Waking my Muse up

Kamál (Perfection), 11 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – March 31, 2008 about 7:24 AM PDT

I wake my muse up with prayer
intoned in dawn's first light;
she must started the day with God
before she can help me write.

After my prayers are said
a hot cup of Columbia's dark brew
starts the verse flowing
and brings the next story into view.

Prayer and coffee in the morning
begins the day just right
as the rest of the day goes well
when I recite prayers in the day's first light.

Police Gear Website

Are you looking for tactical boots? Then check out lapolicgear.com. The website is easy to navigate and contains photos of the available merchandise. The website lets the customer search for merchandise by either category or brand.

Las Angeles police officers started the company L.A. Police Gear, Inc. It serves security professional, military personnel, police officers and the public. The website prominently displays the company's information on separate web pages.

Sponsored by lapolicegear.com

5000 Questions Survey - Questions 251 to 275

Jamál (Beauty), 10 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Saturday, March 29, 2008 about 9:36 PM PDT



251. Do you blow your nose in public?

Of course, depending on whether it needs blowing and I remember to put tissues in my purse. It also depends on being able to find them in my purse.

252. Do you want to follow in your parent's footsteps?

I can't follow in my parents footsteps because it doesn't snow that often in the Las Vegas valley. If it snowed in the valley then yes, I would want to follow in my parent's footsteps.

253. What is the coolest web site you know of?

Urban Legends

254. Which cartoon would you most like to see turned into a movie?

Smurfs

255. Of the following, which word best describes you: enthusiastic, fair minded, generous, helpful

That depends on what I'm doing at any one moment. When I write poetry and stories then enthusiastic describes me. When I'm serving on a jury then fair minded. When I have extra cash generous. Helpful describes me when I am giving someone direction.

256. Can you eat with chopsticks?

Not easily or gracefully.

257. Could you tell real money from counterfeit?

I don't know

258. What do you think about school uniforms?

I think they look nice

259. What ancient civilization would you most like to visit?

Atlantis

260. What would make a great new Crayola color?

I would rather suggest a new Crayola color then be one

261. If an art project is created with the intent of getting rich and famous, does that cast doubt over its significance as a work of art?

No

262. If you became president, whom would you invite to sing at your inauguration?

The Rolling Stones

263. Who is the greatest philosopher of your country?

That person hasn't been born yet

264. If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did all the money go?

Not into my pocket or bank account.

265. Is it as easy to make you happy now as it was when you were a child?

When I was a child, a chocolate Easter bunny or a candy kiss made me happy. Now I have to have coffee with the chocolate Easter bunny or candy kiss to make me happy.

266. Who knows more...you, or your parents?

That depends on the subject

267. What instrument would you like to be famous for playing?

Harp

268. Children fill its lungs completely with air. Adults breathe in a more shallow way, not filling their lungs completely. Why the change?

With age comes wisdom

269. Would you have sex with a stranger for one million dollars?

No

270. Are you completely in control of your body? Are you completely in control of your mind?

Before or after I've had my first cup of coffee

271. Which is more romantic: an expensive, glittering bouquet OR flowers that were hand picked as they grew beside the parkway?

It depends on whether or not they are roses

272. Do you know yourself well enough to understand why you feel the way you do?

Not yet, but I'm working on it

273. Which do you do more often: let movies, songs and books put your feelings into words for you or put your feelings into words by yourself?

I write my own poetry and songs

274. Do you believe celebrities when they are endorsing a product?

That depends on the product and how good an actor the celebrity endorsing the product is.

275. What kind of movies do you wish were made more often?

Science Fiction and Fantasy

The End of March 2008

Istiqlál (Independence), 8 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Friday, March 28, 2008 about 3:23 PM PDT

March 2008 is nearing an end and, from where I am sitting, it looks like March is going out like a lamb. Of course, that could change quickly. I did not look at the news this mornin or at noon. My only contact with the weather report today is through my e-mail box. I get the weather report sent to me through electronic mail.

