My June Writing Schedule

I am not writing much in the morning any more. It takes between thirty minutes and an hour to get Mom out of bed and into the living room in the morning. Then after Mom is in the living room, I have to convince her to take her medication, which is usually difficult. Mom does not think she needs the medication.

Then there is the process of getting Mom ready to go to the daycare center. Fortunately, the hospice sends a C.N.A. to bath Mom so that she can go to daycare. Once Mom is out the door, I have to get ready and go to my appointments or do the shopping. Mornings are no longer a good time for me to write. Usually the only thing I have time to do online is check the bank accounts.

I am going to schedule my writing in the afternoons before Mom gets home from daycare and again in the evening after she goes to bed. I am not sure how much I will write or be able to post, but at this point that is the only way I can see to do it. I am also considering posting to this blog every other day rather then every day. If I do not change my schedule, I will not get anything written or any housework accomplished.

A portable Oven Timer helps writing

I think I mentioned the oven timer before when writing about time free writing. I am using the oven timer with other types of writing as well. It the solution to an issue I have with my osteoarthritis. If I sit down too long it is difficult to get up without pain. I have to limit the time I am sitting at the computer writing. I cannot sit down for more then ten or fifteen minutes at a time. Therefore, I am using the oven timer to indicate when I have to get up and walk around for a little while.

The timer prevents me from sitting down too long. It also helps me focus on my writing. Since I have fifteen minutes to write I cannot dawdle, I have to write as much as I can in that time. Sometimes I finish the work in fifteen minutes and sometimes it takes longer, but when the timer rings I have to get up for a few minutes and walk around.

At other times, it does not take fifteen minutes to finish a composition. If it takes me less time, then I turn the timer off and get up anyway. I have found that if I start something else in the time I have left I do not want to stop. It is better, for my knees, to time my writing then to continue pushing until I finish a composition. This way I am not in such pain when I get up that I cannot walk to the kitchen or breakfast room.

Get outside in the sunshine

My Grandmother always encouraged my siblings and me to “go outside and play”. Whenever we visited Grandma and Grandpa, my Grandmother always shooed us outside while she fixed breakfast. Then I did not understand why she did this, but now I understand.

I was in a “brown study” this morning. I did not want to write anymore, in fact, I did not want to do much of anything. I decided to take a bag of trash to the garage. I put the bag in the trash and then stood liking around. I noticed that my newspaper way lying in the driveway, so I went to pick it up.

The sunshine changed my mood. Once I walked in the light of morning, I wanted to write again. As soon as I got into the sunshine, I was happy again. I felt good. I did not want to give up writing or anything else. The only explanation I have is that the sunshine changed my mood. It made me happier and less depressed.

I think that after sunrise, the first thing I need to do is go outside. I do not have to have a reason to go out and stand in the sunshine. True, I usually have trash to go to the can in the garage each morning, but that is because I do not like to go into the garage after dark. There are too many creepy crawlers in the garage.

If I stand in the sunshine long enough, usually five minutes or less, I find a subject for a haiku or some other poem. No matter, how long I stay outside in the morning; I have to go out after dawn in order to change my “dark” mood. I will add this to my morning ritual.

Light changes my mood

And sunlight makes me happy

A morning outing

This writer needs a Knee Brace or a Walker

It is Saturday morning and my right knee is excruciating especially when I sit down or walk for more then five or six minutes at a time. As long, I get up every five minutes or walk for no more then five minutes I am relatively pain free. Since Mom is home today, I cannot sit down for long periods because Mom needs my attention every six or seven minutes.

 Walking is the issue because Mom needs help when she goes to the bathroom or walks down the hall. It takes longer then five minutes for her to do either of these things, which means I am on my feet for at least ten minutes if not longer. As a result, my right knee hurts and I am not talking about a little bit of pain here. I hate to repeat myself by using the same word over, but it is excruciating.

