Bouquets of Sharpened Pencils…

 

Well, the forecast cooldown came on today with welcome cloud cover and lower temperatures. In fact the evening was so cool that friend Annette finally showed up I had her, first thing, close window my bed almost all the way living just a small space for fresh air. I do not believe for one second that this is okaythe beginning, the real beginning of fall in cooler weather. Will have more 90° days before the change but I just felt better with the window closed it's time. Cannot believe how much I missed this one caregiver. She is so good. I don't know what I'll do if I ever lose her. She watches over my skin so closely and works hard to make sure that I'm oiled up and taped up and prophylacticed as much as I can be. Annette's focus certainly makes the difference in how I enjoy the day.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie You've Got Mail where Tom Tanks is talking about how much he loves New York in the fall. He feels prompted the by school supplies. I had that same feeling this morning. For a couple of days have been trying to find the the lead to my mechanical pencils, cheap little plastic pencils that you supposedly can put lead into after you've used up the first piece of lead. Well the morning was just enough stimulus for me to saddle up and drive my chair down to the community college. I can't believe I even called the college first to make sure their open I thought sure that all be closed down. But the book Shoppe is open no one on down and that I really got smacked with the whole autumn fever, if there is such thing, thing. Social distancing of course but the kids were on campus all looking like bank robbers. They were hanging out on the patio and on the lawn nonstops everywhere college kids congregate but they were social distanced and masked. I was impressed that even the coffee shop was open as The grill. I could've ordered a hamburger or had I wanted to be up early a quick breakfast – – all certainly have to keep this in mind. The Asian kids, the Malaysian kids, the South Sea Islanders kids in the low income kids were all hanging out at the common area. True, not as many by a long shot as it used to be. No long tables of private nonprofits trying to raise funds, no hustle bustle at the student government section and no tables are posters advertising concerts and dances especially mixers which is so common at the first of the year. For a brief moment I chastised myself for not getting in gear and taking some classes this fall. But seriously that's all the stupid die. Even though there's little talk I believe there's a strong chance that this virus is going to come back with a vengeance this fall when all the stupid dopes a look at guards down and possibly their masks. That is not where I want to be even though I want to be in the romance of college classes in the fall. The just something invigorating about the whole concept. I remain focused I got my pencil lead's plus a couple new pencils. I'm totally ready to dive back into my word puzzles and my week…

Maken Bacon and Slurpping Noodles

 

Do you ever have one of those rare moments when you wake up and realize you slept 7 hours! For me that's incredibly rare I've been laying here in bed 45 minutes since I woke comment this Sunday morning, playing with my cell phone scrolling looking for things to purchase. Feeling no pain to speak of, my is bladder is full but not the point that I have to rashly try to transfer from my bed to my powerchar. I can make the transfer safely regardless of what's in my bladder . Pondering what to do today this last Sunday of August. Still summer but feeling more like autumn than Sunday morning. I purchased bacon yesterday I'm thinking of frying it up under the pretense of making BLT's soon. I didn't go to the food bank yesterday I still have to hydroponics (Tomatoes)that I need to use. I think they would make great BLT's. Not to wander too far but I need to call Amy see if she's got in tomatoes this summer she grows the best tomatoes. Amy was in the office next to mine when I worked for the Council and every summer she would bring in huge firm tomatoes she grew.Sadly, the past couple of summers have not been good summers for raising tomatoes too hot or too dry or something like that. I'm just hoping. Last week when I went to the food bank and I got those “real tomatoes” I've been hankering for Amy's.

Well I did the bacon and on top of that I also tried up the ribeye sliced steak I got last week but I don't know if I cooked myself out or what but I've lost all desire to make the BLTs I was so hot about. I was hoping to use the sliced ribeye steak to to jazz up the noodles I purchased yesterday but that didn't work out as like I wanted. The steak is pretty good but it's kind a greasy I guess I should've known better than to cook it in the remains of the fried bacon of this morning. I'll go ahead though and store the bacon with the ribeye and see what I can make later on in the week. I'm sure I will be more than happy to have the protein to munch on as the week goes on. I'm in more pain than I'd like to acknowledge today. My butt hurting that's okay because it's not like I was really go anywhere today though I did do a roll about early on just to boost the numbers on my odometer. I still have the goal to break 4000 by the end of the year are by the time that I order my next chair. I'm currently at 3878 miles. Each day ago between three and 4 miles if I'm lucky in my body can withstand the trauma of riding in this chair. Sometimes when I really want to face the cruel facts of life I think that my body is wearing out and of course that would be 

the butt since it has to withstand all the weight for my gut riding straight down on my right side sad. Once again I have to look in the bright side and realize that I may have to curtail time up, distance traveled or life lived. I really not trying to be cynical. I do look with some envy though at all the people walking around not even think about how lucky they have it to have a but they can sit on anytime they want, for as long as they want all day if they want to. I don't know what this life in particular the end-of-life sequence for me is going to be I'm going to try to stay positive as long as I can, enjoy my friends, enjoy my family enjoy my power chair and enjoy this life that I have for as long as I have it for as long as I can

Another Saturday Night…

 

Not that it really mattered but I have to admit I was somewhat pleased today, when on a whim I thought I'd check my balances at the credit union and sure enough State had come through with this month's pension. Still just a couple hundred/know that it's in their hanging out and tell the major shot comes from Social Security. Again, another quiet day in the neighborhood of Covid-Ville. I could've gone places but what's the point everything closed and why risk exposure to the virus if I don't have to? It's kind of funny but even if I don't have to wait until my “new” money comes , just like when I was poor and I was skating till the end of the month to the new money came. I needed more mother Vinegar, frozen burritos, spicy vegetable juice and a few other odds and ends to start the month off as well as finish off the weekend.

It's Saturday night and this afternoon I did something I've always wanted to do but never really got around to doing. I grabbed a $20 bill for my mad money stash and decided I was going to go to the Chinese food hole in the wall by my market in order to dinners. I actually have me to have to cook soon as well is that ribeye steak I got the food bank last week or couple weeks ago. I wanted Chinese enough to last into the weekend. Craving is not the right word but I wanted to order some lo mein noodles for some time. I only recently learned the difference between chow mein and lo mein noodles like it took me 70 years, unbelievable. But that's what I got this afternoon/evening one order of Egg foo young And in order of lo mein noodles. Everything was super salty and right now I'm craving liquids but it was a nice dinner. The plan is to cook up the meet tomorrow to add to the leftovers especially the lo mein noodles. Once again I was not at all impressed with the egg foo Yong, I've resigned myself to the belief that my kind of EFY is no longer available unless I can get my hands on a working time machine to transport me back sometime in the 60s Boise Idaho in the House, the of Louie . We know that's not going so I'm learning to be happy with what I can get. It would be nice to be doing something significantly more than I'm doing this Saturday night but it just in the cards. So, it looks like the best am going to do is mix my two Chinese dinners a little from Styrofoam box a and a little bit from Styrofoam box be. Hit the Disney Channel and find something from the Marvel universe to once again explore while sipping on ice cold diet Mountain Dew While packing my trustee cell phone at my side and the longshot possibility that I should get a phone call or text…

