Fried cabbage

 

My mess was not nearly as attractive as this but tasted good! :-)

I was lucky enough last week I was down at the common room when one of the fellows from the food bank dropped off the Thursday consignment. It's amazing what is available when you're right there is the resources come in. There's all kinds of dairy goods, albeit most of that was passed their due date but some people like that, vegetables and some fruit and lots of bread always lots and lots of bread. Some cookies every once in a while a cake. But I got my hands on the head of cabbage. I'm really trying to do more with cabbages here. I like cabbage because it lasts a long time in your refrigerator I mean before it's cooked. I like cabbage because a lot of it can be used in Asian cooking and I like to learn more about Asian cooking. I try to cook as much Asian as I can. So, I have this beautiful cabbage head and I threw it in the refrigerator and there it sat for the last week or so. On my weekly shop around yesterday afternoon I picked up the kielbasa sausage link and figured it was time to process the cabbage. I have to confess some a bit intimidated when I start something new like this I guess that's why the last couple heads of cabbage I've had, I have squandered. Seriously, cabbage is so versatile. Well today was the day.

Seems like I can't do anything anymore without access to the Internet., It's kind of pathetic but that's where I'm at. So I put in “fried cabbage kielbasa” and sure enough a zillion recipes popped up my pick the one with the most colorful rendition of a skillful of cabbage sausage. I usually wait until late in the afternoon and then abandon the project because I'm too tired or too overwhelmed by how much problem producing such a project would be let alone what the cleanup will be. However this afternoon relatively early and got to work on the project thinking that I don't even have to eat the cabbage today. I can have it either on the rest of the week that's pretty cool. So I cleaned off the place on the table flashed up on the cutting boards went to work process in the cabbage. I did something this time a little bit more ingenious than usual. Axa pulled out a number of my stainless steel bowls you know like what real cooks to put all the ingredients into each one of them the ingredients as they need. That's what I did I took the kielbasa sliced it down the middle cut it up and a half inch chunks just like the Internet says set them aside, diced onion smashed three close of garlic set them aside, the monk to work on the head of lettuce. This was relatively straight forward a little bit more messy than I would like the kind of fun to. Skinning the bad leaves off the head thing half ing the head when cutting that in the slices in cubing the long slices of cabbage. Then it was the fun part brazing the sausage set-aside cooking on the onions of the garlic throwing in the cubed cabbage cook it down and then finally mixing the braised sausage and I was done. My mess did look as good as the cabbage on the screen but that's okay it's edible and I enjoy it and well enjoyed this week. Tomorrow's March time for good letters and everything else I do on 1 March or month. This next week I'll get my second shot for Covid I'm making progress but sounds like there's another variation of Covid out there from Africa would sounds pretty lethal oh well it should be almost 60° by the end of the week and I'm thankful for that…

Five Minute Moment

I have the best ideas it seems like as I sometimes wake in the morning. The idea seems so grand and perfect and easily achieved that is until I start more fully waking and usually by the time I'm ready to get up the idea which I thought was so grand as all but vanished from my recollection, like a dream. Like this morning I had the best idea. I was even developing different concepts on the theme. I should've rolled over and started dictating to my cell phone which I keep next to my bed but I didn't think you know I can remember if I just focused on one particular item. The item that I repeated over and over in my mind was the Five Minute Moment it would be a condensed interview over video by cell phone or computer whatever the person would give a five minute rundown over a particular historical moment arrived in their life. For example I kept thinking of the house I first lived in on Latah Street in Boise. It was a green shade house – – I was always told that if I ever got lost to tell people I lived in the green shaded house – – I didn't know what that meant but I had it down almost as a mantra “I live in the green shaded house on Latah”. I wanted to do a five-minute moment on the green shaded house. One to take this idea and visit with all my brothers and sisters who lived in that house and what was their experience and what did they most like our dislike about the house. I really think the challenge would be to keep their answers down the five minutes maybe it doesn't have to be five minutes maybe the five-minute things just the way to start the process. My mind just seems to explode when I get these ideas as I lay there in bed wishing that I could hold onto them are implement them.

There's nothing to stop me from calling my older family (we all lived in the green shade house) and I'm sure they would be more than happy to give me this information. Sadly however the more I lay there in bed and ponder my idea the excitement seems to fade and like all my other dreams tends to dissipate as my consciousness takes over. Such a great idea. I thought about cornering people I grew up with in grade school and later in junior high and doing the same thing with them. I kind of think they would think I'm a little fruity. I don't think this would go very far. It just seems like the five-minute moment could be a great way to document parts of your history.

I cooked this morning – –bacon and eggs and even hashbrowns turned out pretty good I was surprised but I kind of exploded my kitchen. I cannot believe how much stuff I dropped on the floor but it was fun and well worth the experience. I'm going to cook again tomorrow I'm seriously thinking of doing omelette I should know better but sometimes you feel like you got a crack a few eggs…

Friday Night Lite

I'm ashamed of myself have not done anything positive all day. I haven't even pumped my bike yet which I plan to do before I go to bed maybe just for 30 minutes (I've already logged sufficient minutes for the week but it's more like I want to make sure I'm tired enough to sleep through the night). I thought I slept better last night and I felt a bit groggy all day. So of no particular reason to have to go out anywhere I'm staying in and doing puzzles word puzzles, cryptograms. This is probably not the most efficient use of my time but it's as good as I'm going to get today. After all, I could've spent the day watching Stephen King's The Stand .I can't remember if I've seen this version are not. I read the book years ago and I think the initial motion picture was filmed here in Salt Lake released a portion of it was. I think they used my friend Kim's neighborhood. However, that was a long time ago.

My neighbor across the hall, Billie got some bad news earlier in the week. She's got have to go in for a hip replacement which is certainly weighing heavy on her mind which is getting around all right for the time being. Her surgery is not scheduled for a month still however that goes for time to worry. She'll be doing the surgery at the University medical Center and I think shall have a pretty good go of it. I have to worry just because surgery for anyone her age is risky. I think overall she's pretty strong and possibly should do well. She's got a good support network in the community of her kids in particular granddaughter but tends to look after her very closely. I certainly will be around for what that's worth. You got a be careful making friends at this point in time in one's life. Hard enough to lose a dog let alone a friend. Kind of weird look at everybody sideways like when you're playing poker hold your cards up but you look both ways on either side of you as well as across the table just to see what hands there holding for the not showing. Somehow I feel when I communicate with my friends these days is going to go first? Going to have to be someone. Already, high school friends are beginning to drop off. In the old days you would never know but now the social media: Facebook, twitter, and Instagram you have a false knowledge of knowing where everybody's at and what everyone is doing and when everyone's dying. I guess, getting used to family and friends dying before you is common and natural to the lifecycle if you're one of the lucky ones have extended life. Boy, that almost sounds like science fiction. Dianne has shared with me she is found a local burial company that plants you in a/ with a cardboard box and a quick disintegration process that I guess really gets the job done with no chemicals or damage to the earth are the environment. Decent Prices well under $2000! Guess I better get busy make some decisions who knows when you're just going to wake up dead

