably encountered both perspectives in their lifetime. They chose to see the glass as half-full because that is the perspective that encourages faith.

My Grandfather and the Price of Gas

Kamal (Perfection), 5 Mulk 164 B.E. - Monday, February 11, 2008 about 3:50 PM PST

I paid $2.86 per gallon yesterday when I bought gas, at a self-service with a mini-mart. It got me to thinking about Grandpa Newland. My grandfather griped when gas prices rose 2 or 3 cents. He would really gripe at the prices today, especially since he would fill his tank himself. When Grandpa bought gas there were only full service stations, which meant that an attendant filled the tank and checked the fluids. However, my grandfather could fill the tank himself, but with an attendant, I don't think he ever thought of filling the tank himself.

I can't remember Grandpa changing his own oil, but he did check it himself. Which reminds me, I have to check the oil in the car tomorrow morning when I get home or while I'm parked somewhere waiting I check my own oil (Grandpa would be proud of me) and put it in if its needed. I don't check the transmission fluid or the brake fluid, I stop at a fill service for that about once a month or so.

Actually, there was a time when I never thought about checking the oil myself, but times and people change. There was a time when I never thought about getting gas anywhere but a full service station. I don't mind filling the tank myself or I wouldn't if I ever put more then $20 of gas in the tank. Grandpa would really gripe at spending $20 on gas and not getting a full tank. Lately all $20 gets is about half to three-quarters of a tank. Yesterday I put only $2.86 in the tank which bought me a gallon of gas.

Beauty is an attribute of God

Jamal (Beauty), 4 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Sunday, February 10, 2008 about 3:20 PM PST

It's a beautiful cloudy afternoon in Las Vegas. This morning I looked out my living room window and saw blue sky. This afternoon I look out and see white clouds, so there isn't going to be any rain soon. The sun shine through patches in the clouds giving the day a spiritual feeling.

All right, I'm in a better mood this afternoon then I was this morning. I went to get gas and was over joyed that I had enough money to get 1 gallon of gas. It apparently doesn't take a lot to make me happy. I must admit that I did a rant this morning in my writing.com blog. I feel sorry that I wrote so much, but I haven't gone back and deleted the entry. The entry was part of a journal contest I'm participating in on writing.com. However, I don't think that is why I didn't delete it.

I completed my Write Week Essay

Jalal (Glory), 3 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Saturday, February 9, 2008 about 9:27 AM PST

Write Week is the first seven days of each month. In that time one writes 5,000 words and completes the writing project within that week. I wrote a personal essay entitled Light of the World. I used the free write technique on this essay and wrote 5,325 words.

In this exercise, I didn't time myself, rather I wrote until I wrote myself out on each section of the essay. I began each section with a scripture verse to start the thought process about the subject. Normally when I free write I give myself a specific time, which ranges from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. I think I like the range of 5 to 20 minutes best. However, with this essay I seemed to have a lot to write about each time I began writing.

I'm going to do a lot of rewriting with it because some of what I wrote had more to do with how I felt about writing then on the subject itself. I'm going to let Light of the World set for a few days before beginning the rewrite. I have other project to finish so there won't be a problem finding stuff to write about.

My Grandmother's Cat

Istiqlal (Independence), 2 Mulk 164 B.E. - Friday, February 8, 2008 about 4:21 PM PST

My grandmother's cat Jay
slept in her hen house during the day,
he curled in an empty chicken's nest
and slept while the chickens laid their eggs.

Jay seemed to like the clucking of the hens
he never chased or stole the eggs
he just curled in the empty nest and slept
until my grandmother called his name.

Thankful Thursday, February 7, 2008

Istijlal (Majesty), 1 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Thursday, February 7, 2008 about 8:58 AM PST

Today I am thankful for

1. counting my blessing at least once a week;
2. the pink sunrise that announced the new born day;
3. the music that wakes me up at 4:00 AM everyday;
4. there being 29 days in February this year;
5. the beauty snow on Mount Charleston;
6. the bright cloudless morning;
7. the days getting longer;
8. morning prayers and meditations;
9. the Feast of Mulk Mom and I attended last night;
10. cookies for breakfast.

I Need a new Photo - Continued

'Idal (Justice), 19 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Wednesday, February 6, 2008 about 9:20 AM PST

I'm considering putting this photo on this blog. It's the newest picture of myself I have. This photo was taken at a poetry reading, but I'm not sure of the year.

