Happy Birthday Charles

Happy Birthday Charles! I hope the sun rises brightly and shines warmly on you today on your 22nd birthday. I can still see you , clear, in my minds eye, the youngest member of our crew, always running to catch up yet usually first out the door on Kids Day. Blonde hair messed up, coat on one arms and shoes in hand as you raced for your favorite spot in the back window of Thor, the huge battle ship gray Mercury land cruiser.

Charles, you were the quiet one, until vexed to the point of ignition then watchout as the flare up runs its course. But usually you would just observe what was going on. We covered lots of ground each Kid Day but you were about one year old when you joined our Saturday ranks. I was not running a power wheelchair then and so you were on my lap in the manual chair. Mark or Shelly generally pushing with James trailing after. I tried to stay in my chair with one arm round you as we sailed through parking lots Smith’s markets( Smith’s had the most free food of the stores we frequented on Saturdays), next to the down town library or up to the University’s Museum of Natural History to check out the bones. You took everything in.

Charles, I think you held Mark as an idol figure and James a close second. Whether watch Mark do his Tae Kwon Do and learning as much from observation as you could or working out with your “light saber” perfecting your Jedi skills—all the time keeping an eye on Shelly to make sure you were executed what ever you did to the perfection of Shelly’s all knowing eye. You also tried to keep up with Shell’s voluminous reading. There was no way you could keep up but the exposure helped you develop your Si- Fi or die attitude which only later mellowed into hints of fantasy, that’s Ok, it’s all good. Having you along gave color to our outings, slowed us down to light speed and helped us smell the flowers along the way. If Mark was going through his period abstinence you were “coking out’ on all the sugar you could get your hands on. I could feel the low frequency buzz emanating from you on my lap after hitting the sugar aisles of that cool weird little consignment store out on 9th East where we spent a lot of time. Eyes flared open you blazed up and down the aisles with all the other sugar “cranked up” kids as the parents looked for bargains and killed time on rainy or snowed out Saturdays.

Charles you were and are very smart. You were confused early on not knowing just how you fit into the kaleidoscope of the barely controlled energy we called “Kid Day”. I was the Dad that was for sure—but you had another dad and that was for sure and that’s Ok. What mattered most was that YOU were part of OUR crew. You are family, you always will be, you are my number six. You make me smile and proud as you evolve into the adult you are becoming. I miss not seeing you with the frequency we once enjoyed. I like your “My Space” page and will settle for that and a phone call now and then. Stay in touch my “son friend”. I hope to see you soon. Love dad AKA Big Mark

DIE BOA DIE

I have had as much as I can take from Bank of America. Last month I paid off my BOA account almost $2000.00! I decided to leave my account t open incase we had an emergency of one sort or another. I was surprised when about the middle of may I get a notification from BOA indicating I owe $91.00…still. The bill is not due until June so I was not I a hurry to engage these folks. So, energized from my holiday , I ready to do battle today. When I finally got through to a humanoid I found that the charges on the account were finance charges—for what And a late charge again for what??? I paid the stupid thing off!! So the BOA queen I spoke with graced me with cutting the fees in half. I still want to stop my account, cut the card, get out of their directory. The chick dodged my question and said that when I get my last statement things would be jolly then, Then would be a good time to close the account. So, now I owe 40.00 some dollars but now my work computer will not let me into the account I need. So, I will try to close out the account from home. I had better not run into any issues there. Have until June 3rd to take care of the payment or who knows what will happen then. I cannot say I have been happy with Bank of America.

I have lost a roll of stamps somewhere in my office. I am pretty sloppy as the office goes. I am praying that the stamps will turn up somewhere, hopefully they are lurking under one of the piles on my desk or perhaps have had the miss fortune of falling behind my desk( if this is the case the stamps are gone anyway) I really do not think the cleaning people would risk their employment by taking a whole roll of stamps but other then the cleaning family no one else ever ventures near my office. I hate stamp issues.

I still have not writing on the short stories I was waffling on last week. I have been spending all my spare time finishing a webpage for my buddy Mac. The page has been very labor intensive. Lots of image in huge meg-pixle images which I have had to reduce in size—it still going to eat all kinds of space on the server. But, I just did a minor launch and seemed to run for the most part. I now just have to get a few bugs and put a link on the hope page and I’ll be done. Then I should have time to start challenging myself with writing. By the way thanks for the encouragement from my readers who posted comments they are appreciated.

My son was over to mow my yard today and called to ask some questions. I asked Mark, as long as he was there would he consider inflating the tires on my hand bike. Of course he did and now I have my hand bike ready for this summer’s riding which means more time away from writng. I really am pitiful.

Happy Birthday Michelle, Shellie,Shell, Shellie and all the other names you go and have gone by over the years—24 “and so much more” as Niel Young sings. I want you to know how much I have appreciated having you a part of my life.. I am sorry we did not have more time together but there were so many variables we could not control. Bad marriages, bad cars,poverty, great distances and who knows what else. But we did have good times and experiences. A red Christmas dress, Kid Day and so many miracles it's difficult to count them all. Concerts and school plays trips to the Dr's office and braces. You were always the little mother helping me keep eyes on the brothers during Kid Day, keeping informed who needs what and what the others might need for birthdays and Christmas. Always quiet as a mouse. I could always count on you for a good report at parent teacher conference. Every teacher wished they had a class full of you.

I apologize for scaring you so bad when we drove through the mountains in the red caddy, getting stuck in the snow again in the red caddy—that truly was a miracle. I also apologize for pulling your arm from it socket when you were just two. I was trying to lift you from the floor in my lap—difficult to do in a wheelchair with limited hand function. I apologize for not getting you the electric piano you wanted a few years back and not being there for your wedding.

I have always been truly amazed at how smart you are. I envoy the way you read, whole books in a day, knowing just the right thing to say at just the right time. I love that you love acting and singing and you have such great self esteem. You are my American Idol. If you tried out I do not doubt you would be on your way to L.A. I have always been amazed at how much you are like me, just the way you are. I see myself in you so many ways except you are better then my version ever was. I appreciate that. You have always been the piece keeper, always pulling Thing one and Thing Two a part. Many times you were the only one who could diffuse Thing Two. You are gifted in so many things and you have always wisely used your gifts. You are blessed with genuine friends—or rather, you took great care in surrounding yourself with solid, sturdy people who care for you with the intensity with which you care for them.

I am proud of the transition you have made from adolescence to young adulthood. Again, you seem to have effortlessly made the right choices in a mate, work and life. I have also appreciated the way you have taken care of your mother. You are indeed a great magician. Few could have done what you have and you continue to be the great mediator. Shellie, you have taken care of yourself, by yourself so much of the time. You are the one I worry about least. You are my treasure. I quietly think of you and smile. I wish you a wonderful year. Good luck with your new job—which ever one you choose. Please do not hesitate in calling on me if there is anything I can do to assist you in your transition. 24 and so much more.. Love Dad.

