Cutco For ever

I hope I am not becoming one of those parents that whine all the time about how their children never visit them or pay them enough attention. I am actually really pretty lucky that way. Shelley calls me probably once or twice a month when she's on the road between workstations and we get to speak for quite a while which is really kind of cool and then Mark Anthony, while he does not come on a regular basis becomes regularly if that makes sense and he always comes if I need direct assistance for immediate assistance. The fact is he's busy and I know that sounds very “cat in the cradle like” but it's true because regular job then he's got his burgeoning little music business which is cool too. However, if two weeks or so goes by that I don't see him then I notice I call him using is something that needs done around my apartment. Yesterday it was to straighten up my CPU which the furnace guys nearly tipped over when they came to replace my filters earlier in the month. I had other things possibly which could of used attention right now but I'm okay.

I have to say two of my kids are entrepreneurs or at least showed signs of entrepreneurship I think mostly of a way to make cash are spendable income. Mark Anthony was in band during school/high school and of course sold candy bars in such and of course his parents who are likely targets. Later on after high school graduation Mark became involved with the Cutco Group, kind of a high-end door-to-door sales program. Cutco, is a high-end cutlery operation. I think if they were famous for anything it would be the Cutco knives and the Cutco guarantee that being when she bought these (in my definition very expensive) utensils they would be sharpened and replaced for the life of that artifact no questions asked. That means if I found the Cutco utensil at a thrift store I could send that utensil `Cutco Central and they would replace it no questions asked. I've never done that but I thought about it quite a bit lately just for something to do. As a budding salesperson you want to support your child in their efforts and so you feel like you must purchase something from their stock of items.

So on the given evening Mark came over, dressed in his salesman outfit, and gave us the presentation which is pretty good. He practiced and it sounded fairly professional for a first time presentation. He then quoted the price for the least expensive items (which I of course was going to purchase) and found the price over $100! It was almost $200 for four steak knives and I think a spatula and a larger knife paring knife or some sort! I was shocked Dianne was not and we purchased the items and I am not sure what ever happened to those knives.

Mark Anthony has asked about those knives every once in a while and seems shocked But I no longer know what happened to those cutting devices. I don't have them and I don't know if Dianne has them. We can get new knives to replace them but we've never done that. I can't think Mark is offended that we didn't treat his knives better. That is why I was kind surprised yesterday when Mark Anthony came over to give me a hand with the CPU and pick up a few things on the floor that he presented me with the famous Cutco shears. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't figure out why he was giving me the scissors. But almost felt like an ancient Asian sword master presenting someone with a highly valued Samurai sword. Accepted the scissors, the felt heavy and valuable and something not parted with easily. I don't know how long Mark Anthony has had these and why he has chosen to bestow them on me. Just out of curiosity I found that Cutco, of course, has its own website now and I could see the cost for these kind of shears was like $177! That's a lot of money for a pair scissors but I will cherish these cutting devices and just maybe they'll return to Mark at some point in time down the line… I am a proud owner…

CYMA

I think I wrote about Gail, my cleaning person, who used to be my home health provider. She's post 70 and she's still trying to survive in the workplace. She provides two hours of cleaning at my apartment every week. Two charges be $15 an hour which is less expensive than anybody else I could engage but at the same time she is getting up there in age so I'm purchasing her time and I appreciate what she does and she does an adequate job. The problem now is that last week she had a rather severe automobile accident. Thank goodness she's not in the hospital which is banged up pretty bad and her vehicle was totaled. She has no transportation an early form of work at this point is cleaning people's homes and she has no transportation I don't know how much longer she can continue doing that plus concerned about residual accident situation. She's fallen down a couple times and I don't know how steady she is. She's got major bills, I think she recently got this new vehicle I know it cost her a lot. I don't know how she's going to do this however she did allude to being in communication with one of the local ambulance chasers that you see advertised. So hopefully she was not cited for the accident and that she might get a little renumeration for her lost vehicle.

So, what do I do now? Fortunately my current home health person is great Annette actually does a lot of light cleaning while I'm processing through my our team that could be anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes and for an apartment my size that's not too bad. Sweep the floors, mop and wax if I purchased some wax. She vacuums the front room and the bedroom which are actually pretty small. She always makes my bed and even starts my wash once a week. I go down and collect the wash when it's done but she actually gets me wash started and then froze the wash from the machine to the dryer. So between Annette and Gail I am actually live in a pretty shipshape home. Well what got me writing this tonight was that typically Gail comes on Friday afternoon and so my apartment looks pretty good until Monday when Annette does her thing. I actively noticed this evening that the apartment really does need some attention. So I spent the afternoon washing dishes and I plan to sweep the floor before tomorrow. Mark Anthony was over and picked up the floor in the front of the apartment. I should be okay by tomorrow morning early. The only thing it causes me some concern is that Friday as Annette and myself visited she kind of mentioned she was planning some outing the next couple weeks. It's too soon to beat I'm going to do concerned but I'm just wondering what I'm going to do when Annette moves on I know it's going to happen change is the only constant and maybe that's what I've got to accept I'll always be in the process of training my next healthcare person…

Van Gone

Russ and me sitting in front of my van for the last time

I said goodbye to my van today. As you know I've had my van with me for the past couple of years parked in the back lot of my apartment complex. You can't keep the vehicle back there if it's derelict my van was not derelict. Probably this last summer, once again, my van stepped up and passed safety emissions inspection and got licensed I didn't ensure the vehicle after a certain point because it was just a waste of money. I can't drive and there's no one really to drive me without a lot of planning which really hasn't happened enough to make ownership of this vehicle justifiable.

I was really quite pleased when Dianne contacted me to see if I would consider letting the vehicle go to her contractor. I don't know how the knowledge that I had a van came around or about that somehow she must've told him that she would see what I would say. The van is a great vehicle actually. The vans got some dings and other issues that would've really made it difficult for me to, in good faith and disclosure sell the vehicle. So when Dianne advised me that I could give this vehicle away to someone who could quite honestly use it I was overjoyed. I was not going to have to worry about the vehicle over another winter and then have to relicense again next summer. Granted, I got to feel the van was my friend. I know, the vehicle was an inanimate object – – will not inanimate the van actually got around better than I do. And even though the vehicle was cold steel and plastic I love sitting by the vehicle in the summer spring and fall and read my books and leaned back in touch the back of my head to the side of the van.

