Grounds In My Coffee

I currently have two Chargers for my power chair with plugs that have issues. I am the destroyer I've written about this probably more than once but the truth still holds. I'm not sure why  my Chargers plugs are failing . Perhaps the reason the plugs are at risk is because I have rolled over the plug more than once which is almost impossible not to do… If you're me. Other folks I'm sure are infinitely more responsible than I and probably do not have this problem. The one plugs metal housing is so loose,  the plug itself is hanging out. This cannot be safe and really just needs to be screwed back back together. I should be able to do this but I do not have the hand function necessary this task is beyond my ability. The plug itself has to be compressed enough for the metal housing to slide over to meet the ring and threads to screw in. I don't have the hand function, the tweezer function in my fingers needed the press the plug. When I cannot pull the rabbit out of the hat, of course, then I must find somebody with the appropriate hand function to do the trick. I'm getting by using one of my other chargers  and is actually separated from the cord and who's wires are dangerously exposed but I'm still using the plot to charge my chair, when needed, until I can get the other charger screwed back together this go-between charger well have to do .  I used to engage the “fix-it guy” here at the apartment complex and he could just about fix anything I needed fixed, but sadly, he has moved on and his replacement is a "go by the book straight arrow " who won't touch anything that does not have a sanctioned, signed, work order. So I figured today I would just go across the street to the coffee shop (see last week's posting) and grab one of those blue-collar Saturday morning coffee drinkers who I know would jump right on the request and get the job done.

I had a strange feeling as I crossed the street to the coffee shop, there were hardly any cars in the parking lot. Great I thought to myself I well grab one of the staff but then I realized there was no activity, not even lights, in the coffee shop. I thought to myself, off for Easter? I cannot believe this but as I got to the front door there was a paper scotch taped to the window… We are closed for Easter so we can spend this time with our family or something like that! It's bad enough this joint closes on Sunday but now closed on holy Saturday by whatever the hell this day is called. I sat there with my backpack on my lap and my charger balanced on my foot pedals wondering what the next step would be. I figured I'd gotten along this far with semi-exposed wires I'm sure I can get through till Monday or grab one of the guys who lives here at the complex, there are a few besides me,  and see if I can talk them into twisting my charger back together if not that then put a call to my brother or guilt my son in the coming over and doing the deed. Either way I'm sure I can do this before I am electrocuted into the middle of next week.

Hush

Click here for flashback music video… Enjoy!

I have a good friend, at least I would like to think him a good friend who has a significant disability, uses a power wheelchair for mobility and is a professional in the community where I live. He is a political kind of guy I I have always been impressed with not only with the kind of work he does but the quantity of work he does. Gosh, I've known this guy for over 10 years it is our to believe. I have written a number of posts concerning him one way or another. My friend was relatively young but I first met him so now he must be getting middle-aged. I cannot believe he is still in the Salt Lake area. I've ranted and raved before about how he is sort of overqualified for this area. He needs to be in a bigger market is not at the big show in DC. I've ranted and raved a stupid executive directors of private nonprofits have never used this guide was potential. I've noticed for some concern the past couple of weeks, it's he has written on his Facebook page regarding heartbreaks and his spirit both being alone. As I said, his comments breaks my heart. I cannot believe he is not found someone at this writing who has not wanted to make a commitment to my friend. I am a pathetic romantic and I believe there is someone out there for everyone and actually there is more than person, I think there are many. I of course have no credibility in this area since been married three times and none of them worked out, but I want to believe. Maybe it's true many people with disabilities can't find love.

In the fall and winter of 1966 I was living at Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Center in Boise Idaho. I had broken my neck earlier in the year and was in rehab. The days were filled with actual physical therapy, mat class, rickshaw, working out with pulleys and waits. I was kept pretty busy however at 5 o'clock everything seemed to shut down it was the same on weekends… Tumbleweeds. All the people who are visiting me right after the trauma at the hospital that pretty well lost interest by the time I was transferred to rehab. I have kind of a romance while at the Elks. Her name was Margie Smith, the same last name as my. We delighted telling others were married. I somewhere have an image of us together in the ADL room. The foyer of our building was quite a ways from the nurses station in the residential area. Margie and I used to go down in our wheelchairs and sit in the dark and look out over Boise. It was kind of romantic in 1966. Herman's Hermits, part of the English invasion of the 60s, had a song out called, Kind of a Hush. This was our song. I don't know if we love each other but we loved the the song and loved being together. I'm so lucky to have had Margie. It seemed afterward for a very long time no girls ever wanted to be more than just a friend. It's what I know my friend is going through. I told him things get better I don't think he believes me but I can't say that I blame him. He is aging that is undeniable. If I get a chance I'm going to tell him to keep stepping up to the plate (I hate that metaphor) sooner than later is going to hit one out of the park. I hope it's sooner...

I had Too Much To Dream Last Night

Click here for musical flashback… I had a great dream this morning, you know one of those dreams that seemed perfect, everything came together, the dream that was going to change your life. Then almost immediately I forgot most of the dream holding on frantically to anything that might keep the dream relevant. The only thing that I remember is the word spigot more correctly the word spig, the name of someone in the dream but I do not remember who just that it was an important term and most possibly a term of affection. What I dreamt could've been a play or a poem but spigot was the definite operative word. I've been having a lot of those kinds of dreams lately and I suppose I could blame it on the dream catcher (see earlier posting I believe the end of last month). I think the dream catcher continues to work but is not as effective as it once was. It's about a comment on life? Nothing is as effective as it once was.

I went to a movie today. I almost didn't make it on time because the bus I was waiting on was full with wheelchairs but it got to me. This is one of the new buses the Authority recently put into service. I really dislike the seat configuration in the front. I don't think they are made with wheelchair people in mind. I believe I will need a lot of time to get used to this new buses and how they carry people who use wheelchairs. Once again a classic example of able-bodied people trying to think for people with disabilities does it ever end? I mean, I don't know, maybe consult wheelchair folks but if they did I cannot believe wheelchair folks would have sanctioned such a seating configuration.

I went to the movie Ready Game One – – Stephen Spielberg offering set in the near future and the future USA is a dystopic country probably dystopic world. It was actually very cyberpunk. I thought. Instead of people living in tractor-trailers stacked on top of each other before living in regular trailer houses stacked on top of each other in desire communities of dystopia. Of course, people all lived online with fake personalities living in a universe where everyone jacked Via those goggles people are now just getting into. Everyone has an alter ego/personality (I cannot remember the adequate term) alternate image online. Of course there were great special effects, we expect that now, and begin the message that the future is grim came across strong. Everyone live in trailers and live online and alternate realities – – kind of sad. I'm sure there will be a sequel. I got the feeling that Spielberg was just getting started when the show concluded. I will probably go to that offering as well but I doubt was the same amount of enthusiasm. However, who knows by that time the American public will take anything to escape the reality of politics is getting us into now.