The Letter

 

You know how I write my kids or my grandkids usually a letter every month at least I try and I do pretty good. For some reason I've latched onto this concept of how important it is to write letters, keep a journal document this space you hold in life. If I were to leave a legacy to my offspring it would be the materials I've written down either by my own hand, typed or dictated with Dragon. More importantly I've felt that it's important to convey to my grandkids the importance of the US mail services. Even as expensive as stamps are becoming it still a great deal as far as sending written communication. The written letter is an artifact, something left behind once written, easily destroyed usually but surprisingly a piece of paper couldn't do her many traumas and still display markings. I'm always amazed when I find something that my mother or my father has written and I take the time to sit down and read it again and realize these are the exact thoughts there thinking at the moment they put them down with a typed or laboriously handwritten in pencil on a small personal notebook.

I find writing a letter even to grandkids as well as regular kids is like throwing the proverbial note in a bottle out onto the ocean and just see what happens. Of course the chances of ever seen not bottle come back to you with another note from somebody who would found the bottle is pretty infinitesimal. So I'm always shocked (and I really shouldn't be) when I opened my mailbox and see a letter addressed to me from some little person or at least younger person younger than me. It just amazes me. Even this week I got a text for my daughter indicating that my grandson Asher had written a letter in response to a letter I sent him. I was delighted Bridget was so excited that I should have a letter she could not wait for me to receive the document in the mail. She sent me a picture of the letter The letter was darling. So I knew the letter was coming and I knew exactly what the letter said but I couldn't wait to receive the document, to open up my mailbox pull the letter out and then nonchalantly wave it in front of the faces of the other seniors who just gotten insurance and funeral plan advertisement. I had senior “gold”! Some kid or one had thought enough about me as a person to sit down and write a letter – –Sounds like part of the lyrics from a Rod Stewart melody. I was getting a little worried when I had not gotten the letter in a couple days after the conversation with my daughter. I was beginning to wonder if she had forgotten to mail the document. I'm going to reply now in the next day or so and I plan to insert a couple of interesting looking forever stamps. I like to choose my stamps which means a trip to the post office and see what they have in the big envelope or folder of current stamps. I don't know if Asher will feel empowered when he gets five stamps that he knows that he can put on the envelope and send is very thoughts out into the world which will stay in the world until that piece of paper is no more …

Cannella's

I believe I've gone on quite a bit lately about how glad I am that were meeting in person at Assist, Inc. I love to have an excuse to saddle up head downtown. I'd hate to be so tried as to characterize myself as a downtown kind of guy but maybe I am. Things are different downtown right now because the Covid. I was surprised that how many the businesses in that little section where the Assist office is at. There is a great little restaurant called Cannella's. I 'm not sure but I think Cannella's was owned by the same folks which owned a bar called Juniors – – which is been relocated to another part of the city – – there still is a little pastry shop next to the Assist, office. Little place called madeleines how they stayed in business I don't know. Their bakery/café though they don't look big enough to have anything and I did notice that they no longer have any inside seating. They do a great trade however and I love to go to the place before I go to my meetings to grab coffee and sometimes a treat.

Cannella's was a great little Italian restaurant that looked like it came straight off the set of one of the Godfather movies. The joints but on that corner for 42 years before he was killed by the pandemic. Except for the past five years there's been one big step going into the place which should prevent me from really enjoying the atmosphere. However, a few years ago the old guy put in a ramp. The place is still sort of two classy for me but David my friend who ran the weekly advisory board meetings would take me out for lunch couple times a year. The place is a lot bigger than I thought plus it had a basement bar that I never really went into. Place was cozy great place to hang out in the wintertime. A good place to go to dinner before or after a pro basketball game are University of Utah football game if your little guy and don't go to one of the younger bars or restaurants. But it's gone now like so many other great little establishments that will never be slinging food again or great drinks. Cannella's Was the kind of place where you were served on a table with a real tablecloth and heavy silverware. The wait staff was pretty much made up of college kids is always and always seem vibrant like I said one step above dive bars , hash joints And chain restaurants. Even though I hardly went there and going to miss the place. Nearly broke my heart when I rolled past the shuttered doors could see chairs stacked upside down on tables that were looking desperately for a clientele.

I'm not sure what the after times are going to be like. I get my shot in two weeks, my second injection, I don't know if if that second shot well allow me the freedom to wander around and start finding new places to enjoy a life that the pandemic leaves. The news is all about how quickly the vaccines are going out and whose injecting the who's not injecting The most frightening the fall possible mutations in the virus like it's actually keeping track of what's been developed and how to circumvent and grow. I hope, I just hope that will have a little time to find a friend little restaurant next to its lounge And stop infor a nice plate of Italian…

F N G Friendly New Guy!

Finally. It's been forty-four Evers since we've had Emergency Home Repair E HR, volunteer board meeting at Assist, Inc. for the loyal readers you remember that into before time we met weekly most of the time to discuss requests for emergency home repair. Each request is then signed by one of the board members that we agree to the need. This of course, like everything else it seems, came to a screeching halt last year late March early April. The need did not go away but it was difficult to bring them board together especially since we had to sign the documents. For one reason or another I was about the only board member that kept being active over this period of time. The coordinator then Dave and I would get together maybe once a month to go over the applications. Then of course late last year David retired and the program is been in limbo ever sense. However, couple weeks ago we were able to hire a new coordinator for the project a young lad named Andrea's – – he seems young but probably not as young as I think. Everyone seems young to me. He's the new guy.

Late last week Andrea's called me to introduce himself and we decided that we would have a meeting today, the usual day for the advisory board. I was excited that we were going to have an “in person” meeting. I guess somewhere in my mind this suggested that things were getting back to normal and I was so happy to have that feeling. From the discussion on the phone I could tell that Andrea's had no idea what the advisory board was about and how to run it and I was pleased that I was able to assist. I was tasked, after the phone call, call the other members of the group to see if they could make the meeting. It was strange because all the numbers I had for the folks did not seem to work so I was the only when it showed up today for the meeting which is just as well. We introduced ourselves to each other, Andrea and I and I think we sort of had midst of bond. I think we will do okay especially if we can get the other members activated. We were able to bring one personnel over the phone, Margaret, who seemed a lot more healthy than last time I heard her voice. One of the board is just 90 and the and Margaret is 80 something then there is me at 70 followed by Caroline I know is younger than me by how much I don't know.