It's just an inanimate object, I understand this, but I was pleased to meet the new “parents”. She works at a bank and has for like 27 years and he is a private contractor someone who comes in and works On your house to do the things you cannot do our why not do. Like hang doors, but in plywood make things better than they were, honestly. This contractor needs a vehicle. I could tell by his reaction to meeting the van that he will treat the van right. The contractor knows what he's doing he knows how to keep the van going, he knows how to repair this and that. He totally appreciated everything about the van that we showed him particularly the wheelchair lift and some of the other things inside the van. They are a cute couple. They said they would even keep the lifted the van to transport me when we want to get together for lunch or dinner or whatever. I don't know if I truly believe this is certainly nice of them to say and I think they really believe that themselves. However, in all reality, work vehicles get messy very quickly especially if you're busy. But we'll see I'm just pleased that the van is going to a good home and well drive out the remainder of its days provided a happy service to a happy couple…

Van Go

I still own a 1992 Chevrolet wheelchair van. I've had for at least 10 years probably longer. I used to drive you know then I gave up my license and then I had my stenosis. When I gave up my license I was and I thought was a strong marital relationship. Dianne drove me everywhere anyway and I probably shouldn't have been driving as far as my physical abilities go actually were going. I've always had a love-hate relationship with driving. It's nice to have a vehicle and nice to drive from point a to point B under your own power but owning a vehicle is a lot of expense and a lot of responsibility. I was quite shocked when during the divorce Dianne pretty much forced the vehicle on me. I didn't know that she hated the van. She drove around in it considers a big old truck and she didn't like it. You know it is a big old truck. I kind of like having a van just kind of. Having a vehicle like the van is not worth it for me at this time in my life. I do not drive and hence I must have someone else drive me when I use the van this means that I don't start the vehicle and off and drive around to keep the battery charged. I was even ensuring the vehicle up until about three or four months ago and decided to stop. This was after I had the vehicle registered for this year.

So for the last two years, since I've been here at the apartment complex the vehicle is basically sat out in the parking lot. I like to go out, on good days, warm days, sit by my van and read. I don't know what it is but the van reminds me of being married and living on Utahna drive in Murray. I kind of felt like the old van is my friend is my friend. The van is kind of a anchor to my reality. Actually tried to sell the vehicle more than once the last couple years—it just irks me that the vehicle sits there and drains my resources even a little especially the insurance that really wears on me – – I could never find any real serious individuals plus I felt guilty because even though the vehicles in pretty good shape there are some major issues that I feel need to be considered. It's time to let it go.

As we wander out of summer summer I made to the decision to get rid of the vehicle sometime this winter are before winter. Was even considering just calling the local public radio station and have them come out and pick it up: donation. My housekeeper, a dear 70+-year-old woman is someone who I feel strongly about she's just a survivor. The trouble is with my friend the housekeeper nothing goes right for her that seems and last week got into a vehicular accident in total out her vehicle. I was really pondering giving her the van but I don't think that would have helped her because I think she did some pretty significant damage to her self and I don't know if she should be driving and I don't know if she could be driving my van because it is a big old truck and I can see how load be difficult for her to commandeer. Funny however though, Dianne make contact with me yesterday I believe about giving the vehicle to a contractor she has working for her putting in the new burglar proof door. I think this is a great idea and I can't wait to sign the vehicle over to this worker guy. The vandal make a great work vehicle for a guy Who is a contractor. What a perfect way for my van to live out the remainder of its little life driving around the works bought to work spot carrying the things that this guy needs to earn a living. I will know the vans gone to a better place and I will not have to have the albatross hanging around my neck anymore…

Premier Week!

Is unbelievable how quickly Thursday rolls around there for a week!Today is packed, I have appointments all through the day however they are evenly space I should not have a problem with making them. Of course it's Thursday which means it's the coffee group at 9:30 AM at 12 noon I have A T Council, then later on at 4 PM I have bookclub. A T Council should not go beyond 2 o'clock at 230 which would make right the time I would need to get down to South Jordan library for bookclub.

I'm so pleased I was able to get the chair running again yesterday morning. Looking over my schedule for today it doesn't really look like a lot but it is when you consider having to make all of these meetings in a power chair using public transit. I'm actually writing this in the morning before my coffee group just so I'll have it finished by this evening so I can enjoy some of the new Thursday programming on the channel that I watch. Again I know that sounds quaint but it's true I just love the new television season. Maybe it's because the old days the new season was spectacular sometimes it would last two weeks it seemed like. The beginning of new shows the networks would be running. Completely new thought processes science-fiction I can hardly wait. They would start advertising early in the summer about the new season starts showing snippets and previews of oncoming venues for the fall. It was interesting to see television progress from not only new programming they actually went through that whole “Movie of the week” then they had a movie of the specific day like “Monday night at the movies” “Sunday night movies” and even “Saturday night at the movies”. There is even a moment when, if I remember correctly, there is a movie for every night of the week shared between the different networks. Even our home, come the new fall schedule by 7 PM dinner would be finished, the cows milked, the equipment washed and dishes put away in the whole family coming together like the opening of the Simpsons cartoon, on the couch. Actually the kid to be on the floor lying prone with the heads propped up on their hands lovingly gazing at the blue warm screen promising and evenings delight. Dad would already be dozing, mom would I started her iron-rite, iron or with spray bottle in hand feeding the family is close into the hot padded drum getting ready for the following Sunday.

It's altogether different now in this age of Streaming, video discs, and small many seasons splattered throughout the year. The one major fall kickoff season like they used to have no longer exists just kind of sad but in this new world, brave New World where you get anything usually the second that you want if you want it bad enough to pay for it one way or the other. The let loose whole seasons at one shot where you can binge away the whole weekend for 20 or more 48 minute episodes! It really is truly amazing. Still however I look forward to that time when the sun goes down earlier and dinner is finished and I turned my attention to the warm blue glow emitting from my flatscreen sitting above my work desk and remembering wonderful new moments with a peacock spreading its multicolored tailfeathers as if a blessing over the new television season enjoy everyone the networks new offering…

Out Damned Spot!

 Is probably too good to be true but I was not too bummed out about the fact that a portion of my power chair stopped working yesterday afternoon once I got home from taking my chair in for repairs were they switched out the electric harness which sorts out impulses from my joystick to different segments of my foot box. I actually remained in my chair while the technician worked on my electrical system and I could see how intricate that portion of the chair is and how a lot can go wrong. The technician took great pains to make sure that all the wires and connections and everything else involved was protected as best as he could. Keep in mind however that a person like myself is constantly raising and lowering all aspects of this chair whether it's the foot box, the seat-back, the seating area, and on and on and if not protected correctly a lot of these connections could be cramped and broken and obviously that's what happened on my way home somehow from the wheelchair shop. This could've been a major frustration but was not however  because I knew I could get around my apartment well  enough to get by until  I could saddle up and take the trip back to the wheelchair shop the next morning.

It was on the trip back to the shop this morning that I was quite taken aback am still trying to figure out what exactly happened. Even though I had to go back out to the shop which is really quite a long trip on public transit the day was warm, the sun was out and a perfect day for traveling even with bunged up chair. I was traveling after 9 AM which means that the morning rush, but there is, was passed. The buses are pretty much running empty except for the occasional mother out with the child in the stroller using up the precious wheelchair spaces allocated on public transit. So I was kind of intrigued when the driver brought me on board and got me and my chair secured down in the bus. He then stepped out of the bus and had a bottle of water or softened or something which he poured over his hands, obviously washing them from having touched my chair. Really reminded me of Pontius Pilate washing his hands of the whole Jesus Christ affair – – not that I am implying I'm anywhere near the stature of that individual but still washing your hands after touching me. I thought perhaps I was overreacting but I was still curious so many deposited me at the South Jordan station after I got off the bus I hung around and sure enough he once again went through his procedure of dousing his hands from a water bottle and washing up. Now seriously am I overreacting? Perhaps (givingshed his hands the driver the benefit of the doubt) he himself possibly has the flu or cold or something and was afraid of contaminating me woud not the driver then have washed his hands before coming in contact with me?. Strange behavior indeed, Just saying…

Interesting Days

What an interesting day – – I love days that are interesting especially at this point in my life. I have to admit most of my days are interesting granted some days or more packed with things and items to experience than others but no less interesting. Thankfully my life is not boring, I don't know how that could be but I hear many reports that life can be boring but a tragedy and experience for that benighted individual.

