Happy New Year!!

 

It's New Year's Eve, early evening not even 7 PM yet but I want to get this last entry into the blog and off my mind so I can enjoy whatever I end up doing this New Year's which isn't going to be much. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining actually up kind looking forward to the evening with access to the Internet, Amazon prime/Netflix and whatever and just enough booze to get me into trouble. I gave away my vodka the day to my home health person, Gloria. She's such a interesting little soul and got a support her ago lover and her little bitty life that somehow she continually survives one day to the next. She gotten screwed over again by her neighbors are whatever you had just 20 bucks to last her for the month. I know she'll pull whatever out of the fire and survive one moment or another. What really broke my heart was the low lives, who are her neighbors, swiped her cigarettes and that's down and dirty. I still had the $10 bill I had gathered from her last week which I had traded her wash quarters for the $10. in a moment of magnanimity I gave her the $10 until she only use it for cigarettes! I also gave her my bottle of Absolut vodka which I've had for at least four years. It's unopened and ready to be loved. I just hope Gloria doesn't love it too much. The girl has to make some decisions however, she's absolutely right this job just does not cut it up for her. I don't know what she's going to do but should figure out something.

I was shocked today when I did my wash and rolled past the mailroom that people are picking up the mail. I could not believe that the mail was delivered today, New Year's being celebrated as the holiday before the regular holiday – – I don't know if that makes sense or not but you know what I mean – – and sure enough when I checked there is new mail in one of the pieces was my alumni magazine. That very expensive glossy fundraising device which they would deny that that's what it was for but we know. I'm sure that some business major worked out the cost ratio of the slick glossy pictures and print highlighting the big donors since the last issue. I usually just checked the magazine after glancing through it but today, maybe I was a bit melancholy due the end of the year whatever I decided out drag it back to the apartment and look through it closer. I'm always intrigued at the professionals they highlight every issue. I've even known a couple of them which kind of shocks me. I guess it sort of makes sense just because my graduating class this past retirement age now and those who made it big are now out and about spending all their acquired wealth (of course B S U certainly wants to get their share). A kind of like the stories of the physicians, CEOs, engineers and of course educators since Boise State is a big education school. I rarely pay attention to the sports portion – – which is a big part of the rag special from the fundraising point of view – – and probably most interested to me is the obituaries just seen who is still around and who is not. I have to admit I am really glad to graduated from this institution as sappy as that sounds but it's true. Whether I deserved it or not I'm glad I got my degree and that I'm an alum for however pitiful that might be…

Low Mileage

 

I was kind of hoping to turn to 4460 miles today. I only need to go 4/10 of a mile to achieve this accomplishment but I did make it instead I chose to stay in the apartment where it's warm and hang out all day. Needless to say not much got accomplished. I didn't even have to cook anything because of got so much food prepared already. I made sloppy Joe's last night just because I've had a pound of hamburger in the refrigerator for at least a week. Luckily it's vacuum sealed so it wasn't going to go bad – – at least I didn't think so. I didn't have a green pepper which is kind of sad but I did have an onion would just chop to prepare just right and a can of Mannwich . I did not necessarily like the flavor of sloppy Joe sauce out of a can but is certainly simpler than food processing when you just want to make a fast meal. I found sloppy Joe mixes in the can dreadfully sweet and dreadfully lacking flavors of key vegetables primarily green peppers but I was able to prepare five burgers one might put in plastic wrap and the other I put in the plastic container which is now in the fridge waiting for those moments when the need to be a meal what there is neither time nor will bring about such an event.

It's Thursday night, but not before New Year's eve, it's pretty quiet and I was suddenly struck with the thought that it's almost 8:00 PM I wonder if Jim, the guy who lives here but works at the food bank, route over anything for the sharing shelf. He tends to do that on Thursday evenings. It's not official opening Jim just cleans out what's left around on the tables at the food bank that needs to go. I've written about this before this causes quite a frenzy with other folks here at the apartment complex. Of course don't need any of the food we are always fascinating to see what he brings what they have available. Of almost totally weaned myself off food bank food. After all I can purchase anything that I really want to eat I dislike the surprise of food bank Thursday and occasional treats that come along with. Stuff I would never purchase a special things like cookies and cakes especially chocolate cakes. But there was nothing there tonight. I think Jim is still a little miffed about residence took way more than they needed last week.

I noticed my pathetic little Christmas ornament still hanging from my door. The miniature Christmas stocking full of green and yellow candy canes (truly the wrong color for Christmas canes). I reminded myself that I need to take him down and put them somewhere that all remember were there at next Christmas – – provided I make it that long. Then I noticed I was one of the last people in the hall still have anything remotely Christmas up well that's with the exception of Carol next door who still has all of her Christmas decorations on her door. Everybody else is got everything taken down in the hall looks once more dreary. The Christmas tree still stands in the foyer that probably won't come down till the second or third day of January and perhaps that's as it should be. As you can tell, obviously I didn't do much today and that's okay they will soon be a brand-new day and very soon a brand-new year after all tomorrow is New Year's Eve.…okay

Me and My Buddy David Rogers

 

Isn't it weird when you think you know something and then your religion not really sure that you know anything at all? Today was another cold and overcast day threatening snow, a good day to stay in the joy the heat and the convenience of streaming technology. However all that changed in the instant when I was contacted by my good buddy David Rogers who is a major blast from my past. My buddy David has kids living in North Salt Lake so he has a reason to visit periodically. Historically, he has never really dropped in to see me on one of his kid visits that's okay. Why don't know doesn't hurt me but he made contact with me earlier this Christmas season and we visited on the phone for about an hour. It was a great visit we rehashed a lot of stuff. But today he called and said that he wanted to take me to lunch. I of course immediately agreed offer any of the village in are my favorite D's restaurant on the corner both of which I could get to within minutes.

We connected by phone midmorning it was about 15 minutes after 10 AM. And when David said you want to do lunch I figured traditional 12 noon lunch but if you want to come down now this is okay will do it. I gave in the directions to the restaurant but he wanted to come to my apartment and then walk with me to the restaurant which was really unnecessary I could not figure out why this was so important to him. I fought it for a few minutes and then finally accepted the software is going to be. About 45 minutes later David did show up and we talked quite a while in the apartment before we settled up at walked over to the D's restaurant. David was quite worried about me stress the fact that is wearing shorts and we're going out of the cold weather. So I'll let them wrap my legs up one of my pieces of fabric that I keep around for just that reason and I wore my great White coat and off we went. We had a great lunch talking and the staff were great to us to making sure my coffee cup that was continually top off and that David was taking care of too. We had a great time. But one of the most interesting parts of the whole event was trying to figure out how and when we how and when we met.

