Drill Hell

Drill Hell

I did Drill Hell time yesterday. Actually the process was not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. Dr Luke actually did a filling—I thought I was going to have to have a cap. I was pleased. Only two shots and about 24 minutes of drill time. I saw one only one wisp of smoke slip up from my mouth but there was lots of water splashing and sucking.

Piss me off though I was about a half hour late getting to Luke’s office. I sprinted out of my office about 12:30 ands someone had parked in the “hashed” area between the two designated (handicapped) spaces—plus there were two vehicles parked parallel to the driveway almost making driving out of the parking space impossible. The women of the office as I passively tried to get someone to drive my van out far enough that I might deploy my life, load up and try snoogle my way out of the parking space. The office hotties were either going through the building trying to find the offender and others were on the phone to the local PD trying to get someone out to ticket and tow the vehicle. I tried to explain to these grand vigilantes that by the time law enforcement I would be way late. I finally got some one to back my van out far enough to get the lift down. My this time the person who was parked in front of my van had arrived and left leaving a fine hole for me to drive through and leave.

Then returning to work after the appointment I was almost killed—so weird. I was cruising on the interstate about 60 MPH; there were vehicles on both flanks and someone was somewhere behind me. Then there as a good sized truck infront of me—bigger then a pick up but smaller then a dump truck or semi. I saw a few licks of what I thought was smoke coming from the front of the truck up ahead. The lick soon became pants and suddenly I was totally engulfed in what steam, iteral cloud vapor—it seemed to last for ever but actually about three of five seconds. In the middle of this white out I realized I was sailing about 60 MPH—if the truck stopped I was up his ass. I started to break suddenly but then realized if I did this the who ever was behind me was up MY ASS. I thought I was dead literally. I remember the cars on the side and did not know if they were still there. Then in a zip and a puff I was out of the road cloud. All the moving vehicles were pretty much in the same positions they had been in when we moved into the cloud. The truck a head of me was pulling over to the side of the road water steaming and gushing out of it’s radiator. I then began to shudder as I realized I could have been caught in the mentioned situations and been dead just that fast. I dodged Death’s scythe this day, I got drilled and did 24 Not bad for a Monday—could be the high day of the week.

Weekend Terror

Weekend Terror

I got off about two on Friday afternoon and headed home. I was feeling pretty good all things being equal. My grand daughter was coming over for the weekend and I was actually thinking of doing some grandfatherly things with her. I go home—I was cold and snow was beginning to fall. Snow was scheduled to be round all weekend. Cable TV, dvd and what ever and lots of good food it would be a splendid weekend.

I got home and was sitting by the stove top where a warm breeze from the furnace was making it’s way up from the floor vent. There was a baggie of bacon from earlier in the week. This was a brick of bacon, the kind people like us buy . You think you are getting a deal because you feel like you are getting so much for so little when in fact you get jus a few pieces of meat and mostly fat. It’s good fat though and the pieces of meat which are there are usually thick and tasty. I was chewing on a particularity thick piece of bacon when I realized a vacancy had developed in one of my molars followed by a sharp edge pain. My tongue swept by back tough and sure enough there was sharp pain followed by the ragged jagged feeling freshly exposed tooth—the meat of my tongue sunk into the hole left from the lost filling followed by a sharp pain and the terror that what else might fall off. In an instant another reality swept me: it’s 4:30 Friday afternoon on what looks like a cold went weekend. Each intake of take caught on the exposed pulp sending razors of pain up through my eye and into my brain. Each sweep of the trauma ite with the tongue also sent wave after wave a nausea thinking “How and I going to be able to do this all weekend long? I

I must have been in shock, Dianne could tell something was wrong and I just gagged something about my damn tooth and there goes the weekend. Dianne was supportive but rational. She had a granddaughter to tend for the nest 40 hours or so she did not need s 50+ boob to add to the load. She calmly handed me the yellow pages and told me to call Drew Luke our dentist and see if he would take me that after noon. Of course—no one as there, probably the winter storm had caused a couple of patients to cancel and hat ever and Drew Luke had send his staff home for a much deserved early weekend. I held a second on the line and the “service the answering service came on –I explained to her the situation and she came indicated she was only the”Service” and Drew Luke would be getting back to me shortly. What can you say, there is no one or way to argue that you are feeling helpless and that you are just going to have to wait.

The pain had not so much subsided as much as became a regular rhythm of pain and monstrous fantasies of what the weekending would hold. Or having to roll out into the frigid, darkening near eve and drive across the city to meet a professional called back to his office after he had already let the week go and was already into his weekend. Hell, I would not have been surprised if Drew was half way up the mountain for a skiing weekend or off to Sundnce for a weekend of film watching. Either case there was no way he was coming back this evening. I suddenly started doing bargaining behavior: The 7 Stages of Oral Pain. “OK I’ll tell him I can hack it out the night and I’ll meet you at your office at 10:00 or what ever works for you tomorrow.” I bet if I load up on ibuprobin(sp?) I can make through the night.

When Drew Luke finally did call—he was like at home. One chills crying and the other trying to get to the phone—both kinds under four. Drew had his hands full. He listened to me tell him what happened but I could sense Drew was keeping his distance—the last thing he wanted was to go back into the office this evening. I tried to explain to him that I was in discomfort= I hurt and what are you going to do”

“Well, I can get you in Monday morning”
“What!!” I scream inwardly, “ Monday Morning I could b dead from oral pain turning to heart failure by Monday morning.”