At this moment, I am sitting in my living room at the computer. I an look out my front window and see the beautiful blue or perhaps I should say hazy sky. The sky this morning was blue, but this afternoon it appears hazy.

This is my haiku for today

Afternoon haze hides

the scattered blue light of day

March passes quickly.

Custom Photo Cards: How would you personalize them?

How would you personalize custom Photo Cards? The process is easy. You pick out your card and then upload or e-mail your high-resolution .jpg photo to cardsdirect.com. You can compose your own custom verse for the inside of the card or just add a personal note. Next pick out the type styles and ink colors. You will receive an electron proof of you chosen card with the photo in your e-mail box.

This is a wonderful way to show off the latest family member or favorite vacation spot to everyone on you mailing list. Personalized custom photo cards let you reveal your creativity using both a photo and the written word. Everyone on your family and friends mailing list will enjoy seeing just how creative you are.

Sending a personalized greeting card is a good way to let everyone know you care. Do you have a favorite quote or message you want to share, a personalized photo greeting card is the best way to share. You send your favorite photo and message, at the same time you give your friends a unique keepsake for their photo albums or boxes.

I personalize my greeting cards with poetry. My seasons greetings message goes something like this.

The holiday season is here
and the only snow in Las Vegas this year
is on Mount Charleston.

Seasons greeting from Mom and I
to you entire family.




Sponsored by cardsdirect.com

Rewriting my Flash Fiction stories

Istijlál (Majesty), 7 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Thursday, March 27, 2008 about 4:46 PM PDT

I am in the process of rewriting some of my flash fiction stories. Because of the research, I found out there is two different types of flash fiction. Those are Flash Fiction and Micro-Fiction. Flash fiction itself is somewhere between 500 and 1,000 words, while micro-fiction stories are between 50 and 300 words. Unknown to me, until now, I am writing both types of fiction.

I knew I was writing flash fiction, but until I started researching it, I did not know there were two different types. I think what I will do is review the different website I have found while doing online research. I still have to refine my search technique because I am getting too many sites that have nothing to do with what I am looking for.

On Trash Pickup Day

‘Idál (Justice), 6 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, March 26, 2008 about 9:02 AM PDT

On trash pick-up day
I listen for the comforting
sounds of the garbage trucks
moving from house to house.

On trash pick-up day
when I carried the trash to the curb
I watch the pink sunrise
and paised the Lord for the opportunity
to see the sun come over
the eastern mountains of Nevada's
high snow capped peaks.

Find Title and Settlement Companies Close to Home

Do you need to Find a Title Company Near Your Home? NearbyTitle.com is a new online directory, which focuses on finding title and settlement companies close to costumers' homes. This website lets you search for a title or settlement company near a specific address. You enter the address in the search box and then seach for a company within 5, 10, 25 or 50 miles of the address.

NearbyTitle.com lets you Search Locally in major cities across the United States or Browse States to find a company based on specific features such as online closing, extended hours and awards. Other features which differentiate title companies are
*Specialization in certain transactions (commercial, condos, etc..)
*Play areas for children
*Online access to closing documents
*Low fees
*Extended hours
*Weekend closings
*Reputable referrals & reviews

NearbyTitles.com is easy to use. The information you receive is more the just a simple phone number. This website is the first place to go when looking for a home.

Sponsored by nearbytitle.com

Year of the Poem

Fidál (Grace), 5 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, March 25, 2008 about 2:50 PM PDT

I am five days into a new year. I celebrated a New Year on March 21 and begin writing a poem every day. I have always wanted to write a poem every day for a year. I have written a lot of poem since I began writing poetry several years ago, but I have not actually written a poem every day for one year.

In the past I have gone several days and months without writing a poem. I have started this project twice before, but did not succeed in writing a poem every day. I analyzed where I failed and come to two conclusions. First, I did not pray every day for the success of the project. Second, I did not begin the Year of the Poem at the proper place.

Before this year I began writing either on January 1 or midpoint between January 1 and March 21. This year I begin writing on Naw-Ruz. In fact, I begin writing poems at the Naw-Ruz celebration on the evening of March 20. I am looking forward to completing a chapbook of poems containing 365 poems bay March 21, 2009.