I don't have any newer photo at this point and since I don't have a camera I'm not going to have someone take any photos of me for a while. At least not until I get a makeover.

I Need a new Photo

Fidal (Grace), 18 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Tuesday, February 5, 2008 about 7:37 AM PST

This is a high school photo taken in Shawnee, Oklahoma, several years ago. I used this photo when I first started this blog. I changed from this to a picture of me taken at Disney Land. I'm going to change the photo on this blog again. However, I'm not sure which picture I'm going to use. I think the most recent picture I have of myself is at a poetry reading.

I don't think I have a picture of myself taken in the last two years. I have a Tupperware container of photos in my closet, which I'll look through before deciding which one to use. I'm considering this decision carefully, normally I use spur of the moment decision making. It cuts down on a lot of worrying, but everyone should attempt something different occasionally and putting a lot of thought in this decision may help me improve my decision making abilities.

Leap Year Memories

Kamal (Perfection), 17 Sultan 164 B.E. - Monday, February 3, 2008 about 5:03 PM PST

In leap years my grandparents always paid more attention to national events. Not that they didn't know what was going on nationally in the other years, but leap years were special because of the presidential elections. The thing I remember most about the leaps years going to the polls with my grandparents and waiting for them to vote. Grandma and Grandpa always voted, but my grandfather never tried to tell my grandmother who to vote for.

Another thing I remember about those leap years was that my grandparents never put down any of those running for any office national, state or local. Grandma and Grandpa always discussed the issues not those running for office. Maybe that's why I prefer to discuss the issues myself rather then anything else.

I Finally Got a New Mouse

Jamal (Beauty), 16 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Sunday, February 3, 2008 about 10:26 PM PST

My new mouse arrived Thursday and I connected it today. There seems to be something special about beginning the week with something new. I didn't know how much fun it was to use a mouse until I connected it. Maybe I need to get out and get a life.

Today is cloudy and windy with a chance of scattered showers. I won't get out today because I have things to do around the house. I'm catching up on things I didn't get completed Thursday evening. I was ill that evening in pain and throwing up. I went to bed early but didn't get much sleep. So I'm catching up of stuff today. I'm doing fairly well at catching up too.

The only writing I have to catch up on are some Flash Fiction Stories. Because I was ill Thursday, I'm three days behind on those, but not for long. I left the Flash Fiction for last because they are short and I usually use prompts to get them going.

This week I'm going to post the themed entries on different days then I originally planned. I'll get them all in, but I don't think I'm going to do them on a specific day. After all variety is the spice of life, in addition I don't want to get in a rute with my entries.

My Grandfater was Successful

Jalal (Glory), 15 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Saturday, Febraury 2, 2008 about 12:52 PM

My Grandfather was successful
at being a guardian angel;
he kept an eye on all four grandchildren and a dog
when we went to the lake,
into town
or to spend an evening on our cousin's farm.

I don't think I ever thanked him for saving my life
when I played hide-n-seek at my cousin's farm
and hid in a old fridge;
he found me and took me out
said nothing to Mom,
but had the door removed.

I don't think I ever thanked him for saving my brother's life
when we went to Lake Carl Blackwell
and the life jacket Tom wore
became water logged;
he took my brother to shore
and got him another jacket.

I don't think I ever thanked him for saving Pop Corn's life
when she was shut in a hot car,
he took her out and gave her water
and took us all home.

My Grandfather was successful
at being our guardian angel
and I don't think I ever thanked him,
before he passed on into the next world.

My Grandmother Recycled

Istiqlal (Independence), 14 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Friday, February 1, 2008 about 12:43 PM PST

My Grandmother recycled
before it became fashionable,
she was raised on a farm
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centaury
so everything that was usable
had to be used and reused.

She made patchwork quilts
from leftover material and pieces of dresses,
she used worn out underwear for cleaning rags
and dust cloths.

Grandma recycled everything possible
glass jelly jars were used as juice glasses
in larger glass jars with lids
she would put bacon grease or chicken stock
and place them in the fridge for later use in
gravy and stew.

And now I follow in her footsteps,
but I do it my way
by selling aluminum cans for gas money
or to pay the Internet bill.