Happy Cyber Monday

It's the first Monday after Thanksgiving, which is Cyber Monday. According to all the ads, everyone is shopping online today. All right, not everyone because I'm not shopping online. The extent of my holiday shopping is sending holiday cards to family and friends.

I'll send each of my brothers, sister, and friends a card commemorating the holiday they are celebrating. Most of the cards will be e-cards, except for my sister who doesn't have an e-mail address. I'll send her card snail mail.

In keeping with the season, I'm going to close by wishing everyone a Happy Holiday or a Happy Christmas. May you receive a special gift this season.

Saturday Evening Shower in Las Vegas

Last night before going to bed, I looked out my living room window and saw puddles in my driveway. They weren't big puddles in my driveway. The puddles were small with little water in them, however, it was an indication of a Saturday evening rain.

It rained Saturday
evening leaving small puddles
dried up this morning.

A Beautiful chilly Morning in Las Vegas

It's a beautiful chilly day in Las Vegas. The early morning clouds have went west and the sky is now a hazy blue. I'm attempting to write this entry. I'm attempting to describe the morning. I'm not doing a very good job of describing the morning.

It's chilly outside and yellow oak leave are scattered across the black asphalt of the street outside my house. The sun is shining on my garage, but the morning haze dims the sun. I'm on the verge of tears. I'm considering giving up all together.

It's a beautiful morning. It's a difficult morning. I finished a poem earlier today before the morning became difficult. I'm posting the blog entry and then I'm going to fix some more breakfast. Perhaps the day will be better after I make something more for breakfast then a peanut butter sandwich.

In dawn's cold beauty
clouds go west toward mountains
tears begin to fall

Black Friday

Black Friday bargains
stores opening at midnight
lines formed yesterday.

I realized when I was watching news, I do not have the patience or the desire to get in line for Christmas shopping. I enjoy shopping when I can do it without a crowd. When I shop, I prefer to shop in a store that is not overcrowded.

Pushing through a crowd
looking for the perfect gift
send a prepaid card.

Thanksgiving is a Spiritual holiday

Many people think of Thanksgiving as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. However, for me Thanksgiving is a spiritual holiday. The older I get the more I realize this. The more tests I encounter in my life, the more I realize this.

This year, Thanksgiving is especially stressful. This Thanksgiving I am especially thankful. The doctory diagnosed my mother with Alzheimer's last Friday. She began taking a new medication on Monday (the pharmacy was out of the tablets when the doctor faxed prescription on Friday). It takes four to six weeks for the medication to show an effect.

Mom is still capable of taking care of herself under most conditions. I do have to remind her about certain things. I have to help her find items that she "lost" because she can't remember where she put them.

Mom enjoys going out, so tomorrow we will go out. I think we'll do laundry or perhaps just drive around. I don't know for sure what we will do yet, but we will do something that Mom enjoys. I know one thing I am going to do, that is ask Mom to recount her memories about my grandparents and growing up on a farm. I have a chance to write down some of her memories and I'm going to write them down.

I want to write a Triquint

Triquint is a poetry form invented by Sylvia A. Feeley. This form consists of three five-line stanzas, with a rhyme scheme of aaAAb and a syllable count of aaAAb. Lines three and four are repeated in each stanza.

I am having trouble finding a theme. Since this is the holiday season, a theme should be easy to find. I enjoy writing form poems because they are sometimes difficult to write.

Holiday Airfare Deals from my Friend in Paradise!

This is a sponsored guest post written by Ali Kendall on behalf of airfare-now.com. Post powered by Sponzai.

Just wanted to send a quick "shout-out" across the Pacific to my friend Ali in sunny Honolulu, Hawaii!

Ali runs the airfare-now.com website with all kinds of tips, coupons, strategies, etc. for findng holiday airfare deals. Now airfare comparison travel sites have come a long way in the past few years but there are still literally thousands of them to choose from. So here's a big aloha and mahalo to Ali for keeping it simple on a pretty nifty little travel website!

 

I Think I'll stay home on Black Friday

I'm not going shopping on Black Friday because I need to balance my books. I want to close out the family accounts on November 30; therefore, I'm going to have to balance the books. When I check the spreadsheet this morning, I noticed a small issue. I'm going to have figure out what caused the problem.

