Goodbye fine April

 

This is the last day of April hard to believe, this month just went so fast. I wonder if the rest of the year will go as quickly hard to say. Today was absolutely beautiful though that she got to the mid-80s temperature wise warmest it's been all year. I sat outside and read for quite a while and referred it may have gotten a little bit too much sun. Tomorrow's even supposed to be warmer. Most be warm all week long warmer than usual will be get a real sad event when the high-pressure system eventually erodes in a low-pressure system comes in with lower temperatures and even storms. The only positive for me anyway is that the storms will most likely be afternoon thunderstorms and I do like those. But these are strange times the weather is not acting normal by any means I best be careful for what I wish for specially in respect to storms.

I almost went to the movies again today but decided not to after I realized I had letters to process to get into the mail by tomorrow morning. Letters to family I truly believe is a function that is appropriate for the Sabbath not the mall go to get all religious on you but I would try to keep the Sabbath somewhat work free for the last couple of months it really does feel kind of good to get the rest. I try to get everything done by Saturday night that I need to have done over Sunday for Monday. Like if I were going to have my pepper vegetable juice drink for Sunday I try to have already to go by Saturday night and just put the mug of juice in the refrigerator with the pickled carrots and peppers and all I have to do is add the ice on Sunday morning. So most of the work done is done on Saturday. It's kind of hard to justify my going out to breakfast every Sunday morning now with the kids except that – – even though I'm causing others to work – – I think doing a family activity like this is acceptable maybe it doesn't even really matter except for me quality time with what family I do have in this area. Mark had an event yesterday and paid fairly well I guess because he picked up the check for breakfast today that's always good. I'd even ordered extra bacon crisp. It was a treat to have Jackson and Jasmine there as well. Jasmine always has a lot on her plate that she needs to verbalize and talk through. Sometimes I have not as much patience as I should with the granddaughter but Mark does a great job listing to her and giving her guidance and great instruction. I'm still a little worried about Mark but his health seems to be a little bit better this week I just hope you get some kind of resolution. We talk ourselves out and it's time to move on. Everyone goes their way. For me, I of course went back to the apartment.

The day did not get hot for say but very comfortable in fact I wore the shirt the kids did give me for my birthday which is a short sleeve shirt and I felt comfortable all day especially outside which I was kind of surprised. I didn't necessarily watch marvels today as much as I used one of the old Marvel movies as a background noisemaker for me to use getting the letters out. I assigned, stuffed and sealed I applied the stamps and in the and took them down to the mailboxes and dumped them into the outgoing mail slot. All going out on 1 May tomorrow morning. Soice long April it was quick but nice…

Bright Days and Dark Theaters

 

It's been a perfectly wonderful day except for lack of any significant social contact with the exception of one or 2 people. The day got warm, clear skies and a radical sun produced the day that temperatures rose up into the 80s a perfect data hop on the bus to check some things out. I was a little conflicted as to what really to do because having finished the kid letters should I just sit still put my nose to the grindstone and finished the process of printing envelopes getting the envelope stamped folding the letters and stuffing envelopes or blow off responsibility and go out and have a good time enjoying the sun maybe get some food and do some window shopping or at least check out the movies. So I figure out a way to do all of the above. A check to see the times of the movies that I might want to see cross checked with the UTA bus schedule trying to the buses are coming and then in a focused effort I would at least print the envelopes and the letters to process them tomorrow and have them ready to go on Monday morning the 1^st of May.

Of course, nothing is ever easy in my printer turned itself off. I spent nearly an hour trying to figure out what was wrong or why I couldn't get the printer to receive the letters I was trying to print then finally, and I don't know what I did really, I finally got there printed start printing the envelopes. Following the envelopes of course I printed the actual letters and have them ready for processing tomorrow and I still had at least 45 minutes to catch the bus up to the movies which I did. I was able to get a sandwich at Subway and then some candy to sneak into the movie itself milk duds and watermelon chewy candy. I am going to movies today the one about Judy Blume which is really pretty good I enjoyed it yet the movie was kind of iffy it was a kids show about super Mario. Of course, I would not even have considered the movie had I had to pay for it but since it was on the all the movies I can go to program I thought what the hell. I even bought popcorn and a drink.

