I Deserve

Yesterday I got the call. It was Brian from my newest durable medical provider. My wheelchair guy. I started with this group a year or so ago on the weight of my occupational therapist Kacey.. Casey

was disappointed with all the other wheelchair shops in town. So, I have given this group, this new group IHC wheelchair shop, the benefit of the doubt in my business. This project started in the middle of the summer and now it is almost Winter but I'm okay. Couple weeks ago The foot pedals on my power chair got so bad I called and my brother Carl, once again, to see what you do.Carl is great! Once again he put together a device that he made which spread by the pedals apart given me a place but my feet as well as a place to push off of to assist in getting dressed and undressed. The fix is such a good fix I almost hate to jinx it with the wheelchair shop.

Brian called to advise me, yesterday, that Medicare and come through with the authorization for all the repairs we plan to do with my ppower chair.New batteries, new question, new footplate configuration and an update to the electronics of my chair which have been getting quite worried about in the past couple of weeks. This is going to cost thousands of dollars and in many ways this like getting a new chair. This chair I'm in now (the one getting the overhaul) is only 2 ½ years old and I'm not eligible for another chair for another 2 ½ years. I'm trying not to get excited but the excitement began to creep in. I wish I can have this all done tomorrow but that's not the way it is going to go. IHC is going to amass all parts which I guess is going to take a couple weeks. When the gotten all the equipment that will be replaced they will send a van out to pick up my Chair. They will collect my device in the evening or afternoon and then spend the next day doing the change out. My chair will be returned and the following day. This is the best option all things considered. So, during this time when I chair will be at the shop I will be in my backyard chair. This meeting would have to put the chair of the charger and suffer the discomfort for 24 to 48 hours. I just

Don't know if my butt can handle this time in my backup chair. I am even considering maybe staying in bed for most of that time. I would have to back up chairr next to the bed but basically I would stay in bed over that time. This is nice to think about but I don't know if I could really do it.

So I am trying not to be too excited to many times things that happened and dashed my hopes. But I still got a good feeling all Is going to go well. After all I deserve… Don't you think?

Cookie!

Saturday morning to my delight as I went down to check the sharing shelf And the mail I found the place was too lone sugar cookies.These cookies redecorated for Halloween. One cookie was a ghost, And beautifully round cookie covered with white icing hardened and smooth with facial features made with some sort of chocolate frosting. The other cookie was more of a traditional jack-o'-lantern but it to had a smooth sugar glaze which is hard to a smooth surface all orange with the face of chocolate frosting features. I gaze upon these cookies will seemed great while before I made my choice of the orange, pumpkin face cookie. I have to show strong restraint not to have taken both cookies. I wanted to but figured someone else and enjoy the cookie. I wondered if at one time the plate on which the cookies rested Had been piled with cookies And for somebody else's restraint two cookies remained. I took the back to my room and set it on the table with the idea I would enjoy the cookie later on during the weekend maybe during evening watching a movie. I only needed one cookie anymore would be far more calories than I needed.

I hardly see these kind of cookies anymore. Most of the decorated cookies I see these days coming out of market bakeries are white pieces and barely cooked dough and the frosting is some form of foam sugar hastily applied. I read my share of these little monstrosities over the years only to be disappointed with each bite. Whatever humanity these cookies once had , had been lost In the baking process in the back of the marketplace earlier that morning, way earlier. Glazed sugar cookies a staple of grade school Holiday parties made by dependable room-mothers forever. The room mothers brought Cookies for holidays and cakes for the Carnival the annual event which usually fell around Halloween and was supposedly a fundraiser. The cakes ended up At room 12 the cakewalk room. That one game of chance that kids will put up two of their tickets to try to win whatever cake was awarded To the lucky chair. Nobody called gambling but it definitely was a game of chance.

The cake watched me all day Saturday as I went into and out of my apartment checking the mail and washing and drying my clothes. In fact as I worked I forgot all about the cookie. It was only later that night while I was watching an old Star Trek Enterprise that I remembered the cute little pumpkin cookie I placed on the table earlier in the day. I thought about going over to the coffee maker and sitting along to warm the leftover coffee or even going to the refrigerator and point a box of milk. All Seemed to be a of bit too much effort I thought especially the milk which it necessitates dirtying A glass. In the end I decided just to bite the cookie… It was cookie time.. Looks can be deceiving. The cookie was okay not world-class but still better than one of those junkers you get from the bakery these days. The cookie could have been sweeter and had the texture of sawdust. Still a cookie is a cookie and at 10 o'clock at night anything looks good.

I Sustain

I am a “sustainer”. I'm not a big sustainer as sustainers go but I am a sustainer and I cannot believe I am. I listen the public radio everyday. I'm not proud of that but I need to be honest and upfront I listen to public radio. I'm almost at a point where if I had to I could quit public radio but it would be difficult but I could do it. Especially this last year I've noted with some concern just how plastic NPR has become. Not that I even come close to supporting Trump but sometimes I wonder if he may have something about the liberal news machine. I've noticed, as I have said, the past couple years as the new stable of NPR staff have come online that the new kids seem just a little bit fake to me. It seemed like in the old days that the reporters were making up their own questions, the question seemed authentic. However now the question seemed canned, you can almost tell they were written by the producers somebody else behind the scenes. Even the seasoned reporters I sense a lack of authenticity one in particular, Steve Inskeep is difficult for me to listen to and his energy style.

Maybe it's just the old guy syndrome that I'm falling into. You know anything new is bad thing? I hope not. I have noted the past couple of fundraisers that the stations have gone from just wanting your money to wanting”sustainers”. No longer will it do to offer the caller 20 or 30 bucksAnd you get whatever prize/reward NPR's come up with this season. I've enjoyed the New Yorker over the years. The 20 bucks no longer enough. Somewhere, the great brains and Development has realized as long as you got the person at gunpoint why settle for a one-time donation when you could be getting it every month? What a joke I thought The blatant money grabbing almost made me angry. I had to appreciate however, the brashness, the gall to actually clarify what kind of gift they wanted..

The blatant begging for sustainable gifts coupled with the elitist attitude and comments I have began to hear on the NPR shows I like confirms to me that NPR is targeting a specific niche of listener which I'm not sure I am one. My friend Kim, who is actually the person who turned me onto public radio, 20 or 30 years ago began weaning himself off public radio a number of years ago. Oh Kim still listens To public radio maybe not public radio maybe community radio and programming from the BBC. That must be what really cool people do these days but not me. BBC listening is way elitist in a funny sort of way.

Why did it anyway even if I did not really believe. I became a sustainer. I came on board with the least amount a month I could. I actually had to give them access to my bank account so they can suck the money out monthly, five bucks a month. So, instead of $30, or 20 I'm doing $60 a year. I suppose I can do it, and I suppose it doesn't hurt I mean five bucks is less than the movie ticket these days even for disabled old guys.I even chose the dorky coffee cup to my favorite local show Radio West am I pathetic or what?