I am a writer; you would think that I could find a more accurate description of the pain. I will have to work on the description, in the mean time I just have to be careful about how long I stand up or sit down. If I am careful to watch the intervals between sitting, standing, and walking the prescription pain medication works find. However, I do need to get a knee brace and/or a walker. Neither of which I can purchase until sometime next week.

It is a holiday weekend and Mom does not go back to the daycare center until Tuesday, which means I am not leaving the house until Tuesday. On Tuesday morning, I will go to the medical supply store to price the knee braces and walkers. At that time, I will get which ever cost less then $100.00 because I can spare that amount from my saving account.

Coffee essential to writing

This is just my own opinion and I do not expect everyone to agree with me. Coffee is an essential part of writing. Even in summer, when temperatures in Las Vegas rise into the triple digits, a hot cup of coffee is refreshing and pleasant. I cannot write without a cup sitting near the computer. If I am composing in a pen and paper journal, then I have to have a hot cup sitting close by.

I prefer fresh brewed coffee; however, I will warm a mug of leftover coffee up in the microwave. Sometimes I have leftover coffee because I have household duties to perform. I do not drink as much coffee when I wash dishes or laundry as when I write. I think it is because I can lean back from the computer and sip coffee while I am deciding on the next sentence or stanza.

Most of the time, I prefer my coffee black without cream or sugar. Sometimes, however, I do add a tablespoon of hot chocolate mix to my coffee. I do not add the chocolate to leftover coffee I warm up, but I do add it to fresh brewed coffee. Usually, I add the chocolate to my coffee on the weekends because that is when I am more likely to have fresh brewed coffee.

I have leftover coffee during the week because that is when I leave the house for business. I brew a fresh carafe of coffee, drink a couple of cups, and then leave the house. When I leave I turn the coffee maker off and by the time I return the coffee is cold, so I have to warm it up in the microwave. After all, there is no use throwing out a perfectly good carafe of coffee just because it got cold.

Thankful Thursday, May 24, 2012

The ten things I am grateful for today:

1. writing.com
2. a microwave oven
3. coffee ~ even leftover coffee
4. the wind blowing through the trees
5. peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
6. a pen and a journal
7. pain medication
8. a daily newspaper
9. leftover chicken
10. a cable modem

Please wait a few minutes after you knock

Wait a few minutes

It takes five minutes or so

For me to respond

It happened again. Someone came to the door and knocked, when I did not respond immediately he left. This happens all the time; someone knocks or rings the doorbell once. If I do not respond immediately, the person leaves presuming I am not home.

It takes me more then three seconds to get to the door. It takes me at least three seconds to get out of a chair. If I am on the couch, it takes longer because it takes five minutes to get off the couch. It most likely is not a big deal because the person probably just wanted to sell me something or do yard work. Still it is irritating to struggle to get up from a chair and then have the person leave because I did not answer the door fast enough.

I suppose there is also the possibility that he was casing the house. I have my cell phone next to me all the time, so I can dial the emergency number. It makes me uncomfortable when someone comes to the door and knocks only to leave. Maybe I will put a note on the door that says wait a few minutes, I will answer eventually.

Happy Birthday Robert Moog

Robert Moog, born on May 23, 1934 in New York City, invented the Moog synthesizer. Today is Dr. Moog’s 78^th birthday. He died on August 21, 2005. Check this website for more information Moog Music

Moog synthesizer

Play electronic music

Google doodle

Football Superstar Beckham shows off his skills

Football superstar Beckham, with the help of the Samsung Galaxy Note, shows off his incredible kicking skills to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”. Click on the video below and watch Beckham kick a series of balls against a 15-foot wall of drums.

Primary Election coming in June

I received my Official Sample Ballot for Clark County, Nevada today, with the Primary Election scheduled for Tuesday, June 12 and early voting between May 26 and June 8. I immediately put those dates on my calendar so that I do not forget them.