The document I am putting my poetic efforts in is called the Year of the Poem 165 B.E. In that document I am putting an individual not about each poem. I pray for the success of that project and other projects I am working on.

Caught in the Act

Kamál (Perfection), 4 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Monday, March 24, 2008 about 5:50 PM PDT

Daily writing practice prompt for March 24, 2008: Write about getting caught in the act.

Caught in the act of missing you

until I remember you last words,

then I wonder why

I ever thought I loved you.

NOTE: I think this is the beginning of something, but at the moment that is as far as this poem is going.

Chocolate Easter Bunnies on Easter Morning

Jamál (Beauty), 3 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. –Sunday, March 23, 2008 about 7:33 AM PST

I do not celebrate Easter nor keep most Easter traditions. However, there is one family tradition that I do keep. That is to eat a chocolate Easter bunny on Easter morning. This tradition began when I was a child.

As a child, we hunted colored Easter eggs and each of us received an Easter basket. In that basket was a chocolate Easter bunny. My grandparents allowed us to have one item from the Easter basket before lunch. I would eat my chocolate bunny with a glass of milk. Now I have my Easter bunny for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

It is interesting the traditions one keeps or drops from their childhood. I can remember coloring Easter eggs, which I no longer do. When my nieces and nephews were young, I helped them color eggs on Easter morning. I no longer color eggs, but I eat a chocolate bunny every Easter.

5000 Questions Survey - Questions 226 to 250

NOTE: I answered all the questions, but lets face it some of them are outdated.

226. Have you ever said 'I hate everyone' and really meant it literally?

It's impossible to hate everyone,

because hate is an emotion that can't be applied to complete strangers.

I don't think an individual human can hate anyone he or she has never meant.

227. Why do some people want to get more money than they could ever spend?

Collecting money is like collecting any art object.

I collect Harley-Davidson items because I think they are beautiful

maybe that's why people collect more money then they can spend.

228. Have you ever won a carnival fish?

What does a carnival fish look like and how do you cook it.

229. Did it live more than a week?

If is is an animal, then yes it lived more then a week.

If it was a plant that is a completely different story,

because I'm the only person in the world that can't keep plants alive.

230. What's the best sounding accent a person can have?

Since I haven't heard every accent in the world

I don't know what the best sounding accent is.

231. What's the most boring thing you've ever read?

The instructions on how to put a bookcase together.

I never did get that bookcase together properly.

232. Do you prefer buttons or touch screens?

It depends on the circumstances.

233. Do you think there is a lot of similarity between the Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings series?

If you look deep enough into any group of novels

you can find similarities.

234. Would you consider yourself to be naive?

It depends on the circumstance.

235. Which of your friends is most likely to go to jail?

I have no idea and no intention of making a speculation on this.

236. What is the smallest amount of money that could be in a public toilet that would make you reach in and grab it?

Did I drop the money in the toilet or did someone else?

Because it depends on the circumstances.

237. Would you ever wear real fur?

That depends on how cold it is and what my options are.

238. Arachnophobia or Eight Legged Freaks?

I have arachnophobia

and yes it can get hilarious sometimes.

239. What are your feelings about police officers?

All the police officers I have meant are nice people

and this includes those who have given me speeding tickets.

240. what is your favorite line from a song?

Field and fountain,

moor and mountain

following yander star.

241. Is fifty dollars a lot of money?

It depends on what I have to buy.

If it's for a tank of gas

no, it's not a lot of money.

242. Do you like the band Front 242 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_242?

There must be one of their songs I would like.

243. Would you rather have fame, money, or self-satisfaction?

Why can't I have all three

perhaps not at the same time,

but at different times I don't see why

I can't have all three.

244. What's your middle name?

My middle name means Prosperous.

245. What is the absolute limit, the craziest thing you would do for a million dollars?

I'm 61 years old

I've did some fairly crazy things in my life for free

What does money have to do with it?