“What time can I write you in” he said
“What? You have your schedule book right there” I was impressed
“No” I could see him sheepishly grinning , “I’ll make a note and tell the girls to be expecting your call.” Then “Oh wait, I will be one assistant short by then—can you make that 1:00? I will be back up to full staff by 1:30.”
Kids screaming in the back ground—he was actually wrestling with one. I could tell this was going no where—I was not going to get his hands in my mouth tonight.
“ How bout that stuff they sell in the drug store—like gum made to fill cavities? How abut that does that stuff work?”
“ Oh sure that will work—that’s will get you through.”

Why did he not suggest this early especially since he had no intentions of coming into the office.

Two hours later Dianne had gone to the store and found a “Temp Dent” or something. A small container of a gummy substance you roll into a ball and place on the trauma site. Work the substance in and let cure an hour. I did not think it would work. The piece of tooth broke off from as side I did not think there was anything to cling too. Dianne worked it into a ball and tried to apply but I was too freaked out and I ended up trying to stuff the material to the tooth. It was painful, at first but soon there was no pain. I have been pain free ever sense. The first hours following the application I was terrified the whole thing was going to collapse any second. It didn’t, This morning I felt great slept through the night and no pain. I cannot believe how good the stuff works. Tomorrow I see drew and he will fix the breakdown and I will be underway. I still have some major dental issues and I m sure I will hear about them from Drew but maybe I am ready now.

News at Nine

I made the news last night. Fox News at Nine! A bit of a joke but somewhat fun as well. I have already been stopped once by someone on the train and asked “Was that you on the News last night?” Yup, it sure was. I was called yesterday afternoon by Max Roth local all star reporter for the Fox affiliate asking me some disability type, A.D.A. questions. I answered, opinionized a little and the next thing I knew he was calling back to ask where I might meet him for an interview. I was not sure how much of this operation I wanted related to my office—I mean I could justify the event if I really thought I needed to but still I thought it best to do the interview away from the office and on my own time, so that I can step away from “ flash” if I need to.

I told Max Roth I would meet him at the KFC on 5900So and State round 6:00pm. This was cutting it close for me since I was on the train—we exchanged cell numbers as decided that who ever got there first would call the other. I zoomed out the office and of course left the scrap of paper with Max’s number right on my desk. So when I did get to my end point I just held up at the Beans and Brew with a hot cup of chai. I was there about 15 minutes when he called at the KFC in front of me. We talked for a few minutes he introduced me to his film crew (one camera chick and a Intern from BYU??? Anyway we decided to recreate the situation in Park City i.e. a Wendy’s who would not serve a customer in a wheelchair at their drive thru window. I powered up and drove my chair up to the speaker(they could not see me—so I ordered) and then went up to my next window paid
No problem, actually the reported paid for what ever I wanted. Bummer, I really do not like Wendy’s food so I got a bacon burger and ended up giving it to Dianne for lunch today. What was interesting was as we were filming( the crew was behind me following me through the drive-thru)—some white guy in a whiteshirt and tie was screaming in the background about how they could not be filming. This person was so adamant that the crew did stop filming, unbelievable. They had got enough footage. Plus, he guy who the article was about had good footage and they had enough of me to do their story.

I was a little disappointed in the way the story ran. It turned out to be more about the “dangers” of going through the drive-thru in a wheelchair then a civil rights issue. But, that’s life in the fast lane—you get some breaks and sometimes you don’t. For many people just seeing a crip on the screen is enough to bring about awareness—so some good would be done. For me it mas fun , somewhat exciting and more video to add to the collection of my life on film. NEWS AT NINE !

Pix of the Mix

Here are some images from yesterday LCPD function

Here are some images from yesterdays LCPD function. Well attended by Consumers and agency folk. I am not sure who from the legislature showed up. I know I was not able to find my representative but I had to split early because the buses I needed stopped running about 6:30. So I took off about 6:00 pm. I did see a smattering of elected officials and even a few from my neighborhood but not MY specific guy. I know from years past this is an event I feel these guys tend to avoid if they can get away with it. ( see yesterday’s post) and I know that there was another function going on last night that many of the electorate was going to.

The function was a gimp-o-rama though and I was glad to be part. I was able to see lots of old friends and foes I kinda wished I would have been able to stay longer. Enjoy the images.

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Saddle Up Partner

Saddle Up Partner

Today is the LCPD(Legislative Coalition for People With Disabilities) annual reception up on capitol hill. Essentially this is LCPD’s big stab at influencing local legislation for people with disabilities. This year one of the big agenda items is to try to get the legislature to allocate money to the DSPD waiting list. Another big agenda item is to try to get more money for the Independent Living program in the state. Really, what we, the advocates- would like to really do is get the damn legislature to spend some of their $1,ooo,000,000.00 aka billion dollar surplus!

So today is the roundup—LCPD puts on this big show up at the capitol cafeteria. It used to be over lunch. LCPD bought a kajillion box lunches and then they got the different reps and senators to sit at specific tabled. Then you as a constituent would search out your district and then have lunch with your elected official, all the while haranguing them on what ever agenda you were trying to achieve. The box lunches were terrible, it was always difficult to motivate true consumers to get up to the hill and then the elected guys stopped showing up—this is not good. The year I really stopped going to these I was sitting with my legislator. I had been there `sitting for the past three years and I guess he was thinking he was getting to know me. We are sitting there munching on turkey on wheat, potato chips and the one wrapped oatmeal cookie and Bob leans over to me and says. Hate these things! I don’t know why I even show up. You are the only one who comes my district. I swear, I nearly choked—did not this guy know who he was talking to? Then I realized it was all a joke just another free meal for the electorate. I could show this guy babies with disabilities, gimps like me and DD folk. Today, our advocate group—a group of blitzkrieg Advocates (BA’s), our little BA’s trained all morning with Talking to Your Senator and Overwhelming Your Representative. The are all wearing their cloaking devices: suites and ties, Sunday best. Those white American Male legislators will not know what hit them. The only thing which would have made this operation better would have been if these guys had parachuted into the capitol parking lot… as it were they arrives on public transit. Groups of consumer met at our office, downloaded from their vehicles here and jumped buses up to the State house.