Another Tablet Down

I lost my tablet today – – I love my tablet but I think it's gone. Last time I remember having my tablet was sitting on my lap under my backpack as heading out for my day. I felt something slip down to my feet but I did not pay much attention because the position of my man bag was square my foot pedals where the bag rarely rides and I did not want to mess With the bag. It was only when I got the bus stop in front of the Arctic Circle but I realized I no longer had my tablet. I of course immediately backtracked hoping against hope that I would come across to the black tablet but to no avail. I even went all the way into the apartments back to my place looked around it that even looked around the front of the complex little bit it's nowhere though

The day started out so positive. I got a bit more sleep than usual and is feeling pretty good. I lollygag in bed until around 8 AM then got up.. I did the wash and dry taking a couple hours because of the double drive resuscitation of the amount of wash. I toted the wash back to the apartment and got ready to head out. Figuring out I would hang and fold close tonight. This is when I must've lost the tablet. I cannot believe the tablet disappeared in the amount of time which elapsed between the time I realized that gone at the bus stop and backtracked to the apartment. I didn't see anybody who could've picked it up there is nothing on the way back to the apartments just me and the sidewalk.

I love this tablet. I have a lot of stuff on the tablet some risqué but a lot of it is stuff that is written or images taken by the camera. I'm hoping most of the older images have been lifted up to the Internet in the sky. Still that camera is great on the tablet and I prefer it to other images I've taken with my cell phone..I also enjoy the tablets voice to text capability it seems to be better than even the software I use on the big computer. I also have some art apps on the tablet which render much better images than anything else that I work with. I'm remarkably not distressed at this loss. I do not think I will replace this piece of equipment quickly even though I could. I don't hold much hope out that some is going to pick it up and be the good Samaritan and return it. But I shouldn't judge quickly weirder things that happened especially to me, weirder in a good way.

I was actually going to write about something else for this day's post but it looks like the lost tablet edged my other topic out and quite frankly I don't even remember what it was now.

Meat Loaf!!

Two or three days ago I picked up a pound of hamburger. No big deal. I've been hankering for a meatloaf for a couple weeks. And I thought the first this week that I would go ahead and make one. Sadly however, the meatloaf has sat in the refrigerator turning brown. Each day is not I would mix the concoction of a meatloaf for that evening but for one reason or another the day happened. Tuesday I was in meetings downtown all day, Wednesday I was downtown with a meeting at DRAC And yesterday I was again involved with volunteer work outside of my apartment and by the time I got home I did not have the energy or drive to put a meatloaf together. I wanted the meatloaf so today I committed.. I did not have anything planned outside for today. The only thing that was on the agenda was my home health person coming in for my program. That was 8 AM and only for an hour. I think I was so excited however about not having to go out today that I really woke up at 430 and couldn't get back to sleep. I stayed in bed till 5:45 manager myself into my chair made coffee and begin prepping for the meatloaf.

I chopped onion, green pepper and tore up a hamburger bun for part of the binding ingredients. I really do love the cooking process when I have the ingredients and utensils needed. I also promised myself a movie today so I set aside the ingredients for the dish and left the apartment about 11 AM for a 12 noon movie. The movie was okay – – a lot of special-effects which is why I went. The storyline was kind of weak but entertaining just the same I can forgive a lot of sins for good special-effectsPeriods

I stayed focused when I got home and even though I was somewhat tired went to work on the meatloaf. Earlier in the week I had my home healthcare person, Dana pull out my heavy-duty mixer. I love this mixer. I had Dana put the mixer on one of my kitchen chairs where I can reach the mixer easily and safely. I dumped everything I needed into the mixing bowl that the switch mixed it up and threw it in the preheated oven.. I had an hour for the meatloaf to cook so I hopped on my arm bike and began my workout but of course the phone rang and it was Gail. Do you want to know if I was home because she was going to bring by a gift. All right. I waited around Gail came and sure enough she did have a treat she had a whole plate of meatloaf she had made for five good slices. She seems so excited to hand me this gift and I was excited to receive but in the back of one mind of course thinking now got to meatloaf's when it rains it pours. Gail can only stay a few seconds she was on her way to another client. She did not smell the odor coming from the oven. My meatloaf was nearly finished.

I am so blessed who would ever thought that I would and the day with meatloaf to freeze. I don't know if I'm going to freeze scales meatloaf are mine and maybe parts of both. But I certainly have meatloaf for the next week. I am so taking care of I have so much to be thankful for.

Halloween Party

I've had so much going on the past two months with all my dental work and other things that seemed to have been happening on Thursdays, I was a bit taken back when I realized after my coffee social I had a great while the week before heading down south to the library for the next chapter book club. Then I remembered I had seen a posting or maybe an email about the annual Halloween party over at the Independent living center for I used to work. So I figured why not go to the center hang out there for a couple hours and then head out to West Jordan library.

I got to the center just as the event was beginning right around 12 noon. I was a bit taken back as I am every time I see my colleagues whom with used to work. Like me we of all aged significantly. I suppose with the exception of Charlotte the witch I am the oldest. Deb the director,, Kim the associate director and Julie (who joined us a bit later) were all there. Deb and Kim now run the center, Julie like I is retired. I was surprised at how many attended this year's party. They're certainly not the same clients we used to serve but still folks with disabilities and folks who deserve a party. Deb and I visited and later Julie Kim dropped and often on he ran around shepherding different events and clients. We talked about our friends who weren't there who for one reason or another are having a hard time with life at this point. It's a shame. Julie, who was a quadriplegic sort like me. She still retains a great deal mobility but has just gone through a very rough year where I think we almost lost her. It seems however she found a physician who knew what he was doing and working with people with spinal cord injury. She is stable now but looking around the table I can see we are all in a precarious position. Anyone of us could be taken any day relatively easy to many of our number have been taken.

I don't know how healthy it was to sit around talking about the possible demise of ourselves or our friends but that's what we did and that's what we do. Deb mentioned that she is seriously thinking of retiring just so that she'll be able to get to do something with her life except work. I kind it would be surprised if that were to happen but maybe. Kim would probably take over but I don't think he's long for work either. Though he still has a couple years before he Turns 60 Let alone 65. I don't know how much time he wants to give himself to retirement.. I bid the people farewell As I had to catch a bus and train to get to my next assignment. I agreed, once again, to be St. Nick at the Christmas party and six weeks, that is if I make it that long… Ho ho ho

A Little Bit Of This A Little Bit Of That

Dana is my new person. I briefly spoke about her earlier in the week. I met her for the first time on Friday morning last week and then again on Monday. Now I have had it for the third time and can see she's solid. She's on time and she's a good worker and she's fun to be around. She takes direction well and clearly has her client's best interest in mind. That's how I feel anyway when she is working with and for me. Dana has all the best characteristics of my previous “good” caregivers without the apparent baggage. I know it's quite early in our relationship but I've not seen anything yet to think she might have issues of one sort or another. She presents a great road history with this particular agency so I don't see any reason why things should get weird. Having said that now, I hope I have not jinxed myself. I mean this CNA actually scouts around my apartment fall I'm on the toilet sweeping up the kitchen, making my bed and getting appliances that I cannot either reach or lift. Time to keep my fingers crossed.

Speaking of crossing fingers, today was the monthly DRAC meeting which was also a planning meeting for an action against one of the local legislators were really trying to screw folks are low-incom which definitely includes people with disabilities. As always DRAC meetings are weird meetings. I have never felt comfortable at the DRAC meeting and before that ADAPT. So many times I have been confused at what the goal of the operation might be. Today,, which is the extension of the meeting we had last week, plus a few housekeeping issues for the organization. But it was like pulling teeth to get an overall feeling of direction and what were going to do and how are going to do it. For the most part now I feel the organization is relatively on the right road going in the right direction. I sometimes feel a general feeling of frustration that decision are not being made fast enough or aggressive enough. Too often I feel that pride often gets mixed up with goal achievement or the need to be out in front of a camera, any camera, anywhere. Today for instance there are actually talking about going to somebody's home way out in Draper to humiliate a person, that we feel is making and influencing legislation directly against our interests, regardless how difficult it is for folks to get there on public transit. I myself feel that taking public transit all the way to the end of their line and still having to hump 2 ½ miles to get to the legislators home and then retrace my steps. I just do not know if these and justify the means. I was relieved when it looked like direction of the action was changing to his office at the Statehouse. This seems much more logistically friendly at least to me.

