My Buddy Andrew

My Buddy Andrew

Day 50—

We just got a new guy in the office—somehow someone up front wrote for some grant monies and got it. It’s Andrew, you will remember Andrew, I had a snippet about Andrew last summer. Actually, I just posted his image but now Andrew is contract labor for our office and that is good.

Andrew, and I think it will always BE Andrew, never Andy but Andrew, is a serious minded post graduate student just wanting to make a difference. Andrew is bright lad, with a keen insight at how systems and bureaucracies work. He reminds me a great deal of “Little Big Man” a “ little person” who headed up the State’s SILC at one time who was basically driven out of town because his think was too independent and was not your typical PWD (person with a disability). Little Big Man was a guy who really believed in the independent living movement and PWD should, must direct their own lives. I will develop the story further about Little big Man, further at another point in time-but suffice it to say Andrew is another true believer.

Andrew, like me, is a devout believer in the Independent Living movement. Andrew is what is termed seriously disabled. He uses a power wheelchair and a host of PCA(personal Care Attendants)s to make it through his day. Andrew lives downtown, uses public transportation superbly and tends to be the master of his own life. He drives an aging Invacare Storm but gets by. Get this guy is so cool he figured out a way to see “art” films at no cost. He works as a docent at the local “film Society” a couple times a week getting him a pass to all movies ever being shown by the Society. One of the most impressive items about this guy is that he holds a master’s degree in educational counseling! The fact that his masters is in Ed Counseling is not so amazing as in the fact that he HAS a masters degree. Secondly, I am amazed that Andrew is working here as “Contract Labor”.

When I first met Andrew, he was visiting every state agency and private-non-profit in the State looking for employment i.e. validation. No body was going to hire Andrew—though no one said it, it would be illegal to say it—he was too disabled. Not a single manager could figure out what to do with him. People are so stupid. This guy is a gold mine! He just wants a place to sit and produce and that is what he does. He had been doing volunteer work at “Tissues” a local private non-profit “systems change” think tank. They wanted Andrew if he was free and if they could chase down some grant money they would consider putting the lad on staff. Luckily for us and unluckily for Andrew “Tissues” never “chased down” a grant to hire Andrew. In fact word on the street is that “Tissues” is folding as a paid staff operation. This is weird, Tissue is a local landmark, intuition. So, somewhere along the line I introduced Andrew to some of the staff here they were impressed and one staff member in particular saw asset Andrew is and found the dollars to hire the lad on as Contact.

So Andrew is in the office at least 20 hires a week, making calls, thinking with top end staff and acting and being employed. His task is to bring to pass and end to the humongous waiting list that people with developmental disabilities are being forced to endure. If anyone can do this it’s Andrew he just has to dodge the bullets.

FOX SUX

I have been good and I have been faithful all season long but last night FOX ONCE again, screwed me. Just pisses me off. I have been watching Prison Break (PB)all autumn. I cannot say I have enjoyed the program but the program has beer interesting. So, I figured I would finish out the season get the brother taken care of and then cross the program off my viewing list. Actually what I feel is the best part of the program is the subplot of the vice-president’s involvement and the two FBI type goons who are out of control killing anyone interfering with the VPs plans of world dominance. The violence and social slumming one is exposed to in the program makes the show really untenable for spending time with—least wise my time. Sorta like 24 blood and guts and veins in your teeth stuff every week. The intensity of this program finally is over whelming but I digress. What pisses me off is that the stupid programs ends with a stupid “cliff hanger”. I could sense it coming midway through last night’s episode when there were way too many loose ends to be finished in the time left. Sure enough 3-2-1 minute and Fish is holding his head in his hand about ready to cry saying he cannot do it…and dorkhead T-bag is mouthing off and the season finishes with a stupid clif hanger!! FOX really should have more balls! They clearly have a good program, lots of folks are sucked in—the series stands alone and on it’s own merit. FOX does not need to rely on cheap tricks to make sure the audience stays tuned over the holiday season. Yet they do. I know I should have been better tuned into to “Spoilers” and other PB blogs and I could have picked up on this. But, I do not have time it was enough to allocate one hour as week . I really believed it would end.
I really thought FOX had learned their lesson with 24. FOX tried that I think the first year but I think this really pissed the viewers off. The had pretty good series conclusions there-after when folks complained.
I have noticed the FOX tends to do a similar trick on their News at Nine broadcasts. This cheap trick is to give you half the story and then let you know the rest of the story will be broadcast twenty minutes later in the broadcast. They even do this with then Weather you get half of the weather at the first of the show but then have to wait till they are on the other side of the hours to find the forecast. I don’t know if FOX is alone in doing this kind of cheap weather reporting and story reporting but sure irritates me.
Oh and one last thing…I am tired of FOX “salacious” weather they seem to go out of their way to tell you there is going to be much more weather drama then there ever is. I used to hunker down and ready for a massive storm of any kind and their storm predictions always peter out. Some time I really miss my expanded cable.

Forecast:Snow

I drove the van in today. I do that on days I have meetings which are difficult to get to I a timely manner or when I know the weather is going top be vicious. Today both factors weighed in. Yesterday’s snow turned into today’s deep freeze and I did not wish to be out in the elements anymorethen I had to. Plus Cecilia has been coughing round her office and looking a bit peaked and I figured she needed to get home as soon as she could manage…so, Cecilia worked through lunch and left as soon as I got back from my presentation.

I had to present to a group at the local independent living center the same center I worked at for 15 or so years. This is the longest I ever worked at one joint. It was a good gig too. I was sort of stupid to leave but the time was
right for me for me to be moving on. However, I remain in the area and I return periodically. Since I run this information line for the State it is only natural to use this independent living center for an “outreach” tool. Today was one of those days for my return. I may have said it in this blog before but each time I roll into that building I get those “homey” feelings. I get the feeling even stronger when I go into my old office. Luckily, my best friend took the office when I left and has been able to maintain the level, if not surpass, the level of chaos in the office when I was Resource Coordinator. In those sweet warm fuzzy moments all I can do is take a deep breath and be glad I had the time to work there when I did.

I had leftovers for lunch turkey from the big day. I had Dianne pack the bread plain in a plastic box—she placed potato chips on the bread and sent the turkey separately in a waxed brown paper sack. The idea is to make the sandwhich here at the office. I know at one time I was going to do this on a regular bases so I bought some mayo so when I went to make my sandwich the mayo was gone. I know, it was less then a year old—mayo does not even get good till after the first year. We have at least one certifiable “clean freak” who works here. She lives and dies by the expiration date—she is a production managers wet dream. I had to make do with Ranch dressing. Actually Ranch dressing is doable on bread and does nice things for turkey on white.

Hey I submitted my request for 11 days of Annual over the month of December and I got it! I am so jacked. I have the days, usually the last two days of the week and all of the week after Christmas and before New Years.
This schedule will let me finish my shopping and do what ever I need. I have never taking this much time off before in one month. I don’t think I am going to know what to do with myself.

Tomorrow I plan to train into work…it’s calling for snow to fall during the night.

