Keeping My Focus

 

I really want to apologize for getting so distracted on yesterday's post. I started out talking about my need to make sure that I got my brothers card out in time to reaches home in Boise by August 5. So anyway let me see if I can finish that posting now.

When the driver let me off the 47 backtrack to the crossing light his face beaming as he was difficult reliving frosty mug of hires best. Luckily, I had my hat on and the days he was not a bother though I sometimes consider hitting the Arctic circle which is right by the light or visit a couple of the restaurants that are close by however again meaning that I would have to backtrack quite a ways. I was surprised when I pulled into the parking lot of the Mountain America Credit Union (MACU). The parking lot was full. Even more surprised when I went into the credit union and their people standing all over but very few in line. I still don't know what was going on. What's very interesting about this branch is that most of the tellers of not all are Spanish-speaking. So there's a lot of folk there that get service in their native language which I think is pretty cool. I was pleased that almost immediately I was called up to the teller got my cash in my $50 bill. This is the part that always kind of bums me out is that I want to backtrack one of those restaurants and get some of the eat but when I check my transit app I realize that my bus would come in and just less than 10 minutes and had rather be getting home that I would enjoy this great fast food. Besides, I had to keep focused because I still had to get to Harmon's to drop my brothers birthday card at the post office. I stopped at the apartment downloaded some stuff got something cool to drink and then headed out to Harmon's. It was a little later now that I think about it I still had to address the envelope stuffed the money into the card sealant that had out for the bus. It was early evening by the time I finally got to Harmon's thinking that there would be a last run of mail later in evening imagine my shock when I asked the service desk person at the little post office there what time the last mail went out. She looked at me without blinking and said our last mail run is 2 PM on Saturdays. 2 PM! I didn't go ballistic but certainly took the wind out of my sails. At one point time when I was on the bus I even thought about going the other way although it on the 21^st S. Redwood Rd. to the post office there which is a pretty big project. The just seem so hot to go through all that energy is still have to wait for the trip back. I mean the service lady told me that letter probably wouldn't go out now until Monday morning sometime. I could just drop the mail in my own mailbox here at the apartment complex and got the same result. Hopefully, not counting Saturday or Sunday I will have about 5 days for my card to get from Salt Lake to Boise. And it probably does need to make that bigger difference except for the kind of does for me. Well got my fingers crossed and hopefully big brother will be happy just to get a birthday card and not think is been forgotten. That was my post which should've been last night but I got carried away with the hires root beer smile. I wanted to share my sheer frustration going through a lot of work for a minimal result…

Root Beer Saturday

 

When you really get into sending people items like there birthday cards you really want to make sure the card gets there on time or before the event and never after the event. It's taken me a long time to figure this out for myself. I tend to wait till the last minute even though I'm looking at the calendar every day I always feel I have more time than there really is. This morning I realized if I really wanted to get my brother a decent birthday card this year and not act like a last-minute, I almost forgot, thing I'd better get going. On top of that besides getting a card on adequate birthday card I have to get a bank note or bank bill or whatever you want to call it. My brother started questioning me 20 bucks on my birthday which is adequate but since I'm the little brother I'm always trying to be more than adequate so I try to send it more in the last 2 years I sent him $100 bank bills (is that what you call the big notes?). I like doing that I know what really surprises them and makes you feel somewhat appreciative. I think even sent me one once or twice. There's just something about opening up an envelope and receiving $100 bill crisp, clean and ready for spending. So, I realize that if I have any chance in the world of getting a card with a bank note inside to him by 5 August I'm going to have to go to the bank/credit union and get one. I pulled up the banking app on my cell phone and found out that the bank closes at 2 PM on Saturdays and it was now nearly 12 PM so I had to hustle.

I was just about finished with a batch of clothes in the washing machine so I yank them out and threw them in the dryer. There weren't a lot of folks washing clothes sites me so I figured I could start the dry cycle come back to mid-load another budget quarters into the machine for the last cycle. I had to wait about 20 minutes at the Community College because the 47 westbound . I'm barefoot today refusing to wear shoes because it Saturday was the summer. I'm always a little intimidated however that somebody in power, like a bus driver, and say no shoes no service. And the driver looked pretty gruff, the very image of Republican voting bus driver. He was civilized enough when I got on board grunting and waiting for me to swipe my bus pass on the reader. Really didn't say much of anything. For some reason I never quite sure where this bus stop is across from my credit union all I can never remember is that it's by a crossing light kind of and very close to the drivers license Bureau. I also know that somewhere there is a hires root beer joint I thought was closed by busstop but wasn't sure. So as are closed into my busstop I announced to the driver that this was my stop up ahead then I asked him isn't there a hires root beer just a couple ways – – we suggest there is and I replied that I thought so and I also indicated that I'm glad because it's within rolling distance. And he suddenly became much more social and said “no it's 20 more streets up”. I still don't know if I believe him but I wasn't going there anyway is more conversation than anything else. But all sudden the driver entered into conversation with me told me how great that hires was and how great the models a root beer that you used to get the big glass bottles, gallon jugs. He said all during the summer his dad would get a gallon of root beer for the family and enjoyed it all weekend long. He had this distant look in his eyes as you could tell he was visiting another time and another place. The gruff was no longer gruff use a little kid remembering Saturdays with his dad I'm glad is able to bring that about which I was better at it…

We The Living…

Remember Gloria? The very elderly , fragile, lady space of just sat down and died the other day. The apartment complex. She just sat down and breathe out her spirit and was gone back quickly, her daughter Cindy was devastated, which I guess makes sense speaking to your mother 1 minute go to the kitchen to get something and come back to mom's gone. Today was her funeral or something.

To the residence have died here in the last 2 or 3 weeks well-known individuals to the group, they've been here for almost the entire length of the apartments operation, long timers. Lois who really wasn't that old comparatively speaking was kind of a shock when she passed. I don't know why but her passing didn't really move me too much one where the other. It was weird was one moment she was there the next she was gone. I didn't sign the card (not like I know any of the family or they know me) and I didn't go to the funeral, viewing or graveside. One I didn't know were any of these places were and I don't know if any of them were serviced by the transit system. So I just let Lois slip away from my reality. Gloria I hardly knew at all. She walked daily a tall, skinny, frail 90+-year-old. I swear she tripped and fell she would've broken into million pieces. Her passing was not a surprise I was more surprised that I saw her every day taking her walk. Remember also she had the daughter Cindy who is taking care of her and living in her apartment. I guess I got involved because I knew Cindy and this whole thing has really been traumatic for the poor girl/woman I think Cindy's nearly 60 years old. I didn't feel bad for Lois but I did for Cindy that makes sense.

Of course the local organization/department management or whoever put together a funeral announcement. There would be a viewing at McDougal's mortuary from 10 AM to 12 and then there would be a graveside service at Taylorsville Cemetery ie. the place I call the graveyard. Whenever I travel route 47 and I'm coming home the “graveyard stop” is the 1^st stop on Redwood Road once the bus makes the turn off of 4700 S. So I know the place will that's well within rolling distance. I had no desire to see dead Gloria and besides it would be to problematic trying to jump the bus and get from the mortuary to the graveyard. I decided it would be best just to go to the graveyard to show my support for my friend Cindy.