Legacy

I actually had two events booked for today one was DRAC and one was A. T. Council for the state of Utah—actually the Council is referred to as Utah A.T, Council.I know I have written about the Council before  was just to lazy to research before writing tonight. Both meetings started 12 with a lunch. I elected to go to my A. T. Council meeting which I really have supported for the decades i have been in Utah and truth be told Council offers a catered meal (hot) the other would be part of a Subway sandwich and potato chips. I kind of felt bad with my choice but really DRAC is a monthly meeting which are usually attend and Council now meets just twice a year which is a bit of a shame. Counsel is attended by other professionals from around the state from the area of assistive technology which is one of my favorite subjects primarily because I use assistive technology as much as I do. A.T. Council was one of the a boards I felt strongly about staying active in after my retirement. I just delete any legacy to this silly state it would be a strong assistive technology commitment. There is so much tech in the state which is not being used are underutilized there needs to be a process or system to highlight this resource.

Today we were served tortellini or another form of macaroni and the choice of red sauce marinara sauce, or some sort white sauce if one needed protein/meat you can add cooked chicken to your marinara sauce. The chicken tasted like it'd been boiled which is not my favorite flavor(some like wet feathers) but I found that if I doused the chicken with enough marinara sauce the choice was quite edible. Fancy dancy roles and cookies the size of the palm of your hand. Interesting I've noticed over the last couple years meals provided by the University system which is state owned as got the way of providing flavored drinks such as sodas. Now, the best you can do is get a bottle of water. I was thinking about this this morning as I was making copy that are built where one of the only that does not provide coffee at these kinds of meetings. Not that I need a stimulant in the middle of the day, but sometimes it sure wouldn't hurt staying awake for the rest of the meeting.

For me the best part of the meeting was meeting up with folks that I've worked with for a long time. I believe I missed last fall's meeting as I was reconfiguring my life following the divorce. But now hopefully I'm back on track and I will continue to make these meetings. I noted with interest one of the topics discussed are shared with the group today was the implementation of a website which would list used assistive technology for sale, or maybe even donation. Alma, a still youngish Yahoo from Utah State University was all excited as he explained this “new” program., Went on and on finally someone mentioned perhaps he should ask me for some since that is exactly what I had for the longest time with Access Utah Network. I was not hurt, I'm long removed from that time of my life however, I was a bit wistful – – I'm just glad that part of my legacy is living on.

Comedians In Cars…

Click here for the episode with the President Obama

I hate it when one of my icons crumbles. Couple days ago I was lying in bed right around 3:30 AM trying to trick myself into going back to sleep. I don't know what is happening to me but for the past couple of days I've been waking up like clockwork at 3:15 AM I don't know what it is but it is. Anyway, I all of a sudden had an urge to watch a segment of Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee a great little podcast I tripped over a number of years ago cruising around the Internet. Jerry Seinfeld picks up another comedian in some high-end car usually and they go out and do coffee. It's a very laid-back interview and very funny. I watched off and on for a couple of years. The episodes are pretty short but they were hilarious that the Internet always be there. However, to my concern all I got was the show's logo and the link to Netflix. Somewhere along the line Jerry at sold-out and I was totally bummed .

These interviews are great. Interviews all with big-name comedians and interviews are just hilarious. Actually, one of the favorites that I seen is Jerry's actual interview with Pres. Obama. I will not promise anything but I will try to get a link from this page to the interview. I don't know how Seinfeld but the interview is kind of brilliant. I mean I was just crestfallen. Not that I think I have to have everything free but of all people why Jerry? It's not like you don't have all the money in the world. You are a major millionaire you are not going to go broke and I can tell and I can tell you you love doing the interviews you love driving all these fast cars. And I know you're not a mean guy you just aren't.

I've been thinking about this all day. Finally, getting home and finally getting on line I thought I would do some research to satisfy myself. I still don't understand everything about what is going on but there seems to be a lawsuit against Jerry Seinfeld about who came up with the concept for the show initially. So this is all in court that somehow for Jerry to continue the show , Jerry is having to go through Netflix. So, I guess it's not necessarily a money thing as much as it is a a legal thing. Still doesn't make much sense and is just an irritation that I should have to enroll in Netflix just so I can keep up with Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. The link I want to attach to this posting I was able to find in some place other than Netflix. I suppose someone bootlegged the episode to their platform andI'm sure glad they did. I suppose I really could research and find some other episodes. I just hate change, you know that. I suppose in the end I will have to bend to the will of Netflix or some other Internet God that has the content that I want to pursue or partake. The pisses me off.

Sponge Story

I don't know what is going on with me right now but in the past week I've been waking up around 3 AM and rarely getting back to sleep. I don't know if it's spring or just the excitement of being alive it's hard to say. I might add however getting only 3 to 4 hours of sleep at night and still functioning fairly well and I get to the day okay. I must confess however, sometimes I briefly falls sleep when I'm doing my arm bike in the afternoons. Still though I'm feeling pretty good. I try to stay in bed until 6 AM at the earliest. I don't necessarily fight to get back to sleep but I lay there and if I'm not destined to go back to sleep and I just lay there and think in this morning was thinking about my cleaning person, Cindy. This morning I was thinking of all the things I need to do before her next arrival sometime in early April. I need to get a special cleaning solution she likes the years some variation of Mr. Clean. I'm finding I can find a solution in big bottles and just keep refilling squirt bottles that Cindy uses. I have found what I think is the right stuff at the market across the street but I might like to see it I can find industrial size at Costco. This will necessitate contacting Mark Anthony or somebody else who has a vehicle to pick a container of Mr. Clean.

Last night as I was madly cleaning up, right before bed, a little so that my morning staff will not think I have not totally entroped over the weekend. I noticed the sponge that I use to wash the dishes and everything else in that neck of the woods. I'm not sure but I am almost positive that Cindy made a comment regarding the cleanliness and health risk of using a kitchen sponge too long. Something about an overused sponge is a germ disaster movie. I of course immediately started making excuses that I always squeezed the sponge clean, I frequently douse the sponge with bleach and I never let it sit in the water of the sink…very long. I don't know if I just don't believe in the world view of germ theory or I'm just cheap and I don't want to spend the money on more sponges if I just have to throw them out the next time they begin smelling funny and of course a little bit of Clorox cleans things right up. I still don't want to have to deal with her unspoken wrath.

This morning my staff, Dana, was all excited to tell me all the new Weight Watchers program allows person to eat as many prepared beans as possible – – not from a can but beans like pinto beans or a mixture of beans rinsed thrown into a long-term cooker like a crockpot and cooked into oblivion. She was so excited she cannot stand it. Eggs and beans both hold no value on the Weight Watchers point system!!! Beans are free! I lent my crockpot to my neighbor across the hall this weekend and she is scrubbed this crockpot out and it was beautifully clean. I figured what the heck I'm good to make a pilot beans. In the process of doing this I looked in the cabinets under the sink and their work two unused,scrub sponges. I was saved. Though I should still geta few more sponges the next time I'm at the market… just to be safe.

Again and Again

It's snowing outside, right Palm Sunday and snow! Been snowing all day off and on. The snow is been somewhat vigorous a lot of sideways snow. If I wasn't so warm to be a lot of snow on the ground if the snow was not melting as quickly as it is falling. The snowfalls nice to look at though especially since I had nowhere to go today. I even washed yesterday so today I just hung the clothes in between movies and Facebook and staring outside my living room window.