I always vote in both the primary and general election. In past years, I participated in the early voting because I worked the polls on Election Day. This year I will not work the polls due to the difficulty in getting someone to be at the house when Mom gets home from the daycare center. Since I cannot work the polls this year, I think I will vote on Election Day.

I always enjoyed going to the polls on Election Day to cast my ballet. It always brought back memories of my grandparents. My Grandma and Grandpa Newland never missed an election. They always went to the polls to vote in both the Primary and General Elections. Perhaps that is why I do my best to vote in both those elections.

Author’s Note: I am 65, years old and my memories of the way voting technology has changed since I first voted at the age of 21 would make a good subject for an article or blog entry. I will have to think about this and write down some notes before beginning the piece.

Success Saturday: Small Victories

Sometimes just getting out of bed in the morning is a victory. That is how it was with me today. I did not want to get up; I wanted to stay in bed all day. As caregiver for my mother, I do not have the luxury of remaining in bed all day long. That does not mean that I always want to get up in the morning.

I did sleep later then what I had planned; however, I did get up in time enough to carry two recyclable bins (another small victory) and roll the trashcan to the curb. It would be nice if I could roll the recyclable bins to the curb as well because picking them up and carrying them can sometimes be difficult.

The small victories

Boost the moral of the troops

Advance battle lines

Friday afternoon thoughts in Las Vegas

A windy Friday

The neighbor’s dog is barking

An ice cream weekend

We finally hit the triple digits on Wednesday, so today when I went to the supermarket I bought ice cream. I bought cherry and mint because I thought they would go nicely with the waffle cones we have. Mom will enjoy an ice cream cone for one of her snacks on Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday Thoughts: Write it out

Thinking negative

Hopelessness and depression

Unhappy joyless

Write it all out in long drawn out handwritten sentences. Don’t bottle it up inside, just get an blank book, an empty journal and fill the pages with these thoughts. Today, I found out, while I was writing a poem (a very depressing poem) that writing my thoughts in longhand in a journal helps me realize how depressing some of my thoughts are.

This morning, I considered giving up writing and then I began the poem. As I wrote, I realized that writing helps me focus and see that giving up writing would not change my negative and depressing thoughts. Writing helps me overcome because when I reread the sentences and paragraphs I realize there is hope as long as I continue to write my thoughts.

The poem is about giving up writing. I know it is amusing to consider writing a poem about giving up writing. If I were serious then I would not write the stanzas, I would simply put my pen down and not writing anything at all. I have found that I cannot do that, when I consider giving up something then I have to write about it.

Giving up writing

Composing line and stanza

Is impossible

My printer works after a fashion

I put paper in my printer and then attempted to print a document. The document did not print and the error message I received was “out of paper”. I took all the paper out, put one sheet in, and then printed the first page. The page printed without any difficulty. Apparently, my printer will only print one page at a time. I will just have to deal with it until I can figure out what is wrong or get a new computer and printer.

I write. I have several large documents I want to print. I can only print one page at a time. Right now, I am finding this particular issue funny. I know it is not, but for some reason I find it amusing. Maybe this is one of those situations where if I do not laugh, I will cry.

A Happy Mothers’ Day in Las Vegas

Fresh strawberry pie

Cup of hazel nut coffee

Happy Mothers’ Day

For Mothers’ Day Mom had strawberry pie for breakfast, which is her favorite. Today was a good day; Mom seems happy and even sing a song. That was our Mothers’ Day at home.

Saturday Scribbles: Of Mourning Doves and Tears in Las Vegas

Saturday Sunshine

The wind caressing oak trees

Mourning doves weeping

When I rolled the trashcan to the curb this morning, I heard mourning doves. They sound as if they are crying. Mourning doves are not the only ones crying this morning. Mom is crying as well, but she will not tell me why.

