Anticipation

 

It's much warmer today than it should be for 1 February, after all we do center of winter here? Still should be major skiing and ice-skating weather but it's not. I'm sure the phenomenon this is bad for the human race as the pandemic, the phenomenon of global warming but I suppose something's got to get us in the end. I would rather go out and springlike weather than either boiling the death of freezing to death and who knows me become all that. Anyway, with the good weather I thought I would run over to Macy's and get some dental floss ran out over the weekend. I've been using those funky little individual dental floss devices with a little pick on me and. These are okay for being out on the system and you got to just pick your teeth however these pics won't work for me anyway over the long run. I can use them but takes a lot of dexterity and strength I'm kind of lacking. So, I'm in the market Monday my own business rolling past the meat section once again eyeing some of these giant T-bone steaks but I look at every time I go to market with just cannot justify purchasing. Today something snapped, it's my birthday tomorrow! I'm turning 70 years old!! I deserve a huge stake, I deserve it birthday dinner I deserve a cake frosting and right there and then I decided tomorrow I'm making myself a birthday blowout. Start out with the steaks. I've got cake mix at home I thought what the heck and I purchased three cans of frosting. I'm set. The last cake I baked was a chocolate cake and I have quite cake mix I know if I get my handle another chocolate cake really use it with the Hershey's frosting. I also got a couple of good-sized potatoes for baking but I only need one. You know me, good to have backup.

I know I sound pathetic sort of like what I did for Christmas and New Year's making a special dinner just for myself because I wasn't going out or anywhere. I'm doing the same for my birthday. I was returning home from the market with the big brown basket my friend Dennis Dahle gave me a few years ago. I use this basket almost every day one where the other.I ran into my neighbor, across the hall, Billie and of course she asked about my meet which I had sticking out of the basket. I casually informed her of my birth date be in tomorrow. Of course I knew this would elicit all kinds of celebratory excitations. I know I took a risk when I informed her I was doing my own birthday celebrations but it was still fun having her wish me an early happy birthday.

On my return from the market having placed my groceries away I went down and check my mail and have a card for my sister. I have three birthday cards now at least one I know that has at least $20 which I'm banking on to cover the cost of this birthday dinner. My brother is already warned me that he sent me something “special”. Whatever it is I will be pleased. I'd like to believe that on such a momentous birthday as 70 I would have a big bash at some fancy restaurant surrounded by everyone who cares. Luckily for me were the middle of a pandemic and birthday gatherings are relatively frowned upon if not openly illegal. Like many great excuses this pandemic has offered individuals and families I can just believe that would've happened had it not been the virus…

Satisfying Sunday

 

The apartment still exists under a high level of entropy. So, I figured the result was Sunday I better put some focused attention into the kitchen at the very least. Luckily for me what look like a bunch of dishes just a few large pots and pans I'd used for the corned beef and cabbage last week. There were course of the utensils which had to be washed and I still have to put the majority of the wash dishes away but that's okay. I will have a lot done by tomorrow morning can put a little bit more effort into the area before my home health person gets here. Not that I'm trying to impress I just don't want her think it am a total slob more than she does already.

One of the other projects I've been meaning to get to over the past couple weeks is to “re-tip” my sticks and hooks. You will remember the values this plastic like material which is highly adhesive (?) Not adhesive per se but is very gripping. I'm sure of discuss this somewhere in the body of these blogs. But I use the sticks I have a big long stick that I used to grab things from up high and dry down as well as reach. The long stick is a great for making my bed in the mornings. I also use the adhesive tips on my other sticks that I use for things like dressing. I have to use the stick under my life or foot that I'm able to raise my leg up high enough to cross my other leg to get my shorts and shoes on. This sticky material greatly benefits me and my ability to dress myself with the independent living assists but I'm able to fashion. Which really great is I can affix this plastic material on the ends of the sticks with rubber bands which I stretch on to the sticks and they work pretty well hold on for weeks and sometimes months of the time or until the plastic pieces wear out which they do often on and then it's time to take a morning or afternoon like today to make the upgrades. I'm set now for a couple more months.

One of my allusions I love to foster is the special Sunday dinner. Growing up, Sunday was the big meal of the week. Usually sandwiched in between Sunday school in sacrament meeting. High-protein usually roast beef steaks, mashed potatoes and gravy and multicolored vegetables were the fare of the day. I still like to think Sunday's the day to make a special meal. My Sunday meals are not special sadly most of the time but often I can come up with a ham, roast or even some form of chicken. Three or four months ago I bought some high-end quality beef, all beef dogs. I love a good hot dog. This week I was planning on making a basic spaghetti sauce and adding some pretty decent frozen chicken meatballs that I got from food bank a few weeks ago I've kept in my freezer. But the day ran out and I lost my energy so I put together hot dogs for Sunday night dinner you know what they weren't too bad

yawn!

 

Was not necessarily a busy Saturday but I got a few things done. I must admit the apartment is getting more and more messy. I either have to spend some time myself and focus on tidying up a little bit or figure out a way to get some more cleaning folk. Melanie does okay when she wants to but cleaning the unit is not one of her prime objectives. All except what I can get until I can find another person to do a couple hours a week. I wish I could talk Annette and coming back to do some cleaning. Mark Anthony has suggested a couple times he knew folks who could do the cleaning I may have to ask him if this person still available.

I washed today even though I washed earlier in the week. Because of the events of this week I wanted to make sure I have ample shorts and towels for Monday. I could wait until Monday but doing the wash today would mean a smaller load much easier to work with.

I did a market run today more just to get out of the apartment than anything else but I actually went to the market after I went across the street had my hairs cut. I really needed some fruit. All the fruit I had finally petered out. I threw away a number of solidified grapefruits and oranges but sat for months and my basketball my table. The bananas have already been used up of yesterday so I figured it was good enough reason as any cross street. Whether it's true or not I don't know but lately each time I've asked for a dollars worth of quarters here or there I get this poor excuse about how there's been a run on coins especially quarters. It's not worth my energy to fight with the cashier over a few quarters I just make sure I buy something that gives me at least three quarters of return change. I certainly had enough change for wash and dryer this week. Monday or Tuesday maybe I'll do a run to the credit union to pick up some rows of quarters there. I should be set for wash however even with the course I have a hand.

I'm tired today, I didn't sleep as well as I would've liked. I did sleep is actually until a few minutes after 7 AM which is like a total surprise. Prior to that wake up I had woken up at about 4:45 AM and I figures that was going to be as much sleep” and get so I'll really quite surprised and a little shocked when I woke up but it was five minutes after 7 AM. I think I'm beginning to feel the effects of the Covid life of solitary confinement. I'm wishing for something more I could do during the day that would give me more information to write about. I can only get so many experiences on a trip to the grocery store. So it was a bland Saturday. I should have done more today. I should have gone down Michael's or finding some picture frames for my Chagall's.…

In Pieces

 

I had one of those slow motion moments this week when all of a sudden I turned in the kitchen, by the sink, and I barely nearly touched the bowl, one of my favorite bowls in the world and it slid off the counter right down to the floor. I winced probably but I didn't curse or through a tantrum even though, as I said, this is one of my favorite pieces of ceramic. I'm not sure when it first entered my life. The bowl was always around at the house when I lived there. Dianne probably picked it up at some garage sale or some trip to desert industries or goodwill or something. DD is always looking for a bargain.

