Months End

 

Today is the last day of the month, so long April. I started by letters today. Kind of like this new thing I'm getting into of being a little bit proactive least with my letter writing. I find I don't feel so much pressure the first of the month if I have a couple letters finished going into the first. Today I worked on letters seem like a appropriate thing to do. I got a few finished, a lot fewer than out of life but I got kind sidetracked as things go on Saturdays. I basically just piddle around the apartment got some things out of the way. I wrote my rent check today. Of course it being Saturday there was nobody around to collect. There is a “rent box” on the door so I just dropped the check Jennifer will have it on Monday.

I am sure I have written about it before but it's a little frustrating having to write “real” check every month for rent. It would be much easier if we are just able to out the office just deduct the money straight from my account. I don't know why they won't change the policy but not yet anyway. Is not overly difficult to do just a pain in the butt having to find the checks every month then clear space to actually write the check out. Fortunately, my handwriting continues to be somewhat legible when I needed to be. I am a little disappointed however that my handwriting continues to deteriorate but I suppose that's just another function of aging. Even though I have atrocious handwriting I still like to write things out and longhand whatever I can. Somehow it makes me feel aristocratic.

I had Mediterranean tonight, Bridget and family left off their take-home from the Mediterranean restaurant they went to the other day. They know I've gone to Mediterranean restaurants in the past, so they knew it was a safe bet. One of my strong points I'll eat almost anything that nobody else wants to eat especially leftovers from restaurants Mediterranean otherwise. My favorite take-home is still pizza and preferably Dominoes. I still had one piece left over from yesterday's movie afternoon. Left without all my purposely to “cure” and the only problem was the fact it was just one piece and the little one at that. That kept me going all day however until a few minutes ago when I scarfed the last of the Mediterranean down. I still am a bit hungry and may make something still for dinner I feel I can make it till tomorrow morning but the restaurant. Got a few good things to consider super scooper Fritos and bean dip as well as Kiper stacks and multigrain crackers and of course I can always default to banquet meat pies that I have frozen as well as a bean burrito with mutual jalapenos and Chinese noodles Saturday night fare doesn't get better than that

Movie And A Pizza

 

I think I live in a cute little apartment complex. We're fairly self-contained, we're gated we have a lot of interesting places in our building. Some of the places I used more than others – – which I guess got it makes sense – – course we have laundry areas on each floor but each floor has its own little bit of uniqueness. On the first floor of course it's the gathering area with the grand room where major events take place everything from Christmas functions to calorie sidles like this weekend we're having a function or someone's going to play a place of classical piano music. What I've figured out is that music graduate students have to have a concert of some sort in order to graduate in their particular field. About this time a year we start seeing more and more chances for a concert in our own little grand room. Music majors trying to sneak their “concert” in so they can graduate.

On the second floor is the library which I adore. There's also a room called the “Craft room”. It's actually got a nice table for crafts plus a sink I guess for washing up before and after the crafts but best of all for me as a full scale candy machine and the soda machine or pop machine. In all the time I've been here the only craft I've seen used in this room is jigsaw puzzles. Putting together jigsaw puzzles is the primary use of this rule. Also on this floor which I think is really served cool is we have a three station computer lab with a printer. All through the computers of links to the Internet and their captain pretty decent conditions. Many times when my printer is not worked of it able to dump my needed printing onto a thumb drive go upstairs and print off on their machines it works fine. When you're joking for computer desperately for whatever reason your computer is not functioning we can always go to the computer lab. The lab is relatively underutilized but those who do use it love it. I love it it's a great backup scenario.

Esoterically, on the third floor is what I've called “Movie room” it's old beautiful little room with overstuffed chairs a large-screen flat screen and a host of DVDs that have landed there over the years there must be hundreds. There's also a small raised table in the back of the room where one can set meals, books tablets of the things one might need for meeting. I don't think I really ever seeing the room used I do not believe of ever seeing the room used in the time that I've been here which is a shame. When I gave one of my families the tour we wanted to use it and today we did. I got permission the local folks were just pleased to have the room used. We brought in pizza and Gabriel, my son-in-law, understood the technology and hooked us up and we watched “Guardians Of Galaxy volume 1”. It was a great afternoon. It was a fun way to spend two hours watch a movie together and eat some pizza and develop a memory. Sometimes, that's what makes a day worth remembering…

Payday Pleasures

 

I was pleased when I opened up my online bank account and saw that my may deposit from the state of Utah had been posted. This is a very much little less than $400 but it's enough to make me feel like I can go out and spend something. And the truth be known I could go out and spend really for just about anything that I would be interested in which is basically groceries. Interesting also to note that I was called earlier and in the week by my home healthcare provider, Joe, that my April payment had not gone through. I was surprised that he had waited till the last week of the month to process my favorite. Obviously Joe would not used the credit card I have listed for the account since I lost my wallet and such about a month ago. Interesting as well that the cost for last month service was almost the same as my pension from the state! Fortunately, either way not a big deal. This poses for the benefits of being this far along in life that you have enough resources to cover just about anything you might need on a regular basis. Today that was grocery shopping.

I just want to pick up a few things from the market to get me through the weekend. I make it sound like it's a big deal but it really is not. If nothing else is just a chance to flex my financial muscles even just a little bit. For traits I got scoopers Fritos and bean dip. I also got about 10 cups of yogurt. I got the storebrand yogurt which is roughly half price of the upscale yogurt. Today they had a deal of if you got 10 cups you got one cup of yogurt free. I thought I had all my yogurt in the row but when I got home I found out that I was shy about three yogurts. I didn't have the energy to go back everything works out in the long run I truly believe this. I have enough yogurt now to get through my current phase of “healthy” breakfasts to thin slices of wheat toast with one yogurt and a fruit banana or citrus some sort. It's good, fills me up makes you think I'm eating right so it's a win-win situation all the way around. I also got broccoli, green pepper and other items needed to cook from scratch. I've noticed something weird the last couple of months is that I'm not cooking as much as I used to. I don't really know why I just am not. I think this is strange because I really do like cooking. I just been taking the easy way out of other processed food are have other people leave food of my door and get by that way. Either way I still have to get out of the house to do some shopping for groceries now and again. I'm going to commit this month to more cooking. More scrambled egg breakfasts basically egg sandwiches. I do enjoy the whole idea of Vienna sausages with the eggs in between the toast followed up with citrus is some sort or banana. My goal is to use all that I purchased, as much as I can, by the end of the month. I do miss fast food but real food is better at least that's what I keep telling myself…

Waiting For Sidney

 

It's 4 o'clock in the afternoon and I still have not had my visit from the RN who adjudicates the progress of my healing on my rear end and changes the dressing. It's not a big deal – – though it's kind of I could be as I could be out doing a lot of stuff. I'm not sure what really happened this morning because usually well I'm doing my business or when I'm in the shower I get a pesky call from the nursing agency that sends out my Rns. No call like that came this morning however I didn't pay much attention to the fact I had no information on when staff would be here. I eventually called one of the phone numbers from the Rns that have attended me before to see if they had heard anything. Nurse Sidney called me back a few minutes leaders indicating that I had been scheduled with Mr. Ed (I don't think he likes the fact that I call him Mr. Ed – that's is just too much fun ) . Mr. Ed told nurse Sidney that he'd just gotten back up and wasn't sure when he would get to me and their Sidney volunteered to come over instead take care my dressings. How lucky am I? If there is a drawback to the situation settlers Sidney was already in her day and not get to be told around 3:30 PM which means I've totally lost the day and it looked like time in my state to mid 70s. That's okay I'm glad to have a new dressing.