Alzheimer’s tears

Expressing my Mother’s fears

The wind will not dry

Mom has lost something and cannot find it, but she refuses what. Mom will not tell me because she does not want me find whatever she want because she is afraid I will throw it away. I think this is normal with Alzheimer’s disease. There is no use me crying because Mom would not understand, besides she will forget about whatever it was she cannot find in a few minutes. Then I can find an object, give it to her, and tell her I found what she lost.

Temperatures rising in Las Vegas

A beautiful day

Temperatures are rising

No triple digits

Temperatures are rising in Las Vegas. The have not reached triple digits yet, but they will. I’m not looking forward to them because I do not have working air conditioning in my car. My air conditioning is the old fashion four forty-five. You roll down all four windows and go forty-five miles an hour. I can’t go faster because the speed limit on most of the streets I travel is forty-five miles an hour or less. I try very hard to stay within the speed limit.

Thankful Thursday: I am thankful for the wind in Las Vegas

Morning dust and haze

Made outings uncomfortable

Difficult to breathe

This afternoon I am thankful that the winds are back. This morning, when I went to my doctor’s appointment the air quality was poor due the pollution, dust, and haze in the air. This afternoon the winds picked up and began blowing the hazy pollution out.

The afternoon winds

Are clearing out haze and dust

Easier to breathe

I am falling asleep at the keyboard

I am falling asleep at the keyboard. I thought I got enough sleep last night; consider that I overslept this morning, but apparently, I was wrong. I have had two or three cups of coffee and I still want to doze in front of the computer. Sleeping on the keyboard is uncomfortable and does not accomplish either rest or work.

Eyes close randomly

And then my head falls forward

Startled I wake up

I am going to try a different approach to waking up. I will fix myself another cup of coffee, this time I make café mocha. Next, I will warm up some rice in the microwave, with sugar and milk. If the coffee does not keep me awake then the sugar will; at least, I hope it keeps me awake because it is too early to take a nap.

Wednesday Writing: Poetry Interludes

I am participating in the “May 2012 Follow Me Blogging Challenge” on writing.com. Instead of writing one long entry with paragraphs one right after another, I am interspersing short poem between the paragraphs.

A poetry break

Short interlude between thoughts

Verse rhymed or unrhymed

Most of the poems I write as either haiku or senryu. Sometimes I use other short forms. Please chick out my writing.com blog Snow Melt to read some of my recent entries

Tranquil Tuesday May 8, 2012 Laundry Day

Fabric softener

Its fresh tranquil aroma

Reminds me of rain

The aroma of fabric softener wafts through the house. I can smell the fresh scent in the kitchen, breakfast room, and living room. It makes for a pleasant afternoon. I think that is one of my favorite things about doing laundry at home, I can smell the fresh perfume of fabric softener.

Syndicated Player

This is the goviralnetwork.com syndicated player. It automatically selects videos, so click on the video below.

Sunday Scribbles: White Oleanders

White oleanders

Their boughs waving in the wind

A warm afternoon

Saturday’s Review: Looking back at the writing week

It’s Saturday afternoon and I’m sitting at the computer resting my weary bones. This week I have accomplished a good deal of writing despite the fact that my computer slows down during the mid part of the day. Shock Wave crashed several times during the week and forced me to reboot. I am not sure what caused the problem, but it is irritating.

My computer seems to run slow between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM whether I work on or off line. I am not sure what causes this problem either. I did a ran the disk cleanup program and did some other maintenance at the end of April. None of that seemed to speed up my computer. Then on Friday, it took my virus scan 13 hours to run because the computer kept going into hibernation. Despite all those issues, I got quite a bit of writing accomplished and blog entries published. In addition, I begin reading the 36-Hour Day, which I will review as soon as I finish.

I would have liked to hove accomplished more, but a new week begins tomorrow. A new week is always a fresh start. It is a good time to take a fresh approach to work and writing.

Friday night at home again

It is the First Friday in May. There is an arts celebration occurring in the Arts District of Las Vegas. Yes, Las Vegas has an arts district and it is not on the Las Vegas Strip. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of people having fun in the Arts District, while I am at home composing this entry and listening for my mother to cry, call my name, or cough.