Sunday Snow

As a wheelchair using guy, I should hate the snow, actually, I do but I do like to watch the stuff fall and be inside when the snow is outside. You just cannot do much with the stuff if you are wheelchair user. If you use a manual chair your hands freeze just trying to push through the white—your paws redden just at the touch of you rims. It’s a cold that sets into you hands and chills you all day long. You can try to use gloves but the snow freezes to ice and soon you cannot get any grip on the rims and you are stuck. Now, this is all supposing you get any traction on the snow covered ground. Your stuck. Mind you I am speaking from the perspective of a partial quad—that’s me. Halfway in between a para and a quad. The paras: they are something. The like to think they can go anywhere and Many times they do but even the para sometimes runs into snow even they cannot control. Some times paras take along able bodied sidekicks who can help them out of slick, cold jams. This is cool a tad more realistic.

Since I have started using a powerchair, I am surprised at how much more independent I have become. Since there are no rimmed wheels to push I can use my free hands to hold snow shovels, fire wood and groceries from the shopping trip. Mind you I still have to be cautious of where I am going cause even a big Jazzy like I drive can get caught. New snow is generally not a problem my jazzy goes anywhere in the new stuff…only after a day, when the snow has been pressed down into white ice, that I can loose traction and begin to slide. This time of the year when I get off the train darkness has already fallen, I m riding home in the cold dark air my only companions are the cars whizzing past—I pray the drivers see me.

Should I tip my chair over or fall out of my chair—I am not getting back in under my own power. There was a time I could do such things but not those days are part of my past. I just hope that when I fall someone sees me or that my back pack is close by that I might get hold of my cell before my hands freeze up and call 911 or someone for assistance. My power chair has thrown me couple of times but never in deadly cold. Once I was motoring home through my neighborhood when my chair stopped and I went sailing. Luckily my neighbor just happened to be out in his driveway and I was lucky enough to get his attention. It was all Al could do to get me back in my ride. So, now I am sure to wear my safety belt cannot take a chance. Years ago, when I was single, I lived alone in a small cottage in downtown Salt Lake. There was no yard just concrete, once in January when I was coming home from an evening I my chair slipped away from underneath me as I was transferring from my car to the chair. The hour was late, or early about 2:00 AM. The air was freezing as I hit the packed snow and I landed on my back. I did not hurt myself. I was a bit chagrinned laying there in the darkness lit by the very white of the snow itself. I laid there and just stared into space. The stars hung in front of me I felt like I could reach out and touch them. Everything was beautiful. I even started to warm. I felt a little goofy and suddenly comfortable sleepy. I realized I could just got to sleep and everything would be alright. Then from somewhere deep within in me a voice yelled up through me. YOU IDIOT! THIS IS HOW PEOPLE DIE!!
I struggled for the next hour to drag my ass back in the car an then into the wheelchair, this time much more secured. I gotta go find my snow boots.

Another Saturday Night

Saturday night and I have been meaning to get to the blog all day but this is the first chance I have gotten.  In fact I have spent the last hour and half trying to post some Thanksgiving images up.  I finally got them up but the order is backward—sort of looks like the  Seinfeld where the show the whole shown backwards.  The backwardness kind of has a interesting effect.  I think I have accepted this argument rather then straighten all the images out. I think you will get the idea.
A cold front has moved in—finally clouds and a hint of snow and a cleansing of the local environment. I was out briefly and it is colder then it has been all year. I threw out the turkey carcass and there was ice on the garbage can lid.  I have been freezing all day and Dianne just turned up the heat to a level of comfort in the computer room. I’m still wearing my watch cap though and I have a scarf wrapped round my neck. I look like a character from a Dickens novel.

I had lunch with Lori and Jerry Friday , the writers lunch. Jerry is the writer for one of the local papers and has expressed some interest in my blogging. I may have mentioned in the past that he thinks I should consider writing a column for the paper. He expressed this feeling again Friday. I Now, Jerry wants me to pick three of my blog entries and submit the entries to the paper and see if they would consider doing a column.  Jerry thinks I should focus on my special niche of public transportation and disability, more specifically my disability. He says has not seen this point of view anywhere. Jerry may have a point.  I think sure no problem.  I hammer out about 500 words on a daily basis but blogging is one thing—I am doing this for my own entertainment. Jerry thinks I could write one column a week.  This should be easy unless I freeze up  or something. Doing the same thing for money is something else.  Then I am really committed.  Oh well, what can the submission hurt?  I would never turn down the money either—not much, maybe just fifty a column but something published and regularly would be very cool. We will have to see what turns up.
The washer is broke, the door is leaking and we cannot use it till it’s repaired.  Dianne has the washer guy coming out on Monday but we were out of clothes so yesterday following my lunch we had to go wash at the Laundromat. I have gotten to the point where I hate to go to the “mat” but Dianne had all the clothes in the infamous black garbage bags loaded in the van.  What a trip.  While we were there this guy, even older then me was washing. He looked a bit of a hobo He had this sweater which was literally a rag.  I wish I had taken a picture of him. But, hat was really interesting was that as he dried his clothes he put them all on! Really he totally layered himself in what clothes, he looked like a grossly overweight painter. Dianne was worried about him especially after he left the laundry. She was worried that he was homeless or would freeze. I figured he was just fine.  The old fart new what he was doing and I sure he would be just fine.

Battle stations...Battle Stations!!

I am in the office a half day. I opened up and I am the only one here. It’s kinda nice. Quiet and warm here in the furthers back room of the office. I forgot my camera today. It got used it a lot yesterday at the dinner. Oh yes the Thanksgiving dinner. I hopefully posy images tonight and tomorrow for sure.

You all may remember me gloating about how, I had Thanksgiving” sewn” up with having to bake just two pies and show up at my brother’s house. It’s my own fault. I should not have said anything but late Wednesday morning Dianne calls informing me that my brother ( host of Thanksgiving dinner) is down super sick with a viral thing ad there was no way that my 91 y.o. was going to let herself be exposed to such risk. My sister in law was going ahead with the meal since her daughter’s family was sill coming over since her daughter and the kids were already ill from being exposed earlier and that my family was still more then welcome at their home. I said I appreciated the invitation but we would pass too and tryi to avoid this disease process for as long as possible. So, Dianne and I discussed and decided to offer the emal—after all – at out home!! BATTLE STATIONS BATTLE STATIONS…SHIELDS UP WE’RE GOING IN!!!!!

Dianne dug the turkey out of the freezer and tossed the cryogenically preserved 22 pound fowl into the Jacuzzi and turned it all full blast. We were up till 12:30 a.m. making the pies, washing dishes and figuring out the game plan. I was up at 5:00 am, I wanted to get up earlier but could not drag my self in to my chair at 4:30 am. I went back to the Garden bathroom and sure enough, Big-bird, had thawed and was ready for cooking. I used one of my hooks to fish the butterball from the tub and rolled into the kitchen and started the preps. Dianne got up a littler later then I and wanted to use a recipe she had found from Alton( Good Eats) Brown article oh how to roast A turkey. The procedure was involved but not too bad lot of cooking the bird at different temps at first, making tinfoil breast plate and being vigilant—but the effort was worth while and 4 ½ hours later we had one of the most perfect birds we have ever roasted.

The meal was planned to take place at 1:00 pm…Mom was coming up from Santaquin at 12:00 with her sister and brother-in-law to Sandy Ut where the hand off wa to take place. We sent the son-in-law and, GD,. Gabriel and Aunie out for the handoff.\ while we did final preps at the house.