It's An Art Thing

 Picasso's Blue Nude

Let me start off by saying I almost know nothing about art, aside what one could garner from liberal arts education which means I had to take one class titled Art Appreciation, three hours of somewhat boring lecture with the company's slides and paper requiring a couple nights or weekends of the library. Essentially I didn't really get anything out of the experience. Over the years for one reason or another have been exposed to oversized coffee table art books and wondered just what people saw in these pieces of art. I just couldn't figure it out not really until I married Dianne. Dianne came with not only a couple of great kids but some great pieces of art. A couple pieces by Mark Chagall and Joan Miro, Large framed pieces of art which adorned our walls. For the first time I found myself staring at these pieces of art. After a while the pieces to become somewhat invisible as regards our life, but they were always there when you wanted to stop and just admire them. When we had company there are always impressed. Dianne knew all about the pieces and I've come to know more about them. Of course, are pretty much lost access to the art except for a short period when I enjoyed a couple pieces. A giant Chagall and a smaller Miro. I love cavalrymen the apartment. I truly have developed art appreciation to the point that now I'm considering actually purchasing some pieces of my own. Talk about such a thing and doing are two very different things but begin to explore online art houses and offerings just to see. Like I said I don't know anything really about art and art acquisition but I'm going to learn.

I purchased a Picasso! Actually it say posterior of a Picasso:. The Blue Nude, Actually it's one of the pieces that Dianne had or are poster of one. I mean the thing costly $12 so I don't know if I can count it as art but once I get the peace in a frame behind glass came up in the bathroom who the hell cares who the hell knows. I really liked Picasso when I have it hanging in the bathroom and if I like it, really is not all it matters? You go online and you can find signed and numbered copies of these pieces of art. I need to know what all that means. It seems like lithographs are more expensive than other renderings of the same piece. The pieces are signed and numbered like One out of 500 or one out of 200. I kind of think that that means there only 200 of the pieces rendered but did the artist to 200 copies are is or just one copy that cost thousands of dollars and the others are copies but was removed and there really to hundred of those made in that makes the costs significantly lower than the one and only are is there only one? I know really only one per person that I'll ask these questions of. My daughter-in-law knows a lot about this art stuff and I want to see if I can ask her some of these questions she'll know. I don't know what I'll learn and I hope I don't become dreadfully boring but sometimes it's nice to have something to appreciate…

Coffee Social Stress

 (Sorry, I should've gotten an image but sadly I did not)

I hate power struggles. It would be nice in life if we could find a place where one didn't have to have struggles for control but as is usual seems to be a struggle going on at the Thursday morning coffee group. I'm trying to stay away from getting involved but it's hard to stay out of the controllers influence sometimes. It's just amazing how small a group can be for power struggle to ensue.

I believe a couple days ago I wrote a little bit about last week at the coffee group were we were ushered back into the common room, where the week before we had, for the first time, had the coffee group out on the patio in the coolness of the early morning hour. We actually started a half hour earlier at nine rather than 9:30 AM and there is much greater participation than we usually had. Management somewhere in the gym in my quest to stay out of this firefight I haven't really checked it out nor do I want to. Made the decision to go back into the building for the coffee social under the explanation of social distancing even though it seems were more at risk socially inside that were outside. Today's group was pretty substantial I have to admit. They had added another table so that the concept of social distancing could be enforced.

I had a weird feeling about today's group partially due to the addition of another table and the controller, who I deem is the controller, of the change. This is a relatively new member of the group coming into our apartment complex oh 15 months or so ago and who in my estimation is consistently worked to become a major controller of the population. She's a Britt, and that's not a problem but she has that British droll everything, she quickly took over the movie night – – which is okay by me because I never went in the really didn't have any consistent offerings that were worth watching – – and began screening English/British comedy/soap operas. Like I said no problem to me and amazingly most of the residents enjoy the offerings. Next, she instigated a monthly dinner which I attended a couple times but like many of her offerings it was very British with heavy food and boring entertainment I stopped attending and thank goodness the coronavirusstruck and the meals of ceased, of course. Today, what has said very gathering felt strange. It seemed a lot of the residents were restless for one reason or another a lot of it doing around the RNC which lines up today. I think about half the residents are Trumper's (though they would not admit it openly) the other half are obviously DNC and of course don't know anything about their party are their platform except for the hate Trump. The news of the hurricane, forest fires and prevailing belief that the apocalypse is nigh. It all sat very sourly on my stomach and I begin wondering how I can begin ditching this Thursday social event and not raise too many eyebrows…

Tuesday's Miracle

 Dan the guy Who used to be at UATP which used to be CREATE Had made arrangements with my last Thursday to drop by and looked at my power chair On Tuesday evening to give me some assistance with my batteries on my backup chair my backup chair and see the batteries check the batteries. I of course totally spaced the whole thing off the who appointment so, true to form. I'm sitting here at my computer getting ready to write my blog and there's a knock on the door and it's Dan. What's even more provoking to me is that half an hour earlier I was struggling with my screen door to my apartment patio. I of course of destroyed something on the screen door and now the door seems to jump off the rail w hen I slide the door back and forth going in our out to the patio. This happened over the weekend but I was able, after a good deal struggle to (I thought) to the screen door back on the rails and it seemed to be working just fine until this afternoon when it once again jumped the rails I tried to get back on track it became more and more dysfunctional.

I was kind of hoping that Ted, the regular apartment engineer kind of guy who does all the maintenance stuff like putting screen doors back into place and factories worked on my stuff a couple of times  I need to have maintenance to do some more work obviously I was hoping he would come up with a new door that would have new door capabilities. That has not happened yet, perhaps I just need to put in my input and suggestions to hopefully get another door and I would like to get some pull handles on next door that I get so that I would not have this problem again. Of course, Teddy got home for the day and is by myself. I had all but given up any hope of sleeping with the screen door open last evening when I got the block in the door and down was there and was able to fix the door the second. They took the batteries out of my power chair and I sent him on his way. It was a minor miracle but a miracle just the same there's no way his showing up at my door when I needed help with the sliding door that all works out on one lucky guy.

Interestingly, my regular staff this morning did not show and I did the breaking in a new person but that's not what this post is about. The post is about the do controller I purchased last week from down and company broke this afternoon. The lever that controls the speed modulator. I was really concerned at first but realized that I could work around the problem. I can control speed is frustratingly hard but it's doable really have to do it one more day. I remembered that the plan was to charge the batteries on my backup chair and then reinstall them. Best part is that down would be in Salt Lake again on Thursday morning. I just have to get through Wednesday/today and head down to the shop right after coffee tomorrow. We'll either fix the modulator are install another controller. I didn't go anywhere today partially because I hate hobbling around with the broken chair. I didn't get as much down as I would like but do I ever I did go over to the park and hang out and got some more footage on the chair

Tuesday Rain

 

Finally, kind of sad that it takes a hurricane or a couple of them to produce enough moisture to change the dry spell we've been having for the past three months but it finally happened. I'm not going to try to sugarcoat the concept but it was probably the high point of my day. Obviously, I may be coming one of the victims of the Covid 19 issue but I find myself totally staying in my little apartment and not taking advantage of the wonderful life I have available to me. I mean seriously I ride my bike for 50 minutes, I do my blog, check my mail unless I have something significant to do like a doctors appointment or something I desperately need to get from the market are superstore I'm pretty much hanging out the apartment in doing cryptograms are crypta quotes.

