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Wind and birds in Las Vegas

Limbs dance in the wind
In the shade birds chase insects
The days grow shorter

I am looking for products to eliminate pet odors

I have cats; therefore, I am looking for product to eliminate pet odors. My cats are indoor animals and trained to use litter boxes; however, they do have out of litter box experiences. I want a product to eliminate the odor in the area around the litter boxes, as well as in the rooms where they have accidents. I am looking for products that are non-toxic, all natural, and biodegradable. I want a product that I can use everyday without worrying whether it is going to hurt my cats, the environment, or me.

I am looking for Odor Eliminators that I can sprinkle on the spot where the odor originates. I want a product that I can use on the floors, the furniture, the enclosed patio, and the pet carriers. I have one cat that has stress incontinence and every time I take him to the veterinarian, the cat urinates in the carrier.

I want an odor eliminator I can sprinkle in the pet carriers and the cats' litter boxes. I am looking for a product that is fragrance free because my cats are extremely particular. They will not use the litter boxes if they do not like the odors the boxes emit.

What time of Day is best for writing or rewriting?

A question all writers ask and each must answer from his or her own experience.  At present, I am struggling with this question. A few weeks ago, I decided to write during the day and clean house at night, but this schedule does not work. Every time I sit down to write, I encounter distractions. I see some thing that I must do immediately.

I think the issue is light. It is easier to see dust and clutter during the day then at night. Therefore, I am going to attempt writing at night or in the early morning. I need to write when there are no visual distractions. I am going to rewrite my novel at night. I wrote the novel at night, so this may be the way to rewrite.

The Last Friday in August 2010

It is the last Friday in August 2010 and four months left in the year. Mom needs to get more exercise and I need to get more exercise. In the morning, I will attempt to get Mom up at 6:00 so that we can take a short walk. Perhaps walk to the corner and back; start out easy and then length the distance each day until we are walking around the block.

Mom indicated this morning; she wanted to take a walk around the block. I think starting out small is a good idea, because we are not used to walking and part of the walk is up hill. Mom thinks she can walk around the block without a problem, but I think we need to build up to it slowly.

Take a morning walk
Listen to the singing bird
And write a poem

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Afternoon slow down

My computer slows down in the afternoon, so accessing website is a long process. I am not sure what is causing the problem. Part of the issue could be a virtual memory issue. Also, Zone Alarm has reinitialized twice in the past two days. At the time, Zone Alarm reinitialized I was attempting to delete mail from my inbox.

I decided to spend the next few days cleaning off the hard drive, backing up documents, and reorganizing my files. In addition, my printer still does not work and it keeps giving a print cartage error. I am going to buy two new print cartridges to see if that solves the problem. If I cannot solve any of these problems myself, I am calling in an expert because I need both a working computer and printer.

Writing on a hot afternoon in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is hot
Afternoon temperatures rise
The city swelters

I need more area fans. I have only one and it doesn't help when I'm working at the computer. I think I will place it on top of a small table and see if that helps. If I could would at night, I would be cooler; however, night is for housework.

The Choice: Either Write or do Housework at night

At first glance, the choice appears simple. After dark, after my mother goes to bed I can either write or do housework. The choice is not that simple because I need a little bit of sleep. I also come up with writing ideas while I am doing housework. If I interrupt the housework and sit down at the computer to work on the idea, I get so involved with the writing idea that I ignore the housework. The solution is to keep a notebook handy to write down the idea.

I have valid reasons for doing housework at night instead of writing. First, no one interrupts me while I am washing dishes or mopping the floor. Second, my Mother gets upset if she thinks I am doing her job (housework). My mother is 89 years old and believes the housework is exclusively "her job". If Mom finds me doing housework, she thinks I am taking her job away. Mom has slowed down. Mom will not admit she cannot do all the household chores by herself.

I will do the housework at night, after Mom has gone to bed. If I had a job outside the house during the day then circumstances would dictate that I get more sleep. However, after tomorrow I will not be working outside the house, so I can do housework at night and write during the day.

I am looking for blog content on various subjects

I am looking for free content for my blogs. I have two blogs and it is difficult to write something fresh everyday. Sometimes it is difficult to write something fresh every other day. Therefore, I am always looking for links to educational and thought provoking articles. I am seeking articles on various subjects that I can share with my readers.

In my search for intriguing articles, I found a website, Article Alley, that contained the variety I was seeking. This website contains article on topics ranging from "Automotive" to "Writing & Speaking". The authors of these articles are both professionals and amateurs, all looking for a place to promote or syndicate the content the write.

The first article I found on this website is a Review of Trigosamine. This article has a lot of relevance for me because I am afflicted with joint pain. I have osteoarthritis in my right knee and at times, the pain is excruciating.

I have been looking for a website like Article Alley for a long time. It has educational and thought provoking articles by a multitude of authors. In addition, I can share my own articles on writing and other subjects. I am looking forward to reading the article located on Article Alley and to submitting my own articles.