The board meets at 11 AM and usually goes for one hour. Andrea said my stretch that a little bit today so that we could review all of the applications that were at hand. The turn loose a little after 12 noon. I was glad to get back into the meeting mode. Looks like we'll have another meeting next week and hopefully some of the other members will be able to be in attendance. I will feel a lot better after March 4 which is when I get my second Covid vaccination. Now I'm still a little jittery and feeling a little hypochondriacal feeling every sensation respiratory or physical pain as a sure indicator of the Covid. I think of just tired even though I really didn't do anything driving my chair to the bus stop write the trainto the library stop and over to the office and back again I guess is a lot of work especially for someone as old as me… LOL

Happy Birthday Dad!

 https://meadowlarksmind.blogspot.com/2006/12/heat.html

A couple of days ago my Was my dad's birthday would been something like 110 or 111 which is kind of hard to believe. It's always hard to see your parents as human beings people just like us are like me anyway. Maybe, as I get older I get to see more and more of his life to my eyes and understand a lot more the things that he did or didn't do. My dad was always a worker to my dismay. Didn't have fun like most people always that's how I saw it. Well, he like to fish I think and I think he sort of like the hunt but we didn't do very much of it we never had much time because he was always working. This is just as well because out of hated to go hunting anymore than I had to. I kind of deep down didn't think my dad liked to kill beasts. We had hunting equipment in the house just because I doubt inherited a lot of stuff from his uncle. Uncle George was a great hunter, I think technically uncle George's my great uncle. We have a couple pictures of him. I of course never knew him. I do wish I'd gotten to know a lot more of my dad's people . They were really interesting folk. A little exposure I did have to my dads folks and family I was small and didn't know what questions to ask or how to ask them.

My dad was from the old part of the century. He was too young for the first world war and to old for the second world war. Or maybe he was an essential worker for the second world war and didn't have to fight. Anyway he was never in the service. He threshed wheat during the depression following the harvest around the central states all the way north to Canada where his people eventually moved. He had great stories and even had friends scattered around Boise that had similar stories in was great entertainment when ever they would get together and began remembering the old days. I did not think I would ever be like that but of course I am and am always glad to find somebody that I spent part of my days with and talk about the old days just like a Bruce Springsteen's song.

Dad eventually wound up in Boise and ended up at a place called Boise Heating and Equipment basically a furnace company. He kept peoples homes heated in the winter and cool in the summer. He also worked on industrial sites like buildings maintain the big air conditioner systems and heating units. Dad worked for Boise Heating For at least 27 years which I thought was a long time. We used to spend a lot of time at the “shop” the building that my dad worked out of. We were often there on Saturdays knocking apart wooden crates and taking the wood home to either build with our cut up in use for fuel and heat. If you search for “heat” Or go to , you should find a a blog posting I did 10 or 12 years ago were almost 20 years ago holy cow.This describes harvesting lumber from the shop on Saturdays.

Yep, there's a lot of things I've asked my dad now especially as I get closer to my “stepping off” time but I should be looking for there's anything I can do to be more ready. I think I'm just in transition when you for spring and not yet tired of winter…

Sunday Coffee And A Whole Lot More

 

What a delightfully interesting day. I had no illusions about today. I don't be committed to basically staying inside all day. Partly cloudy with lots of sunshine but still very brisk and not have anywhere significant to go to here I sit. That's why I was pleased this afternoon when I got a text from Mark Anthony asking if I was around. He would like to come over and frame my newest Chagall “Circus Girl”. This is part of the set that I purchased a number of months ago and have never gotten around to getting them framed them up on a wall. Actually, I gave one print it way keeping Circus Girl for me. Marc Chagall has quite a few Circus paintings and many are of the variety I got my hands on, signed prints whatever that means. I'm not really into the collection aspect as much as into collecting what I like whether it's a poster or print. I doubt in my lifetime I shall ever have an original signed one never knows. Trouble if I had an original signed I doubt that I'll be eligible to live this facility anymore but if I can afford original signed print or original I could live anywhere I wanted.

I cooked this morning first time in really quite a while, which is somewhat embarrassing to admit, Dianne gave me some cheese a few weeks ago I can't remember quite what kind she gave me a small wedge of Gouda and and a wedge of this other. Last week she mentioned using the cheese in an omelette which motivated me this morning to do the same. I've been trying to keep the kitchen up a little bit for whatever reason I don't know I just feel better when it looks nice and Melanie my staff straightened about this weekend a little bit. But this morning I gave up the idea of the clean kitchen and tore into the omelette. The experience was grand, slicing onions, cheese green pepper,, a couple slices of cubed spam of course we got and of course mushrooms from a can but still mushrooms all the Same. The omelette turned out great's far as I was concerned. I still have half of the omelette for tomorrow. As they say you got a break and had to make an omelette you got a dirty dishes to make an omelette as well and that I did.

It was late afternoon Mark finally got here and he was all excited about grinding some coffee and uses new coffee press. Coffee's new for Mark and is just getting into the culture. So he was all excited having stopped at Sprouts and got a couple small bags of coffee beans. Mark Anthony cleared off table as I dug out the teapot filled it with water and set it to boil. It had been decades since I've used a artsy fartsy coffee Cone – – you know the kind of the French use. Was kind of fun however we were exploring this cute little coffee press Mark picked up somewhere. I had to dig out my coffee cups since I put them away preferring to use just paper cups I pick up at the coffee shop across the street. The coffee was good with flavored it with some coffee flavoring Mark picked up. Then we set to work.

Mark was methodical, is so much better at this kind of stuff than I am must be from his mother all of it. He found the perfect red paper for the print and measured and measured. He actually has these small clamp study clamps the paper down before he cuts. I would never have gone through such precision and I appreciated his commitment to the project. We finally got finished a little after 6 PM he was supposed to be home by then for dinner. He was astonished at how well his work turned out I wasn't Mark is always done very good precision type work like I said not from me that's for sure. This is the second Matt job he's done now I just need to order my next Chagall in the Circus series what a lot of fun for a Sunday afternoon…