I was more than ready to wander down to the bus stop to catch the bus home. It had a pretty great afternoon of irresponsibility sitting in a darkened room watching fictitious events of other people's lives. I'm always amazed at how much physicality driving one of these power chairs is how tired I am at the end of a day or just sitting in the powered device going from point A to point B. At one point during the day Mark Anthony make contact with me and we identified that we would be going to breakfast tomorrow. This of course will make my weekend. I'm feeling okay bowel wise looking at a fairly decent movement on Thursday night and Friday morning. I should be okay until Monday morning. As I said the temperature was in the 80s today so I sat outside and read for a while before watching part of guardians of the galaxy volume 1. I'll try to get to bed early tonight so I can rise early enough to make sure I get to the restaurant and time. It's been a pretty good day…

Coffee Shop Friends

 

I didn't travel far today though I could have, it's been a beautiful day the temperature actually perfect. Today it was in the lower 70s and not much wind perfect for sitting outside reading which I did but that was after this morning when I went over to the coffee shop to replenish my drip coffee supply. The coffee I get at this little coffee shop is probably expensive especially when you compare the price to what I would pay at the market across the street, Macy's. I think I ended up paying around 15 bucks for a pound of Italian roast coffee. But it's worth it to me to be able to have a place to go to order exactly what I want that have them grind the coffee for me (and I used to ride my own coffee and I still could should I desire but I like having the ground coffee available ready to go as soon as I get up in the morning. I keep the coffee in an old coffee can that I had a couple years ago. The plastic top which is a lid that is supposed to seal the goodness and of the coffee had corrupted long ago. The lid is now quite broken and places yet I still like to keep the coffee in there. Perhaps if I were making this coffee in the morning for somebody else besides myself I might search for an airtight coffee container. When I make a pot of coffee it will usually last me 2 or 3 days so I'm really not a big connoisseur. Melissa, my Monday morning caregiver, always likes to have a cup of coffee when she comes to work and I love having a couple coffee to offer my caregiver. She is never complained about the coffee even the coffee is 2 or 3 days old – – in all fairness she doesn't know that I just turn on the coffee pot but it's hot by the time she's here and fixes are cup and she seems happy to have it.

I was intrigued when I got to the coffee shop to find a couple of individuals from my apartment complex walking in about the same time. These individuals had never come to this joint before and one of them had lived in this apartment complex almost 10 years down. The kind of blows me away. I was fortunate enough to be there guide to the coffee shop. Both seem quite impressed with the size of the shop and all the items on the walls and behind the counter and the general hustle and bustle going on as people get their coffee and other orders. We found a table and talked for some time. One of the ladies is from back east actually New York City. She's one of the new people at our building. I may have mentioned this before but My apartment's population is changing and I think becoming a tad younger. I don't mean this negatively but is currently refreshing. These 2 people were so intrigued with the coffee shop that they've committed to joining myself and another person who usually has coffee on Saturday mornings – tomorrow. It would be kind of fun to have our own table, 5 or 6 people from this apartment complex.

Was another Friday night at the apartment complex. Not much is going on but is still warm enough to go outside and sit in the sun before it sets entirely. Maybe get another chapter read in my Stephen King…

Warmer Days and Gurgling Gut

 

What a shock when I checked my bank statement today my state check it already come in. I guess it really is last part of the month specially been a 30 day month. So I should the been so surprised but I was just the same. I cannot believe how quickly these days are passing I should be more focused and make everyday count. What I do now is that it looks like we really are finally wandering out of winter. The days are warming up the rain and hail seem to be dissipating and it's beginning to feel a lot like spring.

I was kind of shocked this morning after I got up that the arm of my chair, on the left side, had become detached from the chair itself. This is quite frustrating because I use this arm to pull myself up probably 1000 times during the day – – well maybe not thousand but maybe 100? A lot whatever. It took me significantly longer to get dressed this morning and I didn't even consider putting on my shoes because I use this arm to pull myself up to get my clothes on and shoes etc. it's coffee social day so after the coffee social which runs from about 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM I decided I would head on down to UCAT And see if they can fix the chair. Luckily because a straight shot in I didn't have any issues with trying to keep myself balanced in the chair that I couldn't pull myself up to the sitting position. Luckily, the guys were in another able to get the chair repaired and I'm good to go. They want to pleased with what they did and want to be the get a hold of my wheelchair mechanic to double check their work (which I did later on) but I think it will be okay. I can't believe how much I use these guys I'm sure glad there am sure glad there at the end of Redwood Road.