Today was no different except for I was harboring hope that if nothing else I could hook up with my friend Dave from Assist, Inc. and we would do the grant reviews for the last couple of weeks. I used to go in every Tuesday morning and we would then go over the weeks request for funding grants and approve the work which in most cases have already been done. I used to be part of a group myself and about four ladies, ancients like myself, who get together and approve the grants. It's a technicality I understand that and I think they do to but I'm not sure but it's also kind of a little coffee get together. I'm not totally part of their social group but I put up with them and they do the same with me and for 90 minutes we list the Dave read and describe the circumstances behind each grant request/application. It's a bit of a game I understand this but I like going somewhere on Tuesday mornings and of course with Covid everything changed. Actually a number of the women of either died or have gotten sold they are not able to get in to the meetings so the last couple of months it's just basically me. Still with the covert day was the only one who came into the office and we decided to have the reviews done over the phone which basically worked and is quickly becoming the new normal, but today David wanted to give Margaret (the last stoic surviving member besides me) of the group A chance to do her duty over the phone which is fine with me. I reverted to my new behavior of having my breakfast, making coffee doing 50 minutes of my arm bike and then doing some puzzles. I need to doing more.

It was later in the afternoon when the drowsy state of puzzling I realized I could smell moisture, the smell of what concrete or maybe just dust. I looked out the window and there was actually rain falling or had fallen. The sun was shining brightly but there were clouds everywhere and there was the telltale wind storm of some sort. I was suddenly energized I grabbed my cell phone and took off out of the apartment. And even though the sun was shining brightly there is actually rain falling not a lot more sprinkling than anything else but I headed over to the park. Once I got to the park the rain increased its intensity and finally I escaped to one of the shoulders. There are a couple of homeless folks at one of the shelter who surprisingly got up and left after I took over my place at the other end of the picnic shelter. I was there just to wait out the rain and listen to the rain pound the top of the shoulder. The noise was not as intense as hail but a good nature like sound. The temperature today was in the 90s so I felt like I was in Florida so to say it was humid. I put a mile on my chair roughly from the time I left the apartment and goosed around the park but that was all I needed to put my odometer at 3870 miles. My goal is to break 4000 by the end of the year or when I order my new chair whichever comes first. That's 130 miles now I'm going to have to focus and travel couple miles a day I can do it but it's going Take some focus I can do this nice to have a project.

Trader Joe's Has The Plums!

 

One of the items I scored this weekend at the food bank were plums. I know that sounds weird but I kind a like plums and I was pleased to get a bag of plums. I was kind of hoping they would be from somebody's Plumtree (yeah I know it came from Plumtree wherever came from) by Plumtree of somebody's I mean somebody who's tree in their backyard had plums which they brought to the food bank. But, these plums are from the fruit and vegetable department from Trader Joe's. The plums I got seems to be huge plums the size of apples! What really surprised me was I think at least the plums so I've got the plums seem green as in on right is obviously they're very dark in color of the plums should be. However, when you go to cut the plum or even bite you get a very hard fruit substance. The plums I remember Even those that were just nearly right were still kind of juicy if not playing mushy when you begin to them. These plums actually did have the texture of an Apple pretty weird. I'm glad I have the low of had one or two so far. What's interesting is that these plums still have the stickers on them from Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's seems to be a pretty large benefactor to the food bank. The really come across a lot of good produce as well as other items many even before “best use by date”.

I'm still hoping as the summer progresses and fruit trees begin to ripen that other points of bounty will be shared with those who could really use it. This week I also got caught on the called, many colored peppers and cucumbers and of course the ubiquitous zucchini and crookneck squash. There's no way I can use all this in a week but I'm enjoying the possibility of trying.…

Counting The Chickens

 

Eggs courtesy of Annette and her chickens

 Annette who is my home health professional is also my weekly housekeeper comes in a couple hours every Saturday and spruces up the place little. She does little bit each day she's here during the week waiting for me to do my business but on Saturday she goes in a bit deeper things a bit more makes everything a bit more bearable. Over the year 18 months she's been my care giver we've talked about many things but a constant topic has been the status of her chickens. Annette lives on Eastside of State Street. She lives in the family home with their mother and the properties old enough and large enough that she also raises chickens. I don't know why but this amazed me. She talked about chickens all through the winter and how the spring she was getting a set of checks seven or eight or 10 that she was going to raise up for eggs. Annette indicated she had done this the past and was kind of a yearly thing for her. And sure enough when spring arrived she got her chickens or chicks And watched over them focused as any mother could or would. I look forward to each visit to find out how the chicks were doing. There is one moment that we thought all was lost when Raccoons or Something raided the chicks making off with three or four of them. Fourth chicks remained and their beginning to lay eggs!

We had chickens on the farm. I'm not quite sure how we came about those chickens number of them were bantams. I didn't even know that Bantam was a kind of chick. I know we called them banties and I thought they were just sort of small chickens, which they are, but I was surprised to realize they were an actual breed. We had some brown chickens and of course white ones and a number of them laid eggs which we used as a family food source and I'm sure my mom sold some the eggs to the neighbors along with the milk that we produced on our little farm. I wasn't that fond of the chickens. They were filthy stinking little birds that always seem to be in the way and always had to be taking care of. Actually now that I think of it I don't know if it was my dad or my mom but one of the grown-ups ordered this large incubator that we actually hatched out a bunch of chicks, I remember now. I was terribly impressed. But like everything else on a farm all living things are work. And when the time came to clean out the chicken coop, which was one of my jobs and it may have been one of the most disgusting things I've ever done. Chickens are stupid early some of them are. We had to feed them in their little special feeding canisters as well as fill the water containers daily. There are special devices that you had to put the water in upside down put the base on the flip it over real quick and then gravity would pull the water down as the chickens drank. We had change that every couple days more when the chickens got older. It all came to an end One afternoon in late summer. We had a bloodbath, we chop the heads of dip the bodies in boiling water plucked the chickens and clean them through in the freezer. It was hot, stinky, sticky, and feathers got everywhere. The chicken guts piled up the cats for a static know what happened all the heads but I think we had about 24 chickens. The distant sound like much but when you're that much carnage was blood everywhere.

Annette brought me over a dozen eggs nice little brown eggs that hold together well and make great over easy eating in the morning with slices of spam. I don't think I missed the chickens but I think I miss the time when you could raise 24 chicks to fryers over the course of a summer.