I don't know what I was expecting. I said I had the impression from Cindy that there would be nothing but suits and ties and Sunday go to meet' n clothes. Instead there bunch of hard-core middle-class looking folk. Soon there is everything there from bikers to bankers and everything in between. There were a few suits of course the whole operation was run by the LDS Bishop, and other members of the ward. I was kind surprised at how many people showed up. There is only about 12 chairs stuffed under the little canopy and there were many more people than that. There was lots of hugging and slapping on the back and a few tears. Lots of kids and umbrellas it was a hot day. The services relatively short with the Bishop taken over the main portion was saying goodbye and pass around a lot of guilt along the way. “Gloria was a good woman…” I'm glad that I went. I don't know how important it was that made me feel I was in the right place at the right time and sometimes that's as good as it gets…okay

Early Morning Thoughts

 

I'm not sure what time it was but I did not weird twilight zone area of sleep in on sleep in the middle of the night when I heard the distant chirping of the UTA bus lowering the front end or possibly even deploying the access ramp. This really struck me kind a weird because even Redwood Road which runs right past my apartment complex stop service around 10:45 PM on regular nights. I was just intrigued and interested why there is such a vehicle out on the service during the wee hours of the morning. And in all truthfulness is not like I didn't get up and check. I guess it could have been a truck backing up or something they have a chirping sound.

Before tumbled back to sleep my mind it be “way back” trip to the early 80s just after I'd start work for an Independent Living Ctr., Blackfoot, ID. This was long before I was the transit coordinator in Salt Lake. Anyway, the director of that sheltered workcenter which it hired me sound grant money to send me up to Seattle to attend a conference on world transportation and believe me Blackfoot truly counted as rural. Truthfully, my trip to Seattle was whether my first real “company trips”. I was all by myself in the big city of Seattle. I had a room on about the 6^th floor of what I considered a posh hotel. We are right in downtown Seattle, there was significant downtown lights which never dimmed. Whatever the reason I was awake around 2 o'clock or 3 AM and just couldn't sleep. I got up and rolled over to the window looked down on the street. I was shocked and intrigued to see the only traffic of any consequence were large transit buses. Side note, all these buses were accessible I'd never seen anything like it. All night long these buses ran. 5 years later when I had moved to Salt Lake I realized how significant Seattle's transit was. Salt Lake did not have any accessible bus routes operating at the time, most routes shut down early in the evening and it seemed like management was antagonistic towards ever providing accessibility to consumers with disabilities.

The trip down memory lane didn't last very long after all I need to get back to sleep its coffee social day and I have to be awake , dressed in functional by 9:30 AM. I didn't have time to think about why accessible buses were wandering around Salt Lake at 3 AM. Even more concerning/intriguing was who was riding them and where were they going. I'm sure I've got it all wrong and half of what I thought was real which is happening early this morning was just my dreaming of what could be and what Seattle did 40+ years ago.

Gloria on the 2^nd floor passed away last week and your funeral is tomorrow. Actually I don't think she's getting a real funeral just a viewing and the graveside ceremony of some sort. As a rule I don't go to these kind of things but I'm thinking on going tomorrow just because her daughter has been living here with Gloria and I think Cindy needs a lot of support to get through this whole ordeal. Not only did she lose her mother this week and they were pretty close she's also losing her housing and who knows what else. She's not employed, has no savings and no transportation is in a worse place a person can be at this point in the American economy. I hope she makes it…

Saturday Morning Cartoons And More

I really wish I can sleep in but my body just won't let me it's always been that way as a little kid I was always up early Saturday mornings to catch Saturday morning cartoons, this was before there was a whole cartoon industry aimed at kids on Saturday mornings. In the old days I just think there is nothing else to put in the Saturday morning slot. There really was no adult content to speak of except for pretaped stuff for adults like “The Big Picture” the seemingly positive for trail of American military particularly with a lot of scenes from World War II. You got a realize when I was 5 the war had only been over for about 10 years. There are other standards that were counted as content in those days and everyone still while 5 or 6 cartoons get thrown in there and then later on they had the Bugs Bunny show, Cartoon Carnival and a few other selection took more kid content. I think this may have been what trained me to wake up early regardless. I didn't want to miss anything.

With some discouragement I looked out the window and could feel autumn approaching I think of already written about this already this month but once again this morning, the figure ground effects were definitely there playing with the dials of my brain turning them slowly to accept later sunrises, colder temperatures and longer hours of darkness. So, I have to resign myself to this reality. Whining about the evaporating summer, hot temperatures and raging forest fires. Expect you people to hold me to it.

Other than the shortening days I really haven't done a whole lot to change the world. I did go to the movies early this afternoon trying to make sure I get my money's worth from the regal theater where he could do all this shows you can tolerate for 20 bucks a month. Today I want something about where crawdad sing, a bit of a mystery movies and as kind surprised I enjoyed the film. I don't know if I'll sit through it again but maybe. They had cut ever predictable ending but I was still kind of surprised just the same. I won't record for anybody is planning to see the film. I think it's worth your time and probably worth the price of admission if you don't buy the theater offered treats. I hate to encourage bootlegging their own refreshments in but the price they charge for such items I really don't have much guilt. I went to the 12:10 PM showing which got me out of there about2:45 PM. I really didn't want to miss marketplace so I raced home instead of waiting around for the bus. It wasn't a bad trip a little bumpier places I was a little spooked about this chair sometimes I think I may be losing one of the motors in the chair… Which it be typical. I am still planning on having the chair picked up sometime tomorrow and will get the news again about how long I have to wait before the chairs repaired. I just have to be patient and get through this period In time just as I'm having to do with my patient lift it will get better, I just have to wait it out…

Little g God

 

Don't you just hate it when you find out that your gods have clay feet? Don't mean the big guy the G God talking about the small G God in this case management of the apartment complex where I live. And really does probably know really big deal but still, got me scratch my head.

I believe I briefly mentioned the smokers group, a group of pariah residents who smoked nightly if not all day off and on in different sections of the complex as long as a 25 feet away from the door. This basically means the do a lot of their smoking in the parking lot. I guess I've become a qualified member of this group just because they are all younger than the whole group of folks here that seem to be dying weekly. Anyway, last night we were talking and somehow the height of my kitchen cabinets came up. Us trying to explain to him how my cabinets were lower because I was in “wheelchair accessible unit”. Vicki one of the group members indicated she understood because she knew somebody in the other accessible unit. I knew there was another one is even stated that when they were doing some work on my apartment couple summers ago. What I didn't know was that the apartment manager got so frustrated at not finding another wheelchair person to put in this unit that she had the unit remodel for an able-bodied person! Which I think is totally stupid yes I know it can be greatly frustrating trying to find the right person. So effectively, this facility which had only 2 accessible units now hasjust one and I'm in it don't plan to move until they carry me out with pennies on my eyes.