Put a call into my regular mechanic Allen was able to find time at the end of the day to stop by the apartment and go over the work that the UCAT Folks had done. Allen was able to spend some time on the arm of the chair reinforcing the work that the UCAT Guys did And some of the reinforcing of the arm in general. A couple of the bolts were coming undone which he was able to tighten and so I think I'm going to be okay for a couple of months hopefully. I stopped at Mr. and Mrs. Crab on the way home and had a bowl of clam chowder and crackers. That was the high point of my day. I kind of like this place is certainly easy to get to little more expensive than I would like but maybe I'm worth it.

Now, I'm suffering through what I think is a full bowel and waiting for Melissa get here to throw me on the toilet. I'm gurgling and being very uncomfortable try not to dump a load before she gets her…

Sunshine Day!😊

 

Finally! A truly spring day worthy of sitting out in the sun and being bathed in vitamin D and enjoying a good book. I'm working on the Stephen King of course it's reading pretty fast couple more days of really good weather, which have been promised, I should have this book out of the way, soon. The day was a gradual warm-up started off really cool and since it was a home health day I wouldn't be able to get out early anyway not at least till 930 or 10 AM. So I didn't go anywhere today just enjoyed the weather.

It's not really a problem but when you set out in the apartment common area to read your book you open yourself up to all the other individuals who live here and go out side as well for one reason or another whether their smokers, walkers are just in between is going in and out of their vehicles. I believe I wrote about this a little bit last summer I became somewhat engulfed in a group of folks who smoked out in the parking area away from the main area of the apartment complex. “Smokers hell” I called it. There's a group about 5 of us have smokers have folks who just like hanging with that group. One of the individuals, Ellen, was a bit younger than most of us but she smoked like a chimney. I'm not sure what her disability was seeing pretty significant to the point where she could no longer live by herself even with home health services. She left 2 or 3 months ago and entered a rehab facility that also had a long-term care group with it. Ellen lives there now the problem is is not on a bus line or close to a bus line. This is my best excuse for not visiting like I probably should be. I think she's a pretty nice facility. I actually did 100 day rehab there couple years ago. This I guess is totally different long-term-care side. All I know is if I did not have the home health services I enjoy I would certainly be in such a place. I just hope I can maintain this level of independence with the supports I have in place for as long as possible.

I got my wash done today. I know this sounds like a small event but to me it's huge. It's part of like what I was talking about earlier about being able take care myself. Washing my clothes weekly keeps independent lets me know I can still maintain. Gloria, my Wednesday Friday person spent a little extra time today sweeping up the kitchen and putting it in order. She washed on the countertops and the stovetop (which really had not been clean since I cooked rice this last week it was a pretty big mess). For her efforts I awarded her 10 bucks which kind of sounds like a lot for a tip but really not at all when you think about the peace of mind what little bit of cleaning she does for me. I would not mind having to do more, however do a couple of specific hours of nothing but cleaning but she doesn't want to get that involved. She does this cleaning just to kill time as I do my business on the toilet. And chances are she would do it anyway whether I paid or are not what little extra I do. Actually it's maybe 2 gallons of gas maybe or one pack of cigarettes and some change. I hope she's able to use this money for stuff that she would never do otherwise. I do appreciate what she does. I'm looking forward to the next couple of days above-average temperatures, dry all the way through the weekend…

Meet The Crabs

 

.

I could say something inane like they are our 8 months to Christmas! I know that elicited a number of groans and harsh feelings so I won't go there. But having said that should be feeling like spring and be it sure did not. I really didn't want to go out in the elements today especially since I didn't have to because we have a break from our weekly Assist meeting. But, problems with my power chair as well as the charger for my power chair forced me to saddle up and head down to UCAT, that wheelchair reutilization and other equipment shop down on Redwood Road. I've described UCAT in earlier posts as to what it is and how it works it's just say that I use them as my go to for anything wheelchair that I need today. In today's case the most desperate need was to either fix the charger that I pretty much wrecked by rolling over the connector point or see if they'll just exchange my charger for another charger that I can use independently. Luckily last night I had a backup charger though don't really like to use because the wires are pretty frayed and I'm a little paranoid every time I have to handle of the charging cord. But, the charter does seem to work and is able to charge my chair last night but I did want to use it again if I didn't have to. I know they have a bunch of chargers there at the UCAT building.