Cali's Burning and the Joy's of Summer Food Bank

 

I am kind of getting back into my routine on Saturday mornings now that the food bank is open again. Our little food bank had to close for two weeks when somebody in the food bank tested positive for the virus. Because they were closed a kind of stopped going entirely it's funny how easy it is to get out of a habit sometimes. Anyway a couple weeks ago I stopped by and picked up a few things it was great and certainly rekindled my joy of getting my basket filled up at the food bank. Today was interesting in that as I was crossing the parking area to the food bank there were a number of fire engines and police vehicles in the park which is adjacent to our buildings. Look kind scary like possibly a crime scene or perhaps somebody had passed away and they found the body. Interest to note that the number of folks at the apartment complex has mentioned that more more homeless folks seem to be showing up in the park. Homeless folk tend to spend the night and do something else during the day only return at evening for the night sleep. There is a point earlier in the summer/spring when the bathrooms were closed or locked and I've heard rumor that it was done to foil the the homeless folk. It's sad how the folks of moved from downtown Salt Lake more and more south and westward. I really didn't quite believe it earlier but I've seen three old people sleeping out on the lawn during the day, the same old people to or three days in a row. The fire engines and law enforcement was still there when I left the food bank with my treasures of the week. I stopped and watched and took a couple images but that one on my way. Tonight listening to the news a major portion of local news and national news was California burning! The fires ranging in the northern end of the state are affecting our atmosphere here in Utah. Sadly, the firefighters are burning out (excuse the pun) and are requesting support from around in states. This fire engines and crews were checking out the fire engine. It seems Taylorsville will be sending a crew down to the California area to help fight the fires. There in the park this morning getting their units ready for the trip over to another California to assist with the fire suppression. I was glad to hear that would hate to think of bodies begin to pop up in the park next to where I live.

The best parts about this time of year is the fact that farmers markets begin to populate parking lots in various cities. The farmers market I used to attend was there and Murray Park. I could still make it to that farmers market relatively easy but I don't seem to have the energy primarily because FOOD BANK! A lot of the produce raised by local backyard farmers winds up donated to the food bank, tomatoes, cucumbers zucchinis especially. It's like real backyard produce versus the professional produce the try to stick you with at the farmers market. Giant truckloads of produce come from professional family farms out in the rural community. It's great produce but it's not what I envision a farmers market to be. So I don't need to go to the farmers market except for some of the exotic stuff like bread and so the other treats that tend to show up like cheese curds and other products from dairy families. Today I got plums, apples, cucumbers, zucchini squash (the right size). I got way more than I needed for a week but I will certainly enjoy what I did get and be thankful and show up again next week for another bounteous food bank…

A Mess Of Controllers And A Little Sunshine

 

I'm always astounded and shocked when suddenly parched me that they actually read my blog. Anyway, my buddy Lori contacted me this morning by text indicated that she had read yesterdays blog on transportation and put forward the idea why not develop some sort of a transportation group. Some sort of a situation where a group of individuals own the vehicle and all can use said vehicle when they need. And I understand writing such a thing is just a whole lot different than practicing but still I think it's a great idea how optional are probable something like this is is a hold of the question. I told Lori one think about the idea and balance the concept off a few people.. I'm sure there's a name for this kind of an arrangement I just haven't been able to put my finger on it yet. So truly the cost of say one van owned by 3 to 5 people got a be cheaper than owning the vehicle yourself and doing all the maintenance and fiscal requirements for such ownership. This is one of those deals where there's going to be issues (there's always issues) but possibly they just might work particularly in the area of people with disabilities and most specifically power chair users. First and foremost I would use such an arrangement I believe only sporadically on special events that I cannot negotiate by public transit for the reason or another. I think the occasional funeral and possible family function would be what I would be most interested.

The image I have used for today's posting is a mess of power chair controllers I went through over at the Utah Assistive Technology Programs service area. I don't know why but when I first saw this mess of controllers I thought specifically of a mess of fish. This was not the only mess of controllers that I witnessed. There's three or four other clusters just as large. But this mess was the ones I needed that had the capability of operating my chair just like the controller that I broke. I agree with the prevailing thought of that organization and that they have to downsize or get rid of some of this extra technology to have hanging around their agency like fruit. I hope they do downsize but I also hope they keep a couple of the controllers that will meet my need if and when I will need them.

It seems like the whole West Coast is on fire and the wind is blowing all the smoke over Utah. Anybody who has encountered respiratory issues suffer at this point in time. Luckily, I don't have such a problem but I could still sense the difficulty my respiratory systems experiencing. I suppose by mask helps a little bit but I seriously doubt much. The only upside, if there is such a thing, of the fires is that sunsets are becoming spectacular. I've got a poor instrument to record such geographical geological renderings but they do look interesting. Put one or two in that I took last night I think I might try to get some more tonight as well, the sunsets are much too beautiful to waste…

Van Dreams

 

It seems I worry about the strangest things when I'm laying in bed usually in the mornings. Perhaps, in the mornings I feel most vulnerable as I wake up and worry about how I'm going to get through the day. Worry might be a wrong word but I am definitely feeling threatened off and on. I still think getting rid of my van was the right thing to do. Keeping the van roadworthy and legal is very expensive insurance, state inspections or whatever and then just general upkeep and maintenance for really just a couple uses a year. And I must admit I have enjoyed the little money it has saved me actually a fairly significant amount which in turns allows me to build up a surplus of things like suppositories and creams. This buildup of the medical surplus really does make me feel a lot more control of my universe. However, as I was laying in bed this morning I was thinking of my sister-in-law and that she's very near-death which is really sad. My brother, my oldest brother is also extremely critical right now and I think for sure will be passing away by the first of the year if not before.

Amazingly, we as a family, a large family have had little experience with death aside from our parents which to some degree is expected. Dianne and I were still together so it came to family function and burial of everything in between DD was able to drive me where we need to go churches, restaurants, family functions, funeral etc. etc. I'm sensing going to be needing to do a significant amount of personal transportation in the upcoming months or not. If Jean passes when Jean passes I would certainly want to be part of any family gatherings. It just occurred to me that might not be an option with the pandemic so maybe this is somewhat academic at this point. Still, however if there were family functions held on days that public transit was not available I would be pretty much out of the cold (excuse the pun) if it was during the winter. So, I was fantasizing “what if someone were to give me an accessible vehicle”? Would I even want one? Because immediately I would be back to obtain an ungodly amount of money for insurance, maintenance and who knows what else. Vehicle or maintenance and upkeep is incredible when you have not had to do that. Perhaps, I can rent a vehicle for the day or days in question if and when they should arise. I have developed a small savings account which I've labeled transportation for this very possibility. I just need to look into such a thing before the event should happen. This might be the best solution. $500 for a good funeral and family function one-time payment versus three or four times that payment or outlay for the years upkeep. Definitely, this would be the civilized way to go.

My days are short now. I need to pack in as much as I can in the time that I have left and maybe just maybe different transportation options need to be explored

Popsicles 18 Or Nothing

 

It's another triple digit day and by triple digit I mean hundred degrees plus temperature which is just fine by me but everyone else is running around like it's the end of the world. Today's one of those great days when you know I've got a decent wheelchair and everything's working on it and everything seems to be working on me. No pain to speak of and a lot of the dark and red spots caused by pressure and who knows what else seems to clear it up on my rear end. This means time in the chair is not problematic and I can be out doing stuff.