I don't plan to really try to salvage anything of the day. I had contemplated hopping the bus going down to Smith's food and drug which is just down a couple streets and getting some more Chinese noodles and possibly some fresh fruit for the weekend. But even now that sort of let the air out of my sails waiting this long. I'm almost at the point where I want to kick back turn on the news start thinking about what's for dinner. The day was the total loss. I was up at 5 AM washing my clothes for the week. This is a new development I have been trying the last couple of weeks. I get up really when no one else is up rundown through my washing machine, and later throw the washing of the dryer and dry another sequence after that it's all finished except for removing from the dryer and folding and put away and I have my morning staff, Gloria do that which is happy to do! I really am lucky. Kind of makes me groggy for the rest of the day, sleep wise, perhaps that's the reason I didn't mind so much with nurse care being so late in the day. It's just nice to have the wash taking care of. I don't think I have the energy to make meatballs and then boil up spaghetti noodles. I may leave that for another day. I still have half the container of white rice that I got from the new Asian restaurant found earlier in the week. I have a steak cooked and wandering around the refrigerator somewhere. I might pull it out nuke it and mix with the rice which I think might make a great dinner for bury everything underneath soy sauce

Bratwurst and Taters

 

Tuesday, that means it's a downtown day which means I get to select where and what I want to do for lunch. The last couple of meetings that I've done for assist I've pretty much defaulted and stopped at the Taco Time for lunch, which of course is where my favorites but I need to vary the course the little. Since yesterday I did Asian I thought today our travel uptown from the Assist, Inc.office check out one of the interested restaurants. Space I know it's pretty shallow but all the sudden I don't feel I can go to Market St., Grill the way I look when I've traveled downtown. I mean this is an upscale restaurant and I end up looking like a hobo many times. They never refused me but that is just because they're kind and I'm such an oddity I border on being adorable . I'm sure this other great places I could go but I attended default to the German restaurant Siegfried's Delicatessen. I won't bore you with the particular since I've written about this place before but it is one of my favorites when I want to do something heavy and tasty. Siegfried just avant-garde enough will seek anybody in the close enough to the tracks lines that there's plenty of hobos that wander by if not into the establishment.

Siegfried Delhi is smack dab in the middle of the business district downtown and if you plan to go there over lunch you have to deal with their line which sometimes is out the door. There was a significant line when I got there but not too bad. Kind of weird but I'm sure do the pandemic and resulting inflation urging is costing more. Remember my gripe about yesterday's cost of Asian food today I noticed the cost of my German lunch just a little bit more than I remember paying for it about six months ago. Sadly according to many of the folks on the news shows especially the financial news shows like Marketplace, the cost will never go back down as they were. Nothing saying there artificially high, the costs, but you sure thing to get in the the short end of the stick sometimes but you just have to eat it – – excuse the pun. For nine dollars I got one sausage sliced with a slide of fried potatoes and that was it! I didn't have a drink I never do and I didn't even use the special which of the been to sausages for nine dollars. I know I should've done that and taken the sausage home but I just didn't care. I was happy with what I was getting and what I got. I enjoyed the hot mustard with my German sausage fried taters were quite a treat. I really must limit myself to just once or twice a year at the school restaurant.

I finished my meal and wandered around Salt Lake downtown a little bit longer before working my way up to the train station they'll take me back to Murray central station and from there route 47 and home. My but didn't hurt too much so I hope I'm getting better on not level and I'm glad to got my responsibility out of the way and the tasty restaurant to boot. The day was not as warm as I would like due to cloud cover in such the temperature was in the 70s but I still drug a blanket with me just in case…

What Is This Secret Symbol?

 

More and more I'm being shoved into that slot of “senior” with all the derisive memes that seem to go along with the title. I did not really have anything on the agenda today so I was not totally weirded out/bummed out when my nurse called to indicate she wouldn't be able to get by until about 1230 to 1:30 PM. With this in mind I had my morning staff dress me for the day and time to just hung around the apartment. I was anxious however to get on the bus and head south to desert industries down 7000 S. and Redwood Road. In point of fact I would've done exactly that once Melissa was done with me this morning. I have found Deseret Industries (DI) is probably one of the best places in the area to really find a used book especially paperback. However, an early visit to DI was not going to happen today.

When the nurse did get here I was very pleased. An RN I had not had before. I was a little worried when she called that I'd have to retrain the whole person again, and I did, but it wasn't a bad thing she took the direction extremely well and I think we both enjoyed the time we spent together. Anyway, I finally got away from the apartment around 2 o'clock and was able to get to DI and find a couple of titles that I thought would be of interest and felt great being out in the decent spring weather. Having finished this task I need to find something to eat something quick. I had not really eaten a lot this morning just because I was waiting for my nurse and such. By the time I was in the DI searching for books I was getting dizzy sort of that hypoglycemic panic when you feel you've got it eat something sweet or protein quickly to beat the word sensations that you're feeling.

I wasn't sure what was around the area that I could get something quick, some protein. I knew there was a Taco Bell about a block away and I figure that might do. I headed north outside the door of the desert industries towards the intersection. As I was cruising that way I passed a couple of little restaurants that were in the little outside mall I had the past to get to the intersection. I'd seen these before “real” Mexican and Asian restaurants that always smelled pretty good but I was really unsure how to go about doing the whole order thing which I know sound stupid but it's held be back until the day. I went into a place that I could not see had any kind of markings on the door of the name of the place or whatever but they had tables with bottles of sauces and stuff and it was Asian. Us pretty sure Vietnamese but not totally positive leading characters point. The set me at the table happily, I couldn't find a menu there is only one of the little square things that are popped up everywhere from the morning news to I don't know just about everything! I have not really figured out how to use the little square of all the little marks on it. From what I gather you just take a picture of it with your phone and somehow it all in her links together. I think the staff of the school restaurant can see my bewilderment and brought over a tablet with an electronic menu which is at least usable. I still wasn't quite sure how I was going to order but they were certainly gracious enough to let me blunder through. Which I did the got a terrific eggroll with rice and shredded vegetables on top – raw. I didn't really care about the price. I had my plastic with me so I knew I can for just about anything and I thought it's only lunch how bad could it be? This was a lot more expensive than I anticipated, doable and I'm glad I did make a fuss but $14.95 for eggrolls rice and I ask for an order of rice to go with me seemed a little high even with the inflation of the world these days. I loved the meals I plan to go back. Truly glad to a found this place I just wish I could figure out ways to order better than I did…

Variations On A Theme

 

For me I have officially entered into that weird timeof the seasonal change when the days of significantly got longer. At 7 PM and it still totally daylight outside. I know that's not a big deal but for me kind of is. This means illusion that there's so much more time to do stuff and there isn't. If this were December 24 – the sun would have quit shining hours ago and in fact it would be Christmas Eve and that be trying to do some fictitious Christmas eve family togetherness thing by myself here at the apartment that's a hold of the posting. But is the last of April and the sun is shining to beat the band numb wrapping up another weekend.

