July writing goals review

In July 2010, I made my daily word count goal sixteen days out of thirty-one. In August, I can strive to achieve more words written. I also need to figure out what time of day is better for writing. This morning, I am fighting to stay awake while I compose this entry.  I may have to consider changing the time of day I make this journal entry so that I can remain awake while writing and posting.

In July 2010, I sometimes had difficulty finding writing themes and subjects. In August, I will check my daily inspirations document for writing ideas. This will help on those days that I have difficulty coming up with ideas. Sometimes the problem is interruptions and rather then lack of ideas, when interrupted in the middle of a journal entry or story I forget what I wanted to write next.

I am not sure how to deal with the interruptions. One possible solution is to schedule my writing time to early morning or late evening. I encounter most of the interruptions between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, therefore, I could schedule my writing time 4:00 to 8:00 AM and 5:00 to 9:00 PM.

July Writing

Strive to write each day
In seventeen syllables
Always go for more

July is ending
Looking forward to August
Nightingales sing

I need a title from my new writing project

As I have stated in earlier posts, I am beginning a new writing project. The working title is A Caregiver's Journal, which is OK for a working title. The journal consists of 366 entries about my experiences as caregiver to my mother. Each entry contains a slice of life essay about what has happened and is happening to my mother as the disease advances.

I want a different final title for this project because the entries contain narrative describing specific situations. I do not want it to be a day today log of our lives; instead, I want to describe paticular incidents. Since it is not a day-to-day account, it needs another name. One of the names I am considering is The Tears Never Stop, however, there are moments when Mom does something that makes me laugh rather then cry. I need a name that covers the continuum from laughter to tears. Mom can be a joyous person when she is not angry.

Looking out my living room window

A writer should look out of his or her living room window periodically because the view can be inspiring. I look out of my window everyday I write. My computer and desk are placed close the picture window, so I can glance outside as I write.

This morning, I see charcoal clouds stained pink by the morning sun. The clouds appear to hold fire, they remind me of coals in a barbecue pit. As the sun rises. the fire seems to spread through the clouds. I am looking toward the west, so the rising sun reflects from dark rain clouds,

Fire spreads though dark clouds
The question is "Will it rain?"
We must wait and see.

I think the weather person forecast scattered shower across the Las Vegas valley, but whether it rains in my neighborhood is any body's guess. The clouds are beautiful and promising.

Working a 40-hour week

I have a temporary job. I am working 40 hours a week. I have someone staying with Mom while I work. Mom does not like the ideas, but I have no choice because she cannot stay by herself. This morning I am making my online journal entries between housework chores and getting ready to go to work. I work 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM today and tomorrow.

On Wednesday, I plan to take the car to the garage to have the starter fixed. The starter is not the only problem with the car. I also need to have the air conditioning fixed, but that is going to have to wait because of repairs to the kitchen and bathroom facets. I also need to get the pipes fixed behind the washer so that I can use the washing machine instead of going to the laundromat.

This week the car gets fixed and then I see what bills I can pay. Fortunately, I do not have to worry about the power bill until after August 6, the bill due in August is $ 312.00. I will look at all the bills either Tuesday night or Wednesday afternoon. Paying bills sounds like a good title for a poem; at least, it would be therapeutic. Several of the events in my life would make good subjects for poems, short stories, or slice of life essays.

A new writing project

Last year, the doctor diagnosed Mom with Alzheimer's disease. I am my mother's caregiver, so I have decided to start a new writing project. The working title is Journal of a Caregiver, I have no idea what the final title will be. This journal will contain 365 entries concerning the aspect of being a caregiver from my point of view.

The introduction will explain the background, contain a picture of my mother and give some other important information. I am planning at least 500 words for the introduction, while the entries will be over 1,000 words  The project beginning is August 1, 2010; I do not know yet if I will make daily entries in this journal because I want to plan each entry before writing the entry.

One crises right after another

Lately it seems there is one crises right after another. One problem is solved and two more arrive at the door. Yesterday, I submitted a poem to a writing.com contest. I reread the poem before submitting and concluded it was finished.

The poem is finish. It is a good poem. However, I feel there is something missing. I think the emotion could have been stronger. I believe I am having a writing crisis or a least  a poetry writing crisis. I just seem to be one thing right after another lately.