One of my many guilty pleasures is double stick popsicles you know the old Popsicle brand the kind you can get when you're a kid for a nickel and I suppose the twin sticks was a sales gimmick so you could share with somebody else which is a great idea but not really practical. Over the years I've always defaulted to twin stick popsicles. Now, I choose this brand of confectionery because I kind of think there least expensive as far as calories go. Gone are the days when you could go into the market run back to the frozen section grab one or two popsicles and check out and go out and sit in front of the market and enjoy your treat oh no now you have to buy a whole bag the least you can get away with his 18 popsicles. What he did do with 18 popsicles when you only want one. Maybe like today, I took off with the sole purpose of purchasing a bag of 18 popsicles because I was down to the last two popsicles in the bag I purchased last week. So I packed my silver coated heat and cold bag and headed to the market. But, really 18 popsicles when you want just one? I'm really tempted when I'm sitting there in front of the frozen section and I'm looking at bags of fudge sickles (I know that's not the way to spell the word but I'm too lazy),bags of ice cream cups some with red streaks from raspberry, brown streaks chocolate and plain old white. There's also bags of fudge bars, mega pop sickles and on and on. I can stop a bunch in my anti-melt pack but I don't need that many calories and quite frankly going to be doing good stuffing these 18 sickles and in my freezer. It's going to be a lot of cramming but they'll be nice to have during the heat of the afternoon and is a treat in the evening that won't be too many calories. I held strong and purchased only one item today at the market which is slowly changing from Fresh Market to Macy's.

(I have to just add a small add-on. Yesterday when I went to the market the door on each side, the door are usually enter in was blocked off with yellow tape. Look like a crime scene expected to see chalk outlines of people on the sidewalk but there is just a sign saying use West door. I almost got upset but really it doesn't hurt me the goal around to the other door. Today however the crime scene had enlarged to not only have the east door involved but had grown to the entire parking area in front of the two doors making me have to go all the way to the north entrance to the whole building to the whole parking area. This was a huge trip out of my way of , I was just glad that I wasn't pushing if I had been in a manual chair think I would've cried. On the inside of the yellow line that now look like a crime scene of mega proportions that look like fresh asphalt had been applied. Maybe this is going to be a long-term issue but still something I was not prepared for one of the hottest days of the year)

Hey Rasta Man!

 

I'm sure this is not going to be the and of the power wheelchair saga by any means but at least it's some immediate closure to some issues I've been having the last Days in the issues have been directly related to my power chair. Kind readers will remember that I was to meet this morning with Dan from Utah State University from Center for People with Disabilities or the CPD. Dan is the guy who has been point man for the Utah Assistive Technology Project which is to be CREATE the ongoing utilization project.Dan's been keeping this operation open to days a week.

I knew the experience is going to be odd that the very best when the bus stops to let this individual on in a power wheelchair. Since I was already in the chair I advised the driver that he might ask the patron in the wheelchair if they might want to come on backwards because Turnaround is a real trip when you're already on board. Individual came on backwards and it was a much easier event for everyone involved. I was somewhat surprised when the individual addressed me by name. Obviously this guy knew me and I sort of knew his voice but I couldn't place it. I have to confess that in this time of Covid 19 and everyone wearing masks I don't recognize anybody! Totally amazed. It is only after talking with each other a few blocks and he asked me directly if I was no longer with DRAC and I realized this was an individual from that organization and then it all clicked into place. The person sitting at my side and the power wheelchair looking like a bandit in the tie-dye shirt was Lopeti. Lopeti, I had always understood was some kind of the southeast Islander or in my sarcastic realm want to be. As long as I've known this person he had long blonde dreadlocks, wore a knit tam o shanter In the colors of the reggae belief. I really thought Lopeti was a reggae man. I wasn't really sure what his disability was or if Lopeti actually even had a disability But he became quite a standard in the local disability rights movement. I was surprised to learn here dropped out of the movement as well. I guess I'm kind of surprised but not surprised.

It turned out that Lopeti and I were going to the same building. The power chair he was riding in looked pretty thrashed. Lopeti drives a hard chair there's no question about that. Lopeti needed new motors and some other work in fact you pretty much needed the new chair or another chair. Much like me it sounds out that this organization was actually getting rid of so their equipment there often pretty decent deals. And it sounds like Lopeti was going to have his mom purchase a chair for him which is cool. I'm beyond judging anybody and the changes in their life style for whatever reason. Life can turn on a dime. I found out that Lopeti name is actually Bob something. The whole reggae man thing was a ruse. I guess I could have asked them about about the whole reggae thing and his South Sea Island/Hawaii personification. But it looked like had been through enough. I found out that he was born in 1960 which kind of shocked me for some reason. His name was Bob is semi-lived with his mother who helped out with a lot of his bills. Like I said I'm no place that I can judge. This morning I was terrified that I may or may not have wounds on my butt that could really bench me if un-attended. I'm so lucky that I've got home health that knows enough medical to keep my patched up and going.

Dan, the guy from Utah State University, is a nice guy. Still in school is doing a lot of good work and assistive technology. The turn me loose in their part of the building where they had controllers hanging from hooks like sausages. We found one that works perfectly and even help me change it out or rather he changed it out. Were also going to look at charging up the batteries in my backup chair next week. The best part was this piece of equipment cost me only 40 bucks including installation. I felt like celebrating but I ended up coming straight home and eating Chinese take-out or purchased over the weekend and it was great…

Fix My Chair Please

 

I really don't want to totally bore you (my beloved reader) out but a blog is something written about what's important to the writer is that correct? Well keeping this chair is one of the most important things on my agenda these days. I don't have effective chair that's reliable so I've got to keep this chair functional. The fix my brother performed on the chair last week is still holding in doing so very well but I can see as well the wire is getting loose. I am praying and hoping the wire which is fixing the controller onto the pedestal of the chair will continue at least until tomorrow when I'm supposed to meet with the interim director for UATP– Salt Lake, the focal point for Utah's reutilization equipment program. You'll recall that I spoke with him last week and he informed me that they are actually trying to downsize a lot of the equipment they have on hand and should I come down I could possibly not only get a power chair with working batteries but I'm going to try to finagle a controller that will fit this chair. I think I had about five calls out for folks might be able to give me information regarding finding a controller and only one responded (that I'm aware of). This guy's a good guy who actually remembers my chair. I did not go through him to purchase the chair and as I explained to him my needs he of course gave his best shot at dropping my involvement with IHC wheelchair shop And going through him to not only fix my chair but possibly order the new power chair I am anticipating. I certainly don't want to burn any bridges with this guy are with my wheelchair shop and he was pretty cool with that but certainly left the door way open that should I need a new salesperson he is certainly be willing and happy to take me on.