A Piece of Work

I did it again. A cold rainy sunday greeted us this morning. I made coffee did the dishes and folded some clothes. Waded through Sunday paper. Actually I just went through the adds. Dianne continues working on her Defense so I was committed to staying out of her way. I was scouring the ads for digital cameras. The camera I am using now is getting older and the selector wheel is getting more and more difficult for me to use. I need to find a camera which easier for me to operate. As I made my way though through the adds I came to the Compusa circular. Compusa had a section of free items. You know software, usually listed with a host of rebates your end cost is “0”. I always sucker for these deals. I really should now better. I always seem to miss a crucial piece of data. I don't know if I ever get the rebates. I just have to be happy with the “instant” rebates. Today the software is “music maker” and a movie/video editing both by Magix”. I have used both kinds of software in the past and have never been satisfied. It's not the softwares fault, I am just a slow learner. The software comes with a substantial manual(which I have never completely read), the tutorials just confuse me and I resent the space they take on my hard drive. I come home install the software, try to use the stuff and become completely confused and then frustrated. I don't know why I cannot be happy with the “Movie Maker” which comes bundled with Windows XP. If you have been to my Myspace account I have a little film there. Movie Maker does just fine. The word free just get me and then I think I am better then I am. Actually this whole day has been a passive aggressive festival against myself, after making the grandiose statements about writing I think I am doing everything my subconscious can think of to defeat my noble goal of writing more material. I really am a piece of work.

We,, I know this post is way short of my customary 500 word but the time is late and I alseep at the keyboard. Have a good night.

Scratch The Itch

<>Bridget and Auni took Dianne and I out to breakfast this morning. Usually I do not go out but I am trying to make myself more available to B and breakfast sounded good. Wires got crossed and we were at the the restaurant earlier then anticipated. This meant waiting for a bit. Because we were going out early I did drink coffee much coffee before leaving. I needed some coffee- being desperate for coffee is one thing but sitting, waiting for a table and smelling the java and not having any was driving me crazy!

<>So my question is: Why will the people serve you a cup of coffee before they seat you? I mean if you are going to clearly be waiting for an extended period of time. I think serving the coffee like this to those waiting would be just good business. Since the time was getting late Dianne and began to worry about Bridget and Aunie. Since the restaurant is in the neighborhood Dianne took the van over to the kids house to make sure everything was OK They were but in the mean time I talked the waitress into seating me and I was finally able to get some coffee. It would just be good business.

<>I have been pondering my feeling from the Writers Guild yesterday. I guess I really do need to push my writing. The blog is good but blog writing is not like the writing I want to be doing, some short stories maybe a play or two and of course the great American novel. I came back from breakfast this morning and starting seeing what I had on my harddrive. I was surprised to see I had a number of projects I started last year and did not finish. I had a number of similar ideas which have been “itching” for years. A group of story lines dealing with experiences I had as a kid which have been trying to be written.. I think I have enough material for a book. I started them but had computer problems of software issues and everything got sidetracked and forgotten. I looked at the work and not necessarily delighted I was encouraged I could rework rewrite them to get back on track. I have to admit these stories continue to haunt me and I feel I will not get any solace until they are out, cleaned up and put to the public in one for or another.

Well, its another holiday weekend and right on schedule the heat of pre-summer fadede during the night to be replaced by cool temps and rain. Just as well, Dianne is totally focused on working on her EEOC case. The document has to be finished next week. So, I pretty much on my own. I washed dishes, a batch of clothes and have surfed a lot today. Not too productive but hey its a holiday. Tomorrow I think I'll go look at cameras, do some reading, fold today's clothes and maybe even cook a little.

A Duck is a Duck is a Duck

I had lunch with the writers guild today and I came away slightly depressed. I am not sure except maybe it my lack of productivity in writing. Lori brought out her newest play/. I have to admit I am a bit envious. A nice clean 25 page document. I have not had a chance to read the play yet but I am sure the play will be good. Lori has a radical side to her which has always been a joy to experience. I first got to know Lori whe we put together an acting company many years ago. The Second West Acting Company. A small project Lori put together when she was working for Very Special Art(VSA) a a Kennedy Foundation project. I wrote a couple of plays a co-authored one which eventually was produced, granted the play only had three maybe four productions . I wish I could say I was writing but the only thing I am writing is this blog! I have been hiding behind my blog postings! I mean 500 words a night/day is a lot and it's every night counting weekends and holidays. Boy, if I wqas writing this much on a short story or novel or script or something then I would have something to really consider. I do not know why the blog does not seem to count in my head....it should. I have even been considering printing some of my best entries and submit those for the reading Writers Group to consider.

Jerry who is part of the writer group has also finished a book he has been laboring on for the last year. Again I am impressed, happy for Jerry and a bit envious. But with Jerry I can console myself in that Jerry is a professional writer. Writing is what he does for a living. Still I know this bit of writing did not come easy for him. There was a point when I was not sure Jerry was going to finish. So he has the book finished he has till to formally publish and he sounds a little hesitant talking about doing a bit of revision but I bet he will bring the book out at Christmas.

So if my self esteem was not whacked enough from the lunch I met with the local alliance of Information and Referral Specialists(AIRS). (You long time readers will remember my rant(s) concerning AIRS and there quest to be better. We have not met as a group for nearly a year and I really enjoy these folks, I do but I get so tired of their enthusiasm some times. So, the first they do is set a schedule for training...we can't even keep consecutive meeting running and have an area testing at the conference to be held in October. Really it's just a fund raiser let call an operator and operator for heavens sake. I was gettung ready to start booibing about the cost of testing ($65.00) but since we still have thousands of dollars in our account; so, we have decided to have local AIRS cover the cost of the testing. I HATE TESTS!!! If I pass the test then I will be accredited. We are just operators!! We are not crises counselors—we are I&R. You can dress up your duck take your duck to the opera push your duck out on stage and let the duck quack and he is still a duck. Accept it.

Its Thursday and its

It’s Thursday and its after 3:00 and I am tired. In fact a few minutes ago I was actually dozing when Marsha popped her head in to ask a question. I was disoriented for a second until I rattled the sleep out of my head and could focus on her question. I usually do not drop off like this but you know, after a lunch a long meeting and radio broadcasting in the background and there I was sitting still, eyes closed and chasing a dream. I am glad it was only Marsha, the new receptionist. I don’t know how she took this I will just have to hope for the best.

The meeting I was in today was a follow-up of the trip I took to Atlanta last month. Three of us went to the meeting there were some others active in equipment re-utilization the meeting. One of the people who went to the is this x-military nerd who somehow has thrust himself as leader of the group. Now I would not care if he would just shut up. He just rattles on and on. He cannot answer briefly any question on the table and then add a personal antidote drives me crazy. We have to let him play though. He is the director of a project of the local Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. This guy actually has a building and may have some space coming up, in this building, our group might be able to use. Access to this space might be worth putting up with him for a couple of hours a month.