I am amazed the whole thing went off near perfection—how rare? People seemed to genuinely be having a good time. My son Mark had to work but his wife and daughter joined us later in the after so we had representation from his fam and during the day I was called by Michelle. And Mark did stop by after work and had some pie. So I heard from everyone. We had most of the dishes washed and the left-overs stored away by 4:30. Dianne was exhausted I was feeling the day but not enough to nap at that late hour. I watched TV did some “Demand” movies and congratulated our selves for a meal well served.

Holiday Drift

The day before Thanksgiving holiday and the office is open for business but little is getting done. In fact in all the offices I have ever worked, little gets done before any significant holiday. Yesterday the boss brought in lunch, potato and leek soup with mounds of cookies, a bunt cake and pastry. There are still goodies—still nothing compared to what Christmas will bring but still there a festive mood slipping over the place. In fact the boss was just in my office letting me know that she planned to shut the office down around two this after noon. She also not
r a doctor’s appointment in a few minutes and I know that is just going to spill all kinds of fuel on office anarchy until her return. Half of the staff is out leaving just four of here to cover phone and stand ready for emergencies. We four can get awful rowdy given the opportunity and lack of supervision.

It’ been a rough two days this week. There has been a mass of tension in the office as one of the office mates has been under the management’s crucible. Even though the focus of management attention is not on me per se—I still feel the tension. I feel I am being watched, especially if I associate with the officemate who is the center of the storm. Little changes but I feel the tension. Sad but I feel the office mate is on her way out. I see some power play issues going on and some lines recently have been “drawn in the sand”. Youthful pride and a weird brand of elitism. It’s a silly and risky game to play—the stakes can be high. However, the officemate is young, this will be a terrific learning experience for her. She has the resilience of youth on her side and oddly enough the huge bureaucracy of the State. For her age she has been with State for a long time, has built up the State protections, leave and skills to survive in this system. She will do well regardless of the local out come. I guess her selfishness of doing her dangerous places a lot of tension with her mates at the office who cannot afford to be or appear to be so cavalier.

We are a call center, small but a call center, all the same. We live by our calls. However, the day before a holidays the calls have dropped to zip…nothing going on except family members calling to find out when we are being turned loose, get decision for holiday preparations and to have you pick up last minute items before coming home. There is no need to have two operators on today. This is typical. I think the folk we serve realize the “great system” grinds to a halt during this time of year and unless they are desperate: eviction, utility shut off, death or burn out, the folk just hunker down during the cold and hope for the best. Coming out only to pick up food boxes, Toys for Tot deliveries and other essentials of the season.

Holiday Miracle number two. Yesterday I lost my cell phone on the way home from the train—I figured it was gone. Loosing the phone would not have been the end of the world. It’s a very old Nokia, Nokia does not even service the phone any longer and it’s “the old system”. Everytime I go and try to get a new head set or something the inform me of this. So, I maws, sort of hoping ths lost phone would be the force o drive me to get anew one. I noticed the phone was gone this morning and I figured I lost it last night.

Dianne just called and a little Gangsta found it and called her a few minutes ago. Wow! Dianne gave him $5.00 and everyone was happy and I am connected once again.

WHITE GLOVES AND STONES

What a great morning! We actually got to bed at a decent time last night so I was up and out fairly early—I think I left he house about 6:15 am which is best. This time assures me I will get to the train station in time for an early enough train to get me into the office to get my day planned with out the stress of the later times bring.

The City is locked under a massive high pressure system which is blocking any clouds or chance for storms which means temperatures drop like stones in the evening and the mornings are pretty cool if not cold. The cold of late autumn is still too new for me to have gotten all my winter gear out. I have my sweaters, jacket and a few hats but that’s all. I have yet to lay hands on a full set of gloves. The jacket I am using now is very large—this is necessary for me to be able to put on and take off independently especially without having to undo the zipper. I pull the jacket on and off like a shirt. On mornings like this morning I “ turtle”. I pull the jacket up over my head as far as I can and zip up the front to my nose. I then pull my left hand up inside the sleeve of the jacket. I try to do this with my left hand but I must leave the hand out so I drive my power chair and the cold morning air really freezes my hand. I was pondering the need to start seriously checking out the boxes in the garage for the rest of the Winter gear when a white object flashed by the road. The object had an odd shape in the morning darkness. I spun around and backtracked to what turned out to be a white glove when a white object flashed by the road. The object had an odd shape in the morning darkness. I spun around and backtracked to what turned out to be a white glove lying in the road. In fact, the white glove was a right hand glove. The glove could not have lain there l9ng for it was still clean—after a couple of hours on the street the leather would be a lot more scuffed. I thought right off this is the first of the Holiday miracles. I scooped up the glove and tugged it on my hand and sure enough the glove was a perfect fit. I was feeling pretty food—a glove for my right hand and with my other hand tucked up into the sleeve of my jacket I was fairly toasty. I powered forward and was back on my way when I stopped again. The route I take to the train station is industrial and surely the glove(s) had been placed on the hood or roof of a vehicle and been forgotten and lost as the tuck entered traffic. I thought if one glove was gone then maybe it’s mate was close by. I zipped back to the spot where I picked up the glove and sure enough less then 10 yards away there was a crumpled mate…a bit more thrashed then the right hand this left hand glove was wearable and kept the cold blast of morning air off my hand. The glo9ves are not super warm, they are work gloves not winter or snow gloves but they did the trick and kept my belief in Holiday Miracles intact.

I get off the train at the Delta Center, the home of the Utah Jazz, NBA(?) ball team. I assume the building is a nice arena and have a number of events in the building all year round. This morning I was greeted by a fleet of semi-trucks and private over the road coaches( buses)all the coaches match then I remember today is the 22nd. Today day is the Rolling Stone concert—Mick and the other ancients are in my fair city blasting out Satisfaction, Long Tall Women, Start Me Up and I am sure so much more.


I will not be going though—cannot justify the time or the money. I think I want to remember the boys as they were as we all were at some other point in time.

Hey Buddy Can You Spare a Can?

I was up too late last night—family trauma but at least all seems to be ending well. I wish I could blame the lack of sleep on the family trauma because even if the trip to the emergency ward had not taken place I would have stayed up at least till 11:00 PM. I got sucked into Rome and I thought the final episode which DID air last night was on 9:00-10:00 pm edition but I was wrong—last night the 9:00 –10:00 slot was the Encore episode, more specifically, last weeks show. The Series finale was on afterward at the 10:00 to 11:00 PM time slot and I watched it. Had I been smart and patient I would have realized HBO will feature this episode again next week and I would be able to access the show at a better time for me. Like I said though I was into the whole Rome thing by then and besides I was trying to be supportive and stay up till Dianne got home. Dianne did get home about 12:30 am. So I am a bit sleep deprived but I am making it through the day.