Dick, my friend I think, ask me at the end how I felt about the discussion and conclusions. I just looked at him without an answer. I may not be in the right crowd, again. Whereas I believe in all discussion for all the reasons being discussed I just have a difficult time getting hot for the conclusion. I will do it – – I don't know if I'd go all the way Draper – – but I'm not afraid of the action I'm just not hot for it. And I think a lot of the folks at the meeting kind of felt the same way. I think they're willing to do what has to be done I just don't know if they know what must be done is going to entail. It's one thing to talk about an action quite another to go through one. But many of these people have been the national actions so they know what to talk about it's just me I just don't know what my commitment level is or if I even have one. But we'll see it's getting time to do another action and hopefully I can be part.

Staying Visible

I feel like I am becoming invisible little by little. I've noticed this for a number of years all started couple of years ago when I was looking information about someone I used to work with, Nurse Betsy. She was a nurse practitioner hired by the community health clinic System I used to work with. I researched the clinic on the Internet and found all kinds of images of the clinic and the folks over there all the folks except me. Not being a member like this kind of hurt , I have worked with the system for about two years. I showed up daily, I rode circuit on the four clinics, The old Chevrolet van José used to drive. I came upon this by mistake, I was looking for something else.

Yesterday, you might recall my concern about the piece of plastic caught in my tree. I was going to call the Utah nonprofit housing Corporation, the private nonprofit agency which owns the property were I Live. I was going ask if the agency might have a Truck was a boom or ladder which might be used to clean the debris from the tree. Because I can never remember the phone number for the agency I often go to their website and this I did yesterday. While I was at the website I thought what the heck, I'll just check it out and of course I clicked on the Board of Directors and imagine my shock when I saw that I was not listed among the Board of Directors! I do not know how long I have served on the board I know at least 20 years because my board service was connected with my employment with the independent living center. As I looked around the website there was no record of me there anywhere. They had a number of images from different functions and programs. Other members of the board are dutifully recorded but I am not. I'm trying to say this is no big deal and it wouldn't be if I had not neglected on the history of the neighborhood health program in Nampa Idaho. It's not that I want to blow my horn so much as I want to be recognized for being there for being somewhere for doing something of having done something. My life is coming to an end in places where I should be recognized I am not. The great vanishing Mark that's me.

I don't know if I'm a boob are exactly what but I'm going to at least contact the folks at the corporate office and see what gives. Am I a board member? Am I counted as a board member,,am I recognized as a board member? I just really want to know.. I'm sure there's more productive things I could do with my afternoon four times a year when there's a board meeting. I am grateful for getting this apartment and sticking with this apartment. I hope the agitation doesn't bother my lease. Perhaps what I really need to worry about is this trend staying visible.

Come on Guys Work with Me!

If you look closely center right you'll see the blemish of which I write

I have a tree. If you read this blog at all over the decades you know I have an affinity for trees.. I don't know if you remember I had this willow tree at the house on Utahna.. The nice willow tree is long gone but I loved that tree. There is a tree in our backyard at the end of our deck. The tree was small only moved in but by the time I moved out and grown fairly large huge even, not compare to the pine trees in the backyard but large enough. That tree is gone, the got diseased.. Now I understand the huge pines may also have Contracted some kind of disease. Once again I hope this is not a pattern directly related to me in my influence on the poor root bound plants. It would not surprise me with my destructive nature.

I have a new tree now, actually have had the tree for about a year or a little more sense that is how long I have lived here at the apartments. I noticed the tree I'm sure the day that I moved in. It's an unpretentious little thing directly across from my patio. I'm surprised I have not written about it before now specially the spring as the tree came back to life From its winter slumber. The tree is nearly perfect in my eyes. However, early this summer or maybe even during the winter somehow a piece of trash plastic I'm sure from the food market across the street has gotten lodged in the trees limbs. I'd hope beyond hope that sometime during the gales of wind during spring and summer that the garbage would be blown away but that is not happened. Like food caught between your teeth this artifact of plastic wrecks the palatial scene Of the park and the tree across from me and my window.

The tree is actually located in a peculiar position on the Parkside of a pseudo-wrought iron fence Lining the driveway into our facility.. The tree is right on the property line about 5 feet above the street level making it difficult if not perilous to get to the offending plastic. I had hoped one of the grounds people, who madly drive around the park on their souped-up riding lawn mowers would stop and remove the obscenity but of course that did not happen. In fact it's going be difficult to reach and somewhat dangerous since the tree is right above the spikes of the wrought iron fence. I have had two ideas. The most exciting was immediately shot down by the manager when I suggested that we contact Taylorsville fire department and have them just dispatch the hook and ladder to tidy up the tree. I mean my plastic is everywhere as important Some silly little beast caught up in the branches. I have now come up with a new idea. This apartment complex is owned by Utah nonprofit housing Corporation, on whose board I sit, not that that means a whole hell of a lot But you never know. I know we have voted on all kinds of trucks and equipment, over the years, and somewhere a bit we have a truck with an extension ladder which could be used to reach up into the tree and free the yucky stuff from the branches. There's a small technicality of course, there always is, in that the tree is not technically on the property adjuster hangs over the driveway. I know I am probably kicking the pricks but I would love to have my tree clean all debris from a holiday pictures after all the holidays are just around the corner.

Pile Of Poop

I cooked yesterday and I cooked this morning. This morning I had a can of spam fried or scrambled three eggs and of course coffee. Was a pretty great breakfast but I set in motion entropy in the kitchen and elsewhere. I've been pulling out dishes and utensils in the dishwasher to use in eating. I wash them off this afternoon or evening after I made dinner. I did put the silver away in the receptacles on the Lazy Susan in the center of the table. I wanted get in the habit of putting the silver away when washed. I'm not doing as well with the frying pans are saucepans but one thing at a time. My goal is to keep from building up dishes and utensils all over the sink area after washing. I also want to maintain the top of the stove as much as I can.

The spam I made this morning user date was 2013. When I opened the can it looked good,, the spam smell. And tasted good. I sliced up spam steaks And made some scrambled eggs. I thought making toast to decide to hold off on the calories. I drink low-fat milk with my coffee and enjoyed the morning. I have four good pieces of spam but have to scrambled eggs zipped up together in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. I put it this plastic bag next to the roast beef hash. I'm getting a nice bit of Leftovers for the coming week. I had been with bacon soup for dinner with some Fritos. I felt good using that can soup. I think I have about six more that are well beyond their use date. I feel good using my storage.

Cindy my cleaning person has made me commit to not getting any more items from the sharing shelf for my pantry citing that I have too much as of this. She is kind of right. It will be hard for me to pass up good things just because my pantry is messy and a bit overstocked. I love the milk that comes in the food boxes. For the life of me I cannot believe the other folks don't like this milk. It's even lowfat milkAnd I'm still drinking and using it. So I may continue getting the milk whenever I can. I think if I'm cycling through food than stellar issue as far as hoarding goes.