I don't know what I liked most about the little bowl. I liked its coloring and I liked its depth. I often would search for this stoneware when having one of my dishes like “Frank” a rice dish that I have to make. It's also good for garbrock as well as a bowl of chili or some other hot soup. One of the things I like best about this little guy was there a couple chips knocked out around his rim probably from when I watched dishes I'm always dropping dishes. Fortunately for me the ceramic was thrown into a box of items for me the house. I'm sure there's some deep psychological underlying feeling that connects me to this little device from my married days. Like I said however I didn't much flinch when I saw the process happening. I somehow knew it was time – – like there is a time when little ceramic bowl must meet its fate – – give me a break. It was like a form of acceptance from having more and more these moments as I age, as I get closer and closer to that transition point of when a longer be here. Maybe it's a form of letting go. I broke a number of items like this the last couple months. A couple of the things I've been able to glue back together like my New Orleans cup – – I don't know if it really is a New Orleans cup alike to believe that it is. That holds a huge amount of coffee or soup or whatever beverage the cup holds. Luckily when this cup broke in the sink their broken large enough pieces that I was able to easily glue back together but I doubt whatever hold a hot beverage again… Safely. Fortunately, that same day I found much smaller cup but with the same artwork which I figured was divine intervention or being awarded for something I did for someone else.

Perhaps the best thing about ceramic or glass dishes that teaches us, or me at least, that life is fragile and easily messed up so be careful what you do, say or act. You break something and it's always a difficult task trying to fix if it can be fixed. However, knowing this, be prepared to let the piece go. It's broken beyond repair. Enjoy, the memory of the time you had with the crockery and many great experiences of taste and fulfillment you pulled from that container. Maybe it's also a warning or a reminder to appreciate the vessels that you have left and know that any of them could be just one sink load of dishes away from destruction…

Mr. Lifter

 

I don't want to sound anal but I have to admit hooping has been the biggest thing on my mind for last couple of days since my lift stopped working on Monday. I was doing pretty good actually. This morning I felt pretty decent enough until lunchtime I fear I might even go all the way till tomorrow morning when my regular toilet and shower time is. I spent all day at the apartment waiting. My brother actually fixed my lift for my new lift with a part of my old lift major functional lift. He did the repair at his home so he could utilize his shop. He was willing to to bring his tools or to try to bring his tools over to the apartment to work on the lift but since I tore the old lift up is easier just take that part over to his home but also meant he had to bring it back when he was able to have time to do so. That time was about 3 PM this afternoon. He made the switch and voilà I had a lift that would work we didn't try it on me then partially because I did want to aggravate my bowel anymore that might already be an partly because I just really wasn't ready to be undressed yet for the end of the day. But as the afternoon wore on in my intestines began to gurgle and cramp I knew I had to make a call.

Boy was I lucky home health person Melanie just happened to be there. I get the impression that often she's working in the afternoons and evenings doing home healthcare. But she was home and said that she would be over momentarily. You will not know how relieved I was. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to wait till she got there but I made it. The best part about Melanie's exposure to the lift she did not realize the lift carriage was no longer swiveling. When my brother replaced the part he had to remove the swivel base and just attach the lift with a bolt. Luckily we (Melanie and me) rarely use the swivel capability on the left. Were able to move the left around the bathroom easily so that we don't have to use the swivel. When I pointed this out to my brother I think he felt a little bad but I also think you might be able to fix this if it seems to be a necessity which obviously it is not. Lift is a nice enough piece of equipment now except for its a little bit long in the legs making it a little difficult for Melanie to move around but you shouldn't do it without problems.

So now I have two lifts, and if I can get my hands on a sling that will work I will have two lifts that actually work and are usable. It's great to have a working lift but now I wonder what if I had an option for a brand-new lift. One of the people I made contact with well searching for a sling forwarded to me information about a Utah program that helps folks with disabilities acquire technology to keep them independent. So I would have option to utilize this program get a brand-new working lift with no problems, probably a two-year warranty and the only thing I would have to to worry about is where to stack my growing pile wheelchair lifts…

Hope Slings Eternal

 

Today Wednesday and usually every Wednesday morning my staff, home health person, gives me an enema and a shower like clockwork. Three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Today, that did not happen because I don't have an operational lift or patient lift is what they're technically referred to. Sling is put on me in my power chair by staff then lifts me up and puts me into the shower chair and over the toilet where I do my business when I'm done I roll over to the shower and give myself a shower. Bear in mind I'm very fortunate that I can do that more or less on my own. My showers completed my staff then puts the sling around me again and hoists me into my chair where I am on my own to the next session. So, without the left arm pretty much stuck. I weigh way too much for some of the try to manhandle me, one person that is, into the shower chair and so on and so forth. So the day I've been trying to focus on remedying this problem.

You will remember from yesterday's reading that I found the left was brought to my home but the sling was not appropriate for my needs. I had the idea if we could just somehow wed the top of of the liftwhich will accept my sling which works to the left I purchased yesterday we can have a functional piece of equipment. By the same token if I could find a sling that would work on the new left we would then have another functional with. Today, this morning when I was trying to talk my health staff into Jerry rigging a kind of solution I ended up breaking the old lift (see earlier blog postings about Mark the destroyer). The section freed up a piece of equipment that now my brother has taken home to where he can work on it in his shop and try to bring these two pieces together. If it can be done by brother will do it I have total faith in him. I don't know other options I have opened to me.it's now 7 PM in the evening and have not heard back from her brother and I certainly don't want to push him in his work. My sister-in-law is deathly ill so my brother has enough to juggle on his own without a nagging little brother.

Wouldn't it just be neat if there was a facility or place a person could go that has all this equipment that you could just rent for one hour or two and get your needs met. That does sound kind of weird. But seriously if we weren't in the middle of Covid why couldn't I just go to a long-term care facility someone could insert the mini – enema and then have my shower. I noticed be expensive probably maybe have a deal where I could take my home health person with me to do the work. Again, it would be expensive beyond what largely happensbut at least it would provide some relief.

Right now I'm in the discomfort aside from just low-level anxiety/worry. I think everything will work itself out, one or the other, life usually goes that route. We will have to see what the morning brings…

A Cold Adventure

 

This is turned out to be an epic day and by epic I mean filled with stuff. Of course I'm conflicted as to what was the bigger of the two events: taking ownership of the new patient left or sitting through two hours of wheelchair evaluation at Tosh rehab facility. Either way the day was cold and snowy. Thank goodness the snow was not picked and heavy and driving, as snow storms can be at times.