Yesterday I got the most interesting message on Facebook early the popped up on Facebook as I was turning my equipment off last night. It said something about to expect a box from Amazon to be delivered tomorrow (which is actually today). That message was right next to an image of my friend Dennis D,From my Boise days. I thought perhaps it was just a coincidence. I thought maybe Dennis had sent me a comment on one of my posts and that comment showed up exactly at the same time that Amazon is notifying me dated be delivering a package the next day.

I was tired when I came in from my travels today. I had my volunteer duty with the local Assist, Inc. board responsibility and then I had to go all the way down to the end of the valley to my wheelchair repair shop to have my new harness installed, that electrical device that directs commands from the joystick to the servos at the far end of my chair operating my foot plates. The trip is a difficult trip from downtown Salt Lake to the end of Redwood Road. One train ride and hooking up with a bus route southbound for a bunch of blocks and then having to roll up your four Salt Lake blocks to the shop and then keep myself and the technician working on my chair entertained as he makes the transition to the new harness. Everything seemed to be working fine when I left after about an hour and a half of lying back in my chair while the technician did his job. The only problem I had was the time I got home I was noticing one part of my chair, the foot box would not deploy entirely. It's relatively important because not only does the procedure allow the foot box to lower but also talk in allowing me to get closer to things I need to get closer to like my arm bike. I can get by but there is definitely a problem with the new harness. So tomorrow I'm headed back early on to get this rectified before lunch date with the writers Guild.

When I got back from my track there is a box in front of my door from Amazon! And the return address which is also my address but had instead of my name the name of my friend Dennis in its place. The box is light weight but large. I needed to get to the bathroom so I charged into my apartment leaving the box outside my door. After dinner I decided I better bring a box in which I did and cut the tape opened the box to find my very own blue basket! It was the exact same basket as my Walmart basket which now I can take back and leave forever using my brand-new blue basket! Thanks Dennis is the best…

Domino's Yeah a!

I had a board meeting this afternoon. The board meeting today was for Utah Assistive Technology Program advisory board. This advisory board is one of my better board meetings they actually serve us lunch! One of a few that still do. Seem like in the old days the state of Utah (no one gets paid to be on a state board) but often participants would enjoy a meal and usually a hot meal often catered. Many times in the last couple of years the meals have dwindled to potato bars and cold sandwiches. That's okay because I service on these boards was not to get fed as much as two Garner time I could use to take off when I was working. Because so many of these board meetings took place over lunch.Today I was pleased that she chose to service pizza One of my favorite pizza vendors Domino's. Now a lot of people I know don't like Domino's but I think they're the best. I should've had just one piece but I had to do now was more that I needed but it's just so good. I didn't even wait around after the meeting looking pathetic hoping they would send some of a two or three pizzas they had left over. I will gladly taken half a pizza home wrapped up in plastic to eat for the remainder of the week.

I'm sure if you did some research into this blog you would see that I've referenced this board for, the board over the Utah assistive technology foundation program. I was part of this board because of my state job, the call center for disability questions many of which were regarding Assistive technology and you might remember my office close to the used equipment webpage. So I've always been part of anything going on statewide assistive technology I also carry credibility since I use so much A T in my life. But we spent a large part of the meeting today on a couple of questions that probably would not of been asked had my position not been eradicated. One of our members was raising the question of why there was no organized system/process for an individual to receive information on getting services for we represent. I guess it's a valid question but that the that he did know more of the process. He is actually of the child with a disability. The individuals right however the system that exists now for consumer to try to get a piece of equipment is quite punitive Defeats many consumers who need the services desperately.

We must spent three quarters of the meeting discussing this issue and now we are having a follow-up meeting to further discuss this particular issue. Hopefully, we will hold an other individuals in the community we should also be involved with providing advocacy and information to people of low income who need assistive technology. I was just pleased and somewhat vindicated that very service that I provided information on is still so desperately needed yet the state all their wisdom to the system away that best method the need. However, the process of reinventing the wheel sure gets old.

It Works! It Really Really Works!

I was worried. The other day when I did my morning roll through of the community room to see if it been any treats or anything left behind on the sharing shelf I was startled and intrigued to see a very nice slow cooker sitting there on the shelf. It was much smaller than the unit I purchased earlier this year when I broke the other. The other crockpot was just too large even though I still haven't I can't figure out how to use it unless someone is to borrow it for a family function or something. But this unit is exactly what I had in mind and what I needed for me anyway, a single person cooking for myself. Other than a little dust around the lead crockpot looks in perfect condition.

Yesterday, you'll remember the guilt that I had of taking the blue Walmart basket home with me and I was going to take it back to the market. I did that and while I was there I did some more shopping and sure enough when it was time to go ahead number of items in my Big Blue basket and I couldn't let it go. One of the items I got was a $13 roast which I guess a certain like to a half pounds. Think the cost like four dollars odd sense a pound. With the cooler weather, clouds and intermittent rain and fall starting tomorrow I figured why not do a roast. I found one named Chuck. I brought Chuck home and threw them in the refrigerator. I promise myself today I would cook Chuck up-right.

I really should've started much earlier today. I don't think I was intimidated about the whole process think of just tired. Somewhere during the night I dropped my cell phone and did not know that I had. And through the deep hours of the night I started getting pings from people sent me information Or messages or texts. I got one about 3 AM and never really got back to sleep. But by lunchtime I had retrieved enough energy to consider the roast. I figured I would have enough time if I started somewhere around 12 or 1 PM and let the peace of meat cook all afternoon. Getting ready for the cook took me longer than I anticipated prepping the vegetables: peeling potatoes, carrots the dicing both of them up into bite-size bits along with onions and a smattering of other vegetables I had the need to use which would be just right for a roast. Then, I put everything in the crockpot put the lid on and plugged the pot in. Now for the were a part, I had a plug-in for 10 or 20 minutes and when I checked on the outside of the pot it was still pretty cold and I've looked inside still felt pretty cold. I was worried that perhaps the plug-in didn't work either the plug-in of the crockpot or the power strip I have in that corner the kitchen for everything. On the other devices I have plugged into the power trip are getting power so I figure maybe the pot doesn't work so for a test I corrected on the high and one out in did a few things and came back and sure enough, the outside of the crockpot was hot to the touch– – It seemed to work at least “Hi” function did. I turned the crockpot down to “Low” And when outside the afternoon sun and read for a couple hours.

The outside of the crockpot is hot to the touch which is good. However the meat seems still fairly tough which is okay I understand it's only been about five hours really want to cook at a good eight hours and I'm still considering such. I'm using a bag to clean up should not be too difficult.

Interestingly my home health person indicated that I tend to worry too much, this is not the first time I had heard this and I wonder if that's the case are that I'm just a bit histrionic and talk about the possible problems I think I might be having just a little too much either way the crockpot works and having roast all week!

No Tea-Ball For You!