I really have not done anything today except put some close away from yesterday's wash. I've run out of hangers so I cannot put the rest of the Clothes away until I get Some more hangers except for like the shorts which I fold up and just put in the closet.In all honesty I'm a little spooked of going out. I really need to prove feels like I'm sitting on a hand grenade. I'm hoping all goes well tomorrow morning with a new person… If I do get a new person are probably just get Sadie. It should be around 830A.m. But who knows? They are so messed up down there and think anybody knows what's going on from one hour to the next I just hope I don't wake up in a pile of poop.

Let Them Eat Cake

I really am enjoying my new person in my life, my cleaning professional – – note I did not say cleaning lady – – her name is Cindy and she's much much more than a cleaning lady. She likes to have the “client” present when she starts a job. She feels it's a meeting of the minds so that when she's cleaning she's cleaning what I want and not necessarily what she wants which I think is chemical. The only problem I experience if it is a problem is that I tend to yack a lot when she's around, just talk talk talk. I worry that time extending her time by talking. Maybe that's what I really want to pay for: a friend.

We've pretty much got a great start on the apartment she ascribed the bathroom, put my bedroom in order to change my sheets vacuumed both floors in the living room and the bedroom and scrubbed the kitchen floor, literally scrubbed with a less than adequate mop and then the old rags on your feet skate around the floor trick. We went to my closets or my cupboards and in doing so I noticed I had a couple of cake mixes, boxed cake mixes you know, Betty Crocker etc. I've been thinking about baking a cakefor some time now. I probably didn't bake just because the kitchen was such a mess and I didn't want to add to that chaos. But when Cindy left yesterday the house was pretty orderly. The top of the stove and been cleaned off as had the sinks. I really felt enabled to cook which is pretty cool.

Last week I prepared a roast. I enjoy the roast had a number of meals off of it yet still had quite a bit left. I've been pondering about making a roast beef hash. I enjoyed roast beef hash not as much as I enjoy corn beef hash but hashes hash anything to put ketchup on. So this afternoon after I had finished washing my clothes for the week I dived into making the hash. (I think hash making was a plan to circumvent folding clothes.) Well making the hash worked.. I used one of the canceled potatoes but I get on food box they, added one chopped onion three toes of garlic smashed and chopped, carrots peeled and sliced. Sliced up and chopped up the roast beef left over and through everything in a skillet and frighted up. Kind of wish I had one might big deep skillets with the glass lids but I don't. I think I should've tried the roast in the potatoes independently then add the vegetables to finish the dish but I have the vegetables in the roast and the Tatars all the same time. Seemed to work. The garlic really did a great job of smelling up the apartment I really appreciated that.I was a little bummed that all this great hash cooked down significantly. I probably have just enough for one meal after I eat the initial mail. I was hoping out have enough for a number of days. I'm almost out of red beans and rice now too. After I finished my hash and took a quick breather going down the front of the building and visiting the folks there for a minute or two. On my return is ready to start the cake. It was passed 6 o'clock but I didn't care I was up for it. The cake went quickly ttogether. I found a pan that will do the trick greased it and then found the beater and went to work. I added the oil, eggs, cup and a half of water and then beat the hell out of it at a high-speed. I certainly haven't at 350 for 35 minutes and soon had a cake. The cake is pretty light – – I wish it was more dense heavier. I wish I had a can of frosting. But it's a cake and something to snack on that's what I wanted. The cake breaks up easily. I let the cake rest cool off for half an hour to is warm enough that I could get out of it, and without burning myself or tipping the cake over. Cut off the end and to get over to my neighbor she was delighted even without frosting. Still have the force of the big cake and that's probably too much hopefully it will dry out quickly I can use it to pour milk over.

I really felt great doing this cooking and sending the kitchen and entropy but, that's what you get to do with the new cleaning lady.

Don't Be Looking Up

I'm quite fortunate that I live in an apartment complex which is well served by public transit. I don't think I could want a better living situation transportation speaking. All I have to do is to go out my backdoor and through the gate, with the automatic door opener which I have a key that I can open just by pressing my backpack, and there I am right on Redwood road. Whether I am going north or whether I'm going south each direction will land me on a TraX station. During the week the bus runs on 15 minute headways which means every 15 minutes a bus stops at that stop. At different times the day later in the day the buses become less and less frequent and eventually stopping only oonce an hour in the last couple hours of the transit day. Since I travel during the midday time I'm always pleased to enjoy the 15 minute headways. Many times I will get to the bus stop, knowing that I have 10 minutes or so to wait and I will recline in my chair in order to wait shift and skip myself back up to the top of my chair/seat as well is to take the weight off my butt.

Yesterday afternoon I was on my way to the library for the Last Chapter book club reading It was about 3 o'clock on a beautiful afternoon – – the wind had been blowing warm air from the South. As I sat at the bus stop I heard I cacophony above my wheelchair. It did not take long and tilting back in my chair that I realized there was quite a crew of birds sitting on wires above my power chair. The past couple weeks I have enjoyed taking images with my cell phone as I'm in the prone position looking up. I really of harvested some very nice images so I figured why not add this blare cacophony to the list. In the time I was prepping my cell phone camera to take the image I had a fleeting thought of that would be just too funny for some bird room let loose in turn which fell right on me. I shook my head and laughed and thought “nahh, what are the chances?” As soon as I ha said/thought this a black image zoom past my vision and I felt a heavy wet substance at my chest. I could not believe what it happened. Some idiot bird let one go on me! I had to think in the same instant some idiot reclined his power chair underneath a swarm of birds yakking their heads off why wouldn't they take the opportunity to drop a load?

I was pleasantly freaked out. Add one of black longsleeved T and of course the poop was black and white riding right on my chest warm and I'm sure gooey. I sat there a couple seconds before I began sitting myself back up and figuring out what I was going to do with a poop the size of my fingernail of my little finger. Because of where the guano was sitting in the fact that shirt was black I didn't think it called too much attention to itself so I figured if I could get to a fast food joint decoupled napkins I could just scrape the poop off, which I did. I of course smudged the pile of putrid poop.. I got a handful of napkins at the Arctic Circle in back of the bus stop including myself off. I returned the bus stop with the knowledge of staying away from choruses of chirping birds.

Up To My Axles

Thursday is my Chapter day. That's where I take part in the program which provides a platform for individuals who are developmentally disabled participate in reading. We meet every Thursday at 4 PM at the West Jordan library. We read for an hour that are turned loose and always book home trying to get home before Market Place is broadcast on local affiliate of NPR. Tonight, I knew I was not going to make it so I thought I would just instead of getting off my regular stop outside my apartment I would go on down to Salt Lake Community College and hit the ATM for my credit union and get cash to pay my cleaning person tomorrow. I did this with no problems. It was probably 6 o'clock by the time I got to the ATM. I got the cash headed back up to street level and headed off towards Redwood Road. The ATM is in the student center which is located pretty much center campus. As I headed out I noticed how dark the evening was becoming. There is still quite a bit of light left but I figured I'd better get on home as quick as I could. I was amazed at how deserted the campus had become. As I rolled Southwest towards Redwood Road. I came upon some construction that has been going on all summer long. I should just To the sidewalk and I usually traverse and not try to course out on the something new but I did. It looked like there is a pretty good shortcut across travel and stones, flagstones set on a path among the gravel. I really thought the gravel is really packed down but I was wrong. I got about a third of the way when the flagstones begin to shift under the weight of my wheels of my chair. My drive wheels wheels slid off the stones and almost immediately spinning in the loose gravel. I knew I was a goner as the power chair dug itself deeper and deeper into the loose gravel.