Since I don't celebrate Christmas and I'm not going to a Christmas party, staying home on Black Friday isn't a problem. I do have to sent three or four holiday cards to relatives, but two or three of those cards are e-cards. I have one New Year's card that goes snail mail, but that's all. I'll pick out the New Year's card about the second week in December.

"You Gotta See This" Video Contest

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No Poetry Reading On Tuesday Night

The poetry reading at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf tomorrow night is cancelled. I received the e-mail after I made the last entry. Since there is no poetry reading, we will not be going out. I am disappointed, but I will find something else for us to do tomorrow night. Perhaps there is something good on T.V.

Giving Thanks in Rhyme

Giving Thanks is theme for the open mic poetry reading at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, 4550 S. Maryland Pkwy., on Tuesday night. My mother and I are going. We have not attended a poetry reading in over a year. My mother misses going to readings. I miss going to readings.

Giving thanks in rhyme
writing gratitude's stanzas
God is generous.

The poetry reading begins at 7:00 PM, which means we will have to leave the house between 6:00 and 6:30 PM. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on Maryland Pkwy is about fifteen or twenty minutes away depending on traffic. The traffic on Maryland is heavy especially about 6:00 PM.

With my new glasses
I don't mind driving at night
put my trust in God.

I’m considering working online at night

It's becoming more difficult to work in the morning. I set down to write and I'm interrupted by a crises. The interruptions are never world shattering, but they have to be handled anyway. It's becoming difficult to get anything accomplished in the morning.

I did learn one thing this morning. I can write form poetry between interruptions. Perhaps tomorrow I will attempt a short story or essay between interruptions. There is a short comedy piece about parallel universes and lost spoons I've started. I'll attempt that Monday morning.

Monday afternoon I have to pick up some meds. Lately, I try to do the errands in the afternoon because of morning are difficult and full of interruptions. No, I can't stop the interruptions because of the source of the issue.

I just deal with each interruption and crises as it arrives. If I put it off, the situation only gets worse; therefore, I have to deal with the interruptions immediately. I thought that as I matured and got older, life would get less complicated. This isn't true. I'll go into a little more detail about the source of the interruptions after a bit more research.

Reevaluating my goals

Since I celebrate a March 21 New Year, I usually don't start this until January or February. However, the best thing I can say about November is difficult. I could use other words and I may use them in another post, but right now difficult s the best I can do without going into details.

I don't want to go into detail in an online journal entry right now. I'll probably go into details later, once I've did research and sorted everything out, but right now I'm just going to reevaluate all my goals.

I'm not going to start with my writing goals, because no matter what I'm not going to stop writing. I should have said, I don't think I'm starting with my writing goal. I think I'm going to start with my financial goal, but I'm not sure today. Today I am only focusing on catching up after spending Friday in doctors' offices.

Finding a Carwash to Washing my Car

According to Water Smart Living, the Southern Nevada Water Authority newsletter, it takes 100 gallons of water to wash my car at home, but only 30 gallons if I go to a carwash that recycles the water. Naturally, I am going to a water smart carwash.

Before I get the car washed, I will check the Southern Nevada Water Authority website to find a carwash near my home. I will also print off coupons to get the car washed. I think I going green and becoming water smart is fun.

Life is good and Life is weird

I used this phrase, Life is good and Life is weird, in a post I made to one of my groups a couple of days ago. I said I would get into the Life is weird part of it later. Eventually, I will because I think I am going to write a poem about how life is weird. I have to post this phrase, a dollar sign is the cheesiest, in my blog.

I am becoming water smart

The Southern Nevada Water Authority, sends a monthly newsletter, Water Smart Living, to all its customers. We received this month's newsletter on Monday, November 16, and I took a look at it this morning.

This little 6-page newsletter contains a lot of information about saving money and going green. In addition, this newsletter contains a coupon for $2.00 off the Winter Lights Festival in December.

According to the newsletter, I can water my yard one day a week from November 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010. Even though I do not water my yard, it is nice to know when I can water it. Now all I have to do is figure out which group I am in and for that I will have to check my water bill or go the website.

Thanksgiving is next week

Thanksgiving prayers
said before dinner began
Grandpa remembered

Grandpa Newland always said the blessing before Thanksgiving dinner. Grandma cooked the turkey and Grandpa said the blessing. I miss the family dinners of my childhood, with everyone gathered around the table waiting for Grandpa to say blessing and then carve the turkey.