Speaking of Space. I have finally loaded a video to the myspace.com account. I am not sure how this works. I tried to get a consumer to look at some images of an event he had sent me but he was not able to access my Myspace.com account. I recently finished a music video and it’s on my account next to the fish…check it out.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=764507381&n=2&Mytoken=145E6049-1194-D7A8-C41F13C36BF42D586708182

Its Not About NumberS

When I first started this blog I made a point to say I did nor care about how many people were reading this blog. I went out of my way to stress this fact because the blog , to me , a way that I could marshal myself to write a few hundred words everyday. My only real goal was to force myself to write, to get in the habit of writing and stay in the habit of writing.

So day in and day out I have labored to craft at least 500 words about what I am feeling that day. Some days I have done less the 500 words and other days I have written more and there has been days when I have not written any words at all. I cannot or should not get caught up in “how many” people are “tuning” into my blog I mean, seriously a good day for this website is ten hits and most of those from my family…yeah Shelly, Mark, Charlie, Bridget , James or Brx etc. Sometime Kim from UILC or Chuck from CSC. I am always surprised when someone leaves a comment and really surprised if the comment comes from someone blog surfing and hitting my blog and reading and liking the blog enough to leave a comment. I mean there are Maximum bloggers out there like Dr. Michelle Au’s famous The Underweardrawer the good doctor literally gets thousands of hits each day.

So why was I so weirded out this last week when the link to my “Site Meter” account seemed to disappear from my blog. I tried to trace down where it went. No luck. I even tried to find the website I got the software from but I could not get them to come up either. I finally shrugged my shoulders and decided to find another counter—there are probably thousands of web counters and for the most part all free. Then I got all anxious and frustrated because I could not load the “script” correctly. I tied a couple of times but did not seem to make the icon stick. Eventually, I noticed , that indeed, I had linked the icon to the page and it was beginning to count hits to the blog! But I really did not care—it’s not about the numbers. The new blog counter was OK, the counter is free, give pretty good stats and lets me feel read…but the new blog counter called “Blog Counter” us just not “Site Meter” does not delivery the warm number like “Site Meter”. But really I don’t care.

This morning I was delighted to see the “Site meter” link at the bottom of my page where it usually is. It seems to have found it’s way back to my page after I authored 500 words about the counter disappearing. I have noticed, however, it’s not there now.So, knowing that the counter is there… sometimes, is enough. It really does not matter how many people are reading my words that I write each day. Because I write for myself…PSYCH!! I am addicted to the numbers!!! I love it when my total number of hits is increased by even one person. I check three or four times a day I send people, I hardly know, emails just on the chance they will visit the blog and up my numbers. So there just how shallow am I ?

I Just Want My Counter Back

Why can’t the people who have power just leave well enough alone? I noticed yesterday as I was booting up my office that my counter was missing from my blog. I did not pay much attention to the missing icon at first because sometimes icons seem to blink in and out of existence on my desktop like quarks. When events like this has happened in the past I have turned and the system off and on and this action has reset problem. I noticed the one blog I follow daily Dr Ow’s that the icon was missing from hers as well. Actually, that is where I got the counter in the first place. So, I am wondering if the company which gave the counters away have now taken them back in an effort to make the users now pay for the tracking software. I a counter from Sitemeter. The icon sat nonchalantly just under the Blogger icon but when you clicked onto to the Sitmeter icon you found out all kinds of info about where people were visiting from, the time they came and the pages they visited plus how long they stayed. I rarely got more then 10 hits a day and those mostly came from the kids but I thought it entertaining. Does anyone out there know Sitemeter and what they are trying to do?

I found another blog counter but I cannot seem to get the counter to load the Way I want it too. This maybe an evening or more likely a weekend job. Site meter loaded so easily—I hate change.

Follow Ups

As a follow up to Saturday’s I found a solution! I must have gone to bed pondering the problem I was having with the software reporting in to “Big Brother”. The message said something like “ The system detects this software on another computer on this network. You must purchase an individual for each machine…” I under stood this to mean that the soft ware was registered at main control some where and when I ran the “code” on my PC-desk top to install the web development ,software and open it up, I was flagged. But during the night my mind revealed to me all the message was saying to me that “It detected another copy of this software on another system in the network” So, If I were to turn the other system off the network could not detect the software clone. Sure enough when I turned of the lap-top the pc ran the software with the code. I was able to begin working on my buddy’s images to website issue. I saved fifty bucks. I am still debating, however, to go ahead and grab a version of the software off the Ebay system and stop looking over my shoulder or worrying I will loose access to my bootlegged software.

More follow Up…I called my buddy Tom, of whom I wrote a couple of days ago (by the way thanks to the reader who encouraged me to follow up with Tom. I appreciated your input.) Anyway Tom is fine, as fine as anyone who has a possible life threatening, progressive disability can be. Fortunately, he is still in the early stages and the progression is different per host but as Tom said, Parkinson’s is neurological, and progressive and always lethal—it’s just a matter of time. Tom is taking it cool though, he continues to work, continues to be a husband, dad and good friend. In fact he is taking a 6-10 week European tour. We talked for 40 minutes, caught up on old names and old places, wished we lived closer to each other or at least had more frequent contact. We discussed that we now did hold the technology to do so and that we should, and that we will, but time will tell won’t it?

Vicente Fox is stopping by the building tomorrow! You know, El Presidente of Mexico. Well actually they say( the Mexican Consulate upstairs) he IS NOT stopping by the building. I bet they are saying that. While I was out at lunch rolling round the neighborhood I saw a couple of white vans stuffed with white shirted badges. I never see that many sheriffs in one place unless it’s a doughnut shop. Something is going on. I just hope we don’t get blown up tomorrow or the next day.

To Error is Human

A number of years ago I owned this great 1970 something land yacht I called Thor. Thor was this gigantic Grand Marquee, sun roof, huge bucket seats and battleship gray. The boat cost me 500.00. I would pass Thor everyday going back and forth to my bus stop—I think the year was about 1990. I had just been through a divorce where I had lost my other vehicle and I had been vehicle free for almost a year. Long story short I had saved up enough money to purchase Thor by the end of the summer. Everything work on the beast, the moon roof, the seats and even the radio. I got a friend to jam the hand controls into the beast and I was off. I loved that vehicle.

But the story of Thor is not what this post is about. PepBoys, the car repair store is what this post is about. I drove Thor for about three years. I knew the vehicle was old but well worth the financial in put to keep the beast of the road. I cannot remember what happened one Saturday but I ended up having to take Thor to the closest repair joint in my neighborhood. It was Pepboys. The had opened in the neighborhood earlier in the year. I was suspect but I was also desperate for a mechanic’s touch on my faithful steed. I saddled up and rolled. A couple of hours later I got a phone call from the shop. They just could not fix the beast so how did I want to dispose of the car? I could not justify to dump a lot of money into it and I could not justify towing him home where I knew Thor would become a monument to my indecision. The manager also informed me that one of his mechanics had said he would by the monster for $500.00. More suspect then ever I took the money and rolled. I felt sure the mechanic would do what he could for the guzzler. I saw Thor time to time afterward, raising a lump in my throat when he would cruise by—I tried not to be bitter but I avoided Pepboys from then on. I was/and still almost am sure that they sucker-punched me into selling the car. I still miss Thor on hot summer evenings burning down the road with the roof open and radio blasting.

