White Coat Popsicle

 

Been a long and cold day but it has been a good day. To be honest with you I felt a bit intimidated about all the talk about how cold it was going to be today the fact that it may not even get above 0 temperature wise and for some reason that play the number on my mind/brain. In the old days nothing never stopped me cold wise was it was snow that couldn't get through. Something like temperature you can always wear something more. When I called this morning to see if they were indeed going to have an assist meeting house, hoping they were not but Andreas indicated that in fact we would be having a meeting and he was looking forward to seeing me. I gulped, but a smile on my face and agreed that I would be there by 11 AM.

I spent the morning basically getting ready for my trip to the bus stop then onto the train. I decided to wear to blankets over my legs and were my great whitecoat which is this giant downfield jacket that I had for a number of years. Dianne got it for me Alberich a 30 years ago. It was on sale at Burlington Coat Factory just up the street from our home there in Murray. I think it was basically a gangster coat that the big old rappers wore and they couldn't sell it here in Salt Lake the didn't have a big enough rapper. However, the thing is superheavy and super warm. When I wear it I feel like I'm in a cocoon. I tried to find gloves can't believe I don't have bunches of gloves kicking around. I used to but not anymoreluckily both sleeves on the great white jacket are so long that I can conveniently drag the end over my hand as I drive the power chair where ever I go. The only problem with the great white coat is effective the great white coat is got very very dirty over the years. I think the next couple of days I'm going to go down stuff it into the large washing machine and run it through a cycle and see what it does. This morning I made all my connections pretty well and got to the area of my meeting about 45 minutes early so I had time to kill my went up to the 711 just on the block from the office and got a coffee but these guys never have stoppers for the coffee tops/lids and so I try to drive gently but it's difficult to do when it's freezing cold outside. The coffee sloshed over parts of my jacket making the garment look even worse still small price to pay for the warmeth the jacket renders.

By the time I was finished with my assistant meeting, and signed the 15 documents for today the sun was out and totally and brilliant and even though the temperature was still not even freezing it felt warmer with the direct sunlight. All I want to do was get home and sit by my heater for the rest of the day that is of course after I finish my workout on the bike. I stopped at the market on the way home was getting low on fruit especially bananas and grapes. While I was there I picked up a lunch mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken fingers in these cheese tater tot popovers things – – all that for less than 5 bucks which is a deal when you're out on the tarmac. They just a little impact the rest home as difficult as that was.

Silly me, I almost wet the other folks i.e. TV weather people and people who think it's cold outside dictate to me whether or not I do my job or not. I'm glad I chose to face the cold do my job and get back is the way it's supposed to go…

Letters Letters

 

Supercold but sunshiny. I didn't even go outside once today elected and stay inside and work on my current project the kid letters. This seems to be all manner of little distractions that arise, take me off the task but little bit by little bit I'm coming to the end of February's mail out. Nothing fancy just the regular kid letters. I have gotten the word content down to about 500 Or so words so it's sort of like, letter haiku. I used to spend a lot more time focused of the scripting of each letter that I realize really did make a difference. For the kids who receive the money ($5) that's all they're concerned about. I doubt that they actually read the letter. Jasmine, the oldest grandkid might. But the others I think just sort of blow them off and that's okay. That's the whole point of this exercise for me, well sort of, but to leave a document (S) of my written relationship with the child. Hopefully, they will save these documents and at a later time in their lives they may think of me go to the closet or bottom drawer or cardboard box out in the garage and retrieve their letter bundles agreed again this monthly dialogue, one-sided, but constant with the real grandfather, or dad. It's not much of a legacy but something.

So today it was doing another read through of the letters on-screen making some changes and then printing the document doing that for all of them finally put them over on the table. Next, is the most tedious task which is printing out the envelopes. I think I've ranted on this before that my handwriting is degraded so much that I think the postmasters don't even try to decipher any I send hand addressed. I still kind of think that's lame but if I take the time to print out each envelope at least the postman can't use that as an excuse to not deliver my letters. I kind of really like my little printer but it could really be a pill sometimes. In a perfect world I would be able to stack all of my envelopes, to be printed, in the envelope receiver and be able to basically program all the addresses to be addressed press “print” and have the little printer print away but of course that never works for me if I put in more than 3 envelopes at the time I am assured that there will be at least one paper jam in this case envelope gem for the envelope gets jammed up in the works inside the printer. This then requires me to raise the top of the printer then actually raise the top off another printer section that allows me to lift off a piece which exposes the jammed up paper piece. The 1^st couple of times just drove me crazy but since I have to do it every month now I've gotten quite proficient at lifting the printer top than the printer lid itself and pull off this little plastic cover image exposes the paper jam I've been pull off a piece of parchment and put everything back together and start the process all over again. I've learned now the force myself to be patient and print no more than 2 envelopes of the time rolling back and forth to feed the new envelopes into the receiver and pull the newly printed envelopes out.

Today is is going through this process I inadvertently pulled the printer right off the shelf down the floor and of course this is one of the few items I can't lift up independently meeting at have to search for assistance. It took me about an hour to find someone but I did and he got me going again and I was able to finish the final envelope just a few minutes ago. I still have to sign letters, fold them then stuff them with money those that receive apply stamps and then drop them in the mail. At this point I'll leave that for tomorrow. I'm supposed to go to my meeting tomorrow downtown Salt Lake. Maybe I can get this done before I leave who knows…

Sunday

 

With the shock I realized this morning that the 29^th of the month is very late in the month and I really need to be starting my monthly letters to the kids. Holy cow! I try to get these things written at least in the 1^st week of the month in the last couple months I've been trying to havethe letters done and mailed by the 1^st of the month. If I can get both envelopes printed tomorrow as well as the the letters by February 1. If not by the 2^nd which also be a great birthday present to myself. Tomorrow the weather should be pretty bad and since I did my week shopping on Saturday I have no reason to leave the apartment to speak of so hopefully I'll get everything processed mañana.

It snowed on me this morning driving my power chair up to the restaurant for our weekly family breakfast. Jasmine is not with us this week as she's in Florida visiting her sister. I've really gotten to miss her when she's not around and I think that's a good thing. I wish I had those feelings with my other grandchildren. Of course in Jasmine's not there neither is Jaxon which is counted too bad I like his presence as well. Hopefully they'll be with us next week. However, it's nice to have Mark all myself sometimes to go over what's going on in his life in more depth probably them we have when there's the kids with us. We don't get it in anything deep of course would just good to hear what he's doing how he's doing his life. He has this whole thing set up with the Russians which kind of scares me to death but hopefully he'll figure it out one where the other. I hope I don't suffer too much of the Cold War mentality but I do know how the government tends to be when one begins to fret nice with those that we think might be more enemy that not. One can only say so much and particularly so as a parent. Parental credibility only go so far. We spent our usual hours and 15 or 20 minutes at the restaurant swirling down coffee and eating our breakfasts. Today I had more oatmeal with toast and crisp bacon. It's probably the healthiest thing I can eat at that restaurant. Luckily there are other offerings are okay, not necessarily stellar but good enough. I'm trying to get my bowels back in order I'm trying to not stuff as much food in the myself as possible and by going with mush and toast them able to achieve a fairly decent tasting breakfast without stuffing my bowel with carbos and grease.