I just cannot predict how a days good to go. I was feeling a little bit guilty for not doing enough lately, you know just kicking back enjoyed the cooler weather and the clouds and binging Amazon prime. But today I was kind of interested in going out and doing just a little bit of shopping. Earlier in the week I actually went foraging and found some alfalfa to make tea. Then of course I don't have teabags are even a T-ball or tea-ball what ever. Remember yesterday I was totally guilt ridden about the blue lap basket from Walmart? Well I decided that I would return the basket and maybe go across the street and check out the dollar store at Family All A Dollar and see if they had tea making materials. Sometimes, I'm amazed at what these Dollar stores carry. Anyway, regardless the situation I would have to go up to 5400 S. meaning I would catch the bus. I know I could actually drive my chair up there but I really am trying to be a little proactive and force myself to wait for the bus and not put the trauma on my chair. I really want this vehicle the last as long as I can make it last.

I was so pleased going to my cache of clothes and actually finding a longsleeved T shirt maybe even a sweatshirt that was long enough to cover my belly and heavy enough to keep me warm as I travel on the tarmac. The sun shining bright today perfect day for a black shirt.I consulted the app I have For the transit authority And saw I had about 20 minutes before the next bus. I played a little on my favorite videogame to observe the time been off I went. As I said a bit chilly but a bright day to be out Cruising the city . I waited patiently at the light waiting for the light to change. I counted down the seconds on the Adjacent street crossing my Five, four, three, two, oneThe light changes and I look up and see my light go from “is one” to the flashing walking guy. I even looked and didn't see the vehicle so I started out across the street and all of a sudden I did look up in the opposite direction, which I thought was totally safe, and there was the SUV bearing down on me. Not fast but fast enough. I was like a deer in headlights. I tried to push my chair to its maximum speed but in my confusion I hit the wrong button stopped all forward motion (very similar to what I feel happened When I broke my neck) the SUV was still coming and I knew I was a goner, game over, tits up...But not today! But it was a close one today that's for sure. I maybe even screened or yelled and I think that's what may have got the guys attention to stop. One thing that's different is that usually the event doesn't really bother me but today I can tell I had a major adrenaline pump. It took me a good part of the afternoon to To work the adrenaline out of my system I think. Today was a close one closer than most, But I'm here for another day…

Lap Basket Blues

It is said confession is good for the soul and it seems all I do on this blog is confess, confess, confess. I can start out by confessing I have become quite addicted to Walmart grocery and department store. There is one just a few blocks up the street from my apartment complex, the market is a bit out of the way so I really haven't gone there a lot to do shopping until the last couple weeks. They have a smaller competitor just a half a block from the apartments which I've tended to support but that's changing. Maybe it's the bananas that just weren't green enough or the grapes which just weren't firm enough or maybe it's because they don't have seven bone roasts are commonly called by me anyway blade roasts. I didn't even like blade roasts for the longest time preferring to get roasts that were tied up with strings. But for some reason, maybe it was because I couldn't find the seven bone roasts anymore at my local store that I began to desire them. Now Walmart grocery seems to me huge but more than that I'm impressed with the quality of their produce. I like getting my bananas green allowing them to ripen over the week and not be black by the time Friday and Saturday rollaround. I like their butcher shop and the quality of the meats. And even though I do not eat bread anymore like I used to I do like to is see what they offer through their artesian bread is just beautiful stuff. Though I do not buy a lot of their department store stuff I love rolling through their appliance sections and some of their clothing offerings are also intriguing to me. They even have a McDonald's.

Many times in riding route 54I get off at the intersection of 5400 S. and Redwood Road across the street from Walmart. This makes it kind of easy to – over to Walmart for a quick pick up of items needed. Trouble is I end up being covered in double bagged groceries. Just awkward and often rubs on the wheels in the doorways trying to get on the bus for the ride home. Walmart has beautiful large lap baskets. Just noticed them in the last couple of weeks. The baskets are so large I can get everything that I need in the basket with no bags hanging over the side of the chair. So on a whim last week I just had the checker put my eye is back in the basket when I went through. She looked at me a little odd and said you know that's can set off the alarm when it goes through the door and I looked at her and nodded my head in agreement. She didn't say I couldn't have the basket just that it set off an alarm. I figured I would just – through the doorway and out the alarm go off. This is what I did. I rationalized that this was not a theft because I would bring the basket back and shop again. Which I've done three times and each time the checker tells me the alarm will go off. I don't know why perhaps I have angels working on my side are other but an alarm does not go off no one's drug me back into the store. Now though my conscience is beginning to play on me. I hate to give up my blue basket from Walmart but perhaps it's best. The baskets are great their huge there exactly what I need for my shopping needs. I can certainly go through the pathetic dance of offering to purchase a basket or maybe find out where I can purchase a basket not necessarily a Walmart basket but the baskets are certainly big, certainly beautiful and they are certainly handy for me to use…

Senior Center Avoidance Syndrome

This is my senior center the Taylorsville senior center. I'm fortunate in that this center is actually directly across the driveway from my building's front door. It's just a quick sprint at the number for setting on my power chair and I'm there, how lucky is that?

I'm so pleased to have established fairly normal conversations with my ex – Dianne. Dianne is great And I've missed our conversations. Anyway, Dianne still lucid Murray and she takes advantage of the senior center in that area. Actually she goes to another senior center that has a great swimming pool. And she uses some of the classes that use the swimming pool which is been great. I guess the point I'm getting to is that Dianne loves her senior center when it really offers a great deal for her.I am kind of envious. As we have visited Dianne has informed me how great her center is and so I've been trying to rethink how I can use my center and make my center Great!

This morning after Thursday coffee I figured I would head down to the mailroom And check out what was being offered at the senior center for lunch. There is a menu stuck up on the bulletin board in the mailroom and truthfully menus also sent out every month with a calendar of events at the senior center but I usually trash mine so he wants to well I think what are they having today at the senior center? And now check out what they have. In all honesty I checked it out a couple times especially on birthdays when I first became a resident here at Plymouth View. When you move in you get a free lunch and then much a registered at your senior center every birthday the issue you a free lunch ticket. Now seriously in all honesty I have gone to about four lunches and none of them have been remotely appetizing. And seriously, I Am somebody who is always loved institutional food. I thought the best part of my rehabilitation was the food that I got from the rehab center. I rolled around the building again and saw the exercise area were know the machines are wheelchair accessible, I didn't see any programs that I could really utilize. Then everybody which is so old looking like typical old people I know that sounds elitist but it's the way that I see it. What happened the day which was strange to me was when I use my identification card (you have to use your ID card every time you go to the building and then choose what area that you want to go to whether it's social, lunch, recreational activities, library etc.) on purpose I did not choose any section hit cancel on the way out in this actually brought the director of the organization out to see if I needed help, she thought I was confused but I didn't know which one to hit.I took this is my signed a leave and I left going out into the morning sun feeling like I just escaped something terrible. I guess the senior centers are great Giving folks a place to gather, socialize eat one meal a day and just go on existing. I don't think I'm there yet between family and social networks and computer ties seem to be doing very well thank you. However I do wish my senior center was better…

Tap On …Tap Off

I was so excited today when I checked the mail. My replacement pass was here finally, actually the waiting wasn't too bad since I requested the replacement just last Thursday. By transit pass is my key to life really I don't know what I would do if I didn't have the pass. The pass allows me on all Utah transit Authority vehicles except the Flex Trans it's a bit of a buy off but I don't mind since that's what I thought for my entire career and independent living. The Authority thinks there being so smart.