246. Are you good, evil or neutral?

I am a human being,

which means I have a dual nature

I'm attempt good.

247. Should Ebonicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebonics be considered a language?

As long as people can communicate with each other

does it matter what language they speak.

248. What color is your bedroom?What color would you like it to be?

Pale blue, but I'm usually asleep when I'm in there. If I'm asleep the color of the bedroom doesn't matter.

249. When are you planning to move to a new home?

I don't like moving

250. If you added up the cost of everything in the room with you, approximately what would it come out to be?

I have no idea

Writing Poetry in a New Year

Jalál (Glory), 2 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Friday, March 21, 2008 about 9:58 PM PDT

When writing poetry in a New Year
look at each day as a challenge you muse
must confront
like driving home in a traffic jam
after shopping across town.

Each new day the inspirations reveal themselves
one after another
like cars on the freeway
everyone going in the same direction
but to a different location.

Happy First Day of Spring 2008

Istijlál (Majesty), 19 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164B.E. – Thursday, March 20, 2008 about 9:23 AM PDT

The sun crossed the vernal equinox and spring began. This is a wonderful time of year, there is new life blooming everywhere. Trees are budding with new leaves, flowers are blooming and life is renewed. I will celebrate a New Year with the arrival of Naw-Ruz. There is hope of a better year and new projects to start.

Life is wonderful. Today I will go to the DMV and renew my tags. I will write my first spring poem of 2008. Not sure, what form it will take yet, perhaps a haiku. Haikus work well with seasonal poems. The form fits the season any time of year.

Wishing my readers

a joyous spring with all the

beauty of the year.

The first day of spring approaches

Fidál (Grace), 17 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Tuesday, March 18, 2008 about 2:09 PM PDT

The first day of spring approaches. This is a wonderful time of year because the trees are leafing and the flowers are blooming. There is new life everywhere. The days are noticeable longer and I can turn off the heat.

I have not checked the date and time, which the sun crosses the vernal equanox. I may do that later, but the exact time spring begins is not as important as the season effect on life and on writing poetry. Spring is a good season for poets because there are so many new flowers and leaves. My muse seems to work best in spring and winter, I am not sure why.

Spring approaches

on the soft paws of baby animals

bringing joy to farmers

and a New Year to nature.

Poetry Forms – Part 2

A Garland Cinquain is a form poem composed of thirty lines divided into six stanzas. The syllable counts of the lines are 2, 4, 6, 8, and 2. The poet creates the last stanza from lines taken from the preceding five stanzas. In this form, the poet takes the fist line in stanza five from the first line of the first stanza. The following lines come from stanzas 2, 3, 4, and 5 in that order.

This is a challenging form because the lines in the last stanza makes the knowt and come from lines in the other five stanza. It is challenging to write the poem so that the last stanza fits and makes sense. The part about making sense is a personal preference.

For more infomation on the Garland Cinquain and other types of Cinquains see A Cinquain Glossary by John Daleidan. For examples of garland cinquains see Garland Cinquains by John Daleidan.

Please note that I will be posting two or three of my own Garland Cinquains in a few days. I am in the process of writing and rewriting these poems now.

Achieving Financial Freedom in Nevada

My experience with credit card debt professionals is limited to the representatives of the credit card companies themselves. Until now I did not know there was a national directory of credit card debt professionals to consult. This national directory credit debt lists professionals across the United States.

Nevada credit debt list local credit professionals that assist in raising your credit score. In addition, these professional review your credit report, upgrade your credit rating and provide a free credit check. This website list Nevada credit Services with phone numbers and address.

As a Nevada resident, I prefer dealing with local companies that know the problems Nevada residents face with credit card debt. This directory and the Nevada webpage lets me find professional that knows the local economy.