I had to be at my chair eval at 10 o'clock over and Murray. I'd stayed up later than I thought but I still figured I had enough time to charge my chair (which I did for almost 8 hours) adequately but not to the point where the green light was on showing that it was fully charged but I figured I had enough power to get done what I needed to get done today which is basically catching the 47 over to Murray and ruling over the Tosh. I did of course I was worried a little bit but not too much. I was so pleased to made all my connections and buses missing just one which I really didn't the driver just chose not to stop for me because I wasn't exactly at the bus stop at the exact time.

It was great seeing my old occupational therapist Casey. The evaluation for the power chair was pretty extensive almost 2 hours in length which I think is amazing. I'm going to get basically the same chair but the new version which is okay. The big difference will be this chair will have a lifting mechanism which will actually lift me up 6 to 8 inches I guess which should make things a lot easier around the apartment and things like shopping which is kind of exciting. I really tried to push for the larger motors. But it looks like that's a no go even if I want to pay for them myself, which used to be an option but not anymore. In fact the vendor doesn't even make a chair that goes 8 miles an hour any longer. The kind of bums me out I would figure out a way to find an extra couple thousand if I could get the big motors for my next chair. Seriously, if you're living out of your power chair and mature main form of transportation getting back and forth to bus stops, food markets in everything else you you should chair for you need to get a little speed for the long roles just to be sure. I think it's stupid I can't have the option to buy my own motors but we'll see. Were only in the beginning phase of this new acquisition. Now that we've gotten the document written up my occupational therapist will submit to my insurance agencies within will make the decision. Spend more than five years since the last chair so I think I'm good to go.

I was pretty cold by the time I got home but I figured I would work out on my bike since I was almost a half hour short from yesterday's workout. I was halfway through when Carl knocked on the door he had picked up the patient-lift . I have to confess I'm experiencing a little buyer's remorse but not much even though I doubt I can use this new lift at the present time. Carl's working on the problems and hopefully one where the other will be able to get some sort of lift option operational. I don't know what tomorrow will bring as far as what staff will say when the lift doesn't really seem to be working. The sling on the new left is the wrong kind it has no openings for suppositories and him placed on the toilet and such. Carl has an idea and I have found what might be the appropriate slings on eBay. The cheapest I found was $175 but just want to invest that kind of money for don't know if it'll work rightly on the device will have to see.

I think overall the day was a success. I did acquire a lift but seems to be operational at least more so than the one I have now and I got the paperwork nearly finished for my new power chair. Kind of crazy. Right now I kind of have a good feeling about this new lift I just don't know how soon I can get the whole thing resolved but I think it will be eventually and I will be totally happy againsomeday soon

I Just Need A Lift

 

Once again I start the week freaked out, which I don't like to do it all, but this morning my lift (the device are used to lift myself from my chair onto the shower chair and back again) functionally stopped working. What I mean functionally is that the lift does everything as it should normally accept raise myself up. To me fair to the left it has having more and more problems of late. Of course have been sitting in denial thinking it's just the battery or some other minute issue but we've always been able squeak by. One of the main issues we've had of late is that the “raise” function would intermittently work the way it was supposed to I. E. When you push the button lift me. Last couple months however more often than not if the person would take their finger off the “raise” button then the button would only work raising the left and like half inch increments. This would drive both of us crazy but it seemed to work and we got by. Will this morning we couldn't get by the longer and I had to face some kind of reality. We could barely get me back in my chair force me to roll onto the bed then into my chair after my shower.

Following this morning's chaos of course begin the dance with the Internet. First going to the local K S L.com local television stations sales bank. KSL's marketplace really is a great service. It did not take me long and I found a couple of interesting patient lifts. Of course the cost was in the hundreds of dollars but at least it wasn't thousands. And of course I could not speak with anyone because the people I need to speak with were involved in other jobs and could not visit with me till later in the day. They did text me off and on and it should me a few questions. One of them seemed fairly promising even if it was $500. This seemed like a fair price for used equipment of this nature. It's not necessarily close by in a small city about 40 to 50 miles north of us but my brother is already assured me he couldpick the lift up were I to purchase the device. Now, in the meantime I've been calling and checking other places in hopes of finding a better solution. I even posted on Facebook which are sorted taken a sabbatical from. I got some interesting options I don't know how valuable they are. In short I figured I better just make the call this evening and see about the lift I'm interested in.

The guys name is “Holt”. He actually sells medical equipment as a side gig. Sound like a nice enough guy let me talking down to 450 bucks and we talked for some time this evening. I'm going to send my brother up with a cashiers check from my bank. Tomorrow, I actually a meeting with my wheelchair occupational therapist about getting my new chair which means I'll be in the area of my credit union. I of course already have buyers remorse, I always do. Worked out the arrangement with my brother to pick up the device tomorrow after noon and that should do it. I then we'll have to patient lifts which kind of bums me out. I may try to fix the broken left to where it might be usable and perhaps even resealable and try to recoup my losses to some degree. I kind of think it's a lost cause however. Sometimes, the lesson is just to let go and get on with your life.

C B and C Yeah

 

The kind of jumped the gun I know. It's nowhere near March of had this corned beef brisket in my freezer for the past couple of months and not only has it been taking up valuable space in the freezer I've been intrigued with the idea of making some corned beef and cabbage and I just couldn't wait any longer. I took the 3 pound piece of protein out of the freezer Thursday if I remember right but never got around to cooking to cooking it. Truthfully I was just intimidated by the process. But today I figured it was time.

3 pounds of meat is quite a bit. I was going to put the brisket in my crockpot but the more that I examined my crockpot the more I realized it may not be large enough for my project. Now, I have a larger slow cooker but it's all the way on top of my shelving that you only get it down and I've got an able bodyto reach up and the cooker down. I could try to pull it down with one of my long hooks but I'm afraid that I would damage the crock portion of the cooker. I was not discouraged but I was just about ready to put the rest get back into the freezer but I thought I'd called Dianne see she had any ideas. (I had also checked with Google about how to cook brisket with cabbage). I had thought that I had, I am sure I have cooked brisket before but I just can't remember. Dianne suggested I use a pan or one of the pots I have little (which I forgot all about having and would do perfect). Just before I would call Dianne and texted my cross the hall neighbor, Billie to gave me some great ideas as well but most important loaned me the use of her roaster which are just perfect for my needs.

I was a little discouraged because it was getting on to 1 o'clock 1:30 PM even my thought I'd just have to wait another day. As I figured it would take so long to cook and the crockpot, 7 to 8 hours. But Billie and Dianne both assured me that if I went with a roaster the cooking time could be as little as four hours which was totally doable to have this for dinner today. I had a couple interruptions all prepping for the meal but I eventually found my carrots peeled for five of those. I had three or four good-sized potatoes left toolroom sprouting but seems still somewhat viable I got to pealing. I've gotten to this part of the project after I had the brisket cooking for about three hours at least I thought I did. I was using the timer on the stove which I don't really trust that much. But eventually I got the carrots peeled and chopped the say with the potatoes which I ordered and found enough potato to make quite a bit after cutting out all the dark spots and cancer. The kitchen was taken a beating I knew this was going to happen after all I'm cooking.Fortunately I did not have any major mishaps. I did not cut myself I did not spill anything over everything went well.I even was able to throw all the vegetables into the cooking corned beef brisket and shove everything back into the oven.