I really five new how we knew each other. We went to the same high school Borah senior high. I thought we met during seminary (you remember that quasi-religious class that Mormon youth attended while going to senior high school) but David said he didn't go to seminary. But I knew we sat at the “seminary table” where we all sat after seminary in the morning before classes started at the high school. But we both agreed that we went to the Mormon Saturday night dances together. David would pick me up in his vehicle and drive me. But were still fuzzy on how and when we met I can't remember. But we're pretty close so close in fact we were roommates at one time in my little house in Nampa Idaho in the first apartment I had on my own. I can't remember how we connected first. We had a couple shared friends but nothing really jumps out about will be first met each other I guess it's not really important now is just an artifact but one I'd like to know just the same. It sort like choosing where we were going to have brunch will be realized it didn't matter where we went the food and style of dining was not important what was important was that we had a place we could comfortably discuss our shared history and plan our shared future however that may look like…

Parts

 

It is freezing cold outside and that is why I was somewhat relieved this morning when Andreas indicated there would be no meeting which means there would not be a reason for me to go downtown. I would've done it in my great white coat but still would've been monstrously uncomfortable as well as injurious possibly to my power chair – – the only power chair I have access to currently. Fortunately, there was not enough snow that blew in yesterday during the snow squall to keep me trapped in the apartment complex but I must admit the cold is enough.

Even with the gift of a few hours without not going to the meeting renders I really haven't done much with my day. I should be equipped. But on the positive side I did renew a prescription, rivaled the cage of my one wheelchair tech who is supposedly working on my power chair that's in the shop. I also tried to get a hold of the guys down at the other wheelchair shop to drive to get parts for this chair I'm sitting in right now. This is the chair with the broken side or the lover which anchors the side. I have an image of this at the top of this post. You can see where the side of the lever, where pins into the side of the chair,, has disintegrated. I will spare you by angst regarding the industry's use of plastic in these key components. It seems to me that metal would be a much better choice. In my mind plastic is always doomed to failure at one point or another. Lucky for me however the one agency idea with those have access to a lot of spare parts and it sounds like they found the parts that I need the only issue is the key people are on Christmas break and probably won't be back to their offices till after the new year. This is another reason why I'm not really pushing myself to be outside and doing things which might be fun and interesting. I'm using this excuse of treating my chair as lightly as possible in order to assure that I have something until my new main chair is returned.

Actually, this last week of 2021 are don't have anywhere to go. I suppose I could go over to the market to pick up a few things but I'm fairly well-stocked. I would really like some of those French fried onions to make a green bean casserole. But I could do that with Chinese noodles I suppose. Not as scrumptious as the French fried onions but it would be good for the roast I have left which I need to eat shortly. As far cycles I have a pound of hamburger which I also need to fry up and mix with a can of man which or whatever's for sloppy Joe's. I ordered 2 pounds of filberts for my not collection and so I can't say I've been somewhat productive and a little bit busy. I probably need to wash a couple of dishes and begin the swab out the refrigerator that might be a task for next year I really don't want to rush things…

Writers Guild… Again?

 

We had brunch today that bizarre meal that's evolved between breakfast and lunch. Makes me feel like a hobbit with their many meal diet. And in truth I don't have three meals breakfast, lunch, and brunch I basically don't eat breakfast and we always basically talk to lunch so I guess it all works out. Of course, this was the writers Guild, a group of three that's been held together by common interests basically writing. I have written somewhat extensively regarding this group in the past but the group is big enough function of my life I feel the need to always write about our meetings.

We supposed to met last week or the week before and the day of the great storm that dumped significant amounts of snow on the Wasatch front and even the Valley for to the point that the guild elected to stay home and stay warm on the inside. Since I live right down the street I got to the restaurant at the appointed time and then waited for a half an hour for the other two to show up. Jerry, the retired writer, usually picks up Lori and we both drive them to the restaurant. It was good to see all as Jerry pounded on the window as they walked past where I was sitting. I know I'm getting older in fact I don't give away old which means the people I associate with our as well but always blows me away to see just how old the others are looking. Again, not that I'm not I just don't see it as much. We're truly a group to ourselves and enjoyed that feeling of camaraderie we have earned just by hanging out together for so long. In truth I'm kind of surprised that I made it to the lunch today. I thought sure there is going to be a bunch of snow as well as the fact that this power chair I'm in is acting very very strange of late I don't like to take it out very far at all. (Actually Mark Anthony did some work on the bearings yesterday that's been freezing up and it's writing like a new chair today). We ordered coffee and we talked about what we were doing. It always amazes me about Lori is up to. The years have been hard on Lori and she is having difficulty more and more digging around for the first time talked about getting a power chair. I think this would be a good thing but still will be awkward. But we talked as we talked we pontificated and really enjoyed each other's company. The meals came we devoured and talk some more. I had to spend New York or San Francisco I'm sure we would've had mixed drinks, wine or something to finish off the meal but as it was we just talks more. Interestingly, two people sitting in different booths somewhat adjoined hours or they could overhear what we were discussing actually stopped and came over and shared with us how interesting they thought our discussion was. We were, at first, taken aback but at the same time welcomed their interest. This is never really happened before kind of made us feel special if not cool. They even said they would like to join us at our next luncheon but of course that's not going to happen or not to let them know there's no way we didn't trade phone numbers just names and first names at that. We feed off each other to the point that we started discussing the idea of raising some money to put on another play or pay a director to direct another one of our plays. This all sounds very exciting but in realistic terms I don't know what we would do if we did get such funding sort of like the dog catching the car's been chasing all its life…

Day After

 

For the second week in a row we have not done are Sunday breakfast. Mark Anthony seems to come down with a cold work off of some sort from his trip to Southern California. I think Mark is working too hard and needs more rest plus the weather people were talking possible storms this morning and quite frankly I didn't know if my power chair was up to the trip up to the corner restaurant in snow and rain if that is what happens. Essentially, I scrubbed the breakfast this morning let him get back to sleep and I made garbrock one of my favorite Sunday breakfasts. I've gone over the recipe in blogs past those interested can just do a search but should kick out if not let me know and I'll certainly postpone for you or just email it to you should you desire.

The day certainly look like a stormy day to begin, dark clouds menacing wins at actually watched both guardians of the galaxy movies which I found delightful even though I don't even know how many times I've seen them the part of the Disney package and I just love the movies for some reason. I messed around clean up the mess I made at breakfast and Mark Anthony called later on in the late morning or early afternoon indicating you still want to come over and giving my Christmas presents. I sensed he really needed to do so also why not I wasn't doing anything else today.

I just finished volume 2 of the movies and Mark knocked on my door and brought in a number of packages! How exciting? We didn't directly get into the open in the packages first choosing to help me clean up the apartment a little bit and he was actually hungry so I was able to feed him a bunch of snacks I've had laying around from various gifting neighbors in such. He went around the collected all the garbage bin various containers around the apartment packed them out to the dumpster swept up a little bit very nice. Then we opened up my gifts my daughter-in-law (they are still legally married) got me a great woodcut picture – – very nice. Then I got to open up the heavy long package. It was a new workbench! I'm so excited and I'm beside myself but for little workbench that I purchased when I moved into this apartment was very inexpensive and very lightly built and was coming apart. I'm pleased that Mark even noticed but now I've got a great Black & Decker workbench which will really assist in my maintenance of my wood sticks – – is that redundant – –? The only problem was the bench was in this narrow long box the whole thing was totally disassembled and we spent the afternoon putting together my bench. Mark of course is the one who did the work I'm glad he did I was gone insane trying to figure out how to put all these parts together and of course the major hand function would be required. No problem, a dad has to know when to keep his mouth shut and let the sun takes a road and direct the path. He did a great job. Between this bench and to cards for Amazon I made out like a bandit this Christmas. The kind of feel bad that I didn't any gifting maybe next year five live long enough.

