Rerun

Snow fell again last night and this morning covering all the work I did on the ramp yesterday. Snow fell yesterday and I was a bit surprised at how much snow did fall. Actually the snow came down on Christmas Eve and I let the snow stand over the holiday but yesterday decided to get dressed And at least get the ramp cleared to the point that I would be able to get down the ramp needed. I realized getting up around if needed could be a bit tenuous oncoming home from work and driving up the ramp. I slipped and slided all over the place getting up but I made it.

I jumped into my power chair for the project and actually just put on my hoodie because I figured I'll Moving so much that the black hoodie would be all I needed to stay warm. Luckily Dianne had left snow shovel within easy reach the front door but even so I had to travel small way down the ramp and I got stuck! I then had a good 5 min. of rocking and rolling chair to get enough traction to overcome the slippery snowpack. I had just begin moving snow when my cell phone rang it was L Michelle and I rolled back into the house where we chatted for more than an hour. The call with L Michelle was one of the best I've ever had—I was taken back to the old kid days, we would talk forever it seemed. Michele's kids are gone to their dads for a week so she had time to visit without interruption. It was a good call I'm glad she called.

I forgot how cold I tend to get in the winter and I did get chilled moving the snow. I got stuck numerous times but freed myself easily enough. There were a couple times I got a little worried when I had to really work at free myself but I had taken great to make sure I had myself on with me. I did not do as good a job as I would've liked on the ramp, Dianne would've done much better and quicker but I felt good about the work I did. So much so I decided to give myself a treat and buy dinner at Subway. I had no problem maneuvering myself up the street. The streets were clear I had no problem. By the time I got home I was cold but I watch television all night with the heater on and I was pretty toasty. Diane called and we had a short chat.

I was a bit dismayed on looking out my window this morning to see new snow I just couldn't do it especially with more snow forecast for today and tomorrow. So I will wait till Saturday before clearing the ramp again.I must admit I'm getting bored knowing I'm sort of locked in the house. I may just get up get dressed tomorrow and shovel the ramp again and head back up to State Street.

Silent Like 1914

The phones have mysteriously fallen silent here at 211 this cold, and snowy Christmas eve—I am one of the few operators working this, cold gray afternoon. The was an unseasonably warm wind blowing as I left the house for work this morning—a storm was blowing in. I left the house a couple of later than usual since I had to stop at Alpine Medical to get the control box on my chair checked out before I went on into work. My chair mysteriously stopped working on me last Friday in the bathroom and this morning was the earliest I could get in to have the chair checked out.


My power chair checked out fine—which just means the tech could find anything glaringly wrong with the device. Dianne is gone all this week visiting Brooks—I am home alone and I wanted to be sure I am not stranded anywhere in my chair. My chair is aging and I understand systems with I systems will fail and that is what is happening all I can do is strive to be proactive and limit the amount of issues to as few as possible. I am sensing the control is going and that is pricey easily 1000.00 plus I just have to accept this and I am still a good two years before I will be eligible for another power chair. We have already started planning hope we might find the resources for my next chair. Last Friday when I went to pick up my latte I miss judged and spilt the liquid all over my control unit—the joy stick I use to drive my chair—easily the most affordable part of my chair and to make matters worse earlier in the week I had to pick pad cover—a rubberized sheet which protect buttons I use to operate functions of my chair. The tech told me I was luck cause if any of the coffee had indeed found its way into my joy stick control then my whole unit would be toast—so I may have dodge a bullet there. So now I am rolling on a time bomb. I don’t know when or where but somewhere at times my joystick controller is going to fail and I will be stranded I just hope when the that moment occurs it will be on a working day and I will have access to my cell.

I am alone this holiday—my family has gone to visit Brooks in Washington—Mark A is round as well as brother and cousins an one ancient aunt—whom I love dearly- I love them all dearly but some times it is just easier to just be alone. So there is snow falling right now as I type and I know the ride home will be long and cold—I thought bout making a turkey breast for dinner tomorrow but I don’t know now. The more I think about the effort I just might pass—maybe some red boxes and some wine or even a spot of Christmas gin and wait for visits from Christmas Past.