I need to get a new starter for the car, which has nothing to do with writing poetry. I could write poem about the car and the starter. The problem is feeling about a car and a started. In addition, I am missing a dishpan; I am sure my mother put the dishpan away somewhere in the house, but it is not in the kitchen.

Mom has Alzheimer's disease. She puts items away and then forgets where she put them. There is no use asking Mom where the dishpan is because she would only get angry. Anger and short-term memory issues are symptoms of Alzheimer's. There are other symptoms, but right now the symptoms causing the biggest issues are short-term memory loss and anger. Perhaps I should write some poetry about the way Alzheimer's disease is impacting Mom and me.

The Word Count Goal for My journals

Today I realized it is more difficult to write over 200 words in the afternoon. I am not sure of the reason, but I intend to find out. This morning I went to see the mechanic because I need advice about my car. After the garage, I called a friend and we went to the supermarket.

This afternoon I am having difficulty writing 200-word journal entries. The problem is not lack of ideas because I have several ideas. I could write about needing a new starter, I when to the mechanic this morning because I thought the problem was the battery. It turns out I need a new starter; he said I need to be careful about turning the ignition off and on.

I am being careful; I plan to drive the car as little as possible. I hope the starter last until next Wednesday when I will have the money to fix the problem. In the mean time, I will go to work and come home without making any unnecessary stops and turning off the engine.

A Writer should learn from her experiences

I am slowly learning from my experiences. Today I learned that I have to find all the dirty dishes scattered through out the house before asking Mom to wash the dishes. My mother only washes the dishes that she finds in the kitchen because she cannot remember leaving dishes in any other room.

My mother has begun leaving dishes of unfinished food sitting all over the house. Mom has also begun eating cereal out of saucers instead of cereal bowls. Mom has Alzheimer's disease and one of the symptoms is short-term memory lose.

Today, as everyday, Mom is upset about something. I have no idea what she is upset about because she never says. Mom just sits and talks to herself, even when I am in the same room she continues to talk to herself. Mom gets angry when I leave whatever I am doing to sit beside her and talk. Anger is another symptom of Alzheimer's disease.

Mom will not do dishes or anything else if I do not ask her, so  I ask her to do dishes. I put dish soap in the dishpan and then fill the pan with water. If I leave it up to Mom, she will not use dishwashing liquid, so I get the dishpan ready for her to wash dishes.

Mom acts completely different now, she used to wash dishes without being ask. The medication she takes helps, but it is not a cure for the disease. I see the change in my mother and I want to cry, but I cannot cry in front of Mom. My mother does not know she has Alzheimer's and she would not believe it if I told her. I cannot cry in front of Mom because she would not understand, so I go out to the car and say prayers.

Writing the Adventure of Life

Life is an adventure. Life is a daily struggle to find happiness. Life is interesting. Life is a spiritual adventure for the spirit. Composing blog entries is writing the adventure of life.

My mother suffers from Alzheimer's Disease and has short-term memory lose. Everyday is a new frustration or discovery for me. I am my mother's caregiver. I am considering writing a series of essays on this subject.

I think the first essay in this series will cover Mom and the cats. Mom worries that the cats are hunger, so she feeds them. Mom feeds the cats dry cereal and I feed them dry cat food. This morning when I checked their feeding bowls I found dry cereal on top of their regular cat food. My cats will not eat cereal, so I had to throw away the food in the dishes.

I put more cat food in their dishes this morning. However, I have to do something about Mom feeding them the cereal. Before I go to work today, I will either take the food dishes up or hide them from Mom. Since Mom gets angry when she thinks someone is criticizing her, I cannot talk to her about the food the cats eat. Taking the food up during the day is probably the best idea.

A theme for my next writing.com fantasy newsletter

I completed and posted the July edition last night. I now have to start on the August edition. The subject for the July edition concerned words as a writer's tools. I think the next edition will cover Urban fantasy, which means I am going to have to start researching the subject. I also need to write an Urban fantasy flash fiction or short story.

The writing.com fantasy newsletter is composed of three to five paragraphs from the editor. In addition, there are sections for letters to the editor and editor's picks. The editor's picks are stories or poems covering the subject of the newsletter. I want to answer the following questions in the August newsletter

1. What is Urban fantasy?
2. Who writes Urban fantasy?
3. What are the components of an Urban fantasy story?
4. Who publishes Urban fantasy?
5. Who reads Urban fantasy?
6. What is the difference between a good and a bad Urban fantasy story?