I'm sure somewhere in my posts I've gone over this issue to some degree but in short when Utah Transit Authority first implemented their flex trans concept (door-to-door service) the authority really thought no one would take advantage of it. Of course, I had to fight the whole issue because of the separate but equal and removing a population from the main flow. Long story short I was right everybody wants to ride and the authorities initial decision kind of backfired on them and had to figure out a way to get folks with disabilities off of the paratransit system which is Flex Trans and back onto the mainline service. I'm glad they did this but it was a bit of a double-edged sword for me because I was one of the few people and chairs that was riding the service at the time. Little by little people over the years have found the service and now there's chairs everywhere couple times a year I have to wait for the next bus because all the wheelchair stations are full. Usually I don't mind that is a real pain in the butt. So now I'm a regular rider and that's good. The service keeps changing on is however and last couple years the system is gone to a “tap On an tap off”. Where before we just had to show the driver a bus pass to get on the new system now was all electronic just had touched they farebox card reader when the and or the bus and when we exited the bus. I didn't realize there was a electronic component to the card itself and I should've been smart enough to realize there was. Last week after I lost my bus pass and it was returned to the UTA lost and found and I collected it the following day the past no longer worked. The reader would no longer pick it up when I tapped on the machine. Whatever I did our happened to the bus pass after I lost it broke the card. I didn't even notice the card had been cracked but when the card is cracked it breaks the electronic something or other on the card and no longer is read by big brother. Actually, for the most part I don't think drivers really even cared. As long as I showed that the card they seemed happy. I can gone on this way probably forever but I want to be totally whole so I called and got a new card sent to me looks just like the old card except for the cracked down the middle. I want to fit in want to be like the other kids I wanted the machine to sing out every time I touched it with my card that showed that I was a part of that system… How pathetic is that?

Alfalfa Tea and Me

It's kind of cool today even though the sun has finally broken through the clouds there is a cool wind blowing. The temperatures only gotten up to the 60s again that's not bad but today am wearing a longsleeved shirt and my shorts drinking lots of water/fluids trying to get on top of what I think is a kidney/bladder infection. I think it's a holdover from the stuff I had last week that I went into the Doc in a box. He gave me an injection of something plus oral medication to take for I think it was a week. He also said something about the start me off with this and then when he gets the results back from the culture you then let me know. At some point afterwards a day or so I got a call on my cell phone indicating that I need to contact the clinic. I think I was on the road at the time and I spaced off the call, the phone number and the clinic. I'm sure, at least I hope I'm sure, that is just a generic overview of the infection that I had and reinforce the need to take the regimen all the way to the end. But this morning and that posts leap consciousness I begin to wandering Perhaps there was something crucial in that information I should of got.

I of course threw away the paperwork with the medication (I was kind of thinking if I had that then I can go back to the clinic for more information I still may do that depending on how I'm dealing with this stuff I've got going right now. My next immediate course of action is to get over to the market one of them probably Walmart and see what they have in the area of alfalfa tea. I should just seek out a herbalist shop and purchase some of their tea. I could actually go foraging and find a plant growing somewhere but then I don't think you can do much with the plant bought still green you have to curate first if I make tea anyway. I'm a true believer in alfalfa tee. I have certainly written about the “drug” (?) Enough over the years I've noticed. It was a staple in my family as I've written before the always had a mess curing on one of the sheds roof through the summer and then it would be processed in the tea during and for the winter. At this point if nothing more than superstitious behavior I need to get some alfalfa tea.

So, I'm going to continue my liquid ingestion I will call it liquid therapy for the remainder of today and tomorrow and then tomorrow Forge for alfalfa somewhere, I know it's out there. Tomorrow's Wednesday, unbelievable, if I don't feel better by Thursday and for sure by Friday then it's back to dock in a box but also I have a appointment with my provider sometime next week I think maybe all hold off till then just to see what happens…

System Glitch

I don't know how far I'll get tonight because my main computer chose tonight to reinstall a bunch of software and I'm having to wait. So in the meantime, I'm trying to write the blog with my tablet. It's not that I don't think a little tab can do this it's just annoying to have to try to figure out how to access software that I own, that I've paid for years ago, but system won't let me get it because the password is no longer apply. I was getting pretty frustrated when I tried another way around and I was able to get into this software but seems to be doing the job right now we'll have to see how ever does this do the whole job?

I was a little nervous starting out my day because I don't remember if I notified you all about being called by my home health provider and indicating my home health person would be changing. This of course was the first time I'd heard this and took me completely off-guard because I felt I was making such good inroads with Annette my home health provider. We seem to get along just fine she likes me and I like her and we have a very good professional relationship so I was somewhat stymied and confused all weekend trying to figure out what happened. I was called a little later after the first call when they indicated that they would keep the provider I had like they were doing me a favor or something. So I was really beginning to get nervous when 7 a.m. came and went with no Annette. Luckily about 20 after 7 a.m. Annette did show up and I asked her out right have I offended her are was she upset with the time schedule AR did the events from last Friday make her want to find another individual to service at this time slot. She immediately totally acted confused and indicated that she loved being high care provider and thought we got along just fine, just as I thought. Now I don't know really quite what to do I don't want to necessarily contact Joe the individual who owns the company but I really would like to get some explanation for what happened and to lay my worries to rest about being or having to go through training another individual completely. I have to admit I have not really been really disadvantage when I have new aids but the process is quite disconcerting there's no question about it. So I think I'm okay for the time being I don't know what I'm going to do if and when Annette decides to move on and that will happen. She is already indicated that she recently received her LPN license in the mail and may soon begin to explore but other opportunities she may have. Again I can't fault her for wanting to control her life and have the best working situation that she can I'm just looking for some permanence and options I can control

Brisa

I love Sundays because even though I'm retired and each day is similar to the next Sundays is always a grateful break in the days continual march of my mortality. The day when I can lean back in my chair, looked outside and enjoy the day (regardless of clouds, rain or snow are cloudless blue skies loaded with promise). In days past I enjoyed getting up padding around in my wheelchairs, making coffee especially making breakfast when I had a family the listening to NPR or if I'm feeling really blue-collar turning on the television/screen and watching local weather and news. If the weather's inclement all watch a movie maybe I do a little texting or messaging but Sundays are just a day to rest, enjoy and perhaps contemplate life.

I sometimes choose Sundays to fulfill a task I've been contemplating. Today was a day such as that. I was delighted earlier in the week to receive a handwritten letter from my youngest granddaughter, Brisa. What a delight! Brisa is one of the letters I write every month. I don't really expect an answer—however I'm sure all grandparents want to see some sort of recognition from the grandchildren—I write Brisa and my other granddaughter Riley for me. I like having the rigor to have someone to write to and I firmly believe that every generation, especially now, needs to develop the skill of writing letters, not texts, not messaging and not even using the wonderful/brilliant tool of visiting over the Internet face-to-face thanks to cams one sort or another. The skill set of writing I think will always be important and then there's always delight in receiving the written word from someone who took the time to break the routine and focus on you for however long it took them to scribe the document. I got one such document this week and really it's made all the difference. Brisa even made a request and enclosed a bookmark she made for me. Brisa would like a few more bookmarks And I think bookmark blanks so she can make some more bookmarks. This is of course super exciting to me because I make bookmarks and now she wants to make bookmarks is that too cool or what?