Truth be told I don’t think this operation is going to make one hell of a lot of difference but I have to say there is something about seeing consumers empowered with “blood and guts and veins in their teeth”* that does a persons heart good.

*Alice’s Restaurant Arlo Guthrie

IM GOING T0O PHILLY

I’M GOING T0O PHILLY!

Specialized Workshop on “Enhancing an Existing Web-based System for AT Device Exchange “Classifieds” Program”
February 27-28, 2006
Marriott Philadelphia Downtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Taken from Email about the workshop.

I got the call this morning that my flight and arrangements were booked for the above conference. It’s been a while since I was on a real trip and I am kinda of looking forward to this one. The last couple of trip I have been on have been mini-disasters. I have been placed in either hotels which were not accessible or the “accessible” room I was in was only marginally accessible and left me in dangerous situation. One place—in Washington DC I was stranded on the side of the bathtub for three hours because I could not make the transfer to my wheelchair. The floor was wet and each time I tried to make the transfer the chair would slip and I would nearly fall on the floor. I finally DID make the transfer but the event was really freaky. Another time I had the same problem when trying to transfer from my chair to the bed I again ended up, perched on the edge almost slipping off and down to the floor. The reality is, the reality I must face is that I (Mr. tough quad. I am getting older, I am getting weaker and I just cannot do the things I used to.) One of those things is traveling independently. I hate to admit this, but, alas it’s true. So, first time ever I will be traveling with an attendant!

So, Dianne is flying east with me as my attendant. I am amazed I just asked for an attendant and got it. I thought maybe because Dianne was my wife this would be an issue but nope. They just said OK and enjoy the flight. I am also planning to use my power wheelchair too. This should give me tons of freedom to explore Philly. This is only a workshop and not a conference. I think the only free time I will have is the evening of the first day. Actually we are leaving mid-morning the day before the conference starts so we should have a little time that evening as well. Dianne can go out exploring a little during the day. I think this might actually be fun. I cannot believe I said that. Did I just jinx the whole event?

You Get the Lesson Over and Over Till You Get It Right

You Get the lesson till You Get It Right

I was running late this morning when I finally left the house. It was 6:45am. I was dressed, made coffee and even had my working morning usual: bean and green chili burrito covered with Chinese noodles La Choy and hot peppers on the side. This truly is the BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS. This breakfast not only gets me going but, I know, keeps me safe from colds and flu. I highly recommend it to folks who are exposed to cold wet weather. However this is not what I have really chose to write upon today.
So, I am out the door…finely, down the ramp and into the street. I am going to catch the train, just which one—that is the question. The day is still dark and I am warmly dressed: long sleeved Tee(black) slacks, socks and heavy sweater with horizontal stripe across the chest or yeah and my Frankies. There is little or no traffic on my street at this time in the morning so I am cruising down the middle. I have built up speed and I am doing OK. I m fully awake, focused on the road when I somehow hit the “Off” button on my power chair. When this happens the wheel locks, instantly, and the chair ceases it forward motion. Now, the rider does not and if the rider is not belted into the powerchair the rider has nowhere else to go except forward. You know “ objects in motion…” I do not like the control configuration on my powerchair. I feel it is just too easy to hit this “off’ button—in fact, when I hit a bump in the street or other object which causes my hand to bounce—there is a chance that my fingers will come plopping back down on the button and then I fly.
The chair stops(instantly) and I begin my flight pattern. Luckily I had my right arm wrapped round the arm of the chair—this is the best I can since I do not have grip. So holding on as hard as I can I luckily stop the forward motion but now the whole chair is tipping forward. I know the chair will not tip over because the front wheels will eventually hit the pavement and force the chair back on it’s rear wheels. Buy by this time I have began to slide forward—if I do not stop this progress I will end up infront of my chair kissing the pavement will not kissing the pavement ( this would happen if I were flying out of my chair since I am sliding forward, the best I can hope for is to end up in a sitting semi-dignified position.) I hold on best I can gritting my teeth and trying to correct myself. In the end I persevere, gravity pulls down the front of the powerchair and I come to rest sitting up. I am OK. A car passes me in the pre-dawn dusk then no cats at all. I re situate myself and quietly power on. Mind you I do not secure my seat belt even now after this near out experience. My hands are gloved and would require de-gloving finding the ends of the belt, re-gloving and only then continuing on—too much time and effort.
So, I have not learned my lesson. I shall at some point, when I am sitting in front of my Jazzy waiting for a car to stop, or call a cop or trying to crawl back into my chair.

Remember the Crossing Guard

I really meant to blog yesterday but I ended up focusing so  close on the minutes, I have  been trying to complete all  week that I ran out of time. I worked through one lunch this week and I had better use the time or risk loosing the hour. But an hour is an hour and would make the difference whether I rolled home in the dark or not.   Turned out though that riding home at the specific time I did on the train brought me into contact with an interesting situation.