Today, I was running errands I had to stop at Shopko which right next Pepboys. I have a 6 point power seat I drive from. I transfer out of my wheelchair into power seat which raise and lowers, move back and forward on a track and also spins round from the forward position to make transferring easier. I had just moved the seat back when the seat stopped moving. I was stuck. Luckily I was near enough to my wheelchair I could make the lift. I figured I would go to the store then worry about the van.

When I got back to the van I looked for some tools but of course had non. I was hoping for a flat ended jack handle. I thought I knew what ailed the seat. I had lost power in the seat before and had tinkered with the switches on the side of the seat and have got them going again. But, not to day, the seat sat there dead. Racked my brain for options non came then I saw Pepboys, almost mocking me from the a joining parking lot. It had been over ten years since I lost Thor maybe it was time to let him go…besides was desperate.

Sunday’s are a slow for places like Pepboys. There was but one assistant manager on duty and two other staff with no cars on the bays I was hopeful. I explained my situation explaining that if I had a pry bar I think I could get the power seat operational enough to get home. The guy who went with me suggested that he drive my vehicle back to the shop where he could address problems with better tools. Made sense to me. The lad fixed the seat, or got it operational. A wire got caught in the seat gears and heated up(his words) after he got the pressure off the seat the wire cooled down the seat worked. The wires still needed to be addressed so the problem would not happen again. I will take the van into my regular lift mechanic for this or take the van over to my brother’s if he an find some time. My brother always does the best work. The would not let me pay for the work they had done-which is always OK with me. So, now Pepboys does not look so bad. Maybe I am ready to trust again. To error is human but to forgive is .

Just Get Over It!!

<>My buddy who I do the web page for has been slow of late cranking out his
his newsletter. I had not heard from him for the longest time so I called him the other day. Mack was there and he was fine, he just has been super busy of late and has not got enough new to write. Mack explained they had just finished up their Spring fund raiser and that has taken every bit of his time. In fact he now wants me to create a new page which will highlight images from this event. This is a fairly straight forward job but he gave me two discs of images and I am a bit overwhelmed.

The software I use is a copy I bootlegged from work. This was when I did work on my State website and I worked from home. I no longer do the State site and the State boys have taken the software back. No problem except when I “nuked” my system a few months ago I lost the software fortunately I have another copy on my laptop that I used for the same reason. I can work on my laptop but I do not do as well as when I am working on my big system. Actually, I was able to find an old copy still installed on the hardrive but when I tried to use it the software recognizes the copy on my lap top and indicated I can not enjoy the same piece of software on both systems—it's kind of a nasty message inferring the software cops will show up at my door and do terrible things to me if I do not cease and desist. I really like this software and i have most of the website built with it. A new package would cost about $400.00, which I can neither afford or justify. However, I did some searching on Ebay and I could buy an older edition for about $50.00 which I could absorb OK. I have to admit though the whole Ebay things weirds me out. I even went so far as to set up an account. The software has everything I want but is in Great Britain!! Everything looks great almost too great to be true. If I am reading the item correctly it says it will send me a password which allows me tom download the trial version which is the actual version when I make the full payment. I think they send me the whole thing over the INTERNET. It also suggests the CD will also come in the mail. Could this be true??? I just do not want to get burned. I mean what if it does not work? The seller has stellar reviews, but England? I also found a couple of vendors Stateside but now I just have to do it. It would be nice to have a good, legal working copy. The version they are selling is a 2004 edition—which is OK by me. It's not like I am proficient enough to understand all the “whistles and bells” on the new edition. So what can I loose $50.00 buck is worth the crap-shoot, right?`Hey, even at one point this afternoon I dusted off my old copy of Morpheus and found a couple of editions which would work just fine. But I just could not hit the “download” key—it just did not feel right or maybe I was just scared. What ever it is. GETOVER IT!

Another Friday Afternoon

Another Friday afternoon, I am back here all on my own. The day has been slow less then seven calls. The boos is gone as well as most of the upfront staff so it’s basically Marsha( the new person) and me. Shaney Boy is here but has been in and out to human services doing Comptroller stuff so Shaney feels like he is gone. Shane will most likely stick round to 5:00 pm. I’m here “for the count” so I figured I would take off over lunch and get some banking and such done.

I have found I really enjoy going over to my bank or credit union and doing transitions in person. I am sure this is some sort of a throw-back to a day when things were slower and am sure folks felt in more control of their lives. The whole thing of seeing and interacting with the very folks who handle and ”guard” your money is important. It’s corny, I know, but I really get the feeling these folks like seeing me come in and our interactions. I secretly believe that I get better service because I visit the bank. I especially like the service I feel I am getting over the phone when I do have to call in to the institution. The people make me feel like I am important. Enough for the embedded commercial.

I had finished my banking and was onto my next destination Jeannies Smoke shop(JSS). JSS is a great smoke shop. I think every city has one. Usually an older building in the down town business district.. Wood floors which creak when walked or rolling on. The shop is usually the city’s pipe shop where pipes can be purchased, repaired and admired. The shop also has a real humid adore one you can actually walk in. The whole place smells great. JSS is very much a guy’s place. Magazines and overstuffed chairs in back where one can still sit and have a smoke. Jeannie still owns the place but I don’t I have ever seen her there. The cashiers are all young and mostly male. In the time I have been frequenting the shop there has only been two cashiers who are female. A women had to betough or severely cool to work at JSS One was cool and was very tough. But those are other posts) There is always a high quality of jazz being played at Jeanies—in the winter the place is warm and inviting and the summer the doors is always open and a cool respite( in all manners of the word) from the city’s heat. Jeannie’s is the great city mixer. Pipe tobacco, cigars( good cigars) the kind sold in real wood boxes collectively or metal tube singly—high end cigarettes and the no names which brings in the city’s pan handlers and homeless who have just enough for one pack of no names to get them through the night.

So, there I am sitting infront of the glass display cases with the sliding doors. Chet the cashier is serving the gentleman in front of me is holding a wad of hundred dollar bills at least an inch thick I could see the top bills were hundreds I could not see what the bottom of the pile was but I sensed they were hundreds too. He had a whole breast pocket of his shirt was stuffed with Punch Imported cigars. Thr guy had a high end Blue Tooth ear piece the kind Uhura wore at her duty station aboard the Enterprise. The guy was busy purchasing ornate wood cigar boxes the kid I like to buy at Christmas for writing boxes. Chet finally acknowledged my presences asked if I wanted the usual. I nodded feeling very cool. The the cigar man turned and looked down at me and said “Hi” I said “Hi” back trying not to notice the wad in his hand. I even mentioned someone’s horse came in. I did not think anyone heard me. A couple of minute Cigar Man turned and said” Do you smoke cigars?” taken off guard I said ”Sure” in a couple of deeper octaves. Cigar Man looked pleased and rook one of the stogies out of his pocket ad gave it to me. I am not sure what I am going to do with it but it sure is cool and makes a story like a left turn.