Shopping on a Saturday

Saturday The temperature outside is Pretty chilly but the sun is out in the day looks beautiful so beautiful in fact I figured well what the heck? I might as well be in provisions for the next week. I'm totally out of spicy vegetable juice (this is the beverage I used to make my morning drink) the same goes for table grapes and bananas. I become a true believer and having a banana day. I think my daily banana helps me greatly in all levels. But in all honesty I think I just needed to exit the building for a few minutes and put some distance on my chair. I honestly felt the need of celebration. Yesterday I was so constipated or whatever when my staff was here for my “routine” that two suppositories could not even move me. I know TMI oh well. In fact, I had my staff person show up this morning for another go round and finally success! Not successful as I would've liked it enough to get me through till Monday. I can't say that I was elated but I felt safe to be out. I don't know if is an artifact of the Covid reality or my rural upbringing but I think I consider going to the market of form of recreation. Maybe it's just getting out of the road and going here to there I actually made a list today for the market. Oddly I have just slightly less for the personal relationship with many of the staff at the market I frequent. The greengrocer guy, this individual always seems to be there sprucing up the vegetable area. He speaks of the Slavic accent I don't know's name nor his history but I've certainly made up a biography for him. Probably a castaway from the late Soviet bloc somehow coming to America and now working in the vegetable section at Macy's. There's another greengrocer who always seems to be there as well who I think is exasperated that the Slavic's outgoing personality. That I have one or two favorite checkers allows like to go through their aisle if possible. I had to do a lot of replacing of items I've used up. This required me hanging around and trapping people to help me when I can't reach cans very low or items of the top of the aisle like the Sweet and Low. This has a lot of time my shopping but there's nothing else to do and I like the amount. One of those items is getting another couple of cans of jalapeno peppers. I believe a couple posts ago I talked about the morning drink I make from jalapeno pepper juice, apple cider with mother and various spices. I also use the peppers often for my morning meal of a frozen burrito smothered in cheese with crisp chow mein noodles scattered on top of nice crunchy breakfast. I opened my last can of jalapeno peppers this morning and figure I need to get a couple more for the pantry. I actually thought about seeing if I could get them cheaper on the Internet without having to lug the cancel home in my brown Dennis Dahle basket. Which really quite confusing whether Amazon prime is any better than eBay or PayPal. Seems like the same cans are much more expensive on the Internet that the market today is able to get my peppers for less than two dollars a can on the Internet there up to around three or four I don't understand that but I don't try very hard either. I've got a new pitcher of peppers in the footage into cans sitting in the pantry items set and I'm actually thinking of getting a case of peppers If there's another stimulus check. I even splurged today and got two cans of beef tamales by Nalley. This is definitely a guilty treat. If I didn't have hamburger it needs to be cooked I would mix me up a Hispanic dinner of refried beans from a can, tamales from a can also bothered with cheese, jalapeno peppers and cottage cheese but it will just have to wait. Happy Saturday night…TheThe

Red or Blue?

 

Sometime this weekend going to make time to watch the Matrix That iconic motion picture about a universe built on the myth of being a complete universe of sleepers all caught up in the synthetic dream what our bodies are raised and harvested by machines to further machines reality/universe. The reason I'm going to watch this movie is because I was quasi-challenged by a friend of mine who lives in the Netherlands. She thinks a lot never was about challenges me. Right now she's pretty well frustrated with the fact that the entire legislative body of the Netherlands has quit. I haven't really given it much thought except what I hear and see on the 5 o'clock news and what other pieces of news I get via the Internet. Sadly and somewhat embarrassed I have to admit I'm fairly complacent. My friend, the Dutch European, so the shrugs her shoulders and weights around for the next election the come so they can repopulate the government. I just indicated that the “shadow government” must be keeping the system operational that kind of freaked her out. I don't know if that's true or not but when I start thinking about it how can you have a complete government resign and just keep going forward? Something's got to be run in the system got be more than just perpetual motion. I mean, I should be more upset and freaked out about what's going on in the US political system right now but you know what? I'm a bit complacent. I hate to say I don't care and deep down I don't think I really do because I know the system, whatever the system, will intervene and take care of itself. In another life I was really in the conspiracies and the shadows now I just figure is the way the system works – – at least our system. I don't know what it would take for me to get totally involved the way that I once was.

I think that level is coming when the government will be so ineffective and somewhat destructive to the point that myself and a lot of other baby boomers are going to have to shake a leg or be methodologically crucified. Is it going to be extermination centers I. E. Long-term care facilities, bonus payments for large cash payouts for contracts to walk into annihilation booth at the end of a period of time after you spend the money they gave you. Or maybe just maybe a catastrophic pandemic so universal that it will methodically take out everybody over 70 years old – – Oh hey They're already doing that. Now, to craftily tie all this together with the Matrix Metaphor. Maybe at 70 years old it's just easier to sit back recline my chairturn on Netflix and zone out There are so many great offerings in the streaming universe these days what a great time and day to be alive or asleep. My friend in a virtual half pointedly pushed my attention to the decision that Mr. Anderson/Neo would have to make that being what pill my going to take? The red pill and the rabbit hole or the blue pill but see what's on Netflix…

Still Small Voice

 

My upstairs neighbor, Stephen, I've written about them before he's unique to put a fine point on a description. In some ways Stephen brings out the worst in me and I really have to ride myself not to react to his comments. I'm much better now than I used to be but still I worry.

My new regimen for Thursdays is to rise early and start my weekly wash. I don't know if anyone remembers at one time these to have a coffee hour where folks would get together in the common room drink coffee/chocolate or whatever and just gab for about an hour. I feel that spot, actually all early morning Thursday with washing my clothes. Of course, when I wash my clothes I must pass the common room and I swing in your to see if there are any new treasures on the sharing shelf. I was lucky today there was another bottle of tomato juice – low-sodium of course I can always fix that. My theories it's better to have low-sodium tomato juice and a carton of Morton salt and have no two juice at all. I started by wash came back to fetch the bottle and see what else was on The table when I heard noises over by the fireplace where the other in the room. The common area/room is huge with a big fireplace at one end surrounded by overstuffed chairs and sofas. Can serve as a nice gathering place When Covid is not a threat. The room is rarely lit up so it's dark with just the outside light filtering and through glass doors and high windows. I heard some knocking around again and look closer and I could make out the silhouette of my upstairs neighbor Stephen huddling close to the blue gas flame of the fireplace. I know better than to try to engage in a meaningful conversation with Stephen but hope springs eternal and so I rolled over and see if I might assist Stephen if he needed help. Of course Stephen didn't need any help he was just trying to get close enough to the flame to feel some heat. The kind of broke my heart. It's not like it's that cold the building however. But I think Stevens even told that I am and his frail and bottom line is a kind like the guy. For those interested you can search this blog for “Steve or Stephen” and you should be able to find some other posts.