There sat  a women on the train in the first seat.  I sit right be hind the driver’s cab and face the people and usually read.  I keep my head down and read.  Yesterday there was this women sitting there with her lips moving.  This, of course is nothing new, in this day of cell phones and public transit.  Many time I have been started by someone just having an “air conversion”  then you look closer and see he is plugged into his cell phone somehow—usually via wireless connection.  Then there re the crazies the poor  mental health consumers  with significant disabilities talking up a storm to what ever demons or legions which might be locked inside their heads at any given moment.  But, this women was different. She looked good, normal  but her lips were moving, just  slightly. She was smiling—not maniacal-  and her eyes seemed to flutter. Her face was cycling through a specific pattern: blink blink smile move lips and then start all  over again.  When I looked at her eyes closer it almost like her eyes were rolling up under her fluttering lashes. The moving lips were the was the weirdest part just lightly making words.  I had the strangest feeling though she was speaking to me. She got up  and exited the train at 4500 South.

The Downy sweep of snowy flake

I had one of those dreams last night-the dream felt like it lasted all night long. A simple dream, not really a night mirror but enough to be uncomfortable. In the dream I was back at University and supposed to be taking an exam but I could not find where the exam was to be given. When I started looking for the exam I was 30 minutes early, but as I wondered in and out of buildings , up and down halls I used up all the time. The time factor dd not make much difference anyway. I felt, in the dream, I was not prepared for the exam but I did want to at least try and anything would, most likely be better then a “0”. I was finally glad to get up. I am wondering what is happening in my personal life which`h is making me feel so inadequate. Answer: EVERYTHING!!

Justin just called mobility solutions. The van will be ready by this 1200. I was thinking of picking it up and using the van to get to my 3:30 meeting but that would be way too much running round this afternoon. Dianne indicated she could the van up. Four hours of work though and that means $200.00! I cannot complain. Justin has been so good to in the past with a bunch of minor repairs that he never charged me for.
So, Dianne will collect the vehicle and drive the thing back to the house. I will take the mass transit system: UTA to my 3:30 meeting. This means I’ll have to bus home instead of train either way I’m cool the snow has stopped.

We had one of those office birthday party kinda things this morning a little strained but not too bad…great iced cinnamon rolls, with grapes, two different kinds of cheese, small talk and forced civility. Snow fell during the night=--in fact the snow was still falling as I headed out the door at 6:45 am. I was running later then usual so I did not get a chance to fully enjoy the snowfall but as I neared the train station I was caught by this tree d3cked out in the new snow. I stopped my forward motion and took a couple of images. I have also included a couple of other images of the train station just before 0700 this a.m.

Never Enough Timei

We got the wheelchair van in the shop today and hopefully we’ll have the vehicle back soon. Patching the lift should make the vehicle useable again for a couple more weeks or months(hopefully). Winter, has returned with a vengeance—major snow for a while this morning but now things look to have dissipated a little. More snow is forecast for this evening but hopefully the snow will hold off till after I get home. I’ll be Ok. I was just called by Justine and said that he was putting another plate o the lift so my lift should be OK for another couple of months. I’m on the road again.

I have been laboring on the minutes of yesterday’s meeting all day. I am surprised at how well the minutes are coming along. The meeting was OK, very well attended and good in put. I am getting close to finishing the first draft and hopefully I will have something to send out by the first of the week. It’s getting late and I am going to have to conclude for now. Maybe more tonight…we’ll see.

I Hate BOA

I Hate BOA

I hate it! I am being legally extorted by Bank of America! How can these institutions get away with this stuff!!? If I tried extorting monies out of people like BOA does I would be incarcerated immediately. But first, where have I been.

I believe the last time I posted was Saturday a little afternoon. Sometime later in the afternoon I either lost my connection or my network failed. We had a lot of snow during the afternoon and I figured the lack of access was something to do with the snowfall. ( One of my big problems I have this incredible belief system which is 99.99 percent superstitious behavior). I can usually find something in the immediate environment, which makes sense to me as the reason a strange event, has occurred. I figured I would just keep busy with other things and sooner then later the connection would be restored. The reason I thought the event was related to my routed was that I first lost contact with the INTERNET via my Laptop. I just moved into the computer room and accessed the web through my big system. Late in the after noon the big system lost contact with the net and I have not been able to access the net till coming back to work this morning. I next, must contact my provider as see if they have been “down” more superstitious thing. We changed providers a couple of months ago and I am not all that impressed with the service of metronet—much less expensive then Comcast but this may be the case of “one gets what one pays for.” I have called Metronet a couple times and all I have been able to get is their answering machine—which is never a good sign of superior Customer Relations. It has to be a Metronet issue everything on my end looks correct. So that’s why no post for yesterday—I know you missed me.

So, I get a Email today for BOA indicating I had a payment due— is cool but the payment is more ten double what I usually. Plus the over all amount has not gone down to speak of. I have this email system set up to que me to pay this bill. I do as the que says to do but I am still getting nailed with late charges and penalties from Hell to breakfast—I am being gouged terribly. So, I finally could not stand it any longer and I called—I was surprised to get someone on this continent. Bernadette indicated I had missed a payment and I was levied with late charges and in the coursed of the conversation Bernadette showed other charges I am being regularly taxed. Then she finds that in fact I had made a payment in December, that I was not late but nothing was going change with charges and amounts due!!! I must say that Bernadette did indicate she would remove the late charges(this time). I am done with these jerks though. I am going with the next envelope in my mail box offering me 0 percent for a year- I am Transfer balancing as soon as I can and going back to a cash economy as soon as I can—this sux.