I Need A Reader that Reads

Cecilia asked me this morning if she could take tomorrow off. I shrugged and said “OK”. I do not have any meetings out of the office tomorrow but since I had a lunch meeting Monday I have an hour to consume or loose by tomorrow evening. So, I figured if I am going to get this hour I better use the hour today. The weather is perfect: hot and dry. I decided to “stretch” my lunch hour and Trax up to Trolly station and do some shopping at the Staples store there.

I lost my SD card reader—I mean I did not actually loose the piece of equipment something happened to the equipment and the computers, I use, will no-longer recognize the reader. I cannot say for sure that something on the trip cancelled it out all I know is that I was able to download images with this equipment before I went on my trip and I when I tried to down load images from my SD chip my office computer as well as my two home systems will not read it. I have lost my drivers-so if I could find drivers to install I would be OK. I tried to find the drivers for this reader to no avail. The reader is made by General Electric the reader is called Secure Digital & Multimedia—USB. I thought the driver would be simple to find. No way. If anyone out there know of these drivers please let me know. Plus I have never purchased a reader for Dianne and that Camera I gave her for Christmas. Dianne’s camera uses an xD and I wanted to be sure the reader we use on the house systems are xD capable.

What I really think happened is that airport security did something to the reader when then did their security thing on my back pack. I guess I should be happy the camera still works. I don’t know what could have happened.

I did some calling round and found the closest place to my office was a Staples store a mile and half from my office easily accessible by train of a lunch hour and very doable with a stretched lunch hour.

The pickings were slim the least expensive reader was $19.98 more then I wanted to pay but the reader looked sturdy and the reader would handle Dianne’s needs. So, I got it. I came back to the office and dialed in to New Egg and ordered two more readers at much less. The readers are cheap $4.98 and 11.98 but should do the job. They should here by the first of the week.

I finished my Stephen King this morning on the way to work. Dianne picked me up a couple books last week but they are at home. I feel I should read at least one next. I would rather get a new King. Black House but that would take more time then I want to spend without a book. So, what I plan to do is order my next read from Amazon and the book will be here and ready for reading by Memorial day weekend and for sure by June evenings and weekends.

Give the Emp a Fig Leaf

I found out yesterday—from my good buddy Josh—that the local affiliate to AIRS( Alliances of Information and Referral Specialist) is being re-birthed. Our organization is called UAIRS-figure it out. We try to resurrect this group every couple of years. At one point in time we had a viable group going. We met once a month, had a fairly strong Statewide representation and hosted the national conference when the conference was hosted in our state. This event was a multiple day affair and we all worked devilishly hard to pull the event off. However the event seems to have killed the group. We have probably had three meeting since the local national conference. I am not sure the reason for this but I suspect the group realized –maybe not consciously—that there were far more important things these folks should be doing. There I have said it! The emperor is naked.

The National AIRS conference is next month in Milwaukee and I am not going. I could have gone but in light of the fact I have been in Pennsylvania and Georgia in the past couple of months and I really do not relish the idea of out-of-state travel again I thought I would pass. I have gone to two of these events can not justify going again. The expense to my operation is immense compared to our over all budget for not getting anything useful from such an event. The national AIRS conference is not only a forum for spreading information to the masses but also a time of testing for those coveted in-service hours which add towards the hours needed to get certified as an official I&R specialist. Essentially a document which says “you have met the requirements necessary to be in the club”. Sure you have to pass a test and you have to pay for the examination but I sort of think everyone gets certified eventually. Just another level of stress to contend with. I think the organization is clique (clickee). I also got the feeling of trying to make us, the operators more then we are. Hey, I think we are great and we do a great job, I just do not think we need to glorify our selves with titles and illusions we are more then we are.

Yup! We are naked—naked as J-Birds and as we try, once again, to flock to a roost of some sort I am afraid we will notice at some level that we are naked and hide. Oh I a going to the meeting and I am even going to participate. Hey, I like these guys. These guys do what I do—more or less. We all provide information. It’s meetings next week. The conference is in June…July is a waste of a work month and everyone seems busy in August so I predict our next meeting to be in September. We may get a decent turnout for that meeting just because that meeting is on the heels of June national conference. I think this rebirth will have run it’s course by December because everyone knows you gotta have clothes in December.

My Buddy Tom

I have been trying to think of something to write about all day and the name of my old buddy Tom keeps coming up. I have tried to steer myself away from writing about Tom and his predicament but I am driving back to him every time I start typing. So this entry may sound like a posting about Tom but actually the posting is more about me and how I view the world with me in it.

Two brothers: Tom and John they lived across a couple of fields from me and my brother Ross. We lived, in what was then rural South East Boise. We became friend and best friends by default since there was not anyone geographical closer to us then we were to each other. John was my age, we were often in the same class at school, Campus School now long gone. Tom was a couple of grades higher then we were. He ended up hanging out with my older brother Ross a couple of grades higher then Tom. There was a brief shining moment in the orbital histories of our lives when we shared intersections in a perfect venn diagram for a couple of years. We aged and life moved on and we drifted apart.

I had the motorcycle wreck—actually a motorbike wreck. I in all honesty cannot call a 80 c.c. Yamaha a motorcycle. Anyway, I broke my head and neck and moved on. This summer will be the 40 year anniversary of the event. I did OK, I did not die, got a college education, got out of Viet Nam and have been able to stay pretty much consistently employed for the past 30 years. This is good. Granted I can’t walk and next to no grasp in my hands but I get by and do OK. I have taken the event(s) in stride and come out. I think, OK. I pretty much have gotten used to how life is for me and what to expect and where I am going.

I found out a month ago that my old friend Tom has Parkinson’s disease a neuro-muscular inhibitor which is progressive –this is not good. Luckily the Parkinson’s is localized and has not invaded his whole body as I have seen. Tom, is actually working, has a real job, a physical job—he is a lineman, union and everything. If Tom debilitates further, I am sure he will be covered by some kick ass benefits. Still, it will be hard on Tom to loose so much of how you expect life to be. I mean I this country regardless of how good you have it you quickly become second class if you have a disability. I hope Tom keeps working right up to taking an early retirement and a great retirement.

I have kept in contact with John the last couple of years. I enjoy our “adult relationship”; emails, birthdays cards and occasional phone conversations. I have not kept this relationship up with his brother though and that disturbs me know I ponder this fact. Why does a major disability have to be the driver for old friends to re-kindle an old friendship? Is it guilt because I have not kept up my side of the relationship, fueled now because of Tom’s disability or is Tom’s disability now our common denominator to which we can relate? Either way, John gave me his brother’s phone number and I think I’ll be calling.

Wrap My Head in Ice and Call Me Cool.

I just got back from a meeting across town and I cannot believe I am hot, so hot I am nearly feint. It’s may 15th and it’s 85 degrees out side! This promised to be a wonderful summer. The weather guy says we are a month a head of schedule. We are basically safe from flooding since it was cool, this early Spring the snows have had ample time to melt. There will not be a makeshift river down main State street like in ’83. A year of fairly heavy snow pack a warmer then normal Spring run off and there was run off and lots of it. Local population loves to rehearse the story about how the local volunteers were called on and everyone filled sand bags and build a channel down State street. Industrious as bees.