I watched Ironman for don't know how many times. I just do not get tired of the movie and there is no charge for the movie with my Amazon membership . However, if I want to watch the other two Ironman movies I could, but what not enjoy those two especially if I have to pay. Same way for Shrek. I love the first movie but the follow-up movies did not hold the same brilliance at least for me. Sadly that seems to be the case almost across the board for sequels perhaps if you produce enough sequels you'll get lucky and do a couple but might be as good as the first assignor felt this was true with the Star Wars universe and to some degree the Star Trek franchise. Actually for me, because so little science-fiction is produced I can usually sweat through poor additions to a franchise just because when you're in the desert any liquid is appreciated. Though it's not science-fiction, I did watch the Bourne Identity and most of the Bourne Supremacy. Again, Bourne Identity is much easier for me to watch over and over again versus Bourne Supremacy or Bourne Ultimatum.

This weekend I also watched Walle (I know that not the way you spell it is just easier) and Finding Nemo. I watched Walle twice and Nemo once. I love the animation and they really have great storylines. I understand Nemo as a sequel out but I've been very hesitant to consider the animation. I don't know how they could improve on their initial offering. Walle I would take the risk. I would love to see what they do with the world so it's not necessarily the Walle sequel as much as it is a feature its own right of the survivors of the BNL cruise. I think the creators of Walle would do a great job if they have the ambition, will and time to consider such a project. I don't know. I listen to the commentary on the show and was quite surprised at how many years it took to bring Walle to fruition. Both of these pieces of animation I recently purchased off Amazon for just pennies and the postage to get the movies here. They were worth the investment. Sadly be that the movies and our collection at my home on Utahna whether they are still there and not who knows? I am trying with all my might not to make a sweet and rich chocolate cake with chocolate frosting or cookies nice oatmeal and walnut raisin cookies. I don't need the calories nor the temptation. If I want something sweet and crunchy. I will pour me a cup of sugar frosted flakes and call it a night.

But On Being Viseable

There was no reason to go out to the coffee shop this morning. I have a perfectly good coffee at the house in fact I purchased and ground coffee yesterday at the coffee shop. I had filters I had water I had everything I needed, in fact I had not even taking my morning meds. I got up, got dressed and headed over to the coffee shop I did not even wear a coat or jacket. Maybe that was the reason the outside felt like spring I had to go and be somewhere.

The coffee shop was busy more so than I seen in some time. I got my coffee and even doctored it myself the task I usually leave for the staff of the coffee shop. But I figured what the heck my hands are painted on. I found a table not far from the door. I can sit there and watch the center tables were a group of folks hang out every Saturday morning I have noticed. I thought I had written about this phenomenon before in this blog but I cannot find a reference when I get the search. I think once I referred to this gathering as sophomoric. I really got the impression these guys all have known each other for years if not all the way back to high school and possibly back further than that. They are group and I have to admit in honesty I was/am somewhat envious of this gathering. This is a somewhat large group I think can to 15 people at least over the course of a Saturday morning. It's weird but I feel totally invisible, sitting at my table and watching this gathering of amicable beings.

A number of years ago I was part of a acting company sponsored by the organization I work for. I know I've written about this somewhere in this blog. But anyway, I wrote a short play called the Importance of Being Visible, a play examining the feelings of being a person with a disability and often feeling invisible to the able-bodied world. I still feel very strongly about that play in about the whole concept of when a person has a disability there are only marginally visible. People choose not to see what they want to see . So I decided, this morning I was going to sit at this table every Saturday morning until I eventually become part of the morning crowd. I think I sat at my table for about an hour watching and listening and when I went over to the coffee bar to get a refill of coffee one of the ladies from the table came over and assisted me removing the lid from my coffee cup and pour in some half-and-half into my coffee for me. This is a start! I think I've become an outline.

There was another person at a table not far from me I noticed him at the table not long after I took my place. I was getting ready to head out. I had sat at my table too long without moving and not taking my morning meds for my spasticity I was feeling very tight. In order not to totally spaz out of control I decided to tilt my chair back and reposition myself. This is not really a big deal to me but often it is to others who do not see people in power chairs like mine very often. As I brought myself back to the upright position this person at the other table asked me if I was getting relief for decubitus ulcers. His choice of words peaked my interest and I told him no, I was just doing some pressure releases and he understood this vernacular. Turns out he's a retired rec therapists and we had an extensive discussion. Oddly enough, this was his first time at Hidden Peaks. We talk sometime and I took my leave. I came away, today more than just an outline of a person I was pretty well colored in. I was not noticed by the “in” crowd but I was noticed and perhaps that is enough. I still plan to carry forth my quest for visibility over the next couple weeks but who knows maybe Dennis will be there next week too. If nothing else I made a new friend today and that's pretty cool.

To Grow or Not To Grow

I'm sitting in the turbulence of spring here at the apartments. I like my days to be one way or the other, either dark and gloomy with lots of rain possible thunder and lightning allowing me to stay inside and feel good about being inside. Maybe do some drawing, reading, movie watching maybe even baking or even washing a load of clothes. My other option is to have days that are storm free, warm with lots of sunshine but today we're in the turbulence. I am getting both. Of

I noted when preparing my morning coffee that I am out of coffee. I had to make the decision: I'm either going across the street down the block to the Fresh Market and buying can of coffee which I really hate to do on one level but I'm always glad I did it on another or I can go out my backdoor cross the street and hit my local coffee shop and purchase a copy to keep me going for another week. Five bucks and some change gets me a half a pound of local coffee. A pound would cost me $10 and change and I just cannot justify that today. When I poked my head out the door to test the weather I was surprised how nice the day was regardless of the black menacing clouds. The temperature was warm and as I slipped across the street I noticed two things: the apartments garden spaces bare and needing some love and the little plant nursery across the street was waking. Buck, the son of the lady who owns the nursery, had spruced up the place and had things planted and growing around the nursery. Last spring I had not noticed the little nursery and it was only when I was contemplating plans for my garden box that I got to know the place but that was quite a bit later in the spring.

I'm a little unsure whether or not I'm going to participate in having a garden this year. Last year I think I was trying to prove myself to the other folks at the complex and more importantly to myself. I wanted to make sure I can grow a garden where ever I landed and I could and now I don't need to do that. Not that it was a lot of work last year. Once I got the garden in all I have to do is worry after I got the starts planted. The little garden space is irrigated once in the morning and once in the evening that once the reading is done the ways to grow back. I just had to watch my little garden grow. This was my first experience in a community garden and I am not sure how I feel about community gardens particularly after coaxing and talking to my little tomatoes all summer and then have someone steal the fruit at the end. I just don't know if I want to deal with that again. I can certainly let someone else at the apartments enjoy the experience of growing this next year. Still I have to admit I get a little excited about the idea of spring and things growing but maybe this year I'll just watch the plants at the nursery grow.

Thinking About Steve

non-use-able exercise room

We have a library here at the facility where I live, Plymouth View apartments. The library is beautiful for what it is just a shame the library is not used more than it is. I have used number of the volumes in the library and sometimes I go there just to hang out because I know I'll be left alone and it's quite a quiet place. I also find the library is a convenient place to dump books which I did today. I wrote the other day that I finished The Girl On The Train and I needed to get rid of it. I make it sound so nefarious actually I just wanted other folks that have a shot at the book.