Another holiday week

Another holiday weekend!  Eight hours tacked on to the weekend for my use anyway I desire-with in limits. No expendable to speak of, the house needs dire attention and the regular weekend chores need done: washing, grocery shopping dishes etc. The bonus hours give the illusion hat they can be completed with time to spare. So, I am messing with some of the Christmas booty I have not had time to play with until now.  I  got myself a Seagate massive storage device with some of my web page earning.  This device hold 5.0 gigs of information. I am downloading tons of information, as I type, to transfer onto my lap top.  I am going to try to move huge  program files and data files which have been too awkward for my short attention span and skill level before now. Sort of exciting—I just hope this is going to work. It’s weird that after I purchased this device I suddenly realized I have a dvd burner on this system which should allow me to burn disks with up to 4.7 gigs of information—nearly as much as I capability with my new Seagate device.  Still the Seagate is simpler to use and much more convenient to use. This device also will allow me to carry these huge files back and forth in my backpack  to work and other places where such files might exist. Besides, I wanted a new toy, I had the money to purchase such device and I was not sure when I would have the disposable income and the balls again to lay out for such a purchase.    

I have been on the train all week, going back and forth from work. I have my jazzy 1121 back in service and I feel fine. I am thankful to have the older Jazzy but truly the machine, though swifter then 1121, is much more squirrelly and possibly dangerous.  The van still is need of attention. The lift is scary and possibly dangerous. I think the worst of the cold weather is past.
And I can get back and forth to work OK…However, I am aware there is going to be a need for some after hours work and distant work I am going to have to use the van. So, I am going to drop the vehicle of at Mobility Solutions, maybe Monday, and have them work on the bridge plate.  This will give a few more months of lift durable van transportation. I do need to get another lift as soon as possible.

So, this first day of my extended holiday weekend, I’m washing and folding clothes, transferring data and reading. I continue to saw away at the King The Stand. I am enjoying the novel but it is taking me forever to get through. I want to cook another casserole for this evenings meal and do another movie. Tomorrow we want to take in  Broke Back Mountain I am a little unsure about the movie but  a couple of people I work with have gone and want to discuss the movie with me and Dianne also wants to go. Monday I don’t know.  I have my quarterly Advisory Board meeting first thing Tuesday morning and I m kinda a nervous about that. I am fairly prepared for it thanks to CC and her efforts.  I’ll just have to go in with my shields up.

The Jazzy is done

The Jazzy is done—replacement of the motors: motors no cost, labor $60.00 does not seem right but that is the way it is. I am going to try to submit the labor charges on my insurance and see what they do. The worst the insurance carrier could do is deny the claim I feel it’s worth a shot. Dianne brought my manual wheelchair into work so I have my chair here now. Since Dianne was here we checked Magic Rest and finally connected. So, she will go home get the van and go to Magic Rest to pick-up the Jazzy
I will be grateful to have my Jazzy 1121 back and useable. Where I have enjoyed the speed and relative comfort of the Jazzy 1120 I am using today, the fact of it’s advanced age and that it is pretty “squirrelly” to drive. I don’t think I realized how squirrelly the machine is but the 1120 has got me by.
One piece of technology done one to go. I need to take my van in to have the lift looked at to see what we can to extend the life on the lift. I would like to have the lift for the holiday not that I am planning anything of consequence I would just like to have the option t travel if I am so moved. If I can get my van in tonight or tomorrow maybe they could have something done by end of work tomorrow…I better not hold my breath. I can actually use the van if I am very careful. So much to do. I have just a half a day left before the weekend. So, that means I have just half a day before my Advisory Board meeting which will be Tuesday at 9:30 am. I have been tumbling numbers and getting things ready for the meeting all week. We are about ready for what ever shall come. We’ll put a few final touches on the materials and well be set to go. I am not sure how smooth this meeting will go. We are having some visitors to this month meeting but I am not expecting anything too severe. I am also aware there are some folks in the community who are taking “pop shots” at this agency or our parent program. I would like to be aware of any fires which might pop up before Tuesday’s meeting.

Looks like the last meeting of the day is breaking up just beyond my door. One of the participants of this group is one of the group who my be turning adversarial to my program has been facing me just got up and drug her chair across the group and now has her back to me…am I reading too much into this? This person is in her early 60’s feels she is quite the guru in the local disability community. I wonder.

I noticed the other day when I took my jazzy home from work, the hours of sunlight are discernibly longer—not by much but enough to give me heart the days of heat and long light are near.

Searching

Searching

The wheelchair lift I use to access and exit my van with deteriorated again last night, now , to the point of danger to ho every might use the lift. I think I have sprung the lift gate so bad the limit switchers are no longer working as they should. For example, when the automatic doors open on the van the lift gat should deploy—the lift gate will not deploy at this time. This is , of course, somewhat intermittent so, I could, perchance, lift myself up and roll into the van but then the lift gate would not stow and I again would be helpless with a lift gate sticking, both doors open. I need to get my van over to Mobility Solutions. I spoke with Justin and he will look at the bridge-plate to see what he can to extend the life on this lift a while longer. I however, need to start looking earnestly for a more permanent solution.
Now, Justine has a use lift(practically brand new) in the shop which he will sell me. I will be lucky if I can get this lift for less then $3000.00: that is as lot of tacos. Once I know the installed price I can next start generating funding. I really plan to “kick the dirt” to see what can come up with—I really want to stay out of debt as much as I can. I don’t think I could tolerate sinking another couple grand into debt. So, I am going to brush up my teeth and slick back my hair and see what I can do in the personal fund raising department. Even a couple of hundred off could be or would be helpful.