I tried the drive wheels couple times each time just spinning not getting any traction with all.. I was hoping against hope the snake some late student walking home or to the bus stop from center campus. But since I was in a quasi-instruction area I was deserted. I feebly tried shouting for help but you have to have ears to hear for that to be effective.. I thought perhaps I would call campus police I see them often on but each time I tried to call all I got was recordings of after-hours contact. Stupid, I cannot believe how stupid I am sometimes.. Even when I was able to catch an office that still have personnel on staff they would invariably send me to a phone that was only manned by people 8 to 5. Unbelievable!. The daylight was slipping away darkness was not far off. I had never done this before my phone but I thought I did not have a choice so I dialed 911. And suddenly I had a voice on the other end asking about my emergency. I felt chagrined as I recounted my situation and shortly emergency dispatch had an emergency vehicle out. I gave the best description of my location that I could and I was afraid that they would not be able to find me but in a few minutes I saw a big red fire engine train on the campus a couple minutes after that a software for heads popping up over the hill between me and the main campus. I whistled to bring your attention to my situation and soon they were there happy to see me and syndicated me about off wheeling on campus.

It did not take any effort at all for the guys to get me back on hard ground. They set me on my wayaand I was only too glad to go. Nowhere did anyone say anything about payment and I suppose dispatch can get a hold of me since they had my phone number if they really need to. I'm really thankful these guys were there and that I used them. That's twice since I've lived in this area that firemen have been dispatched to save my butt.

Answer Your Damn Phone!!

I'm waiting, I'm sitting here waiting for you a new staff person to show. It's 8:30 AM, the appointed time as yet no knocking at the door, no door knob turned or Show of support staff. This will until 10 o'clock this morning. After about an hour I began calling in earnest to the agency that nobody would answer the phone. I did have the cell phone for the assignment clerk and she wouldn't answer her phone. Finally around 10:30 AM I got a call from Soda – – the not so great home health assessment who is better than nothing. Gentle calling me to tell me that she was on her way and had better be ready because I only had an hour. I really did not appreciate this cancel that demand but I thought I'd give it a shot which I did.

Soda came in and again reinforced the fact that she had to be out of there in one hour so I better get hopping. Now this is the weird part, Soda does not necessarily disrespect me and she's very attentive when I talk to her but she obviously didn't want to be there this morning. She did indicate that she'd been called by the office to see if she would fill in. I've spoken to the office I think it was yesterday who assured me that they had the problem covered the had a person who is going to come in and do me and should start at 8:30 AM. I hate the way around that long but I said I'd give it a shot I did I really don't know what to do now. Again, Soda got me up in the sling and just showed me around like a piece of meat. Not necessarily hostile she definitely want to get out of there as quickly as she could. Now part of this routine of the shower improved is of course the enema and I use a product called . These are great and efficient. I don't know if it's the new time of day that we are now using for this process or the fact that I was under a bit of stress trying to perform but neither case I did not have a bowel movement which kind of worries me. Soda had resume out of their because she had appointments for pictures of her kid. The whole event stress me a great deal. Now, I feel I'm sitting on a poop bomb. I don't know what it's going to go off I just pray the poop bomb does not go off in publiclike when I'm writing a trained tomorrow for t Next Chapter book club

I am really trying not to be the consumer from hell. I'm really trying to work with a small organization to help them have the best chance of success. I really want to be part of that success and I really do have my needs met as far as bowl and bladder and showering goes. I really did not want to have to go through the trauma of breaking in a new group and one that will probably cost more than what I'm getting now but you pay for what you get though I pay little I get little. I don't know what I would would say if if the agency will you really Soda over my protestations. I doubt that's going to happen but don't want that necessarily to happen, yet at the same time I really don't want to have Soda as my home health person again. I guess I would like to know why they promised me one thing in 24 hours later it's as if we never spoke..

So cross your fingers and hope to make it through the next 24 to 36 hours to my next appointment with the toilet

.

Mega Smile for the Mega Plex

I hate to miss a day of blogging but I did yesterday. Have no excuse really except the day got away from me and I could blame electronic media but I will not the point where is , I weakened I elected to watch TV last night or electronic media instead of writing. Actually I was going to write, but I forgot. I should've written in the morning but I elected not to and by the time came around for my meeting at DRAC I was out the door and didn't come back till 4:30 PM and home health person that have a schedule to meet. Still I hate to miss a day of writing.

I never mentioned that I want a pair tickets from my oral surgeon/dentist couple weeks ago. This was a pleasant surprise to say the least. And I know it most likely is a gimmick but still I'd never got a set of tickets from Drew Luke in all the years that we went to him. I mean have dropped more than $1000 at this new dentist of mine but it feels like I emerged a winner from the laughing gas and the drill. I was pleasantly surprised that even the staff was excited that I had won. None of them really knew why I had won. There finally was a collective agreement that I had when the tickets because I had entered a remark or statement on the good doctors Facebook page, or twitter or whatever social media he is into. I honestly do not remember making such remarks but something happened or maybe they just think I'm cute which very well could be as well.

The offered me a number of different items. They actually had a box of treats to choose from everything from big blocks of candy, the big Hershey's candy bars with almonds (which I thought was a little ironic) there are some physical oriented items as well like passes to a skating place, ice-skating passes, maybe even a ski pass although very minimal. These of course I passed on for the obvious reasons now is not going to use something this valuable as potential gift options. I grabbed the tickets when they were offered. I figured I can always use tickets to movies. I figured that even though the tickets were not for my local theater they should be reachable by bus.

Not to sit and stare at the proverbial gift horses mouth but the tickets are kind of weird.Oh,the theaters are real theaters showing real movies that our first run movies but the movies are just kind of weird. The movies are remote, out-of-the-way places but they are serviced by public transit so no problem there. The theaters are as magnificent as any of the others along the Wasatch front just kind of strange that my doctor would choose these theaters above the others. I just expected he would had one of his employees run out and pick up these tickets on their lunch break sense my little community theater here in Taylorsville just a block or two away. But these tickets are just out-of-the-way/almost elitist tickets. I got two tickets and I'm semi-excited. I'm not watching the movies very closely, there are couple out I wouldn't mind going to. I also not waiting for the holiday blockbusters. Just nice to have a set of tickets and the think that they were a gift/winnings.

My next visit and hopefully but last for some time will be day after tomorrow. I'm getting the crown set on my tooth puts the good doctor saved so heroically a couple weeks ago. I'm sure I'm going to have to pay something like $320 for this final visit. I will be glad to have this behind me. And still a stupid as it might be I feel I cannot like a bandit holding my two tickets by the sparkling new smile thanks to Dr. A period

Red Beans and Rice… Very Nice

I am this close to making red beans and rice. I think I now have all the ingredients that I need for the dish. I think I like red beans and rice a lot more than I've ever put on. I think I might even like the process of making red beans and rice once I get into it there's a lot of chopping goes on. I've often helped prep Dianne when she makes red beans and rice. Dianne makes good red beans and rice and she makes it look effortless to throw together this Louisiana dish.

Yesterday I got six cans of red beans. These are premium red beans that I've been using in salads but I also know they are the same beans used in red beans and rice. I was going to use brown rice that I got a couple weeks ago right about the time I rice makers came in. But I copped out and bought a bag of white rice the market this afternoon along the green pepper I need to make the rue for the red beans and rice. I have to admit a model intimidated and I do not think I'm going to make the dish today because I waited so long in the day. I watched to batch is a close I really do to batch the close in a week but this week is different change sheet so I had sheets to watch plus and begin to wear long pants again because the temperature drops adding to more clothes than usual or at least seems to be.