I'm so glad to get my stomach back in order. I noticed that I have been stuffing myself the last day or so I need to stop that. I do believe I'm eating more nuts that I need to so I need to cut back there but keep some in my diet especially the cashews every once in a while I think those could be the culprit when I overdo it. Tomorrow I've got a get back to my task of filing all my insurance and other type of regular mailing forms. It never stops…

Some Times You Feel Like A Nut

Blog 012823 – – Saturday

It's no surprise but guess what? My power chairs begin to act funny again more so than usual. I'm not sure if it's the power chair itself or the batteries that power it but something is happening to my power that it seems to be draining quickly more quickly than it used to anyway. It may be my fault because I went through a period where I charge my chair every night and that probably is not good for the batteries per say but it certainly let me feel better that I had enough power for the next day. Yesterday, I had not powered by cherub for 2 days but I really hadn't gone anywhere in the city that like 95% or 75% Sunday like that but by yesterday afternoon I was almost out of power in by the evening I was afraid to go to bed because I was frightened I would run out of power in my chair somewhere in between so I actually came back to my computer station were I write and watch television/stream plug my chair into the charger charged for about an hour while I did puzzles it was 1130 almost 12 before I finally got to bed. After I charged my chair for that 45 minutes to an hour it should I is that 75% charge which was impossible. I think it's what they call a “surface” charge. Not sure what that exactly means except for somehow it just covers the top of the battery so looks like that 75% charge. In the old days when that would happen the charger would think that the battery is that 75% think it was finishing charging at 25% and really your only probably at 20% of charge doing yourself a great disservice the next day. The new batteries however I understand can be charged every night with no deleterious effect to the cores. I of course, have my power chair right next to my bed and my charger right next to my power chair and then when I lay on my side I can keep track of the charger. Plugged into the charger my chair shows that I'm charging but that's just a circuit completion what I could really tells when I look at the charger there is a like that's orange that turns to green as the charge progresses and I noticed to the night that the battery was being charged slowly – – just as it should – – all might long. At 5:45 A.m. the orange light stayed green finally. Took nearly 6 hours to charge the battery so I felt comfortable going across the street to the market.

I would have Not gone to the market today had I not Listenedto the weather which Indicateda series of storms, small in nature but very very cold are coming my way for the next number of days. I want to make sure I had is least reason as possible to stay in my warm little apartment. It Saturday night nearly bedtime. I suppose we're going to breakfast in the morning even if it's storming it can't be worse than last week had enough to the restaurant in the snow. It's been a good week even with my diarrhea I feel I'm nearly back to normal to see how I feel small night but I think I'm okay I think I just have to stay away From the nuts I've been eating…

Taking Care Of Business and Having TV Time

 

Finally, I can actually state that I'm beginning to feel my old self. I have enough confidence down I got I should leave the apartment do something productive light shopping or something not have an issue or problem. Trouble is, I haven't plugged my chair in for 2 nights just because the battery meter has read 97% and 90% the next night but I found when I do that: rely on the meter, which are uses up way too much juice if I do any long-distance running/rolling then I am at risk of not getting back. So the day the dark and menacing to begin with so I spent another day inside watching movies and pretending to be productive.

One thing you can do to justify what you really want to do i.e. Watch movies all day long is to have something productive, or seemingly productive to do while watching the screen. I would like to think that this was my own concept that I thought all by myself but really that's not the case I learn this behavior for my mother plain and clear. In the past I've mentioned that we had/she had this giant Ironrite roller iron – – I don't know what else to call it. The Ironrite was this device that actually have a roller which pressed against the hot steel, smooth surface that you would feed your wrinkled clothes through and it would iron the garments just like a professional cleaners. I have no idea how my mother got her hands on this device. I'm sure is quite a sale item back in the 50s part of a whole new era thing. And I'm sure it was not part of giant plan to covertly iron clothes and watch television at the same time. Do I mention are rather do you remember me talking about 5 or 6 kids home one time all need to have clothes washed and at least their Sunday clothes ironed and ready to go? Will I think this is my mother justification if in fact she ever needed one to invest in this incredible device. I think even I have an image of this device somewhere back in past posts. So, mom would wash the clothes in some cases actually put them in plastic bags and then in the freezer and pull him out and defrost them and then iron at all seem to work. I remember this most on Tuesday nights when we would come home from a weekly church meeting a.k.a. scouts there were be mom sitting there pressing close and she was pressing close when we left which is like 3 hour television shows.I think what she got into this mood she would iron for the next 3 nights or just leave the iron are out and start again on Thursday to finish up on Saturday so would be set for Sunday. I didn't think much of it then but now as I wash clothes every week for just one person I can even imagine the trauma and stress it would be to wash and iron for 6. But even more so I can now appreciate entirely The subterfuge it takes to look like you're working and watching your favorite video regardless of what it is and then be able to justify it if so challenged

Healing?

 

I think of getting better. I still feel at risk as far as well maintenance goes but I felt overall better today. Now having written that I must confess that I did not go to coffee social this morning , just did not feel good enough to enjoy whatever conversation might be had. I was cut looking forward to going but in the end elected stay in the apartment and watch a movie. Movie watched as been my whole modus operandi for the past couple of days required frankly I'm thankful for it even if it makes me feel like a jerk. Hopefully, after tomorrow's regular home health visit also covered well enough to go through the weekend making it until Monday.

I was really quite surprised that I slept through the night all the way to almost 8 o'clock this morning. I was really a shock. I woke up a couple times but that's normal for any night with to be down for 8 hours as I was was remarkable. Perhaps I was just making up for the fact that I was so awake the night before. Today, I actually did my arm right for half an hour – which is less time than I usually do – does able to do that which is a good sign and hopefully will give me enough fatigue that will help me sleep tonight as well.

I don't know if I've brought this up before but something's happened with my infinity account and I can no longer get the regular cable offerings of which local networks are one. A basic listen to the CBS feed particularly for my evening news local as well as national. The couple weeks ago just sort of vanished I guess I need to get on ball and find out what's going on because according to my infinity statement that's part of my subscription. Now, I'm tech savvy enough to realize that all the networks run their own streaming systems these days. I've luckily been able to figure out the process to find the networks and then to click into the broadcasts. Some nights seem easier than others. You have to be careful to cause if you don't watch closely you end up watching last night said the night before's broadcast and not necessarily the bite that you want pictures right now. I'm not sure but it seems to me that I could get the local news relatively easily but having to then go to the national news when they make the break at 5:30 PM that's where I get befuddled and sometimes I get the news I want other times I just get frustrated. Tonight was a night of frustration and a side just a ditch the news entirely which probably is not a bad idea anyway. There's really nothing in the news your person really needs to know. The evening news is kind of my security blanket of its window the world is still out there turning good or bad or however obnoxious the whole thing might be. I'm even quite angry at the whole system just because it's such a gimmick. Noticing that you can only get one news article in before they break for commercial So you're lucky to get 4 or 5 articles during a whole news broadcast It a whole lot of commercial interference. But even with that system feels good to have a going on in the background just to know life goes on

Long Day

 Well today was a lost day. I don't know if I have come down to something our I got my digestive system all out of whack or whatever but I felt that risk all day. I had a fairly decent movement this morning and I was feeling fairly confident after the shower and dressing and after my person the left for the day. Good bit morning I felt like I was beginning to lose some bowel. I'm not scheduled for another bowel movement until Friday morning. I was hoping that things would settle down and not be able to “hang in there” until the end of the week but by midafternoon is realized that that was going to happen. I was getting kind of crampy I was feeling kind of weird and by 6 o'clock at squirted a little bit is time to call someone to help me into the bathroom finished the job. Likely has able to contact my morning person Gloria. She work with me this morning and she was still in her were closed everything when I got a hold of her and she and her dog room to come over and assist me with a clean up in a shower. I am actually feeling kind of week I think the day was released, stressful on me. I did will the usual plan for me anyway was to in the yogurt cup and have some toast with peanut butter on as a way to start clogging me up. I might even hasn't cheese later on before I go to bed. Do you want to know a real secret? I actually had Gloria put me in a diaper you don't want the giant man diapers for old guys? Hopefully, the slow legal diaper will mitigate any issues should they arise between noon bedtime and maybe if I'm lucky the doctor will stay in place as I roll in the bed and cover before the night. Just go to get this thing taking care of get the fauna back in my gut growing again. I know I make it sound like I'm the only ones having this problem and for me it is but you know there's a bunch of old people at this apartment complex who are now have difficult time getting around and all the must have issues similar to this from time to time. I don't hear anything about it however and I suppose that's okay but just interesting but I don't.It would certainly make me feel that I wasn't the Lone Ranger. Maybe people just do a lot of laundry during the night hours when they can't sleep. It's late now, for me almost 9 PM. Are you like to stay up to 10 PM to start right process to get to bed but usually takes an hour or so that I try to read for an hour if I can. Tonight maybe I'll just sort of go to bed early and try not to move around too much to excite my stomach and hopefully just hopefully I'll get to the.okay things we settled down tomorrow just hopefully my diaper will stay in place…