As a housing coordinator, which I was for many years, I knew how few accessible properties were available in this community and then to consciously take some away seems unconscionable. And I'm on the Board of Directors of this outfit was my responsibility? Sadly, I have to admit I don't want to rock the boat because this is where I live. And I really like the manager of this property that understand your frustration and I know that she actually did really search for these people I just don't know why she couldn't find them or why they couldn't find us. I don't know if the local Independent living Center even has a housing coordinator anymore. I don't see a lot of evidence that they do that they do have a housing coordinator he/she doesn't seem to be doing much of a job. Granted, this community has had skyhigh rental rates and everything else and the availability of low-income housing is at a critical level and what low income housing they do have is almost impossible to get. And just low income housing waiting lists himself are literally years long. So I know I certainly got my needs met 90% being in the right place the right time and the other 10% being connected to this operation. I truly hope I can keep all the gods appeased to make sure that I've got a place to live both the big G and the little “g” gods…

Old Fart Worries

 

It's like when will this holiday end? I really don't know what Utah is thinking to have the big parades on Saturday, nothing on Sunday except major fireworks in evening (the actual and real 24^th of July and then today Monday, 24^th of July observed. I had to keep telling myself that the 24th really not a federal holiday and most of the companies/businesses in the area are not shutting down. However having just wrote that a lot of the smaller operations for example the coffee shop across the street is closed today. But Postal Service worked today is that all the markets and restaurants even the bus system I think ran on. Regular schedule. I really didn't do a whole lot though basically enjoying the day and the holiday from the convenience and comfort of my apartment. That's close to the end of the month now and I wanted poll is little money out of my account as possible. I did think about going to the movies were just couldn't get up the the will. After all I still typically pump my bike from 2 o'clock to 3 on Mondays beginning my quest for the 200 minutes that I work out weekly. If I don't get out and do something early in the day than I mess up my home workout schedule and I guess I have to be anal on anything sticking to my physical workout regimen is worth it. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get back into life/routine by calling Assist, Inc. in the morning to see if we're going to have a volunteer EmergencyHome Repair meeting. I know we talked about it and Andrea's seemed indicate that we might have one but I remember from my days of having to have quarterly board meetings and how difficult they were to pull together after coming back from a holiday. Maybe my quarterly meetings were/are different because they had to represent the preceding quarter whereas the weekly meetings early covering a couple weeks usually. Other where it should be a good day for travel tomorrow so I'm looking forward to the morning.

I made it up this morning with little issues on the transfer. I've had trouble transferring the past 2 days trying to figure out how to safely make the move from the bed to the chair with a much smaller foot cage. The smaller foot box makes it more difficult for my feet to stick to the foot box and when my feet begin sliding out of the foot box when I transfer it not only causes a little spasticity but I tend to start sliding out of my chair. I have to be extra cautious and totally vigilant when I make this move I really don't want to have to have the fire department drop into pulling off the floor. I am certainly not afraid is using these good lads but I still want to use them sparingly and only when I need it. Perhaps it's also just a real learning curve getting used to the old chair. I sure hope the repair on the “new” chair comes back swiftly. I kind of doubt that will happen but the name of this lesson is patience and I think I'm really beginning to develop that skill set.

So today was the “recognized or celebrated” Utah Pioneer Day. The only reason I bring that up is that every night this weekend, this long holiday weekend, this neighborhood is gone crazy launching Stadium grade fireworks from the local parking lot across the street from our building. These motors are so huge they literally shake the building/Windows when they explode. Not to sound like an old fart but I'm terribly afraid that one of these times the mortars good tip over and shoot a firework straight at our building the start of major blaze. But I'm sure they'll never happen…

Cell Phones and End of Life Decisions

 

I'm so confused. The weather forecast that I've been watching on channel 2 has indicated low clouds, high-pressure system in hot temperatures. This morning when I woke it was overcast, and I'm okay with that don't get me wrong if there's clouds there's water possibly lightning as well as under as well. The best part about the cloud cover was a gentle breeze that went along with the clouds. I checked my “weather bug” and it also said that after a few clouds in the morning sun would return and temperatures in the 90s. Not a problem, again just irritated on what the plan for. The clouds hung around until really middle of the afternoon and have gone their way. Temperatures are in the low 90s as promised but it doesn't feel the same heat as for. I just watched the early weather and local news and they are all ecstatic about how cool the temperatures of the day have been. I certainly enjoyed the lower temperatures today especially having breakfast with Mark Anthony and Jasmine. It was nice leaving the restaurant and not really didn't of triple digit heat walls. I spent most of the day either reading outside our playing around with my cell phone on a game I've been playingon my cell. I've gotten quite good, for me, I mean my combined scores nothing compared to huge numbers that live on the far end of the leader boards for this game. I just enjoy the game and I think it keeps me, or helps keep me as sharp as I can be.

Perhaps the biggest joy of my day was the impromptu conversation with my daughter Shelley who called me midafternoon. A perfect time for such an event. The girls are with their dad for the next 2 weeks so shall does not have to drive in so we can just focus on our conversation. No great mysteries are solved, historical questions answered or any impartation of patriarchal wisdom. Just fun conversation in a little bit of gossip here and there some reach back as far as validating memories and current actions many of which are based on those memories. I try not to pry but I am so interested Shelley's life and the life of the granddaughters. We talked about many strange and bizarre things is only we can is only I guess I've taught my kids how to do. Along with that comes the hard jobs to as to remind dad of all those end-of-life matters that need to be considered now. This is doubly true after the past couple of weeks I just passed here at the apartment complex with the death of 2 of our own. Icon is set up the whole thing by talking about the passing which opened the door to start talking about my passing and all the things I need to be thinking about as far as end-of-life questions and responsibilities. I can honestly say these discussions are not nearly as comfortable as they used to be maybe that's a good thing. Maybe I'm finally growing to the point that can handle such discussions and my own demise. Do I want to be buried, and cremated, urn versus coffin versus plot versus Mantle and on and on and on. I still have a long ways to go but I want to make sure I start downsizing today so others won't have to downsize me tomorrow it's only fair…

Boomers Unite

 

I've already written one post for today's blog but halfway through her more like three quarters the way through realized I cannot use it because of promises I made. So anyway luckily it's been an eventful day sad as it is. This was a unique day for me because one of the residents at this facility provided to me what I thought was a family function to celebrate 24 July. Of course is Utah and since the holiday falls on Sunday were celebrated on the 23^rd. We were to start around 10 AM and barbecue lunch. As far as I understood it was myself in this resident and whoever else she might have invited I wasn't sure what she had in mind. She did mention something about her family being there so I figured it was just a family function. Anyway, long story short there's some sort of family issue they didn't show up, the resident didn't like the barbecue because it was so filthy looking (the barbecue range) so we ended up cooking arts meat selections of our own little home and dragging it out to the common area for a little picnic just the 2 of us. But that's not what this posting is about.