It’s the holiday week. I am betting very little really gets done this week. All kinds of vacation is being taken in this office and I know likewise through out the State. So, if you are a consumer needing some type of State support you better be persistent and have your stock piles build up. Offices will be running on skeleton crew staffs, phones will be answered but that is about all. I am working all week but he holiday and half a day on Friday. I plan to come in the morning and make a fast day of it. I just know I am going to get a zillion calls of evictions, utility turn offs and food need. And you know what? I don’t have anything I can tell them. Maybe the food response is doable—I MEAN right after Thanksgiving who will not have a bone to spare? Food banks will tank pretty fast the next week going into Christmas but right after T-Day I imagine something will be available. The Food banks should rebound as Christmas nears with more and more Public Service Announcements air, and more and more local network news crews show up at the main downtown homeless park doing remotes to show the need. Oh yeah, the ever present lunch news feed from the down town soup kitchen line showing not only the grisly older guys hut whole families standing in line waiting for a sandwich, cup of soup or what ever. This is the kind of energy which will start driving the food conscience of all the locals who CAN and SHOULD donate a meal or two if not to the season then to the people in need. The local mangers of the various food bank have been sweating the food donations from the first tsunami this year that everyone will donate to the international crisis and forget about the CRISIS in our own back yard or rail yard or City Park. I had a one hour and forty-five minute call this morning from this waif of a small soul who needs a self imposed special diet. Everywhere she turns she is turned aside. Actually the waif is quite brilliant but a but naïve and beside herself. If she were stupid her systemic abuse would not be so bad because she would not conceive the great conspiracy to her but she does know and is aware which greatly adds to her pain. She feels her religious structure if not her God has forsaken her. She is at odds with just about everyone in her life. The most I can do is listen—sometimes I sense that helps. Other times, I can actually give her a small bit of information or direction which might even help. Many times I must bite my tongue not to judge her comments even if they inadvertently take aim on me and my office; the best I can do is to listen and try to remain objective.

We Did It!!

Hey, I am I am surviving the “cousin sleep-over”. I am a bit groggy but I am doing ok, just a few more hours and we will do the last hand-off to the other grandparents. Honestly, I am still amazed that the first trade off yesterday went off without a hitch. John and Emery( the other Grand Parents GP) even dropped of Jasmine of while Dianne was off getting the other GD(Grand Daughter) Auni. So, there I was the middle aged crip of a grandfather taking the hand-off. I think John and Emery were a bit spooked not really having spent a lot of time with me and not knowing my true skills. There was some small talk making—they were stalling in hope Dianne might drive up but no go. They finally had to cut bait and leave to get to another family function on the other side of the family. We just plugged i one of the Little Einsteins and Jazimine was tranced out. I know Dr Ow has some serious reservation with Little Einsteins but i do not see any harm with Jasmine, who is almost two. Between Little Einsteins and two picnic baskets we have of stuffed animals. Jasmine never even noticed the exit of the other Gps.

Auni spent the night too, I credit part of the reason this sleepover has gone so well is the presence of Auni and her willingness to act as a babysitter. Auni has done a great job, playing with and Jasmine, feeding jasmine and paying attention to her cousin.

Dianne and I are both exhausted. Jasmine just does not go to sleep when it's her time for bed. The kid fights sleep. I even noticed that after we decided to get the baby into bed with us, that jasmine was even sticking her fingers in her eyes as a last ditch effort to conscience; a bit strange but cute. You had to be there. Jasmine only had one bout of crying just as she went to sleep. I think this is when she missed her mom the most. Jasmine finally conked out about 10:30 but she flopped round the bed enough to keep me away and not getting to deep into sleep. Thats OK , I can hold on till the trade-off. Dianne is a sleep for a few more minutes.

The trade off is complete it went well everyone is happy—Auni did great and earned another night—maybe we'll get some sleep tonight.

TIME SHEET-TIME SHEETTIME SHEET-TIME SHEET

TIME SHEET-TIME SHEET TIME SHEET-TIME SHEET TIME SHEET!

I

TIME SHEET-TIME SHEET TIME SHEET-TIME SHEET TIME SHEET!

I just gone through, once again, 120 minutes of terror and horror trying to find my timesheet upon which is calculated you life, your groceries, yopur clothed mortgages and rents and so much more are all dependant on if you get your timesheets in or not—mileage is one thing—I can get by with out the mileage—in fact as I was frantically rifling through the chaos sitting on my desk I happened to find a mileage check I had forgotten to cash in September!! But you have your time sheets and they have to be done right and they have to be in no later the “Friday November 18, 2005 at 5:00 PM!” that is what the memo-email said which was circulated late last afternoon, due, of course, to the Thanksgiving holiday. I was gone so I did not see it this morning when I came in. The mileage check is just recreation money it’s like a gift which comes halfway through the month—the check is the “klickback” I get back from the employer for investing in a bus/train pass once a month…it usually works out to just over twenty bucks.

Not only do you have to have your timesheets filled out and submitted by the end of work today! You have to have to have the OFFICIAL TIMESHEET which was sent with your last pay Stub—you know the document which gives you your record or account of hours earned, annual earned or spent, insurances paid for, etc, etc. I am usually. If the official timesheet is lost, I have learned, it is a major process getting a blank one to just write all the regular info on. The human resource folks just seem to freak And then loath me for doing something as irresponsible as loosing the damn sheet—you can pull them off the State website but oh no, they want the one which came with the work receipt. But, I found the timesheet right on the clipboard where it was supposed to be. I over looked the document when I first looked for it this morning leading to this major desk purge. Too bizarre. But as it is I gotta go. I have a meeting soon and have to drive cross town to get there… hopefully I’ll get a chance to add more to this evening…maybe we are having both granddaughters(GD) mover for a sleep over and I am a bit traumatized. This is the youngest GD’s first time spend the night at our place. This is also the longest she has been separated from her parents. The parents are to be gone about three days and the first night and day will be with the maternal grandparents and we will get her for the last segment. I am worried that we’ll measure up to the job. I have stacked the deck in our favor however. I have invited the older GD, Auni, to spend the night too. Auni and Jazzy seem to get along well. This is as close as Auni gets to be an older sibling- Auni has little contact with her other cousins and having her over is great for us and great for Auni too. So, I gotta get home and help clean and kid proof; we really are not set up for a three year old.

Winter Triple Crown

I can sense the pressure building not even close to a boil but as the friction of the holidays gets closer the heat will create an intense boil. I was wondering what the irritation I kept feeling all week then realized that Thanksgiving is next week—the first of the majors in what I call the winter Triple Crown. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New years! I could throw in Hanukkah and probably anywhere but the Intermountain, United States Hanukkah is right up there with the other big three. But for me and my life they are T.C.&N. which actually sounds like a railroad

We are going to my brother’s this Thanksgiving; actually that is where we go every Thanksgiving. His house is not accessible and I have to be drug up the steps of his porch and pulled into his house. The bathroom is not on the main floor but the main floor is where I will stay the entire time while I am there. I have a bottle for #1 and I just have to pray against having to do a #2—if I have to do a 2 I am going home. My ancient mom will be there and frankly that is the main reason I am going. My brother is incredible. He drives a hour South and back again to bring mom up for dinner then reversed the process. This allows me to spend some equality time with her and not make the drive myself. Again, I would do this drive willingly but the home she lives is not accessible either so I see my mom when I have the opportunity so I am doing the Fam Thanksgiving dinner.