Saturday Morning Writing in Las Vegas

It is Saturday morning; I have a busy day ahead and a busy week behind. I am feeling stressed, but I am writing anyway. Writing helps the stress because it lets me focus and vent. I enjoy writing even when stressed and I have other things to do.

I am going to have to give up a few things though because there is just so much to do. Mom wants to help, but she just does not seem to get anything she wants accomplished. I think the main problem is Alzheimer’s disease. Mom always has things she wants to do, but never gets around to doing them.

I do not know how much I am going to accomplish around the house the next couple of weeks. I will do what I can do; I will do the important things and get the other stuff done when I can. No matter how much housecleaning I have to do, I am still going to write. I will keep the computer on and a document open. This will allow me to write between washing dishes and changing cat litter.

I still have websites to check for ad opportunities, but I am going to check those Monday through Friday. If I can get opportunities on those days, I will take them. Right now, I am working outside the house eight hours a day, seven days a week. I think that is my schedule for the next two or three weeks.

Since I am working in the afternoons, I have to work online in the mornings. I work online when I can and I post when I can. I will attempt to post everyday during the week, at least one ad post a day or every other day depending on the opportunities.

One problem solved in Las Vegas

I spent yesterday solving the virus problem. At least, I think I solved the virus issue. I feel asleep last night while the virus scan was running. I will do another virus scan this evening when I get off work. This morning, I have to drop a prescription off and buy a few groceries.

The pharmacy I use opens at 8:00 AM, so I have to drop the prescription off today and pick it up tomorrow. I have a couple of websites to check for ad opportunities, but I may not get around to checking those until I get off work this evening.

Writing at my Wits End

I have a virus problem, which just started today. I am going to spend the rest of the day attempting to correct the problem. Every time I think the issue solved, I get a warning from my resident shield that there is a problem. I have ran the AVG virus check at least twice and each time it says the problem is found, remove, and healed. Then I go online and the resident shield warns of the detection of a virus.

My next option is to run Spybot – Search & Destroy. After that I am not sure what I will do. I hope Spybot takes care of the problem, but I am not sure it will because I think the virus has attached itself to Explorer and if that is the case, I am not sure what to do next. I may have to down another browser or download Explorer 8 again. I will spend the rest of the day attempting to solve this problem.

Once I have solved the virus problem, I have to go on to the next issue. The next issue is completing my edition of the writing.com fantasy newsletter. I already have three paragraphs written, so I need to write only one more paragraph and chose three or four stories and a contest to feature in the editor’s picks.

I am composing this entry off line, with the intention of posting it some time today (July 15, 2010). This, of course, depends on whether or not I solve the virus problem.

I am looking for financial help advice

My 89-year old mother, who likes to take baths, has difficulty getting in and out of the bathtub. Mom is afraid to get into the tub even with a bathmat. Mom will not put a small stool in the bathtub to sit on; therefore, she takes sponge baths.

We have two bathrooms, but the master bath has a sunken shower and Mom has difficulty with the steps going down into the shower. Therefore, we need to completely redo the master bathroom and put in a safe walk-in-tub. This is expensive because of the sunken shower. In order to put in a new walk-in-tub, we need to raise the floor.

I am looking for financial help and advice on ways to get the money to have the bathroom redone. Since I cannot leave Mom by herself, I am looking online for Free Financial Help. I know there must be some way to redo the bathroom on a limited budget in this tight economy. I know there is a way to accomplish this goal, but I cannot do it by myself. I need advice and ideas on where to look for the money. In addition, I need advices on how to save money.

New Work Schedule

I have a temporary job, so I will work outside the house and offline for about the next two or three weeks. I work Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM and then on Sunday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. I intend to continue working online and writing; however, I may have to drop some of the survey I do.

I am considering dropping out of some of the survey panels, but I do not know which panels yet. I will make that decision on Wednesday or Thursday, when I have more time to look a each on of them and decide if I really want to remain as a member. This decision depends on how much I enjoy the surveys and what the type or amount of rewards.