When all else fails disconnect, reconnect and pour yourself a glass of cranberry juice

For the past three or four days, my system has ran slow and twice, Zone Alarm shut down because of a True Vector failure. This morning, my modem would not connect to the Internet. The modem worked because three lights came on, the only light that did not come on was the Internet light. I try almost everything, but nothing worked.

I temporarily threw in the towel and went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. When I returned home, I turned on the computer, the  modem and the dozed on the couch. After I woke up, still no Internet connection. Before calling tech services, I disconnected and reconnected the modem wire. I then went to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of cranberry juice. When I returned to the computer, the Internet light had came on. In addition, the system seems to be faster then yesterday, so whatever I did this morning helped as well.

Evening Thoughts

Sipping hot coffee
I sit watching the sunset
Another weekend

I am looking for a new bedroom set

I need a new bedroom set. The set I have now is a collection if mismatched pieces from two or three different sets. I have one nightstand with two draws and another that is a small end table rather then a nightstand. I have a chest of drawers missing one drawer and no dresser. I am using an old bookcase as a dresser. The bed does not have a headboard or a footboard, it is a mattress placed on part of an old bed.

I need a new bedroom set with matching pieces. I want a five-piece bedroom set that is composed of a chest of drawers, a dresser with a mirror, a bed with both a headboard and footboard, and two nightstands each with two drawers. I want a queen sized set made out of Hickory, Aspen or Eastern Red Cedar.

I am looking for bedroom furniture that is comfortable and beautiful. I want a bedroom set that helps me relax when I go to bed. I want a bed big enough to give me a feeling of luxury when I lay down to go to sleep. I want bedroom furniture that matches my concept of style. I want a bedroom set that is hand crafted.

The Experience of Poetry

Inhale the rhythm
Exhale a new metaphor
Savor poetry

To experience poetry you must consume it line by line and stanza by stanza. Savor the inhale the aroma of the words, savor the taste of the rhyme and make poetry a part of everyday life.

I am looking for camping gear

I am looking for camping gear as a birthday present for my brother. My youngest brother and his wife like to go camping, so what better birthday present then camping gear. The problem is finding something that he wants in the proper size. Since I do not know precisely, what my brother wants or needs in camping gear. The best gift I can get him is a gift certificate for camping gear.

I know what I want for myself. I want a Mountain Hardwear Mynx Capote Windproof Jacket for women. However, I am not sure what my brother wants so I will get him the gift I hope he would buy for me, a gift certificate for camping gear that he can wear in the mountains where he and his family like to camp.

My brother lives in Colorado and I live in Nevada. We do not see each other very often, but we do keep in touch by e-mail. Therefore, the best place for me to find a gift certificate for camping gear is online. I do an Internet search for camping gear and look for a retailer that has a brand I know my brother wears. I know if I get him a gift certificate for camping gear he will find something he wants and needs.

Writing about a lost day

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, seems like a lost day because I did not achieve my word count goal. The problems were lack of planning and foresight. Mom had a doctor's appointment at 8:00 AM, which meant we had to be at the office by 7:45. I had to be ready by 5:00 and then get Mom up so she could get ready.

I admit that making Mom's appointment at 8:00 instead of 9:00 was a huge mistake. Mom has Alzheimer's disease or as her doctor called it Alzheimer's dementia, this means I have to be a parent to my mother. I have to make sure Mom takes her medication plus specific other things that she forgets today. Anyway, because of my lack of planning and foresight, we did not eat breakfast or have coffee. There were other things left undone before we left as well, but I will not go into those here.

We went to the doctor and then for Mom's lab tests. After the lab test, we went to the Angel Food Ministries Office to order some meat and veggie boxes. Finally, I found the new location, ordered the food boxes and picked up some bread and bagels. We arrived home about 12 noon and I fixed us something to eat.

Because I not eat breakfast I was tired and could no think about writing anything. I did some surveys and then check a couple of websites. I then sit down on the love seat and went to sleep. I did not wake up until about 1:30 AM today. I did learn from this experience, next time Mom has a doctor's appointment I will make it for 9:00 or 9:30 AM, so that we have time for breakfast and to make sure Mom is completely ready to see the doctor.

Writing about my slow computer

Every morning, my computer is extremely slow. It takes several minutes to access a website and then to do a survey or anything else I am doing. I know part of the problem has to do with the virtual memory and I do not know how to solve this problem. I am considering calling a tech to come in and look at my computer because I cannot solve the problem.

Even when I am not online, the computer is slow. I think that has to do with the virtual memory as well. In the afternoon, the computer and web access is faster. The speed picks up after the computer increases virtual memory paging, which it does every day. I do not think it should have to increase the paging of the virtual memory every day.