Like every other family in America these days we are a blended family; add to this that our kids are old enough to have spouses which means families and extended families which means they have to be at dinners everywhere throughout the valley. This also means parts of the family do not feel comfortable with other segments of the family so there seems to be some familial territorialzation. I try to minimize the tension as best as I can. So, even though we are not having a giant Thanksgiving feast at out house, it looks as if we WILL prepare a turkey and pies ( we have to bring one pecan and rolls to the gathering) and have something to eat on later in the Thanksgiving evening and plenty of left over the remainder of the weekend.

The tension seems to ebb as I float through the last week of November, knowing I should be diligently doing my Christmas shopping but diligently putting the effort off—which is stupid but adds to holiday tension. Add to this the Christmas plays, parties obligatory church and family get-togethers, heating expenses , eating expenses visa and mastercard payments and on top of everything else…tithing settlement! The friction n has caused enough heat to generate a rolling boil. Spousal arguments increase as does the personal guilt for providing less then a stellar Christmas. But I must pause to regain my composure. Luckily I am from a family and dogmatic background which never understood how to celebrate New Years, the last of the Holiday Triple Crown. I am too old to really do any serious drinking for the event and even if I did or could stand the “morning after” I hate loosing the whole day trying to recover—when I was younger this was not a problem it is now.

Just thinking about the Holidays

OH SHUTE! OH, THAT CHUCK

Oh SHUTE! I just got off the phone with my old buddy Josh , director of the local 211 project. Boy was he pissed. Josh tried to be diplomatic but I could tell he was simmering. Josh was incensed that I told my old buddy Chuck about his secrete 25 years of work party celebration( see yesterdays blog). I, of course, tried to laugh then whole thing off :

Me laughing … “are you kidding you sent a postcard all over the city and you expected that Chuck would not find out?

Josh… “ But you told him! Didn’t you read the card at the bottom it said ‘This is a surprise’

Me: Come on Josh, if not from me—and I did not tell him, I just asked how long he had been director from 211 and he just inferred from that.

Josh: But you told him!

Me: He inferred from the question I asked and besides he thinks the event is for today—I clearly led Chuck away from the event real date which is tomorrow.

Josh: BUT YOU TOLD HIM! I CANNOT TELL YOU ANYTHING(frustration masquerading as stressed laughter).

Me: Yeah, I could never be a spy, the second they started walking toward me with that tooth probe I’d tell them everything. And besides you sent out a general post card with all the information on it.

Josh: (frustration turning to anguish) But it said it was a surprise right on the bottom of the card.

Me: Right! On the bottom, you had to read all the way to the bottom to know that…who finishes a post card?

So, I asked him if he still wanted me to come. I let him know I would not go now…now, that I wrecked everything by letter his precious secrete out. I told Josh I was too ashamed now and besides I had to go to Ogden tomorrow. However, Josh insisted that I show up at least for the award section…I could skip the movie.

I hope Josh doesn't read this blog--Chuck might but Josh works waaaay too hard.

Chuck Who?

Day 34

This is an image of “a” Chuck White” not THE Chuck White which is what today’s blog is about. I am still searching for an image of THE Chuck and have not scored yet. I think I might have some archived on another computer or backed up on a CD somewhere.

My buddy Chuck White works at the local Information and Referral line, in fact at one time he was known as “Mr I&R”. He has worked at this program for 25 years this month and he served as Executive Director of the Line for 12 of those 25 years. Chuck is a marvel, he actually resigned his post of this agency and went back to school to become an educator which he still has to realize. He is close I understand just a couple more yard. Chuck , thank God, came back to a post at the “211” line as an operator and yet he seems relatively happy. Chuck is steady, dependable and Lutheran one of the few, comparatively speaking, in this valley of Mormons. Chuck could be characterized as jolly and though not loquacious, highly verbal. Chuck seems to be a happy professional; answering the questions he is flooded with on a daily base. Chuck is punctual and regular at his work. He is one of those guys you never considered would come in late for work. Chuck is the legend, he is the I&R operator everyone wants to be when they grow up. Chuck is the one who can make the difference. No one can does information like Chuck.

Chuck is being honored sometime this week for his 25 year term—it was supposed to be a surprise and I think I blew it. I actually called Chuck to ask about the event—it was during this call that I looked at the bottom of the post card, I had called from, and saw in small type across the bottom, “This is a surprise!” Great! If Chuck did not know about the event before I called he sure as hell knows about it now. Come on! Do you really expect something like a twenty-five year employment commemoration, on yellow postcards mailed to who knows who, is going to remain “SECRETE!!!” I think not, it was just a matter of time till someone in the area made the call. I was just the buffoon who did the deed. Well, I did tel Chuck the wrong date for the event—so if he does not read this blog I should be OK—Unless, I scan the invitation post card in and list the image of the post card along with the image of the wrong Chuck White. Or I could blur out the critical data—man that’s a lot of work and I love old Chuck dearly but work is work
And the scanner is all the way into the other office.

Winter came during the night—it was like 28 degrees when I headed out for the train this morning. The sky had cleared the great wind which rattled the house all night blew the smog away out over the great desert leaving pristine views of the huge Wasatch Range—this will last a day before today’s commutes smogs up the valley—let the inversions begin.

New Shoe Blues

Day 34

These are my new shoes—Dianne got them over the weekend. They are HUGE but that’s OK. I actually need them huge due to a birth defect on my right foot. My little toe rides up on the toe next to it and will rub on the roof of shoes which have not been worn in. so the bane of my life have been new shoes. It seems that it takes at least a week of painfull rubbing of the toe against the shoe before there is enough wearing the shoe is functional. Being in the middle of ten children this issue did even come along till adolescence when I bought new red wrestling shoes. Brand new, fresh out of the box smell fire engine red with white stripes. ( I really wish I had an image of these to show.) This was very much the exception to the rule.

My shoes usually came from older brothers, cousins or second hand stores but mostly hand me downs. I really never considered anything else—I did not have a clue that others were getting new shoes every year or sooner. Actually, as I write this I remember a set of baseball cleats I got a year or so before the wreck—this I guess has to count as shoes. So yes, I did get new shoes but not many times. Again, usually by the time I got the shoes I was going to get the leather or cloth were worn to the point not hurting my toe when I put the shoe on for the first time.

I think I have unusually fat feet especially for crip feet. It’s not like I am standing on these t blocks flesh at the end of my legs eight hours a day to spread them out. So, I have learned if I purchase shoes large enough I can find a pair that reasonable fit with little discomfort. In order for a shoe to this wide the shoe ends up being long as skies. Life is a trade off. I figure the trade off is worth it since the shoe is going to last a long time, wearing out from the top down. I have a pair of waffle stompers I have had for 15 years that have almost new tread buy really worn out along the wholes where I pull the strings tight when tying the shoes up. Actually there are huge holes in the toe and round the top of the shoe from dog chewing. I know para s who have tennis shoes which have looked new for decades.

So, I have a brand new pair of shoes they are so huge i.e. wide, they barely fit in the Boing chair I push when I am work. I am getting used to the shoes and the chair now it has been almost four hours of wear. I think I will be able to make it through the day with out having to remove them. They are Timberlines over a hundred if not purchased on Sale. Dianne got them for $22.00 such a deal. Even if I just use these shoes for a paper weight the purchase risk is worth it. I think the shoes make my feet look huge is in long but who cares for leather, quality manufacturing and a little toe in comfort.