No word on the motor for my Jazzy. I called yesterday and they felt the part would be in today but I have not heard anything yet. I am in my old Jazzy which I forgot how much I like. This Jazzy is a lot swifter then my new jazzy and this always bugs me. It’s 1:00 o clock, even if the part came in this afternoon there would be no way for me to pick up the chair today less I managed to get to Magic Rest, switch chairs , leaving this chair there until I can figure out how to recover my back-up chair. I must be patient all things tend to work themselves out given enough time.

I got my teaching slot covered for this evening by one of the guys here at the office. This guy is more disabled then I am but he has a much better chair then I have. His chair actually holds a charge. I too off over lunch and went into the city. By the time I got back my energy level was into the red zone. This is not good. I mean I had this charging charging for two day. When I took off this morning I showed full charge on both of my batteries. By the time I got to work tI had worked through the green zone and I blasted through the tan zone over lunch and I went only six or seven block! Granted these are Salt Lake City blocks but still charged batteries should last longer then this. Everyone else I know get much better battery mileage then I do. Am I a whiner?

Sundance…way Too Corporate.

I do not know what I was thinking—I was not thinking that was the issue. Following work, I hustle to the upper middle class parochial school when the Sun Dance Institute is supposed to take place. I really thought I would cruise right into an accessible parking slot right next to the front entrance of the school-Boy was mistaken. I was like driving into a history, a time before accessibility almost never existed. I cruised round the block a couple of times before I found the designated parking area thinking ‘great the front door must be close by.’ I down loaded and rolled half way round the block, I the January, after dark frigid air, before stopping someone who just happened to be going to the same place I was going and asked this person to send someone out who knew where the access point into the was.
Well, someone finally came out and directed me to the ramp. Truly, the accessible entrance is three fourths of a block a way from where the designated parking is. If I had my power wheelchair, accessing the building would have been a pain in the ass but not nearly as painful I would have at least been able to get there on my own.

Once I got in the building I still had to roll and roll and roll to finally get to where I was going, and there were huge ramps to negotiate—ramps that have been built over existing stairs so many of the ramps were very steep. My wrists were straining—my legs were beginning to spasm and my shoulder were screaming in pain as I inched up the ramp. Well, I did my presentation to this group. I arrived early, I always arrive early to an appointment if I can—allows me to get any last minute bathrooming dressing needs under control. So, in the twenty minutes I had before I went on. I listened to the orientation being given to these folks at the Sundance institute. I was totally amazed—the Sundance folks has everything controlled right down to what you can write if you write column somewhere. If people start asking a volunteer questions the volunteer is almost scripted in how to reply which is usually “Let me get you some one from the Press office who can better or more fully answer your questions. The Sundance volunteer is issued a kit called a JOEY—in which is kept, your Photo ID, work schedule, event map emergency numbers and smokes. You must smile and be cordial at all times because be believe in Customer Service the patrons matter most. ( I wonder if the Institute has tracers , spiders which hunt the blogs searching for references to themselves. If you are a volunteer and you violate any of these Sundance statutes then they can revoke their tickets. Most of the volunteers are volunteering to get passes to the movies being shown at the Festival. This year there will be more then 400 volunteers—this is amazing. I can just tell these guys are going to do a great job for Robert Redford and his folks. I wish them all the luck.

One of my coworkers

One of my co-workers just stopped by my office to ask if she could confirm my lunch at “Day at the Capitol”. A “legislative awareness” held on Martin Luther King Day. MLK Day in our conservative State is a slap in the face of people of color and other minorities. Others states regard a federal holiday a holiday. In my state it is a day to kick off the State Legislature—just so the State will not have to recognize the day a day named after a black civil rights hero. In other jobs I have held in this state I had to attend this function and as such communicate with my legislators. These folks did not need educating they new their business and their business was making the wealthy wealthier. Some came right out and voiced animosity toward people who were low-income and people with disabilities at least my particular legislator verbalized this me a person with an obvious physical disability.
I related this account to justify my reply to my office mate: I said “No, I am not going

She said, “What. You’re not going?”

I said, “ Nope, I am not going”

She said, “But it’s a free lunch”

I said, “It’s no free lunch when you basically have to give up your Holiday”.

This is a State and Federal Holiday and I am not giving it up. I sensed a wall go up between my co-worker and myself. This is too bad because I really like this person politically and socially. Sometimes we are combined in our efforts against the world. I was not really thinking when I told her a flat out “No”. it’s how I felt, though. I say this person is my co-worker but really she is just under the “big boss”. It’s a long story—and this co-worker is not my boss in any way shape or form. But, one never knows. But when she asked me if I wanted a reservation and I did not and that’s how I feel. I mean the lunch served is just a box lunch, you have to wait in dastardly long lines then sit with a pompous legislator for an hour. But now, I am sort of spooked that she might be “one of them”—I am on the verge of lapsing into labor, management relationship. Then it’s looking over my shoulder to see where they are at anytime to see if they are watching and listening. I just hate that. Well, I have said it now, and it will be interesting to see if there are any repercussions.

Update on the jazzy: I called again today to try to get hold of Josh, the tech I signed over my power chair to…who did not return my call this morning I would have liked. I called back, and got a secretary who informed me that the part “ I assume the motor” would be on Wednesday. This is cool. I assume the motor will be covered by warranty. It’s the labor now, I am sweating.