It's the day after Christmas gifts of unopened boxes of candy partially eaten in my human body is in dire need of real food not candy, empty carbohydrates. I did make the broccoli breakfast perhaps this is good as it gets today. I was good try to warm up the roast with mashed potatoes and gravy but that didn't happen maybe tomorrow I hope your day after Christmas was as nice….

Christmas 2021

 

As you all probably picked up I'm somewhat infatuated with the unexplainable, mystical, magical. I want to believe there is an explanation for everything, something cold hard in real but sometimes there just is not. I don't know what guides are causes the unexplainable perhaps it is the finger of a higher being or whatever body part brings about such wonder to humans such as us when the unexplainable happens maybe just dumb luck that somehow I cannot accept that explanation.

Mark Anthony was sick today from his travels I think I'm Southern California then returning to the cold weather and whatever infirmity he had kicked in. So we were not able to have our Christmas morning breakfast which I was kind of looking forward to. I wasn't sure how serious he was but he seemed pretty disheartened when I started getting the texts that is not to make it as early as usual and then not at all after I gave a great excuse not to try to get out. He seemed insistent however to make sure I had a gift to open today so he sent Jasmine or Jasmine sent herself at least herself and Jaxon . I cut it didn't believe jazzmen come all the way into the city just to see me so I was a little surprised at around 2 o'clock when I got a text from Jasmine saying their inbound. I'd start a load of wash – – yes my Christmas wash – – so I was hanging around the front of the building to keep an eye on the parking lot to see if Jasmine got there okay. I was running back and forth from the apartment to the front of the building. As I was waiting there I noticed one of the other residents coming up the walk with her little dog and she was all worried and told me about this person out in the parking lot stuck in the snow. I glanced over her shoulder and he could see a young man trying to put what look like cardboard sheets underneath the wheels of his truck that seem to be stuck in the snow. Marta, the resident that was talking to me was telling me that the person trying to dig out the truck needed a real shovel. There is a plastic snow removal shovel sitting in the front of the door of our building. Marta wants to know if he could use the shovel. I told her I suppose that I didn't care. As I watch the little guy looked very familiar to me but I couldn't quite place him. It was about that time I was startled when Jasmine/my granddaughter, came down the hall and said “hi”. I was more than little surprised then I realized the young man desperately trying to dig his truck out of the snow was Jaxon. My possible grandson law had somehow try to blast through a snow pile and got his truck high centered on that snow pile and could not getting traction. Unbelievable. Like a good parent type I wandered out to see what I could do anything which of course I couldn't except for offer the plastic cheap plastic shovel.

Jasmine and Jaxon had brought me a plate of food, you know the kind that comes all wrapped in tin foil. Real food from a real Christmas dinner funeral potatoes, two slabs of ham real ham not pressed, and some kind of mystery bread treat kind of tasted like bread pudding but different. Chopped strawberries and syrup that just now I realized was supposed to be poured over the bread product. Jaxon kind of want to be left alone and work on the truck so Jasmine retired to the apartment to put the plate away. I was just about to go and find a couple of the other guys at the complex we decide to go out and see if the board made any progress when we got there were blown away to see of another truck next to his getting ready to pull the truck out . He pulled and the truck came right off is no perch. It was the uncle of the driver, jaxe's uncle. It was one of those weird events that Jaxon happened to look up and see his uncle passed by in his truck and immediately Jackson called his uncle who came back and save the day. There is no reason the uncle should but in that neighborhood but had taken a shortcut and put them in the right place at the right time just as jaxen looked up. It took me just a second to realize this was the Christmas miracle I've been waiting for all season long. A bona fide event that defied explanation that ended up doing good. I was humbled to be part of the witness for this event and truly made my day Christmas!

A Marvelous Christmas Eve

 

It's Christmas Eve, granted still quite early it's not even 5 PM but like yesterday it is already becoming dark and feeling very night like. Once again I don't plan to spend a very different Christmas Eve then I have in years past specially since the divorce. By myself with electronics and cell phone and this year with a box of Christmas candy as well as a few shots of eggnog left but a logo that later.

It's not like I'm tying up loose ends, however I felt like I needed to make a run to the Glasshouse this afternoon to pick up a bottle of Bailey's but then I figured you know I can get by until Monday or Tuesday of next week before the first of the year. I have a bottle of something to mix with coffee are vodka and milk to make a black Russian White Russian or whatever it is that's a lot of work and since I don't particularly like to drink alone I doubt that it's going to happen. But this morning I was pleasantly surprised to have a drink with my home health provider Gloria. I have a bottle in my refrigerator left over from last year when my dentist gave me a bottle of hard-core eggnog for Christmas. I think I've had two drinks out of it the whole year. This morning however I mentioned this and Gloria was game and I was game we both had a shot or two of eggnog. It certainly wasn't enough to make a difference but it really was nice to have a drink with a friend. I have not done this and probably decades. She mentioned she likes Bailey's I would like some Bailey's so hopefully will have a drink on New Year's Eve the same way. Needless to say the overcast skies and the promise of rain turning to snow kept me in the house except for a short bit when I zipped across the street looking for a few more Christmas items. I took out the roast beef this morning, one that I froze last week after eating half in saving the roast beef Christmas. I've also thought about sending out for a supreme pizza but I don't know if I dare I have so much other stuff I really need to eat before sending out for something more prepared.

I went to the dollar store. It's always kind of fun at the dollar store were for five or $10 you get to feel like a rich person. There are very practical things there for the person to buy like chip dip mix seasonings just all kinds of things you don't know that you need until you go there. I got out of there with less than four dollars spent but got to wish many people Merry Christmas and they responded like they really meant it sort of like folks at the liquor store. I got back the apartment I was watching a Christmas movie Die Hard one of my favorite Christmas films and I hear muffled knock on the door. It was one of my neighbors here at the apartment complex delivery night a wrapped box were to be left at the front of the building. I pretty much knew what was I've been forewarned by the executive director of one of the boards that I sit on that we would be getting a box of candy's in the mail which would normally have gotten in different times in our Christmas meeting or December meeting. Over the years they've done some really nice gifts. This year a box of chocolates from Logan Utah – – that's this place were the small college/university that hosts this board of folks that I sit on. I should've waited till tomorrow but since is probably going to be the only wrapped gift I get but I give only tore into the wrapping open the box and found my favorite piece a nut crusted piece of toffee it was delicious I don't even care about the other pieces.

I'm kind of excited. I know we won't get much but the weather person is calling for rain turned to snow overnight so just possibly we might have a white Christmas and that would be marvelous…

Christmas Ready!