I'll Be Shredding You

 

It's almost February just a few more days of this 1^st month of the year. I figure it's time I started shedding Christmas 2022. In the past I've held onto Christmas probably much longer that I need to Not wanting to see the season pass away. However this year I'm trying something new going to try to get rid of all the proofs that Christmas existed in this apartment this year. This is not being done with malice of forethought I think it's just good for me to start letting go where I can. So I began gathering up to Christmas cards I received this year and putting them in the shredder those that will fit. There are a couple of Christmas cards however I want to cut up into bookmarks which I think would be pretty cute. Unlike seasons past right of used a lot of the Christmas cards to turned into bookmarks This year I'm only going to use one and I'm going to shred the rest.

The apartment is begin to experience entropy again. I've got to go through a pile of mail I've had for some weeks now and Either file or shred my main goal is to get rid of this pile of useless notifications from My insurance company indicating they've made payments on my claims. It's one of those things that went to get it in the mail I have to figure out what to do with it. I like to blame my disability for the fact that I can't really get to my file cabinet, which is very small, and should post the notifications into their Respective jackets. I used to focus on opening up each letter point out the main document and then trashing the accompanying document from the agency tell me what the document is that I just got. Then I would take the document and file it in order in front of the last document I received in the folder. I got to be to mindbending and frustrating. The Mark Anthony indicated that really do I even need these documents? I just figured you did why would they send to you. Mark was of the thought that these documents were relatively useless that I should go into the website and request that they stop sending me paper forms and anything that they want to communicate with me we should do it through the email. Sadly, I'm old school, I don't trust the Internet system. Will happen when the system goes down and it will go down you know that? Then I'll have all these documents which prove that my claims been paid. And that's perhaps the biggest reason I keep the hardcopy. Mark  infrustration says if we have a breakdown of systems so significant that we lose all of our backup material is good be a lot more sensitive material people are going to go after been your PE HP claims payment forms. In short he gave me permission to begin throwing away these documents. I did get for a while and then they just kept piling up on the corner of my computer table. I mean really why would they send them if we didn't need them?

Dodged The Closure Bullet Once Again

 

Montrose Movies Stadium 12 (Akron, Ohio)

Greenbrier Stadium 13 (Chesapeake, Virginia)

Transit Center Stadium 18 & IMAX (Williamsville, New York)

Hemet Cinema 12 (Hemet, California)

Barn Plaza Stadium 14 (Doylestown, Pennsylvania)

Rockville Center Stadium 13 (Rockville, Maryland)

Oaks Stadium 24 (Oaks, Pennsylvania)

Elmwood Center 16 (Buffalo, New York)

Pohatcong Stadium 12 (Phillipsburg, New Jersey)

Parkway Plaza Stadium 18 & IMAX (Cajon, California)

Round Lake Beach Stadium 18 (Round Lake Beach, Illinois)

Shadowood 16 (Boca Raton, Florida)

South Beach Stadium 18 & IMAX (Miami, Florida)

Santa Fe Stadium 14 (Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Ithaca Mall Stadium 14 (Ithaca, New York)

Village Square Stadium 18 (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Metro Point (Costa Mesa, California)

Berkeley 7 (Berkeley, California)

Cortlandt Town Center (Mohegan Lake, New York)

Union Square Stadium 14 (New York City)

Meadows Stadium 12 (Littleton, Colorado)

Yorba Linda & IMAX (Yorba Linda, California)

Sherman Oaks Galleria 16 (Los Angeles)

Omaha Stadium 16 (Omaha, Nebraska)

Gallery Place Stadium 14 (Washington, D.C.)

SouthGlenn Stadium 14 (Centennial, Colorado)

Brunswick 10 (Brunswick, Maine)

Bowie Stadium 14 (Bowie, Maryland)

Concord 10 (Concord, New Hampshire)

Hamilton Commons Stadium 14 (Landing, New Jersey)

Greece Ridge Stadium 12 (Rochester, New York)

Bolingbrook Stadium 12 (Bolingbrook, Illinois)

Escondido Stadium 16 & IMAX (Escondido, California)

Keauhou Stadium 7 (Kona, Hawaii)

Beaver Creek Stadium 12 (Apex, North Carolina)

Fenway Stadium 13 & RPX (Boston)

Meridian 16 (Seattle)

Stonefield Stadium 14 & IMAX (Charlottesville, Virginia)

Tikahtnu Stadium 16 IMAX & RPX (Anchorage, Alaska)

I couldn't help it. I just had to list the upcoming theater closures put out by Regal theaters the past couple of days. I'm pretty sensitive to the whole thing sense my theaters, up the street are Regal's. I've written about it before. These theaters or on Redwood Road less than a mile from my apartment complex easily reached by bus in fact I can even get back and forth in my power chair which I've done numerous times. Also consider I am now part of their group. For less than $20 a month I can go to any movie as many times I want. Actually it's sort of a bad deal for me because I don't go to that many movies. I thought I was going to really utilize this service but I don't. There is also the fact that I haven't seen that may titles out that I really wanted to see. I still keep the service however important to me just as the movie theaters being where they are at means a lot to me. I know it's a 1^st world issue. I'm just thankful, right now, my issues aren't more severe than when my local theaters are going to close.

The weather has turned severely cold, actually probably more like January weather supposed to be, today the only thing I really did was venture forth to the market to do some shopping. I doubt that I was even done that if my neighbor, Billie, who lives across the hall had needed citrus fruit and asked if I could maybe get some for her. That was all that I needed to bundle up and head across the street. Fortunately, I don't have really any more needs to be out of the apartment for the rest of the week and I say this merely because this area is not supposed to see a temperature about 32° until the weekend. Which is good enough for me I have enough projects and ideas to keep me busy plus at the end of another month which means it's about time to start kid letters for February unless I go to the movies…

Rolling In The Snow

 

It's funny just how doing one thing to make you feel you've accomplished something in the days time when actually you have not. Today my event of action was having breakfast with my son at the little restaurant we go to actually is restaurant is good sized it's a chain restaurant I believe located in Utah.

I didn't necessarily have a hard time sleeping but I could've slept better that's for sure. I slept fairly well till 4 AM once again couldn't get back to sleep really. Finally getting up at 6 AM to make sure that I was dressed and ready for my 8 AM breakfast with my son Mark Anthony. My granddaughter and her boyfriend who usually goes with us at these breakfasts did not make it this week so it was is Mark and I. Of course there was a snowstorm going on as I bundled up and headed out. The snow had not been falling long but the night was cold enough to freeze the brief rain that preceded the storm of snow to the streets and sidewalks. Fortunately traffic is always liked Sunday mornings but add to that snow and I had no trouble crossing the street. I wish I'd taken images of the trail I left in the snow making my way to the restaurant.