Not this year though. It’s hot and it’s early. See I am a quadriplegic; granted I am a lucky quad. I can do everything I need to do by myself—the action may take fore ever but I will usually get it done except getting myself back into my chair from the floor. Anyway one of the other things I cannot do is regulate my body temperature very well in heat spikes. Heat used to not bother me in the beginning of my disability in 1966 but later on as I have aged I have be come much more sensitive to heat spikes. Now a days I have to pay close attention to my hydration and direct sun light exposure. I do not have air conditioning in my van, again, actually I would if I was not so cheap as to not repair the air conditioner. This would cost a fortune for only three months , usually, out of the year. One the other hand the best definition f a van I know is “ a box on wheels”. Where the temperature maybe 85 degrees outside, in side the oven I call my transportation it is way close to a hundred degrees if not more. I am sure you know the rules, never leave pets, children and people with disabilities in a vehicle, on a hot day and I do not care if the windows are open you just cook slower. Today was such a day, not bad going over to the Blind Center where my meeting was but the van/oven was quite toasty for the ride back to my office. I made the trip OK, I was just dizzy and cotton mouth by the time I got to the parking lot. I leave the van open in the summer if I can. This helps a little at least until I close the lift and the side doors close. If I ride with the window open and hang my head nearly out the window, like a Labrador I can usually get my body temp down to a survivable if not safe road experience. In the dead of summer I am beginning to do real old fart things like drive with a cold rag over my head or wrap ice in a towel and drape the towel over my shoulders.

I was talking with a dude who had driven up from St. George to the meeting—actually his mom drove him up. He has MS and heat just wipes MS folks out. You can bury the suckers in ice after they get overheated and it will not do them any good. St. George is in the South portion of the State, it’s always hot there…they have already had 100 degree days. St George is populated by scorpions and old farts both love the heat. Anyone else is wise to leave. I told him my idea of ice on the head in a towel and the last I saw of him he looked like an Iraqi headed South.

Just a Couple More...

Just a couple more images of my Atlanta trip. I stayed on the twenty second floor of the joint. I had a beautiful view of the city. The other image is the city outside my window at night. I am glad I could not get he sliding door open that would have just been too spooky. Anyway the hotel was great, it’s employees were more then great and worth every nickel I tipped them. I am sure I did not tip enough—I really do not have that kind o experience—but they were too classy to let me know if I had not tipped enough.

But the world is getting back to normal, it’s great to have a weekend with nothing , well sort of nothing, to really let a person know how great it is to be home, in familiar surroundings with people you love. We have just been hanging round cleaning out the garage and working in the yard. Dianne was able to me a path back into my work shop, where I try to make my “sticks.” This was a major task. I have not been in my garage for a couple of years. Dianne worked on the project all day until the daylight left. We still have work to do but I can at least access my shop and tools. Actually, I have to find my tool now. They are all over the place but they have to be in there somewhere.

Oh yeah I kinda forgot, remember when I said it was great to have noting going on, well I forgot it’s Mother’s Day today. Remember my mom is 90+ years old and I am the kid in the chair who can not get into her place unassisted. Dianne cannot get me up the steps to her house. I have not heard if my brother was going down to Sanatquin so I will not see her. The best I can do is call her. I have tried once today but just got her answering machine. I’ll keep trying and I will eventually get her. Mom says she doe not want gifts anymore. She does not have anywhere to keep them and feel the gifts are just more things that survivors have to cope with when she passes. Even cards I do not think she wants since she has sent all the letters and cards I have sent her over my lifetime with her…twice. So I do not known what to do. I well make some phone calls and all she will be happy. I am one of ten kids and hopefully they will keep mom busy until I can get through—Almost a perfect weekend.

Friday Night

Friday night! I made it to the end of another week! This was not a bad week as weeks go but an epic week just the same. I got back from Georgia in one piece with little or no trauma. I wish I could take all the credit but I cannot. Dianne of course for her continued , if not long distance support. Mark for helping me wash clothes and pack and then of course good old Gabe and Anakah for dropping me off at the airport. Then there were the porters, and unknowns in the airport and on the streets of Atlanta who picked up things I dropped, gave me direction and ideas of where the best and cheapest places to eat were. The lady who served me breakfast two days running, who called me “honey” the way waitresses do at truck stops, Denny's and greasy spoons—seemed glad to seem the second day I showed up for breakfast and smiled at me. She asked if I was going to be a regular like she genuinely cared. It was nice. Even the middle aged, sort of dumpy stewardess who was be side herself when the crew took for ever bringing my power wheelchair up from baggage. I made it! I have a great artifact to add to my history: chapter what ever My Trip To Atlanta.

I fretted over this trip ever since In learned I would have to make it, especially knowing Dianne would be on her own trip. Now, that the adventure is behind me I wonder why I worried as much as I did. I did and I know I will again the next trip I have to take. Trips of this magnitude were challenging when I was younger but I was younger and that made all the difference. Then if I fell off the bed or in the shower I could actually drag my sorry as back in to my wheelchair. However nowadays when I am down I am down. I have to have an assist of some sort. I carried my cell phone with me everywhere in case this happened I would be able to get some sort of help. Maybe I need to re-cultivate the belief in myself I used to have so much of. Maybe this experience was the wakeup call I needed to put myself” “ back in the game” or “on the line” to be more then I am to grow.

I was back in the office today. The boss was gone, cool. I was supposed to have lunch with the Writers Guild. I made the date a few weeks. I was being pressured to set a day and time. I knew I would be just back from the trip but I thought I could do the date but late yesterday I was called at home and reminded that I indeed had a standing meeting at the exact same time. I am th chair and I really had to be there. Attendance to this meeting was part of my job description. I tried to call the others in the Guild but all I got were answering machines. I did my best and went to my meeting. I was late because I took the train and since I am chair—they were waiting for me. I actually did OK for my first meeting—this gig may not be too bad....who knows maybe I just grew from my trip.

Images of Atlanta Trip

These are images from my trip
--alot did not turn out. I giggle too much when I push the plunger on the camera.




My Toil with grab bars--sturdy and work great. I was safe













My roll in shower. I was un sure ar first but grew to like it--however the seat was small and a little scary tring to balence, hold the shower and wash all at the same time.









The is the Bank of Americia building...very large..round the corner from my hotel.





Break--





















I was bored and taking images of people at the sessions I was in.
