 

Sometimes the matter how great the hat you have there's not a rabbit in the bottom to pull out. A stud is going to get lucky today get my power chair down to the building and how the latch put back into the side of the receiver for my arm and I would be okay for the rest of the holiday. That wasn't going to happen it seems, luckily I was still at the apartment when I got the phone call from my technician told me that he was being called out of the county on emergency deployment of technology. Of course all estate has Friday as well as Saturday off for the holiday and like I've said so many times I cannot begrudge them I too was once a state employee. So the best looks like and to be able to do now is muddle through the next four or five days with this gimp arm and hopefully on Monday the snow will be off the roads and sidewalks enough that I'll be able to get down to the Buffmire building and get this problem taken care of. I'm okay with just awkward and it's really a minor issue on this chair that I'm trying to keep functional until my other chair gets back from the wheelchair shop which sounds like it could be sometime next week alas, I'm not holding my breath.

Snows forecast to begin sometime tomorrow morning. I doubt before going to get much but still I'm not sure as far as second-guessing the weatherman. So, even with my chair in the state that it's in my but feeling a little tender I made the run over to the market. There's a warm before the storm with the wind blowing temperatures well above freezing so the snow was melting thank goodness but not enough. While rolling to the market I tried to go through a pile of snow that I was kind of forced to ensure enough got the wheels stuck in the snow. It doesn't help that my wheels are totally bald so there's no traction there at all. I tried rocking my chair back and forth, I knew it wasn't good to be able to get free, it was kind like waving a flag so somebody with see my plight and realized that I needed desperate help. Sure enough a couple of vehicle stopping people jumped out and pushed me back onto the street. I assume with the oncoming snow it's just going to make travel that much more difficult. I got an extra bag of chips to hold me over.

It's not a five p.m. Yet and it's merely dark outside. I know are just a few days passed solstice but I want to see the longer days already in so far that still getting dark way early but right now patients is the name of the game and I just want to get through the holidays. I've got way too much food as usual of got a frozen roast, a newly opened package of hotdogs with bonds, Trinkle chips plus barbecue and corn chips – – Fritos of course and I purchased paper bowls for chili. I have Chef Boyardee, Nalley tamales and refried beans a couple of frozen tamales (with new tamales coming supposedly for my barber). I evenpurchased a bag of broccoli florettes washed and prepped and you know how much corn beef I have. I'm set. I also have a bunch of booze in my cabinet are probably won't touch but just in case. We get some kind of set Internet and Disney plus it's going to be a Merry Christmas indeed…

Surviving The Holidays

 

There is a little device on the back of my chair at the latch which allows my side arm to rise and lower. I'm able to lift the arm completely up which allows me to roll into my bed at night. Anyway the latch which secures that arm to the chair kind of disintegrated on me this morning which put me in a quandary of having to get it somehow functional before bedtime tonight.

Of course, trying to find anybody as a business are state facility at this point in time of the holiday is practically impossible. Remember yesterday I talked about my friend at the place for they have all the used equipment was leaving right after he came over and worked on another part of this chair was leaving for his 10 day vacation after he met with me. So I know there is nobody at that number. This place is great because it's got all kinds of older chairs and many of the older chairs have exactly the parts that I need to fit this chair I'm in now. However, the silver lining to this dark cloud is that UCAT and more specifically Create is located in the same building as our number of other rehabilitation facilities. One of them is managed by a good friend of mine who worked with over the years very closely. In fact he was on my Board of Directors for a number of years. Anyway, Kent was actually in his office and working. I sent him a image or two of my problem which are the images I used for this posting. It was like the day before I could get him the images so he was not able to go to the back and see if there is any parts available. Luckily tomorrow, another individual of working very closely aligned with that program will be in the office and hopefully he might be able to find the part that I need. This gives me great hope. And the best part of this problem as long as I can get the arm disengaged from the chair I'm okay. I can limp around without the arm fixed to the chair and get by very nicely. It would be nice to have the arm secured but I can get by. I was able to get Ted, the maintenance manager here at the apartment complex, to pull the pin on the securing device and free of that arm so I'm okay for tonight. There was also good news from my discussion with Alan who's got my other chair in this post be working on it that all the parts are in and maybe sometime next week, after the holiday, but before New Year's they can get my chair working again. This seems almost too good to be true but we'll see what happens.

So the plan is now that as soon as I can get in the other chair, the new chair, I'm going to have the boys, pick up this power chime in now the backup chair and have them bring it into the shop with are going to go over it and replace all the parts that seem to be wearing out. Part of it's my fault because I pop the the casters and then water gets in to these ball bearings and begin to rust and then that's when the whole part becomes useless when those bearings begin the season up and I'm not able to turn the wheels like the need to be. It really is a double edge sword and kind of drives me crazy. Well, I'm one who totally believes in Christmas miracles, I've had enough in my life to know that the phenomenon of Christmas miracles is real and possibly and I've just sat through is this year's Christmas miracle it's not up there with an angel getting its wings but as long as I have ample transportation and independence at the miracle to me…and you too will and is part of job will on his and job is to

Snow Gone

 

I feel kind of bad because I was not able to make my usual Tuesday morning Assist, Inc. meeting in downtown Salt Lake. I called the agency will that usually repairs my chair when I can't get my written wheelchair shop to do it. I was going to drop in their after my meeting but talking to the manager indicated that he was only in the office today and then he was going to be on vacation for the next two weeks! He also said he'd be able to come out to my apartment, rather than me going into the office, which was what sealed the deal for me. He would be by a 12 PM and would that work for me? I told him it would be perfect even though I knew I would be at my meeting so I canceled my meeting which was not a big deal… I'm not that important.

Another grand day of hanging around the apartment kind of trapped in my apartment through a chair that's a little questionable and snow piled high on my passive access. I continue to my regular routine however and working out on my arm bike for an hour. I noticed as I worked out on my bike that there was a lot of activity out of the sidewalk going to the gate. And sure enough the guys were chipping away at the ice flow the snow had turned into. I was going to have access to the bus stop kind of. It took them a good two or three hours delivery that sidewalk and what they were gone, later on the afternoon after my radio show on out to the sidewalk and took images mostly for my own benefit but also the show management their people had, gotten the job done. I noticed however now there is a nice flow from the property line of my apartment complex to the bus stop which is literally 10 feet away from the gate. There is no way a bus could even get close enough to deploy its left GR RRR. Then to make matters worse I was going to go outside the gate and take images of the ice flow to send to the transit authority whose job was to maintain these bus stops. When I hit the button to open electric gate I was met with a shrill piercing shriek, much like the sound of the monolith in 2001 when the astronauts touch the monolith on the moon and the big monolith disappeared to one of the moons outside of Jupiter. The gate is nonfunctional. Now first thing tomorrow morning I'm back at the manager's office complaining about the gate is not fair that I have to be such a pain in the ass everybody I know. Hopefully Ted, the chief of maintenance here, can go out magically fix the problem. It's not like I'm going anywhere anytime soon it's just knowing that I could go out and catch a bus inbound if I needed to, and I don't but in case I did… Just saying

No Go Snow!