I had only one shoe on this morning for a host of reasons and most specifically the power chair that seems to be more and more non-usable everyday. I wasn't able to get my 2^nd shoe on this morning mouse trying to get dressed. My right foot curls under in the material of my foot box has come loose and is all bunched up in the foot box which adds to the curl that my foot suffers. At one time during my dressing this morning I had the shoe on but it slipped off what I pushed my foot down to the foot pedal. By this time it was nearly 8:45 AM and I had to get to the restaurant so I just put the shoe in my lap covered by legs and barefoot with my adventures blanket and took off.

This morning snow was not a heavy snow but more than a dusting which is what the weather lady said. The snow not coming down heavy either it was light very powdery probably perfect snow for skiing. I was pretty well covered when I got to the restaurant people chuckled when they saw me. I'm no longer a shock feature since I'm there every Sunday is pretty much the same people that show up every weekend. Sometimes even help me out of my jacket as I struggled a pull thing over my head. The hot coffee was great which is brought to me once I got settled down and into my table. The snow fell pretty heavy for the hour and a half that we were having breakfast in our skies surprised at how much of accumulated on the way home. The snowfall itself had lightened up a bit as the morning had gone by. It was almost a little spooky trying to drive home on the sidewalk because there is no definition for the sidewalk. I couldn't tell where the sides of the sidewalk ended and tried my best just to keep my self-centered on the sidewalk. There is one portion of the trip home were sidewalk falls off abruptly for about 2 to 3 foot drop, right-hand side of the spooky enough when the sidewalks drive alone with half an inch to an inch of snow maybe even more. Made a home without incident and that was a blessing. I settled in for the answered a few text messages which would come in during the morning what's to move your 2 and just kept close to my air heater. Probably one of the good morning to take a nap but I just don't take naps well I watch the movie and nodded off here and there and really quite enjoyed by Sunday

The Human Clock

 

I've been up since 4 AM so bear with me if I sound a little groggy or foggy. I'm not sure but I think I was be in worried by commitment I made earlier in the week when the service coordinator here at the apartment complex cornered me and asked that I write her support letter in hopes of her getting a raise in her position. I always worry about the way I come across my writing especially on things like this, writing of the support letter, but I told her I would do the task. Earlier in the year I had told her that I be happy to do anything I could to support her in her position particularly after she helped me get a new birth certificate which I needed to Social Security card – – the committed reader will remember that my wallet was taken last year at the movies and I had to replace all the documents I lost. Will service coordinator, I thought we really went out of her way and got me the birth certificate and the Social Security card. So I figure I older one, at least one favor. I neglected to get the deadline from her when I accepted the responsibility. So this morning I guess subconsciously I was feeling a bit guilty to had not started the project yet been learned only realized that I wasn't going to get back to sleep my had to be up addressed by 9:30 AM to do coffee I figured it was time to start. I of course keep my cell phone next to my bed because will I have the phone plugged in to charge the time is also shown in large letters on the screen and I use it as my overnight illuminated clock. So anyway I grabbed the phone started dictating. I had a idea of what is going to say. I just had the flesh about. These kind documents don't have to be world-class at least I don't think so. I figure will be happy just to get a signed document attesting to their brilliance and positive work ethic. Still I did not want to some foolish or stupid. By midafternoon I pretty much had the document written and now have it set aside and “curing” in my own mind. I will go over it one more time to clean it up printout copy for examination by the service coordinator and if acceptable will send out to the appropriate individual.

By the time I finish that project at least the 1^st part it was about 7 AM and I drove myself out of bed to get ready for coffee at the coffee shop. Today it would just be it Upstairs Janet. Our 3^rd person Billie is still feeling under the weather. We established 9:30 AM to be the meeting time over at the coffee shop across the street. I arrived 1^st staked out a table over in the corner by the giant stacks of bags of coffee beans. 9:30 AM on a Saturday morning the place of jumping. I'm surprised at how many people show up every Saturday morning address the same people. I'm so impressed there is a table down the center of the seating area and every Saturday morning there is between 15 and 20 people around that table. They look and act like they've known each other for years. The motley looking crew older folks some may be as old as I am possibly. Many have their own dogs at their sides standing arresting under the table all the beasts seems relatively good-natured. They talk and they laugh and move around a lot showing who knows what on their cell phones to everybody. I'm not sure when these people get here but what we've noticed really fascinating is that there seems to be a hidden clock somewhere inside these guys that by 10:30 AM everybody's gone. Today we watch closely in the disbandment started about 10:15 AM with one or 2 people standing saying goodbye and walking out of the building than the group from larger clumps of people did the same thing and from 10 minutes everyone was gone. I will never heard some folks saying to be working in the yards are in there houses. Some will go to a movie some needed use shopping so neither do washing just human stuff but coffee was over with for another week just kind of interesting the human clock…

So Long Ted

 

Y'all know how I feel about papers on the door particularly papers/announcements for management. I know I'm being a bit paranoid but I don't think they ever do any good so I never take the documents down rather leaving the job for an overzealous neighbor wanted to help the disabled guy or more usually when my home healthcare folks who feels this is part of their job to bring in word from the outside world. This time the notice was green in color – – not that means anything specific except for that's just what Jennifer had an abundance of when she made the copies to distribute to various doors in the community. Today's notice was official notification that Ted the company maintenance guy who was basically here 3 days of the week was being transferred from our facility to another in the agencies system of apartment complexes. Something to do with budget constraints of one building over another or because one building was under a certain kind of a grant that don't had more money so they could afford Ted full-time and we get another guy at a lower expense. Really this is just smoke and mirrors I suppose the private nonprofit equivalent to a shell game.

I try not to get too attached to anything anymore particularly in this house in the event that I'm currently in. Whether it is Jennifer the front desk or Ted in maintenance change is inevitable but still to get attached to good people. Ted is definitely a good person. They not only works hard but he cares about the people he serves and often did things totally out of his job description when needed. Case in point he worked on my power chair number of times saving me stress and pain of having to have the chair taken in for work or on my electric bed or my shower chair knows what else. There is another maintenance guy when I 1^st moved into this place named Richard who in my estimation was worthless. He sat on his old fat butt all day gabbing with Jennifer at the front desk (who was too nice to throw them out like she should) or refuse to do anything that would cause in some distress. If you'll remember shortly after I moved here I got my chair stuck in the loose gravel and had to have the firemen, come and rescue me by lifting my chair out of the rocks which one man could done i.e. Richard but would not do because my power chair was too heavy. I never got along with the guy obviously the class a jerk.

Ted looked a lot younger than his age, stocky muscular and covered in tattoos and a pretty decent beard. He was always in good spirits as dear as I could tell. I was surprised when I found he was in his mid-40s. I often thought of him as a teenager. Jennifer wept when she told me that he was being transferred. Like all blue-collar folks who work so hard there is no big to do or anything when he left the building for the last time as our maintenance guy. He just said goodbye to everybody gave a thumbs up and had 1^st truckthat's a good guys do and drove off into the sunset…

Just Stuff

 

Somewhere in this apartment is my credit card. I know it's not somewhere obvious in fact I have this shadow memory of the card falling off something and thinking immediately that I will have a hard time getting to that and then went on my way. Since then of course, I have forgotten completely right saw that happen. The best part, if there can be a best part, is that the card is not lost. Well, it is lost but I don't somewhere here in the apartment. That of course is a double-edged sword. The one edge is that I'm certainly not running up any charges on the card except for those reoccurring charges that I have the card set up to do but at the same time I can't order anything that I had to submit the credit card number to. I was hoping I could find the credit card number somewhere but I don't think I've written about anywhere and is not saved on any of my platforms like see except for the last 4 digits. Yes I know I could easily get a new card sent out to me but then that would mean I would have to counsel all those entities that have the old credit card on file that they dip into each month charge when it's time to make a payment. I should just bite the bullet and do it but I'm really hoping that somehow going to find the other card and everything will be as it was.

