Thinking

It's the dog days of summer, hot as the days begin to wind down towards fall. Just gotten in from my trip to Wellness this morning . I feel pretty accomplished because today I went up to hundred and 30 pounds on the press in the row which is pretty good for me.. Actually pretty good For a lot of folks in the really makes you feel like an achiever. On my way to work out this morning I was pleased to run into an old friend whom I met when I served on Murray city disability board. She's a quadriplegic it seems a bit more involved than me but still she's been out there a long time. She's a PhD Mary to this German guy and I was so impressed that she traveled back and forth the German on a regular basis. Now she lives in Boise Idaho which is But her husband still works here Salt Lake so the commute two weeks at each home. I wish I had gotten a picture of her. She looked great there is a couple times in the past abortions are pretty hammered but she is been in a fairly rigid physical regimen seems to make a big difference. We talk about all kinds of things in the short time we had together was of most interest that she to one time had stenosis and had it removed which really impact her independence but she's come away with it very well. This again sometime in the past and I guess I didn't need to know about it till now. She agrees Dianne and me that I need to get second opinion and see if we can get say procedure done at the death Star close to the house. Just amazing. I don't know why but she sort of gave me hope things don't look so bleak now.

Silly as it sounds fairly excited about my workout today we increase my weight load to 130 pounds for the press and the role, three sets of 10 reps. I mean I knew I could do but what I've been coming to the realization the past couple sessions is that I need to be pushing myself more and add 130 pounds I am doing just that. I don't think I can do 130 I know I cannot do hundred and 30 on the rickshaw so I'm still struggling with 120 pounds there and I think I will be there for some time. It's no big deal but kind of is for me.

I said goodbye to everyone and made my way for home stopping at whole foods and getting some grapes and corn for the weekend. While there I ran into one of the wise of the participants in my Wellness program Mrs. Kirk, Mark Kirk's wife. We had a nice visit I found out a lot about Mark what he's going through and put in perspective what's going on with me, Medically. She reinforced the idea of the second opinion and severely considering whether I even the procedure and what consequences will be not doing the procedure. Wow quite a lot of stuff to think about.

Just Another Monday

This is been a good Monday so far, my brother got me up this morning as usual… Is here right at 6 o'clock and he does a great job. I worry that I'm working too much but he says is not in work too hard and I have taken face value. Truth is I've gotten much better and enjoy seeing him every morning. I hate That helping me bites into his workday it's only 30 minutes but still as 30 minutes begins me everyday which adds up to two and half hours a week hum,I guess I should feel guilty. I try not to think about it and get on with my life.

I'm really trying to operate the early workout routine. So I shaved, finished getting dressed ate a swift breakfast And headed out the door. Stopped at the bank cashed the check and came on in to Wellness. It was well after 1030 by the time I got to the Wellness gym and it was sort of busy not too bad but there's only one person to help but I didn't mind waiting. I have gotten to know many of the other participants and I spent some time visiting with them. Alex eventually gets around to me and that's good. I'm able to load the rickshaw on my own and adjust the handles to meet my needs. I'm now working at 120 pounds and is a real challenge. In order for me to even get enough muscle to push down the handles I must rely on getting someone to push a pillow behind my back which in turn pretty straightforward and allows me to put maximum strength on the down dressed. I did my sets but the sets were pretty shoddy but I did them anyway. I'm doing 120 pounds on my others as well, the rows And the pressesWhich are easier to execute then the rickshaw. It's a quick workout even if I do it with ample rests the workout still only takes about a half hour then I am on my own. This is great however I can head straight for the bus get home by noon or early afternoon. Today is a bit later because I stopped at whole foods for bread and grapes.

I did the unthinkable and stopped in at the McDonald's next-door to the market or rather across the street from the market and grabbed a burger. I hate eating McDonald's food but just the cheeseburger seems the least of the poisons. I may get got home and read until Dianne got home from Her morning with Bridget and Asher. It's a hot day and thankful to be wearing shorts and feeling pretty good. Got some good sleep and that certainly makes my day go better.

Now late in the afternoon almost 4 PM which means I need to start getting ready for the rest of my workout which is a 30 minute pump on my Saratoga silver. I listen to Marketplace broadcast from New York WNYC every weekday at 4:30 PM which means every finished right around 5 PM then I'll figure out dinner and get ready for bed at seven. This is my Monday and it's good enough for me.