Section been a pretty good day. Breakfast with my son this morning early and then my daughter and family drops by this afternoon for a short but incredibly good visit. I got to see my granddaughter who haven't seen for years literally – – that is so amazing to say – – a slight but grand reunion. Family: is not what Sundays are for? I guess Sundays don't get actually better than this one thankful for this one. I did get to nurse my current addiction however and that's doing crypto families. Crypto families are variation of cryptograms which I totally enjoy but I need a break from. Crypto families present you with a list of encrypted words all around a specific idea our topic. Usually about 10 12 words . I stumbled across this kind of puzzle when I foolishly had a subscription to cryptogram magazine which forced 300 puzzles a month on me. I think I've just done two of the books/magazines in the year or so that I've had the subscription, now canceled. I'm quite surprised at how much of enjoyed the crypto families. So much so, I'm just about ready to order the next volume which will give me 300 more puzzles the best around with. Who knows, may even get me through the summer. I do between one or two or pages a day, on good days so conceivably I may not have to order until autumn – – we shall see. The whole investment is seven bucks which include shipping just a little more than the price of one movie ticket. I guess I need to cut the coupon or the order form off of the page I ripped from the magazine, write a check for the seven dollars and post it with tomorrow's mail. The rate that I'm going I only have a few more pages left in the current volume which means I'll be having to deal with my volume of crypta quotes in general. And actually, I just remembered there's a couple pages of crypta families in that magazine. After all that's how I found out about crypta families. And now that I think about it was for five other variations of the crypta quote phenomenon. Even one made up of just images which icon of pride myself on doing. After all a kind of like variations on a theme…

Sensitive Saturday

 

I actually got out today going over to the coffee store right across the street from my apartment complex. I made my last pot of coffee yesterday morning and one to make sure I had coffee for the rest of the day should I need as well as for Monday morning. But that was basically the last time I was out. The day is cold, windy and moments of wetness all good reasons to stay inside. Plus, I still have not had a decent bowel movement in about six days are since Wednesday! I know this sounds little over reactive but seriously what's a person to do. I really want to sleep in, Saturdays will be only days of I can really, but I was so worried about not having a decent bowel movement yesterday morning that I just laid there and fretted after I woke up around 3:30 AM. Fortunately, I was able to fall back asleep for a brief period but I was up and ready to go by 8 AM.

While I was trying to force myself back to sleep around 3:50 AM listening to the rain hit the window by my bed I got the idea that I should call what of my CNA's and have her come over to administer another round of suppository to see if we could get something moving. We really didn't and that's all I'm going to worry about the whole situation until Monday morning when we try again. I moved a little bit hopefully enough to allow me to just a few things and not become explosive if you know what I mean. I've just praying but nothing serious is happening and I'm still a month out of visiting with my colorectal surgeon. I did have my CNA take some images of the rectal area and I may send them into the office and see what they think. I'm really not trying to be ne is some major sucker punch weight now their for me. I have to admit it was nice that Melissa was able to come out and do the job “off the books”. I certainly do not mind paying for the service at full price these attendance worked so hard as it is. I do believe if I was desperate and Melissa was not available out of been able to call on my other CNA, Gloria, who would've come but that would've probably been later in the afternoon – – because I know she had a full load on her plate for today.

I've been trying to lean my chair back more than usual the alleviate pressure on my tailbone. I'm really begin to worry about my sitting situation and just thankful that I'm seeing the RNs as much as I am these days. Really interesting with my meeting with the nurse yesterday she indicated that my wounds aren't healing this quickly as they were and she's thinking she may have to contact Wound Care and have me go and see those guys to see if new orders need to be issued. It's all kind of frightening to me I sometimes sense myself dancing around the edges of the volcano and praying that I don't fall in…

Welcome Weekend Welcome

 

Sometimes I'm frightened how often Friday rolls around which means another week has rolled around. I feel guilty at how good I seem to have it here in the apartment I live in, in Salt Lake City in the good old USA. I know are sitting on a fault line in one day Faultlines going to shift and we're going to be the headlines or they “breaking news” on the national desk but until that time I see all the other places in this country and elsewhere faced with war, famine hurricanes in all manners of whether affliction and fully appreciate the blessings of living here longer Wasatch front on a day covered in clouds, intermittent rain and a good day to stay inside. Today I got my Covid booster, yet another prick in the arm and hopefully more protection against the scourge of Covid and its variants.. Today I was dismayed when Dianne visited me over the phone indicating she feels she may have their variant virus which color frightens me. I don't know if Dianne has the ability to resist like I do. I pray for her and that she can fight off this evil design against seniors.

If I had the energy I might bundle up and cross the street to pick up a few things for the weekend but I don't need anything really except for coffee and that I can get tomorrow crossing the street to the coffee shop and have them grind me a pound of Italian. It's my favorite of the coffee they roast. This is of the best I Italian roast of ever had enough to get me going in the mornings however something pleasant to sip on in the evening hours while writing are watching something on the Disney Channel one of my Marvel fixes. As I said however I can do that tomorrow maybe even Monday depending on the weather and my attitude. Supposedly the weather people are forecasting a day like today tomorrow. I hope the weather is okay tomorrow, I think I kind of would like to get out, across the street and smell the coffee shop for a few minutes. My butt is not yet healed – – which causes me some concern – – but my favorite RN put on the new dressing this morning which last till Monday and that should at least keep the pain away from sitting up in my chair.

So for the next 48 hours ago plan to do much. My wash is complete, the apartment is fairly presentable and I have canned meat as well as frozen meat and all kinds of options to manufacture five should desire as well as dozens of that really need to be used. My cable and streaming services are paid up and I'm in no pain I could use potato chips but in times of desperation I can always goes upstairs and grab some of potato chips out of candy machine enough to give me by. There's not much of a selection like I said enough to get one by in times of desperation. I'm still in the front part of a novel my heater works just fine I'm ready for the weekend…

So Much Wind

 

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I really did not think this was going to be such a busy week but it seems to of turned out as such. Granted I'm going back and forth to the credit union much more than usual just because I'm trying to remove D Dianne's name from our shared account which mean surely there'll be no account. That's right I found the only way to do this is to eradicate the account. I guess there might be a way around the account to save it from oblivion but actually it's way too much work and there might be a cost involved so better to just let the credit line die. So, that's one trip to the credit union and back again then at the end of the day 4:00 PM I had appointment with my occupational therapist Casey. Fortunately I was able to get “Rides For Wellness” the transportation program for seniors and people with disabilities. The program is a bit restrictive and requires that you be organized enough to call the least 24 hours ahead of time to get a ride. I was fortunate enough to be able to get a ride to my appointment however the operation shuts down at 4:00 PM so there would be no right back put me back on Utah transit Authority and that's okay y'all know I believe in public transit just the hard way to end the day especially if you have a tender but.