What's interesting About Stephen is that he has a charismatic Mormon. Like the charismatic Christians who do all kinds of weird things charismatic Mormons like to see about miracles of the church historic and current and personal revelations/discussions with Holy Ghost and other ecclesiastical ringers. I think today we got onto talking about the tragic freezeout in Texas and I made the mistake of sharing with Stephen that I'm just worried what our challenge here Lund Wasatch front would be or will be. I talked about how I've been thinking what would we do if we had whether so inclement that knocked out the power (see blog earlier this week) how would we deal with days of no electricity, heat or even drinkable water that did not have to be treated or boiled. Of course at this point I always bring up the fact that we along the Wasatch front may not have to worry about snow-pocalypse But we will sooner or later have to cope with a major earth shift causing untold destruction along the Wasatch front in Salt Lake Valley. Of course, Stephen let me know about how many times he's heard the Spirit advise him to instantly move on to move immediately and he did. One case was I believe the earthquake in California 1989 he was under an overpass and had promptings to move immediately and he did only to see in the afternoon news that the overpass had “pancaked” right on the area where he had been and often and always his life is driven by the way “still small voice”. This is about the time in our conversation when I split because I know he's just going to get crazier from there. As I hurried to get to my good excuse of checking on my laundry Steve thanked me for allowing him to share his spiritual moment with me and I guess I was glad to hear it up and made Stephen feel better. Didn't do much to help me though the big slip is still coming and you can only so much in the power chair

Snow Day ESSENTIAL CONSUMER

 

Well were finally getting slammed by winter it seems. I woke to cut the heavy snow falling temperature being cold, freezing cold, the lake effect is the culprit for today's moisture dump. That makes me wonder if the moisture is coming off the lake and then hitting the cold air then freezing and falling the snow – – is this a closed system? – – So even though it looks like a lot of snow is being dumped in the mountains the snow still coming from our depleted water reservoirs which is the lakes i.e. the lake affect. This has really got me scratching my head maybe I need to write an email to the weather guy to see what he says. I finally dragged myself out of bed around 6:30 AM and noted then that snow was beginning to lay down quite picturesquely. Most surprised I had not heard the plows yet been usually by this time for all over our back parking area. If I could walk I would say I padded around the apartment making coffee washing up some dishes and sweeping the floor before my morning staff arrived. She's very conscientious and does a lot of floor sweeping but more importantly's mopping our Swifty and whatever the verb is but I don't want her to think I'm totally abject of housekeeping skills. Little at 8 AM Melanie did call indicating that she would be late which is no surprise to me even in the best of times but I thanked her and got back to mixing my morning drink. Melanie did indicate that the snow was plentiful and none of the road seemed to be plowed and that we should be later than usual. I was not surprised and added jalapeno pepper in a couple ounces of juice for my morning beverage.

Melanie was about a half an hour late which is not bad. She looked like an Arctic adventurer wherein are insulated boots snow pants of the fairly nice parka. She indicated how slow she had to drive and how bad everyone else seemed to be driving . As we were getting me ready for the shower putting me in the sling she indicated that had I not been an essential consumer, “essential consumer” she was considered very strongly of agreeing with her office to stay home and not subject yourself to risk of being out in the storm. But, she informed the office that because I was the essential consumer I needed the services that she was not going to forgo her delivery of those services just because a little snow. At first I thought wow that's a compliment – – I've kind of heard that from other Of my care providers as well. They however added the qualifier that because they really liked me the one to make sure I got my service.

That's pretty interesting had never thought of myself as an “essential consumer”. I guess it's kind of true however I like to believe that I could've gone a day or two without a bowel movement or a shower if needed. I'd figure out something I'm sure. Maybe am just on the borderline of being an essential consumer. I mean there are those out there who need to have their pick lines cleaned or physically fed or just needed to have services one sort or another more so than just me. I guess this would be more essential than I. I'm certainly not going to fight the designation after all I know I'm special…

A Meeting, Yes!

I'm not sure what I've got myself into. I mean I kind of was already there after all I been a member of this board for decades literally. But after all it's Tuesday morning and just perform I called Assist, Inc. in hopes of visiting with the director to find out if they were going to have a meeting of the advisory board to adjudicate applications for the Emergency Home Repair program. We really haven't had a meeting since before Christmas before my buddy David retired from the program. I'm sure Assist, Inc. has been doing some emergency repair but technically, according to the grant, each application must be adjudicated. I mean after all I'm totally aware that the work will be done regardless of what this volunteer board does but it just feels good to called see if the going to have a meeting. I really haven't been keeping up, kind of figuring that when Jason, Assist director fill the position we will be contacted one where the other.

So, as I indicated, I made the call around 9:30 AM fully expecting to speak withJason Wheeler the director of Assist. When I identified who I was I was put on hold and then picked up a few seconds later by someone with a name Andreas who is the new hire to coordinate the Emergency Home Repair program. Andrea's sounds like a nice guy know it forward to working with him. He seemed really appreciative of my call and follow-up. I have started up in enough jobs to know the chaos and the feeling of loss of control a person can have. So many times I wished somebody were called and said hey what can I do to help you transition? I was a bit surprised when he picked up the ball immediately and gave me an assignment which is basically to put together the next meeting of the EHR Citizen advisory board. Undressed quickly dumped the phone numbers of the board members on me and indicated he'd look forward to the meeting at 11 o'clock on the 23^rd! Told excited I am not sure about how well I'll pull this rabbit out of the hat of the least I'm grabbing for the ears and willing to give them a good yank.

So at this point in time where three characters on this board myself, Carolyn, Margaret and Mary. Seriously Carolyn is the youngest of the group but she also seems to have the most energy. I made calls to each of the numbers I was given the made contact with no one left messages on two machines and Mary's phone number does not seem to work. I'm a little worried because Mary's in her 90s, spry for the 90s but I hope she still around. I really think one of the first objectives of the group when we do get together with Andrea's and possibly Jason is to figure out how to for the groupTo cultivate a few new members of the group. This should be fairly easy duty. I was most impressed because I thought sure Endres was want to do the first couple meetings as zoom type virtual meetings But now he wants a full face-to-face in the flesh, around the table meeting and I'm excited. I'm about ready to begin my next round of calls. Hopefully I'll get lucky and the next week and make contact with everybody even Mary Allen if I'm really lucky bottom line it really feels good to be doing something again in the volunteer realm…

Pudding!

 

When I was a kid I mean pretty small five or six years old when my first exposures to cooking beyond making my own cinnamon toast, which I thought was a great culinary feat, was going to the pantry and opening a box of butterscotch pudding mix. I can't remember my mom sitting me down and instructed me how to put this treat together but all I remember now is when I wanted to treat that I get permission to make butterscotch pudding. Pulled out a mixing bowl open the box dump the pudding into the bowl then measuring out a couple of cold milk maybe two cups I'm not sure now at least one cup I know that, then mixing the milk with the pudding mix and then getting to use the old hand beater stirring the mixture up for a good 3 to 4 minutes and soon I had a beautiful golden brown pudding Which I would cart off to the black and white television to watch the original Superman or rifleman or maybe even American Bandstand that seems to come along a little bit later.