Summer's True End

Day 32

Dianne harvested the last of our summer produce. A clump of peppers which have were actually planted this Spring by our neighbor La Nae has been growing in the small bed on the side of the house. These were almost renegade plants. Growing at the free will watered occasionally by me and I am sure more by La nae but the grew and they seemed to have grown well. The peppers are large by State Fair standards but they are well formed and tasty. Green peppers and hot peppers (red and green) full of flavor and promise. Dianne pulled them up by the roots dirt and all. They are probably still alive sitting on the sink waiting to be processed however we choose. I'll just chop them up and freeze the peppers in small baggies. The small baggies make perfect amounts for meatloaves, sloppy joes and chili oh yes, and pizza toppings.

My dad used to pull the tomatoes at the end of Summer. He'd yank the whole plants out of the ground and hang upside down in the garage. There would always be hundreds of tomatoes of all sizes and different shades of red, many green. They would hang and ripen. We often served fresh tomatoes at Thanksgiving and beyond. I don't know but I think the peppers would do the same, slowly turn different shades red till finally all red some would yellow but all are good. I knew when I came home from school and saw the tomatoes hanging in the garage that summer was truly over, the promise of warm days were gone till Spring. The freeze would come with in a week and everything in the garden which was not harvested would be “burnt down” to the ground and the cold weather would set in.

The cold has held off for quite a while this year the grass is still green and needs cut and the willow's leave still have yet to turn and flutter to the yard. The rain clouds have broken and the even sky is clearing...I am sensing a freeze is in it's way.

Happy Veteran's Day ?

Day 31

Happy Veteran's Day

Is ' Happy Veteran's Day' oxymoronic? You know one of those phrases that sort of negates itself, Veteran's Day is one of those holidays thst I feel kinda guilty have fun one once I fully understood the purpose of it's origin.

Sort of like Memorial Day—really how can you really have any fun on a day set a side to remember dead folks—even if they are your own. I suppose if your uncle Jack was a molester you could throw a party or something to celebrate his demise and be guilt free but Uncle Jacks or Grandpa Buck s are more the rarity then the norm.

Speaking of guilt and Holidays my neighbor is a veteran, I may have even written of him last Veteran's Day. How he is still experiencing survivor's guilt for living through World War II. He really feels his contribution the effort was minimal if no non-existent. Of course I know this is not true—just as Hilleray feels it takes a”village to raise a child”it takes an “Army to fight a war” every Dough boy and every Jack Tar and every one in between.

I missed the whole experience, which is not tragic but still I wish I could have chose one way or the other. Luckily I broke my neck way before I could even be considered for the draft which was just heating in 1966. However, others in my family was not nearly as luck. My older brother knocked off a gas station with a friend and got convicted for armed robbery. This is a long story though and one day may wind up the fodder of a short story. He became a soldier and therefore a veteran, because in those days the political machine populated many of it's military needs from the minorities, middler and lower class volunteers. Often felons were give the “opportunity” and such the third member of my family served this great union. He went on to become on of the ' the few, the proud, the Marines'. And with his group “of brothers” helped pillage South East Asia. My other brothers served: one pre-Cold War and post WWII and the other did his time during the Cold-war active during Berlin Airlift Cuba debacle. Luckily he had no direct involvement in either. He did his time and moved on. There is also my uncle the spy and my cousins the spies(CIA) who also did their bits for the Union. I just have to say thank you all-- this day is for you and though I plan to enjoy being off work but I AM NOT going to feel guilty for being off work or going to DeRailed and maybe even another movie, hitting a restaurant and who knows what else. Thanks for being there even if you did not want to be or feel what you did was not important. You all made the difference, you all were part of the collective “whole” because of you and what you ALL did battles were won, meals cooked, pallets loaded and aircraft and ships were maintenanced. Armies and would be aggressors were stayed and one great country regained it's humility. Thank you every one.

Bon Voyage Mili !

Bon Voyage Mili !

I have a pretty much set routine each day I get to work. I am the first in the office, usually, so I go to my office “punch” my system on; then I go make coffee as the system boots by the time I get back I password through to my files—by this time my coffee is done so I head back to the kitchen doctor my coffee and transfer from my Jazzy to my Boing(manual wheelchair). Now, with coffee in hand, I check out my emails—first State then personal accounts. Then I check my blog statistics and then click “next blog” to see the next five blogs. I was intrigued today by one blog in particular—a blog by Mili Simic—a lad from Brisbane striking out to see the world. He is going to Canada. He has started a blog specifically for his adventure. Now this lad is not just taking the trip he is moving lock stock and barrel. This is so cool. Mili has some friends at least in Canada where he is planning to land. Here is his blog check it out and leave a message.

http://mili-overseas.blogspot.com/ . Check him out and leave a message and then follow his adventure. He seems to do a lot of images so it will be worth your time.

I did something like this years ago—when I relocated to Nampa, Idaho a berg about thirty miles west of Boise—my home town. Moving to a new city is like a complete computer reboot. Everything is crystal clear because you are so focused n trying to learn your way round the new environment. Everything looks strange until everything becomes invisible from familiarity. Markets, theaters, restaurants and bus routs all seem foreign and intimidating. Doing this out of a wheelchair is even more crazy—you tend do a lot of sidewalk checking or in my case driveways. I learned early cities take poor care of their sidewalks—leaving huge “crack monsters” just waiting to reach up and grab your front castor and heave you from your wheelchair. Cities keep their streets in fairly good repair so that’s where I roll any chance that I get. But, mind you have to make sure your access point is in good condition. I think the best part of the “move” experience is the monumental shake up this does for your life sort of like the “nudge” feature on MSN Instant Messenger. A move rattles you back in to reality and everything counts from clothes to money. You can land with friends or fam but this is not real, living with support is just that: supports. Pulling up your pants and cinching your belt and finding that first job or house in the new environment makes the transition complete. Go Mili go!

Tomorrow’s Veterans Day and I am off on Holiday. Probably just stay home and hang out. Actually I am thinkingn of taking Dianne out to Derailed then out to a small dinner. I’ll probably write tomorrow but if I don’t, Happy Veteran’s Day…go hug a vet!

Lunch Hour Depression (LHD)

Lunch Hour Depression LHD is that phenomenon which occurs when you are forced to take your legally proscribed lunch time and you don’t necessarily feel like taking the lunch hour.

Most of the time I take my lunch hour just because I have too- I don’t want to have to stop my work flow roll over to the fridge to retrieve my lunch, heat it up and eat it. This takes thirty minutes living me with having to get rid of yet another thirty minutes or loose them. I just hate giving anything to the System. I would not mind so much if the system was not so punitive about what the system feels about time abuse. So, I max the lunch hour out every chance I get. Many times I just read my book in the Council meeting room and call it good.

Other times I am forced out of the office to “range” for my lunch—this happens when the council room is occupied and I can’t warm up my lunch. Then I actually climb back into my powerchair—then the problem arises, where can you go in an hour you do a decent lunch. There is the mall across the street with typical mall food=fast food. Restaurant choices are limited without having venture deep into the city which means taking a lot of time getting there then getting “set” then the whole lunch process: menued, ordered and fed then back to the office is impossible in sixty minutes. This process is not too bad if I have an extra hour or two.