Where is my Hair Dryer?!

My hair dryer missing! I keep a hair dryer at my desk and usually in my back pack to use on cold and raining days or when I might have a bodily malfunction of one sort or another. Especially during the winter season during the snow and cold I use my blower a lot. Many times I get soaked from cold wet snow falls. So, when I get to work, drenched and freezing I dry out with my hand held drying device, I am always surprised at how well the dryers work. The only problem I have with dryer heat maintenance is the possibility of morning my legs or other parts.


I have used all kinds of heater in the past. Early on I realized I could pick up a hair dryer for hardly anything at garage sales or thrift stores, especially here in Salt Lake city the home of Deseret Industries—the country’s largest thrift shop network ; at the DI the hair dryers are stacked like cord wood. So, I can replace the missing dryer but I doubt I will find on as good as the one I missed. I lived with a teenage girl, our daughter and during that time between Bridget and her mother we acquired numerous hair dryers and some of the dryers were top of the line. Heavy duty, industrial strength systems, using one of these dryers is like drying your hair with the tail end of a jet. I needs a dryer system.

Today , I had a malfunction, I needed the device and I was totally surprised to find I don’t have a dryer at this office-I cannot believe this. I doubt I would have taken the dryer home-knowing my direct need for such a device. So if I don’t have a hair dryer here then someone else has absconded with the tool. I hate to think that someone in this office might have taken the appliance—right off my work space. Replacing the dryer is not really a big deal it’s just awkward and time consuming and will be good to have round when next I need such an implement and the biggest issue I needed to have device today

One more week gone...

Already the weekend and I have hardly any posts for yet another week. I am just not getting the time I need to get posts written and up.  I really need to work harder—we met with retirement systems and everything seems to be in place which takes a lot of stress off us and DD is busy getting the house in shape to live me in charge during her forth coming trip to Washington  state. I am feeling much better and  I think I get along just fine.   My time at this work station is about up, just a few more weeks I may do some  volunteer time here if they will have me—I have to check with administration to see if they will be open to me  coming  once or twice a week to take on the phones. I think working a couple of times a week will be healthy for me  as a way of stepping away from the work place: not too quickly. I firmly believe  stopping work too quickly may prove harmful to my health.

December Weekend

It was quiet this morning as I sprang from the front door and down a ramp coated with new snow—the snow has been falling all weekend, not a huge snow fall actually just a couple of inches at that but the snow brought cold temps, winter temps , Christmas temps and felt for just a minute the Christmas Spirit as I slid onto the drive way and began my commute up to my bus stop.


The weekend skies were filled with cold gray clouds spitting snow stingily, We did not leave the house except to check for mail the day was perfect to stay inside and cook and work in the computer room. We ended up making cookies and basically nesting. I was able to visit with some of the kids over the internet on Saturday night—Mark A was on line with Shelly and girls and were trying to get Charles and James online as well. We never did link up with the boys we really saw the potential of having everyone on line at one time. I washed dishes, seemed like tons of dishes, washing up after each meal was prepared and food project completed—I wrote to two thirds of my commitment and watched little television—which I believe is a good thing. I did not get to any art work, which is my own fault, I could have spent more time on art and I need get myself spending more time in the real time and out of the virtual arena. Though I did cut another video file for no one ;’s consumption but my own.

The hours of daylight are short, I spend a lot of time rolling in the dark and just enjoying the season

Focus,Focus Focus!!!

I have been sitting on this information for nearly a week now, not really knowing how to approach the information’s dissemination or even if I should but in the end I think the event is worth writing about from my point of view and the whole irony which seems to infest my life. This entry also seems appropriate  as I notice I am writing more and more about my impending retirement and how this event will influence my life.