I've been at the apartments now almost exactly a year. It's weird to go one trip around the sun in a new spot. I'm basically settled in now. I am going to finish unpacking the next couple weeks I believe with the help of the new person coming on this week to help me keep the apartment fairly organized. I'm sort of excited about having her input. Just hope I can afford everything surely I can just I hate to spend. I think she is going to really help me sort through what I have and get rid of a lot of stuff I hope I can do it. Can you don't want to let her down even though I'm paying her to help me do this. Soon after I first moved in, as husband and know the lay of the land here in Taylorsville I thought I needed a new pot or a pot to cook soup, stews, roasts whatever. I found this little pot over at the polygamist store across the street. A paid way too much for it is not really what I wanted. I wanted something with lots of loops there be able to grab with my hook I didn't get it. I've had in the box ever sense and yesterday, while Carl was here I had Carl get the pot down. I was going use the pot for red beans and rice but I think I have another pot that might work is good if not better because I don't want to make a huge amount of red beans. I want to just make enough for a couple meals. I just want taste of red beans and rice that I've made with money rice maker and a couple cans of beans

She Ain't No Honey

The saga of trying to replace Honey continues. For the past two weeks I have been plagued with young home healthcare “professionals” because Honey either quit or was fired I still have not heard the entire story. I've gotten the impression they are sending out people who ever they can get their hands on to meet my needs. One seems to be this girl named Soda – – which of course is not her real name – – Soda seems not to really want to be much of a CNA. In the course of three days Soda has been significantly late. Each time she says the traffic was out of control. I will buy that once but for each of those times I'm big getting to seriously doubt Sodas desire to be a CNA and specifically my CNA. She does great work, I think when she is here. Actually, she doesn't do great work she tends to my needs and gets my toileting and showering done but then there's all kinds of leftover things that need to be done that Honey always did. There's been another CNA named Angie was actually front desk CNA coordinator for the organization. She is six months pregnant but did a great job as far as working with me and getting my toileting and showersand showers completed in a timely manner. I distance myself from Angie just because she's a short timer.. She can have her baby then be off forsix weeks at least. I need to have somebody on a regular basis way before then.

Yesterday, Soda was supposed to be hereat 1:30 PM. This was way early but I figured what the heck is she's up to it I'd be up to it get my stuff down and out of the way and maybe go to a movie in evening or late afternoon. The girl never showed up I kept calling the office and leaving messages but as getting the impression something major was happening or seem to be. Bear in mind, I'm sitting naked in my apartment thinking this person is good show up any minute now and get on with it she never did finally I think around 6:30 PM the office person Kathy calls or I call her I don't remember whichlet me know that no one will be showing up today. I figured this out by then I think I still thought maybe Kathy would come by somebody to do the job but no one is coming by which I guess was okay I could just really used an enema yesterday. Kathy said she would do the job and come out this morning. I was so frustrated and semi-depressed at that point in time I said yes sure not quite believing that she would make a showing. I had only spoken with Kathy over the phone. She seemed one of the only focused people at that agency, especially right now.

8 AM that's when she was to be at my apartment.. I've gotten up around seven make coffee piddling around picking up a little bit. If I got the call she needed the code for the door soon she was here. I was somewhat shocked she was is a 60-ish slightly plump each worker. She's definitely been around the block once or twice which is okay. I would rather have some of the older who knows what they're doing the starry eyed young CNA or CNA want to be. We did it. We got the battery back in the lift got me sling.ssuppository did on to the toilet and job done and then did a quick shower and that was it. I hope she considers doing the job on Monday. She's no-nonsense and pragmatic and works to get the job done that's all I can ask. Kathy is no Honey but I guess there can never be another Honey and we all make do with what we can.

Come On! Give Me A Break…

I know I sound old and that I am complaining about anything new and vibrant and trendy but I really feel motivated to discuss this issue to some degree. I first noticed food trucks in Salt Lake City when I was still working for the state at the Access Utah Network housed with Utah Developmental Disability Council or UDDC. I often went further downtown to explore and find interesting places to eat on my lunch hours. In fact when I was still trading business with Zions First National Bank I often went to the downtown original office. This is when I first noticed a food truck that parked in their lot intermittently. I even bought a couple of items tthinking (Wow, this is kind of cool). There wa a great deal of construction going on downtown Salt Lake at the time. A lot of the construction boys stopped at the food truck. Very inexpensive food with a fairly high quality. There was always somebody around to reach out and either order or grab my food. I thought total lack of accessibility are to be honest I didn't even think of the accessibility issue at the time because I thought this truck was a novelty and didn't pay much more attention.

After I retired and the subsequent operations I haven't really been downtown as much as I used to be which I kind of miss. But, I have noticed the rise of the food trucks. I've noticed the food trucks become more and more sophisticated much more elegant than the roach coaches that offered quantities of food at a lower price than one could grab at local venues downtown or even at concerts and such.Soon the trucks were beginning to develop significant reputations and followings becoming high-end operations. Even in the counterculture newspapers like ThePrivate Eye and others these rolling restaurants republishing their schedules.

Listening to NPR this morning I noticed the chagrin that a number of the events announced by the radio station, and some related to fundraising for the organization highlighted the fact that these events would be served food and beverage from these trucks.. I stopped immediately thinking is the last time I went to such a truck. I think I ordered some form of Asian food you know the kind good food but very sloppy. There is no way I could get the attention of the vendor without somebody else there is no way I could order and there is no way to fetch the end product and offered without the individual cook/vendor actually coming around and down from the perch to give me my food. Something's wrong here! Red lights flashed in my head where have the people with disabilities.?! Why is not DRAC when on top of this? I would like to think this situation needs to be nipped in the bud that somehow there needs to be an alternative for people with disabilities to access these inaccessible food sanctuaries. The whole concept of the food truck is counter to accessible dining. In order to access these trucks one has to be able to stand and in many cases themselves reach up. I've noticed a couple of the trucks have counters that might be close to accessible standards but you still have to reach up way beyond accessible standards.

It's an old story, crap! It's the same old story. If were not watching whether it is transportation, brick-and-mortar restaurants, entertainment, and now rolling stock restaurants people disabilities continued become more and more visible. I wrote a play once about the importance of being visible it was well received but very trite and I think thought very trite but maybe it's time to do another play about being visible enough to get lunch or dinner I can reach totally on my own.

Not There Yet

There are a number of myths that continue to haunt meas I sojourn through this world. When I was working at the Independent living center every tax season everybody on staff, who like me, were people with disabilities in working pretty closely to a regular, real-life job mean we got fairly decent salaries for what we did. But every year tax time when I filled out my taxes there was one piece of the document that everybody else filed (and they got it on the returns) but I did not. I wish I could remember exactly what tax deduction was all I can remember was the deduction had something to do with being disabled in the household income as I read the deduction it pretty much said that if you are working in the real occupation with real pay and benefits you could not use this deduction – – though everybody did. This used to drive me crazy.