 

I do not want the casual reader to think I'm fixated on snow but right now snow is one of the major obstacles in my life aside from a power chair that's in the shop that doesn't seem to be getting repaired and the fact that my backup chair is quickly losing its ability to be called a backup chair. But the point is we had a major snowstorm dumped lots of snow then the apartment management has contracted with an idiot who lets his people plow the back parking lot and throw all the snow onto the sidewalk and not clean that piece of the sidewalk to the bus stop and of course that's my vital line to the outside. So as long as the snow stays I'm sure that's going to be my focus until I couldn't start integrating again with the great outside.

I know last week a day after the snow fell I spoke with our apartment manager that we really needed to make sure the contractor of snow removal for the apartment complex be sensitive to the needs of people and shares who must use sidewalks for transportation. She said she would contact him tell them but as of Friday nothing's been down in this morning I went out and checked and basically any snow removal had been done by the sun. Granted there was a halfhearted attempt to look like one snow shovel full down the center of the sidewalk to a degree until it ran into the major plow dump. That's where it stopped and what little bit of sunshine we've had has melted very little. I wish I could work myself up into righteous anger I just can't. I think it's been a major problem in all of my life rabbit associated with somebody who cares about me and feels that I don't really stand up for myself. It's not that I haven't had adequate trainers. My mom was great things were going the way that she thought they should be going she let everybody know as did my first wife and really Dianne does a great job as well. I just can't get focused anger wise at the people who need it. I first and foremost will agree with all of these folks I'm not much in the Department of sticking up for my of course I'm talking about raising a stink so bad that the technicians at the wheelchair shop move heaven and earth to get me off their case as soon as possible. I wish I could do that but I just don't. The closest I've done on the snow issue is to wander into the office early afternoon and try to be assertive (which I actually sort of was) and management to have someone come out and dig through the snow pile by 5 o'clock so I'd pick sure I have a way in tomorrow to my Tuesday morning meeting. That did not happen but Jennifer did move a lot found the phone numbers as I was leaving she was making calls.

Doesn't really matter because I'm not going into to my Assist meeting in the morning because this chair I am in desperately needs to be desperately needs attention. I was able to call and agency that I've worked with over the years and the guy is going to come out tomorrow to at least change my front tires which a been a major problem. You can't work with the back wheel mechanism which is quite threatening but I think at least with the front casters changed I can survive until I can put enough pressure on the wheelchair shop to get my chair back to me. Then I will try to get this backup chair into another wheelchair shop so that wheelchair shop can do some rehabilitation on this backup chair. I didn't mean for it to be a very busy day by the kind of was and hopefully I will have enough of my needs met that I can at least get around in my local environment until a better chair becomes available as well as the snow fall before the next one…

Sunday Night Blather

 

It was kind of fun building my own breakfast this morning. I haven't really done that since Mark Anthony and I have been doing our Sunday morning breakfast at the restaurant. Don't get me wrong I really enjoy our time at the restaurant but I also really enjoy throwing together a breakfast on Sunday morning. This morning I did bacon and eggs and a toasted English muffin sort of like the McDonald's Egg McMuffin but probably would not nearly as good or as fast. But I truly love the process. Starting the coffee maker pulling the eggs of the refrigerator's As Well as opening up the package of bacon I purchased a couple weeks ago. Perhaps the reason I was so excited about cooking breakfast or was easy to get into the project was because Gloria, my home health person, did such a good job cleaning the stove and making sure I have what I needed to do any cooking should I want to do any. I stayed with the basic breakfast bacon and eggs essentially and they bread product. They certainly had the ingredients to do a major production but I wanted to. I just want to enjoy some classical music and puttering around the kitchen.

There was talk on Saturday when we are at the restaurant for breakfast about having her make it our own Christmas breakfast, I assume it this apartment, that would really be fun and of course Christmas falls on Saturday which means that we'll probably be back in the restaurant on the day after Christmas Sunday the 26^th. Which is okay by me after all it's Christmastime. A few hours ago I checked with Google/chrome just to be sure what they winter actually begins that is 21 December roughly at 8 AM. I thought about that primarily because by 5 PM this evening it was almost totally dark outside we are truly in the dark days of the year. That however is about to change in roughly 2 days will be at the far end of the orbit when they reach the solstice of winter. We will however there however short then begin the arduous task of heading back the summer solstice by hundred 87 days away. Won't seem so bad though because will be heading towards the light and the warmth of the new year. I'll turn 71 and February which just told it blows my mind. But I've resolved to open up and enjoy each minute that I have to live the days of my life. The closer I get to where it is I'm going the easier it seems like it's going to be. I don't know if that makes any sense at all but it's what I'm thinking. Morbidity statistics for my birth group are beginning to rage now even without the epidemics that seem to be flourishing again. Just through normal lifespans all the people that were born on the year or in the year that I was are really begin the flame out according to statistics. It's only normal and perhaps that's the beauty of the whole thing nobody gets to live forever… Well almost nobody…

Meat For Christmas: A Dickens Christmas

 

We had breakfast today at the restaurant as opposed to tomorrow because Mark Anthony has to fly out of town for work. It's funny how the difference of just 24 hours can change the whole complexion of something. Even though it was the same restaurant in the same staff in the same time the clientele was different and oddly less customers that I would've expected for a Saturday morning at the very beginning of Christmas week. If not in Christmas week and solstice week two of my favorite dates of the year. We enjoyed breakfast but Mark Anthony was on a tight schedule and Jasmine had things to do so I have it heading back to the apartment. Luckily the trip over was only slightly dangerous. And luckily the times early enough that there was not a lot of traffic to worry whether a couple times fun I felt at risk with oncoming traffic having to roll on the side of the pavement since all the snow would been piled up on the sidewalks and the curb cuts but I made it won't have to try again until the 27^th when I have a lunch date down at the VI. Hopefully – – even though more snow is forecast – – it will be easier to travel I'm just crossed my fingers.