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A 95-Pound Catfish

I subscribe to an e-mail newsletter called News of the Weird. Today it contained a story about a 95-pound blue catfish. The fish was caught Saturday by a 26 year-old Ohio man in Lake Isabella and the Harbor Manager weight it twice, just to make sure of the accuracy.

According to the article the fish fought for 35 or 40 minutes before the man pulled it in. After weighing the fish, the young man released it back into Lake Isabella. It was nice of the young man to release the catfish back into the water.

I remember my Grandfather catching catfish. Sometimes he released the fish back into the water and sometimes he kept them, cleaned them and we had fish for supper. Grandpa only kept enough fish for each of us to have one or two fish to eat at the evening meal.

Can you imagine cleaning a 95-pound catfish and then frying it? You would have to invite the entire neighborhood to the fish fry.

Cleaning out my e-mail box is fun again

I just discovered another advantage to having DSL. Cleaning out my e-mail box and deleting junk messages is again fun. When I had a dial-up connection it took an excessive amount of time to delete junk mail and read messages, so I did not do it unless it was an absolute necessity.

Now that I have DSL, mass deleting those messages take very little time. Now I can start cleaning out my yahoo and writing.com e-mail boxes. I do have to be careful about the messages I delete, but I had to do that with dial-up.

Junk mail disappears
in the blink of an eye with
click of a mouse.

Living in Las Vegas is interesting

There is apparently an advertising truck driving along Las Vegas Blvd. (the Las Vegas Strip) with strippers climbing poles. It's one of those truck that pulls a glass enclosed trailer or something like similar. The only time I've glimpse this is on the news because I usually avoid the Las Vegas Strip that time of night.

One of the Strip Clubs is in charge of this truck and its trailer. It has most people her upset, which is understandable, since there are enough ordinary driving distraction without pole dances wearing bikinis. The proper authorities are taking the mater up, I have no idea what their decision will be on this mater.

My concern is the distraction it causes. We have enough challenged drivers in this city without this type of distraction causing more driving hazards. Yes, living in Las Vegas is interesting and becoming more interesting all the time. I can't wait to get tomorrow's Review-Journal and see what else is going on in Las Vegas.

Cyberchondria a new illness

I was watching the news this morning and learned about a new illness. Cyberchondria occurs when a person looks up a symptom on a search engine and discovers several diseases that he or she could be suffering. Therefore, the person goes to the doctor. A person suffering from cyberchondria is a cyberchondric.

Now all I have to do is figure out how I can use this "new disease" in a story. I probably should also be careful about looking up my symptoms on search engines. Actually, I've never looked up any of my symptoms on a search engine. True I've discussed my symptoms with my friends and with my physician, but I've never looked them up on a search engine.

Cyberchondria
in the twenty-first century
cyberspace illness.

Veterans Day, November 11, 2009

For several days I've been attempting to write a poem about my Great Uncle Roy. Uncle Roy, my Grandfather's brother, fought in World War I. I don't remember Uncle Roy saying anything about his experience in that war.

Perhaps that's why I'm having so much trouble with the poem. The only thing I have is a picture of Uncle Roy in his uniform. I'll get that out and meditate on it, maybe something will come to me. I'm not sure how to go about finding information on World War I veterans; however, I need to find out because that might help me finish the poem.

Taking Surveys is fun again

I have DSL and the download time is not noticeable. I enjoy taking survey again because of the fast download time. When I listen to vocal or watch video, there is no interruption because the rest of the video is downloading.

I am living in
the fast lane with DSL
life is wonderful.

Voice Mail, working online, and writing

Last night, I found out I cannot get up from the computer and into the breakfast room to answer the phone before the voice mail picks up. The phone rings four time and then the answering service (voice mail) picks up the call. I can probably change the number of rings before the service takes the call, but I am not sure I want to do that.

My home phone is a walk around phone, so I can have it in the living room when I am working or watching T.V. I have to get a battery for the phone because it does not hold a charge for very long. I have to remember to put it back on its cradle after using it. I will probably get a battery for it next month.

Yesterday, I received two calls that the voice mail picked up. One of the calls was important; the other was just someone advertising something. I thought there was a do not call list and this phone number was on it, I am going to have to check that out.