Sadly, my buddy Kim from the independent living Center, where I used to work, never got back to me. I understood last week when I started the search because it was the annual office UILC campout. And I realize coming back to the office after a day out can be somewhat overwhelming especially when you're the associate director for the organization. But I gave a brief rundown of what I needed information wise (you may remember that the independent living Center also has a pretty significant reutilization program for equipment for people with disabilities). Kim didn't call back what you said, saddens me. I was hoping Kamron, from the IHC wheelchair shop would get back with me so I would have the information I needed to ask the questions I needed at the reutilization program. I just want to make sure that if I do get a controller or there's one available I get the right one. The same goes for the same question to make sure that if I go to the Internet like eBay and put down 100 bucks for controller will it be a piece of equipment that I can use? In other people are busy but they can get back with me. I found this guy on YouTube he runs theVlog called Totally Normal. He has some kind of disability which comes and goes but is highly skilled at tool manipulation and works on a lot of his own power chairs is really interesting but he really knows what he's doing. Even if I knew what I was doing like he does I would not have the skill set to break down these machines than build them back up so they would work. I've got friends of can do this, my brother and dad could of done this. I would not be able to do it even if I was able-bodied. I'll try to put a link on this page, Totally Normal. Now go to finish watching the film from Netflix trying to move as little as possible to keep my chair as functional as possible so I can make the trip over to UATP tomorrow morning…

Enjoyed The Show

 

I like it hot, you know that dear reader but I guess even I am beginning to reach my limits. I don't know if that's an age thing are if it's just trying to be proactive more all I know is this next week is going to be a hot one. There is a heat dome building directly over Utah and surrounding states. The next few days the temperature is going to be much harder than usual. Traditionally we are the time of year when, sadly, the seller begins to wind down. In fact regardless of the heat dome of already noticed the mornings being cooler when I wake. We were entering that time a change the mornings are darker now significantly so maybe that has something to with the cooler temps I don't know.

But this is been a traditional late August tomorrow are probably would've taken in the movie just down the street. That is not been a possibility this summer with everything shut down. In fact, I'm semi-excited at the notion that my theaters will open this coming weekend. However, I don't think I'm going to take advantage at least not just yet. Social distancing, at these theaters seems never to have been a big problem. Even without or before the pandemic many times I would go to the movies and I would be the only person in the theater and other times it would be three or four even though their small theaters that's pretty adequate social distancing. Perhaps, this different on the weekends are the opening of a mega-blockbuster but just during the days I think I'm okay like I said I will probably hold back. I don't need to have this disease process. I doubt that I would survive my son, Mark Anthony, has a pretty severe case of the Covid 19 and it's really knocked him down. I don't think I would make it. I'll hold off I think maybe for a week or two.I'll let this heat trauma pass me by and then if I can talk myself into risk behavior maybe I'll take him a midday movie with popcorn and a diet drink.

I hate to sound all senior paranoid but we're the ones this virus is targeting. I have to consider how willing I am to significantly restrict my life. I mean I could sit in my little apartment and not do anything and just let myself age and age in place not enjoying life. Is this living? So the classic thinkers and disability of indicated that people with disabilities have a right to risk. In this case risk is more than just deal with bus and going downtown it's getting on a bus going downtown and sitting in a tube of other human beings which might be infectious. It only takes one. So I dodge the viral bullets this summer/fall season what's to say when one day I mistakenly not mask up or touching infected surface and nonthinking touch an orifice and then “boom and doom” I'm taking the ride, heading for my last Roundup. Maybe I'm just a statistic, part of the cog in the giant machine that has to function to sacrifice to get the enemy agents of the population. Maybe it's just my time. Maybe ready to take the risk, purchase the ticket, get a middle size diet something in popcorn and settled back in the soothing darkness of the theater all to myself and enjoy the show…

MAKE IT STOP

 

I really thought I was out of the woods. After all in my giant effort to be proactive when last week my controller burst apart and I got my brother over and is able to zip tie the controller together. I knew is going to be a pain in my butt but I called my wheelchair provider and wheelchair shop, scheduled to have my chair picked up then was without my chair for a whole day. (Writing this really makes you sound like a boob but still these are my feelings and I plan to own them). My controller look good and functional and I've been in the process of making plans to either get newer batteries are to deep charge the batteries in my backup chair so that they will once again hold a charge for the usable amount of time. Then this morning, I just returned from the laundry with my laundry and was heading over to the bed to begin folding close when something caught on my charger and before I knew it the controller for was ripped off the chair. Unlike before the controller stayed togetherThe controller was just hanging by the court making the chair difficult, at best, to drive. I had no other option but to call my brother again. And once again call came over with his tools and we/he was able to mount the controller back on its pedestal. He was able to use a combination of zip ties and wire. The way I see it now I just have to get by until Tuesday. Tuesday going up to what used to be U CAT now it's just Utah Assistive Technology Program. I spoke with the interim coordinator who seems to indicate I can do some pick and choosing of equipment they have in stock which is a lot of stuff. I'm hoping I can just get another controller identical to this one. The Quantum 6000 Z is a fairly ubiquitous chair and I'm hoping for an easy fix. I'm sensing that Intermountain health wheelchair shop is getting a little tired of me and trying to keep this chair functional until I get authorized for a new piece of equipment.

I was really kind of excited to start the day when I got up this morning. I wasn't going to do a lot the biggest thing being the head south to the Walmart to see about a new pair of shoes as well as my regular weekend shopping. I have been out of bananas for at least four days. I also want to get some other treats but I did not feel comfortable now, even with the great fix job that my brother did. I just felt I was being told to stay home not push myself further than I needed to. So, I did saddle up and head across the street to the local market getting some bananas, and other treats like tamales, lettuce for salads and sandwiches and more juice. I'm set I don't have to go out tomorrow and keep the day Sabbath holy within limits. I plan to put as little stress on this controller is possible to get me through the next couple of days.…

Shoe Hopes

 

Back in June 2019, (yes that's right 2019, when I first did the search I thought I was in June of this year but no it was June of last year so obviously I've been putting off this task)I posted about the condition of my shoes, my most usable pair shoes. Actually have a couple other pairs but one of the pair I can't find the other shoe to end the other pair of shoes that I have access to look like Frankenstein shoes. I've been pushing the decision of getting another pair of shoes further back on my table to do things in this last week one of the straps that I used to fasten my shoes is just about deteriorated past the point of use therefore I am going to have to up my game start getting serious about finding another pair of shoes.

So of course I went to the Internet just to see what was available and I found this image of a pair shoes little less than 30 bucks. I figure that's worth a crap shoot I'm getting a pair shoes off the Internet. I still have a lot to figure out. I have fat feet that goes without saying how many E's that is is another adventure in science for me. The fat feet is just one of the problems the other problem is my weird toe, more specifically my little toe up my right foot has always wrote on top of the other Toe or is a like to put it the number 4 toe. If I do not get shoe large enough to accommodate the little toe are go through a lot of pain until the material stretches to the point my birth defect will stop fighting The confines of the shoe and get on with its dormant life. This task, for as small as it is, just seems overwhelming. I'm going to give it a shot though and see how far I can get this time. Remember Steve the guy talked about last night when he had on a set of shoes that had the kind of fasteners I use and I was somewhat surprised when I asked him where he was able to pick those up he said “Walmart” why didn't I think of that? Walmart has just about everything at a price that will starve a Third World manufacturer. Every time I shop at Walmart have to deal with my social conscience and sadly the fact that Walmart 1. Usually has the item that I'm looking for and 2. Has a price is better than anything else I could find and perhaps the most significant idea is that I can buy it immediately, I can have it right now and get it over with. I haven't done that yet, get on the bus and head over to Walmart down the street but I will tomorrow possibly Monday. My goal of course is to have the shoes by this fall. What I said, I really don't care what they look like my driving factor will be ease of putting the shoes on, comfort, price and to some degree social acceptance. This winter I still plan to wear shorts all winter long but I still have to wear shoes. However, maybe just maybe this year I'll start wearing socks…

Ankle And Thigh And Upper Half

 

This is a picture of me and my buddy Steven, who is also my upstairs neighbor, when I say upstairs neighbor I mean his apartment is directly above mine. When he flushes the toilet in the morning I hear it sounds like a fighter jet. We have pretty good insulation here at the apartments so I rarely hear anything else. A written about Steven before. I did not go through and do a search but I know I've written about them in the past. Steven is one one of those guys is that you take in small amounts just too much is just too much to handle.