I didn't really get rained on today may be sprinkled a couple times and the temperature was not as chilly as I thought it was going to be but I still took one of my flannel wraps just in case I needed to keep my back and shoulders warm or I could drape it over my legs and look really pathetic. Fortunate for me the ride into UCAT straight shot right down the road that I can access the bus right from behind my apartment it's a win-win setting. I got down to UCAT about 11 AM and nobody else was there except staff which was great because they were able to immediately repair my chair as well as switch out the charger, which I figure they would. I really appreciate these guys and they done a lot of work for me at hardly any cost.

On my trips down to UCAT over the past couple months there's been a restaurant going and that I have been somewhat interested in Mr. and Mrs. Crabb. I wasn't really sure if it was a real entity since it seemed to be in a dicey part of Redwood Road but I noticed last week that it seemed like they were open for business and so I stopped there on the way back from UCAT. It Wasn't quite It's noon when they say they're open but they seated just the same thrust menu at me. It really is a seafood place and a bar. It's kind of high-end, this means expensive, luckily they have a lunch deal which is expensive but affordable if I don't order anything else like a drink or anything. I pretty much had appetizers hush puppies and cod with chips i.e fish and chips it all came to $11 which I guess when you count in inflation these days is not bad for lunch. This is one of those joints where a lot of orders are like 50 and $60 some orders like 100 some odd dollars and a bring your food out in the tub like shrimp boiled corn boiled everything else potato clams calamari and they have bunch of right stuff as well. The actually have a working bar with all the beautiful bottles on shelves in back of the bar itself. I probably got the cheapest order I could of gotten and was way too much food for me. I supposed to get 2 pieces of cod but they gave me 3 pieces on a bed of French fried potatoes . They did give me a glass of water. 4 containers of different dip 2 red and 2 white which is some kind of tartar dip for the fish it was all pretty good I was surprised. I don't know if I'll go back but I may who knows maybe when it gets warmer

Monday Musing

 

The clouds are back so what's new? Finally anything from beginning to enter that phase of transition that will bring in the real warmer temperatures of spring. There is more thundershowers in the little lightning today but it was fleeting the kind of thunder/lightning storms you have in spring and late fall when the beast are cool but the sun comes out warms things up supercharges some clouds and soon you have great winds, noisy thunder and flashing lightning. When I sit back and actually think about these things that's what I really like in the weather transition times.

Tomorrow is also supposed to be quite unsettled weather. Luckily for me there will be no Assist, Inc. meeting tomorrow so I really don't have to go anywhere in fact I can sleep in sentence a day when I don't have home health coming in. I won't be able to do that of course because I can't sleep in even though I wish I could. The just too much to do and to enjoy and to experience the let it go by sleeping. Have I told you? My tree across the street/Road/driveway is now all I bloom. I think I did mention this a few days ago but it wasn't completely finished but today I noticed when I open my blinds this morning that the fact the blooms are open and the blossoms full. I almost thought about taking an image of the tree just because it would be good for the blog but the clouds are gray and somewhat overpowering which I don't think would really do justice to the brilliance of the blossoms. So hopefully once the cold front gets through that's coming this evening and get some images and if I do I will post them probably not here but on the day that I do take the images. I have really grown accustomed to this tree. It was just a sampling when I moved in I don't know how much sooner it had arrived before I did couldn't a bit too long but I certainly got feeling that were connected to them that were judging each other on the time we cause I spend together. Granted, this little trees go last a lot longer than me but it still makes me feel like we have a connection in that were going somewhere together right now. A kind of watch out for it, the little tree which is growing big, especially when things get lodged in its branches particularly those shopping plastic bags but tend to fly with the wind getting caught in branches. At one time I stopped a park employee and kind of forced him to pull the garbage bag out of the tree limbs. It had been there a couple of weeks was cut a drive me crazy. Want to be sure to have it out by the time winter hit so the tree wouldn't have to worry about it all through the trees sleep time. I kind of think the tree appreciated my efforts.