The library is on the second floor. The second floor is kind of neat place not only is there a library, there is an exercise room (of course I cannot use it since it's made for able bodies that's okay I'm used to it)another laundry, identical to that of the first floor , the computer lab and the craft-room which could be used for so much more, currently the room is then taken over by puzzled people. There are three or four half assembled jigsaw puzzles sitting on the tables. I sometimes go in there and think of all the great things that room can be used for in the line of crafts not puzzle assembling. I didn't mention that in the craft room is a major vending machine which has chips, various candy selections and cokes. Again I do not think it was intentional, I know it was not intentional but the machine is not accessible to people in power wheelchairs with limited hand function. Even if I could get the machine to take one of my dollars everything selected drops to the bottom of the machine where you have to put your hand into the machine and collect your booty at the bottom. I suppose I could use one of my hooks to possibly pull my selection of the machine. But frankly, I never got that stage.

My friend Steve also lives on the second floor in fact Steve lives exactly over my apartment. When Steve uses the the bathroom/toilet in his apartment the flushing sounds like thrusters from a jet engine. Steve is pretty regular so I can usually tell what time of night/morning and is when I hear the toilet flush. Steve is a bit older than I and I would wager even more frail. Every time I hear a THUD, I just know Steve is crashed to the floor. But that has not happened yet to my knowledge. Today after dropping off my book I stopped off at Steve's apartment to see how I was doing. He was doing okay but he had a host of issues to talk about and we talked for about 30 to 45 minutes. Steve is kind of funny guy, became regardless of the Coast to Coast radio, or Up All Night another radio station that broadcasts conspiracy theories and their solutions. Steve shops high-end markets for his groceries to make sure is getting non-GMO foods, he of course has a blender and makes sure he is getting the best possible food inside him that he can manage. Steve is keeping himself alive by making sure he's eating the right food and getting the best medical attention he can afford. I worry about him and that's all I can do. Steve needs a laptop computer. I don't know how but better figure out a way to get him system which you can use to the end of his days… Which may not be long.

Heard While Lurking

I live in senior housing. That sentence at first kind of freaked me out but I been at this facility more than a year ago. I knew it was senior housing but I was desperate for housing and this facility fit on so many levels. I had to move in here and I'm basically glad that I did. However, the fact remains I am in senior housing. I know I am a Senior myself but it's hard for me to grasp the concept in its entirety. Having said all at I kind of figured Death would be a frequent visitor to the inhabitants of our fair living facility – – but frequent and common visits by specter death is not been frequent or common. In fact the only individual I know who has died since I have taken up residence has been that individual I found last summer lying in the street across from my apartment. I heard her cry out just after she must've fallen striking her head on the concrete. I went out and assisted where I could. I contacted 911 and spent an hour or so blocking the sun from her face in the July heat. She died a few weeks later never coming back to the facility.

There has been a couple of times where I have been part of conversations where residents have discussed other residents who have passed on. But surprisingly people seem live to a fairly significant length of time. Turnovers rare and cause quite a conversation when they do occur. An interesting example last year, a resident has been here now a little bit longer than me ,I figure about 18 months, is considering relocating to another facility. She's just thinking about a move but still generating quite a bit of conjecture.

I was lurking a couple days ago behind the staircase at the front of ability. I just been to the mailroom and was going through some of the garbage mail that was in my box when I overheard a gathering on the other side of the staircase talking about Helen one of the residents who has lived here quite a while. Late last year she caused quite a sensation with her beautiful purple power chair. She was quite proud of her new vehicle which ad taken Hellen quite a bit of time getting used to driving the unit. Late last year Hellen got sick and fell or fell and got sick either way she's been conspicuously out of the picture for some time. I listened to the hushed tones. Helen was very ill in fact she was at death's door. The talk sounded as if she was not going to make it through the night. Everyone likes Helen. Everybody wants to help. It seems the most help they can be is to sit by her side so that she's not alone and that when she passes at least someone will be by her side. I was moved by the conversation. I was a little perplexed however why wasn't Helen going to or in the hospital? It seems strange that management would allow a person to languish and pass away.

It seems the ladies had things under control and Helen was going to pass with dignity and she was not going to pass alone and I was kind of impressed. I imagined a “sister” wagontrain 150 or 200 years ago crossing the plains. One of the sisters has passed The wagon train stops and the sisters gather around dig a shallow grave and deposit the sister, say a few words then clap the dust from their hands then mount their wagons and head west. Sleep well sister Helen

A Box of Books And So Much More

I love books, books are a major part of my life. As I've been doing a lot lately before I write I will search a specific topic/word that I'm going to write about and see  if I have written about this topic before. I don't want to be redundant anymore than I have to. I am quite shocked at how many references to books I have made over the course of this blog. I wish there is a way to actually calculate references but as yet, I have not found such an engine. However, I'm quite satisfied the topic I'm writing about today, books is different enough that I will not be redundant I hope. Perhaps some scholar years down the line maybe researching my blog and me (boy, is that egotistical or what?) Will find a redundancy if not a parallel.

One of my favorite scenes from Star Trek the original series (TOS) a soliloquy rendered by James T Kirk regarding his affection for analog books, he likes the feel of books, he likes the ability to hold the book in his hands and read it probably even likes the aroma of books the marriage of ink on paper that I believe does give off a particular odor. You know that smell which wafts over you when you enter a bookstore definitely, books the smell of books. I like to think Kirk has the same problem I do with electronic books and just reverse “real” books. I've really tried to get into online reading but I've never been able to enjoy the function. For a host of reasons I won't go into here and possibly have already written about elsewhere in this blog. Anyway, a couple years ago when I was heavy into my Steven King phase, my little sister, Linda picked up on my affection for the master of horror and advised me she had a bunch of titles she was finished of with and would I be interested in them. She was finished with them and wanted be rid of the book. I assured Linda, I was interested and she agreed to bring them to the family reunion which was shortly going to take pace and would bring them along. And she did indeed I consider what she brought a treasure trove of Steven King and a few others. These volumes keep me busy for the remainder of the summer and into the winter when I get my next infusion of gift cards from the kids for Christmas when I purchase my next batch of books. Conveniently, my sister reads a lot so now every few months I receive an infusion of paperbacks as well as hardbacks many one-time owners, my sister. Pictured above is my latest “care package” of books. I've not read any |even though I've had the box for a couple of weeks. I'm currently finishing The Girl On The Train . I noted with delight there were a couple of Patterson novels in the box. I like his writing: succinct an easily read. I can usually read the book in a couple of days and get on the next.

I too, like the captain of the Enterprise, loves the way the book feels in my hands and be able to see my progress through the book as I read. Most of all I like being remembered by little sister be my need for words. Thanks.

Take The Long Way Home

Click here for title song Take The Long Way Home

My daughter called today, actually this evening as I was making dinner. She was on the road I'm not sure where from but on the way home. There's something weird with my phone. I picked up some app somewhere that flashes to announce a phone call. It always takes me by surprise and somehow I can't work the answer mechanism the right way and I dropped the call. Usually it's not a big deal because all the calls that I get are come ons or mechanical calls. Stupid calls that I don't care if I drop. However this calls from Shelley and I've been thinking of her a lot over the weekend and today.