Friday morning writing

It is Friday, July 9, Mom is doing good this morning. She took her meds this morning without too much protesting. Mom has decided she does not need to take meds, so she protests taking her medication saying, "I am not a sicky." Since Mom is doing well this morning, I can write longer because when is has a good day she does all most everything for herself and does not lose too many items

Mom enjoys watching me sit at my computer. She enjoys watching me write and play Spider Solitary. Therefore, whenever I can write while Mom is watching I write. Today started out as a good day and I am typing this entry directly into this blog. Mom likes to see me compose my blog entries in this manner.

Tomorrow I am working outside the house for about nine and one-half hour. I talked to the adult care agency I work through and they will fine someone to sit with Mom. The last time Mom had someone sitting with her, she did not get angry with me. I wish she could stay alone, but since she has Alzheimer's disease that is not an option.

Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease

Late in 2009, the doctor diagnosed Mom with Alzheimer's disease. Short-term memory lose and anger are part of Alzheimer patient's issues. Mom gets angry when she thinks I am critizing her, so I have to be extremely careful about what I say and how I say it. Mom also forgets where she places items and where stuff goes when she puts it away. There are other issues, as well, many more issues then I can write about in a single blog entry.

Mom's short-term memory loses makes opening cabinets and drawers an adventure. I never know when I open a drawer or cupboard what I am going to find. For example, I opened the storage unit under the stovetop and found two cans of tomato juice and a can of apple juice. The tomato juice I opened and Mom drank them. The apple juice is still down there waiting for me to open it.

I noticed this morning, that Mom has taken her partial dentures out of her mouth. I have no idea where she put them. the last time she took them out I found them on the floor beside her bed, but I have to find them, wash them, and get her to put them back in her mouth. I think she takes them out because they hurt her gums; however, I cannot take her to the dentist without the dentures.

Once I find the dentures and determine why Mom takes them out of her mouth then I can explain the situation to the dentist. Perhaps he can make some suggestion concerning this issue. Unfortunately, Mom will not use any type of denture adhesive.

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Changing my online work schedule

I enjoy composing blog entries online because it stretches my ability. It takes concentration to write an entry online because I have to focus on proper grammar and spelling, especially when writing an ad. Lately, I have encountered numerous interruptions due to being my mother’s caregiver. This does not mean I am going to stop working online or composing blog entries online.

I have decided to change my online work schedule. Instead of working during the day, when Mom needs the most care I am going to start working in the evenings, at night, and early morning. This schedule should allow me to compose at least one blog entry while I am online. The rest, I will write off line, which is how I am writing this entry, with the plan to post when I get back online.

I do not plan to give up working online; I simply have to change the schedule. I do not know how well this new schedule will work, but it is worth a try. I will work the new schedule for the next three months and then decide if I have to change again.

Happy Fourth of July from Las Vegas

Independence Day
Happy Birthday U.S.A
Old Glory Waving

The neighbors across the street raised their flag today. Right now the wind is blowing and the Old Glory is waving. The wind has blown off and on all day, so the flag has waved part of the day. It is always nice to see the flag wave.

The Fourth of July, Hot Dogs, and Watermelon

Today I went to Smith's Food and Drug store where I bought all beef franks, sweet relish, a small watermelon, and hot dog buns. Tomorrow, on the Fourth of July, I will fix the hot dogs and cut the watermelon for lunch. I have a green salad in the fridge and a couple of bottles of salad dressing.

I associate certain foods with Independence Day because those foods were served on that day when I was a child. Normally, I do not buy hot dog buns when I purchase hot dogs. My normal method of eating a hot dog is to wrap it in a slice of bread; however, I make an exception on the Fourth of July.

As a child, I remember Grandpa grilling hot dogs and hamburgers on the Fourth. Then for desert we would have a cold watermelon from Grandpa's garden. Since I do not plant a garden myself, I have to ge my watermelon from a grocery store. One individual watermelon is enough for my mother and myself, anything larger would force me to find room in my refrigerator for leftovers.

I am almost too tired to write

I am too tired to write tonight, but when I go to bed I will not be able to sleep. I can fall asleep sitting in the couch. I can fall asleep at the keyboard, typing a story or a poem, but when I go to be I won't be able to sleep. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I will wake up and be wide-awake the rest of the night.

I am going to talk to my doctor about this and a couple of other issues. I get tired easily doing housework, so I have to take a break and usually I write or work online until I am ready to do more chores. I just do not have any energy, which is something I am going to discuss with my doctor. I am gong to close this entry now, because I am having difficulties staying awake.