Image of the light rail I took to the hotel from the airport...MARTA






Self Explanatory

Winding down

The conference is winding down now—you can just feel it. The breakouts are getting smaller and the quality of responses are getting poorer and people’s eyes are glazing over and people are thinking about how and when they will exit the conference tomorrow. I know I am. The entire last break-out session I was trying to decide if I was going to check out in the morning or leave early—before lunch and check out then. I am leaning towards the latter since the MARTA station is across the street of my hotel—however, I could just drag my stuff with me to the last sessions tomorrow and leave at the last break to get on the train back to the airport.. I am flying out at 2:15P landing in SLC at 4:15pm. I will be glad to be home. Dianne should be flying in today. I suspect she will call as she gets back to the mainland from the cruise

I feel I have been extremely luckily. I have not been stranded or fallen once in getting on or off of the bed as well as the toilet and the shower. I have used all of my A.T. equipment: hooks, and bungee cords. I have done well. My cell phone has operated Ok and the batter charger for the powerchair was worked much better then I had anticipated. The chair itself has not stayed charged as well as I would have liked: last night I forged quite a ways out looking at things and I was blinking red lights by the time I finally got back to the hotel. Of interest, last night at the orginal “Fox” Theater a locally famous rock band was having a concert and MTV was out to record…the crowds and the technology was fantastic. I did not stay too long for fear of being one of those guys who combs what little hair he has over his baldness.

I should do some more exploring this afternoon. The rest of the conference has gone on “field-trip” that would not be back until 8:30 or so. I am too tired and I donot want to be in too unfamiliar of territory. I am not sure how much energy I have to explore either. But maybe a few places on the way home. There is a huge Barnes an Nobel across the street and I could get lost there for a while.

So tomorrow I have half a day of conference and the flight back home. I have taken Thursday off and will be back in the office on Friday to take calls and return and just maybe start thinking about implementing some of the ideas discussed at this conference. With any luck I’ll get a machine open in the morning and post a thought or two and post from home on Thursday.

I Made It!!

I made it! I got in with few problems. I had read the itinerari wrong. The ticket was right 1:07 was the time I was to leave--so I hung roubd the airport for three hours but no problem it was fun. No problems with the aircraft until the last hour of flight. I had to use the restroon but of course was not able to--luckily I was carring padding which helped for tge most part but stil I was glad to leave the aircraft once they found my chair--took them least 35 minutes. Then to the MARTA the train was about four blooks from hotel. Luckily the rain was over by the time I got off the train and went right to my hotel.

The room is basically accessible took some figurig and I am glad I took as much A.T. equipment as I did. I have used every bit of it. That's it for now--I'm in a hurry the conference is about to start--I'll write more later...but I'm alive and OK...

Unbelievable

I checked my tickets 50 minutes ago and I found my flight does not leave till 1:07 pm!!!. The last time I checked at the office it was 10:07!!! So.looks like I have some wait time ahead. Then a couple of minutes ago too I lacerated my finger on my left hand but I have the bleeding stopped and though I most likely need stiches I should be Ok. The finger washed up OK I just do not have any band aids. Maybe I can find one at the airport. What else can go wrong.

Actually on the bright side…I have time to get to the airport(3 more hours) and I got the bleeding stopped…IS THIS A HALF FULL DAY?

I am about set to go

I am about set to go. Mark and Jessica came over this morning and helped me do a couple of batches of clothes. Actually, I found a couple of pair a of slacks this morning early and I feel I have quite enough slacks for the trip but having Mark and Jessica over was great fun and their efforts helped a great deal. Mark really put some order to the laundry area even vacuumed and the space looks great. I sure could use them in my computer room and even my garage. Maybe I can get them over again soon. I sure enjoy their assistance but even more I love spending time with them.

So, I have four pair of slacks, a couple of long sleeve black shirts like a turtle neck and a long sleeve T. I am even contemplating packing a pair or two of socks. I usually do not wear socks past a certain day in the Spring; sometimes if I have a board meeting or for one reason or another must dress more formal then usual. Sock are one of those items which are expected of a person disability or not. People want to know you are wearing socks. F I know the people or they know me then I’ll go with out but to go somewhere thousands of miles away from home and a group of people I do not know I had better be prepared. Socks are kind of a ‘cloaking device” if you are wearing the socks you are sure to remain cloaked but let the word out you are not wearing or have someone notice you are not wearing the you are way visible maybe too visible for a conference.

I also have packed a couple of vests and a couple of golf type shirts. I still have some room in the bag. I am taking the vests and the shirts because Dianne indicated these would be good “conference clothes”. The items are short sleeved and I am kinda feared the short sleeves will be uncomfortably cool. I have learned the hard way that Dianne is usually correct with these calls. O we shall see. Mark is coming back this afternoon and we will finish the bag and then I’ll be ready for the trip to the airport first thing in the morning. I am now beginning to look forward the event. I am still a bit spooked at what to expect inside the bathroom and being able to make the transfers safely but I am sure I’ll get by just fine.
I started Stephen King’s Hearts of Atlantis last night, boy, what a great read. I just found out that this book is not one big novel but a bunch lightly interconnected short stories of novella. Hum, that changes things a bit. I do not know how much time I want to put into shorts. This could be a great reason to go to Barnes n’ Noble today and get a read, a brand new read for the trip and the first part of the summer. Anyway Hearts is great. So, back to reading and packing and my big lonely trip.

A Plan for A Planner

I think I have figured out what I want to do my planner! Yesterday I ended up going to the Deseret Industry store (local second hand store) to see what they had which I thought I might be able to use for a planner. I found a couple of planners and binders but nothing really “jumped out” at me. I just could not see how I be able to convert the item into a “artistic journal’ for what I had in mind. I have to admit I was a bit dejected when I left. I thought sure I would find exactly what I needed. I put the project in the back of my mind I was even thinking of aborting the whole project.

This morning when I got to work—I had a few minutes to sketch or what ever—so I pulled out my “Head Injury Conference” syllabus. We had a information table at state head injury conference a couple of months ago. They printed this incredible, spiral wired book for their syllabus, really a couple of hundred pages, great quality paper and many, many pages just printed on one side. I have been using the book to do some sketching on—then it hit me THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT PLANNER. Pages and pages of obsolete printed material to past images, planner/calendar pages on and all the blank pages to sketch and write on.

I have already started the conversion process. Art Access , local affiliate to Very Special Arts, send me a couple of post cards a month highlighting their up coming Gallery Stroll, opening of new show or what ever. These post cards are brilliantly colorful and very unique and best of all free. I just need a calendar to cut up and paste onto the pages of the “planner”. There are some planner pages , I have noticed on the Groupwise we use here at the office. If I can out how to print a blank or empty calendar pages and “day page” I may have the whole problem solved.

Gabe called this morning—he indicated he is un-deck to drive me to the airport on Sunday morning. Now, I just need to do a couple of loads of wash and pack everything and just wait. The yard is a mess I wish there was someone I could ask to help with mowing the lawn at least the front—I can live with the jungle in the back until Dianne gets back. Last night we had pretty heavy rain and today rain is called for—so nothing would be able to be done today anyway. However, better weather is on deck for tomorrow and Sunday.

So this is the last workday before I fly to Atlanta. I am waiting for Shane to cut my travel check, I am working through my lunch which will allow me to get to the bank before 5:00. I got to cash the “travel check”, cash another check for my own traveling money. So, I will most likely post tomorrow then I don’t now when I will get to a terminal again before Thursday—if I can find one I’ll post when and where I can.