I was in the middle of making a dish I call Frank, named for Frank Bonacore, a roommate I had 40 some years ago. I think i've  written about Frank somewhere before in some of the 2000+ blogs I posted. Frank is essentially chicken stirfry. I had chopped celery, onion, green pepper gone red and ginger. Yesterday I fried chicken legs and had two left over that I stored with the rice I'd made. I separated the chicken meat from the bone and combined that meet with the vegetables been added the rice. I was stirring the concoction when Shelley called. Magic.

When the kids and I all lived together, Frank was a staple. I don't know how much the kids like Frank but they all seem to like it enough to get by for dinner. Frank was basic, relatively cheap to make and produce. It seemed like a little bit of ingredients produced a lot of dinner. Shelley, remembered the dish fondly which made me feel good and admitted that she had not made the dish in sometime. So long in fact she was not sure of the kids would eat Frank since this was basically vegetables. She said she might throw together a batch. I suppose she said that made the old man feel good – – however Shelley is smart and she's very, very practical and if nothing else Frank is very practical.

Shelley was driving home from work, she was on the back roads, the scenic route. I think she wanted someone to keep her company for the drive home. Besides, calling the old man is part of the job when you're a kid. Probably not a pleasant job but a job one has to do to be a good child and Shelley is a good child. So, call the old man having some company for the long ride home is killing two birds with one stone and doesn't get any better than that. We talked and talked I stirred and stirred, I was a little worried about rice blending together. But I cooked the rice yesterday I think I used too much liquid and the rice was kind of mushy but it seemed to pick up nicely with the chicken and vegetables. I really liked the aroma of Frank when it's cooking it's almost Asian and I like that. We talked about Shelley's work and her challenges with your new job. We talked about her mom and the kids but we basically just talked. Once during a conversation we dropped the call completely and I called back and we seemmed to get better reception after that. Traffic was light because it was the back roads. She was not having Frank tonight probably just McDonalds but the girls wouldn't care take out almost always beats home-cooked when you're a kid. That is just the way it is when your kid golden arches over fallen arches always wins.

Shelley finally had to end the call because she was coming into a more populated area with more traffic and she had to pay attention to her driving and I finished Frank for the evening. We said our goodbyes and I thanked her for thinking of me and remembering the old days when Frank fed us all.

Tax Man

Click for video

I have less than a month now before taxes are due. I know I've whined about this before but this is an area of life that have little experience with except tension and stress. Seriously, the only income I have is Social Security and a little bit I get from the state government pension which is very little monthly yet I am nearly paralyzed with stress in getting these taxes completed. I have gotten, I think, most of the paperwork from the sources for the money comes from and now I just have to figure out what forms goes where.

I washed to loads of clothes, washed a load of dishes in the dishwasher, cooked breakfast and washed the dishes and am toying with the idea of hanging the last bath of  clothes that I washed yesterday afternoon. You see the pattern? Classic avoidance behavior. I am doing everything in my power to circumvent having to focus on my taxes. Two weeks ago in a sudden rash of adulthood I actually convinced myself I could do these taxes and I can do these taxes online. I mean millions of people do this every year I should be able to do this without issue. So I opened up an account on this tax website before I had all the stuff I needed and have that done anything since. Now, the account is haunting me and will not let me be on my computer without hounding me about completing my tax information and sending the information off.

I cannot believe how many people have their taxes done for them by other people, who are tax professionals or parents, brothers or sisters or spouses who knows what they're doing. But mostly tax professionals. My cleaning lady told me that she and her husband have a tax professional and last year got them back $13,000! Her husband, I think, owns a construction group and she of course has a little cleaning business but they must be making kick ass money. Some people, old people, but some of the folks who live here feel they don't make enough money to pay taxes so they don't! Don't you have to file even if you don't make any money? There is even a perpetual rumor that if you are  person with a disability you enjoy a “special” tax bracket. But  working at the Independent living Center with a lot of other folks with disabilities similar to mine these guys use this special deduction, every year and would always bring them a load of money back on the refund. The one time I tried this I got penalized, and then when I consider this the next year and I read the qualifications to use this production I didn't fit any of them. And that pretty much made the same amount of money that the other members of the staff that nothing ever happened of them. Dianne and I finally just accepted that we would pay and then just paid our regular tax. Still, I have a pile of questions bazillion questions that I need to have answered. I keep thinking ' well, today is nearly done a jump on it tomorrow, the first of the week'. This is obvious stinking thinking. I wanted to another crypt to quote, or do some shopping on Amazon or maybe going up to see what Red box as to offer your even just Amazon itself and then do movies until bedtime. Obviously, I'm not healthy. I've got ready for the tax-man.

Warm And Toasty Saturday Night

I cannot believe it! I just lost two or three paragraphs of this blog just because I didn't say the-document-time. I hate that. I was just getting going to talk about how great it was to be in on a Saturday night that is cold and stormy. There is snow forecast for tonight and more tomorrow till the afternoon. The day was fairly productive for stormy day. I washed clothes early on, it seemed the right thing to do on a day like today. The should've made cookies I've been threatening to do so for the past two weeks and I should've today but I did not. I washed clothes then found a movie on Amazon to watch while I hung them up. This is a late winter storm which means even though storm was flying is a good chance we'll see other forms of the seasons as well. Today, there is a break in the storm and the clouds just hung low acting like spring sun even broke through at times spiking the temperature for a brief moment between squalls. I noticed I had only three eggs for breakfast I used one on the roast beef hash I finished up today. The sunshine motivated me to throw on my black hood and strike out across the street for storm provisions. I extracted a $20 bill committee myself to spend within the limits of that denomination.

The store was quiet compared to usual Saturday activity. I didn't notice until I overheard two checkers talking about the slowdown and they couldn't figure out why. I got my we weeks fruit – bananas and apples. I got 18 large eggs, a sweet potato to garlic's and a cutie apple pies couple of cans of sliced I jalapeno peppers. I really held myself back. I really that hard at potato chips, I thought about the hamburger I looked at steaks. I thought about package of candy on sale but I was strong the cost of my accounting was $20 and some change. I did okay. Wish that had some change to take home. I got home for the next squall started. I kind of wish I'd stop at the red box picked up some movies but I did not.

I hung up the clothes while watching some movie found on Amazon's freeing up the basket which then allowed me to call another basket of dirty clothes to the laundry and start that. I messed around the refrigerator and had an apple which bummed me out because the the Apple was soft almost mushy. They cost me eight dollars. I'm debating on taking them back. I've never done that and feel little iffy about doing so.

I've watched about three movies today maybe four. I've turned up the heat and enjoying writing getting the blog finished for the day. It's a copout blog I freely admit that but nothing really happened that was significant to focus and complete blog on. Actually, as I've been finishing this posting I realized that there were things I could blog about that I should've blogged about I still could blog about this other really into it but at this point in the night I want something else toand to seriously consider going to bed.