Last week, I think it was Thursday, I was sleepy, worn out by the week ,and I was feeling groggy as I headed into work .  I was dressed warm, had my Starbucks stacked in my back pack and I was cruising pretty well  over to my building. I could have easily fallen back asleep if I had not had to work today. But, I was sleeping a little as I rolled, I could tell—which is stupid. I need to be more focused. I have to cross at least two streets as I roll Eastward to my building. I came to one intersection and I checked the light and the “Walk” light had just come on and not even thinking to look for traffic I plunged out onto the street and I immediately hear rubber grabbing for and clutching pavement and when I looked up I was right, smack dab in the grill og an oncoming vehicle. Lucky for md the driver was awake enough to slam on his/her brakes stopping in time to save my chair and my life. The driver making a right turn on the light. I know this is extremely dangerous I have had several friends run over in their wheelchair—people come up to a light which is red and the driver is going to make the turn. The driver will check for on coming cars but never checks for  checks for wheelchairs or other pedestrians.

In my drowsy state I did not even register my near doom experience, it was only after I had gotten to the other side of the street did I realize what almost happened. I did not start shaking or anything like that  I just could get the picture of the vehicle’s grill looming right here to my immediate left. I thought about the incident all day yesterday and even into the night. On another note I was so frustrated that on the next block, I got confused with the lights and started crossing  against the light just as another vehicle came screaming round the corner—I realized what was happening at the last minute and slammed my chair into reverse and pulled myself out of the at the last minute: tragedy averted .

Over and over again I have heard or read of folks who retire dying days, weeks or months following following their retirement. Why? I don’t know but I am beginning to sense something happening to me which just might affect my mortality following my time following work. I need to wake up, I need to sharpen my focus to make sure I’m round long after the job is gone…

Nothing Saucy

The skies are gray this morning with a promise of rain—the days continue to be warmer than normal for this time of year. Christmas season and it feels like  Spring. There is supposed to be cooler weather moving in tomorrow with a slight promise of snow but I will be surprised if I see any white stuff  hit the road. Dianne has really began cleaning the house, I think stimulated by her upcoming trip to Washing State to visit Brooks or from October’s threat of Sandy coming into town next week and Sandy committing to coming over and clean house—what ever the reason I am excited and pleased to see clothes folded and floors vacuumed—now if I can just survive the trip home alone.

I am feeling much more comfortable now then I was feeling last couple of months—I have healed and actually feel have grown stronger with the meds and other options I have started practicing  like the compressor socks—even if I can not be totally naked wearing the socks I can be naked enough to feel good and for art work ;-).  My days at this work place are numbered and I can feel the sense of separation I feel coming. I am talking and thinking about coming back to volunteer maybe one day a week, on Mondays,  early shift to get me going and out of the house and into life. I may look at some other areas to consider volunteering at as well.

Sorry, nothing saucy in this day’s post just checking in this middle of the week.

Sights of the Season

I continue to have less the stellar posts top this blog, I just cannot get the undisturbed time I need to develop the thoughts I want and need to get expressed…so in the mean time I am just going to rely on short little blasts of thought which will get some of what I am thinking about day to day and maybe an image or two.

Yesterday I came to work was confronted with Christmas poinsettias blocking access to the access buttons to the elevators. I know it seems a little thing but it is just one more thing I have to navigate round in a days time.

Just A Little

I am once again overwhelmed with the feelings of schizophrenia I feel as I am working here at United Way—I was contacted by my old employer last week to inquire if I would be the Santa this year as I have for the past twenty or so years. I have always done the job, I am legendary, I am the man. I am the only wheelchair Santa in salt Lake County if not the whole state. I don’t necessarily like the job its just one I can do and do fairly well and I have been doing the UILC Santa for ever. The problem I am having it the event, which is next week is in a week, I am already planning on taking a whole day of that week for medical and retirement counseling and I feel nervous pushing United Way for more time—but I need it. I would feel even more nervous if UW was actually paying me but since I am with the State still I should be OK.



Today is the UW Christmas/holiday party and everyone is off the floor except part-timers and me. Its no big deal but all the full time staff kinda acted like it was with much stealth and cunning and so that might mean something.