There's a storm coming in seems to be a very healthy low front. Lots and lots of wind you know the kind were seagulls fly past sideways thinking that their flying. The day was warm at least on the thermometer 71 to 74° the wind and accumulating clouds gave the illusion of a chill in the air. I packed day jacket just in case. Still not quite sure how I feel about how the appointment turned out with my OT. I always like visiting with Casey we have a lot in common. When I first got this power chair I was unhappy with the device and I still am more or less. I'm totally committed however to the operation of the on board elevator that raises me up about 10 inches. I will keep this chair regardless of how much I dislike the device for that one feature alone and like it or not I learned tolive with the other failures of this device. I realize now know is going to make any changes no matter how much I fuss I'm just going to have to basically live with the device. Casey was great in that he listened to me as I outlined the problems I was having the chair and cushion and he certainly willing to work with me and to write whatever I need to to correct the problems as I see them and together we can figure out ways to make this chair more livable for me for the next 4 ½ years if I have that much time. I can't say I came away from the meeting h happy or even satisfied. Casey was able to do some adjustments to the chair which will greatly allow me to enjoy the vehicle until our next meeting which will be until sometime in June when Casey's coming over to the apartment to set my butt down on this device that maps the pressure points all in an effort to get a new cushion. Since I had to ride the bus home stopped off at McDonald's and ordered the cheapest hamburger with extra onions and pickles then fought the wind to the bus stop…

Legacy

 

My Wednesday morning CNA was late and that's not really a big deal except for when I get things stacked up like this morning. Still having home nursing come in to change the dressing on my wounds three days a week. Since it's taking forever for this wound thing I'm into heel but I just have to be patient. Anyway, my CNA was late almost an hour which backs everything up then to make matters worse I couldn't poop the way are supposed to. Usually, after medication is administered plop plop fizz fizz there I go but not this day. Spooked, as my hour was concluding and no results, I was feeling pressed and worried. Thankfully Gloria, the CNA, basically was go to stick with me until I was done. Finally things begin to move and was able to get in the shower and out just as my home health nurse showed up and was kind a good to have them both working together. Gloria was working admirably try not to show her frustration and her need to get out of there in onto her next person. Anyway life goes on. It was during this time with both providers they asked how I was getting to my podiatrist appointment I told them going on the bus what else? Both staff both started going on about why was I using the transportation alternative for people with disabilities a.ka. Flex – Trans Salt Lake County's answer to paratransit . Like a knee-jerk reaction I launch into the whole lecture on the rights of disability folks to ride mainline transit with everybody else. I immediately stop myself because I said it all before, maybe not these two but to many many others.

Immediately apologized to both women but by then they both kind of understood what I was trying to say and actually be both seem somewhat impressed. It's hard for me to be impressed with what I've done and what I talk about, which seems and less. However telling this to fresh ears kind of makes me feel better. They both said they appreciated by input and that I should be proud what I've done and how I've worked to increase options of travel and housing for people disabilities in the Utah area. I forget sometimes what I've done or I tend to minimize the efforts of my work life. Sadly, I wish more options had arisen from the work that I did along with the work of so many others in the field of disability transportation and housing not only along the Wasatch front but in the USA itself. I don't think at the comfort but at this point in time in Utah/Salt Lake even if there was ample accessible housing know the people that I have served over the years to be able to afford the housing and that's not good what is good is that at least the able-bodied population cannot afford either.

My staff both use the words “legacy” in describing what I was leaving behind or have brought about in my small efforts of employment and change over the decades here in Salt Lake. I've not really thought about the “Mark Smith legacy” not that it really matters inconsequential or not. I choose to use the mainline transit system. The system that everyone can use. The buses are not only accessible to able-bodied people but also to people were seniors who have difficult time climbing and of course people used wheelchairs for transportation or even scooters. There's still a host of problems that face public transit. These problems are all behind the scenes these days whether it's dealing with drivers who don't want to service people with disabilities or take the time the hot biggest meter or mobility device a person can have and still ride public transit on the mainline. I assume there are probably a host of issues as well on the paratransit slide in this groups and committees which of been formed to assess and overcome these issues – – here I have to.roll my eyes and have to hold my tongue. Except only doing those things I can change and be responsible for as my legacy

Tuesday@The Credit Union

One of the casualties from our divorce was the shared bank account which resulted in shared credit cards on that account. As we dissolved our union was only natural that we should eradicate those items shared in our financial relationship. I cannot believe how difficult this task as been. I'm sure that I am to some degree the reason for the difficulty but still it's unbelievable to me. A large part of the problem I guess is from the fact that I opened and closed so many accounts in the last couple years due primarily to losing or having my wallet stolen from me.

Today look like it should be cold but it was not just overcast during the chilly impression. This is by and between week so I don't have to go downtown for my Assist meeting. I figured for sure I could get this problem with the checking account cleared up. Actually I thought I only had was quite surprised to find that Dianne's name still on the account. I wanted to get this task done early because you never know what the weather's going to turn here in Utah during the spring – – or any of the time for that matter – – my butt felt pretty good with the dressings that by staff and put on yesterday so I figured timeout in the street would not be a problem. I grabbed a heavy flannel shirt a lot headed out of the apartment well on my lap just in case I got caught in the shower or something or I needed something to wrap around my shoulders. Many bus drivers love to crank up the air-conditioning as the days begin to warm. I've learned there's nothing more uncomfortable than an air-conditioned bus in early spring going full blast.