Brisa wears glasses (like me). She has brown hair, brown eyes, adorable cheekbones (all like me). I guess I would be totally honest with myself perhaps these gifts are from her mother who I think kind of looks like me… A lot. But to see the generational skip and jump is pretty special. Because, Shelley – the mom – is very much like me in writing, thinking and being. However, Shelley is also strongly herself is defined yourself as such which is given me great pride. However seeing these traits, which may or may not be mine, handed down to the next generation totally excites me. I just hope she retains the good qualities and not the bad of which I have many. I hope she focuses on things better than I, keeps track of things better than I and always remembers where she puts her glasses and more importantly keeps her glasses somewhere not easily lost. Not that it matters but I kind of like the idea of hopefully positively influencing my youngest granddaughter… Brisa

Saturday's Smile

Not a bad day today as Saturdays go. I put nearly 3 miles on my chair which isn't bad of gotta be careful though I can sense the rocking motion of my chair irritates my rear end and I need to be careful. However, it was Saturday and I wanted to do something Saturdayish. I have been suffering with the side of my chair most of the week if you remember and I texted my brother that I do some assistance and sure enough he was already on his way. As I figured it was a quick fix with the part that I'd gotten earlier in the week from the parts shop just a few twists of the screwdriver and I had a secure site again.

By the time that I got done with my brother I realized I still had not gone across the way to check out what might be available at today's food bank. It was nearly 12 o'clock by the time I got the food bank, thankfully there was no line to have to deal with. I didn't choose much this week most of the options were caloric, starch and sugar. The girl was embarrassed that I chose not to take any meat product because all they had was pork and canned chicken neither of which I very much wanted. A few minutes she brought out to frozen chicken breasts and thrust them in my basket. In the end, against my better judgment, I accepted the peach pie promising I would consume it over the weeks time and that it wouldn't be too negative to my weight gain. I hope. I did get plums and real peaches and a sack of potatoes. I do appreciate the fresh fruit from local trees as many fruit trees come on and conscientious owners bring the fruit to the food bank where it is distributed to people like me. I did okay.

I felt I should be spending more time out so I elected to take the bus down to Walmart and do a little shopping. I had a list to work off of necessities such as bar soap “antibacterial” and skin lotion for my legs on the heels. …I noticed today I'm getting all. I also got some tinned meats or fish if you like. Two kinds of kippers. I like smoked kippers. I had a lot to one time which I think I waited too long to eat. I had had the kippers more than 10 years and I tried to and just one or two of the cans and they just were not really edible. It still tasted like smoked kippers but the consistency was really poor almost like fish mush. I'm going to eat these new kippers quickly with crackers I got the food bank a whole row of Ritz crackers.

Like I said today was a good day. Still worried about my butt and hopefully have not done any damage to severe. I'm thinking I may have to have my home health person, Annette put a dressing on my rear end or she will do that after we have the talk. Tonight I watched American werewolf in London I don't think you ever sat through the whole show kind of primitive but entertaining to the point. I'm quite pleased with the work my brother did on my chair I love having the ability to pull myself upright. I think I go to bed early tonight read – – oh that's what I did big time I finished the volume I've been reading by Judy Blume. I have a new book to start which totally excites me so maybe a go to bed early and read looking forward to Sunday

Bumps In The Road

Things just keep getting stranger and stranger for me. Perhaps I'm reading too much into situations but things just seem peculiar right now. Overall, the day was a good day. I had a good bowel movement early on in my home health person did a bang up job of cleaning up the bathroom this morning and it truly needed attention. Today was a beautiful day and I needed to run down to the community collegeAnd pull some cash out of the ATM for my clean person, Gail is supposed to be around about 3 PM. I was still quite flummoxed because of the loss bus pass but hopefully I had one more card to pull out of the deck. I found a quiet spot after getting the cash and called the transit authority going directly to the lost and found and sure enough they actually had my bus pass! I was totally excited.

The trip into town was uneventful and I rode the blue line in all the way to the bimodal switching stations. This is where the lost and found resides. I grabbed my bus pass and realize soon that the bus passes broken – – seriously bus passes break. I did not notice this at first all I'd noticed was the fact that my pass would not register with any of the bus pass readers getting on or off the trains or buses. Still all I had to do was wave this in front of the driver and they always let me on by one to get it fixed. I came home on the big train getting off at the Murray Central than taking a short bus up to the hospital cafeteria and grabbing a bowl of soup and a cheese sandwich a half and came on home. I called UTA and they said that somehow I'd probably broken the bus pass and when I looked sure enough I found a crack which cancels out the bus pass. So I ordered a new one it's in the mail I should get it next week.

I was quite taken aback by got a call from my home health provider. It seems they had assigned a new home health person to me which kind of freaked me out as I thought Annette was the one for me. I had to think about this quite a bit on my trip. They had this one person in mind who would be my “permanent” person but she wouldn't or couldn't provide services till 7:30 AM at first I did not even consider this because it's later than in getting up now. I told them I want to think about it. The more I thought about whole thing with Annette I'm wondering how much she requested that and if pooping and bleeding on the bathroom floor was too much this date for her. I need to get to the bottom of this but I also need a long-term person that I can really depend on being there. Annette as goofy as she is is pretty dependable I thought. The more I consider this the more I worried that I've somehow offended her and I don't want to do that but I do need to have somebody I can depend on market, I'm sure.

I'm totally glad to have my bus Pass back and also to have the remote opener for the back gate which I also thought that I lost today but found in the wrong pocket of the backpack. All all the days been good with just a few?'s but the?'s really bug me and I hope are nothing but bumps in the road…

Taking Care Of Business

I was disheartened this morning when I reached down to lock my left arm rest in the place on my power wheelchair to realize the lever which locks the arm to the chair was broken. This is the same fastener that I had Mark Anthony replace a couple weeks ago when the cannibalized apiece from my backup chair. I get so frustrated with the use of plastic in making these, what I think are crucial, pieces of equipment. Today's coffee klatch day And as trivial as this event is I like to be part of it but I had to make a decision of either sadly not the heading south to the wheelchair shop are North on Redwood Road all the way up to 500 S. to the Buffmire building where the U ATP shop is located. I chose the easier the two locations to get to which was U ATP.

Tom the manager of this program was gotten quite used to seeing me show up at is door early in the morning. I had the part packaged in a Ziploc bag and soon found a parts chair which had the piece I needed. Tom was obviously busy and did not offer to make the repair but was willing to give me the part not only the part but the whole assembly if I could find someone else to do the installation. I figured I could the price is right: no charge and is on my way back to the apartments actually making the coffee group just as it was starting. I figured I could suffer with this arm a couple days until I can finagle either Mark Anthony or my brother Carl to come over and make the switch. I was just happy to find a piece that would work. Even though there is no exchange of currency as we know it the price was paid for my early-morning trip. I'd made my mind up to dash down to the shop I checked my cell phone and found the bus is coming in six minutes. So I kind of freaked made sure I had my wallet and other items that needed in my backpack as I was leaving the apartment I noticed my bus pass, which hangs on the end of A lanyard. The past is not hanging around my neck but lying on the backpack on my lap I figured sure enough if I have time before the bus comes I'll secure the pass in my backpack or I'll do that from the bus picks me up were on our way. I thought is hypervigilant to make sure I didn't lose the pass. To make matters worse when I did get on the bus my backpack fell off my lap landed facedown on my foot pedal. I frantically searched myself for the bus pass then when the driver let me off he picked up my backpack and items and do a search as well for the general area for the bus pass. When I returned home from getting the part for my chair I retraced my steps hopefully see in the bus pass but no go. Search the apartment and search by backpack the bus pass was nowhere.