Sponsored by consumer credit debt

This Week I am Writing a Monotetra

Kamál (Perfection), 16 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Sunday, March 16, 2008 about 7:23 PM PDT

This week I am writing a Monotetra. The problem is I cannot come up with a theme or a subject. One would think that with so many holidays and Holy Days occurring between March 16 and March 23, I could find an interesting subject to cover. In addition, to those there is the two flat tires I had on Tuesday, March 11. The deadline for the Monotetra is Thursday at 11:59 PM EDT that is 7:59 PM PDT

This past week my life is full of interesting and weird events. I should be able to come up with something. If nothing else I could write about having only Hobo Stew to eat. I like Hobo Stew and its a dish that is different every time I make it, so I am not going to get tired of it. I am using only a slow cooker to fix meals with right now. There is not a lot of different types of food you can make in a slow cooker.

Credit Card Debt Solutions

There are several options available for credit card debt; consumer credit debt gives these options. The reason for this website is to assist people with credit card and other debts get relief from the pressure of increasing bills.

Consumer credit debt offers real solutions to credit card debt. These options are (1) a lower interest rate, (2) to clean up a person's credit history and credit report, (3) improve an individual's credit rating and credit score, and (4) help the person to become debt free.

The process of managing Credit card debt and getting out of that debt is complicated. It is therefore critical to get assistance with this problem rather then doing it yourself. This website offers help in this and other credit issues.

Do you know why you should repair your credit? Credit repair gives the reason for restoring and improving your credit rating and history. The main reason for improving your credit rating is to save money in interest.

Sponsored by Consumer credit debt

I Woke Up This Morning

Jamál (Beauty), 15 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Sunday, March 16, 2008 about 8:46 AM PST

I woke up this morning to find
puddles of rain water in my drive way
and the blacktop of the street glistening.

I woke up this morning to a sky
covered by a quilt of gray, charcoal and white
with a rip through which the rising sun smiled bright.

I woke up this morning and realized
that I missed the rain last night
and can only guess at the beauty of the drops
as the fell onto the street light.

I woke up on this Palm Sunday morning
to find the rain that I looked forward to
had come in the night while I slept.

Poetry Forms - Part 1

I have written poems using sixteen poetry forms since October of 2007. This week I am working on the seventeenth poetry form. All these forms used in the Stretch Your Style Challenges at writing.com. Those seventeen forms are

1. Garland Cinquain
2. Cyhydedd Hir
3. Ottava Rima
4. Quatern
5. Trios-par-Huit
6. Double Rondelet
7. Pantoum
8. Pushkin Sonnet
9. Eintou
10. Terzanelle
11. Dorsimbra
12. Monchielle
13. Lune
14. Rispetto
15. Whitney
16. Etheree
17. Monotetra

In the next few weeks I will discuss these forms with an example of each form. I am going to write a new poem for each form, but I will give the name of the poem in my port, Prosperous Snow, at writing.com. I am not sure what day of the week I will post the poem or form.

I find that a themed entry on a specific day does not work to keep my muse going. The reason I use forms is to help focus my muse and overcome writers' block. In addition, I enjoy working with forms. Most of the forms are a challenge and I learn a great deal when work with a specific form.

5000 Questions Survey - Questions 201 to 225

Jalál (Glory), 14 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. –Friday, March 14, 2008 about 9:53 PM PST

201. Put these creatures in order from what you would least like to be reincarnated as (1), to what you would most like to be reincarnated as (10) assuming reincarnation ended up existing AND you were given a choice. caterpillar, house dog, wild dog, vulture, male human, female human, oak tree, rock, manta ray, dolphin

Interesting question with a lot of assumption. Of course in situations like this one would not get a choice. All though I must admit that that sounds like a good plot for a short story. Especially if the character had difficulty making up his or her mind. My concept of the next world and where the soul goes after the body dies does not include reincarnation as an option. Therefore I am not going to put them in any order.

202. What do you feel unworthy of?

I feel unworthy of a lot of things. It normally depends on what is going on in my life and whether or not I am in a good mood and not depressed or in a bad mood and am depressed. However, at this point in my life I feel unworthy of the my prayers being answered. I know that sounds odd, but at this specific moment in time that is what I feel unworthy of.