It is frustrating because I cannot solve the problem myself. I have did all I can do the figure out the problem, so my next step is to call in technical support. There are several people in Las Vegas, who make house calls to solve computer problems. All I have to do is find one that is inexpensive and trust worthy.

Writing about a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Las Vegas

It is August in Las Vegas, so a severe thunderstorm watch is expected. The Weather Service issues a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Mohave County in Arizona, as well as, Clark and Lincoln counties in Nevada. Las Vegas is in Clark County, so the Thunderstorm watch affects us.

What is a thunderstorm watch? According to the Storm Encyclopedia a severe thunderstorm watch means that weather conditions in and around the area of the watch are conducive to the development of a thunderstorm. A severe thunderstorm warning means that a storm has occurred or will occur.

I need a day off

When I work outside the home, I get two days off; however, lately I have worked at home and online, so I do not take a day off. I think I need to start taking a day off because I just cannot handle working seven days without a break.

A day off does not mean I stop writing on that day. Writing is only part of what I do online I also do surveys. Therefore, on my day off I will not do surveys or make blog entries. I may or may not work on a poem, short story or novel.

I am not sure whether to take off Saturday or Sunday, maybe I will just wing it week by week and see which day is best. I could rotate my days off, one week take Saturday and the next Sunday. Since I do not find many ad opportunities on the weekends, one of those days would be good to take off. I also think I need to start taking an afternoon nap because I get sleepy about 2:30 or 3:00 PM.

I saw a cloud that looked like a whale

I saw a cloud that looked like a whale spouting white water from its blowhole. The cloud whale floated in a blue ocean similar to real whales in the middle of the Pacific or Atlantic. The cloud resembled a sperm whale and as the winds of the upper atmosphere blew the cloud whale changed shape. Bit by bit the cloud whale transformed into an ordinary cloud and then disappeared.

The sky above Las Vegas is partly cloudy today. The clouds move across the blue-sky changing shape as the go toward the mountains. These clouds are beautiful, white and fluffy. These clouds are the type that bring the humidity up but do not produce rain. It is all right if we do not get rain today because the shapes of the clouds themselves are enough to bring a smile to any one's face.

A new look

Since 2000, Writing.com has inspired both writers and readers. This year the website has a new look. Click on the link, check out the new look or become a member. You can join free.

I joined writing.com on October 31, 2002 as a free member. I liked writing.com so much that I purchased a basic membership level and then a premium level. I am now considering purchasing a premium plus membership level. Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

I need to edit my entries before posting them

I read an article a few days ago about editing. The article said that many writer do not edit their e-mail before sending them. I realized as I read the article that sometimes I do not edit my entries before posting them to any of blogs.

A writer's e-mail and blog give readers a impression of the persons talent and experience. These items need editing before sending or posting. Many times, these are the first things a potential publisher, therefore, they need to use proper punctuation, grammar, spelling, etc. Publishers form their first impression of a writer through these items, so perfection is necessary.

I make my entries directly into my blogs, after which I copy and past the item into a document. I then run the item through a grammar and spell checker. Some things a gramme and spell checker will not catch, but a reader will. These have to do with similar words that have different meanings, such as

1. There and their
2. Than and then
3. Your and you're (you are).

I know my weakness concerns then and than, so I have to be especially careful about these words.

Writing on Blue Monday about a new writing project

This is the first blue Monday in August. I look out my window and see a partly cloudy sky. I begin a new writing project yesterday. I think I have mentioned this project before; the working title is Journal of a Caregiver. I am not using a journal or blog entry format for this project. Instead, I am using novel format, with approximately nineteen chapters. I am also including an introduction and an epilogue.

In late November of 2009, the doctor diagnosed my mother with Alzheimer's disease and I became her caregiver. This "journal" will contain my experiences taking care of my mother. I posted this "journal" in my port on writing.com, but have not posted any chapters yet. I am working on the introduction now.

The introduction will contain some background material and a picture of Mom. I am not sure what else I will put in the introduction. I also plan to give each chapter a name, which fits the contents of the chapter. These are my thoughts on the project for now. I hope everyone has a happy blue Monday.

A month that begins on Sunday

Today is Sunday, August 1, and August is a month with a Friday the 13th. Every month that begins on a Sunday has a Friday the 13th. As far as I can tell, Friday the 13th is just as lucky or unlucky as any other day of the week or the month.

If a person wakes up feeling lucky then the person will be lucky because he or she looks for good luck and seeks positive experiences. On the other hand, if a person feels unlucky then negative experiences are encountered because that is all the person is able to see. Positive expectations attract positive experiences and help negate negative experiences.

Life is full of both positive and negative experience. Life is full of lucky situations and unlucky situations. The way a person handles each of these situations and experiences depend on the person and his or her expectations. If an individual expects the majority of his or her experiences to be positive or lucky then that is what happens. So this Friday the 13th let us try an experiment and wake up expecting to encounter good luck.