In a few minutes, I have to go in and wake Mom up in order to give her medication. I would like to be in the Arts District enjoying the poetry readings, the music, and the food. That is no possible because I need to have someone stay with Mom who is capable of giving her medication, which is sometimes an ordeal.

I miss not going out on Friday nights. I miss not going out on any night. It does not matter whether it is a weekday or a weekend. I am at home taking care of Mom. Our positions have reversed, Alzheimer’s disease does that; it slowly steals the memory of the person who suffers from it. However, with Alzheimer’s it is not only the person who has it that suffers it is the entire family.

Thankful Thursday: A Wounded Writer’s Gratitude

It is Thursday afternoon and I have a bandage on my left leg again. Therefore, you might ask, what is there to give thanks for; I am thankful for the seven days without the bandage. I am thankful for the two day my leg did not weep all over my compression stockings.

The doctor removed the other bandage last Wednesday. On Thursday, I went to an Alzheimer’s Caregivers’ Conference and wore my compression stocking all day without my leg weeping. On Friday, I went to a Caregivers’ Coffee, without my leg weeping on my compression stockings.

I suspect the issue with my left leg is a chronic condition; which means I will spend more time wearing a knee-high bandage on that leg then the thigh high compression stockings.  I will continue to be thankful for the two, three, or four days without the bandage and without the leg weeping.

The intriguing thing about this situation is that, if they take the bandage off on Wednesday, the leg does not begin weeping until late Friday nights or Saturday morning. This week, due to problems with the car, it took me longer to make an appointment with the wound care doctor then normal. The RN put the bandage on today, so I will go back next Thursday to see the doctor and get the bandage changed or removed depending on the circumstances. In the mean time, I am grateful for the few days without the bandage and the leg weeping.

The Food is Great

This week over a hundred of the world’s greatest chefs were present at a reception host at 10 Downing Street. Among the globally acclaimed chefs present were Gordon Ramsey, Thomas Keller, and Pierre Koffman, to mention just a few. The United Kingdom has 145 Michelin starred restaurants, 117 Bibs Gourmands, and several of the restaurants were featured in the World’s Top 50 list that was announced this week. Check out the video below to get a taste of this event.

Midweek Reflections on my bed

Before I go any farther with this entry, I want to warn the reader that it is not as risqué as it sounds. In fact, it is not risqué at all.

For several months, I slept either on a love seat or on couch. However, Monday I decided that since I have, what I thought was, perfectly good bed I would sleep on it. Now I remember why I was not sleeping in my bed; the mattress is too uncomfortable for a good nights sleep.

For the past two nights, I have been in pain. I am not talking about the little ache one gets after a certain age. I am referring to real “wake me up in the middle of the night” excruciating cannot get out of bed without screaming pain. Once I force myself to get up, I hobble through the house to the kitchen where I take my first morning medication (which is not a pain pill). Then I go into the living room sit down on the couch and fall asleep.

I get more rest sitting on the couch sleeping then I do in my bed. I need a new mattress. I probably also need a new bed frame, but right now I would settle for a box springs and mattress even if I had to put them on the floor. I just want a good night’s sleep without the pain in my knees or back waking me up.

I want a new bed

I want a restful mattress

Wake up without pain

Tuesday Topics: May Day

May Day has a long and varied history. According to History and Origin, on May 1 the Druids held “the festival of Beltane”, because it was thought that May 1 divided the year in half.

According to the article May Day is not about maypoles: the history of international workers' day, May Day also has it roots in the struggle for an eight-hour workday.

Until I started searching for information on this holiday, I did not know much about its history May Day. I remember that as a child, we had a spring pageant in which we danced around a maypole. That was a long time ago, so I am not sure who held the pageant. It could have been by my grade school or at the church we attended. The reason I remember the pageant was the maypole.