On Thursday night or Thursday afternoon there was a Amazon package left at my door. I did not pay much attention to the boxlike package in fact a list outside the door all night long. The next morning I did eventually dragged walks into the apartment and I was perplexed that what might be in it. The package was quite heavy. I had been ordering a number of things recently from Amazon but nothing I can remember which had the mass of this particular object. But I've been out and about the package rested inside the apartment until this morning when I had a few minutes before I had to leave for the restaurant. I used one of my more sturdy hooks actually hook the box and pulled up to my lap and I was amazed at how heavy the package was. I finally got the box on the table and found my razor knife and slice the top of the box open and there were eight cans of corn beef! I was a little surprised at the number eight think that I may be ordered three cans of corn beef. I was looking at such an order a couple weeks ago but I didn't remember making the order. Then I finished the cans out of the box and on the bottom of the box was the Amazon packing slip inside was the individual who would ordered : Dennis –, my friend from the old days. The skies great can't believe he sent me one of the few things I never thought I would get for a holiday gift and I must confess I doubt that I'll get much better gift this Christmas season or all looks Christmas seasons to come. Actually feels like I've increased my wealth. To me these cans of corn beef are like gold bars and now I have them hidden away in my upper shelf or there will be as soon as I get my power chair back with the elevator function. I know it's a crazy gift but Dennis thank you just the same and I can't imagine how you know how much I enjoyed this meat delicacy at least for me. Now of course I feel bad because I have nothing for him except thanks and hopefully that's enough…use Mark Anthony has to fly out of town for work. It's funny how the difference of just 24 hours can change the whole complexion of something. Even though it was the same restaurant in the same staff in the same time the clientele was different and oddly less customers that I would've expected for a Saturday morning at the very beginning of Christmas week. If not in Christmas week and solstice week two of my favorite dates of the year. We enjoyed breakfast but Mark Anthony was on a tight schedule and Jasmine had things to do so I have it heading back to the apartment. Luckily the trip over was only slightly dangerous. And luckily the times early enough that there was not a lot of traffic to worry whether a couple times fun I felt at risk with oncoming traffic having to roll on the side of the pavement since all the snow would been piled up on the sidewalks and the curb cuts but I made it won't have to try again until the 27^th when I have a lunch date down at the VI. Hopefully – – even though more snow is forecast – – it will be easier to travel I'm just crossed my fingers.

On Thursday night or Thursday afternoon there was a Amazon package left at my door. I did not pay much attention to the boxlike package in fact a list outside the door all night long. The next morning I did eventually dragged walks into the apartment and I was perplexed that what might be in it. The package was quite heavy. I had been ordering a number of things recently from Amazon but nothing I can remember which had the mass of this particular object. But I've been out and about the package rested inside the apartment until this morning when I had a few minutes before I had to leave for the restaurant. I used one of my more sturdy hooks actually hook the box and pulled up to my lap and I was amazed at how heavy the package was. I finally got the box on the table and found my razor knife and slice the top of the box open and there were eight cans of corn beef! I was a little surprised at the number eight think that I may be ordered three cans of corn beef. I was looking at such an order a couple weeks ago but I didn't remember making the order. Then I finished the cans out of the box and on the bottom of the box was the Amazon packing slip inside was the individual who would ordered : Dennis –, my friend from the old days. The skies great can't believe he sent me one of the few things I never thought I would get for a holiday gift and I must confess I doubt that I'll get much better gift this Christmas season or all looks Christmas seasons to come. Actually feels like I've increased my wealth. To me these cans of corn beef are like gold bars and now I have them hidden away in my upper shelf or there will be as soon as I get my power chair back with the elevator function. I know it's a crazy gift but Dennis thank you just the same and I can't imagine how you know how much I enjoyed this meat delicacy at least for me. Now of course I feel bad because I have nothing for him except thanks and hopefully that's enough…

The Quiet Before Christmas

 

It's it really is easy to get lulled into the feeling that the world outside is just too big for you to handle at certain times. I'd like to think that was happening to me today after the big snowstorm this week. You recall that I've been out a couple times on that senior transit system for medical appointments which is allowed me the eyeball what is being done are not being done around the community as far as snow removal on sidewalks and curbs cuts. It's appalling to see not so much how much snow had fallen but how much snow had been plowethed into these public access points. Sidewalks are useless, even if they are shoveled, if you can cross the street. It's kind heist to be able to get to points on your block for instance the local Speedway which is adjacent to our property here house cleaned their sidewalks very well and we've done sort of okay at the apartment complex. If I was marooned on this block I could still get to some basic services are items that need this far is food things go by going to the Speedway. Not much choice but survivability for sure. However trying to go anywhere on Utah transit Authority, unless somehow I was able to get the bus driver's attention and have him stop somewhere close to somewhere I could get out to the street the load from the street. Right now that's just not really happening.

We are now about three or four days away from the storm that dumped this snow. The snow that has been dozed up curb cuts and bus stops is now crusted into ice is going to be a while before anything happens there. But like I said the streets of all been graded and cleaned as well as the sun's been out even melting what's left. So even though I cannot access a street crossing from the curb if I keep my eyes on the traffic lights and launch across the street when the traffic light turns for the regular traffic I can get out about at least crossing the street where my barber is. I had the time and the desire so I decide to test out what I could do and made across the street got my hair cut and came back with little trauma. I did a fast survey just looking up the street to the market that I use Macy's as well as the restaurant that I usually go to Deese and I think I'll be able to get to those places if I need to. The first test going to be tomorrow morning. I got a message from Mark Anthony a few minutes ago indicating he was planning a trip to California I'm not sure why whether for work or the holiday. And he wanted know if you could change our usual Sunday morning breakfast at the restaurant on the corner to tomorrow morning instead of Sunday. No problem and will be a great way to find out if I can make the trip over should be no problem.

So it was nice to get out not be a total hermit inside my apartment those becoming easier and easier to consider such an existence. For now these are quieting down and I have Netflix, Disney and Amazon to keep me company over this joyous season…

More Christmas Cheer

 

I used to be the resident Santa when I worked at the Independent living Center. Resident Santa means I'm at the facility not necessarily residing but working called up and sent the duty calls after leaving independent living going to look for the state I was called back to be the Santa every year it seemed unless I was in the hospital/rehab are the pandemic shut everything down including the Santa visit. However this year in an effort to go back to the “before times” I was asked again to betray the great rotund Christmas elf. As I mentioned in yesterday's post normal times I would just access the local transit network to reach the center but with the advent of the snow dump a couple days ago and the fact that nobody clean sidewalks or curb cuts or even bus stops it would've been impossible for me to get into the Center by public transit. Luckily, the independent living Center has many wheelchair accessible vehicle and today, even though they were super busy with the event, they've dispatched Janice longtime employee out to my apartment together me in and drive me into the event making a 20 minute trip what used to be at least an hour and 45 minutes and just as long returning.

I didn't know if I'll be able to pull this off next year (the Van pickup) and if I make it to next year but that sure would be nice to have another trip in. It's funny how things change. As I understand the staff at the independent living Center which generally some lies a pretty decent holiday meal at this event that Covid restrictions prevented the meal. Instead small holiday packages/sacks of a hodgepodge of candies, mini pretzels, and snack mix as well as one Apple and as one small tangelo actually not a bad deal. Inside the bulging paper sack was a smaller sack full of candy goodies which I put into my snack reservoir for watching movies.