203. Would you rather be remembered for having done something for humanity or being a really nice person?

I would rather be remember as having done something for humanity.

204. Which do you value more: science or intuition?

Intuition because my intuition or gut feeling has kept me safe on a number of occasions.

205. Your best friend and your significant other are in the hospital at the same time with the same ailment. Who do you visit first?

Since my best friend is my mother, I would visit my best friend first.

206. Does the universe revolve around human beings?

No, the universe revolves around the laws of God.

207. If you are no longer a virgin, do you wish you still were?

This is another interesting question, which reminds me of an old saying. "If wishes were fishes everyone would eat." That is as close to an answer to this question that anyone is getting.

208. Who is your favorite poet of those who are alive right now?

Since I have not read, listened or been introduced to every poet that is alive today I cannot possible answer this question. My favorite living poet depends on my mood at the time I am reading his or her poem or listening to the poet read.

209. What is your favorite song from the 90's?

I am not yet 90 years old so I do not know what my favorite song of the 90's is yet.

210. If you were in alphabet soup what letter would you be?

Y of course. I like to ask why so I would be the letter Y.

211. Do you believe in fairies, ghosts, aliens, angels, dwarves, elves, etc.?

This is a big universe and according to science it is expanding. That being the case each of these creatures must exist somewhere in the big, beautiful and expanding universe.

212. What makes you want to be someone’s friend?

I want to be friends with people that I think are nice. What makes a person nice? That is a question that cannot be answered easily.

213. Do you troll around the Internet harassing people anonymously for fun?

This type of thing is not fun.

214. Have you ever seen the movie A Man Who Fell to Earth?

Yes and it was not logical. I did not think the movie had a plot.

215. What is your favorite line from a movie?

I do not have a favorite line from a movie.

216. What's your favorite video game?

My favorite computer game is Free Cell.

217. Have you ever taken something that wasn't yours?

This is another one of those interesting questions that would make a good plot for a story or a novel. That is as close to an answer as anyone is getting tonight.

218. What is one phrase people say that irritates you?

This too shall pass.

219. You allow strangers to read your diary, but would you let your parents read it?

I really do not care who read my diary. I write a blog not a diary. I stopped keeping a diary when I was in grade school.

220. Hot steamy bubble bath or quick in and out shower?

It depends on my mood and the time of year. In winter I like a hot buble bath, but in summer a shower is better.

221. Are you allergic to anything?

Latex and MSG.

222. What is your favorite Terminator movie?

The first one because that is the only one I ever saw or intend to see.

223. What is your favorite fast food?

Fat Burger

224. What would someone have to do to get you to never speak to him or her again?

Leave town and never call me on the phone.

225. Would (or have) you ever whip someone or be whipped by someone in bed?

This is another one of those things that does not sound like fun, so the answer is no.

Writing about time on Thursday

Istijlál (Majesty), 12 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Thursday, March 13, 2008 about 5:45 AM PST

I listen to the ticking of the clock;
I watch its hand move from number to number
carrying my life into the unseen future.

I listen to the ticking of the clock;
I think about the events of yesterday
and the day before.

Yesterday,
I waited and wasted time waiting;
the day before I waited and wasted time wating.

Time passes
we wait for tomorrow
while wasting time today;
tomorrow comes,
but the time wasted never returns.

I make the resolve today
to waist no more waiting time;
from this day forward
my waiting time is time to use
in prayer or pursue of goals.

Etheree Poetry Form

Fidál (Grace), 10 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Tuesday, March 11, 2008 about 10:07 AM PST

I wrote a poem using the Etheree form for the first time last week. This is an interesting for because it consists of ten lines using a syllable count for each line. The reason for the poem was an contest I am participating in on writing.com. Each week there is a new poetry to try. The syllable count according to the line is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

The poem I wrote for the contest is Faith's Path. The poetry contest is Stretch Your Style and this is the second time I have participated in this contest. The wonderful thing about writing.com contests and posting my writing in my port there are reviews. I get reviews from people just beginning writing and those who have written and publish their work. In addition, I learn how to write in new poetry forms and different genre.