I suffer from LHD especially from the above situation—you have to use the time but you are not really hungry, especially not hungry for Mall food or other fast food offering. You actually think you might be interested in some of the restaurant offerings. You have the time, money sort of the interest to find out when you get there there is NOTHING on the menu which sounds appealing. When this happens I get a little weird trying to think of a “good” place to go for lunch in the dwindling time I have left. Sometimes I actually have caught my self spinning my powerchair in circles. This has too look seriously unbalanced to those looking on. I usually end up defaulting to the mall—madly crossing the street, entering the mall elevating to the second level the Food court level and dashing to Taco Time or Dog on a Stick grabbing the hot offering and munching on this so called lunch on the way back to the office. The fastest path takes me past the Men’s Homeless Shelter. The guys are in line for the soup kitchen when I pass—I feel their eyes on me and my grease lunch. I can feel their fried food lust even if I choose not to eat my lunch till I get back to the office. The food is in the rolled up paper bag which radiates with the distinct flavor of fast food. I just stare straight a head power forward and loose myself in my afternoon to work and heartburn..there really should be another option.

It Has Started!

Day 28
It has started! The first of the weight increasing holiday meals which are built, subtly into the day’s events. Today is Council meeting and it is catered and it is good. I had smaller portions of the Thanksgiving staples: turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy. I did forgo the deserts. The deserts looked good but not worth my effort of trying to juggle a full plate and push my wheelchair at the same time. There is just too much risk of making a mess. My goal for the next two month is to eat just smaller portions and try to be more active. I know this can be done I just have to be stronger. I know in the next six weeks I have five holiday dinners or lunches, at least three holiday open houses(work related) where rich food is served and two where liquors and wines are served. I have dodged these last two open houses the past couple of years by am compelled this year just for “community out reach”.

It’s the nature of our phone line to help the callers many times we are called to go beyond just giving s phone number of program descriptions—many times we have to do actually research for the caller. Invariably, these grateful consumers seem compelled send or bring us cookies, candies, nuts or high caloric holiday offering. Now, I guess legally there is some question about State public servants receiving gifts and who is going to bus a grateful consumer for thanking her Information and Referral (I&R) operator. And secondly what State “Scrooge” is going to bust a diligent State worker at Christmas?

I can fight the caloric onslaught but I know I will loose the battle. I can be angry at no one in particular being cynical and dark and ruining others holiday spirit by my negativity but I shall choose not to be so. I will choose to be more adult, own my decisions and keep giant portions of food off my plate and pallet. Even though I am in a wheelchair and have limited ability to exercise; I can choose to do something, anything, physical, and burn off some of the celebratory intake. Maybe this year I will be my own Christmas miracle. I will enjoy each and every meal in moderation, and be truly thankful for my “gifts of life, health, family, employment, ability to serve and enjoy presents”. Whew, that was weird I was beginning to feel like I was lost in a Hallmark card. I must not have gotten enough sugar. It sounds like the meeting is beginning to break up. If I am quick and stealth like I can snag a left over pie or something. Moderation, moderation, MODERATION! How many moderations makes a binge? Are cookies wrapped in napkins stuffed in your drawers, bad? Pumpkin pie slices do not travel well in backpacks and punch never lasts till you get home —they are breaking up in the next room I am off questing sugar.

Monday Morning On the train

Day 27

I have never gotten used to the amount of religion I run into in this town. The religion is everywhere, not necessarily in your face religion like the pious residents who are trying to get you under the water baptized—although there is that too you just have to be careful of where you go or who you speak with. I am speaking to a much more subtle approach to letting the world know that you are one of them and proud to BE one of them. Until Trax the most obvious a person could be was to wear some form of BYU propaganda i.e. sweat shirt, base ball cap, or, some other BYU product line.

The “mormon ghanda approach is quietly sitting or standing on the Trax reading your scripture. Now, I don’t know if it’s mandatory to read the Book of Mormon or would one of the three other standards count as much? Now I think of it many of the readers are reading from their Quad or Triple Combination. I have not seen any one just reading from the Bible. I think it would be way cool if the Born Agains would start a major campaign to read their bibles on the train, and the Jehovah Witnesses could read their Watch Tower the train. The could rage against the page and turn there pages just as loud as the could making sure they are being attended too.

I am sure it is just me. I am probably being threatened by these Book of Mormon readers. These folks who are silently loving me back into the “fold”, These folks want me back and will read their brains out to bring this about. I silently watch them, head down mouthing the words as they plow through “Helaman, Alma or Nephi” or some other Book of Mormon” book. I think to myself ‘ I could bring my own trusty triple combination and look like “them”. In fact if I were to bring my own scripture and have them open and my head down and my mouth moving I would effectively be invisible. I could move this a step further and start asking the pious questions,. like a “pop quiz”. If I were to do the pop quiz trick enough times these guys would hide their “sticks” all the way to the bottom of their briefcases bringing out their books only behind the safe closed doors of their bathroom stalls.

You know I guess I am just way too cynical. I should give these readers the benefit of the doubt. I should be open to the fact that the population can be very uptight and stressed out and possibly dangerous. Maybe the scriptural reading is a safety value, a pressure release which allows these folks to make it through another day.

I am including a couple of other images I took on the train this morning. I was having a blast. I have figured away to turn off the flash mechanism and then folks cannot see that I am taking their pics. I did notice a train cop at the far end of the train scowling at me or it could have been my guilty conscience.

Sunday Apple Pies and Cornbread

Day—26

The pie turned out fine. I was actually surprised. I don't think I used the right kind of apples. I used red delicious and I am sure you are supposed to use granny's or some other tart apple. I also did not have white sugar, what the recipe called for and the only brown sugar I could get my hands on was rock hard and I spent 15 minutes, at least, breaking up the little brown sugar stones into a fine powder dust. It worked though the sugar turned syrupy. I also forgot the butter. But really the pie was like by all who partook of it. I amaze myself. I have to confess I did not make the crust—though I have in the past, I can make crusts. Dianne made the crust and rolled it out and all I had to do was put the crust over the pie group once I had the apples sliced mixed with the nutmeg, brown sugar and salt. The apples were probably more mushy then I would have liked but the pie tasted like apple pie and was a great chaser for the soup I had spent the rest of the day cooking.

The soup turned out OK I should have used more seasoning but the soupy was tasty enough for cold dark evenings. I made about three quarts. I bagged them and they are in the fridge for today and a couple other dinners this week, if Dianne does not eat them for lunch. Lunch is OK, that's why I make these weekend meals—easy food for the rest of the week. I wussed out on the bred though. I had made too much of a mess last night with the pie. I spent my creative energy this morning making breakfast and cleaning up from last night. However, I am going to make some cornbread to go with the soup this afternoon.

On Friday I lunched with by buddy Jerry. Jerry is my one real professional writer. I have written about him before use the “search this blog” engine on top of the page and nit should direct you the blog entry with Jerry's image. The inevitable question rose, “What are you writing?” I had to confess that the only thing I am writing right now is my blog. My daily 500 words is taking all my writing concentration. Still 500 words a day ALMOST every day is roughly 15000 words a month which almost more the 150,000 words a year!!! I may be getting close to novel writing endurance. Jerry writes a column for the paper and he indicated the type of writing I am doing is similar to what he does for his paper. He publishes a couple of times a week. In his other writing he is wring editorials—which again I think is very cool and he also writing the mandatory noel. Jerry has a couple of books out and keeps an apartment in the city for his writing all very cool too. So whe3n Jerry speaks I tend to listen he knows what he is doing in the word game.