This morning when I was out preparing for my part of the barbecue I ran into one of the other residents here at the complex who informed me that one of the long-term residents had passed away during the night. Of course I saw this person walking around yesterday but to be honest this person was very very frail and I'm not all that surprised. Which really very tragic/interesting is that her daughter had been living with her for the past couple of months that I'm aware of helping the mom get by. Had the daughter not been there I think mom what passed much earlier. This is the 2^nd resident to pass away in the last 3 weeks. Granted, this one was a little more expected them the prior but still the whole composition of this apartment complex is radically changing. The old guard is slipping away. There's still enough left of the older ones to make this place seem like a senior living project – – which it is – – but do you have to be a senior cliché to live here just because it's 55 and older? I don't know but something's happening. There's a group of fairly new apartment residents had gathered together daily out in the covered parking area to smoke. The rules of the project state you have to be at least 25 feet away from the doors. Like most groups of people in the world these days there are smokers and non-smokers and the smokers are always somewhat isolated and somewhat shunned. I've recently gotten to know this group of outcasts and find they are closer to my age than the other group of residents. They're kind of fun police to talk to which I have been in the afternoons. I'm wondering with this “pruning” of the population that even younger folks might join the ranks. I know there's a significant waiting list to get into this place but there's also a lot of other seniors here that are extremely frail I don't give a much more time. I should be careful what I write because you never know for whom the bells toll…

This Too Shall Pass…

 

It's uncanny. It's Friday again! How did that happen? It is what it is sometimes just have to go with it. My technical troubles continue so that means I mean not even close to getting out of this technical probability storm I seem to be morassed in right now. My mantra for the day is “in this too shall pass”. I don't know what I did but sometime during the night the whole left side of my chair, I mean the arm configuration that I had our cheap abatements jerryrigged or redneck hack together, completely fell off the chair body. I was able to get up okay I was a little worried about the transfer but it went off all right. I was hoping I would be able to limp around and either have Ted re-taping re-sleeve the arm or bite the bullet and start using the backup chair. After about an hour of trying to pull myself up without the aid of the arm rest I was convinced that I would have to have Gloria put me in the back of chair when I was done with the morning ritual.

So, I've been using the chair all day. I've not only use it around the apartment complex but venturing even across the street once to do the shopping for tomorrow's supposed barbecue and back again across the street to my barber commitment look good if that's an issue tomorrow. My butts okay no major problems there pressure wise I did have an issue early on when I couldn't release the arm and went wimping up to the front looking looking for Ted but of course this is his day at the other building. I was totally surprised and appreciative when Jennifer the building manager jumped right in and solve the problem. She was able to correct the issue with the lock mechanism and now I'll be able to at least roll into bed. So, the day more or less has been one of getting to know my old chair all over again. Good news is I think it's going to be doable using this chair is not going to be pleasant. It has me a little worried but not as much as I had anticipated. As I said, “and this too shall pass”. I know the parts can come in on the lift which will make going to the restroom and shower a bit easier and I think Gloria and Melissa a bit happier but I have to admit both of them came through with flying colors learning how to make the hydraulic hand pump lift work for me and for them. How long this is all going to take the repair of the chair the repair and repair of the lift but who knows what else is going to come up with all the pass and I think things will get back to somewhat normal.

But I told you this old chair which are used for about 5 years has 4471 miles on it as of tonight. So, I know the chair well. It doesn't have some of the bills no whistles the new chairs got. The night running lights and in particular the elevator function. It's amazing how much I use the elevator function in the days time. I love the basic, simplistic, nature of my backup chair. It is figuratively saving my life. My heart is not breaking because I'm in some chair that totally is a challenge every 2^nd that I'm forced to live my life and it. I kind of feel I'm on vacation with an old friend number talking back and forth kind of reliving old challenges and adventures that every once in a while having a couple more. As much as I love the basic nature of this chair how anyone can fix it with half a brain and decent hand function I miss the nightlights and most of all the elevator function but that's okay because you know why?… This too shall pass…

Scheduling Continuity

 

batteries in the charging station

see the gaping hole in the left, that's where the lead is brroken that's where the battery fits

 and is the part coming in the mail shortly I hope

When you have a schedule it's tough when you break that schedule get back into the swing of things. Today I let public pressure forced me to disrupt my daily schedule/routine. Today was the coffee social, the regular Thursday morning coffee yammer group. The little social worker type who now, I guess, runs the outfit asked me what I was doing these days but I had to confess to her that the 1^st 3 or didn't do a whole lot except one meeting downtown. It actually allows significant I should let it stand on that but she then asked me if I'd seen any of the movies that were playing and I again had to confess that I had not and I use the excuse that none of them seem to be very interesting – – and they didn't really. But because I didn't want to have to tell anybody else what little I was doing I decided that it was a good day, no rain or problems in the weather except extreme heat and I can deal with that. I dialed up regal theater on my cell phone just to see what was playing in the one movie Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris looked kind of interesting when I saw the previews that on my last trips to the movies so I watch that and then I watched a really bizarre piece called Nope that one is really strange. I really still don't know what the movie was about… I kind of think that I do but not really. I guess is part science fiction, part horror in the 3^rd part I can't even wager a guess. I don't know if I could sit through it again but I might.

I had to keep reminding myself that the new part of my lift was going to be installed today. I was really pleased after getting home from the coffee social to get a call from Danny the guy from the medical shop. He was coming over about 1230 would I be home and I said “ of course I'm here all day waiting for you.” true to form the dollars shipped through force of what I needed. The part on my lift itself, we found, is broke one of the leads from the battery pack is broken. I kind think this might have been the whole issue but no lift tomorrow back to the pump and pump option. So they ordered the new part in the don't know how long that'll take to get in at least a week probably the other did and I suppose I'll just have to wait what else can I do? Won't do any good to throw tantrum. Not that I would, that is a skill set I do not have. I will sure be glad to get this list working again and feel that I'm not being targeted for technical breakdown.

It's hard to believe that I'm sitting on the precipice of another weekend. My chair sees me fairly functional and so does my butt and after tomorrow will actually after tonight will be one day closer to when this list battery might arrive. But between the patient lift and power chair issues I'm getting kind of burnt out. I'll just be so glad when this tech storm leaves but frighteningly maybe it's sticking around as part of the whole apocalyptic thing my little universities 3 going through right now global warming to medical technology issues everything is breaking down…

One More Thing…

I'm only going to take partial responsibility for the minor crisis I find myself in this evening. My chair went from being uncomfortably broke or kind of broke to really broke. Left side of my chair I mean the arm of my chair is hooked into the seat of my chair with this long piece of metal that sits in a housing that is secured by a little plastic knob. I had Alan my wheelchair tech come and look at it last week because the piece was not locking right as well as a key portion of the arm piece came undone was sliding up and down one of wheelchair pieces and not doing what it was supposed to do. I rely heavily on the arms of my chair particularly to pull myself up to an upright position. I know that's not what they were designed for that's what I'm using them for and I need to have them secure yet at the same time I have to be able to undo that securing point to be able to lift the side of the arm up so I can transfer is out of bed. This was never a problem in the old days when the arms were pretty straightforward not a whole lot to go on without but now as you see the piece I have listed are imaged as a numerous movable parts and I think a lot of it has to deal with where the assembly sits on the arm which has to be tightened securely by wheelchair mechanic or somebody knows what they're doing with the screwdriver and have good hands. When Alan, my tech, came out the other day he informed me that whatever was wrong was beyond his ability to fix out in the “field” and I would have to call the shop to schedule a time to have my chair picked up. I hate doing this even if I have a great backup chair it's not this chair which I've really gotten used to. So I didn't get to calling the shop until this morning.