Arm Drive

I use Facebook as my main source for social media. I tried to get into Twitter and some of the other fads of social media but I could never get comfortable with any of them. There are a lot of things that I do not like about Facebook particularly their habit of attaching new things to my page that I did not necessarily want but somehow they think is cool. Today, what is bothering me, was a blast the past motifs with what was going on's four years ago. Even though I don't like this (“way back) intrusion, a photograph got me thinking. Four years ago Mark Anthony and  I just assembled my used Saratoga Silver exercise machine. I found it on the Internet somewhere and I flat-out purchased-- it was a deal.

I knew what I was getting, I used a Saratoga Silver at rehab. I liked the machine and particularly I liked what the machine does for me. The machine gives me a great workout. I use the machine almost every day except Sunday – – the holy day. I love this machine I don't know what I'm going to do when I wear it out which most assuredly I well… That is unless the machine wears me out before. Now that I've used machine, where I live, for four years. I know that if I did wear the machine out I would simply find another – – I doubt it would be a Saratoga Silver since the machine is no longer being made. I'm sure there are variations on the machine, some simpler and some more complex. For example I would be interested in finding a machine that would allow me to program different modalities to work out. I sense a person can do this with the Saratoga but I've never sat down or had the patiences to develop new regimens to work out to. As it stands I have four basic programs that I use over and over and over again.

As I said, with the exception of Sunday I try to work out every day. The first three years I would do a half an hour on the machine usually listing to Marketplace on NPR. Now I'm doing about 50 minutes a day which is significantly more and is quite a workout. I used to work out at 430 in the afternoon and listen to Marketplace broadcast out of New York City by WNYC. The same program is broadcast from my local public radio station KUER broadcast at 6:30 PM. Now I'm changing things around a little bit and working out at 1 PM listing to Terry Gross's FRESH AIR. FRESH AIR works because it is in our program back into my complete work out under its umbrella.

I love my arm back and I hope it's doing me good. Everyone seems to think so so I will continue turning my back 50 minutes a day and who knows maybe sometime 60. I would like to think that I'm pretty not significant calories but I don't know if that's the case. My home healthcare staff, she thinks that I am, even though today when I weighed I had gained weight and was somewhat dismayed. So, my Saratoga Silver is not my silver bullet for weight control all I know that it does my heart good.

Colson Whitehead Lecture

I broke my routine today which is a good thing. Typically on Thursday I go to the Thursday morning coffee klatch then I returned to my apartment and sometimes wash a load of clothes, read, maybe do a movie on the Internet or whatever basically kill time untill time to jump the bus and head south to the library for Next Chapter bookclub. It's a nice routine but I can be doing more. Yesterday afternoon while listening to NPR as I was working out there was an advertisement for a lecture today at noon at the city library which is free. I really didn't care too much what the lecture was about but it was free and on the bus line and after the coffee klatch and the lecture at only being our so it would fit perfectly between both events coffee and that bookclub.

Speaker for lecturer is a guy by the name of Colson Whitehead. I've never heard of the person before NPR but he sounded interesting. A Pulitzer Prize winner from New York city. I'm still a little confused about this book he got the Pulitzer for, the book: The Underground Railroad. At one point I thought that I heard on the radio that the book was quasi-science-fiction/historical document. I don't remember for sure I almost thought it might've been an alternate history kind of writing. I did not get that from the lecture however. I think the closest the lecturer came was describing states as different realities of community. I'm intrigued by the concept alone which might drive me to find a copy online and order it in. He had a couple of other titles I noticed as I googled him during the lecture that sounded interesting

Mr. Colson Whitehead is a black man I find it difficult to zero in on his age but it might be early 50s, a young 50. He has a daughter entering adolescence and the four-year-old son. I like the guy seemed like a regular guy no tweed jacket with elbow patches for this writer. He has lived in New York all his life and is not pretentious as some writers from New York tend to be. Bear in mind this is all happening over a free lecture at the city library over lunch hour. He has a more formal lecture/reading tonight at the library but is a big auditorium – – the lecture over lunch was in the site venue on the fourth floor of the library. I've been in the library many times but never noticed this lecture area which is fairly large and actually has bathrooms which I'm surprised I have not used.

I wish I had counted how many folk were in the audience. These people had already most of his work. I didn't even know they until yesterday afternoon. I wanted to raise my hand and ask was this novel and alternate history? Did he ever right in alternate history form?. I really like some of the stuff you say and I like how he talked about his writing method or style. How he writes for three hours every day, seven days a week, then drinks in the afternoon – – he then laughed like he was kidding I got a strong feeling that he was. I googled his wife was a real literary head and would never let him do that at least the drinking part. He quipped as he dropped the word “iPad” and actually mentioned that he gets $50 every time he uses “iPad” in his lectures. I'm so gullible I believe this, I wanted to believe this and I well believe this. They just makes sense and is totally believable. Tonight's lecture is booked, I'm not sure what that means for a free lecture. Is actually going to do a reading. But I chose the lunch lecture it probably made all the difference.

3.14 159265359….

Pi a number. Very special number of wish I had the intelligence and the mathematic background to explain or describe that number which is much more than just its face value of 3.14… to infinity. I can say Pi's is a super important number which allows us or our scientific industries to do all kinds of things again I don't even have the beginning of intelligence to describe all the uses this number is. What's interesting to me is that in the last few years maybe decade that the population who respects science has elected to place pi in its respective place almost a place of worship is not theological then scientific so much so that in the United States at least pi has landed its own day. What fun?

One has to totally admire the American drive to make money at any cost. I was somewhat amused a couple years ago when Village Inn began its free pie Pi daycampaign. I don't remember which came first Pi day or Free Pie Wednesday. Still free pie is free pie regardless of the way pie is spelled. I did not check, but I know recently I have written about Village In's free pie Wednesday which my friend Lori turned me on to I talked about the Village Inn which is in my neighborhood. The VI is very close Just a short role from the apartments. Steven Hawking died today. Frankly, I'm quite surprised at how moved his passing has made me. All of a sudden, in what seemed a sudden flash, I felt directed to go participate in Pi space Day/Free Time Wednesday it seemed a suitable thing to do to honor the passing of this great physicist.

A storm front is rolled through the great Wasatch front today. Dark clouds even rain mixed with wind. The rain seemed to be falling intermittently through the morning. I decided I would take the chance and zip up to the restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised when upon leaving the apartment that regardless of the clouds the temperature was quite warm. I took my heavy hood just the same in case rain did start with a vengeance. The place was not super busy but busy enough with seniors and students whom I am sure deserted the school walkout/Strike ,which happened all across the country today, The students at the restaurant to date were definitely fringe which is okay with me. I ordered a coffee and I thought why not order a cup of soup just so I won't seem right came just to take advantage of the day in the restaurant. Beef vegetable soup, surprisingly good, I would've definitely ordered the bowl had I known the soup was going to be as good as it was. Then it was pie time. I figured I would do it up right and I ordered ice cream to go with my Apple pie which I had them nuke. The pie was beautiful, the ice cream okay and the coffee drinkable. My free pie ended up cost me $7.50 again that's okay enjoyed the moment and the celebration and the honoring of Dr. Hawking. May he forever soar in peace.