It's Thursday that maintenance coffee social hour which we have every Thursday morning. Today we tried something new and that was having a social out on our patio, here at the property. And, we had the social half hour earlier than usual so that the sun would not be bearing down on us as we try to drink our coffee and socialize. Amazingly, this was a great experience and I think we got much more interaction than we usually do. We'll probably do this now in the fall until it's too cold or unless the sucker punch of Covid 19 comes back and socks is in the nose. I would say possibly the middle of October. If that happens I'm sure the complex will go back to all alert quarantine. I hope that's the way it goes if it happens. The Covid were to rampage the senior apartment complex the results would.be pretty. But I digress. As I said this morning was beautiful out on the patio in the usual folks were in attendance as well as Steven. I have to clarify Steven, typically is not in attendance so it's always a special treat we does show up.

What was kind of interesting in this morning's social was how people tended to bunch up once we got our coffee and found tables to sit around. I think this is what led to better socialization than before. Steven is Mormon And there's nothing wrong with that is the coffee social. And I've kind of found this two or three or four different kinds of Mormon. The super conservative holier than thou Mo, the kind you never wanted fishing because they're walking on the water always scares the fish. Then there's the normal Mo who keeps their religiosity to themselves and are pleasant to be around. The there are Mo s like me who tend to be quiet and just watch everything going around them then there's Mormons like Steven who are fairly conservative and almost clinically paranoid. They are totally conspiracy theoristsAnd love to tell you all about the theories and why they are so. The only problem is they don't know when to back away from the subject. Sadly, after about five minutes with Steven he sort of switches into apostolic, and of the world saver mode. Today it was cute Steven passed out N – 95 Covid masks. Had Steven stop there everything would've been fine but he launched into the need to have quantities of water stashed under the bed as well as making sure that we had our store of plastic and medical materials for when the system failed and civilization crashed. In the old days year ago people were still polite and moved either engage in conversation with Steven or try to wait them out now however people smile, nod their heads and move away as quick as I can to another table in conversation. I even do this now, I'm not proud.

My neighbor across the hall Billie is only been here a year and she's very nice. She verbalized how we had hurt Steven's feelings. At some point I would've been affected but that kind of guilt but you know what? Life's too short and sometimes you got a save yourself at the risk of others even if they have your best interest at heart , visualize The scene from Cecil B DeMille's 10 Commandments where the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah are embracing the golden calf ankle and thigh and upper half…

Don't Block My Way!

 

I know it sounds trite but it's also true how nice it is to have my regular wheelchair back. Even though like I said and have probably said 100 times in the last 48 hours I'm grateful to have a backup chair but I just wish that beckoned chair was in better condition. I'm convinced the charities batteries

my first duties of the day was to contact wheelchair shop as soon as I have the time activated opened.I finally accepted the reality that I'm not going to get past camera gatekeeper to speak to the technicians of like to visit with the just and going to happen. But I did visit with Cameron about my request to see if they ever had any use batteries of course, they don't. The ship any use batteries/coresThat comes in with chairs back to the battery distributor they use. I understand that I appreciate that. Cameron did give me some interesting information about batteries and that batteries that sit idle for a long time (as mine do in the back of chair) often deplete their charge so deeply a regular charger that comes with the chair is not heavy-duty enough to put back to amperage these batteries need. So, in fact the battery may be good the battery just been depleted to the point that will no longer charge however, if you have a regular battery charger like the kind you use in your vehicle/car this can push a charge into the battery to the degree that the court charge will reignite and possibly the charge they once again stay with the battery. It's worth a shot except I'm not to be able to do it independently going to have to have one access to said charger and to somebody with enough know-how and dexterity to get to the batteries and charge. I believe I've scored on a charger mouth I just talked the guy into heaven to go up my batteries should see what happens. I always hold out hope but maybe I just need new batteries or at least batteries also stated charge.

I was glad to have a reason to give my chair and hit the open sidewalk after being cooped up with the power chair without the power to get further than the 10^th of a mile from my apartment. I bet a friend for lunch at a restaurant not far from where I live. As I cut through the park and onto the sidewalk that would get me to the intersection I was confronted with the sign blocking my way. I just don't know when city officials will ever learn that more than mandatory pedestrians use the sidewalks are going to do signage why can't they do signage and still have the sidewalk accessible to everyone? I almost got angry but also overjoyed with just being out on my own that I managed to take the time to snap a photo I did on my way to my appointment of coffee and the promise of free pie Wednesday, No damn Simon scored to hold me up not today…

I Made It

 

It's evening just a little past 6 PM and I'm sitting here patiently waiting for the deliveryman to drop off my repaired chair. As I've said many times I'm totally thankful to have a backup chair but I've got to spend some time and money on this backup chair of.because even though I could get around it was just barely. I'm pretty sure the battery shot in the chair I've had to spend all day close to one of my battery chargers fortunately I have three. Even though I charge the chair all night long I have barely enough power to go a 10^th of a mile. This is like two or three trips from my bedroom to the kitchen and back. I suppose if we were not in the middle of Covid 19 I would be much more upset but I said so many times I really don't have anywhere to go anyway. I must admit however the apartment has taken a beating as far as how it looks. It seems order in the apartment is the least of my priorities.

This morning in a fit of productivity I actually called my brother, Carl about staying on the phone while I attempted to transfer from my bed in the chair. I really am not comfortable with my regular ADLs in this chair. Luckily, the transfer went off without incident. More than once with this chair I've had to struggle literally hours trying to pull myself back into the chair after a failed transfer. But I made it through the day soon my chair will be here. My immediate plan now is going to figure out a way to get this backup chair into somewhere they can do some examination for other issues it might have. Once again, I'm a little frustrated because if things go as we hope I will be able to get a brand-new chair in the next four or five months. At that time, I of course will turn the chair that is my main chair now into my backup chair and will get rid of this chair altogether. I don't know but maybe with a newer set of batteries this may not be a bad chair for like my neighbor who is post stroke. I have to admit the control box on this chairs little squarely but it still might be good for somebody who has some ambulatory capabilities and would use this chair just as an adjunct to their mobility. That would be the way to do it.