Breakfast Memory

I stopped at the hospital, IHC Medical Ctr., ThursdayTo grab a quick breakfast before I did the trends evaluation At the UTA Transit Authority's evaluations Center. I had the time, the house went up to the bus stop and took the 201 into the hospital at 5300 S. Actually, I love having breakfast at IHC, prices are right and one can get almost anything they want – – breakfast wise and there's all kinds of medical staff wandering around that's always sort of cool. I knew I had time because the next stop was just one stop away at 4500 S. so I knew I could do breakfast and get to my nex appointment.

Now I had better be careful because finding their breakfasts way too good. I stopped at the hospital cafeteria earlier in the week for another early morning appointment. I can get away bigger than our down if I do not watch out anyway Thursday morning I ordered corned beef (From a can) and omelette and hashbrowns and gravy. It was not healthy but it was good. We got me really thinking however was the corned beef and cabbage was scooped up With ice cream scoop. You know the kind that if you go especially ice cream shop we still use to scoop ice cream out of those 5 gallons ice cream carton round drums. Seeing the rounded, perfectly rounded balls of Corned beef with me back to my grade school Lunchroom at good old Campus school. I believe I've gone over the past four about how rarely I was able to enjoy hot school lunch but sometimes I did. Luckily for me lunchroom often served mashed potatoes and gravy. What I remember most about the mashed potatoes and gravy aside from their wonderfully great flavor was that the good old cooks Of the lunchroom would scoop up individual servings of this wonderfully starch dish with what appeared to me as ice cream scoops. Next, they would drench the mound of Mashed potato with this great yellow gravy. I know I should have done without scoop of corned beef hash but the perfectly round ball Of Protein and starch was too much to..

The meal was great knew it would be but the memory is even greater. In an instant I was carried back to the lunchroom holding a tray in my hand going through the line in this grand old ladies throw perfectly round balls potatoes on my plate it Made getting up early Worthwhile.

I Well Ride!

I finally did it! I know I railed on the past about paratransit and have it really does violate a lot of personal rights that I think people disabilities Have. As many readers know I worked great deal of my career as a transportation corridor for an Independent living Center in Salt Lake. I fought paratransit for a host of reasons trying to encourage people with disabilities To ride mainline service, fixed routes or regular bus routes. This was a national feeling of the independent living of course it never caught on and people disability sold out for the most part and went to paratransit.So, over the years I pretty much ignored paratransit however in order to take advantage of one of paratransit's functions here in Salt Lake City I've caved in and I've elected to go through the process being evaluated for inclusion to the ranks of paratransit riders. This is totally self-serving and I confess I'm a weak vessel but I don't plan to use paratransit if I am eligible however I do plan to use paratransit card which will allow me to ride Fixed route buses without charge. I don't mind paying a fair I really believe $1.25 to deal.

To be honest I did not know what to expect at paratransit evaluation. They never really set how long the process would take and I cannot figure out why it would take long at all at as I said I'm going through the process. He showed up the paratransit service center this morning at the appointed time 9:30 AM and we got on with. I spent some time with the past bus driver who been elevated some sort of transit counselor in the program. We chatted she took notes and I was a good boy. Following this 20 minute visit she turned me over to Alex who actually did the clipboard thing and ran me through the system. In some ways The experience is pretty entertaining. In some ways it felt like a sheepdog going through trials. The areas laid out in a huge room seriously, I would say quarter football field in size. You have a number of tests laid out native ramps that supposedly mimic real-life scenarios that a person has to negotiate with their wheelchairs and are tested. There is even simulated crosswalk with crossing lights to test your ability to cross the street in the significant amount of time needed during the lifecycle. There is another section of gravel to see how a person negotiates gravel walks. There is even a full-size bus that you have to get on then go to seating section just like on a real bus. Following this we take a walk this walk goes from the building using public sidewalks hollowly to IHC hospital, crossing the street at the end turning me loose to go On my way.

Alex informed me that the material that would be taken adjudicated to see if I actually qualified for the service and that the Authority had up to 21 days to produce a conclusion however he indicated That I would know the results much sooner. Either way it's okay with me I am going to ride the bus one way or the other. It would just be convenient flash pass rather than digging out my wallet and buy a transfer or ticket. I don't feel good about what I did but I will try.