My 1^st reaction to what happened this morning as Gloria was lifted me in and out of the power chair or something and somehow the arm got caught and snapped completely off the main chair. I doubt this had anything to do with the problem with the loose padding on the arm of the chair but certainly a accelerated my call into the shop. I could not get my chair picked up any earlier than next Thursday. The way the arm broke off of the armrest basically allowed me to carefully lift the the part that broke off which are still kind of fast the chair and then rest the top or arm rest on top of it. This actually worked to a certain degree but then the middle please Falling off the chair. Something is going to have to be done. Luckily today was one of those days that Ted had maintenance guy was that are building. In desperation I rolled into the office for he was talking with the building manager of asking fee could possibly fix this to a certain point of usability. Sure enough he got a hold of a roll of that gray tape I think is called duct tape and did what he called a “redneck hack” and I swear I almost don't want to give the chair because Ted did such a great job. It feels solid that works the way it's supposed to and I don't think it's going to break anytime soon. Sigh, but I'm going to be responsible and try to get the thing fixed are exposed to be fixed which I think is just going to lead to more issues down the line. I'm trying to stay within the lines, tag up every base and do things the right way and then hope for the best. I have to give the chair up in a week. I do have a really good backup chair is as good as this chair except for that chair does not have the “elevator” function which I've really grown to like. Things will work out they always do…

Tuesdays Heat

 

Tuesday I felt a little groggy today, not as bad as I thought I was going to however, it seems like I didn't sleep at all past 2:30 AM. I think I dozed a lot but that was about it. And possibly just possibly there is an element of excitement because today and Assist, Inc. meeting day. I drug myself out of bed around 6 AM started my day. Transfer was good, ADLs were good everything worked well and best of all know but pain and no shoulder pain that I was crying about last night. I left much earlier than usual about an hour earlier so I would have time to kill maybe grab some coffee at the French pastry place next door but to my shock all those eateries are all closed for a week or 2 for their “summer break”. the little Asian joint is closed until the middle of August! How European is that? So no coffee but lots of shade since to what he was in the shaded tables in front of these establishments. I just texted people on my cell phone tells time for the meeting. I know it's not very exciting but it's always interesting to me when I come across interesting pieces of clothing on the sidewalks as I travel around the city. Today is kind of a stretchy type glove just sitting there wanting a hand. I didn't touch it of course but I did get a couple images one that I can use for the posting of today's blog. I haven't been able to do that much the last couple of days because I have not gone anywhere but luckily today you're in luck. It's not a shoe but something worn on the body. Luckily for me there are no other issues to report on on my trip downtown. Stopped in at the credit union holds cash out for emergencies should be able to tide me over until the next pay cycle. Then I stopped at Taco Time and got another taco burger. The kind of think that will taco burger is the best thing on their menu it's a Mexican sloppy Joe. Just a drink and a taco burger and that was it. Good news however later on here at the apartment I was on my own bike and got a call from a number I didn't recognize so I didn't answer it but I felt uncomfortable… So I called the number eventually got the person who called and sure enough it was the affinity medical and the part for my lift has come in. Of course because I waited those few minutes they weren't able to get that product to me today because I was out and about and maybe now scheduled me till Thursday. It would've been nice to have the lift operational tomorrow but that's not going to be. We get by on the hydraulic lift another day. I know it's not very exciting but sometimes things aren't. This summer continues to be strange, strange beyond belief, it's not even 1 August and were getting August like heat every day. Going on all over the earth major fires, major drought, major flooding I think it's going to get a lot weirder before it gets any better if it ever gets any better. I intend to enjoy every ounce of heat this weird bizarre summer affords and hopefully find other interesting images to report on

My Mantra

 

I'm becoming quite the house plant. I'm preferring to stay either in my room or out at the end of the building under the overhang quietly reading and greeting people as they leave the building not because I want to but because I'm there. I could read on my own patio or go someplace else like the park next door or whatever but I like himself and the building under the overhang. Just me a great view of the flight path of the big jets coming to an exiting Salt Lake international Airport. At least I think it Salt Lake international Airport I'm just astounded at how many they are in the frequency in which they come in to the terminal. No wonder air-traffic controllers have such a high suicide rate got a be a killer job.

I texted my older brother today he's just had some kind of surgery can't remember if it's his shoulder or hip. He is now recuperating at home since we doing okay is in a lot of pain. For his wife passed away they had a stair glide installed in their split level home along with some other accessibility features. I'm so glad you had that done it's got a make his recuperation a little bit easier. As I said the house is split level is no way I can access the place by myself so a text will have to do. I wish I could do more for him because he done so much for me in my life as a person with a disability. But he's tough and I'm sure will be doing just fine by the end of the summer. I don't know what kind of limitations this kind of surgery leaves the individual. Like when I moved in here one of the resident advisors was a nice guy by the name of Jimmy he was a tough little guy he actually lifted me off the floor once when I fall out of my bed and had to call him in the middle of the night. Then he had to have a hip replacement in one of the requirements following that surgery was that he could no longer lift heavy items. He and his wife phased out as resident advisors shortly after that. Life is a trade-off it always is. Maybe I'll just have to learn not to call my brother every time I think I need an assist . It's tough getting old I think that's probably the best mantra I have.

I'm doing okay though, this 1^st day of the week. I'm excited because tomorrow I have a reason to go jump on the train and go downtown for my Assist, Inc. meeting. It's just a little deal but it certainly does revalidation is a human being. The temperatures are still triple digit along the Wasatch front but we've been blessed with almost daily showers which has significantly, I think, lower the temperatures. Tomorrow will be hot but that's okay to rain or no rain all have a hat on and my shorts on and I think I will do just fine. Once again, when you don't do anything but sit around the apartment reading our pump in your arm bike or doing paperwork for your housing certificate subsidies does not leave you as much to write about. That's the major pain about being very noncreative. Speaking of mantras I like to think perhaps the most favorite is “a writer writes” whether that's true or not I don't know it certainly why I keep this beleaguered blog going day after day