Hopefully my son continues to rehabilitate from his Covid 19 struggle. It's kind of difficult been so isolated but even if I was able-bodied I doubt I'll be able to do much more than I am now by sending daily inquiries as to the status. The probably driving them crazy I think they would be if my mother was calling all the time to get my status if I were ill. But I guess that's her parents do. This morning I had one of those revelatory moments when look at myself in my big mirror and just seeing how geriatric I appear which then totally reinforces the idea that I need to stay out of possible contact scenarios at all cost. I am exactly the target for coronavirus would love to shoot for…

It Could Be Worse

 

Remember the image last week of my seemingly exploded controller from a power wheelchair? How I limped around trying to get by until my brother came over and secured the controller works of ties? Will sadly over the weekend one of is it ties snapped off. These zip ties are quite old and so I would not be surprised if Zip ties were brittle. I lived up to my thoughts which I've had in the blog about why hadn't I thought of the zip tie solution myself? I went to my supply of zip ties found a couple put together and sure enough was able to zip the controller together. Seriously however, I realized this was not the ideal fix for our problem. No matter what zip ties I used they all are going to, sooner than later, go brittle and snap and leave me with a problem. I sure didn't want to but got on the phone this morning and contacted Intermountain Hospital wheelchair shop and spoke with Cameron the phone protector of the technicians. You don't talk to anybody unless Cameron gives the okay. Cameron called and left a message for me last week and also full myself with The zip tie solution are pretty much told him to forget the call. Well I'll certainly humbled when I called back today. Cameron shared with me that he had spoken with the technicians would see the images they felt they could do something but of course they would need to have my chair overnight. I figured that was the case. Luckily, I suppose, Cameron indicated they could actually pick my chair up this afternoon in a couple of hours. I wasn't sure the status of my backup chair. It was sitting under a pile of stuff in the corner and I know had not been charged in weeks. I told Cameron I would be able to have my chair ready for the early pickup 5 PM to 8 PM. Went back and plugged the chair in, the backup chair and went on with my day.

I really do appreciate IHC folks getting my chair and immediately and I need to resolve feeling so put upon just because sitting in this back up chair is uncomfortable. One I should be thankful that I have a backup chair regardless of how it makes you feel physically, the chair works and meets the need that I have for independence even even when my regular chair is not available. Secondly, they took my chair and immediately which means that one way or the other I will have to chair back sometime tomorrow. Because the Covid it's not like I'm going to be doing anything tomorrow Except hanging out at the apartment complex and most likely just hanging around the apartment. I admit doubles spooked about getting up in the morning just because transferring the somewhat challenging but if I take enough precautions I'll be all right. I will have my regular chair back tomorrow and have my whole week still look forward to enjoying this life that I am blessed to have…

Seasonal Preparations

 

Sometimes I just cannot believe my actions. Actually it's probably most of the time but still there's theAction where you're doing something and you're looking at yourself like out of your body and wondering why is he doing that? Today was one of those days. First all the major Marvel universe person. I've really enjoyed all the Marvel movies pretty much from Ironman, Spiderman two Guardians of the Galaxy (GOTG). In fact now I'm sort of immersed in GOTG. I think I mentioned I purchased both volumes 1 and two of Guardians the other day. Today in a moment Gweakness I purchased membership in Disney + the home base of most of the Disney franchise. This means I have access to everything from Wally To GOTG When I want to either download or stream the documents. I was visiting with somebody last night who basically alike to me that I can have the Disney Channel for $6.95 a month And as I pondered this I realized I could easily afford this piece of recreation. .So I did it. I think I have three subscriptions now for viewing options. And right now I think if I had to drop the first two and keep Disney +. I do feel a little bit on easy at having this much access and there's so much more need to be doing that's not screen related or at least entertainment screen related.

In the same vein today I'm actually spending time cleaning the place up a little bit since Annette my regular cleaning person has been on vacation with her family at Bear Lake. Thank goodness, she should be back tomorrow morning. But with cooking that I did yesterday in general living the kitchen was pretty much chaos this morning and so little bit by little bit today I've been trying to put some order to the chaos as well as spend some time cooking some of the protein I've rather thawed out Or of gotten through the food bank and I don't want any of the pieces to go bad. So Friday pieces us sirloin steak cut them that I want to use later on in the week for beef noodles and then I also made sloppy Joe's or sloppy Joe mix. I had a can of sloppy Joe mix kicking around I don't necessarily like what you get in the can but I did throw in some peppers and onions that I chopped and then is able to use some of the sloppy Joe seasoning I purchased at the throwaway basket couple weeks ago. Since this sloppy Joe mix essentially for myself this next week good thing I care about is the meat is safe from disease process and pathogens and fairly tasty.

Were basically through a third of the month now of August. I'm now sensing the mornings become on more and more dark as the hours of sunlight begin to short as you make it towards fall equinox. I'm okay with this I'm just again totally amazed at how quickly time seems to be flowing by. Soon the days of heat will be passed and will be considering once again the cold dark days of the year. But maybe they won't be so cold or dark this year with three streaming services and a well-stocked pantry…

It Could've Been Worse

 

I don't know what it is about changing close once you are to gotten dressed for the day but I just can't do it without a major bit of justification. That was the case this morning after I'd gotten up and gotten dressed. This is not a quick event on weekends usually. Since I'm alone there really is no need to wear clothes anymore than I need to for social acceptance and approval. A lot of times on Saturday and Sunday mornings I tend a lollygag around my morning. This morning was like that. I opened a brand-new can of coffee transferred half of it to my coffee set up and spooned out enough for 10 cops or whatever “10” means on the side of my coffeemaker. With that task done I wanted to the bathroom and shaved and only then did I put my shorts on for the day. Today I'm wearing my white and black graph shorts. I like the shorts are part of that war broke I purchased for myself following the marriage breakup. I accounted the shorts as part of my “dress-up” collection. Those pieces of clothing I wear if and when I go to something special or need to dress up to any degree. Next, I'm back at the kitchen the coffee's done and I make my morning cocktail. I described this before this is the drink I make with the mother vinegar or vinegar with “mother” whatever that is. I've never gotten a good description or definition of what the mother does. Pepper three shakes, garlic powder two shakes, vinegar 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons of juice from the jalapeno pepper container and then 250 mL of spicy vegetable juice. This is my current favorite morning beverage.

I set my plastic, metered mug next to on the work area underneath the cupboard for I keep my morning meds. Of course just as I was reaching up to get my baclofen my elbow catches the mug and throws the whole thing on my lap! I was quite proud of myself for not exploding stomping around the kitchen virtually in my head cursing and swearing. I quietly put down what I was doing drove to the bathroom grab my red tile and tried to sop up as much juice on my person as I could. Having achieved this I was still a mess and had to make a decision of where the mess our go through the process of dressing again, I mean I even had my shoes on. I decided I was not going to undress and then get dressed again and I got my hairdryer and blew dry my soaking white with black stripes shorts and also vegetable juice red. This is not easy process because I had to dig the hairdryer out from behind my bedroom utility shelf. Probably would've been a lot easier just to strip down and redress but I was committed at this point. Long story short it took me about 10 minutes to dry my shorts. I smell like an Italian dinner and I suppose it could be things worse. The only thing I want to do today is to run over to the food bank to see what treasures I can get hold of. So I will have my big basket on my lap and nobody there will care what I look like. Possibly, if I go next door to the market I will have the big basket on my lap and again who cares? But seriously for some reason I'm in the mood for a tossed salad…