I'm quite surprised how well everything turned out. I kind of over cooked cabbage that's okay I like that. I pulled the corned beef brisket out to let cool and waited for a half an hour then plated my dinner. I cannot believe how good taste of for me this was delicious even if I say so myself. I'm now in the process of beginning to clean up my mess. I sliced up the brisket then fished out all the vegetables out of the broth. The broth is great and I kind of hate pouring it down the drain but I can't think of anything to do with it I thought maybe in some of the cabbage and have left over in the broth to make time for soup have never heard of corned beef soup. I don't know if that's a thing. I can play around with it but I just think I'm going to dump the juice clean the roaster and get it back to Billie.

It's probably more work than I wanted to do on a Sunday but I'm pleased with my efforts should have enough food product were two or three dinners at the very least almost a month ahead of schedule…

Another Saturday Night

 

I get so frustrated with the weather – – I know I'm sounding more and more like an old man just crotchety all the time – – the storm they were yammering about for the last two days of course, totally fizzled out. I even watch the early news today as I fried up the leftover vegetable life baked yesterday. The morning whether indicated the storm would come in around noon probably be significant all evening maybe even into the morning. I pretty much canceled my day, not that I was going to do anything huge anyway. I'm toying with the idea of jumping the bus heading down to desert industries to pick up a couple hairdryers. The one industrial hairdryer I had for some reason has stopped working. I'm hoping they'll be more hairdryers at the thrift store there always has been in the past and they are affordable.

I watched two movies today. I pulled from my DVD collection. The skies were dark and overcast a perfect reason to watch movies. I had intended to find something to play in the background while I did some cleaning up around the kitchen. The kitchen was still traumatized from the cook aroma that I did last evening. And of course I plugged in 12 Monkeys with Bruce Willis and I don't think I moved for the next two hours what a great show. And then I plugged in You've Got Mail actually I've been trying to watch this movie first but for some reason my computer DVD player probably more accurately the DVD would not play. I tried the DVD again after the monkeys played fairly well except for a few spots I'm afraid I may have to invest in another copy of Mail. Little bit of snow was falling as the movie ended which is just enough to keep me in for the rest of the day.

Last time I looked there was a little more snow on the ground, the ground is covered but there's not enough snow to lay down on the pavement on the driveway outside my window. I think the solution storms just about run its course. Luckily, I made it out yesterday and got everything I needed for the weekend. Now I just have to lay low and get through my days until Tuesday when I will actually have to leave the apartment for sure and jump a bus for my wheelchair evaluation. And of course watching the news looks like storm will be coming in that morning. With my luck, of course, this will be the one snowstorm of this year which will produce a major snowfall and I'll be right out and it. But Tuesday still a long ways away and a lot can happen between now and then. And either way I'm sure I will do just fine on this, just another Saturday night…

No Meat Dinner

 

Finally there's a storm coming in. The storm will not be a huge storm I don't think we as a geographical region gets big storms anymore. I think were losing our moisture however, we've been quasi-promised storm overnight dropping about 3 to 5 inches of snow on the valley floor tomorrow. What I said not a huge amount enough however for me to break into my storm prep mode. I live in will I will is and and I will and will and will will will you is a will is and is a you will will will will will will will will be in place to you will and I and will over the past couple weeks has been roasting a lot of vegetables and I sort of got my hankering for some of those vegetables. Broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes and brussels sprouts. I have never really even thought about making brussels sprouts. Dianne is quite brave and tackles new vegetables well. I look at brussels sprouts in the market and they just intimidate me but Dianne briefly talked about how she did hers which sounded doable even for me. I'm still riding the high from the potato planks I made a couple weeks ago. A surprise at how well those turned out.

There's a storm coming as I said earlier which means today was actually warm as I burst out the back door of the apartment complex for the crosswalk. Their dark clouds on horizon there were dark clouds hugging the mountains looking cold and menacing I figured I better make haste and get my shopping done and get back in my warm abode before the snow flies. Tomorrow, I think I'll just be in and enjoy the weekend. But I made it to the market the brussels sprouts were just sitting in a big pile in the vegetable section. I have to admit it was cut a difficult trying to grab the brussels sprouts. I almost have to get one of the time like when I try to grab ice out of the ice bin in the refrigerator. I didn't get a bunch and I wish I had now. The next time I do this I will get a bunch. I did get a large head of cauliflower. I buy cauliflower but I never use it before it gets covered with brown spots saws kind of excited to get home and chop it up for the concoction. It was kind of cute when I was checking out one of the checkers brought over two bags of Chinese noodles. She was the one who helped me last night when they're out. I told her that I bought two cans of noodles and that I was kind of embarrassed that I had made such a big stink but I took the two bags anyway. I will use them that is for sure.

I was kind of intimidated to start this process when I got home about 4:30 PM but I decided I would do it, luckily Dianne was on her computer and online that she coached me through the process. I have to say that the brussels sproutsc was a bit of a challenge chopping them into halves. The small cabbages just kept rolling away by finally got them processed. I used my mandolin for the potato planks and sliced up the cauliflower into cauliflower planks. I also chopped up the broccoli. I should've cut up some carrots as well but I was running out of steam by that point in time. I use the big yellow plastic bowl which were used to feed similar dog in that I use all the time now for cooking, to mix up the vegetables with the olive oil garlic and onion powder. I also threw in some pepper shook it all around and threw it in the oven. I actually thought it turned out pretty good. I think I would like to had some kind of protein/meat product but this was okay. I will definitely do it again the next time probably be better…

Shingles Shot

 

I'm so confused. I've been trying to be medically responsible this last couple of months , working to complete my vaccination sequence for shingles. I think I'm afraid I'm going to get shingles so I've been trying to be proactive and push myself to get the appropriate vaccination. A couple weeks ago or maybe two months ago I started the process once again was actually getting the first of the inoculations. To inoculations a couple months apart each one costing almost $200! Usually, archive insulated from the cost just because of usually met my deductible making the process about $40 and inoculation but seems okay. Now days, however I'm not even getting close to meeting my deductible in the years time. Couple months ago the shot cost me I think around $180.00.this was that the end of my insurance year and I had not met my deductible. Now only a couple months into my new insurance year I'm not even close to meeting my deductible of course to be shot was about $175. 00. In trying to figure out what I would write today I did a search of this blog for the word “shingles” and found that I actually had a former shingles about five years ago maybe six. Frighteningly, of course don't remember this hardly at all. Dianne and I were still together then and I suspect still a lot of the groundwork. I wonder if I got the shots then? Oh well, I guess better safe than sorry.