I don't know if it's possible, haven't really tried, but I just can't seem to find instant butterscotch pudding at the market never tried to her three times. Finding this little delicacy is not really high on my list of things I need but it would just be nice every once in a while. Dianne actually purchase what is available and that's the butterscotch pudding you actually have to cook and is quite good at putting it all together. That's where I would stop “cooking” butterscotch pudding is a real process and really it's just mixing the ingredients and stirring for an extended period of time until the pudding thickens and then waiting for it to cool. I suppose there are those who would just assume they would consume the pudding warm if not hot. Not me, I would just as soon forgo the guilty pleasure.

Then, this weekend as we were social isolating in our respective homes but video chatting Dianne mentioned she had sent away for a case of butterscotch pudding. Why had I not follow that!?! What a simple solution on so many levels. First and foremost a case I think like 48 little containers of butterscotch pudding already made and probably best of all individually packed. Quality controls assured (assuming one house the strength to just eat one or two). And you have enough pudding to last forever it would seem. What is best of all is that you can order it through Amazon that comes directly to your door I think for about $12!. What a treat! I just got the butterscotch, I could of gotten lemon, vanilla and Of course multiple kinds of chocolate. Too much selection for me but maybe someday I might risk chocolate but for now I think I'll be happy with butterscotch. Of course my media challenge is to figure out how to get the shipping box off the floor and on the table where I can open the box and run a quality control test MMMM MMMM GOOD! :-)

Times They Are Changing

 

It's kind of nice having all this pizza. Before I went to bed last night I dug out one of the big polyethylene containers with a lid and stashed all of the extravaganza pizza and it and The (what I think is) cheese pizza which is on the other half of the original order which was eventually replaced with the real order. It's a lot of pizza need to be careful. I do this weird trick to try to fool myself by cutting each piece Of pizza right down the middle so what was the fourth of a piece is now an eighth of a piece, I think that's how it works. That way it takes me twice as long to eat one piece of the original size. I know I'm just fooling myself seems to work. So I did have pizza for breakfast kind of a piece of pizza crust for lunch but I think for dinner I'm going to cook the other T-bone steak I perched a couple weeks ago for my birthday.

Mild weather is a thing of the past. Snow and cold weather wondered in overnight. We even had howling wind and because of the temperature drops and because it's Sunday have had no desire to leave the apartment but certainly begin to feel a bit shut in. I think it's going to be cold for the next couple of days as more snow is forecast. I don't know if I will choose to stay in which you never know. I'm seriously thinking of jumping the bus number 47 westbound for The Shrimp Shack truck that will be coming into this area sometime next week. Somehow I got on the mailing list of a number of food trucks. The shrimp Shack looks interesting. I don't know if I'd like the shrimp as much is the cod on the On The Hook food truck which is really good. I suppose the food trucks have a coalition if you get on one of their lists they share with all the others in hopes of creating their marketplace. I guess I can't blame them especially if you have a good product but you know me I have undergraduate against food trucks because of their innate and accessibility to people in wheelchairs. I know I sound crotchety but it's a fact. I have to accept however that this is where life is headed especially in the after times. Food trucks may be the reality of eating out along with putting your chair out in the hallway so the pizza guy doesn't have to make any contact with you at all.I have to admit I really do kind of miss in restaurant dining. I hope there'll be some form of this tradition if we ever get over this contagion. I'm sure it's got to be different perhaps a higher price for the luxury of dining out and dining in and people will most likely pay it as well. Perhaps, the smaller mom-and-pop's will still have some sort of affordable in-house dining but will have to see.Because “you better start swimming are you sink like a stone, the times they are change in…” – – Bob Dylan

Pizza Night!– – One Last Happy Birthday

 

I received the last of my birthday gifts today… I'm stuffed. Remember, a couple weeks ago at my birthday – – Groundhog Day – – I was going to cook me a steak dinner, a T-bone steak dinner for my birthday. I had already baked a cake and visited with some well-wishers via the phone and my son and family stop by. And Dianne gave me a gift of an extravaganza domino pizza with chicken wings! Because of the gifts of my family and self it seemed I was overflowing with birthday food. So, we decided to hold off on the pizza dinner until at work my way through this unexpected pile of calories.

I didn't think it would take two weeks but we decided on today, Saturday prelude to a snowstorm.

The local weather guys I've been promising the storm for some time. And once again I took action and did my market run yesterday for the weekend laying in burritos, bananas fresh grapes, items needed for holding up through the storm. I still hold out little hope of the major wideout but just to be on the safe side. I decided I wanted the pizza come late afternoon so I could have so this evening and then put the rest of my fridge for the rest of the week. I love cold pizza I even like dried out old pizza, I can enjoy pizza almost any condition the pizza wishes to present itself.

I'm a little embarrassed to say I have never ordered a pizza by myself that I can remember. And I did not order it today but Dianne did and sent to the apartment. There is a host of reasons I've never ordered the biggest being how to tip, the whole process intimidates me the same reason I won't play blackjack, roulette or any other of the casino games where you have to play in front of people and risk looking stupid. This pizza was the first pizza brought to my door during the Covid. What a weird process. I think it took four or five text messages to get the pizza here being notified almost every step of the way – – it was kind of cool. Then there is the whole process of putting something out in front of the door for the driver to put the pizza on. I had to wrangle one of my table chairs out in front of my unit.

Finally, the pizza and chicken wings arrived with a bottle of DP. Amazing. I've never had the chicken wings that I can remember which are pretty good. I opened the pizza box and was a bit chagrined to find half extravaganza and have I'm not sure what possibly cheese pizza. I took pictures and sent to Dianne to let her know I had gotten the goods and she was concerned that I had not gotten a whole extravaganza called Domino's who made it right! How exciting? Less than 20 minutes Dustin, the pizza driver, returned to the apartment with a new pizza done the right way. And now have two pizzas happy birthday to me twice I'm such a lucky duck sometimes I can hardly believe it…

Pull That Red Button

 

My stomachs rumbling tonight and that's kind of spooky. I should've done a bowel movement this morning it's my regular morning. However, when Melanie came and threw the sling on me and got me ready to transfer to the shower chair and toilet to lift was not operable! I couldn't believe it my brand-new, to me, lift was not functioning. That's many disappointments lately particularly of the mechanical nature that at least I wasn't distraught but I was concerned. There is really nothing we could do for today I guess unless I wanted to wait till later on the day when Melanie could come back and that's only if you are able to fix the l

Wednesday when we use the lift last at work just fine. I was a little concerned because I had not charge the batteries in all this week. In my old left I would be in big trouble by now. However, on Wednesday the lift worked great. Yesterday, I almost did plug the batteries in but I eventually blew it off… Silly me. This morning was pretty usual as far as waking up around 6 AM (really doesn't show up till around 8:30 AM). I shaved and picked up the bathroom a little bit, drink the coffee maker on the heat the coffee I had left over from yesterday and washed up a couple of the dishes and pans from yesterday. I made my bed and put out clothes to put on once I'm out of the sho