Storming Sunday

Sunday It's a perfect Sunday night for me. A very hot be followed by radical pop-up summer storm accompanied with great winds, a promise of rain and a buildup of dark clouds wondering in all afternoon. I felt I done my duty for the day by leaving the property this morning when I met the kids for breakfast over at the restaurant. I certainly have enjoyed these Sunday morning meetings. I think I'm a little tired of the food part but the communing one with another is great. I wonder how long we can keep this up for now were playing just one day the time. I'm a little disappointed in the new book I just received in the mail by Kate Atkinson titled Case Notes I didn't realize the volume was a group of short stories. The title of the book should have tipped me off that I am pretty dense. Even when I read the descriptors on the back of the volume, you know those short paragraphs written by other writers about the book and what they feel about it called the comedy at times, a fun read and on and on. I'm into the 3rd story and so far everybody dies in the end some by axe, starvation and whatever and one child disappearance. I'm worried that this volume may be as dark as the volumes I put down because they're having a negative impact on me. And the more that I think of that I should have been somewhat aware because the 1st volume of this will I read Life after life was one person dying over and over over 2 world wars. So this woman is not above killing off the protagonist numerous times. I don't know what to do a kind of wanted it back into just a good old science fiction epic that will keep me busy for months at a time. I'll read a few more stories and see how I feel. Maybe you'll get lighter, who knows. Had, kind of a shock today. There is this lady who lives here name Cindy. She's the daughter of one of the residents here. The resident is quite elderly and Cindy provides a lot of physical support and care for her mother. But also Cindy is a bit of a “wild child”. That was the term that came up with me and my neighbor as we gossiped about various folks in the facility. Cindy is nearing 60 and states she has not wore a bra in 20 years. She's one of those fortunate females can pull something like that off. She has a vehicle which sits in the back of the parking lot surrounded by shrubbery and the trees. The vehicle does not run but is her escape mechanism. She just sits in there and smokes. I finally begin communicating with her in the hopes of enticing her to do some apartment cleaning and possibly even train as a possible emergency home health person for one reason or another. When I suggested this to Cindy she was excited should be able to earn cigarette money and who knows what else. She said should come by in a day or so she never showed up. Cindy ran into me this afternoon while I was out reading on the back porch of the building. She stressed and told me she couldn't work with me already the rumor mill that started lighting their tongues about our “affair”. She said she just couldn't handle subject and her mother to that kind of stress which I can totally understand and so I'm still searching for an apartment cleaner. Luckily, as I said the storm boiled up this afternoon and for brief shining moment cool things down…okay

Waiting

 

It's my own fault I do not have anyone to blame for myself but still I feel I've been slighted a little bit. I've been kind of looking forward all week to today one of my home health people is super nice since been really helpful to me especially when I've been in dire straits. She found out a couple weeks ago that I belong to big box store here in town called Costco. I'm sure this is a national chain but I just like the place because it's got great meet and really interesting cuts as well as great produce and other unique items and in many cases in large quantities. The main drawback for me since I do not have a vehicle is that the quantities are so large, many times, I can't carry it with me back to my apartment. Sometimes I buy one item or 2 items and then hang off my chair which works pretty good. But anyway when my home health person which will call Lisa found out she was excited and asked if I would go with her to Costco so she could purchase items for her kids birthday. I thought this would be a great way to get out and do something on Saturday as well as have someone to carry stuff home that I can't handle on my wheelchair. On Monday when we set up this outing we agreed that we would get together our text each other around Friday year whenever set up a time to meet because I would have to take public transit down to the Costco and I have to make sure I get on the bus early enough that I can meter down at the right time.

I did not hear anything from her so I called Friday evening or texted and she did not have the time said that we would text on the morning when she got up I did figure much about that said okay. So this morning after I got up I texted you should not apparently gotten up yet. When I did make contact with her she indicated she lost her phone and just found it and would get back to me momentarily and she has not yet. I sent numerous texts and got nothing. Now it's almost 5:00 PM and I'm pretty will burned out now. I didn't even think to ask if she worked today but you would've thought that if she did she would've let me know. I really want to help the kid out plus I really want to nurture our relationship what I want to trade in return for later use my card was to have a couple hours backup in case I have a emergency cleanup that I have to use. Lisa has always been great about working me into her schedule and I want to continue that backup system like I said she's great edge is a lot of fun. The last text I sent back was “it's getting late you want to reschedule” I have not heard back yet. I suppose I can still take the bus over to Costco meet her letter shop and then bus back even I left now it would be in the clock of not later by the time I got back and it's 93° outside. We don't want to be an ass hole but at the same time I do want to be up all night and become a feel of waste the day but then I don't think out of done anything different anyway this is different when you're waiting…

Clutter

It's well past 5:00 PM and true to form no call from the durable medical people who is responsible for fixing the patient lift the values for so much of my life or important parts of my life has been using the toilet as well as getting showered 3 days a week. I know you all are pretty tired of my ranting and raving about might struggle with technology for assistive living but it's a major factor of my life that I cannot get away from. I can't complain too badly because we are making the lift which was a “loner” from the Utah Independent Living Center loan Bank. And even if it was a struggle to make the connections of the phone calls in the communication to the right people I was able to get a piece of equipment which has allowed me to function. However, that aside, I wish that these places which sell this stuff and theoretically offer maintenance support or just general support would reach out a little bit better to let a person know what's going on. I believe it's been about a week now since theoretically the order was made for the part in question. And I will try to trick myself into believing that the only good part about today and the piece not coming is that for sure/definitely next week we should see a piece come in and hopefully my my electric patient lift will work. As you will note from the image posted in the days blog that seems like once again I'm collected assistive technology. I'm feeling like I'm being overran with A T. Once I'm finished with the days blog I intend to move these pieces back in the bathroom stash them there somewhere probably the shower. Where they can stay out of the way until the needed Monday morning.

It seems like the newest crisis or trauma at the apartment complex is that one of the residents here are really nice guy “G” who's been here a couple years at least. He's taken on the mantle/job of resident advisor basically somebody to help out residence on oh limited basis. The job of resident advisor had been being performed by a lady named Diana who is pretty elderly herself I think just overworked. I think the controversy is that nobody knew this position was up for the taking and I guess it was offered to this fellow, who like I said is a great guy. Anyway, he's got to little dogs. Which I suppose are adorable. The apartment comes with 2 bedrooms! I don't know if there's a a salary of any type or maybe they just knock off dollars from his rent. I don't see a problem but all the sudden I've heard some rumblings particularly like “what's he needed an extra bedroom for, oh yeah the dogs”. Some folks just like to grumble. I'm sure G would do a great job and will be around to help a lot of people out. I know I've already used them once in his position. Yesterday, Friday morning I did something to my computer which got unplugged from the main area course which I cannot access so I grabbed G as she was walking past (I did not know he was the new RA at that point. He slyly informed me that putting right to work we did a great job)…

Wimpy Remembered

 

Remember Wimpy the famous little guy in the Popeye cartoons who is famous for trying to be enough cash off you to get a hamburger today with the promise of payment on Tuesday, whenever that Tuesday might come? I know it was just a cartoon every time I saw Wimpy downing his hamburgers I salivated and started Jonesing for a hamburger of my own. I think the committed reader to this blog if one goes back into the blog archive will find at least one posting about hamburger Friday or hamburger night, always on a Friday night my mom would make hamburgers for the family. We all plop down to watch TV with our hamburgers and a healthy portion of pig chips. That's not what this blog is about.today's blog is about hamburgers I made the other night.