The day was beautiful felt like spring. Even if the temperature was only around 44° the direct sunshine certainly made one feel warm. Last week I stopped off at the pharmacy at the place where I shop for my groceries and got the process going. I almost got the vaccination than but when they dropped the $175 price on my head for the vaccination I spooked and ran. I could've taken care of the process right then and I should've but I did not. It was only after speaking with Dianne yesterday who reassured me that it was the wisest thing to do and get it done as soon as I could. I went to the market searching for LaChoy Chinese noodles. I've somehow run out of these noodles which many days are a major part of my breakfast regimen. The last couple of days but I've been to the market they have been out the bags of noodles. The same happened today. We still had cans of noodles available which didn't even register with me as being the same product – – stupid. But I spent a good half an hour visiting the store staff about when the next bags of noodles would be in only afterwards did I had to the pharmacy.

Same process different day was even the same pharmacy tech, Jodi. She shoved the forms at me again to fill out and got the process going. So such a joke of a me fill out forms and thinking they will get readable document then again it doesn't really matter does it? It's just a formality. It was kind of fun Jodi trying to disrobe me to the point were a shoulder was rreachable. She gave me the choice of writer left a should have taken right. I sleep on my right side I'm sure this is going to cause some pain to night but I have a bottle of ibuprofen which I keep on my bed stand in case my tooth goes nova in the middle of the night. I really did the whole poverty seen handing Jodi my bank card and my credit card taking half of the cost for each account. But I got it done! I hope I'm safe from shingles. I had a light case so hopefully off the bad guys the head of the pass now I'm just waiting for my Covid 19 inoculation sometime in February…

Hail ToThe Chief

I really don't know what to think. I actually kind of got a hopeful feeling today with a few exposures to the inaugurationl activities in Washington. I'm trying not to be too juvenile but I have to confess I was more than a little upset that CBS showed inauguration activities over Young Sheldon . I don't know if I've addressed this feeling of mine but YS is really the only network series that I wait for every oh crap, I'm so embarrassed today is Wednesday. Young Sheldon is broadcast on Thursday nights. I guess that was one of my senior moments for today.

I have to confess some mildly impressed with Mr. Biden. He seems to be saying everything right and trying to look like everything is all right. The guy's older than me!. I actually worried about him walking the distance from where the motorcade dropped them off at where he and his family walked to the White House. Boy, that guys going to sleep tonight after he signs all of his documents. I'm really trying not to be critical but did you see his Secret Service detail? I wouldn't have felt very comfortable that they were supposed to protect me. They looked dumpy. They didn't look fresh, sharp and focused like other Secret Service personal I've seen over the years. I hope they can do the job we will know soon one where the other I'm sure. I'm kind of impressed with Bidens mixed family and the nephews and nieces it would be great to be the first cousins of the country. The probably love to go to uncle Joe's to swim in the pool are any of the bowling alley in the basement of the White House. I don't know how impressed I am with Mrs. Biden/Dr. Biden. Boy, the trolls are going to have a field day with her and her make-believe doctorate – – oh yeah she has a real doctorate but there are some major streams that had to be pulled for her to “earn” the degree. I hope she's got some pretty thick skin she's going to need it for the next four years – – that's if she plans to live in the White House. I guess she never lived at the vice presidential quarters preferring to live in Delaware.

Thank goodness Washington DC was a quiet place today for the inauguration. Those coup daring Proud Boys or the Boogaloo boys have not gone away they just gone under ground I bet they are just frothing Especially since they've been blocked off so many IT platforms around the world. These groups had the taste of power, the genie has been let out of the bottle going to be hard to control these guys now. If nothing else things we interesting now to see how Mr. Trump will have to deal with what he is wrought intentionally are not intentionally he did a big poop now just have to figure out how not to step it…

Silly Selfie

 

I love this image for no apparent reason except that it illustrates me at my usual level of incompetence. This image of course was a mistake I did not know I've even taken the image until later on that evening when I was going through my photos looking for something else. I'm pretty sure I took it yesterday at the bus stop on Redwood Road as I was waiting for the 217 to take me a little bit further down the road. I missed this bus twice before I finally ended up just camping out at the bus stop until the next bus ambled by.

As I've probably stated many times route 217 is usually 15 minute headways so it's never very long for the next bus comes yet I always look up the bus timing and not end up doing something else thinking I will get out the bus in time. And, in my defense, this usually works pretty good but Saturday for some reason every time I headed out to the bus stop I would look up in the bus be going by. There go back into the apartment and wait a little bit longer think you had catch the next one which I did not. Maybe the lesson is try not to be a smartass and snag the coming bus just go out and wait, be patient and Stoic. The day was cold but not dangerously so. I was not suffering waiting for the bus but I was certainly glad the vehicle arrived. I was worried my down vest, I've worn this vest almost exclusively this winter probably because it has not been very severe temperature wise or snow wise. I've also religiously worn my stocking Like a yarmulke or yamaka. I'm always amazed at how much this Conserves energy/warmth only with the coldest days. That's all very important the bottom line I think it makes you look cool like Bronson all I need to motorcycle but that's another story entirely.

I never got to the bus stop today. I was going to close really going to make a stab at finding a frame for my two pieces of art. I got the idea of grabbing one of my art clipboards large enough to carry a piece of the art that way when I got to the Rosses I'd be able to have the piece of art which I could then compared to the size of the frames I'm looking for. I worried that if I didn't have the ample cover that I might not be able to keep my piece of art as good a shape as I've been able to keep it. I just know with my history of destruction and I don't want to take any chances. I spent all day worrying about just how I could transport my little Chagall. I still haven't figured out a way to do this and maybe I'll just try to figure it out over the Internet. This one frame shop that I found as a phone number that I can call and ask questions and maybe that's the way to go

Apocalypse How?

 

This is the only image or had that was even close to apocalyptic. Taken last summer after a good windstorm in my local park.

This is not going to be a rant, I do not do rants very well. I wish I could but seriously I just can't get that excited about anything anymore it seems like. However, this being 19^th of January and tomorrow being supposedly the inauguration I have the on wildly feeling that were sitting on the edge of the apocalypse. I've been thinking about my pathos in general the last couple hours. Friend of mine, Internet friend, who lives in the Netherlands is somewhat disgusted with me right now because of my lack of excitement or interest in the political debacle of the United States right now. She was actually sending me screenshots off of her television of the quandary Netherlands is currently going through as all of their elected officials resigned en masse I guess. I haven't seen anything locally or nationally but something's going on and she's just rabid about what's going on in the Netherlands as well as the USA and I'm on the verge of sleep from monotony and I was on my way out to the market for something as mundane as table grapes.