Needless to say I was disillusioned sitting there strapped up but not being lifted up. We shut down the operation for the day and I sent Melanie on her way to be back tomorrow morning at 8 AM hopefully. I dressed, make breakfast tomorrow to word puzzles and decide to get busy on the project of trying to repair the lift. When my brother picked up the lift they included a plastic bag full of literature regarding the lift. Owners manuals, two or three of them written in Spanish as well as English. I finally found some information but nothing really helpful until I found 800 number on the back of the main owners manual which I called. Surprisingly I found someone who could speak English and did so very well. In my own broken English I conveyed my problems an issue with the nonworking lift and he drew my attention to the red button and asked if I had messed with the red button. I told him I had not. (The word “Emergency, release”. I assume that if you're in the left and it's up in the air and all sudden stops working you can push that button or pull an the lift will lower you down. I stopped when over to the lift looked at the button and it looked as if the button had been pushed him. I've not noticed this before. I pulled the red button out it came and I tried the lift and sure enough it worked like a champ. I was saved I did not have to spend the rest of my day figuring out how I was going to get my business done tomorrow when Melanie returns – – I hope she returns. I hope she remembers but then that's anxiety for tomorrow…wer.ift.

Just Shoot Me… In The Arm

 

I was not sure what to expect today as I finally eligible to get my Inoculation for Covid 19. Dear constant reader remember I was all set to Get my vaccination when they were giving injections out In the common room at the apartment complex where I live. And it was revealed that I'd had a vaccination within the prior two weeks for shingles?The convenience of getting the shot me arm in my apartment complex was gone now like the rest of the senior cattle of Salt Lake County I'm going to have to go to one of the arenas in the area where doing lots of shots. In preparation for this I'd called a couple days ago and got myself an appointment. Yes they have a strict appointment system and exposed to not even show up until five minutes before your your registered time. My time was 3:15 PM. I was a little concerned because I didn't have a car to wait in and tells my time for the vaccine. Oddly, nobody else stayed in their car either. I was having to rely on public transit is always so I started my trip about two hours before my scheduled time. I did quite well actually, I got there about half an hour before my time.

It's not like the day was overly warm, however the day was much warmer than regular February days. What I'm saying is that I had good travel weather. I was just glad it was not super freezing and there was no rain or snow. What I thought was fascinating was that people were just milling around and there was a lot of clumping behavior, everybody had masks on but the majority of the population was sure not social distancing. Of course, everybody had to be 70 years or older so there was a senior festival. Lot of stretch material as well as bluejeans and Levi's, cowboy boots and converses. It was, like an afternoon at the DMV where none of these people would come together In regular times. The 315ers sort of huddled together. We were pretty friendly one of us however was a little psychotic and screamed once or twice started everybody in the group. Whether this little psychoWas aware of the rest of us are not didn't seem to make a whole lot of difference. He was one of us we gave a little distance to be himself but we also hearded of him along with the rest of us. When I finally called our number we entered the building and had produce identification as well as other documentation as well as get temperature reading. There are three or four stations we had the pass through refinery got our final shot. It seemed a little chaotic but I can also sense some underlying control the whole group. Interestingly, at the last station after you got your inoculation you had to wait around for 20 to 30 minutes to see if there are any aftereffects in that timeYou were scheduled a time and day to return your second inoculation..

I have to admit I was mildly impressed with how well my Inoculation went. I was also struck by this weird feeling of communalism. I kind of sense how those folks during the World War II must've felt sacrificing everything i.e. sugar, flour and other stuffs for the war effort. You feel you're doing something as a country. Oddly that's how I felt working with all these people not only for my own protection but as a group trying to develop a herd response to battle this disease. It seemed almost the direct opposite what's happening on the political front of this country right now. It almost seemed refreshing…

Heroes

I have a confession, I think I'm addic
ted. I don't know if there's a support group for my addiction but there should be if there isn't. I've noticed the addiction more and more this last year. So far I've kept the addiction under control and I think I'm in a good place all things being equal but still it's a monkey on my back.

For the longest time after I moved here to the apartment complex I had just basic cable because my unit came with that and I was happy. I knew my weakness that was the electronic screen. However, little by little I began to weaken and then one day – – Oh, I remember I was intrigued by the commercials for the new show on CBS All access,the show about the new Star Trek addition I think, Discovery. Discovery Was my gateway drug. For just a few bucks a month ago and all kinds of access. Then I caved in big time and went to Disney +. It was here that I was able to access many of the Marvel offerings that I totally loved and craved. There is the X-Men, Avengers as well as the Star Wars universe. Pretty soon I was watching a different movie for the Marvel universe every night. There were some of the offerings I would even watch weekly. I never got tired of them and I still don't. I really enjoy Guardians Of The Galaxy Volumes 1 and two and I watch them probably once a week. I'd watch the more but I won't let myself do that and I'm totally excited with the idea that the third movie in the series is coming out soon.

I don't know what it is and it's mainly just the offerings that are science fiction. I don't spend time on the history Channel, medical channel, cooking channel etc. etc. these just are interesting at times and everyone stuck while I may dabble but never with the frequency that I do with Disney +. Maybe it's because it shows the universe, not far to in the future, where humanity has gotten a little further down the line have survived the chaos that we seem to be involved in right now. Even though I know a lot of these movies are fairly formulated based on the American Western movie Cowboys versus the bad guys whatever form or shape they might take. I like the shows That deal with quantum physics, Time travel in all kinds of things which are basically impossible but for the film think about. Maybe I like the science fiction/space movies because of the galactic sizes they tend to operate in. I get to be just a little bitty spec compared to the universe they battle in and win – I guess these movies give me hope that's what I need many times. These are rough times I'm living in – – that we all are living in an right now sometimes we just want a little bit of hope and know that regard get through the next week and have a hero to depend on even if it's fiction – – science fiction…

Tuesday Night surprise

 

I'm always amazed at how differently some days turn out than what I'd expected. Last night my neighbor across the hall Billie knocked on my door (I think she actually texted me but I did not hear the text I don't check texts and messages as much as I should) and asked if I wanted to go to breakfast this morning. Billie suggested that we go at about 7 AM for a number of reasons I just primary being is hardly anybody else in the restaurant at that time so it be the safest as far as Covid goes. I like it early just because the gets the breakfast all the way in me and my day. However, I think I worried about not waking up in time all night long as I slipped dastardly. I made the date though had a great breakfast in conversation with my neighbor. I pretty much was unproductive the rest of the day with the exception of getting one of my granddaughters letters out in the mail so that wasn't a complete loss. Otherwise I was pretty much a zombie. I have zombie days off and on but I get through