I just realized I did write about hamburgers on Sunday are rather the Fourth of July when the kids came over for the celebration picnic. So I will try not to be too redundant. I want to focus on a piece of equipment that I got a couple of years ago and that is a hamburger press. One of the major frustrations of my life and I'm sure it would be if I able-bodied as well as a person with limited hand function is making adequate and thin patties. Invariably when I get the hamburger out of its wrappings which itself is a major feat for me is that I have a lump of ground meat got a fashion edible burgers out of. It doesn't matter if it's meatloaf that I have to put in the eggs and the onions and the bread and the green peppers I still have to go should around and want into a nice little lump to roast in the oven. With hamburgers I have to pretty much do the same Wrestle to meat from its wrappings through it in a mixing bowl add what flavorings I choose and then form smaller portions in my hand and tried to form smaller patties to put in the fryer pan. The patties are produce usually are kind of round but always stick in the middle not find little flat patties that moms used to make. Sometimes I buy those already form patties which a bid made by machines at the meat counter. Those machined burgers really aren't half bad actually. But anyway, I purchased a pound hamburger encased in a square wrapping and finally decide to cook at the other day. I'd had out for a couple weeks in the meet your but not opened. So what I did was open up to meet put in a plastic container the inductive on paper plate then with a sharp edge like a spatula the coveted before squares and use this burger press, I cannot remember where, then press it superhard on the hamburger square in the frying pan while it's cooking it makes a great burger and it did. I did the typical foursquare cut than fried them up and toast the buns and have been eating on them all week to great way to make fast food and I recommend finding a hamburger press somewhere if you're still in the making your own burgers they are perfect…

Wednesday's Words

 

I hate to be fixated on this equipment malfunction that I'm currently going through. It's weird how I keep having to go through equipment malfunctions one way or the other whether his power chairs, patient lifts or whatever I need to be using to be more independent. Once again this morning I get the Stonewall phone call from the shop where the lift was purchased. They of course told me that nothing has come in shipping yet. It'll even give me encouragement like “well, nothing this morning but maybe if this afternoon's mail or check back tomorrow maybe will come tomorrow”. I just have to hang the phone of go on with my day. I was pleasantly surprised however at how well Gloria, my caregiver, got me into the sling for the lift today as opposed to the struggle Melissa and I suffered on Friday and really kind I had me worried all weekend long not knowing how Gloria would respond. Gloria is a real take control type lady and she did stretching and tugging on hooking and lifting soon she had me in the left elevator over the commode chair. I must confess it really gave me hope. Knowing this, I look forward to Friday's involvement with the lift and hopefully by then the order will come in with the part that I need for the other left. I also have to admit that not having to rely on external power our battery power the hydraulic pump lift, has been rethinking the whole lift question. But even the best the scenarios with the hydraulic lift my staff prefer the automatic lifting capability and not having to pump pump pump like the girls who have to make lemonade at the Dog on a Stick at the local mall food Pavilion.

Today was Writers Lunch, the lunch 3 of us have together usually once a quarter just to get together and go over our lives and supposedly reviewing at peace with written. At least I have not submitted much the other 2 have been fairly steady in providing something to read and critique. Today Jerry, the retired newspaper writer for the local rags, brought in a piece he's been working on. Interestingly, it's a bit risqué, racy. Which one would think is out of character for this writer but not really. I'm surprised he has the courage to do this under his regular name I doubt that I would be so bold and I don't even have a following – Jerry does. But takes a level of courage and honesty I think I'm lacking in that area possibly this is something I can work on it I don't know. I was asked if I was drawing anything or sketching anything my had to say no most, embarrassed. The only thing I can really talk about is the fact that I keep this silly blog every day, day in day out, 500 words a day now by registering that many thoughts together on one item I'd have a book in no time but you know I just don't think it's going to happen. …

Plymouth View Assets

 Tuesday I'm really fortunate to live where I do.. Every time I examine where I live or show somebody else where I live it always comes back to me how lucky I am. The other day when I'm going through the crisis of trying to Survive until my patient lift has repaired or has a new battery I had my old buddy for where I used to work drop off a replacement hydraulic (pump) lift. And while he was here, I gave him a tour of Plymouth View I've done this a number of times with various visitors, friends, relatives and I come away with the feeling that I am most impressed with the library. I feel the library is one of the hidden gems of this joint. I don't really know who keeps up the library, like who keeps the books and shelves looking as nice as it does.. I don't believe there is a real librarian type person, whose job it is to keep the library in order, And have the books of put in some kind of order. Not necessarily using the Dewey decimal system of numbers and such but there is some kind of order trying to be established for example many as book serves or kind of alphabetized by the last name of the author who wrote that book. Sometimes I think all spy novels are in one section, female literature and another sports and another and so on. I mean it's not a large library it just fills one room but the place looks kind classy. In fact during the height of the epidemic when everybody was zooming everything many of my State meetings were zoomed meetings. I would often drag my notepad device to the library and use the stately stacks. I can't believe I was that shallow but it certainly, I felt, served a purpose. That was of course before I learned that you could actually dial up certain backgrounds if a person wants and then of course came the point that I didn't care anymore and I would just do the meeting for my bedroom and workout area. But the library's been a great place also the host a meeting or 2 when it's my job to do so. Like I said it's quasi-stately, usually neat, dark and imposing given the illusion of deep intellectual activity happening. It's a great prop. Of course, and I've written about this before, there are other areas of interest in this building as well like the workout area/exercise room which still holds my disgust because there are beautiful pieces of equipment and none of it is wheelchair accessible. In fact the equipment is jammed into the room so tightly even the people who walk would be challenged getting around to some of the equipment and anyone using any kind of assistive technology to get around the just be SOL. There's also a “craft room” we should be able to do stuff but the whole place is been taken over by jigsaw puzzlers and the great craft table always has part of a jigsaw puzzle laid out meaning you really can't use the room for anything else – – at least that's the feeling I get. What's okay the libraries enough and of course my buddy Kim is a major library guy or book guy, I should say. It's not that I spend all my free time up there are probably groped her to 3 times a month usually to search for a volume to read when I am not planned right and finished my current reading project early and need something hold me over to my new volume arrives. Or sometimes during snowstorms, rainstorms and major events over in the park where I can sit and watch like a spy. Also a great game I found is that the libraries close enough to the gate to the back of the apartment complex that I can open the gate by using my clicker which is great fun opening the gate for folks unexpectedly and then not knowing how it's being done to bit of a God complex. Just thought I'd do a tribute to our library

Keeping The Faith

 

I would not characterize the whole day as “Black Monday” but the day sure started off that way an immense challenge. I've kind of hoped that the charger for my left had charged the battery enough that are at least get me into the chair, the shower chair, but no way. It wouldn't even move not even a little bit. My caregiver, Melissa or just Lissa did miraculous job but there's nothing we could do. So is my job to find a solution and I end up calling my old friend at the Independent living Center to see if they had a hydraulic lift and sure enough they did excellent! Now the only problem would be with the lift mesh with the sling that came with the original lift and of course it wouldn't. This nearly broke my heart but I just keep thinking “this is only situational this issue will be resolved in life will go on”.

It was great seeing my buddy Kim again. At one time we shared offices across from each other at the Independent living Center and got to know each other very well. It's a shame that when you move on to another job news contact, but fortunately since Kim is the Independent living Center you has knowledge and equipment at his facility that can be loaned out to folks in need and many times I've gone to them for assistance on where the other. Kim brought the machine out to about 3 o'clock and regarded to the apartment and sure enough the sling I had would not work and I was totally afraid that the sling for the other machine would not work either. But since Lissa was coming back at 6:45 PM we would wrestle that serpent down together and just see what we get done. I worried all afternoon that the solution of this was not going to come in that I don't know what will happen if I had to go another day without pooping it been since Friday morning.