I was just visiting with my friend Dennis, who I have known for more than 50 years, I've always looked at Dennis is my guide to all things political and avant-garde from the corrupt lyrics of the Rolling Stones “Satisfaction” to the actual James Bond literature. I probably would never known the movies were actually derived from Ian Fleming's pocketbook library. Dennis is a great anchor to reality for me. I cannot say that I'm totally worried about what our current president might do upon leaving office but if there was something that could usher in the Apocalypse or great prophecies of the LDS church and the sure signs of the great Coming it would be the end of all failed political regime. I shudder when I ponder the fact that as I write this, the current president of this country still has his hand on “the football” that oversized attaché case that holds the nuclear codes. I recall that desperate moment right after they captured Robert Kennedy's assassin and wrestled him to the floor and were trying to pull the pistol from his hand and someone makes the comment “… Break his fingers if you have to!” That's the way I feel now. “Saw off is god damn hand if you have to get his hands off the “football””. Get the bum out of the office and let us get our life back.

Getting the bum out of office is just the one step but maybe the beginning, we got a get our shots, our vaccinations. We a shock this economy back into functionality. We got a get restaurants back open, movie theaters back open and a whole lot of people buried. I cannot believe what has transpired in just one year. I cannot believe how much I miss the opportunity to go to classes at my silly little community college just up the street. I turn 70 next month and I really hope I get to live at least through the first year of my seventh decade.

Miracle Cake

 

I actually got some decent sleep last night, not a lot, but more than I've gotten the night before. I got up and felt fairly rested and spruced up the kitchen a little bit or at least tried. The day before I just made a mess and pretty much left it until today. Not like got a whole lot of dishes anyway but enough to make me guilty for leaving them out as long as I did. Like I said I didn't have a lot of dishes to clean up for what I did have was scattered but seemed from hell to breakfast generalized chaos.

I started off by cleaning the area by the coffee maker (new) and made myself half a pot. Rearranged and cleaned off the range. I tried to set things up so I wouldn't, inadvertently, tip something over and just make the mess worse. I've been working on a cake, a chocolate cake, I made earlier this week. Kind of proud of myself that I had not eaten the whole kit and caboodle. The cake now is getting pretty dried out, the way that I like it. I decided I would chop up what was left into finger food sized chunks that I could enjoy like brownies, cookies are just something I could pour milk over or ice cream and enjoy. I was taking extra efforts to make sure that I did not tip over the pan. I set the cake pan on the top of the table I pushed the pan, or I thought was far on to the table, but obviously not far enough. In a split second while reaching for my coffee somehow with my elbow I click the edge of their cake pan and all the cake with flying to the floor. I was kind of surprised that didn't hear the “clang clang” that I usually hear but a soft “thud” and leaning over the side of my power chair to look at what I thought was a colossal mess was the cake pan sitting right side up! There were a couple chunks of cake which is bounced out, I suppose, on its trip down to floor. I would say 80% of the cake survived. I knew would be a challenge to get the pen up off the floor by myself but I figured I was lucky in that the help of my trustee dustpan is able to hook the edge of the pan on the dustpan with the long handle I used to pick things up off the floor and it worked! I was able to lift the cake pan up enough to grab it with my other hand and pull everything the safety. I probably should've seen this event as an act of God and thrown away the rest of the cake but I just couldn't do it. I'm still impressed with myself for not trying to save the parts of the cake that bounced out of the pan. I actually threw those away.

It's amazing what I can do when I get enough sleep. As I said earlier cleaned off the stove and the think. Reinforced by the cake incident I even sorted out some of my items in the deep freeze of my refrigerator. I've been meaning to get my sausages both had frozen in their four months. I also put some arrangement other items in the freezer. I still have a significant amount of work left for the freezer but for the first time I can open refrigerator without fear of freezer avalanche. Tomorrow sometime next week I'm going to really get into the freezer throw some stuff away cook some other stuff and make the whole damn box a little less intimidating. Right now however I'm going to enjoy milk to my cake for a late we can treat later on this evening…

Biscuits And Gravy at Virges

 

I am kind of frustrated. I took off this morning with high hopes of finding picture frames for the art I purchased last Fall. I really hope to have them mounted and mounted on my wall by now but I've been dallying for no specific reason unless I am frightened that I'm going to make a mistake and somehow mess up the prints but I have. That's stinking thinking and I'm better than that. Since yesterday I blew off the day with giving the bus pass functional . Today I was going to purchase the picture frames I knew I'd seen them either Ross's department store are T.J. Maxx or one of the other cut-rate stores up around 5400 S..

I didn't get out of the house again until about 1 o'clock I kept missing the bus. Locally, Redwood Road runs 15 minute headways. So I just sat there and waited for the bus full 15 minutes. The sun was out the temperature was not too chilly. I actually felt pretty good getting out on a quest. I wandered through T.J. Maxx and there was nothing there next I searched Joannes art store or whatever it is and was really surprised they did not have any frames either and I thought for sure they would. I decided finally to grab some lunch and think about my problem. Virges restaurant is a little place at the end of the shopping mall I was at.. I first found this place when I was working at independent living and virges was at around 3300 S. in Salt Lake. They had the best English fish and chips I've ever tasted. Sadly, they don't any longer. They still have a great menu and they serve huge portions, much larger than I really enjoy especially since I have no way to carry leftovers home comfortably. But today, I figured I would treat myself and after examining the menu decided to go with the “cheapies” menu, with the biscuits and gravy not only was it less expensive than other items on the menu I wouldn't have anything left over. This was a good choice so good in fact I actually added to Friday's to my meal. I really like this little joint but there really into themselves. The meal still cost me 10 bucks not counting my Tip. $2.50 for coffee? Come on. Perhaps if it was great coffee but it's really just coffee. $2.50 for fried eggs over easyand the rest about five bucks for biscuits and gravy – – supposedly sausage but it was very lite on the sausage. I'm still glad that I went there one of these days don't take my crate with me and get a meal to go enjoy a whole meal.

The day was warm for January but still really it's winter and there is a Sheen clouds and the slight breeze. We're still close enough to equinox that at 3 PM it feels like eventide is coming on in making me wish I was home at my computer with my trusty heater cranked on the dozing in front of my screen having thoughts of an early spring

Wrong Card!

 

With just a little bit of guilt I am excited about how well this weather is holding. It's January 15, it should be subzero, snowdrifts everywhere and everything frozen until the spring thaw somewhere in February but that's not the way that it is the temperature is in the 40s, the sun is shining bright there's even been enough breeze to shove the pollution out to the desert making being outside a true pleasure. With that in mind I want to rectify the problem I ran into yesterday when I boarded the bus to find that I didn't have an adequate bus pass. For some reason, I believe it was last summer, I had to replace my bus pass because I think I ran over it and broke it – – not even realizing one could do such a thing – – but they didn't replace my bus pass with what I thought I had. I was issued just a low-fare card which means I only have to pay half the fair because of my disability and sadly my age. This wasn't the “tap on Off” magic pass that I needed which allows me to ride rail traffic and fixed route service: regular bus routes. So this afternoon I called the authority to find out what I had to to replace my pass and was informed that I needed to go to the Para Transit Center where they would issue me a new card. I made the call early afternoon and pretty much thought I wouldn't get to that task until the coming Monday. I'd kind of promised myself that today I was going to go up to the shopping area 5400 S. and Redwood Road and find a couple of picture frames for the images I purchased late this summer. I just have not been able to get around to finding this picture frames and today I wanted to do so. However, in the back of my mind that little parent figure kept saying “be responsible”. Do what you have to do now which is pictured transit problem or could cost you a dollar 25 every trip you take. Now that is not altogether true, when you purchase a fair you do get a transfer to ride free for two hours from your purchase point. It's complicated I know. Still responsible thing was to put everything off this afternoon except fixing your transit problem.