It's kind of funny about the most activity I do in this volunteer position is my shouting of “Merry Christmas” a number of times as I enter the room following their last Christmas Carol. I'm quickly escorted over to the “Santa area” placed in position and basically sit there as consumers come by and get their images taken with me. Over the years I've actually passed out small gifts and are treats like candy canes are small snack packages. This year I had nothing to pass out just my goodwill. I often wish that individual merit Christmas and happy new year and sometimes I asked them what they like for Christmas and many times they tell me what they want for Christmas. I always dodged the question somehow and things I guess work out because I'm invited for the next year. Maybe it's one of those things where those in control/power just know I will show up regardless of the job that I do they will have somebody to fill that slot for the consumers to enjoy and perhaps that's the best gift I can render during this madcap holiday season…

Christmas Luncheon and a Trip To The Podiatrist

 

There are couple of moments last night for the wind actually howled across my windows as the storm front came through the area. I was kind of surprised because even though I knew the storm was coming I didn't think it was going to be like this… At all. I did that old guy thing where you have to look out the window make sure that weather's going on and sure enough the wood was blowing snow sideways. The snow was already beginning to pile up on the street of the driveway outside my window as well as pileup on my window. During the evening in the space of three hours I actually lost power three times that got to be a bit vexing. I thought I've been so industrious I would go around of recent set the clocks to the right time (they were all blinking on and off) and just as I would set the clock down the power would go off for maybe 20 seconds and I start the whole process again until after the third outage I decided I would let I would let the timepieces wait until the power decided whether would stay on her stay off. I reset the clocks again before I went to bed and so far there stayed on.

I had two appointments this day one was to meet with the writing company are little three-person operation. There is no way I was going anywhere today without assistance even able to just down the block to the village in. The snow was wet and heavy in the snow plows had already piled the snow high on the sides of the road which included the curb cuts across the streets… That was even if I could get to the curb cuts one of the sidewalks have been cleaned there is no way I could go anywhere. I texted my buddies Jerry and Lori to let them know that I doubt I would be able to make it and they should really read consider and I heard back not long after they agreed so our Christmas/holiday luncheon is been postponed who knows for how long.

I was really bummed one for missing meeting with my friends for lunch but maybe even more importantly losing my excuse for not attending the apartment complex Christmas luncheon. One of those contrived events supposedly showing how much management appreciates the residents. I really am a bit of a Christmas Grinch but that's not new information. All the players were there a pianist who actually was something new bill to our Christmas carols at a volume deafening the already near-deaf . Then the two or three different photographers snapping supposedly candid images of residence however one such photographer brought a bag of silly outfits of facemasks which I'm sure she thought was cute and surprisingly so do a lot of the residents not me. I didn't want to be at this thing anyway.. There were cold cuts for fixing sandwiches out of bakery roles as well as similar sandwiches made from chicken salad. Everyone got just one that was implicit. Small sacks of chips couple kinds of solids and later on either pumpkin/apple pie. There is also silly games that were being played – – those kind of pun. Fortunate for me I had a doctors appointment to have my toenails clipped and the Rides For Wellness van would soon be there to collect me. I was rescued.

The sun came out and shined the mightilyas for the rest of the day which was nice but the day was cold not once getting above freezing. I wrapped one of my jackets around my legs and got the toast trimmed them to visit with my friend Richard. Like I said it was a good day cold and messy to start coming out just cold. Now I just have to go through a similar experience tomorrow or I'll be doing my Santa · impressions space at the independent living center once more. Luckily, I've made arrangements with the center will be picking me up in the years passed of usually got my own transportation usually be in Utah transit Authority but not this year the coming out to pick me up which makes my experience a little less… Bah humbug!

Ho, Ho, Snow

 

The warm before the storm was truly today. Forecasters are kind of promising weather event starting tonight started with rain showers turning to snow and of course tomorrow I have items outside the apartment that I have to go to. Today, the wins rushed and blew almost fanatically as if sweeping the past before the on coming front. I was even spared having to go out today because my Assist, Inc. meeting was canceled. So I pretty much stayed in the apartment guilt free, with a slight exception of – and across the street to grab some mayo and a loaf of bread so I'll be ready for whatever the weather throws my way the next couple of days.

Tomorrow I have two events that I'm attending of course during this storm are supposed to have. One is the annual Christmas/holiday lunch of the writers group. It's just the three of us me, Lori and Jerry. They are the two real writers of the group and they just put up with me which I dearly appreciate. The reason I bring this up is that poor Lori who schedules these luncheons has to work with Jerry and my bizarre schedules pull this off. We finally settled on Wednesday morning at 10 AM which is way early for lunch so we could call the branch I guess what can you do that during the week? Without brunch was a Sunday thing who knows we can do anything we want… Were writers we write the fiction that turns into reality. Tomorrow, Wednesday, is also my home health attendant morning routine. Traditionally, Gloria comes around 8:30 AM which should be doable but because tomorrow is a possible weather catastrophe event it's hard to plan. Gloria is one I don't really ask a whole lot of. She's pretty good at what she does and I just don't want to rock the boat. However, I did text her and asked if there is any way she could come any earlier I would be appreciated. She responded she was not sure but would see what she could do. I believe will be okay regardless and if I end up being a little late my fellow writers will understand they always do… They are the best. The other item on tomorrow's schedule which I think I'm pretty darned brave doing this on the same day as the writers luncheon is going to get my toenails attacked by my podiatrist, Richard. This practice is further down Redwood Road. There's no way I could of done this with the timeframe described above but I'm using the the Salt Lake County rides for wellness program which should pick me up at 1:20 PM and drag me down to my appointment which is at 2 PM. I should have more than enough time even counting weather conditions I should be okay. I think it's still pretty balls see of me doing this on the same day that I have another appointment earlier. What's amazing is able-bodied people do this all the time it's just part of their routine.

The image of used for the day is Christmas Affections. Every Christmas these two dolls show up in the foyer of our building. It's part of the common area that you little snow people. Couple days ago I was wondering around late one evening and thought why not make these two little snow people a bit more endearing so I put them together as much as I could in the smooching positioned why not somebody should enjoy the season even snow people should get a little once in a while…

Free Pizza!

I'm not sure what's going on past couple of days. It's like I'm caught in some sort of technology blip of some sort – – you know when everything technology seems to be kind of malfunctioning? I want to say it started the other night with the five are blackout and maybe just maybe everything else is quasi-related to that incident with some of the items are somewhat independent.

For example, Dianne has been encouraged me for some time to take advantage of rights for wellness program offered by Salt Lake County for seniors and people disabilities to be transported to and from medical and gubernatorial functions at no cost will, there is a suggested 4 dollar cost – – which is no problem at all and really a deal when you think about being transported from the door to your destination back again. Granted it takes some coordination and paitence but seriously a desired service. I've used it once, so far, and it's worked just fine. This week I have a toenail appointment. Yes you read me correctly on one of those folks go in about every six weeks to have her toenails clipped and filed. I still can't believe I do this but I senior toes are out-of-control. The appointment I made the in early November got changed on me by one hour which of course messes up the whole schedule for Rides for Wellness. So I call that organization and make the change then I get a confirmation from my podiatrist which confuses me because then I'm not sure if I've made the change from a ride system so I have to go through the whole process again. This time I've changed and written/developed a file on my Ink pad Notepad software which I will just track my calls and times and scheduling for Rides for Wellness . Hopefully, this will take care of the problem and give me more control over appointments in the future.