It was around 10 AM I got to the credit union. I only had change buses once. I did not even have to spend time in the line waiting. One of those young pretty people banks and credit unions hire waved me over and I began to lay out my problem. She patiently listen to me as I tried to outline the history and issues I had with credit cards and various accounts. A briefly gave an overview of the divorce and why we still had a shared account. The young teller assured me that we could we could finalize the removal of my exes name from the account probably most easily by shutting the account down entirely. That means I would have to close out the credit card. By closing the credit card that will extinguish the names on that card. I really want to do it right there. Close out the account to make everybody happy. Then I realized on this particular card I had set up a number of “automatic pay” accounts. If I'd shut down the account before I moved all those automatic pays to my other credit card I could be causing some major problems from the first of the month or whenever these accounts pull money. This of course means I'm not able to close out the account today as I planned. I must go home take out both cards make sure of got the numbers correct remove all the automatic pay accounts over to the credit card I plan to keep and then go back and close out the pesky shared account. I felt a little defeated as I waited for the bus to pick me up and take me home just a little I was more impressed with the fact that it was not even 11 AM yet and I had ridden the bus, communicated with the bank will soon be home again to finish out my day and all before the rain start which are forecast for this afternoon…

Medical Monday

Remember the number months ago when I went through that whole thing about not being able to go to the bathroom/urinate and ended up having a bladder infection and carted myself off to the emergency room with the help of an ambulance? Well, one of the things which resulted from that experience was the making an appointment with a urologist so I'd have some sort of urological support if and when I have these issues again which I guess I'm sure that I well. Typically, when not at the ER, I end up going just to the IHC clinic which is kind of around the corner. But I would really like to have her urological home that makes sense. So anyway the people there at the ER made the appointment for me at the Granger medical clinic which is through somewhat urology. I even went to a basic meeting with the neurologist Brandy Rudy which is actually the practitioner but I thought she was great. The only problem is her offices like just a long way away 9600 S. 1300 E. add to the fact that all my other medical supports are at IHC medical (the death Star) I feel I need to consider getting my urological dock at the IHC campus in Murray Utah. Luckily, I guess, when they made the appointment that was until like the middle of May if I remember right this was all happening right around Christmas week of the first part of January. So, I've had this appointment at the Granger clinic looming out there for a number of months. The reason that I initially made the appointment has been bladder infection has passed so the need for immediacy is well past. Essentially I cured myself with the help of the drugs prescribed. However, I still feel I need to have the urology tool in my medical kit.

I just finished calling IHC neurology department because I'm unsure of how to make an appointment rather than being referred over by my attending Doc. The individual I spoke with on the phone was great, after I got off a monumental whole time, and she of course really didn't know the process and was scoring to contact my regular Doc to find out what the process would be. I don't know how long this will take I'm sure I can do it in time to cancel the other appointment at Granger. Maybe it's today's dose of favorable spring weather or the fact that we just finished Easter season but I feel somewhat rejuvenated and trying to take control some of these vital issues of my life. I have to admit anytime I'm dealing with the medical establishment I always get a little nervous. I would be surprised if I got an appointment before June so that gives me time to establish how I'm going to get there with her I wanted take Utah transit Authority's bus which is not a bad way to go are utilized that new transport service I've been using lately where a wheelchair accessible vehicle picks me up and drive me to my appointment and then returns me to the apartments. That opens another dilemma for me then do I use a service just because it's handy when actually the weather is great and I could actually be on the transit system making the transit system comply with its mandate of providing transportation to everyone regardless of ability…

Never Enough

 

I know I've used this image before when writing about Easter but it's just such a great statement on so many levels the just have to use again. I hope my dedicated readers will forgive. But today I've had a great Easter with a good smattering the family which seems to be a change for me at least four national type holidays. Typically, I'm pretty much a loner or have been since the divorce. Getting Christmas dinners if I made them similar Thanksgiving – – there have been a couple times when families abroad over a plate or something which has been deeply appreciated. But what by one daughter back in my life with relatively close contact geographically speaking received a lot of each other. Today, they brought over a great ham dinner for Easter and yesterday dropped off strawberries and Gabriel's famous bacon deviled eggs. We had a great visit in the apartment that wandered over to the park advantage of the swingset. Later on exploring the ditch/canal on the other side of the park. The canals finally full of water and the ducks seem quite overjoyed. I'm overjoyed one less thing to worry about.

One of my grandchildren is having to face going without Easter baskets for the first time cold turkey. I guess he had a bit of a meltdown seems to be overcoming the trauma of not having the basket full of colored eggs and perhaps the joy that goes along with the excitement of finding something just for yourself. I can certainly identify with the lad. Since I had an older brother who love to bedevil me I knew from early on there was no such thing as a magical lagomorph which deposits eggs (candy and real) as well as other gifts of the season depending on the financial status of the family involved. I was amazed as a parent thinking back about how much effort my mother put into such things. Like I said my brother destroyed the whole best for me early on but we always had the basket of goodies on Easter morning. Again I'm including the image because this is direct proof that I would ingest all of my treats without restraint then boldly go after who's ever basket was unattended. As can be seen in this image I'm boldly going after my older brothers basket. He basically swatted me away like a pesky fly. I know I was always brokenhearted when I finally exhausted the supply of the little candy eggs hidden in the depths of the basket with the fake green grass. I was always hoping there was another one but sooner or later we all ran out and for me it was always sooner.

I also like the image I've chosen because it shows the last of the first family of our household. Four others showed up after this image was taken and everything changed. We didn't get all one time seems like they were stretched out over 5 to 7 and eight years or something like that but is definitely different the candy at the bottom of the fake green grass just wasn't quite as plentiful and sweet after that…

I Have A Life!

 

I'm not sure what the stimulus was/is what I woke this morning about 4:15 AM and I thought sure today was Easter! I really had it fixed in my brain that today was Easter Sunday. I didn't feel are want to go back to sleep because I was afraid I might miss the time to get up to be ready to go to breakfast with Mark Anthony and whoever. Adding to my confusion was the fact that Mark Anthony had not called or text of the message last night regarding are going to breakfast. I thought perhaps maybe he had forgotten. Just for the heck of it I went to the text message place where lists everybody who's online at any given time in your text group and sure enough marks icon was lit up. I quickly sent him a message asking if he was still going to breakfast. He said “sure no problem I'm told expected on going to breakfast tomorrow”. Of course I was taken aback as I began to shuffle through my brain calendar I realized I had no perception our memories of Saturday! The more I thought about it I realized that in fact today is Saturday and of course there are no memories because I have yet to create them. I tried to cover my goof up as best as I could. I don't know if Mark Anthony saw through it or not that I had messed up on my days. I think I'm pretty safe. I don't know if this incident was or is a factor of the aging process and me or maybe my anxiety or excitement for another time out with my son. It's possible earlier in the evening hours texting one of my daughters who graciously volunteered to include me in their Easter dinner by bringing over a plate of food. One of the traditions of this family on Easter is that Gabriel my son-in-law makes these great bacon laced deviled eggs. They would bring some over on Saturday but in the texting conversation it was “tomorrow” and somehow I think I got it in my head that “tomorrow” was Sunday and not Saturday. Anyway another senior moment I'm sure.