I Need A Fixx...Dave Fixx

I wish I had an image of old Dave Fixx PhD. Serious that was his name David Fixx and he was a PhD in clinical psychology. Dr. Fixx was my first exposure to real life clinical psychology. In 1968, two years after my accident, I was kind of wandering around aimlessly. I pretty much felt I had adjusted to life in a wheelchair and having limited mobility. I actually thought I was doing pretty good. I was living at home, of course, I was a teenager where else would I be living? Oh yeah I forgot I told you about my buddy Eugene. Well, case in point I was more normal than Eugene ie. Geno. I was back in school, granted the school I was attending was the crosstown rival of the school I was supposed to go to. And trying to figure out how to spend the least amount of time home as I possibly could which is pretty normal for teenager correct? Still I felt like I needed to be doing more doing something.

My brother got in trouble with the law, probably because of me, I was getting all the attention. His behavior had been felonious was given the option of five years at ISP (Idaho State Penitentiary) or going down to the Marine Corps the day after sentencing and enlisting. Now, my brother was getting the attention. One day shortly thereafter I was in downtown Boise and rolled into the courthouse and ask to visit with the judge was sentenced my brother. I don't know why I did this perhaps the attention thing. I told the judge I was concerned about what my brother had done and I want to help somehow make Boise a better place so my younger brothers but not have the same temptation. I made this all up I don't know why I told him that. Maybe survivor's guilt – – maybe I wanted my brothers life but in a different way. Needless to say the judge referred me over to Ada County Mental Health. The judge said the he knew someone who could help me, Dr. David Fixx.

Ada County Mental Health is located in a nondescript two-story building in the Northwest part of Boise Idaho. The facility offers mental health services for the county and this is where I interviewed with David Fixx. I cannot believe what I saw. He was a caricature everything I thought of when I thought of shrinks. He was an older guy who seemed older, flowing silver hair, Brigham Young gray type of beard with eyes that twinkled. We talked I cannot even remember about what. I'm sure I tried to dazzle the old guy but I doubt I dazzled at all. David Fixx could see see through any dazzle, David Fixx became a kind of a real life superhero. I was soon attending a group therapy session – – I thought I was an assistant to the group facilitator but actually I'm sure David had me pegged as one of the group however we did do a group review after each session. I was learning. I like what I was doing, I felt I was important. Dan Roadie a masters degree social worker was the group facilitator. Dan ran the group and after a while then let me run the group. I did this for over a year pretty much until I finished high school. Once a week my mom and drop me off at County Mental Health. My parents never really asked what I did think they were just glad that I had a focus that was seemingly positive. It seemed natural after I graduated from high school to enroll In the local university which I did in psychology and I never looked back.

.smoke Gets in Your Eyes

You cannot see it and this image but there are heatwaves coming out of the chimney of the crematorium pictured here. Today was a beautiful tree spring day along the Wasatch front. I had coffee with my friend at the college not far from my apartments. She had to leave to teach writing and I had a perfect day to do whatever I want. If I went home And did things which are practical I would be inside and not out enjoying this beautiful morning/day, I did not necessarily want to do that. I had a few minutes left on my transfer that I purchased earlier In the morning for the trip to community college so I figured what the heck, I would take the bus to the movies to see what was playing. I cut through the college campus to the Redwood Road stop heading south. I wasn't sure when the 217 would be coming but it wouldn't be long. The time was almost 1 o'clock and the movie A Wrinkle In Time was scheduled to start at 1:30 PM I figured I had all the time in the world.

The bus stop in front of the college, to catch the southbound Redwood Road is almost directly across from a crematorium. This place fascinates me for a number of reasons. For one reason, I don't think I have ever seen a working crematorium, that I realized was a crematorium, until I came across this one not long after I moved to the neighborhood. A bit of a shame the place is not accessible which I really find hard believe. I really wanted to go inside and have a look around even if just the front end. I suppose the place has a chapel. I don't know how it works. Maybe, the place does not have a chapel maybe they just receive the “product" where the “product” is rendered to dust, put in a jar and sent back to the mortuary/church where a service is there then performed.

In the entire time I have lived here at the apartments and travel back and forth to the community College which is often I've never seen a gaggle of cars parked around this facility. I see staff cars, what I think are staff vehicles, just because they are always there but you would think even if there is no chapel, you'd see a hearse every once in a while dropping off “work”. The only thing I surmise is that deliveries are made under cloak of darkness.

One of the reasons I would be interested in gaining access to the crematorium to see if there's any kind of work that I could do, part-time or maybe full-time depending on the task. The crematorium is extremely close to where I live and the extra funds would certainly not hurt. However I cannot gain access through the front door. I just cannot muster up the courage or audacity to see if there is access through the garage where I presume the “product” must be deposited. I'm not sure how I would broach the question of employment. Still, I think even if I had to volunteer, the experience would be fascinating.

Sunday Sunday

There is always something sad about Sunday night, that is something sad me anyway.In my grade school days there was a terror about the coming week not unlike the same terror which accompany me during my working life phase. This is not terror like Frankenstein walking out of the closet or being grabbed by the hand From under my bed. Just a slight unsettling in the chest that signals the coming to conclusion of a period of time, regardless of how short that time might've been, and returning to the hard-core world of life!

I just pulled the drapes in my front room of my apartment – – this is a new behavior I'm trying to establish. Modesty. At night now before I go to bed I pull the drapes shut to be more modest on a rolling around naked in my apartment. I often undress in the evening before bed and wander around my living surroundings nude partially for convenience and partially because I liked it, the freedom of being naked in your own home. It was always a pain to pull the shades due to the pull cords being out of reach. Therefore, I chose not to pull the shades because it was difficult however the last couple months I've figured out how to do this maneuver with one of my sticks and now I pull the shades as I unclothe. I got the sad feeling again momentarily Whenever I closed the drapes. I realized I was locking out the world. This is not a big deal and is not major depression but just a little shrug of the shoulders realizing I am at the end of another day and I feel I should of accomplished more from that day.

So this is it the end of another weekend and could I have done more should I have done more? I washed some clothes, I did a little cooking for the oncoming week. I socialized a little bit with some of my neighbors and none of my family sadly. In fact just now I fixed one of the pair of pants I purchased last last week from the DI . I have been dragging my feet making these new pieces of clothes accessible to me because I did not want to experience buyers remorse. I think the pants are too short. In order to convert the pants do something I can wear, independently I have to install a fishing line loop which I called zipper pull. This zipper pull will allow me to pull the zipper up and down but . I also had to cut the buttonhole large enough to insert my thumb. I insert my thumb pulling the buttonhole of the button closer together and finally the button through the whole. However, by doing this that make the garment un returnable. Tomorrow when my staff I will have her dress me in my new slacks and hopefully they will not high water. I even reset the clocks to the new time. It seemed forever to get the night it always does the first day of clocks forward.

I still feel I should have done more, I should have relaxed more, gone to a movie, gone out somewhere with somebody. Drawn something or written a story. Maybe next week, starting tomorrow.