Brown Bacon

I always stop at what I call the meat “ throw a way” bin the market. I live in perpetual hope that I will find the bargain to end all bargains. Usually there are no bargain there to speak of but sometimes I get luck. Yesterday was such a day. There under the hamburger rolls, porterhouse steaks( cut in half but still ridiculously high in price to justify were three of four pounds of sliced bacon at $1.00 a piece. The bacon looked pretty hammered but a dollar. It looked like the seals had been violated somehow and air had gotten into the product causing the bacon to brown. I felt and sniffed and agonized over the decision for at least fifteen minutes. The meat smelled OK and since the meat was still in the meat section, the meat was being kept quite cold so I finally shrugged and three of the best looking packages into the basket. I figured if I got home and the meat seemed tainted I was only out three bucks. We are not so desperate...yet, to worry about three bucks, or maybe I should say we are so desperate that we would risk a gamble of three bucks-- anyway I bought the bacon.

I cooked the bacon this morning—I cooked a whole package. I always do. This way I have protein all day if we need it or just to have round to snack. When Auni, the grandaughter is with us, she loves to have the bacon round. Today, I figured it was the wisest thing to cook the meat and by doing so basically cure the meat to the point of extended usability. I am pretty funny when I cook stuff like this I am always sniffing-if it smells the least bit tainted—I will agonize of a decision then throw th whole mess out. This morning I cooked the amber pork to the point of almost charing and it was OK. The flavor was not the brisk, hickory flavor fresh bacon, rather, I felt, the bacon tested “tired” old but not that sweet tangy flavor of meat “too far down the road”. Wheat toast, fried eggs and bacon , sandwich style was acceptable and almost delicious.

Update on the Jazzy—of course the guys at Magic Rest did not have the materials to jet my power chair back on the road. I left the chair at the shop while they checked to see if the chair was under warranty and manufacture what the cost would be. The right motor is toast-I figured as much. I am holding out the chair will be3 covered but still I will have to cough up at least $60.00 for labor. $60 would be four one hour of labor. I cannot see how the cost would be more but I am always and never surprised at how bad people with disabilities can get screwed. I have been without a chair all weekend but was not too bad. I took my manual yesterday shopping and this morning I had Dianne get my old chair—the “beast off the deck and have the chair charging now. I was pleasantly surprised when Dianne relayed the chair still had power in the batteries. What a shock( excuse the pun). So, I'll use the “Beast” till I find out what is going to be or not be covered on my other Jazzy. It just never stops.

All I really want ...

Scenes from the mall and dinner before the chair seize up



All I really want is a power wheelchair that work, that does what the power chair is supposed to do! Remember last night was my Russian night, two hours after work. When I left the office to load into my van there was vehicle parked right next to my van. Yes I was parked in a “disabled parking are which afforded space, a protected space , where I would ample room to open the doors to the van and deploy my lift. I was not too pissed since I had to kill the two hours before the meeting. I decided I would take myself out to dinner at the street from my office building. The mall has a pretty decent food court so I figured what the heck and when I get back the car will be gone.

On my way back from dinner my Jazzy started acting strange, pulling to the right and grossly loosing power and sucking battery energy! I barely made it back to the parking lot behind my building and the stupid car was still there! I was sort of moving OK at this point but I had to reenter the building and find who belonged to this vehicle, which was illegally parked. I found the culprit on the second floor—nailed her and she was coming down to move her damn car. I beamed back down and sure enough, just as I had exited the building about 5 feet from the door my chair seized up—no forward motion at all!! Now, the building was almost deserted, it was dark, it was cold and I was stranded. I did the whole thing of turning the chair on and off numerous times thinking magically if I turned the chair on and off , just the right way, just the right number of times the chair would revive itself. This did not occur. I then defaulted to “Plan B” call the Fam and work outward from there. Thank god, I was packing my cell and I had the fore thought to charge the sucker that morning. I was on the last call of my first call list when I security guard exited the building right behind me. He over heard my story as I spoke with Dianne and asked if he could help.

He disengaged by motors on my chair and he pushed me back into the building where I transferred to my manual chair I keep in my office and was able to drive home dispensing the Russians for the night—by this time I was far too cold, pissed and late to make the meeting—besides the tires on my work manual chair are about flat. I had had enough. Oh yeah, I called MAGIC REST, the place where I bought the crap chair, in hoped that someone would still be there and happily come out and save my ass or in hopes that they might have an emergency number. Well, guess what? NO DAMN EMERGANCY NUMBER!!! Boy was I lucky the guard came out… So now, the day after, I have calls into the shop, left two messages so far. There message machine indicates they will get back to me when they get in. I bet! There is no way I can get my power chair in the van along with my manual—so even if I got someone at the office to load the chair I don’t know what I’ll do to drive myself down. Of I could load my self with the manual chair then have someone remove the manual chair get and then get that someone to push the disabled chair onto the lift and load it into the van. Call the folks at the shop when I get there and have them get the chair. I then would be m stranded in the chair until they figure out what to do with the Jazzy. I know it’s a motor burn out and that is going to either take time even if they ave the part in( which I would be totally astonished) or keep the chair till the part does arrive. What a pain in the butt….stay tuned.