Spring is still struggling to break through with warm days of sunshine but not quite yet. I woke to a bit of a drizzle which is finally war itself out and just after lunch Bridget text me about coming over with the deviled eggs and maybe doing some time in the park. I of course was all up for this. I had spent some time in the morning trying to clean up a little bit sweep the floor which desperately needed attention from an evening of snacking at the table. I was tired but focused on at least getting the bags of garbage out to the dumpster. And again to my total benefit the kids showed up and they swept the floor not only took the garbage bag out the kitchen but emptied the the garbage pales in the computer room as well as the bathroom. I'm totally set for Monday and the next week. We went to the park and I swear earlier in the day I had been outside of the day was quite nice alarm wind blew and even though there was quite a bit of cloud cover the felt warm enough to enjoy a park but the time we go out to the park I guess the cold front had moved in and there was a cold wind blowing but we spent an hour or so wandering back and forth from the parking area to the swings were Asher has focused on swinging and enjoying the motion. He also has this great radio controlled truck that we drove all around the park it was quite fun the day was fun. I've totally enjoyed my strawberries and deviled eggs and look somewhat forward to Easter dinner regardless of what form it might take. It's so fortunate to have family to spend time with and to build memories and experiences to talk about the staff on Monday to let them in the world know that I have a life…

No Excuses!

 

No excuses for not doing anything productive today except working out even though the day was marginal some sunshine, some rain or wind of my than I would've liked but I did spend some time outside reading so I guess the day was not a complete loss. Perhaps not loss of all because I enjoyed just hanging around the apartment on a Friday afternoon. My butt, is basically healed, the nurse this morning did change addressing but now were applying what we called the “second” skin. It's a very fine piece of tape like surgical tape that's breathable yet waterproof and acts as a deterrent to shearing or the eroding away of the skin due to friction particularly from the rocking motion of my power chair if I go anywhere for an extended period of time. And maybe that's just the place for him at this point in my life. I was talking with a dear friend yesterday whom we had not communicated in some time and is were catching up I inquired to the health of his brother who has Parkinson's and sadly it is gotten to a much more aggressive stage. One must keep in mind this individual was highly physical and very active and I'm so proud that he made the decision as opposed to be depressed and and withdrawn from his life activities to develop a new set of activities that will meet with what he can do. Such a brilliant thought. That would certainly is alleviate me from having to feel guilty every day that I don't do a bunch of stuff either outside my apartment are in the community. Be happy doing what you can do and accept that.

Perhaps, I can count my daily posting to my blog as one of those things that I do every day that makes me less of a sloth. Interestingly, my friend indicated that he follows my blog (one of the few I know that do there's a couple of you) indicated he wished that I was still posting. I was astounded that he would make such a comment. But for some reason the posts that he was getting to the blog stopped sometime in December 2014! I think for the first time I was really freaked out that someone wasn't able to access the rest of my blog. I mean I always try to minimize the blog after all is just a blog. It's not like I've used the blog to use as a springboard to do an actual publication – – even though I've had the opportunity which is of course another story altogether. I suppose I can still harness a couple of hundred decent blog postings by them together and throw them out to the world is a book or publication of some sort. I seriously doubt that I would get time on NPR but one would never know. I wish I had written with the same tenacity poetry as I have done with the blog. Then, I feel I would've had something worthy of dragging to a publisher. There's something that wills up inside of me that blocks me from doing just that at the age of 71. Almost a fear of success, what if? Just maybe a one or two shot deal for the final curtain who knows maybe that's better than nothing

Pass The Gas – – Please

 

This has been an eventful day. Finally, the time for my dentist appointment has come after having to put it off one or two days. Fortunately, my dental appointment was for 9 AM, initially and then 10:30 AM but I was pleased when they called to indicate that the needed to move the appointment to an earlier time and it worked out beautifully.

I don't know of the good sign or not but I just love being welcomed into the office whenever I go. I've talked about having to enter the dental office from the side, employees entrance. There is a “suicide” ramp that I can negotiate in my power chair perfectly. Anyway, they see me coming in the up the door and I come in and they should be directly into my little room that I always use. Plus, surprised because I was about a half hour early. I was content to wait around if need be but they brought me right in and got to work. Pictures of the tooth that remained was a bit challenging but we finally got the x-rays taken and that there was the discussion of to save her not to save the luckily, for me, the dentist sees me not only as a challenge but committed to keeping that tooth at all costs “excuse the pun”. We had the discussion that we can work on the tooth but there are no guarantees of how long the repair will last that's okay I understand that. But I understand the cost will be about $200 so in my mind of course I see it as a $200 crapshoot. I feel comfortable if I get a week out of it or year or maybe even longer with mild my goal keeping this tool/tooth until I'm called back yonder. That's the true winner of the game. I use this tooth for chewing on the left side and would hate to lose it but if so I can still do an implant that's doable if I need to.

I really become addicted to the “gas”. Perhaps this is why I really do enjoy have on a reason to visit the dentist. Cindy put the nose thing on and crank the flow of the nitrous oxide and off I went. I can tell when the gas kicks in I get these real weird thoughts about time flow music on office sound system becomes intense and enriched so light colors becoming more deep. The time in a chair was okay two injections to numb me up and minimal grinding and drilling. A little sculpting took place to make sure the tooth parts that were replaced would fit the upper teeth when brought together. Plus probably the chair a little less than an hour not counting the time to deaden my mouth. I enjoyed the time with the professionals.

Like I said, the whole thing is a crapshoot. The tooth repair might last a month, year or for the rest of my life however long that might be. In fact the dentist made the comment that if the repairs should fail it's okay because I'm just across the street and I just need to come in and they'll take care of it. And I truly believe that I can't believe how lucky I am. Fortunately, I have lots of room on my credit card and that's where the 200 bucks came from today so everything is doable and I can go back to eating what I want, when I want as much as I want or maybe not the latter…

Chatskis!

 

Remember yesterday when I had to head out in the middle of a snowstorm for my volunteer Assist, Inc. meeting? Kind of interesting and that the new folks, once you don't drink wine, I started taking over some of the that had been neglected by the prior administration. I think I've written about this room little bit already. The room is actually big enough for a board table (albeit a small one) and various chairs to sit. I'm pretty sure at first and foremost the space will be a break room button tell the current administration was kind of a storage room a place where computer systems, flat screens and rickety old file cabinets went to die. With those eyes and place it was only natural them to stick boxes of files, file folders and various three ring binders. Was easier just to shut the door and lose the space and the cleanup and have a little great room to meet in away from the chaos of the front office. Not that there's a whole Lotta chaos but still you don't I mean.

This room is pretty comfortable now that's been cleaned up, there's great light that comes in from Windows at the top of the room. I sat in the office the other day while waiting for my meeting to start. You'll remember that that's when I spotted the wine “dump”. We got into the meeting eventually I started noticing a number of file cabinets stacked in the corner. Beaten up rusty old steel file cabinets that for one reason or another have not been thrown away or recycled. Who knows they may have some value left in them somewhere. That's when I noticed stickers on one side of one of the file cabinets and as I looked closer I recognize the sticker. It was a magnetic sticker that highlighted the off-site used to run/manage: Access Utah Network! There were two stickers stuck to the side of the cabinet and the only way they could've gotten there was if I had stuck in their that one of the meetings over the last 30 years I've been in this town.