I got by without having to show bus pass in my dealings today. Tomorrow I will check with UTA lost and found with the hopes that somebody somehow found my bus pass and turned it in. I doubt it but we shall see.…

More or Less

My apartment was relatively clean when my home health person left this morning about 7:30 AM. She elected to vacuum the house fall I was sitting on the toilet waiting for the miracle to happen. My area looked as good as it ever does considering I have carpet which have totally destroyed from three years of cold wet winters dragging filthy oil laden snow in the apartment. There's not much I can do for the carpet except to keep it clean is much as I can I mean with a vacuum. The oil spots and ground in dirt I feel are a lost cause and hopefully my landlord will see the wisdom in point up all the carpet. I really believe carpets are a waste of time for wheelchair people. Anyway, the point I'm laboring to make is that the place looked fairly decent until around 330 or 4 PM when I was backing away from my work area and unbeknownst to me one of the wires to the electrical on on my right front wheel and of course completely cleaned off my work area onto the floor. All of my art pens and other writing items cards books the usual total entropy by the time it hit the rug and I spent the next hour cleaning up the mess one pen and pencil and card in time. I got most of the big stuff up all the fine minutia dirt hit the floor. If I were really committed a drag out the VAC can go after the spotted rug but I essentially shrugged my shoulders and will wait for my home health person are my cleaning lady will be here on Friday to finish the cleanup.

Do you remember a couple weeks ago when I became enlightened and was going to create a opportunity for Valerio family My adoptive family together together and meet and visit one with another. I know just small fraction of the family would be able to gather For such an event but I thought it might work for those relatively local. Really thought this would be relatively simple I started getting roadblocks however when I found that I couldn't reserve the common room here at the apartment complex for that Saturday. Friday I could not Saturday. I started hearing from different folks that it would be difficult. So decided well maybe we could have a function here on Friday night and that would be good or maybe we can have function on Friday night and followed up on Saturday if the weather held over at the Pavilion at the park across the driveway here at the apartment complex. Things begin to complicate I don't like complications. Then there were problems with some folks living far away from might come in and what would we do all that kind of stuff and I could see that this small event was becoming a project that quite frankly I didn't want to have to deal with at this point. So today I put out a text that I was calling off the event scheduled for the last weekend of September. I know I'm a world-class wuss or maybe I got the whole family thing worked out hanging out with my sister couple weeks ago at the Polynesian Festival. Oh I still want to meet these guys especially my brother in Denver he sounds very interesting but now I just don't know when…

Faded Photographs, Letters and Feelings… Gone Like Yesterday

I'm so grateful that my brother Carl assisted me with going through the boxes and bags of items from the garage of my own home. I don't know why it was not surprised – – actually I had written off these materials of items I would probably never see again therefore I had already forgotten them but essentially the items in the boxes were the contents of to file cabinet drawers of where I had been stashing mementos and letters for almost 30 years. It's amazing how much stuff a person files away. I do know that I would've been totally overwhelmed had I tried to do this on my own.

My brother set me up in the grudge for he had built some flat services for his woodworking shop which worked ideally for a place to set the box. Carl would hand me the hanging folder which held the file or files in question I put the file then ponder what to do with the remains. This is hard there were collected files of letters from kids, Parents, aunts and uncles and grandparents. Many of the items are things you would receive when your parents/loved one dies and then you get this box of all the letters you'd written them, or cards are whatever. You don't know what to do with them so you throw them in the garage sure the attic until someone who is coldhearted but smart does say scorching burn on these accumulated memories. That's pretty much the method I tried the move myself into. Knowing that it would be up to (most likely) Mark or Shelley to sift through and have to determine what to keep it up at the trash. Trash is such a harsh word but really, in the end, that's what it boils down to. A lifetime are more thrown into the wastepaper basket which keeps getting emptied into the dumpster over and over as the afternoon wears on. I of course kept a few items, bundles of cards and letters a couple of journals and of course photographs. I still have a problem with a huge amount of photographs, I don't know who but somebody went through my mom stuff and thrown away boxes of photographs I would've paid the kept. I don't want this guilt of someone who wanted photographs of my past with them. But really in the end what does it matter? Finally at some point at some generation down the time flow no one's going to care are even know whose images are on the curled up photos which may survive. So to whichever cousin, sisters brothers who made the decision to toss out the photographs thanks you have my love for not having to do it myself.

Having just written this, I still can't bring myself to throw away the envelopes of photos I found. It seems like I'm violating some family rule our writers rules. So much fodder for stories and histories were in those boxes and if I had property and enough space I would keep a lot of the material I threw away yesterday even though I'd probably never write about the items but then again who knows stranger things have happened…

Inclusion At The Lobster

Monday This is been one of those mini big days for me. I really didn't have anything on my agenda today except to go through the materials that we collected over the weekend from the old house. Today was review, separate, evaluate, trash. This is the blog entry in an of itself so enough said with that. But I'll have to dance around the edges a little bit just because it sets this scene for the end of this blog. I didn't know how traumatic the event would be if at all I really didn't even know what was in the boxes which been set outside Saturday to be picked up. We worked at this project about 3 ½ hours seemed like a lot longer for some reason. Carl bringing out boxes and bags of stuff open them up that led me sift through the items. Even though physically this is not very hard work I felt exhausted and I felt I needed to award myself, give myself a treat for doing this job directly and in a timely fashion… terribly adult. I was getting hungry by 5:30 PM and I decided that my reward is going to be heading over to red lobster (just down the street from my brother's home). I would have to pass the establishment if I was going to get to the bus/train station which I would need to get home. I couldn't justify a whole meal not that I worked hard enough to deserve a whole meal. I figured I just got a bowl of clam chowder in the famous red lobster biscuits that would be enough. Not so much from a financial standpoint but from a caloric standpoint as well. The trek over to Red Lobster was uneventful, thank goodness, there is some spooky places where I had to cross streets at the bases of ramps from the interstate. It can get quite confusing trying to run the gauntlet of curb cut outs in walk lights and making sure that these people coming fresh off the interstate not only see you but see that you are protected by the walk light. You can't take anything for granted with these maniac drivers—I'm not trying to be cruel I'm just stating it like it is. It was weird rolling into the old lobster. We ate there is a family a lot when the kids were living with us, Dianne and I ate there is a couple a lot when we lived together in the house on Utahna. I was not a huge fan of their food are there pricing but it was a nice place to wind up a week or weekend. I was always kind of freaked by how many seniors are there when we would eat as well as blue-collar white color wannabes. The place is kind of embarrassing but now I did get ways of nostalgia. I was shocked when I was seated. They actually had tables with cutouts for wheelchair person who could totally roll under. This was new to me, it'd been years since I'd last been in to a Red Lobster. And then I noticed something I didn't think I would ever see but something I've always talked about. There is actually a section of our that had been cut out and lowered for people in wheelchairs! Inclusion! I didn't think I would ever see this and to see this first at a red lobster. From the days at Borah high when I so wanted to be part of the conversation at the trophy cabinet for all the jocks stood around and talk to restaurants and bars with high tables and height counters were people could sit and talk to people with disabilities are way low could not be part of the conversation. I was blown away and I still am kind as I think back on it. I rolled up and sat at the table fitting in for the first time in all the time to go to the red lobster. This I wish Dianne had been with me to see how neat this was how cool this was. I may have to invite her out just to show her this neat piece of inclusion.…