Real quick and begin to worry now about my morning cocktail made with jalapeno peppers pickled, pickled carrots, and juice from the pickled items mixed with the vegetable juice. I to thinking Brining which is the same as pickling just soaking the fruit/vegetable's and some sort of salt concoction? If so I think I'm really ingested by sodium intake and wonder how healthy this might be. It would make sense because I really enjoy this flavor grouping but probably is killing me. Life is so strange. Anyway, that's it for Monday and watched one movie for the day and now I could really get at its start on getting ready for bed or at least been able to read tells time to sleep. Looking forward to the days of warm temperatures and sunshine there coming I have to believe…

Sunday Thoughts

Looks like a beautiful day outside and actually the sunless out and shining when we left the restaurant this morning. My son Mark Anthony and I had breakfast as usual it was nice. I did miss the granddaughter but kids have lives too. I really didn't have anything else planned for the day so really I just stayed in the apartment after I got home and enjoyed my Internet connection and streaming platforms. I know I keep apologizing for my overuse of these items but I just love being able to watch the movies that I love over and over again. And I promise that once the temperatures get a bit more accepting of me 70+ then I'll be outside of nothing more than to just read my book in the sunshine of spring. I think I mentioned earlier that I had started rereading Stephen King until I could get up to the library upstairs are to the Deseret industries down the street for something else to read but I was able to find the volume upstairs this afternoon that might be interesting. The book is a little hammered the don't know if it will stay together for me to read the whole thing but it might be fun maybe I can use it as a filler/backup for the Stephen King thing. I don't know if I have the patience to finish the whole Stephen King novel. I may just start jumping around to different places in the book that I've enjoyed. We've had another death here at the apartment complex last week a lady that I don't really know I think I've seen her once or twice around the building but she passed away and there's a sympathy card sign-up sheet at the front of the building with of course, her image on it. That's how I recognized her didn't know her by name. Talking with some of my other folks/friends here at the complex indicated that she rarely ever left her apartment and I thought that was kind of strange. There's been a couple folks here though passed away that other residents of said they really came out of their apartments and so nobody really knew him except the old-timers. As I enjoyed my 2nd movie this morning are maybe this afternoon I suddenly thought wow wonder how many folks feel that way about me. I think I do tend to be out in the hallway into things like the coffee social some of the other things that happen around here but as a rule I do like to stay in my apartment probably more than its healthy. If I wrote as much as my friend Lori did I could say I was just a writing recluse but I can't really honestly use that excuse. Maybe I just need to be a little more friendly knock on a few doors see how people are doing. I don't know how well that would go over. Interestingly though we've had a bunch of people die here in the last year or so 5 or 6! That's a lot of new blood in a place like this. There's a lot of new folks to get to know. I'm now welcome wagon but maybe I could be just a bit more friendly…

Saturday's Post

 

It's Saturday night and halfway through the infinity war I realize that I still have to blog. I figured should really take much time just because it's been another Groundhog Day type Saturday. With the cloudy weatherAnd cold temperatures every day seems like the Last. And even though the days on as cold as they have been something about the cloudy inclement threat makes me just want to stay inside and do inside things. Like today I wash the dishes that been somewhat piling up, actually the really aren't that many dishes it just looks that way because they're all bulky plastic containers that take up a lot of space but there's not really a lot of them. In fact I finally destroyed the science project that's been growing in a flat container I've had in refrigerator for some time I think at one time it was hashbrowns and sausage all mixed up that just sort of stayed there and died and rose again is a green fungus. I feel kind of bad destroying the science project. I mean it's like a small universe contained right now plastic container. I'm sure there's more than one civilization – – granted not as we know them/civilizations but probably a whole minor universe Covering the bottom of this good-sized polyethylene container. I of course 1^st doused it in steaming hot water . Mind you I'm doing this after I totally cleaned out the portion of the sink where the disposal resides and then I clumped the whole container upside down so the contents fill down over the container. It took a few minutes of hot water spraying my family got the mold mass to break up and I shoved the big pieces down their disposal followed by the smaller particles after I turned disposal on in the mold colony was no more. There's still quite a bit of mold covering the plastic container and Lid So I turned the hot water on it with ampleDish soap which finally did the job hopefully sanitizing top and bottom of the plastic containers.

So with the sinks totally clean I said make another batch of rice but doubled the size of the rice I made earlier this week. I made another trip to the market later on in the afternoon after I had the rice made and laid the cooldown to get green onions and a few other things I needed for the weekend. I came back and put that fried rice together after pulling the remainder of the bone in him that I made for Easter outfits plastic bag in the refrigerator and harvesting is much meat as I could from the bones to use for the ham fried rice. I was pleased with my diced up rice and vegetables and adding the rise to the pile as mostly eggs are thinking about okay as far as I'm concerned I have rice for tomorrow ham fried rice and next week got rid of the hambone in a totally new to miss the kitchen so it was a good Saturday. I rewarded myself with the 2 Marvel movies leaving the kitchen a mess until MondayAnd sometimes it's as good as it gets for Saturday night…

Favoring Friday

 

I should've gone to the market today to get provisions for the weekend but once again the physical nature of the day itself just sapped the will right out of me. Another wet and cold day but I must be patient these days will come to an end, soon, the days will be hot and dry and Unwelcoming and I'll probably stay in the apartment all day because it's too hot outside. Hope that's not the case. Actually, today I could've gone to lunch with my good buddy Duane but I just didn't have the gumption to put together a meeting. He's the one, if you remember correctly, that we always have lunch the park which me for usually just meet during the spring and summer and sometimes fall. I just decided to let the lunch go till next week and hope for better weather.