I was trying to purchase something on the Internet today and when I went to purchase the item revealed an older credit card that I thought was still active. Of course I was immediately shot back the message that something was wrong with my account and I needed to contact my bank – – which I did not do trying to fix the problem myself. I mean I know with the banks to say “just issue a new card” that's not what I want. Fortunately the item that I want to purchase is not a high priority and can wait and probably I don't need the item but all it would just be nice.I suppose it's good that the credit card industry/banking industry has all these protections built into the credit card security program but just, dries you crazy, as a person who has no responsibility whatsoever as far as trying to keep old things, trying to keep hold of something like a credit card within little piece of plastic that can ruin your life in its own way in its own time. I guess I could purchase things with my bank card but then the funds drain directly out of my bank account. I do like the illusion of the cushion my credit card renders. I mean I know I have to pay the amount off eventually like to do in smaller increments and not have to really whittle down the mother load in the bank account any sooner than I have to. I have a huge amount of credit available and very little of it I have used mainly because I tend to pay down my card every month. So maybe it's time to be adult and contact my banking system and on shutdown the credit card so I can purchase/charge more stuff…

Of Podiatrists and Accordions

 

Today I was back out on the bus line. I had a scheduled appointment every 9 weeks ago in my toenails done by the podiatrist – – his name is Richard and I used them for a number of years. Is efficient reason is guy I see about every 9 weeks. The trip to the podiatrist was covered by insurance and I feel quite special to have the service. There is a number of podiatrists who come to this facility will number times a year and people sign up to have their feet down. I think they also use the Medicare insurance program to cover the costs. So probably the same program is the same as mine I just feel elitist because I actually take the bus out to their office/clinic. I'm amazed at how much these guys chargeback the federal government for this service I'm not going to pass judgment and it is a good service for me.

There were clouds, angry storm clouds here there even a few snowflakes scattered here and there on my trip. I was wearing my Christmas gift, an Avengers blanket. Today I had my shower program so I just hung around after my staff left until it was time to catch the bus for the podiatrist. Fortunately, the buses were were running on schedule so I did not have to spend too much time in the elements. I did get to the podiatrist office while 45 minutes early so is able to go to the Smiths superstar which is just a half a block south. There is a regrettable fast lunch of one chicken tender and about 700 rings from the deli. This is a perfect lunch along with the bottle of Squirt. I was kind of shocked that this beverage are still being made. Grapefruit flavored carbonated soda. In the old old days I tried to learn to play the accordion. We had an old 120 base accordion that belong to my older sister. 120 base is a monster instrument, large, bulky and it's 120 buttons intimidated the hell of me. I struggled with this instrument for 2 years going to my lessons one hour a week. Lessons of coursework after school my mom picked me up and we drove over to the studio. I always had a half hour to wait mom would give me a quarter which I would purchase a Hershey bar with almonds, almost worked and I would pocket left over dime. Today it was chicken tenders, and onion rings and squirt for about $4. Not a bad increase their something about 60 years ago if not a little bit longer. I totally enjoyed my lunch eating it in the customer section of the national chain coffee shop. I knew I was going to be asked to leave at any moment by coffeeshop staff until I realized there all the way over to the side of the seating area managed by teenagers who could care less still I ate very covertly.

Apologize for not taking any images on my trip today will make a post so much more interesting… Maybe tomorrow…

Here My words

 

If you look closely at the center of the image you can see the broken microphone hanging from the mouthpiece of the old system

To be honest I was kind of hoping when I called the office today that Andrea's would advise me not to come in because he wasn't ready on account of the holiday, yesterday. Also because the weather looked so inclement. I was wrong Andreas was ready on all counts saying “sure, we've got enough damage the process”. I was inbound for my 11 AM meeting. I was running late little worried that I would not get to the office on time but totally surprised myself got there at the time to run the Street to 7-Eleven coffee. In fact is one of those weird warnings when I went to pay for my coffee to inform me that this young lady with a very weird dog and paid for my coffee! I guess she was kind of a “pay it forward” kind of gal. I've learned not to challenge the gift horse in except the gift: enjoy the coffee.

The morning was dark and overcast there is even very light snow flurries every once in a while. The weather person indicated that if there was to be it would be later on in the afternoon impacting drivetime. I figured I would be home by then. We did have a lot of names to consider but because I was the only will there be did not spend a lot of time in social yak the 20 some work requests signed and I was out the door.

Thought about it in my favorite restaurant. The places a high end joint that I love to show up with haggard looking self. I know you think I'm a homeless person but my appearance specially now that I wrapping my legs and my Avengers blanket the received from the kids for Christmas. I instead decided I would go to a little hole in the wall barbecue/ribs joint which Dianne I used to go to. I guess you'd say was one of our favorite joints. I was really looking for some meatloaf and mashed potatoes prices 14 something which is too much for lunch. I decided on a smoked meat sandwich basically smokes pieces of meat in a hamburger bun playing which its barbecue sauce on. Way too much meat in fact I ended up taking half the meat and set of meat beside. The sandwich cost $9 so sense it was okay everything costs more these days… Inflation. The 2^nd item on my agenda today was the get another set of earphones/microphone set for my dictation. That would mean going across the street barbecue place to the Best Buy which I did and found a fairly economical set of earphones with microphone boom. I'm sure is the same technology that I purchased last time I had to replace the microphone so. The item was less than $30 so I guess it was affordable and seems to be working just fine, much better than be earphones I ran over in my chair breaking the microphone housed in the little boom off the earphones . I found dictating with me broken microphone challenging at best seeming like I had to repeat everything I wanted to write at least once many times more. So I think this is going to do at least until it falls prey again to the wheels of our chair…

A Holiday And New Friend

It's a holiday today, Martin Luther King Day is its formal name I guess or am MLK day. This is one of the new holidays once, hard get used to and kind of hard to get behind except for the fact that it's national holiday and when I was working now the day off. Now that I'm not working that means another day that the mail is not delivered and most bureaucratic offices are closed government offices city state and federal etc. even the regular folks who host radio shows even NPR have regular folks who fill in for the main host national holidays.and I must confess rarely do I celebrate a holiday for the reason that was established whether it's Veterans Day, Memorial Day or MLK day is just a holiday to me I'm not going to mope around what or who the holidays about. I'm not the only one, I noticed now there's always PSA indicating that state troopers will be out in force enforcing safety on the highways because of so many drunk drivers.I mean really I look forward holidays is a great excuse to buy Clover club potato chips. And I don't even like Clover club products anymore since the changed owners and formula/recipe.

I guess the high point of my day was making contact with one of the individuals who publish on aReddit account I've been following for a couple of days now. She's a person with a disability is really challenging herself by becoming public . I am terribly impressed with her even more so that she has chosen to visit with me by texting. She is a person who was born with a disabilityas opposed to me inheriting the disability as I did early in my adolescent years. I had a significant amount of time as able-bodied person which I totally feel colors my perception of the world disability. I feel she being a woman with a disability in an able-bodied world must be super challenging, especially growing up with such a challenge.t I really would like to visit with her regarding her life as a person with a disability. I have a number of individuals with disabilities that I visit/text with on a semi regular basis. Enjoy listening to their accounts disability from their perspective. Sometimes I like to delude myself that I've gathered research some sort of scholarly document but actually I think I'm just trying to socialize the best that I can. This person lives in the South USA I doubt I will ever meet herfor real in my flesh. But you never know .