Come Saturday Morning

Click to hear my favorite morning song

Don't you just love Saturday mornings? I especially like early Saturday mornings even those mornings I've slept until seven but that's okay for me I have nothing else to do, no commitments to keep after all it is Saturday morning. It's almost spring and the morning was tantalizing. I quickly got dressed, shaved, microwaved something lurking in the back  the refrigerator. I was torn, I really needed to stay home and do chores. I have clothes which still need folding/hanging from this week's wash, I must install zipper pulls onI the new/old pants I purchased from DI Wednesday. Then there's taxes – – the big stressor my life right now – – I don't know how to do them. I did open up an account of some sort and some sort of taxpayer software on the Internet but I just have too many questions. I am committing myself to next week to get these questions answered and my taxes done. But today however is too beautiful and I took off across the street to Hidden Peaks, my very own neighborhood coffee shop.

I'm really trying to become a Hidden Peaks person. I want to become one of the folks that sit around and “jaw” with everybody else. This coffee shop really has that Cheers flavor, everybody knows your name. I want to be one of those people as of yet though I am not. I've come in enough that the owner and staff nod and smile at me when I enter.  In fact, staff make a special effort to run out and open the doors for me. In all actuality they probably are just trying to save their front door for me putting the foot pedals of my power chair through the glass as I push the door open. In fact, I'm still invisible to most people at the shop. Case in point some Asian guy wandered through passing out flyers for a Shen Yun, the Chinese dance company coming soon to Salt Lake. This guy put a brochure either on the table or in the hands of everyone in the coffee shop even a couple of little kids but walked right past me. Unbelievable. So I need to make an effort to spend more Saturday mornings , at least at this joint.

 I sit at my table, sometimes I have my sketchbook with me and I make sketching movements like I know what I'm doing. Other times I mess with my cell phone and sneakily take images of what is going on in the coffee shop. Most of the time, I just sit there drink my coffee and listen to the conversations going on at the tables around me. I envy these guys and their coffee shop relationships. I play head games with myself assigning names and historical sketches to some of the characters that I'm getting to visually know. Many times when the group finishes their coffee and Saturday morning conversation some of the ladies, I know who are close to my age, smile at me and I know they want either pat me on the shoulder or on the head as they pass. They are so pleased I got myself up and out this morning. The guys just sort of wink at me sometimes or nod their head like in the Westerns. If they were wearing cowboy hats the would touch their fingers to the brim like the Duke as they walked past. They talk about having to go to Home Depot, “wrestling with the yard” or take the daughter out to look at possible prom dresses. These people all have Saturday things to do. Saturday morning s at Hidden Peaks is their lull before the storm of Saturday activity. I get a refill on my coffee and balance said copy on my man bag resting on my lap and pushed through the glass doors before someone can come over and open the doors for me.

What's The Plan?

I attended a meeting today which is not necessarily on my agenda bootable days ago one of the was I directors of this program cornered me in sort of got a commitment out of me to attend. At the DRAC meeting couple weeks ago I ate my sandwich and listened to the discussions of what they were going to are not going to do in  the name of access for folks with disabilities. Once again, the DRAC folk are interested in putting on some sort of celebration/action come to live the month of the signing of the ADA or the Americans With Disabilities Act. When they asked for volunteers I did not raise my hand but was thinking I would show up regardless. The meeting would be held on Friday – – typically I have no other functions so a DRAC meeting will would give me a focus with which to end my week. The only drawback was the meeting was to be held at the DRAC headquarters which would be new territory but I did a silly want to have to explore. Having to break out of my comfort zone to find a new location is just enough provocation permuted block the whole function. But I made an effort and actually the organizer called this morning with the address I no longer had an excuse. It was not bad, the opposite just three blocks off State Street which is all accessible.

Typical, I was really the only DRACster to show up. Executive Director, staff support person and the  community  organizer were the only other DRAC folk there. This is not altogether true the chairman joined was there through his cell phone. I suppose he was ill and I should give him quarter. Still seemed a little cheap.

 So good old DRAC is going to try to pull this off in July. We certainly have the lead time. Assignments were made and this time I did take a few assignments. The process was mildly painful . We'll be having a (hopefully) larger organizational meeting following our monthly meeting the end of this month March 28 I believe. We will try to pull together representatives of significant disability groups in town and throughout the state for this planning function. This makes me a bit nervous but I will do what I can. My task is to contact my old boss/friend Claire plus my friends at the Independent living Center. I may throw in some other folks as well. I'm not sure how this will work out. Even in the best of times, events being organized by folks with much better funding, connections and slickness than us has been challenged to bring something like this off. At this point we don't even know if we want to have a celebration or and action are both. I personally think we can do something, I'm not sure what and by July the knows what will happen. Right now the Americans with disabilities act is under a significant amount stress as it is being attacked by the conservative right of this country. We (the country)may not even have an act by July but we shall see. So either way we, DRAC, win. If we in fact do still have and back supporting people with disabilities we will have something to celebrate it, however we do not have an Act that we indeed have something to protest either way we have our orders…

Sigrid Smoking Driver

I can safely say I've been riding buses in this town for about 20 years. Even though I was the transportation coordinator for the independent living center has town, which I became transit coordinator 1984 I really didn't start riding the bus regularly untill 1988 Went for a host of reasons I started crawling on the bus to actually work. I was shocked at how well the system worked. In all honesty I should have been riding the bus All along that should have been a requirement for that position.

I was the Transit Coordinator that meant I had to figure out a way for the local transit authority to better service people in wheelchairsThere was a battle raging between people of disabilities and transit authorities across the country: did the transit authority really have to service people of disabilities. I sort of knew about this battle before I came on board but where I've been from in Southeast Idaho there wasn't any public transit for anyone let alone people with disabilities, unless of course you want to talk about Trailways and the big gray dog. There is also Union Pacific I wouldn't know how to ride the train service as an able-bodied person. I just jumped into the whole mess. I became involved with the local transit advocacy group, I became a fixture at the monthly board meetings of the Utah transit Authority, they know who I was respected me. I was always there, I made comments, I pressed the issue for acquisition of accessible buses, problems with bus drivers who did not want to service people disabilities more specifically people in wheelchairs they did not seem to have a problem with people who were blind or cerebral palsy if they can walk. I pretty much spot in the whole system. Of course I think a lot of the credit for the accessible system we have today but it was coming anyway. I made little difference one way or the other. Utah transit Authority is a pretty slick operation. Granted they are the bad guys but they were very slick bad guys so slick it was hard for me to meet them or dislike them.

Today, I ride exclusively to Utah transit Authority mainline system: fixed route (regular bus lines), light rail and the heavy rail. It's a pretty good system. I no longer drive I don't even have a drivers license. I do pretty well. Sometimes though the drivers annoy me. Tonight, after Next Chapter I rolled over to kiss the 217 home. I don't know if it was because I was tired, cold I just want to get home but the driver vexed me. By the time that I get the bus stops to head home the new bus has just gotten there, the station is the end of the line which means the driver has a 15 minute break before starts his route. I don't mind if the driver boards me. My driver was the same driver every Thursday evening stands outside the bus and smokes. The able-bodied folks climb on the bus and do whatever they do in the warm bus I cannot do that until the driver lowers the ramp. It was chilly tonight, I waited and bided my time until the driver finished his smoking break.

I like this guy basically. He annoys me a lot but I sort of like him. I'm thankful to have an accessible fleet that is as professional as UTA. Overall the Authority rates high with me I feel the same way about the drivers overall but some still annoy.