Since I no longer work is no need for me to take the deduction but recently I felt the same stress from a little guy who works at this facility as a nurse practitioner/doctor.His name's Kyle, I talked about a few days ago in the flu shot post remember? Anyway, my first met Kyle he was actually visiting one of my neighbors providing some medical assistance there and my neighbors knew I been talking about going out to the doctors or whatever and thought it be great to have Kyle stop bywhich he did. And this feeling to do good by many people kind of warms my heart but the same kind gets quite old and somewhat irritating. These do-gooder people always look at me and asks me why I don't have home health coming into my apartment and doing services for me here. It's always takes me up short because they make it sound like a fool because I'm not doing and truth be told I have been subjected to these do-gooder suggestions for years. So long ago for a while I forgot the reason I wasn't using Medicare home health services. Even Ann the social worker here atThe complex even was pushing me to consider using the on-site medical fix. I decided this go around I'm going to go utilizing on-site medical services. This agency well even send catheters . I had a depth conversation with my current catheter provider to told me that yes home health would do that and it wouldn't bother them one where the other and for me nothing would change except where I got my catheters from. Getting catheters from this agency would come to simplify the process for me.

So the other day when I was so ill and I had a nurse from his agency come out and take a urine sample, blood pressure and stuff like that. He showed up a few days later indicating I have a raging infection and wrote me a script which I got filled it was slick that worked great. Then I remembered I don't know what brought it to my mind but there was the clause “user must be homebound”. Those with a killer words I was anything but a homebound. I told this to Kyle and he just sort of short the law saying that's not exactly what they mean… You are homebound. I could tell Kyle really believed this. But I remember the clause now. You had to be homebound I could not take advantage of these great services because I'm not homebound. Once again though, Kyle had me almost convinced except for the clutter in the back of my mind going over and over and over again that I was not eligible. Kyle next wanted me to hook up with in-home physical therapy which I was the real big fan of when I had to go through it after the stenosis events but if having in-home physical therapy would make Kyle happy what the hell make the boy happy? In order to do this I have to speak with a nurse of the program who sets up an interview with a nurse and finishes the process… The whole medical model. So, a passive aggressive a couple of days when this nurse kept calling but finally this morning called back and spoke with Tracy the nurse on the phone would be the nursing your home.

No sooner than I had nurse Tracy on the line I asked her the question about my mobility and immediately there was silence on the other end of the phone and immediately she is agreeing with me that indeed I was to mobile to be homebound… I was not homebound. I explained to her would've been going on and she clucked her tongue and said you know I'm going to have to visit with Kyle. Now I don't know what would happen to me if I had not said anything and gone ahead and start massing always home services I was not eligible for. I'm sure I would certainly get some sort of penalty attached to me which I don't need and do not want. I would love to have all the services provided to me via Medicare are some other secondary party payer that's just not going to happen not now anyway.

Wednesday

I really wanted to be up, feeling better, and going out and getting things done but that's not coming about.. I'm just not getting on top of this flu or whatever it is. I was supposed to meet with my cleaning person today and I had to postpone that and there was a action this afternoon down at Sen. Hatch's office I was thinking about attending I didn't get to that event either. Things are beginning to worry me.Not Enough that I would do significant changes but I might if these illnesses don't stop.

It is a beautiful day, however I put on shorts and went outside the test the temperature there was a fine South wind blowing which cut the edge off the lower temps. Yesterday, I had called Cynthia who was supposed to come over today and begin working with me to clean up my apartment and my lifestyle which leads to such messes. She greatly appreciated my given her a heads up and we decided to try again on Monday. Hopefully things will improve by then. I cleaned up my mail box, and not collected the mail for days, no great loss junk mail and bills. I was just about ready to go and do something which I considered fun when I remembered with a jolt that I still had not sent the kids letters off yet. I cannot believe it was almost the middle of the month. So I figured this would be my project for this morning. I printed envelopes and printer that the letters got them folded and stuck in envelopes and and have the cash to stuff the envelopes. I considered going to the college bank in the basement to get some cash then I decided what the heck I would just part of my chair down to the Fresh Market and pick up the fresh fruit I've been wanting and a few other things.

I really need very little from the market except things like fruit. I've baked cookies, I have a roast in the refrigerator and I'm still working on turkey. I have a rice cooker, I have to rice cookers and I have rice. There are a few things I still need like cottage cheese may be some bread but I still have marble loaf rye. Have boxed milk I have orange juice and tons of tomato juice. I have two new potatoes a bag of onions carrots in the crisper I'm set. I have popsicles in the freezer . Walnuts and fresh flour, chance to a good selection of Campbell Soup I do not need to be at the market but today I needed dollars stuff in the envelopes for the girls. That was my excuse today.

I'm home now the warmest part of the day is over, evening comes swift now as the days shorten. It's good to be inside after a certain hour even if there are many hours left in the day. Today I will have home health visits for bathing and other things around the toilet. Today feels like Monday tomorrow I have coffee with the seniors and read with the kids out in West Jordan hope I can make my dates.

Sweet Charlotte

Somehow I've slipped back into a full-blown cold or bladder infection maybe the bad guys just started doing tagteam event and I am the mangy meat in the middle.. I really need to get better get back into my life but I'll say that during this period the section whatever. You'll notice I didn't post yesterday that he is today. I actually felt fairly decent yesterday. But even 30 minutes on the arm bike.

This morning I contacted Assist and let them know I would not be in today because of my illness. I was pleased when I did hear a knock on the door and it was Kyle nurse practition/Dr. Who was rechecking and let me know that I had a pretty nasty infection – I could have told him I have a nasty infection and save the boy a trip. But it was kind of nice having Kyle attend to me. Kyle actually hung around in the bedroom while I got dressed. I think he was trying to figure out how I dressed in the mornings.

I was even more shocked, pleasantly so however, when I got a call from Charlotte my friend from independent where he worked together on a number of different projects perhaps most notable being Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa Claus a number of years. As soon as she just wanted to catch up and that's what we get in the cours vowed to stay in touch. I hope we do this she has always been a valuable part of my support network. She's a smart cookie and these stimulation. We talked quite a while. Even though I got dressed and did not leave the apartment today today, I turned up the heaven watching whatever free movies I can latch onto which is okay. Done a couple Ironman which are entertaining if not mindless. I don't dare go to bed – – though that is actually growing need to be – – because I'm a little sketchy on that make transfers in the day having to get up and go cath. So I am reclining as much as I can in my power chair and the actually not all. There trying to push fluids when the trial with me but I really want to get on top of this and get back to life.

I was even contacted by Honey, my own home health care person. I was pleased that she caught me in the visit from that. I had tell her that I like Angie and she didn't get into dislike for this person very much whichwas good because I'm beginning to like Angie. I don't know what can happen but surely the doors open for all positive outcomes.so, my plan for the rest of the nightwatch more Amazon prime movies, and just like with but I have to be careful now to make sure you get through the night without thought of every device I have with piss .they only have two bags so I have to be discreet. I'm going to look around the apartment tonight to see if I can find yet another bag that will be enough.. I'm afraid I am beginning to smell too pissy as it is. Luckily tomorrow I have another shower which I hope will be energy but who knows what the shortstaffed as they are with their. I just need to be patient

Chicken Soup For Soul

Temperature dropped last night it's not cold out but it's cooler than it has been. Days like this will really bring to the color out to the local trees I look forward to that immensely particularly,, with my tree outside my patio window. That tree is not yet begin to change and still has a piece of plastic in slims like debris between teeth and I hope can be eradicated somewhere along the line. The point that I'm making though is that I'm seriously thinking of making chicken soup today. Have a couple bones or chicken legs full of meat and the bones + have a piece of chicken given by one of the ladies here last week all of which is enough to make a chicken soup base. I know what I'd like to do – – chicken soup wise – – but I still would think I should check the Internet recipe base for heavy-duty garlic-based chicken soup options not only for me but my friend Gail Who texted me indicating she feels she may have picked up some flew somewhere and felt weak. I totally understand that I have felt so weak with whatever I got last week. I really think that I actually got some flew from the flu shot. That sort of shocking to me sense I've never necessarily felt that happening before although I've heard many people remark about getting a slight version of the flu after getting their inoculations.