I have the Russians Tonight

I have the Russians tonight! This is my long day I probably will not get home till after nine PM.  I really do like this assignment everything about it except for the time the meeting starts: 7:00 pm.  The time just drives me crazy like biting on aluminum. I am off work at 5:00 like everyone else and I have to figure out something to do for two hours until my meeting starts.  I guess I could wonder round a mall or shopping center somewhere, even hang at the food courts. This is just time killing and drives me crazy.  I might be lucky enough to find a movie with just the right timing that would let me enjoy the movie and still get to my 7:00 pm. Even, if the meeting was just an hour earlier, 6:00pm, this could make all the difference. You can spend a few minutes after work, then just zoom over to the meeting.  I have even brought up the issue at the meetings but no one seems to be able understand the request—maybe I had better work on my Russian ( that was a joke).   I know, if I dislike this position so much I should just quit especially since the position is not a paid position except I can use the hours as work hours.  Like tonight will allow me to take off a couple of hours early tomorrow.  I also like my association with the people and the Eastern European influence these folks represent. These folks really give me a fresh view of my Americanism.  These folks lived beneath the Soviet boot when it existed. They know and understand freedom and appreciate this freedom. I must admit that sometimes I take my heritage for granted but seeing people take to this freedom is quite moving sometimes.  I must admit also I like the recognition I get for being part of a group like the Sister City program from my peers and other folk min the community.  I just dislike the time. Hey, you know what ? I don’t feel quite so bad having to wait for the meeting tonight. Maybe just writing this through has seemed to help me accept my plight. This is cool Am I just too weak or what.

Maybe I’ll go grocery shopping.

My work mate just popped in to inform me that over lunch she is going down to apply for a part time job at H&R Block answering phones.  She would do this after work.  Her mom is doing this and can get my workmate in fairly easy.  I might have to consider a part-time position and this kind of position would meet my needs. I realize it would not completely meet my financial needs but it could not hurt either.  I think the hours would be about four hours after my regular job and maybe at least one 8 hour shift on the weekend. I could do this once I got conditioned to the length of these work days.  I could do this.

Train Nazi

The Train Nazi’s got me this morning—it’s the fourth day of the month, actually the second working day which I would be riding the train. I did not ride yesterday because I did not have a train pass and I did not want to buy a ticket from the machine and stress missing the train so I drove. Yesterday was hellatious (is this a word—my spell check refuses to sanction my attempts at spelling) call after call after call regarding disability questions and a lot of desperate questions about rents and heating questions. Thank God this is a warm January…so far. What I am saying is that I did not have a chance to stick my January sticker on my transit ID. I was wondering if this was going to haunt me and sure enough it did. 6:35 a.m. at the 33rd South Station- the jack booted train nazi boarded : “PAPER PLEASE” actually what he really said, was “Bus pass please” I was not too worried because I knew I had proof if the Nazi really got nasty. I always sit in the same place just behind the driver’s area—when the Nazi came on he past me and I thought I was safe. I had began the process of diving into my back pack though trying to disappear. I also wondered if I was sure that I had the pass, would I radiate the self assuredness necessary to make the Nazi pass me bye. Well, the self-assuredness did not quite work because the Nazi turned on me and seemed to wait. I really put on the “quad” show fumbling but looking focused on digging out my bus pass. The Nazi finally got frustrated looked at me with ferruled brows and said” Next time you’re your pass out and ready.”
“YES SIR! Sig heil” What a power trip...it’s enough these guys are allow to carry glocks , presumably loaded!!!

Yesterday I wrote about the women from Sunstone—I must correct myself-where sunstone is a tight little quasi religious group and magazine…and they have quite a gathering in the summer and I have enjoyed going to this conference in the past—it not what I meant. What I meant to write was SUNDANCE INSTITUTE—which is a whole lot different—where Sunstone is righteously nice Sundance is righteously cool. This institute runs the Sundance Film festival started by Robert Redford—it’s a gathering place for actors, the social elite and the special. I just wanted to clarify this.

Back To The Mines

I am back to work after nine days off what a zoo. I just cannot believe the world waited till I got back to go crazy or seems like it did. The feelings I am having today, totally reinforce me views to never take vacation. Massive calls with massive problems but we are getting through them one call at a time. If this happens next year i.e. “use or loose” I might, just choose to loose the time. Then for one reason or another my power wheelchair started pulling to the left as I motored up to the bank at lunch. The pulling occurred as I was traversing a long, very slight incline. The pull was so significant that, at times, I was barely getting any forward motion. Once I got to the bank and got my business done and was able to grab some lunch the problem seemed to have rectified itself. So, the question is: do I make the appointment and take the time to go get the chair looked at to have them tell me they cannot find anything wrong or should I wait till the chair is acting poorly then rush to Magic Rest, and hope the can ascertain the problem. I want to get this done for sure while the junk is still under warranty. I want this done especially while I still have access to my old power chair—I almost have the old Jazzy given away but not yet. The chair is sitting in my garage So, I would, at least have some mobility if I have to give the chair up for a couple of days. I almost drove the power chair, the jazzy Quantum 1121, into work this morning but because of the rain I opted to drive in stead. I was smart. I did not have my bus pass since I was out all last week. I picked up my new bus pass at lunch too. I am ready to start using the train again full time. I am going to have to have a chair I can depend on. It looks and feels as if it will be a warm winter.

At four P.M., I am ready to go home. I am exhausted. I can see I am going to have to get used to working the whole 8 hours again—note: another good reason never to take ANNUAL AGAIN.

Too cool—I just got off the phone with the Sunstone Institute and then needs some access input for their operation for their film festival. The need on particular to help with developing some sort of an access plan to teach access to their people who will be interfacing. I would be able to teach the classes trading time for tickets to different Sundance showings. This sounded good when I suggested the idea but the more I ponder I am wondering if I have shot my self in my foot. I NEED CASH ! I do not need movie tickets( however cool these films might be). I am currently spending my life trying save my mortgage. But who knows maybe this is the break I have been praying for…very interesting.

Happy New Year!

Here are some images of the birthday event at upchuck arama. Happy New Year one and all.








Images from