I made the call and spoke with Shannon who indicated that all I needed to do was come down to the transit center and she would issue me a new “tap on tap off” card. I just had to be to the Para Transit Center before 430. It was a little after 2 PM if I just focused on the transit center I should be just fine and maybe have enough energy left the still hit Michael's or their other store. So off I want. Surprisingly made by connections easily. Thriving got on the next train north one-stop to get to the center. Shannon was delightful and got me my card and some coaching on how to use it and I was out of there. It was now almost 4 o'clock and all the helium had been let out of my balloon and I just wanted to get home to begin my evening routine. Tomorrow I'll go searching for picture frames…

Options

 

As the faithful reader of this document knows I am a creature of ritual, I love ritual those things that can me to reality. The closure of the work week: Friday. National holidays and vacations. This of course was more apropos when I was working but still I feel the need to recognize these events on almost an emotional level. The same holds true for primal basics such as morning coffee. I love the ritual of stumbling out of bed (my case rolling in the chair and getting myself situated) motoring into the kitchen to either turn on the coffee maker warming up yesterday's coffee or on those very special days measuring out and brewing a new pot. Just a great way to recognize the beginning of another day. I realize I am nowhere near the level of coffee if aficionado's many of my friends and colleagues are, who imbibe, but I know at least difference between white coffee and dark coffee, Italian or French roast coffees which are order when I do order coffee. I went to the stage of realizing there was a difference between fresh ground coffee and coffee does the ceiling can for weeks if not longer. I even got into the habit (watch out for that word) of purchasing being coffee grinding the coffee myself for that first grind flavor and feeling of decadence. Luckily, I don't have that fear or dread of realizing I've used up all the coffee in the apartment like cigarette smokers facing an evening or weekend without tobacco. Addiction has many levels in my caffeine addiction is relatively light. Still, I have to admit I felt a bit of anxiety this morning when pulling out of full carafe of coffee and then, inadvertently, slamming the pot down on the stone countertop and a big chunk of glass on the bottom of the coffee pot broke off and rich black fluid ran over the countertop and onto the floor before I moved the coffee pot over the sink.

What I said I didn't have severe anxiety, immediately in my mind I smiled realizing this is an excuse to go next-door order a mega cup coffee. Which I did. In the past I was spent hours if not days trying to figure out the cheapest way to remedy this problem. The problem of no coffee pot. I would've research the coffee maker to see what a replacement vessel would cost if they even made them. Then perhaps I would spend time and effort wandering through secondhand stores to see if they had the exact vessel I needed or if I feel like and find one that would work. In the back of my mind I knew what I needed to do was just go up to Walmart to pick up a new coffee maker entirely. Luckily, over the last couple years I've been playing with the idea of doing just that. So, whenever I was in the Walmart or Best Buy I would wander through their kitchen appliances and look at different machines and realize I can get fairly decent unit which meet my needs for under 20 bucks.

Today I spent at least an hour wandering up and down the aisle at Walmart looking at various coffee machines. Did I want a 5 cup machine is probably what I need but it just seems having access to 12 cups at one time one I really want. My major issue with the 12 cup coffee maker is the size. I love to have one that would go under my cabinetry but that doesn't seem to be the case for where I live. The 5 cup machine would do but I just couldn't bring myself to purchase so I went with the Black & Decker 12 cup coffee maker with a clock that works as does the mechanism that allows you to pull a coffee pot out while brewing for that cup of Java you need immediately. With the Black & Decker unit I could even program the system to brew coffee early in the morning before I get up. I've used this feature in the past and it's nice but takes a lot of commitment to do the process the night before at least I have the options.…

Pretentious Mark

 

This picture which I call “Pretentious Mark” is one of my favorite images of my early disability years. This image was taken at mom and dad's place when I believe I was living either at the dorm at Boise State University or living at the apartment complex called Protest one. I think this was either Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. I was kind of dressed up. I think these are even new Levi's so possibly Christmas dinner. One of the few images which survived with me in my beard.. Interesting to note that in my early days I lived under this fantasy that if I were to exit my wheelchair people would not notice my disability. That's true, it's not like I had monkey hands. I think it still look like I have the opposable thumbs. I've noticed with many paras they often ditch their chair any chance that you get. One of the big excuses I used to use for jumping out of my chair and do a couch or even just a regular chair was the comfort issue. Like any seating device is better than sitting in a chair and I still kind of believe that. Of course this is not an issue with the power chair as if you're so disabled but you have to rely on a power assistance device like an electric chair not going to be transferring independently anyway. If you look closely on my red socked foot I actually have on a pair of low-cut Converse All-Stars. It's really quite the pathetic image but I love it anyway and wish I had more of that time.

I still had money left on my Smith's gift card but I got for my friend Kent last week and today was a pretty decent day. The temperature actually got up in the 50s I have to keep telling myself it's January and were in big trouble because reluctant I have enough moisture this winter. That did not deter me however from going out jumping on the bus heading down to Smith's market on 41^st St. and Redwood Road. More than anything else I wanted to get out and enjoy the day and put miles on my power chair. Grapes were just a distraction but I also picked up a broom the one I have I rolled over one too many times in my home health person declared dead. She broke off the offending piece which left quite a shortened cleaning device and let me know how much sweeping with the short room for her back .

The kind of like going a little out of my way to reach the Smith market. It's not as convenient as the market across the street from my apartment complex but in a lot of ways I think it's a better store. Having said that I'm racking up a little guilt because many of the employees at the market across the street I consider my friends and I feel that I'm abandoning them going down to Smith's oh well, I still have about $12 on my card…

Spring Semester

 

I was on campus yesterday over at Salt Lake Community College. I had gone over there because there is a kiosk for my credit union which makes retrieving cash a lot easier than either trying to get cash for the market using my bank card or jumping the bus going to the credit union itself, which I might add is very convenient in that it's just one bus transfer away. Convenient yes but still, pain in the butt specially in this cold weather. Yesterday was the first day of classes this semester. Everything was working at the student union even the cash machine. Over the holiday break I tried to use machine and it was out of commission not anymore. There were lots of kids run around, not as many as one would think for first day back but I guess a lot of students are online learning.