I don't think Jerry has actually been to my blog... yet. But when we were talking about it I mentioned I had surprised my self in that I had a number of entries discussing if not jabbing the local transit authority. I mentioned I got a lot of my inspiration from my daily journeys on the train. Jerry suggested that I might explore the idea of writing a column on public transit. Since that is what I seem to enjoy writing about a lot. I doubt if I would actually do this with a real newspaper especially if money became involved. I am not even sure how one goes about this. But, the idea is interesting to the point of seriously consideration. Wow, what a thought a weekly column about riding the train as a middle aged crip. Now, that's something to ponder.

Sunless Saturday

Day 25

It's one of those Saturdays that I just want to set here beside by my window and work on my computer or other house hold tasks. The window I sit by is in the front of the house and there is a heat vent right to my side. But, I know I cannot get away with that. I should run to the market and a few other places but maybe I can get Dianne to do that or I can put it off till tomorrow when, the forecasters say there be more sunshine and pre-week motivations begin to stir. It's hang time right now: too early to really get excited about the up coming holidays. There has just been a few queries extended as to where and when the holiday dinners should be—some food assignments but nothing definitive.

The temperature have finally dropped to a point where one has to wear a jacket at least. However, the temp is not uncomfortably cold yet. There's snow in the mountains but just rain in the valley. I can smell smoke from fire places and wood stoves when I do go out. HBO is on down stairs in hopes of snagging something good to watch while folding the wash. I am just about ready to start making a soup if I could just put my hands on some barley. `I know we have some barely but just where is it. Maybe I'll use some dried mushrooms we have had some time purchased from our favorite Asian market. I have lerft over roast from last Sunday which needs to be used or it will be offended—maybe I'll use some green peppers to. I'll try to get an image of the soup up by this evening.

I may add more later too...I just don't have a lot to say right now. Hope you're having a great weekend. Enjoy it while you can. Because after next week's holiday, Veteran's Day, you have just another week till the holiday season officially begins then there is no rest till after the first of the year.

Addendum: 3:43pm

The soup is coming along fine-sort of an Asian mix especially with the mushroom shreds and sauces I have used. I think the soup still needs more salt flavor but maybe when I add the soy sauce this will be enough. The sun has come out as well, a high pressure system is moving in and I bet tomorrow is beautiful...I still might bake some bread if I get motivated. I don't know though. We got word Auni is spending the night and that always takes extra energy. Dianne is great Dianne usually takes the full brunt of child supervision. Again, there is the mandatory KFC trip tonight. I will see if I can bail on that but time will tell. I have to get to making an apple pie right now. Maybe an image of the pie too. Once again happy weekend.

IN SEACH OF MR E.F. YOUNG AKA EFY

Day--23

I feel there is nothing more promising then a refrigerator full of those origami boxes that you get take-out with from Chinese restaurants. Yesterday when I had finished my lunch I asked to take my leftovers with me. I had to specifically ask for the little boxes with the wire handle. The guy was great when he understood what I wanted. He, of course wanted to use those ubiquitous Styrofoam boxes. My lunch was pretty gooey and those Styrofoam jobs just would not handle the job. I had copious amounts if gravy over my egg foo young and I wanted as much as I could so when I heated the left-over s (today) . He did a great job too taking special care to wrap the box with the gravy in plastic wrap making a perfect seal. I had to transport the food This way because I was traveling in my power wheelchair and would be stowing the containers in my back pouch .

Anyway, it worked. I was able to have a delicious lunch with lots of savory gravy and pallet cleansing rice. No don’t get we wrong. I enjoyed the restaurant an I enjoyed the leftovers today. But, as much as I enjoyed this food and flavor this is not the flavors I remember from my childhood. I am searching for an egg foo young like the egg foo(efy) young old Louie Fong used to make.

The House of Louie was this great Chinese restaurant which used to be located on Capitol Boulevard in Boise Idaho. Old Louie Fong ran the place as I remember. He had a brother Henlee Fong. There were a number of other Chinese restaurants in the Boise Valley in the 50’s and sixties when I was on the scene. The House of Louie is the restaurant we frequented most, two three times a year, when I was growing up . So, I did not have much of a variety of other efy’s to compare.

I understand that the ingredients egg foo young is probably as varied as the chef who make it but I would think there might be some similarities. The only similarities I see is that the efy is round, usually fried and flat. The efy’s I remember from the House of Louie, were round, of course, but literally stuffed with onion, green onions and bean sprouts and they were poofy and huge. The egg foo young would come your table three patties on one of those long oval plates that many Chinese dinners are served on. The patties would be covered with gravy: chicken, pork, shrimp, mushroom or beef. When ever I discover a new Chinese place I always order the EFY in hopes of finding a plump little patty similar to the ones I had the House of Louie of my youth. I have not found them yet. What I end up with small flat patties deep fried covered with gravy. These patties passing for EFY are constant too, no onions(Walla Walla or what ever), no celery . The EFY I had yesterday were a homogenized mixture ( but tasty) formed into a patties and deep fried—actually the patties were square I thought it was an ethnic jab at Wendys. I ‘m still over whelmed that I even found this great little place which will have to sustain until I ome across the next “Pearl of the Orient” or “Twin Dragon” and look for their elusive EFY.

I Get Caught in the Minutia

Day 22


I have been trying all morning to figure out how reset the clock on my office phone. It’s one of those super phones with about 15 million features, non of which I use. I do not even program in messages telling, people who call, where I am or when I will be back. There are a couple of folks in my sphere of contacts who do this religiously. I really envoy them its just one reason why they get huge amounts of money and I just scrape by.

I hate reading the Telrad phone owner’s manual which tells you everything but this one specific task. I know that when some idiot wrote the volume he though it would be entertaining to leave this one direction out. Knowing full well that at least twice a year you might need to get into the phone system and change the time. I even think about calling the “Support number” to see if there really is someone at a cubicle somewhere whose job it is to help people reset their clocks. But, my cynicism leads me to believe that more then likely the number leads to a dead end phone sitting on an unused desk at corporate headquarters which just rings and rings and rings like the opening pages in Dalton Trumbo’s Johnny Got His Gun.

I just got back from a trip I had to take across town. A women in a wheelchair is in town staying at this ancient hotel which is just barely accessible. I rarely get involved in direct services any more but she had a compelling story and she is close by so I decided to head out on my lunch hour and head cross town in my power wheelchair. I was not really to help the lady too much—her case is a long and difficult one but she is a survivor. What really got me excited was this hotel—I have been in this town twenty years and I thought I knew about all the cool old places butt his one had passed me by. The place is old and accessible but a very complicated accessible. You have to know the secrete passage almost. You have to go out and down the alley and into the back and through the garage the use the elevators. Really cool. I plan to put some images up. Then I found a great Chinese restaurant. In a building I have been interested in years about seeing the inside of. Well, today I did and it was wonderful..images to be inserted soon.