I remember getting these stickers or chatskis as one of my workmates called these little knickknacks, giveaway treasures so common at information fairs in the private nonprofit world. I think I'd gotten about 501 year and I thought they were pretty nice but was kind of hard to give away one can only have so many chatskis on the refrigerator or whatever middle surface you can find that a magnet will attach to. I think that last year I was in business with the state of Utah I still had about 150 of these things left in the magnets and other chatskis all went into the garbage before I left the building clean up my area. I took some stuff home more pencils than I care to think about as well as ballpoint pens all emblazoned with the name of the company and our phone numbers local as well as the 800 number. If I thought about too much a kind of broke my heart I just do everything you do box that came home with me thinking that we need a pencil I know where to get one. Of course these landed in the drawer with the other hundreds of pencils and ballpoint pens in the drawer that ended up being junk and trashed when the marriage fell apart when the house was sold and everything had to go the first of the the pens etc. I have to admit seeing the little stickers desperately clinging to the side of these old file cabinets only want my heart. I took one and only now feel guilty because I broke up the pair. There are probably married in some bizarre chatskis ritual myth out there going to be together forever released until they went to wherever discarded file cabinets go but I destroyed a happy little union just for my own pride I really do need see a counselor…

Bottle of Wine Fruit Of The Vine

 

I actually tried to get to bed little early last night in hopes of getting a decent nights sleep, getting a weight off my butt and being able to head into my meeting and assist Inc. today. I was blown away when I happened to look out the window as I was closing the drapes to get undressed for bed and saw nothing but whiteness! There was snow all over the bushes outside the window! Real snow! Serious snow! I was so taken aback/impressed with I put off by addressing one out in the hallway went down the doors looked outside and sure enough snow was falling in huge white flakes illuminated by the parking lamps. The weather forecaster indicated there would be some snow accompanied with this pressure system coming in, a low-pressure system. I thought it be just a few flakes here and there after all it is spring. When I woke this morning I actually heard shovels scraping concrete outside my window. The early morning crew was busy at work removing snow from the sidewalks.

I don't know if It was the ushered in lower pressure system or the snow which fill heavily during the night I slept pretty decently not waking up until like 5 AM which hardly ever happens. I was rested more so than usual in my butt felt pretty decent. Everything went well for a Tuesday morning. I didn't even get up till 7 AM again that never happens. I pretty much got ready called and the offset 8 AM just to be sure and there was going to be a meeting. I dug out my red jacket from the closet and finally crawled into it and caught the 9:55 AM route 47 into the very central train station and often downtown I went. Fortunately, the only thing I really had to contend with was the cold air and it was pretty chilly. Often on throughout the morning the cloud to build up look ferocious then just sort of blow away. We blasted through the names pretty quickly at my Assist, Inc. meeting. The staff over the last couple of months cleaned out a room in the back of the building that I knew was there but really never thought about. This makes an excellent meeting room for our get-togethers on meeting. Interestingly (and I've written about this before about how the new staff at Assist, Inc. has totally turned it into a Mormon workstation). There is a stash of bottles of wine sitting on the floor in this room that no one knows quite what to do with. These are the big bottles of wine that Roger and David used to serve at the Christmas functions or other fund-raising functions for Assist. I don't know what happened to the balls hard liquor maybe Roger took it with him when he left. But these bottles of wine stuck around. Truly funny these guys don't know what to do with it. I'm going to start putting pressure on them to let me have a least two bottles. There is a nice Pinot and bottle of rosé I'm pretty interested in. I don't know if I have a ghost of a chance of getting it but maybe if I volunteer who those?…

Losing Teeth One Sheer At A Time

I won't say it was a significantly eventful day but it was an eventful day just the same. What should been good news, and it is good news actually, but for my nurse came today to change my dressing he reported there were no wounds! The morning of been strange anyway my regular person who comes on Monday Melissa was about 20 minutes late. Usually that's not a big deal, but this morning I was contacted by a nurse by the name of of “Ed” wanted to know if she could come around 9:30 AM which I thought was okay except for my home health person being late which would push the time into my wound nurse time. I don't know why but I was really expecting my nurse to be Sydney who has been my nurse for the past three weeks. I was really getting accustomed to her. It doesn't sound like Syd is coming back anytime soon. But Ed certainly did a great job of changing the old dressings and putting lotion on the now nonexistent wounds. This rule, spooked me because I'm now pretty gun shy of any skin breakdown and I just don't feel that secure I feel like I'm really at risk from day-to-day anymore. So, I was pleased when Ed said he won the follow-up at least for the next week and next week which add up to about five more visits. I really have to admit these home health nurses are really great. The sky Ed does all medical course really interesting guy.

And, getting a new home health nurse, if that was not dramatic enough to begin a week as I was chomping down on some nuts I have my mixed nut bowl I once again felt something scrape something stone like and gingerly isolating the intruder with my tongue brought the remains out on the tip of my finger. I was shocked to see fragments of tooth. More to the shearing. I think this tooth has sheared before and Alan my doc/dentist has worked on it before under similar conditions. Sadly, Dr. Anderson doesn't work on Mondays but I happen to have his home number that I called and he informed me that he could see me on Tuesday/tomorrow. His staff will be there sometime today and schedule such an appointment. Fortunately the tooth crumble just on the outside of the tooth, probably when I bit into a tougher nut than I anticipated. Luckily, there is no pain associated with this sheer. The staff did call later and like a dummy made an appointment for Wednesday morning – – Tuesday was completely booked and I have meetings downtown Salt Lake in the morning – – only later did I realize that 9 AM Wednesday morning I'll be finishing up with my shower and probably will be next interfacing with the nurse. So, I'm going to have to change the date till Thursday probably and hope for the best. I may have to risk morning coffee. I wish I had thought to take an image of the tooth fragment but alas it's long gone so no image for today guys maybe will have better luck tomorrow…

A Quarter For Your Thoughts

 

I am finally becoming comfortable with the status of my apartment. What I mean by that is what level of chaos my apartment seems to exhibit from point-to-point. I never have engaged a regular apartment cleaning person but have become reliant on either family members who seem to have taken and interest in the condition of my apartment (and me) and purchasing time from my regular home health personnel/staff was shown interest from time to time in straightening up my apartment as my toilet ritual passes which could be anything from 20 to 40 minutes. See in the skill these people have for this and the fact that many times staff is desperate for money for whatever reason that we've been able to contract for an hour or two of labor working on different facets of the apartment. Fortunate for me, I guess, I have the funding to engage this work relief and always seems to be something that needs to be done are basically we currently have the chaos of the livable level but there still needs to be a lot of work accomplished. Gloria, my most consistent housecleaner is shown some extraordinary skills in organizing and putting things in order (which I really need a great deal of the time)

For me the going rate to pay for cleaning services is about $20 an hour and luckily for me for Gloria as well as Melissa that's an acceptable payment rate. I finally worked one or two hours of cleaning a week if I feel I need to and not feel like I'm putting myself in financial danger or risk. And I truly love the cleanliness of the apartment or the order on my bookshelves, desks and tabletop. Interestingly, this last week Gloria had indicated she would be interested in doing a few hours, actually we kind made the arrangement the week before. And fortunately, we were never able to coordinate our times. Between the home health nurse coming over and other events happening there was this never time to do a one or two hour block of cleaning. Gloria felt a little bad about not being able to what she felt, help me out, but I was quite all right with it but she was willing to stay late on Friday, this last Friday, and do an unspecified amount of time for role quarters which of course is $10. I try to keep a role quarters at all times don't want to be caught without quarters when it was washday. I'll bet I got at least an hour's worth of work for the $10 in quarters.