Last night my neighbor across the hall Billie and I decided to do pizza. I really did need pizza since I cook that beautiful roast earlier in the weekend but Billie really likes pizza and it just makes sense for two of us to go together and get a pizza. We really haven't done a lot with pizza delivery. Billie's one of those seniors that's hung on to their right to drive at all cost and she drives as much she can and so traditionally drives out the pickup the order herself. However last night it was dark and nasty out so we decided we had order in. Billie placed the order and it never showed up. It was my job to go down to the front and accept the pizza when it came to the front door (even though I've used the service before and they will come to the door. Anyway I waited for almost 20 minutes till Billie came down to see what was happening. That initiated a call to Domino's of course you got stuck immediately in the phone cycle where we stayed for the next 40 minutes. Long story short we never got our pizza and gave up at some point because I never picked up the phone even though we heard over and over again “… Your phone calls very important to us and will be with you directly…” Over and over again. So there was no pizza last night and at 10 PM I was slicing off pieces of roast for a fast late night tide me over.

This morning/afternoon Billie went out and duked it out with dominoes. Sounds like we are getting free pizza tonight for her efforts which I appreciate. So I still don't know what this techno-hiccup is all about hopefully it will diminish in the coming days but I guess if you look on the bright side, and Billie always looks on the right side we ended up getting free pizza for our efforts and that can't be all bad…

Sunday Morning Ritual

 

The days are uncomfortably cold but that's okay it's winter's mystery least it will be winter in nine more days, technically speaking. So that mind I don't really have a problem with wearing heavier coats and even beginning to wrap my legs and blankets or a blanket or some kind of device to protect me from the cold. I don't need it just a little bit more comfortable on those days I choose to go out.

I went out in the cold today, in the early morning well 7:45 AM is really enough for me. It's Sunday morning so I met the kids over at the restaurant for breakfast as per our Sunday morning ritual.. I know this sounds shallow but when I did have kids living at home and we did have a Sunday morning ritual of going out to the tabernacle every week prior do their Sunday morning broadcast on radio station K SL and then to a restaurant or diner for breakfast I confess I didn't appreciate the children/kids much as I do now. Granted there are adolescents and not necessarily grandkids but still I can't believe I took the kids for granted like I did I really should be shot. So now I enjoy the moment I have with my grandkids one where the other. Yesterday I got a great letter from my grandson Asher. This is the little guy getting older every second. Is vastly becoming a military aviation historian orally summoned to totally interested in military aircraft from the 71 blackbird the B-52 bomber series I'm just totally amazed.

I'm kind of intrigued but how many other families seem to have a morning ritual at D's restaurant. I see the same families every Sunday morning we are there. In fact there is an older couple probably my age is not a little older and his wife has a power chair may show up essentially every week there's another person uses a power chair but shows up a bit more sporadic but fairly regular. Then there other families that are just there but show up regularly. We always said is in the back of the dining area where their booths and one large family seems to have a standing appointment and they bring about 15 to 20 folks every Sunday. The restaurant must love them. It's a patriarch's and his wife and all their kids. Children with their spouses and kids. If these folks did look so conservative I would say was a hallmark moment every Sunday when it's more like a pregame ritual for a Trump rally. It's sort of a bit more of a domestic group then the folks show up at my coffee shop on Saturday mornings.

Jaxon, a unique way of spelling the name took me a while to catch on. He is my granddaughters boyfriend and is certainly become an extended family member. I don't know just where these two are headed but they certainly are a couple/pair. Last night was the Christmas/winter prom. That high school ritual literature produces so many Midsummer births. It was kind of fun to listen to their evening from the dance to the dinner or vice versa. Brought back a lot of my memories of proms. I'm still quite amazed at how many I attended for a person with wheelchair as I was in those days I guess I did kind of get around. I was kind of spoiled my sister Faye is so right.

Is now less than two weeks before Christmas. It's probably best just a buckle in get ready for the ride…

Front Door Roast

 

It started late last summer, if my memory serves me correctly, I believe I've mentioned before that I enjoy sitting in the back of the building in the parking lot by the back door reading during the summer afternoons and evenings. I like to read this until I cannot stand the heat anymore that I moved to the shade. Anyway, one afternoon this lady that I call Marta who is very nice and very old but still drives her vehicle daily (as many of the seniors in this building do – – kind of blows me away). We ended up beginning to talk and one time I asked her where she was going and she said to Costco and on a whim I asked you to pick me up some grapes and that I would give her some money now or compensator when she got back and we knew how much the grapes were exactly and Marta indicated we would just settle up when she came back. I went back to my book and didn't think much more about the situation until the next morning when I got up there is a white plastic bag wrapped around the handle of my door with a carton of grapes. Marder never let me compensator for the grapes indicating that she had taken half of them and so somehow that made it all worthwhile. I don't know if this was a good move or not.

Since then every couple of days it seems or maybe every other week I come home to all manners of items hanging off my door handle. One week it was bags of cherry tomatoes and small cucumbers the size of my forefinger. It's just kind of weird when I spoke about this with my friend across the hall Billie. Billie indicated that she was courting me. (Have I written about this before sounds really familiar?). I refuse to believe this of course she's way too old but she certainly keeps trying to keep stuff on my doorknob. Yesterday, I caught her in the act as those living my apartment she was just approaching with bags in her hand. She informed me that this material is for me and not to worry about it (I wasn't sure what “it” was exactly). When I protested she indicated that because the president had given her so much extra money this last year she is trying to find ways to spend. At least that's what I took away from the conversation. I put the materials in the apartment then left for my appointment for I came back I look through the materials to my surprise there was like a 4 pound roast in one of the bags! There is also small bag of colored peppers, small brown potatoes and carrots. Carrots the size of your thumb that are all peeled and everything just ready to be dumped into your stew or super whatever your making or just eaten. Essentially I don't know if this is what her plan was but everything was therefore a roast beef dinner – – high-end much more sophisticated than I'm used to. The seriously must've caused the bundle but since of so Machiavellian my head and returned everything to the refrigerator and went on my way.

Today I figured what the heck I'm going to cook the roast today with the vegetables and all have my dinners for all next week taking care of! What a great deal? I didn't even get the project start until about 1 PM in the afternoon thinking I would have enough time for that a cook all afternoon and part of the evening if I had to ask what I did. There's a little bit of consternation at first because I couldn't find the lid to my smaller crockpot/slow cooker but I've is it found a lid that would work. I dumped taters in with the carrots and onions (oh yes I forgot there is for five big red onions with the vegetable mix) turn the cooker on high and enjoy the rest of my afternoon as the whole mess begin the cook. I finally took the roast out of the cooker about 7 o'clock and carved off enough for dinner with a few potatoes and was quite pleased with myself. I let the roast cool down and now the roast is in the fridge, of course. I forgot to turn the crockpot off so when I went to put the the vegetables and juice away they were too hot and now I'm letting them cool and will try to get them in refrigerator by bedtime. I don't know what to think of this new mysterious benefactor. Maybe she just getting rid of food she doesn't want anymore. I mean after all it is so hard to cook for yourself, just one person, so maybe I'm just doing a service in helping another senior not waste food…