The day began a bit frustrating when I realized my battery charger for my power chair was not plugged in correctly. My chair acted like it was being charged. I always give full because the when I plug the charger into my chair I think my chair senses of mentalon the plug on completion circuit shows that I'm trying to go my control box. I was able to see the charger last night because of the way I have the chair backed up next to the bed. There is a light on the charger box which illuminates when plugged in correctly turning from orange to green when the charge Is complete. I was terrified/frustrated when I got in my chair and found that it was almost on “0” power. I got up 2 hours roughly before myhomehealth person arrives and I thought I could be in serious trouble. Luckily I have the power to plug in the power charger plugged in my chair and sit there for about 45 minutes until I got charged enough to mess around the apartment they get ready for my visit. Tonight I will make sure plugged in and all it's around because you never know what tomorrow will bring…

Waiting Desperately Waiting

 

I apologize for what might be a very short blog tonight. I'm sitting in the bathroom  to+ to hold it a major bowel movement in. My stomach's grumbling and I'm feeling very fragile. I've contacted one of my caregivers and she's going to be here hopefully at some point in time relatively early but she's got a life of her own and I know that's she's got to do what she's got to do before she can get to me sometimes. My agency doesn't have emergency coverage which kind of drives me crazy. So really have to rely on family or Home Health people. This happened a couple months ago or about a month ago and my son cleaned me up which I surely appreciate it but I hate to have him go through it. This is happening more and more on the long day but I call the long period that I have to go from when I have my suppository on Friday morning to Monday morning. It just seems like Sunday night and sometimes all day Sunday I'm at risk. Actually, I was feeling relatively good this Sunday until mid afternoon after I had lunch which was a hot dog and maybe that's what the proper is the gas for the hot dog mixed with the fact that I've got a full bowel.

This morning at breakfast rather than ordering theq breakfast I'd like to order I just ordered mush oatmeal toast and the side of bacon which I shared with Mark Anthony. I really thought that would keep the fullness down. I've had a few things to eat once I got home and that may have to put me over the edge. I hope she can get here in time however I have been able to strip down and as much as I could put a checks underneath me I don't know if that will how much that will mitigate any problems a bowel evacuation would cause but it would be better than nothing as far as that goes I just hate soiling my brand new cushion but I guess what are the way to break it in.
JJ. ,2023--

Library or Candy Or A little Of Both

 

It's Saturday night and I just realized I did not take the time to go over to the market gets thicker bars for my staff on Monday. Monday is Lissy and she really likes her Snicker bar. I usually buy them in the sixpacks but I ran out a couple weeks ago and have yet to find the regular sized bars offered in the 6 pack options. Therefore I've been purchasing them 2 PM or 3 a time and for whatever reason I ran out |of the candy bar last week since I don't like to purchase anything on Sunday don't have to and I wasn't going to it over to the market on this dark and chilly evening I decided to just beam up to the 2^nd floor were the candy machine resides in for a dollar and a half I am covered for Monday. This is such a great candy machine and I forget that it's up there along with its burly brother the soda machine. Anytime day or night whether it's snowing, freezing, driving rain or horrid heat I can get my sugar fix right here! But even better than this is the fact that our library also resides on the 2^nd floor right next to the “Candy shop”.

I can see now I want to write about this library so long to repeat myself I will go on further regarding the candy machine. Not only does this thing have candy bars like Snickers it also has hard candy like lifesavers of course, gum and 3 or 4 kinds of bakery goods everything from cinnamon rolls to a sixpack of Oreos just enough to get into a couple coffee or glass of cold milk. There's also the ever ready back to chips barbecue, regular,cheese crutchesbut even pretzels. Everything is less than $2 like I said anything to get you through the night. The only problem is that this kind of clunky candy machine. Built for able-bodied individuals. If I'm going to use the machine by myself I must use the elevator function of my chair and raceways of up to be able to slip the dollar or the orders or whatever denomination of change I have into the various slots. Then I have to punch the code keysin this case E4 will start a little motors that turn spiral which holds the candy bar to the end and drops it all away down to the bottom of the machine where there is a covered tray that one must push their hand through to capture their sugary treat. In many ways this last step of the candy challenge is the most difficult for me. I always have to make sure that I have one my hooks. I have not done this a lot so it takes quite a bit of effort to try to pull the candy bar out with the hook but I have done it. The best solution of course is to have an able-bodied person who could just reach down and grabbed the treat. Fortunately for me the past 2 weeks what it had to do this maneuver my good friend Ruby has been in the room working on a jigsaw puzzle. She goes to some Catholic mass every Saturday night then comes home works on a puzzle or so and then reads. I do not envy her life will certainly glad she's there for me on Saturday night to help me conquer the candy machine…

Friday Frustration

 

Yesterday at the event of my former bosses retirement I visited a little with my old officemate Julie. Her office was right next to mine for a bit. She finally retired from the office a few years ago and has been enjoying retirement. As I said we got to visit briefly at the retirement function and she mentioned that she felt guilty for not doing work that she's doing. I thought that very intriguing as I agreed with her that I often felt the same way. I do especially on weeks like this one and really more than 1 mile my power chair. Other than the guilt I enjoy being I apartment on days when there's nothing to do or commitments that I and work my puzzles, stream of my movies and read if I want. I think I've I've used the tenderness of my rear end, also is a good excuse. I hate to use that as an excuse but it's kind of true. I've got something while we back in my chair to take the weight off my butt. I really do believe this form of press release is in my best interest but it still makes you feel guilty.

Remember think I briefly mention that my new cushion came in yesterday's UPS drop off. Luckily I remembered this morning glory was here doing my program that I need to have the cushion unboxed and placed in my chair which she did. That certainly not sitting on a cloud certainly better than what I I have been sitting on.I guess tomorrow morning I'll know better at how much protection cushion can render. Hopefully with the added protection and my press release protocol that will alleviate the pain I am feeling on my left hip. That would be just to cool. I've got my fingers crossed.

I'm struggling with this software it when I currently amusing to text or talk to text what I write. Actually, it may not be the software all the works I think like 80% what should. I think my problem is with the headset. The headset I'm using right now is one that I ran over couple weeks ago. And of course up until that time headset seem to be working fairly well in my speech to text is probably around 95% accurate that seems a little high better than it is now. The microphone off of the boom kind of hanges and I don't think catches what I say a great deal of time. I tried to get it back into its holder but I've destroyed the plastic holding device beyond its practicality. The only option I have – – will not the only option – – is to purchase a new headset. I hate doing but I guess will be worth the hassle especially when I use it daily like I do. I should upgrade the software, it's pretty old, but that's way too much adult behavior.one of these 1^st days when I feel like but to tolerate a bus trip into Best Buy pickup another set or I get real brave I will order a headset from some Internet platform…

Already Thursday?!

 

How did it get to be Thursday?! To be honest I almost missed the coffee social this morning but that's a big deal the event was quite poorly attended but the point is I do like going to coffee social drinking coffee and just hanging out for about an hour then get on with my life. Typically I wash clothes during this time it's great to have an escape function as needed. I can always excuse myself from a tedious conversation or general topic by having to change the wash to the dryers. It works if I don't come back nobody notices not that it matters anyway. I had other things on my mind however one was do not really want to attend my former bosses retirement function of the independent living Center. I was really conflicted but since the tape job on my butt and Gloria did was hold it so well I figured I could make the trip into the center with little tush damage.

It's not I separated from my job from the independent living Center under duress or anything. It's just the job opened up with the state and I just moved on the situation. I didn't think I would ever gets state job in this particular state position I have envied for some time. The person whose job was moving on was a good friend of mine and I think that a lot to assist me in getting the job. It was just weird the way I transitioned. After I put in my resignation of 2 weeks notice I worked until the endmy last day and left. Now going away party or anything like that it was just… Gone pecan. I didn't think too much about of the time though was kind is surprised but I moved on. I thought about it a lot will ask years and especially today. I think I may have been somewhat distressed I don't know. All I know is that I felt little out of place message they did not want to bring any clouds on the party. I still haveextremely close feelings with the books that I worked with in my area of the office. I also have close feelings with lot of my clients are folks that I work with in my position. It was great seeing these guys and truth be told it's probably the big reason I attended the event except that I thought it was one that I see in that my boss saw that I was there and I took time out my schedule to be there. And begins me traveling anywhere is public transit. I'm just thankful that today was a beautiful day and a great day for transportation with the bus and train systems.