Today was my home health day with Gloria who I feel is great in much the way and I like the way she takes care of me.. Nothing funnier weird just straightforward and her be in control. She almost gets angry when I do too much stuff for myself when she's here. This morning she even clean up the apartment a little bit making the place much more habitable. In the process she even opened up the giant can of pickled peppers I got from Smith superstore a few weeks ago. It was a difficult task opened up to camp out she did. It took me a while to find different containers to put it in there so many peppers of remits got it figured out now. I just have to get more carrots to go with them or I actually have a sack of carrots I could chop up and add to the peppers in the pepper juice. They have the needed crunch that I need when I enjoy my pickled pepper cocktail. I thought perhaps canned carrots might do the job in there been a couple of cans of canned carrots on the giveaway table last couple days I took one the other night opened it up and was not surprised to find the fruit quite messy and soft and not very tasty. So I'm either going to have to buy carrots in the bag and process them or keep buying the cans of carrots. The only trouble is I've only seen the small cans if anything up like those in between can and ideally another number 10 Was possible. Gloria, has a part-time job working at a local sandwich shop and I asked her if they got there pickles and such in those big cat she said they did but she did not how they got Them. I'm just going to have to corner somebody at the market and see if they can order in the larger canceled pickled peppers and pickled carrots” is so I don't have to go all the way down to The Smiths superstore down on 90^th South.

The rest of the day I just enjoyed my Netflix another subscriptions watching this and watching that and sitting back in my chair and taking the weight off my butt. All wounds are healed now and I like to keep it that way for as long as I can. Maybe tomorrow if the weather is not good or warm might focus a little time on the refrigerator and get rid of some of science experiments going on inside right now. I also have to figure out what to do with the rest of the ham and I prepared for for Easter. seriously thought a Pot of ham and beans That really seems like too much work and during up a lot of dishes in preparation as well as storage. Maybe a pic of the bone a little bit and toss the rest. Easter's long time past now my got start thinking about Memorial Day…

Coffee Social and Little America Memories

 

It was cold today in the 40s but at least the sky was blue when the sun was shining As hard as it could but still made being out in the weather a challenge for me. That's okay though I got around all right. Coffee when off okay this morning, by the time I got down to the common room some of you actually put the tables out and even covered them with plastic tablecloths. I had been a little worried because there seem to been some kind of miss communication about what was going to be available for refreshments. There was a rumor that a breakfast of sausage gravy and biscuits was to be had and no one was sure if that was really going to happen. Luckily however Irene, who has been setting up the room for the social for years had her son bring in a couple dozen donuts which more than covered the needs of the group today. In fact, they sent a number of donuts home with me at the end of the social, the leftovers. And I basically like any kind of leftovers so I was happy with that happened to get another coffee social out-of-the-way. I collected money which I do every social, everyone's encouraged to give a dollar for expenses, but we found out that over the years nobody's been using the money which is collected and the person who has been running the group is bought the refreshments from their own money which typically is only like $5 whether it's donuts or cookies. But I guess the red and white bank bag that the cash goes into is added up over the years and now we've got a do some heavy spending for the coffee social. So whether were to do a pancake breakfast are biscuits and gravy or whatever the next couple of events might be pretty interesting. I count the operation is a success if everyone is verbalizing, smiling and laughing often on and so far that's the way it's been. Someone's doing something right.