A poem on Monday

Kamál (Perfection), 9 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Monday, March 10, 2008 about 6:01 PM PST

On
Monday
a poem
reverberates
through body and soul;
echoes laughter and tear,
while the partly cloudy sky
promises rain that never comes;
the setting sun illuminates white
clouds and memories of yesterday's joy.

A new week begins

A new week begins a new chance to achieve something wonderful in my writing. The first day of a new week is like putting on a new dress or new pair of shoes. There is a great deal of potential in a new week, but by the end of the week a person looks back and ask "Where happened to the week?"

Sometimes a person lets the week go by without noticing what happened to the week or how much time is wasted or well spent. I belong to a journal-writing group, in that group Saturday is the day of review for the past seven days and Sunday is the day to set goals for the coming week. It do not do any good to set goals, whether those goals are spiritual or material without reviewing the way one achieved or did not achieve those goals.

There are two methods of reviewing goals. One is a weekly review and the other in daily. In some cases, it is good to review daily, but in other cases weekly is all right. When it comes to spiritual goals, daily review is probably better because one knows what to work on tomorrow. The individual must decide which method works best.

Attention Wordpress Bloggers

LinkXL, Links In Content, lets bloggers monetize their blogs by selling neutral links in existing content using an automated search and buy systems. LinkXL works with any advertising system the blogger uses. This gives bloggers another way to earn money from their existing content. The linkXL website has the features and benefits ot their product listed on their homepage.

LinkXL has a wordpress plug-in available, which allows wordpress bloggers to monetize their blogs with Links In Content. Bloggers go to the linkXL website and click on WordPress Plugin v1.5.2 to access this plug-in so that you can start earning money. This easly installed plug-in gets you up, running and earning money in minutes.

Sponsored by linkxl.com

Time to Spring Forward

Jamál (Beauty), 8 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Saturday, March 8, 2008 about 8:23 PM PST

I new week is beginning. Daylight savings time starts at 2:00 AM Sunday morning; time to jump ahead one hour. I am not sure how much energy this move will save. I doubt that my power bill will be any lower because I set my clocks one hour forward. This means that instead of getting up at 4:00 AM I will actually be getting up at 3:00 AM.

I have difficulty getting out of bed at 4:00 in the morning, but I have to get up because the my knee hurts when I stretch it out. In addition, I set the alarm to go off. I get up that early to say prayers. I do get prayers said; I also sit on the couch and doze. I like sitting on the couch and dozing early in the morning because that is where I have my most interesting dreams and nightmares.

I write them down, but I have not blogged about any of them so far. I probably will as soon as I figure out what they mean. Lately some new symbols have turned up in my dreams and I am not sure of their meaning yet.

I have not made an entry in the past few days because I have let fear and worry interfere with my muse. That is going to stop I have to write. When I do not write I worry more then when I write. I know that sounds odd, but that is the way it works for me. Therefore, I have to write and the more I write the less worried and fearful I am.

A Writer's Mid Week Reflections

‘Idál (Justice), 4 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Wednesday, March 5, 2008 about 3:34 PM PST

Weekly Journal Writing Prompt: Take some time to write in your journal. What's happened so far this week? Share with the list if you'd like.

I look in the mirror of the week,
I see the could haves and the should haves
I see the accomplishments and the new experiences.

I look in the mirror of the week,
I leave the should haves and the could haves unlisted
I focus on the new experiences and accomplishments
I list the new experiences and the learning which occurred.

I experienced my first chemical peel on Monday,
I learned on Monday that it takes five quarts of oil to fill an engine,
I learned on Monday that the routing code on a check
and the routing code on a deposit slip are different,
on Monday I found a penny laying face up next to my car.

Now I have to incorporate these items
into my writing and expand my learning experiences
to add more depth to my writing.

I'm Doing it Again

Fidál (Grace), 3 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Tuesday, March 4, 2008 about 12:41 PM PST

I am participating in the Follow the Leader: Redux contest on writing.com again. This is the second time this year I have entered the contest. The concept of the contest is leading entries. Each participant is assigned a day to do a leading entry. The subject and them of the leading entry is up the "leader" for that day. The rest of the group responds to the leading entry.