My butt is been quite tender the last couple days so all last week are pretty much stayed in my apartment. But Friday the Senate been out all day I felt good enough to cross the street to the market to purchase a few things for the weekend and to pick up a couple roles quarters. If one roll of quarters is good two or more , even better. I was surprised when the cashier indicated she could not provide me with any quarters. In fact the last time I tried to get quarters at the service desk they emphatically told me I could go to the cashier at any time to get quarters but not so today. I seem to cause a tizzy of people running back and forth from the cashier to the service desk at back again and then letting me know that it has become a shortage of quarters or all silver change. If I indicated I can have one roll of quarters but that was all! I have been going to the bank when I wanted quarters getting two or three at a time which I think I best get back to doing. I had not heard much about this quarter shortage but does not surprise me in this day of increased inflation, epidemics and now a scarcity of quarters – – these are truly weird times…

Duck Duck Go

 

Saturday mornings are the only morning really that I feel I can sleep in but I never do not just irritates the snot out of me. This morning I woke up around 4 AM not really sure if I need to use the restroom are not I tried to go back to sleep but was to worried about the consequences so I eventually used by catheter bag but never really got back to sleep. I'd like to think that I did but I didn't so I have been kind of dragging through the whole day. My rear and has been hurting a little bit as well. The weekends of the weird time between nurse visits, a long time from between Friday to Monday.

The transfer this morning was much better than yesterday's true I was much more cautious to make sure I made a decent transfer. I even cooked breakfast a fried egg sandwich with Vienna sausages not half bad. I've made by 200 minutes by Thursday and so after yesterday's workout I wasn't feeling I needed workout today but I was spending a lot of time in that area looking out the window just watching the day wishing it was warmer outside. It was during this time when I was a little startled by fluttering wings. At first I thought it was a couple of pigeons but the body seem far too large for nascent past my window. They landed just across the driveway from my window in the park. I was astounded to see these were docs a Mallard and a Mrs. duck there definitely together had never seen ducks fly like that land so acutely I think they had been on the other side of the fence and decide to visit our side which I thought was kind of strange but Mrs. duck eventually wandered across the driveway into the foliage right underneath my window and the Mallard who we'll just call Mr..Duck planted himself on the concrete edge along the driveway and sat there the entire time Mrs. duck was wandered around my window eating something nestled in the stones. I don't know why this fascinated me so much. I just never seen wild ducks, and all time I've been here wander around the driveway like that. Luckily, no vehicles came and left the back parking lot during this period of time it was at least 20 to 40 minutes though I watched a couple. I don't know if Mrs. duck could see me in my room. However, I did click my tongue make a small clicking sounds reached him I did she acted nervously sticking her head up looking back at fourth. There were a couple of times I thought sure she was watching me as closely as I was watching her. I kind of wished I'd taken the time to video this event by just couldn't bring myself to expend that energy. After all it was just a duck. I kind of wondered if Mrs. duck was looking for a place to nest which I thought was pretty strange they would look at this area of the park. I don't remember if it was yesterday possibly the day before when Asher, Bridget and Gabe came over and I drug everybody over to the small canal at the far end of the park only to discover the water was gone out of the ditch. The ducks were wandering around not really understanding what was going on with the water where it should be. I don't know if this was part of the reason I had the duck visit today but it was kind of odd save the least…

Sugar Sugar

 

 

Around the first the week I noticed my nut bowl was getting was getting low. I'm going through this phase right now run quite proud of myself for putting together a real live nut bowl. I imagine if our to buy a real live commercial mixed nut bowl would cost a fortune. My mixed nut bowl has almonds, cashews, peanuts of course, filberts, and Brazil nuts. Sometimes if I get lucky in the giveaway bags of walnuts from food bank all include those as well. So I think it's like a high level nut bowl. Anyway, I emptied the rest of the bag of cashews I had and I noticed I was out of Brazil nuts to as I added the last of the Brazil nuts. Want to make sure I had more on hand so I ordered a pound of each Brazil nuts and cashews for now. So it was without surprise when a block showed up about two days ago – – actually I was surprised because I placed the order on Monday and Wednesday a box from Amazon showed up outside my door. I actually let it stay there a day figuring it was just the box of nuts, no big deal. I thought that was really quick turnaround but like I said it's just a box of nuts object to them sometime soon.

This morning could have been tragic. For the first time and many hundreds of nights and mornings I almost did not make the transfer from my bed to the chair. I came extremely close to falling. I'm still not sure quite exactly what happened but I was a little frantic as both legs were hanging off the bed trying to drag my body to the floor. Luckily I was able to insert my hands into the bed frame on the far side of my little mechanical bed and eventually drug my the legs back up onto the mattress and restart the whole process. This took probably 15 to 20 minutes butbut I'll save back up on my bed and I caught my breath and did the transfer again this time been successful. I have to admit expended a great deal of energy on the save. Hopefully now I'll be more cautious and daring for the next couple years. Anyway, after that I figured I was good to go for the rest of the day.

I've been contacted by text message by my home care nurse that should be coming around 10 AM and was 9:30 AM when my homecare person Gloria, turn me loose. She had brought in the box on the outside of the door so I figured why not spend a half an hour opening the box and then putting the nets up in the closet. I checked the box and certainly sounded like knots so I my little rocker life out and cut the Amazon box away revealing the inner box that didn't look like they were knots it said something do with candy. I looked at that shipping notice one is of course from Amazon but the other was from a candy company! And it was signed by “Dennis” the infamous Dennis D. My buddy from the old days the same buddy who sent me my very own shopping basket to use at the market so I didn't have to sby post entryteal the markets plastic lap baskets. Dennis and come through again. Dennis and read my blog entry earlier this week or leader last week I can't remember about penny candy and how much I miss the old days in the old candy store. It sounds candy company and shipped a box of candy filled with candy from the 1960s! What a guy? I totally enjoyed looking at the box and finally when my home health nurse showed up a few minutes later she assisted me in opening the box itself. There is all this great candy inside. I'll be in the sugar coma for a week but I plan to use it over the next year and my main candy store next to my tools about rack in my front room. Not to be tried but what a sweet thing to do. Thanks Dennis is the best is no way I'm ever going to be able to equal that back to you but you know that…