Later in the afternoon I was intrigued when I got a text from Mark Anthony indicating that he would be over tonight to frame one of the Chagall's I purchased a couple months ago. I of course was delighted though somewhat taken aback. I figured go for it I don't know when I get another chance. I mean Mark Anthony's idea was to do the whole 9 yards of purchasing matting material and equipment to actually cut the mat to frame the image the proper way. I would never taken that much focus on such a project. I don't do well on that kind of stuff. Sure enough however Mark Anthony showed up around 6 PM we went to work. I use the collective pronoun but we all know that Mark did all the work. It was fun however plain like we were working together. I just sat and watched gave moral support and encouraged him on. It was a good strong two hours of work of visiting and worrying but coming out with a and product that he was definitely proud of and me as well. Mark Anthony was most intrigued and excited about learning a new skill, matting and having the tools and the know-how to actually mat an image. I have to say I'm impressed. I was going to try to write one of my daughters a letter today but because of the sleep factor I just did not feel up to the task. Having said that I did feel that I was going to try to put the letter together this evening but then the art project intervened and perhaps that's best I need to take advantage of any bonding time I can get with my kids when I can get that time. Everything is so fragile these days it's feels like I think the listeners make every second count the love every second that you're counting…

Sealing The Deal

 

Affinity, across State street, Street I had to cross

I knew it was going to be a busy Monday from the onset. I could almost bet on all the days my home health person Melanie provides my service to smooth the day she will experience trauma of one sort or another be late for my morning process. That's okay I was not upset. She's just a poor soul like the rest of us getting by one day at a time, Melanie has a whole mess on her plate. I'm just glad I don't have her family. Anyway, today is my schedule appointment with my old friend Janice from Independent Living Ctr., Janice is the assistive technology coordinator which means she is everything assistive technology in this case she adjudicates who qualifies for money for assistive technology in my case the lift.We set the meeting for 11 AM. I was reasonably confident that Monday morning shower in such would go as usual. Usually, Melanie gets her around 8:30 AM if I'm lucky sometimes a little earlier but that's very rare and of course not today. We can usually do what I have to get done in 45 minutes to an hour. So I figure 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM that should give me 90 minutes to get to the independent living Center which be more than enough.

Melanie was about 20 minutes late which is okay I was able to build that in to the formula. It's weird that Melanie does not help me as much as my other attendants have. She gets out of here as fast as she can I try to us help her with that by dressing myself. Today I just did not have the luxury of time to do so also I had her slip my shorts on and nothing else and she was gone which was enough to make up for the late timing. I was still little concerned about making my connections but son of a gun I did from the bus to the train to the role from the train station to the IL. I got there was 30 minutes to spare cannot believe it. Surprisingly I quite enjoyed the time with Janice. We sat down went through my needs and went to the process of filling out the paperwork. The lift will be nice, it will be brand-new under warranty with the sling that will fit perfectly. I spent time, following the paperwork with my old boss, Deb with the very nice visit. However I still have one more stop to make and that was actually going to the vendor who has “won” the bid to provide the equipment Sit down with those people go over the equipment which was being provided to make sure I get exactly what I need. Luckily for me is a couple blocks away from independent living Center but it's a crossed State Street which is a major street in Salt Lake City actually the major street in Salt Lake City. I wasn't sure what the place was but I worked my way up to State Street and the Intel living Center is right in the middle of the block. For those who do not know Salt Lake City has huge blocks. As I looked across the street trying to find this business I spotted the place of course directly across from where I was sitting in the middle of the block meaning that a foreign across the street I would have to go to the light on either end across safely and the intersection was a long way away. I am really trying to be responsible and follow the laws of the land but today I just couldn't go all the way the end of the block across the street and come all the way back on the other side. So I did the only thing I could do was cross in the middle of the street without any protection which is (I know) kind of stupid. I watch the traffic flow for some time before I finally made the decision pushed my chair as quickly as I could across the middle of the street and luckily there is no traffic coming the opposite direction across the street living for a second the old glory days living on theEdge.

Affinity is the name of the organization/business that won the bid for my lift. I met with the salesperson/owner commitment over the contract and I added a few things like a scale to measure my weight. I'm sure they'll include that. Can't believe how easy the whole thing's been so far. As long as there's no sucker punch I think I'm getting a new lift and I'm pretty excited…

Two Restaurants At The End Of The Block

   

Last week was my birthday but you all know that. And you'll remember I did the birthday thing of making the cake and celebrating this best I could during social isolation. It was a pretty good birthday I thought all things being equal. However, Mark Anthony did call the course you wanted to do something to celebrate my birthday with me which is typically having a meal of one sort or another. Again, in the best, responsible means I should of just pushed the issue of social isolation but caved in to have breakfast this morning, Sunday morning at the village in just on the street from my apartment. This is okay for me since visiting with Dianne a day or so ago over the Internet she had fixed herself some fine pancakes which sort of left me which sort left me thinking I might like some nice pancakes to and what better way to have nice pancakes that the Village Inn and have it paid for by dutiful son.

I don't know if I was excited about the Village Inn outing or the overall angst Of trying to get my monthly letters out as well as a specific letter written for justifying funding for a new body lift. See earlier posts of this blog. I have a meeting tomorrow at 11 AM at the Independent living Center to submit my request letter and meet with the selection board see if I might be eligible for funding. This should be of early friendly event and after all I was encouraged to apply. Still, I had to come up with some creative ideas for need and produce it in such a way the light would favorably shine on me. So I'm not sure but I am waking up at 4:30 AM and did not really get back to sleep. Whatever the excitement or stimulus that felt kind of exhausted all day.

There are two restaurants at the end of the block from my apartment complex one restaurant is called Dee's and the other Village Inn. Personally of the two I prefer Dee's what is strange to me is that nobody I know except perhaps one individual likes Dee's restaurant. I think they have a pretty tasty menu and it's relatively affordable the only drawback I have is that it's fairly working class which in some realms also is code for Trump supportive which are spooks me. By contrast across the street is that Village Inn also a chain restaurant (much larger chain than the other) but it seems to me somewhat sterile. I think there menu is okay but somewhat limited. This the kind of restaurant to go to have business meetings or to do homework with a group of friends. You're essentially renting space at a table with access to coffee and pie and grill food if you wish if desired. You can stay there and visit for hours and not be bugged only by staff to tell you when the going off shift.

I have a special breakfast today with my son and my granddaughter, Jasmine how lucky am I? I have the two for two for two breakfast with a side of eggs or something like that. Shockingly, everybody drank coffee even Jasmine the high school junior. Mark and Jasmine came in separate vehicles which I thought was kind of cool everybody ran at their own time but we all came together at the Village Inn for a small family celebration crashing together for a short time before being flung out to the universe of chaos…