I was glad to note the cafeteria was functioning. The grill was the only thing operational the other food service part of the student union wasn't working but you can still order breakfast, hamburgers and a host of sandwiches. No pizza but the coffee bar was open and functional. Masked students were everywhere many asleep in their usual spots on the many booths scattered around the cafeteria. I enjoyed being back. I had not intended, really to entertain the notion of taking a class this spring but the young bodies buzzing back and forth began fanning a low key academic ember. I thought to myself for five bucks I could take a course and just sit in. You remember last year took the art class. It was challenging, not the art class per se though the art class really was too, but the process to take the course. I had spent a lot of time getting my ducks in a row to take the course. I had not even thought about taking another course until this day. Suddenly, I wanted to use my student number and enroll in one course or another in order to better identify with this group of folks. I wandered through the bookstore looking at art supplies and school supplies in general. I looked at the spring line of clothes all embossed with the school logo – – my way of saying, “hey look at me! I belong”. I wandered back to the front of the student union by the information kiosk and asked when classes would begin. I was informed classes begin today and there is still time to enroll. I think the young person who assisted me and backed away from the window. She also had informed me that some of the classes were in person while others for virtual and some were both. It all sounded very complicated enough so that I wasn't sure if I wanted to try classes this spring. Maybe, after I get my vaccinations up-to-date and feel relatively safe in the “after time”. I don't know if I will ever feel that safe again. But still I like to have a valid reason to be on campus and to feel like I'm still alive. I think I better wait on good unvaccinated just so that I don't get that Covid sucker punch to wreck my whole summer…

Clunk Clunk

 

I made it through the weekend which is really saying a lot of his time Covid but it seemed appropriate. The most ambitiously I did over the weekend aside from cooking a three course dinner on Sunday night was washing my close on Friday. So I guess Friday was the most productive. As washes go this Friday's loss was not a huge event – – thank goodness. Washing close it just time-consuming add to the fact that I always tend to get a late start on Fridays because of Friday be in a program very low don't really ever get done until 9:30 AM and not dressed until 10 AM if I'm lucky. Many times after I've dismissed my home health worker I hang around dallying before get dressed. More than once I've been transported away on those stupid YouTube “how to” videos that often snag me but I'm trying to check the time, whether or my bank account status. Before I know it all spent 45 minutes watching some idiot build a merry-go-round parts found in his auto shop. I also get carried away with cooking videos especially Asian cooking videos. Whatever the video there a huge time usurper and I hate them. I have to just figure out a way to get dressed without checking my online presence first. Sometimes, I listen to podcasts are public radio as I get dressed and start my morning kind of background noise or white noise.

I was relatively swift on Friday getting dressed I had a function. I promised myself to get the clothes done before doing anything else. Well, almost done. Once I finished the second dry if needed. Just on the side – – I'm doing my laundry now a day early and it seems I can get through or by just one dry cycle and that saves me $.75. Whole process from start to finish if I'm focused is probably 90 minutes to 120 minutes. I swear sometimes I get if free 10 minutes on my dryer if I'm really lucky. The laundry is right next to the manager's office. This usually isn't a bad thing but I been trying to avoid the manager for the last couple weeks after getting a raise on my rent. I don't know why just want to avoid or if I can. It's not a big deal unless I make it one. Anyway, I found a way that I can circumvent rolling in front of the manager's office completely if I exit the building just outside the laundry room and I can go all the way around outside the come in my wing. Works pretty good I can operate pretty well in stealth mode.

My regular M O is to start the wash go back to the apartment and do something productive then come back in through the wash in the dryer and repeat the process. I don't really know exactly how long it takes to wash the clothes some people say 40 minutes same process is true with driving cycles some folks say 40 minutes some say 45. I used to take a book with me or my cell phone so that I would have something to do while I waited for the cycles to wander through. But I thought to be more productive so now what I do usually when I start my wash I will do more or bike is usually by that time of the week I'm on 30 minute pumps as opposed to the first three days of the week I do a 50 minute pump. So I'm in and out running back and forth to the laundry. Anyway I started this week's dryer and I was flummoxed because I heard clunk clunk clunk. It sounded like a shoe was in the dryer clunking around. I stopped machine looked inside I cannot find anything. I tried to convince myself maybe I'd loaded the machine wrong there was just bumping around. Finally however, a rolled next-door were Jennifer the apartment manager was talking with Ted the maintenance guy and asked her to see if I had broken up dryer. Would not surprise me. She seemed excited to see me at been a long time to thought maybe I was dead. But anyway she went to the dryers looked in at first cannot find anything then she says, “a ha!”. Like a magician: a rabbit from the hat she pulled out my cell phone! I often carry my cell phone in my lap especially when I'm doing things like the laundry case somebody calls. On the restraint belt on my chair I usually keep the phone but it's also an easy place for the phone to jump into the wash since I'm bending over so much throwing it in. It must around five minutes in the dryer before Jennifer fished it out but it still worked and it is working even now my luck continues to hold this fabulously bright new year…

Sunday Dinner

 

I kind of cooked all afternoon, late afternoon actually. So I got on the cooking mood after texting Dianne was about ready to embark on making homemade mushroom soup. I have never had her homemade mushroom soup with looks and sounds delicious. I mean you can only go so far with technology and texting. There is no taste or aroma and perhaps that's best. I've been kind of thinking about this meal for a couple weeks actually, ever since I found a roast I purchased from Costco a few months ago that I had frozen up in the top of the fridge. It's a cute little roast beef sliced and impact in its own juices. I really getting into instant potatoes too. I don't know why I like them so much maybe even over the real thing. Certainly a lot simpler less for sure. I even threw together a green bean casserole even though I didn't have French fried onions for the top I used by Chinese noodles and it came out just fine. Perhaps the best part of the wholemeal was or is a chocolate cake I made from one of the packages of cake mix I found in the pantry. I haven't tasted the cake yet but sure it'll be fine. What I'm worried most about with the cake is I found a half a can of frosting are used for cake number months ago and put the remaining frosting in the pantry since the forgot it until today. I gingerly jabbed the chocolatey mess and there is nothing going on at and for the covered finger in my mouth and the taste of relatively okay. I'm sure once I apply it to the cake will be just fine.

I only had enough frosting to do about three force of the cake. I have about a fourth of the cake with no frosting of all that's okay I don't mind. I'll leave that part two cure dry out which I can use for snacks or drench of milk at some point in time later in the month. I will be tasting a piece of the frosting covered cake tonight before turning in. Yesterday when I went to the market but couldn't help myself and bought another package of ice cream cups. You know those little cups of ice cream that used to get in a paper container with a wooden spoon. Now it's a plastic container with no spoon is not a whole lot of ice cream (just 100 cal it says) just enough to give you a taste of something better. I'm going to heat up a piece of the cake and open one of the containers of ice cream and call it good.

It's late in the evening now and I'm about ready to start the cleanup. Once again I did a number on the kitchen especially things like mixing bowls with chocolate cake mix coded on the sides. Luckily up I rinsed a lot of the stuff as I use them all I was cooking so maybe the cleanup will not be so hard that I have a few minutes tomorrow before my home health person comes from a program. Many times she can't stand my kitchen will actually do some cleaning and washing. But wanted to have to do a lot so she can see I'm trying maybe she will assist with the heavy lifting…