I got there late there something going on with the buses on my route the accident or something there trying to figure out also the problem and meantime the bus I was was on didn't move for about 20 minutes. I was fashionably late. There are doing this honorary thing where people were standing up and giving verbal testimony to how great Deborah was. I guess I should have said something but I did not. Then there was this event where everyone to take pictures with the director I skipped that as well to visit friends and soon it was getting on to 4:30 PM which was good enough excuses any to bolt for the bus. As I was leaving the new director and all beside indicating wanted to meet with not over and set up a meeting sometime next week. Curious to see how this will go specially sets my old boss is still coming in to the office and I will be meeting with the new boss could get interesting.

When I got home there was a box sitting inside the door it was my new cushion my wheelchair and my butt I'm kind of excited…

Aiding Home Health

 

Gloria is my Wednesday Friday home health person. She's pretty fantastic as an attendant aide goes. She goes beyond the job are times sweeping my apartment, doing dishes and other odds and ends. I guessfrom what I've learned from other individuals who use home health folks, that the agency expects these attendants to provide the services. The reason I bring this up is because often I slipped G a few extra dollars to assist her with getting by with her life. She totally on her own working multiple jobs trying to keep an apartment as well as the vehicle operational. I am totally blown away with what she has to do to survive some extra 10 bucks for 3 gallons gas or a couple packs smokes or bottle of vodka to get her through the weekend no big deal – – she certainly deserves it. Especially this morning I had her patch of my but with this special “tattoo tape” specialized tape which allows the skin to breathe while the wound heals beneath. I also found that is ideal as a 2^nd skin– – I think I've written about this before anyway. Taking care of my rear end way above the usual duties of ahome health person . She does a great job keeps me going. It's worth of extra tip every once in a while.

As much as I love Gloria cannot grow too attached because for any reason bigger small this person could vanish from my life. In fact, she is making noises now that sort of heads up that I should be wary of things to come. Granted, the girl goes through this every couple of months it seems but I think just time I might be a little more focused. As she says, the job is hard and many times the workers taken for granted by their clients as well as their employer. Fortunately, considered one of her favorite clients, one that she will go out her wayto make sure I'm served. Even on days when she cancels everybody else out Gloria makes sure I have taken care of. I do not believe I deserve the specialized treatment but I do believe in treating my people special. I guess it all works out.

This morning Gloria spruced up my kitchen little bit. Wwashed the countertopsin the items in the sink and straighten the items on my table. It's enough to give my apartment the illusion of order. So much so I cannot bring myself to mess up the kitchen. I try to prepare something that takes as little preparation as possible. Tonight I dug out one of those noodle dinners that you just add water and microwave 5 minutes. Tonight's dinner with some form of chow mein. It's not like real Chinese but I like it gets me through the night with be belief that I have something for dinner and hardly any entropy to the kitchen. I work really hard I can keep the place looked decent even till Friday. After all it is the weekend everyone needs a little extra money for just a little bit of cleaning…

Dance With Me

 

Don't get me wrong I love the work I did with Assist, Inc. my Tuesday morning meetings but the same time I enjoy short vacation and received one today. When I called to find out if we were having a meeting my guy Andreas was not around was actually on vacation which meant no meeting. Actually, I made the call on Monday night as I remember thinking I can sleep in but I didn't sleep and I never do. When I got a good sleep that's getting kind rare. I really think my physical workouts on the hand really does make the difference.

Anyway, I have been meaning for a number of days that they being a couple weeks to in over to the credit union and pull out some cash and get a number rows of quarters. Between the poor weather and trips to the liquor store I just have not gotten over to the credit since before lristmas . To be felt like a good day for traveling. I took the path of least resistance and went to the credit union close by my head apartment complex. I have to catch 2 buses to get there may be the fastest trip when all connections are made. Sorry to be filling you with so much minutia I am laying the groundwork for today's image. As I was heading to the bus stop just outside by apartment complex I caught the image of a set of boots. And I know this speaks to my naivety but at 1^st I was struck by the fact that this is not only one shoe but two! A set. I was also somewhat saddened by the fact it was a child's pair shoes. Couldn't even begin to think of the scenario which would result in the shoes on the side of going to the bus stop. I don't know what made me think of this but as I examined the shoes even closer I got to thinking these are children's shoes these are a woman's shoes kind of like, cowboy boots may be the kind that she wouldn't work to the bar or dancing or something but why are they now lying on the side of the sidewalk near a bus stop on the road.

My good friend Lori of course would immediately shout “write the story”. She's absolutely right I have the courage to try to fill out the history/back story of the shoes. The new shoes by any means and I do not know the reason functional this seems a little on the light side. And I would think this be something I would've found more likely in the summer than in the dead of winter. The boots/shoes were right on the side of the sidewalk close to the bus stop. Perhaps, the shoes are actually sitting on someone's black plastic garbage bags of possessions on the way to the shelter try to find some sort of protection from the winters cold. She did not notice the bus arrived as she was rifling through big black bag and had to grab everything up immediately to climb on the bus and only afterwards she notice a pair of scuffed, read party shoes lying alongside the bus stop unsure as to whether they will ever dance again….

Wearing Out?

 

I don't know was it because I didn't work out yesterday in my body wasn't all that tired as I also did not workout Saturday? All I know is that I will about 230 or 3 AM and I didn't really get back to sleep. I believe I dozed off on them.I finally got myself up about 6 AM to start the day. I did okay throughout the day. Luckily it was another one of those dreary winter days and I have no reason to leave the apartment complex that actually no reason to leave the apartment to check the mail.

It was nice to see Lissy today. She was her usual, upbeat self telling me about her weekendand I told her about my particularly my adventure going to Avatar 2. It was finally nice to have something to report to my caregivers about me being active are not active. It really is nice to have something to report. I was so pleased with the bowel movements which was fairly colossal. I had been sitting on it were a couple of days likely get it o. I'm going to have to start working on a solution to this problem when I have to go the extra day without assistance to the toilet. I really wish I could get the strength together our system developed that would allow me to get myself on and off the toilet independently . Sometimes I think I'm very close if I could just figure out the appropriate technology that would allow me to lift myself up after doing my business. I doubt that going to find an appropriate solution aside from just hiring another person for Sunday service or maybe late Saturday night service don't know. Having such options certainly make my life a little more interesting.

Sort of in that same thought process. I've been texting a fellow spinal cord injury person in my Reddit group. This person is a fairly low level para relatively new seems be fascinated by the fact that I'm able to get in and out of bed independently and that I live by myself for that matter. I don't think about these things, really, until somebody brings about starts focusing on what I'm doing is a little strange in some cases almost heroic. Like all the time my life as a personal the disability I have donewhat I thought I was supposed to do. No one told me I could not do whatever, I just did it are trying to figure out a way to do it in most cases that got it done whatever “it” was. I'm the oldest individual that I seen on his group were disabled individuals. Sometimes I feel a lot of the other folks read my posts see me as a necessary relic might be able share information on the road there on in their lives. I just like having some of the text with especially the disability on which we can compare notes. I can't remember who I was visiting with last week but I remember talking about how I want is so closely and noticed the slight, slight differences from one day to the next primarily on actions that I can no longer do as well as I used to. I spend a great deal of time blaming my power chair and how mature does not seem to fit my body causing me to not be as independent as I like to be. This could be just excuses for the fact that I am wearing out, becoming old or being made ready the great transition whatever that might be…

Popcorn Please

 

I can't remember how it started sometime during breakfast couple weeks ago, our Sunday morning breakfast, a granddaughter asked if I want to go to the movies with them to see the 2^nd movie in the Avatar series. Actually, I was not on the 1^st will be it took a great deal of willpower to sit through that one. However, it seemed important to my granddaughter that I watched the movie there would be a good experience to do something with the family. Besides, you know adolescents they talk a lot but often forget what they said. Not so my granddaughter. She called me on Friday and we started planning. Planning operation like this can be complicated. After all I don't have personal transportation relying only on the bus. We would have to meet at the regal theater couple blocks from my apartment.