I am using my regular writing.com blog Snow Melt for my leading and response entries in this contest. This edition of the contest begins Thursday, March 6, and ends Wednesday, March 26. My leading entry is scheduled for Monday, March 10. Since March 10 is going to be a busy day for me, I am going to be in and out of the house all day. I will compose the entry and post it at midnight Eastern Time, which is about 9:00 PM Pacific Time.

Drive Traffic to Your Blog

Register your favorite original post, song, photo, poem, flash fiction or whatever on Buzzfuse.com. You can get a free account and let Buzzfuse help you make money from your work.



The registration process is easy. You register your e-mail address and when the sent to to link to confirm you click on the link. When you confirm your e-mail address then you choose your password. Next, either enter your circle of friends manually or use your yahoo, hot mail or gmail account to invite your friends.

To market the content of a post you have to get a code. Simply copy the code into the post. You can market as many post as you want, but you have to get a new code for each post you market. The process is easy and simple; anyone can market a post or photo on Buzzfuse.

When you publish your post, an inactive Buzzfuse widget will appear on the page. Click on the widget to activate the process. I place the widget at the bottom of my post, but you can place it anywhere on the page.

Sponsored by Buzzfuse.com

A Productive Day for a Writer

Kamál (Perfection), 2 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Monday, March 3, 2008 about 2:44 PM PST

On a productive day for a writer one of the following must happen

1. Learn something new
2. Write more then the minimum word goal
3. Submit a piece of writing for publication
4. Receive a rejection slip
5. Receive a check for a piece published
6. Have a piece of writing accepted for publication
7. Do something he or she has never did before
8. Find money to use to start a new project
9. Proclaim the cause of the Beloved

Today was a very productive day for me because

1. I learned that it takes five quarts of oil to fill a completely empty motor.
2. I learned that the routing number on a check is different from the routing number on a deposit slip
3. I found a penny on the ground
4. I proclaimed the cause of the Beloved
5. I exceeded my minimum word count goal
6. I had a chemical peel

Time to Recharge my Spiritual Batteries

Jamál (Beauty), 1 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Sunday, March 2, 2008 about 7:38 AM PST

It is time to recharge my spiritual batteries. Today, March 2, the first day of ‘Alá the nineteen-day Fast begins. It is a time of abstaining from food and drink between sunup and sundown. Fasting is an ancient custom practiced in many religions. The physical fast is symbolic of the spiritual fast, which is to abstain from anything that draws the individual away from God.

Fasting is a time of prayer, meditation and reflection. ‘Alá ends the year, on March 21 a New Year begins. During ‘Alá I will look at the past year and the things, which have drawn me away from God. 164 B.E. was very stressful, so I will look at the reason for this and find ways to make 165 B.E. less stressful. I will look at the things which have drawn me away from God and find ways to make the reconnection.

One thing I am going to do before March 21 is complete rewriting my personal mission statement. This will help me focus on what is necessary for the coming year. Included in my mission statement are spiritual, material and physical goals. The reason for this is that I am a dual natured creature; I have both a spirit and a body so my mission statement must cover every aspect of my life. If the mission statement does not cover these aspects, it is not complete.

This Weeks most inspiring sight

Jalal (Glory), 5 Ayyam-i-Ha, 164 B.E. - Saturday, March 1, 2008 about 1:40 PM PST

Creativity Question 9: What's the one most inspiring thing you saw/heard/read/did/photographed this past week? What do you think you might do with it?

The most inspiring thing I saw this week was the new view outside my living room window. The elm tree blew down in the wind on February 14 and the tree was removed last week. I can now see the house across the street which is on the corner. At night the streetlight shines directly into my front yard rather then having the tree block it. The sun (when there are no clouds) shines directly onto the front yard. Sometimes to get a new view of life all that has to happen is a tree blowing down in the wind.