True to her word Lisa showed up about 6:38 PM and she could read the doubt to my face and instantly started telling me to “shape up and have a little faith in me” and I did. First figured away to use the the sling I have been using on the hydraulic lift – – the lift to pump up and down. It was going to be challenging but Lisa in her true form manhandled me, the sling and the left do some bizarre form of compliance and lifted me up on the shower chair I did my business, got showered and figure out an even easier way to sling me up after the fact. Getting me into the power chair and ready to go. Great pressure had been lifted from my mind. If I can talk my Wednesday Friday person into using this lift system might be able suffer long enough to the other replacement pieces for the lift get in. I just have to keep the faith it seems like I lose a fairly quickly stays I didn't used to be this way. I lived with much more hope…

Makon Bacon

 

Do you get that feeling, ever, the time is running out? I got up this morning when I realized today was the 10^th. This month is one third over which means the summers that much closer to being over as well. I couldn't think about it long however I had a breakfast date with my son over at the local restaurant. I didn't sleep well last night probably the heat sauce a little groggy this morning but as up and at the restaurant.

I was back at the apartment by 10 AM and my son was kind enough to stop by and help me clean up a little bit as well as lift things I cannot reach and fasten things I cannot fasten. Today the task was attaching a zipper pull onto a pair of shorts that I broke off last week. Just a few things but I appreciate having them taking care of. He also worked on cleaning off my workstation in front of the computer screen. I finally finished the book I been reading for 2 or 3 weeks now may be a shade longer it was a good read and I ordered another novel by the same author. Hopefully it'll be here by the end of the week and will keep me busy for the rest of the summer reading wise. I like to have something to read anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour before I go to sleep. I have some backup novels but I keep around that I enjoy reading over and over again. I've written about it before especially when I was writing about my favorite summer reads. This novels by Stephen King one of my favorite summer authors.

Yesterday, in the evening I cooked up a pound of bacon are probably more than a pound it was thick cut black pepper crusted. The cook turned out okay. I used almost the lowest settings on the stovetop burners and opted to be patient while the bacon crispped. If I had not had the breakfast engagement I would love to put together a egg cheese bacon breakfast sandwich. I don't like consuming the thick pieces of bread that I have access to right now but it is mighty good. I need to get a loaf of that paper thin bread for making tomato lettuce sandwiches BLTs as well as toasted tomato and tuna fish. Both of these are fantastic in the summer session with copious amounts of chips. Growing up that was a summer treat when the tomatoes started coming on the vines in the garden and they really had to much fruit to deal with. We would have 2 or 3 nights of the BTL's are toasted tuna fish delights. I kind of miss those days. I was able to use the new bacon can. This device is going to be very handy in the coming months. It's not like them to do anything with the bacon grease but I guess I could if I knew what I was doing now's just a great place to dump to grease as I cook and then secure the top. The top is a snug fit so well not easily tip over and make a horrendous mass. As I said it was a pretty good day. I even made a new friend someone on the Internet who was interested in on my blog posts on another venue. Looking forward to a new week and especially possible monsoon storms at the end of this week but I believe that when I see it… And feel at :-)

Summer Saturday Night

 

The heat continues to be significant today it's 104°. I don't have anywhere to go so I really have not accept for a brief trip over to the dollar store as well as the market for celery. It probably was not important about what I purchased as much is just getting out of the apartment briefly give me the feeling of accomplishment in some form of control over my life. For example I don't really know how much I needed thumbtacks. I'm trying to mount my calendar to my bookcase but that seems to be evaded me no matter what I do. I came home, took the pushpins out of the container selected on and just didn't have whatever it takes to push the pan into the wood. I suppose a normal person would be able to take a small hammer or other device and pound the take in but I didn't have or don't have the skill set. I have a perfect little hammer but I just can't hold the pin and the hammer and myself upright and pound the pushpin in. I didn't waste a whole lot of time on trying to remedy this just realizing now I have 104 more pushpins I can use for other points of frustration. I think whatever I have to do is find the construction tape or whatever that hard-core tape is and pull off a piece to use the hang of calendar but like I said the trip to the market was not vain got me out hanging out the rest of the day.

Remember the image of posted last night of the Arctic circle across the street? I get almost angry each time I pass the AC going my way to the market just because the idiot refuses to open up the inside of the building for ordering and dining. These using the whole Covid thing as an excuse now to not have to hire staff – – and given the benefit of the doubt maybe he cannot find people to hire of since that seems to be a problem these days is how does for higher signs up for at least a year – – adjust irritates me that if I'm going to use that place I have to go through the driveline like everybody else to order my stuff. I mean like in the old days I remember when they didn't have a drive through they had a sliding window that you would go up in order your stuff from a not have to risk getting run over by other folks in vehicles. We only bright spot is that I'm not overly fond of their food anyway it's kind of tasteless except I do like their fish and chips and shrimp and fries. Almost makes it worth it to go through the driveline but then we have to either find some place to sit especially in the shade or whatever our hump it all the way back to the apartments. Either way I wish there's another alternative for fast food close by.

Thumbtacks And A Little A C

 

 

I did not need to, not really, but often on I need thumbtacks. I have a great calendar that I got I think for Father's Day or something like that maybe it was way back Christmas I don't remember. I really tried to use this calendar, I love the artwork but I'm having a challenge flipping the pages and keep in them so they stay up so you can see what month wherein. The only place I've found that I can secure this is on the bookcase on the other side of the room. I was really hoping the project to be relatively simple. After my staff left this morning I felt pretty good. Glory did a great job on my butt of putting the protective tape on my rear end so the jostling over to wherever I went would be uneventful. I had to wait around a couple hours after my shower this morning for the visit from the durable medical shop where they're sending out a technician to look at my body left, which I used to get in and out of the shower chair and into my chair from the shower chair when I'm finished. I use it only 3 times a week yet I cannot keep the thing charged but I don't know if it's the cord – – which I kind of suspect – – or the battery itself which may be worn out and is time to be replaced. I mean really, the technician “Danny” really didn't know a lot more than I did about this left except to say that it didn't work. He did pull some strings however I may have cut some cost off the end product. I'm sure it's going to cost me a body part somehow but I just want to lift the work that my staff will be bummed out about. I still believe in going to start looking for a regular hydraulic lift is operated by handcrank. This'll be a backup system. This will also be another piece of equipment that I had to find space for.

When Danny left I really did want to get out of the apartment so is put on my hat/cap and went across the street to the market to the dollar store which is now the $1.25 store and after a significant surge in asking one of the kids who works there I found thumbtacks a bunch of them. I now have 120 thumbtacks I only needed one to take up the calendar. And of course when I home and took out one thumbtack I could not get it into the wood on the side of the bookcase. Going to have to ask an able-bodied to do it or cut off a piece of that brown thick tape used to seal packages which I should done in the first place but I could safely argue I do need pushpin/thumbtacks from time to time. This posting was supposed to be about the Arctic Circle across the street from my apartment complex which closed its in-house dining area at the beginning of the epidemic a couple years ago and still has not opened that part of their business meaning the only way you can access ordering and picking up your order is going to the driveline. But I'll have to do that another time…