But I'm really excited about doing today is putting on a roast.. I don't necessarily need to eat the roast today which I will of course some but have a garlic-based roast on throughout the week. I actually took the bus up to Harmon's yesterday and picked up the closest thing I could find to seven bone Or blade roast. I was going to throw the roast into a crockpot which I really like to do but then remembered I have lived in soup mix and roasting bags. I really enjoy the result of roasting bags and then maybe catch the drippings to consider a savory and delicious gravy. I thought about going to a movie this afternoon but really, cannot justify the time. I'm into the second week of October and have yet to mail off the kids letters. So I think it wise that I stay home cook my meals and write my letters and then if I have time to do something for me.

Okay, I've done the scan which revealed a number of fairly simple recipes for chicken soup. Of course, these soups are using chicken that is raw which has to be cooked for some time but I think that since the chicken parts I'm using are already cooked just a matter of chopping up the check and adding to the water the vegetables in such and then letting them cook significantly. The most important thing, I feel, is the use of garlic and I think I'm going to use garlic paste. I have some in the fridge and need to be using. Using garlic paste this now as much fun as smashing and mincing but much more practical, and will not wear me out. I also have a pie which I froze a couple weeks ago after I baked it which would also be fun to have this evening should I do the other parts. I don't know if Gail will come over if I make soup but I will certainly give her the option some chipmaker chicken soup.

Customer Service

This last week has been quite challenging to me. I did something to myself when I fell out of bed and was lodged between my chair in my bed for two or three hours. It's not like a torn ligament or anything like that to just the right side is somewhat impaired more so than usual. But I'll watch it closely and if needs be I might even up to do some physical therapy. On top of the physical setback I also picked up some sort of illness I think possibly a bladder infection got out of control plus I had a touch of flu I think one day which really focused my attention on maybe I should get a flu shot. I'm kind of trying a new medical system at least trying out is how it feels to me. It is a home health service that uses nurse practitioners (that other folks refer to as doctors and I think the practitioners also do as well). I'm a snob I'm well aware that many practitioners, who worked for physicians who have Mds actually carry a lot of the load that the Mds used to carry. When I was at the University medical system by primary caregiver was a practitioner and I really saw the M.D. She worked under which was just as well. There's a whole question as far as me using this service. If I chose to use the service they would provide my catheters, and actual in apartment medical support like if I need will care they would send somebody out to work with my issues. The same way with OT and PT's supposedly. The only drawback (and I've known this for some time that's why I haven't gone this route when everybody asked me well why don't you go to this provider that provided here on Medicare) technically, in the eyes of the law I have to be (homebound). What this means is that I cannot go and do what I want to do and go anytime that I want. This literally means I cannot leave the apartment technically speaking. I don't know how many people abuse this and they use and are on the services but seems a little spooky to me. I'm still having to ascertain whether having the service would be worth the risk. My guy, Kyle the nurse practitioner, looks at me and says yes your homebound all you got is your power chair you cannot go far in power chairso yes, technically your homebound. As I said that would be nice as I understand things but I also feel a little weird about the whole thing. I get the feeling tthank you to all Kyle is trying to sell cars and in trying to sell as many cars as he can by the end of the year – – and folks with disabilities/seniors is the product.. I'm going to return to this in another blog Kyle the nurse practitioners is not what I wanted to write about today. The nurse came out after I visited with Kyle took a urine sample and the blood sample. And of course I had an infection – – I always do – – and so I had them send the script over to Fresh Market, the supermarket across the street. So yesterday, was feeling a little bit better I got dressed across the street to pick up my meds and I thought well I'll get my flu shot now having found my card Medicare card.. This time however the manager of the pharmacy said he called my card in and it was only valid for flu shots in doctor's offices.. I thought this so stupid it just seemed like another layer of stupidity from the store. This answer seemed bogus to me so I gathered up my documentation plus my medication and headed out the door. There is a major pharmacy next to this market so I figured why not give it a shot. I zipped inand found the pharmacist gave me my documentation we came back within seconds and said, “yeah, no problem”. I don't know why the pharmacist acted in such a way. Clearly he lost the store money. The pharmacy next door picked it up.. While I was at the pharmacy had them give me a card so I could have it to send my next prescription to. I'm taking my business next door.. This seems like a little thing,a little personal protest, the lead me to understand the whole concept of customer service, good customer service. Aand not going to use that pharmacy again… I'm going next door

Tin Cup And The Warden Calling Numbers

I started this blog this morning just before lunch. I was going on and on about my hopes and expectations regarding my involvement with the senior center. My main reason for leaving going over this morning was to pick up my card. That magical plastic coated card which will allow me to freely use all programs, services and events held at the Taylorsville senior center..

I'm glad I didn't finish and post my thoughts for today then. I got to the center about 1145 and went immediately to the front desk and asked if my card was ready and lo and behold the little old lady walked back from the back room (where these things are kept obviously) smiling and saying “Yes! Here it is! Here is your card your official now”. I snatched the card away happy to be part of the organization.

Process. Everything has a process I've learned that, so I just sat back and I cannot backpack and found the blue colored piece of paper which was issued to me when I surrendered my free lunch ticket.. I was told that I needed to present this when lunch was served.. People were sitting around roundtables in the dining area. I of course found the table with no one else there Table 10. There are a number of old folk knowing about the front of the kitchen serving area but I did not know they were servers at that point. I just thought they were eager beavers ready for dinner. Everything has a process. To the bingo games had come to a close about 11:55 AM. Interesting I thought the tumbler that spews the numbers was still on the table and the master of ceremonies was still there looking official. Right at 12:00 PM the MC welcomed everybodyand ask for a moment of silence with which everyone complied. After the moment of silence (which I think amounted to a giving of thanks for the food). The MC started cranking the tumbler with many of the numbers removed. It's totally weird. Also in the numbers of the tables started showing up and as each number came out , the Mcread the number in that table rose and went to the chow line. Actually what really happened was the first ball out of the thing was number 10, I was so taken aback that I didn't realize my table and then called in the MC went to the next number. I however refocused and zip to the head of the line that was when a minor discussion ensued that why did I want to go through the line when the volunteers would serve me. (Remember the group that was milling around in front of the kitchen? These people bring the food to those too disabled to go through the line. When I finally assured the delivery posse to I was in control of my destiny – – sort of – – at least been able to carry my food to the table they relented.

Like so much of life the food looked better than it was. I've always liked Salisbury steak and a rich gravy served with whipped potatoes and whatever vegetable shows up. Today I ate my Salisbury steak more out of courtesy than not. It was okay like I said not like mom's or my grade school's. Some form of succotash, chopped spinach and a cookie – chocolate chip – and a carton of milk very small carton of milk but I'm thankful for what I got and it's free at least this one was from now on will be three dollars lunch.

This is a good experience. I got my card and explored a little bit more of the senior center. I might try to go over there at least once every couple days and swipe my card for the machine reader to indicate I'm using services so they can tally the results for the grant years – – I totally understand. For three dollars I can get one of the cheapest McDonald's burgers and the cheapest fries and a glass of water and I'm goodgoal