Enjoyable All The Same

I think I'm going to close the door tonight to the patio before I go to bed. It's been the first time this summer I've actually shut the door because with the door open I get too cold during the night. I could copout and engage the furnace but I don't want to do that yet. Turning on the furnace now would be caving into the concept that summer is over. But I fight that like a five-year-old fights going to bed at 8 PM. It seems as long as I can keep the door open all night the longer I can keep some are alive in the illusion of heat around me.

I woke this morning and actually thought about donning a long sleeve shirt. I didn't think about a long but there is a definite edge to the morning air which is not been there before. It rained during the night which certainly gave the aroma of autumn to the atmosphere this morning. The mornings chill even kept me under the a covers longer than I needed to be. The reheated coffee was extra welcome this morning as I cranked into my day. I cooked bacon last night, A thick brick of entangled bacon ends bestowed upon me by the food bank. I rarely cook bacon in the evening but I tried something new last night knowing that the brick of bacon is quite formidable and I doubt I would wrestle the brick in the morning time. However, if I process the bacon in the evening they'll have it available the following morning making the probability of having bacon with whatever I cook much higher. It worked this morning I tried one egg, no butter toast and a couple pieces of over to cook the bacon and it made a delightful breakfast which I know I would not of had if I faced the ordeal of cooking bacon this morning and then still having to cook an egg. This makes me sound quite petty.

I'm always quite amazed to find how little usable meat is in one of those blocks of bacon end cuts. This seems to be a lot of bacon showing on the outside but went to get inside the brick it's almost nothing but fat, long white flat strips of fat sometimes accompanied by a couple bites of bacon if you're lucky. I I kept half of the brick and through the rest away. I also got a court of eggs. Boy does that sound weird but, I got a quart container, like milk, but it was frozen eggs. I had hoped they would be thought out by this morning but the eggs were still pretty solid so I could not use them. I assume the only thing they be usable for would be making scrambled eggs are perhaps used in baking somehow. I'm a little excited to use the egg mix I have always wondered about these eggs in the box but never had a chance to experience.

The high point of my day was a visit from my son Mark Anthony while I was dozing in front of my computer screen binging on Big Mouth, a questionable piece of animation way below good taste. Beside that it's been a quiet day not much to write about but I have found the day enjoyable just the same…

Who Knew?

What a fabulous day. When I woke I had one thing on my agenda to do and one thing only now was to travel over to my old home over on Utahna drive to meet with my older brother who has a truck. My ex-wife Dianne had advised me earlier in the week that she had cleaned out the garage and has a lot of my stuff that I needed to pick up if I wanted. I was to meet my brother at the house and we would load the materials into his truck and take over to his place where I then could next we go over and sort through what I wanted are not. To be honest I was a bit nervous to the had not really communicated with Dianne except through text and with been able to communicate really well the last couple weeks. That was the only thing I had to do. However this morning I got pinged on my Texter and it was my old buddy/roommate Kelly who is in town and wanted to know if we could get together. I have a special spot in my heart for Kelly. We met in the dorms of Boise State University. Next year we were roommates were pretty close. Often onto the years we've managed to stay good friends. I did want to see him but at the same time I need to be by brother at 3 o'clock. It took a little finagling but I got to meet up with Kelly and his wife for about an hour to visit it was a great visit. He lives in Ogden now and I knew that but for some reason has not tied it all together is pretty close hopefully will meet more often.

I spent a lot of time waiting for buses instead of just drive my chair straight from IHC hospital to my old house. I had a good charge in my chair I'm sure I could've made it without issue but still I was a little gun shy so I took the buses and got over to my house about 10 minutes after three and luckily my brother had not been there yet. Dianne had put my materials altogether in one spot and cover them as a protection from the rain. I didn't realize they were home but I texted her to let her know I was there not to worry about the noise and she came out. It was really great to see her and we hugged and communicated it was grand. We really are each other's best friends still. I brother came up shortly thereafter and we did a cursory examination of the materials. A lot of the stuff is junk which I plan to throw away Monday or Tuesday and were his house. But we loaded the materials and send him on his way I was totally grateful that he helped me with this project. Dianne and I visited more talk about family and had our life's been up to the past couple years. Then it was time to go ahead number of buses the catch to get back to Taylorsville in my butt was beginning to hurt.

This has been a full day one that I did not expect to go the way that it did. I feel so fortunate to spend time with my brother I always like to have a reason to spend time with my brother the more important than that renew acquaintances of two old friendships to friendships I hold dear…

Journal Blog Who Cares It's THE Same!

Sometimes I worry that I may be running out of things to write about. I wish I could just turn off the computer and just roll away from this blog sometimes but I can't do it. There's something inside of me which drives me to write. Part of it is my commitment to journalism – – no, not the art of recording news items in such – – the daily examination of a life lived. Again I think there is a difference between journal and diary but it's pretty close in many ways one can substitute for the other whereas diary is the liberal document needed the days events whereas keeping a journal many times actually fleshes out those daily events with something more meaningful. I hope I have not run dry of writing about meaningful of events of the days of my life. I had lunch today with Lori a very close friend of mine and I shared with her my fear of redundancy, of writing something or about something which I've already written about before. Nothing frightens me more in the aging process then repeating myself. I've sat with enough seniors and other folks were so enamored with themselves and their lives That they force you to listen to a repeat of their life event. I have noticed a couple times that's happened to me. I can see it in people's eyes when I start to tell a story that they've already heard. Many times they go ahead and let me repeat the story just out of politeness however there are couple who I feel I guess they feel comfortable enough to the point they could just tell me you are you heard that story – – maybe comfort has nothing to do with their confrontational behavior they just don't want to have to sit through it again. I cannot fault them for that I know exactly how it feels. I have a friend upstairs at this apartment complex he's an okay guy is even older than I am. He's had a very interesting life he's been a surgical nurse among other things has many great stories to tell but sadly he's also a member of the local culture which means he believes he's a member of the one and only true church. Steve kind of blends the mythology of his church with his pathological dependency on conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theories and a belief in extraterrestrial visitations and realities. I would not be so bad if Steve is not so predictable. I suppose what I'm witnessing is just one more form of the aging process and how it reveals itself to the person on the outside. And I am therefore hypervigilant to make sure that I am not going overboard with what I feel is important in my life that I feel other people must hear.

So I totally believe in doing the Journal/blog to keep a record of my life and how I've lived. I don't think anyone cares, not really and that's okay I can accept that but what is important to me is that for someone who is perhaps, one day, trying to find references to this point in time hopefully this blog will survive and maybe help document the lost civilization and that's using the term loosely…