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Babyhomepages.net is used by families around the world to keep families and updated. This website lets you create either a digital or a hardcopy scrapbook. In addition, you can document the pregnancies, the weeks after baby's birth, and share all of baby's "firsts".

Some interesting items on babyhomepages.net are Featured Sites and What Our Members Say. Featured Sites is located on the right side of the website. While What Our Members Say is on the left side at the bottom.

I am up and running

I have DSL and a new e-mail address. Right now, I am in the process of updating my e-mail address. I am going to enjoy working online again. I have to contact my old Internet provider tomorrow and let them know I am changing providers.

Writing off line

I am going off line for a couple of days to connect a new modem. The job looks a bit more complicated then I originally thought. It may not be as complicated as it looks, I hope not. Anyway, I am going to attempt connecting it this weekend. If I have problems I have access to 24/7 tech support. I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Doctors’ examination rooms are cold

I have experienced the temperature in two different doctors' examination room over the past two days. On Tuesday, November 3, I went to my doctor because of a problem with my stomach. On Wednesday, November 4, I took my mother to an urgent care facility because her ankle hurt and swollen.

It was so cold in both examination rooms we need coats or blankets to keep warm while waiting to see the doctor. When I went to see my doctor on Tuesday morning, I took a ski jacket with me and it kept me warm. We went to the urgent care Wednesday afternoon. I did not take coat in because it was about 82 degrees in Las Vegas. Fortunately, the urgent care facility had blankets to keep their clients warm.

A writer has to remember little things like temperature, if the character is waiting in an examination room, whether it is at an urgent care facility or doctors offices mention the temperature. Find a unique comparison between the temperature in the examination room and a weather or climate phenomenon.

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Morning Shadows of trees

Shadows on the roof
of my garage indicate
no wind chill factor.

Looking out my living room window, I see the shadows of trees on my garage roof. The shadows are still, which means no wind is blowing this morning. If there is no wind then there is no wind chill factor.

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Weird Noises in the Middle of the Day

For the past couple of day I've heard weird noise in the middle of the day. The normal noise in my neighborhood are dogs barking, cats fighting, or the motor of a Harley echoing through the streets. Lately, I have heard booming noises and I'm not sure what that indicates.

The city could be working on nearby streets, but I don't see how they could make the noises. The neighbors have heard them as well. The man across the street heard it and stood in his yard looking west. Since I'm not hearing emergency sirens, I doubt it could be anything dangers. There is probably a logical explanation.

Since I'm at a lose for a title for my next NaNoWriMo novel chapter, I use the title of this blog entry. "Weird noises in the middle of the day" will make a good working title for that chapter, which I'm going to start today. I completed the introduction to the novel, now I have to start on the chapters.

NaNoWriMo Day 2

On NaNoWriMo Day 1 I began the introduction to my novel. The title is the Fear by Night and I wrote about 800 words on November 1. That is short of the amount I needed to write. I have to focus on finishing the introduction and moving to chapter 1 today.

I am not going to leave the house today because techs are coming to connect the T.V. I have housework to do as well as novel writing. I can do the housework between novel writing. I have to keep plugging away because if I stop trying I well never get anything accomplished.

I just have to remember the lessons of the turtle and the ant. The turtle won the race with the rabbit by never stopping. The ant put in its winter food by never stopping. Therefore, I have to keep going, I have to keep moving. Today, NaNoWriMo Day 2, I have to push myself to finish at least 2,000 words and more if possible.

Did you remember to fall back today?

I did not set my clock back last night. This morning I woke up about 4:15, at least I thought that was the time. It turns out I woke up at 3:15. My computer set itself back, I had to set the alarm clock back myself. I am sure I set it four or five minutes fast, but I will wait until tomorrow to find out if that is true.

All the clocks are set back now. The next thing I have to do is put Mom's clock in her room and set it. Mom has an electric clock with a battery backup. I am going to get a battery for the clock. I believe my clock has a battery backup as well. I will get batteries for both clocks. It is either that or buy a windup clock in case the electricity goes out.

I like to know what time it is, even if I have no place to go. This coming week I have several places to go all in the mornings. I have a full week ahead of me and the only thing I want to do is to stay home.