Back In The Saddle Just Fading Away

It has been more than two weeks since last I blogged, a majority of that time has been the fact that we have been without Internet connection. In fact you have a new Internet provider who provides more services less cost only had to wait almost a week before we were able to have them install the service. This last week I've been busy with things outside the house every day. As usual extremely lame excuses for this block in submissions– – Maybe it's just August break now that I've had the bright perhaps I can get back in the saddle and do some better writing Or at least more writing.

Nothing significant has happened with the exception of typical August heat and the days begin to cool in the mornings. Wellness of course keeps me busy as do the writing of letters first couple weeks of month. This seems more challenging than usual but I finally got the main letters out I even got a letter Asher– – Which I think I will continue to do so maybe even Ani. I have not been sleeping well but enough to get by I just rollaround fog sleepiness. I am getting by.

Yesterday I had a Utah Nonprofit Housing Corporation meeting, this was a board meeting and I had not been to a board meeting since before my next surgery so I figured it was due. I figured it would be light-duty sense it was also the grand opening for the facility new building project. The call for board meeting was just a pretense to get folks, specifically the board, together to to do the open house. Is weird though the board meeting, even though abbreviated was scheduled for 9 AM which is pretty early but I decided I could make it. So right after Carl got me up I took my meds And – out the door. I caught the bus to the train station and found I had a little time so I went to the I HC Hospital breakfast.

I enjoyed vegetarian burrito and then off to the board meeting.

I enjoyed seeing a lot of you folks had worked with for years. It's been a great deal of my work life doing housing Salt Lake County and the state for that matter. I saw myself as an engine part of the housing front representing folks with disabilities, Who are low income. A lot of the folks I have served with over the years I've either died,, retired or getting ready to retire. What a shock! We have been replaced by the new legions will not surprising always discomforting. The event was a long time commitment mostly therefore we had an hour and a half break between a board meeting and the open house . I rolled around the area looked into trying to find someone to manufacture steel that I need to save the house for me destroying the property.It's hard to realize how faded I have become. I understand how so many cultures see old age is a form of just fading away.

Draconian!

The got this email is my notification meeting with UTA Paratransit mobility service people to ascertain If I disabled enough to ride the Paratransit service.You all might remember from my rants in the past but I am not a big fan of paratransit – – in fact I aggressively fought paratransit any old days of accessible transit history. Without going into a huge history lesson let's just say paratransit is not good for people disabilities and other living things. However, good or bad paratransit won out. Actually I was naïve enough in those days to believe we could make a difference. Paratransit was a national movement as far as national transit goes it was, and whether we liked it or not.

Now 30 some years later I am using regular transit, fixe route transit Almost daily. It costs me $1.25 each ride, and that's if the driver insists I ride for nothing This does not happen as much as it used to but still happens. Many times I have to insist that I pay my fare To get my transfer, that small slip of paper that lets me ride the bus/Train free for two houhis is important especially on tracks Where the Traxx cops will actually find Big bucks if you don't have proof of purchase. I do not mind shelling out the $1.25 it is just a hassle. I really didn't have to deal with this issue too much when I worked for the state because we got a free pass through the state. I just had to show my ID that was good enough.. Now however in retirement that is not the case. I've known for some time that if I become part of the flex transfamily I could ride the mainline service without charge. So I have been trying to pass couple of weeks to get certified, yes certified to ride the service. The process is as draconian as paratransit is itself. You have to start by filling out a bunch of paperwork – which is okay I can accept that readily – then you have to get the doctors documentation of disability and then you have to go in front of a board which actually mandates you go through a obstacle course and then discussion on why you cannot ride the mainline service or fixed route all the time. It's stupid!I've tried to do this a couple of times each time I've tried I have finally given up the desperation just too many I s to DotAnd T's to cross.

Well I finally got my thought was the paperwork I needed done and I went to the UTA Paratransit Mobility Center to submit my paperwork. They scheduled me for an appointment later on August and I thought I was done. The paperwork I brought with me which of the document signed by my physician and other stuff they said I did not need. So I better go. Then I got the document in the mail which says I am going to need stuff, signed by my doc. I do not know if I even have the materials anymore which means I'll have to start from step one in order to get this project accomplished. It really is enough for me to throw my hands up in the air and say screw it I don't need the stress. I'm happy with just shelling out The $1.2 for each ride. So it's back to my doctor's office – – which I hate to do getting everything back in order again. This guy be a better way to ride public transit.