I had not heard from my son Mark Anthony all week (we later found out that you take an to visit his sister and brother. I contacted him or try to last night to see if were going to breakfast this morning. In the interim my granddaughter texted me that we should do that 12 PM showing. She also suggested that instead of breakfast we meet at the movies. This is fine with me. Not that I would sleep in but certainly give me the option of not having to get up immediately after waking – through getting ready.

There was kind of nice to have a Sunday morning to just mess around. I made coffee and my morning drink and I made my morning cocktail. I noted more peppers than usual into the my morning drink give me a few more items to burn since I was not going to have regular breakfast that it necessarily want to fast until I got to the movies. I did end up making some rye toast and having a yogurtto hold me over. I even slept part of the kitchen floor as well as the bedroom since I didn't know I be coming over. Actually I forgot to mention the main reason we're kind of getting together so that Jasmine and Jackson were coming over to take down my Christmas. As things go we were late starting. But the kids came in about 45 minutes they swept the floors and even mopped them as well put away the wreath on the front door and Christmas tree. Jasmine even took off the ornaments off the tree. Everything is boxed are the stack placed carefully in the apartments ready for next Christmas.

The bus was a couple minutes late. I was still at the moviehouse my 12 PM I met up with the kids. If you remember I have that movie pass but since the movie was at a special theater in the theater for “surround viewing” somehow they not only project the movie in front of you but also on the sides of the wall or the front of the screen. The total price of all tickets waiting the kids ended up paying $56. I had to pay some on my “free” because the movie was being shown in the “special theater” plus we also got 2 tubs of popcornpackage of red vines and the Coke. The event must've come close to hundred bucks. I didn't pay anything except for $4.50 for my upgrade.

The movie was okay I only went to sleep once before Mark Anthony shook me awake. Totally enjoyed the timeout with the kids. They really do take care of their grandpa…

Glass House Journey

 

I guess if there is such a thing as a free spring day today when the been it. I'm not so silly as to believe the winter is over – – this winter is not over by a long shot – – but the temperatures were up in the 40s today causing a great deal of of the snow and ice to just melt away. I met with a couple of my neighbors here at the apartment complex over at the coffee shop this morning. We're trying to make this a weekly event. That's when I realized today was going to be special. I took a blanket from for my legs but as soon as I was out the door I realize there is no need.

Although coffee group was great this morning we basically just sit drink coffee remark about various gossips and things going on at the apartment complex and enjoy the atmosphere of a bunch of people drinking coffee at this little joint. The group is pretty diverse there are many more conservatives that I like to drink coffee with but perhaps is not a bad thing. So far 3 of us have not gotten tangled in any political discussions particularly regarding Congress/speaker of the house/ex-president Trump. I am holding my breath and crossing my fingers That we do not descended quagmire. I went to believe I see a lot of liberals of the coffee shop is also a large group of what seems to be hard-core conservatives. I think there's enough weather there To generate a fairly unique tornado should the right conditions prevail. We generally stick to ourselves Enjoying our coffee and benign gossip. It's kind of funny but the specific time it seems not on the clock but by some timepiece internal everybody 1030 – or 11 AM roughly the long conservative table empties. For some reason our clocks also dictate that we are done. We pack everything up Discussing what we are going to do for the rest of the day as well. The day is so incredibly inviting I mumble something about doing a bus adventure.

I've been threatening to get the liquor store since before Christmas. I would like to have Sobotka over the Christmas holiday that didn't happen primarily because of the storms. The other good reason was they closed by regular Glasshouse just down the street. I learned there is a new State liquor dispensary supposedly around the corner actually a number of blocks West and North the apartment complex. I figured today was a great day for exploration. I wish I'd taken the time to charge my chair last night. I hardly went anywhere yesterday and my gauge indicated 100% charge but I knew that was not the case. I figured I would see where it went and I went. I made everyone my bus connections without having to wait around there that was a good sign. I thought would destroy relatively easy 3 blocks from last busstop.

I've always found a liquor store somewhat magical. So many genies and magical moments in these containers of glass. This particular liquor store is also a wine store that makes it very pretty. I wandered around looking at everything but decided it was time to go so I grabbed the bottle of Absolut which was pretty expensive than a couple of small bottles of Margarita realizing I need to get quickly because the battery indicator was beginning to show that I could be in trouble. Arctic Circle on the way. I stopped at grabbed a quick burger and onion rings. My charge indicator was right at 55% which you think would be adequate of experiences taught me that once it gets that 50% juice goes down quickly. Needless to say admitted. With my indicator unit exactly 50% by the time I caught the other bus I was writing at 49%! But I made it home my indicator still reads 49% I'll charge all night. Tomorrow is breakfast with the kids and I think my granddaughter and are going to the movies could be a good weekend!

Steak Out

 

It's not pretty I'm the 1^st to admit it. I don't really like being a carnivore is just who I am. Earlier this week at one of many runs to the marketAcross the street I fell prey to items in the throwaway section in the butcher section of the market. Two mammoth T-bone steaks markdown to almost half-price! Ordinarily I have more the will power to pass on this kind of offer but since I've bled a lot last week (I was there the reader anymore information ) just now that I needed to build my red blood Backup. And I often use this excuse the binge on protein that I would not normally consider. I think this will Monday or Tuesday all I know is that steaks of it in the refrigerator sense. So Friday night with no greater prospects I decided to build me a 3 course dinner. I have 3 roasters potatoes, the 2 steaks and Spinach. I really do like spinach and I have no qualms a spinach in the can,hell if it's good enough for Popeye's it's good enough for me. Cooking this much protein is a bit of a production one that I would just assume I've done for another individual but I'm worth the effort and I need the iron – – it's all good.

The kitchen is in relatively good condition I kind of hate to mess it up with a cookaramma but it's Friday night so why not? I retrieved the larger of the 2 cooking/frying pans I got for Christmas for my son. These are great cooking tools. I fixed the meat from the refrigerator and realize that the T-bones were so large I would have to fry them separately. To serve this properly is all the timing. It takes 6 minutes to nuke a normal potato in the microwave. That's okay because once the Tatars done the potato will stay at the significant amount time. I fried the steak on low heat. I seasoned with coarse black pepper, dried onion bits and a garlic salt substance. At the same time I heated up my can of Spinach I officially had a production going. Even at low heat cooking the steak takes very little time. I have a half a bottle of wine which really would've gone well with this dinner. But I was too lazy to pull it out of the refrigerator. I guess I just wanted the blood from the steak replacing what I have lost.

The meal was great even the spinach. And I've been very much more adventurous I would've opened up a can of corn – – whole kernel. But I figured green was enough color for the night. Of course now I have to go back to the kitchen and put the meal away. There's quite a bit of steak left over I figure with the potato (I could easily nuke another) And half of the can of spinachI'm good for another meal at least. Maybe, if I got creative and even eat part of the steak with eggs for breakfast. Either way I got options And what more does one want for Friday night…