Are Day Planners Art?

I had planned on getting to bed early then be up so I could get so much more done on my day off but I stayed up too late. Actually I was on my way to bed at a reasonable rime when I diverted myself to the computer room, turned on the system and committed to just checking my mail...then I was hooked and I did not finish till 12:30 am!! I am so stupid at times. I ended sleeping in till 9:00 which is rare and did take some real commitment on my part.

I think I was hit by pollen during the night and my allergies are picking up. Feelings like I have a sore throat but I donot have any of the other symptomatology. I have one meeting at 1:00 today then I have the rest of the day to my self. I plan to to one of two things. Either waste my day going to free movies or go to the paperstore and start making my person planner and thought book. I was at a meeting a couple of weeks ago and the director of the a?rt Council was there and had made her own and I was quite taken with the planner she had constructed. I want to try it and see what evolves. I 'm off to the meeting now and will finish this evening ...

The meeting was OK but very irritating. The young Yahoo who who runs the elections accessibility committee is never prepare, calls meetings the day before and is always apologizing. I like the guy enough even though he looks like an aging “young Republican. I mean here I am dragging my sorry ass into the State Capitol on my day off. It would be nice to get at least a lunch even bottled water would be nice. But no he calls the meeting for 1:00. Well, I at least could sleep in.

I was set fee two hours later and I went to the paper store to follow up on my idea of building my own planner. I got in this papere warehouse and realized I did not what I was doing. I finally got some speckled card stock and left after the third sales person asked if they could help. I need to rummage round my room at home and see what kind of binder or such I have to work with. I may end up going to the local DI and see what they have. Usually DI has a good assortment of binders,real planners and all kinds of folders. I have some paper stock in my files. I'll check after House—Part II tonight.

I got a call from Dianne—she is fine. I was beginning to get worried. After she was bumped from her flight—twice. I never heard back. But she is at her mom's and today is the mother's 80^th year. I was passed round the whole family. A little awkward but cute. Tomorrow the whole crew are leaving port their cruise—back in four days. I hope they stay away from pirates.

Want does this mean??

Want does this mean? I passed this house this morning after I dropped my van off at the Firestone and was making my way back to the train station on into work. I have seen the international symbol of access used in a lot of funky ways but this must be the funkiest. I almost did not get the image bit the more I thought about garbage can the more I needed to stop everything I was doing and dig out my camera and snap off an image. It was about 6:45 a.m. so I could not really tell if anyone was home at the time but I had to get the image.

I worried all night about the right rear tire on my van. I had tire fill the tire up last weekend before I took Dianne to the air terminal and then yesterday I noticed the tire was sinking again. I should have gone and filled the tire up last night but when I got home form work but I was too tired and I did not want to miss 24—I mean it’s not an easy thing for me to get the tires aired up. I have to first find someone who will do it. Nothing makes me feel more “gimpy” then having to have someone else doing something I should be able to do on my own. Airing up tires is just one of those things, even if I could get to my air compressor, I still would not be able to air up the tires—just too much hand function. So, I have to go to either a “Jiffy Lube” kinda a place or hang out at a convenience store till I se someone who I think is nice enough will add some air to my tire.

So, having said all of this I decided I just needed to drop the van off at the Firestone in my neighborhood, get the tire fixed and be done with it. ( I really want to be sure the van is in great shape when Dianne picks me up at the airport next week. I have an IOTI meeting today. I know I can get there by bus so I felt comfortable leaving the van. In fact I was called while at the meeting. When I finally got back to the caller I found that in fact they had fixed the tire—this was good—but then they checked out my brakes as I had “indicated”. I had not indicated any such thing! Comes out that my rear breaks are put on backwards.!! This could really expalain a lot of stuff.” Do you want us to fix it it?” The tire guys says and I indicate that I did not ask to have my brakes looked at. This was because I was there so early and had to fill out one of those creepy slips that you have to leave in the creepy little box on the door to their garage with your keys. Luckily I did not have to because there was a lone worker in side unlocking doors and he took my slip. Anyway the tire guys says I must have made a mark or something in or near the brakes part on the slip. Sure what a scam. The tire guy said I would need to have them turned round before my disks were damaged. Less the $100.00. That’s just the thing, I sort of think tire places are the snake oil sales men on the twenty first century, especially if you’re a wheelchair guy who does not know a whole hell of a lit about cars and stuff. You’re at their word.. I said “ Yeah, go a head and do it” payday is Friday.

A White Shirt and Yesterdays Non-Post

I wore my white shirt today.  A challenge for some one like me,not only does wearing a white shirt make me look  as big as a house. But trying to keep the garment clean will be a full time job as well.  I may see if there is a bib I can wear during lunch if I eat anything messy.  I  wore the shirt to show solidarity with the striking immigrant workers.  I did not have a blue ribbon so I wore dark blue slacks. I heard  on the news last night and this morning there is to be a number of demonstrations and protests downtown.  I toyed with the idea of attending of the protests to be held this afternoon at  City and County building.  There should be a good turn out and would be fun but I have decided against participating since I will taking off a couple of days this week and next week on my return form GA.  I am surprised I am the only one in my office who acted in solidarity.  Even the woman who is gay—she is really gung ho on this kind of stuff.  Then there is my boss who is a relatively new PhD in social work.  She really is quite the bleeding heart—and she is married to a fellow who is Hispanic/native American.  My office partner is a little Latino and seems almost seems violently against and support for the immigrant faction. I was kinda a hoping she would give us the time off to attend or at least willing to let us go if we had the vacation time.

  I have decided to take Wednesday and Thursday this week off to prepare for my trip—especially with Dianne gone.  I would have taken Friday off too but CC , my office mate, had already scheduled to  take the time. This is OK. I can do whatever preparation for my trip on the two days scheduled and on Saturday.  Bridget indicated she would come over if I needed to wash some clothes of needed any help with packing.  I am taking just one huge leather bag that I can carry on my power wheelchair, I   also need to pack my battery charger, a couple of hooks a length of cord and extra bungee cords. If I am lucky I can get a manual wheelchair to use from either the IL or a durable medical vender.  I am now feeling fairly confident about this trip. I have calls out regarding my seating in the aircraft.  My disability was not taken into consideration when Marsha booked the flight. She is still pretty new to the wonderful world of disability.

I did not post yesterday…I was just too tired to write. Dianne flew out of Salt Lake at 6:30 so that meant I needed to drop her off at the air terminal, which meant that I had to be up 4:00 am,  or so to leave in time.  We did this with no issues. But I never went back to bed when I got back to the house. I just cannot get back to sleep once I have woke. So I ended up just hanging round in a daze all day. I spent the day working on the computer and burning CD-Roms.  Sort of fun al things considered.  Dianne did call later in the day.  She was stranded in Chicago!  Her flight from Chicago to Baton Rouge had been canceled: twice!.   Delta was putting her up at a Marriott in Chi-town and hopefully she will be on her way this today. She does a have a window of a day or so before her ship leaves.  I assume she will make it ok.