As you know, today was writers Guild, the ongoing lunch which the retired writer actually pays for each meeting. Everyone looked good however today and we had pretty good discussion and I think I ordered the most expensive dinner. I had a hankering for Turkey actually I wanted a hot turkey sandwich which was not on the menu but they did have turkey dinner. So I ordered the turkey dinner but was a little surprised when actually my meal came with 3 thick pieces of bread covered with turkey and gravy. It's the closest thing to a hot turkey sandwich I'm sure I could've gotten in the city unless they're still serving hot turkey sandwiches at the Little America Hotel downtown. I believe that place, if it's still around, had the best turkey meal in the Salt Lake Valley. They served every day I know this because I had an acquaintance who bought me lunch there were soon after I moved to this town and I can't for the life of me remember why he invited me out to lunch. Somehow I'd run across to them at the Independent living Center one is doing some outreach of one sort or another. I never did realize our understand if he was independently wealthy are just like turkey dinner that he had an every day at the Little America. I don't know of little America is still there but I know that it was semi-replaced by the Grand America which is much more expensive and caters to the elitists travelers from local elites downtown. I doubt that I'll ever sample their wares but you never know. It was nice that the waiter use some self initiative and had the kitchen to the openface sandwich but I kind of was looking forward to the mashed potatoes but either way I got my carbs in my conversation and my association with a couple real writers in the Salt Lake County area I'm just amazed that they take time to hang out with me…

Coffee and a Little Bit Snow

 

They were not kidding said colder was coming in after the storm which came through earlier this week. The skies are beautiful today total sunshine but the one time I went out to test the outside is driven back immediately just from the cold. I hate to be such a wuss space after all the temperature dropped in the 40s and I was out and about all winter long with temperatures far colder but I guess it's just the fact that I've acclimated to the spring and that's where I want to be in the warm weather. The day was not a complete waste however I did get my clothes washed for the week and of course the physical workout which I still think is really important for me.

Speaking of weather tomorrow I have slated besides coffee social a writers Guild luncheon that Dee's restaurant just up streetAnd of course we will meet about 1 o'clock in the afternoon useful to be having some challenges weather. If it is bad weather it won't be too bad it's just up the street. The effort would be worthwhile to see my 2 friends and have lunch and discuss our lives seem to be turning out. They said they might be snow But I doubt there will be much snow just yucky rain and wind. Well worth it to spend time with my literary friends.

As I indicated earlier tomorrow is the coffee social. When I 1^st started attending I was impressed by the fact that they had sausage gravy and biscuits at the social. They did not have this fair every day or at every social but left a little confused that was a some breakfast or was it a basically treat that you got when you came to the social. After a while sausage and biscuits tended to disappear and the English lady The sort of took over the “refreshments” started bringing her homemade cinnamon rolls which a 1^st for a nice change but then that's all there was every Thursday and they got old. Now that I've started doing the refreshments one of the folks that's helping me has thought she would like to reinstate the the baking soda biscuits and gravy. However, not thinking she posted an announcement on the bulletin board and started getting questions from everybody who doesn't ever attend the coffee group but one of the free breakfast so we've stifled baking soda biscuits and gravy for the time being opted to bring it back when we can better control attendance. At the current time we are averaging between 10 and 12 participants at the coffee social this includes me. We are sure that would blossom significantly if we made the thing look like a complete breakfast. Where that is not a bad idea just.one on the table just yet. Maybe we could do a general breakfast once a month as a way to bring residents together. We've had quite a bit turnover this last year so that would be a bad idea As far as icebreakers Go. The little lady who was thinking of doing the sausage breakfast confided in me now that she would be picking up the refreshments for tomorrow she really worries about me being out in traffic. I really worry about her driving around in her minivan at around 90 years old so I guess it's just about equal either way one of us will no doubt die Getting refreshments sooner or later…

Tuesday's Rain

 

I'm serious, I knew that the only day this week that I really need to be out and about was my assist meeting downtown Salt Lake and I also knew that if there is good to be major precipitation this week it was going to be during the time when I would be out and about probably coming home from my assist meeting. And sure enough my luck helped the form and by the time we are three fourths of the way through today's meeting sure enough under was rumbling almost shaking a little building we were in. Perhaps if I wasn't so greedy I could've best a lot of the torrential events but Surprisingly Andrea's had checks for us today. It seems like they just paid this a few weeks ago that's okay. I felt I needed the cash the check which would mean heading south 3 or 4 blocks to my credit union and then maybe having some lunch across the street at my favorite Hispanic fast food joint Taco Time!

Sure enough we were finished right around 11:45 AM as I headed out I could sense the storm coming in huge dark clouds over my right shoulder as I tried to zip down the street to the credit union and soon I was being pelted by fingertip sized pellets of ice, hail was coming down like the 10 Commandments. I wouldn't of been surprised that the is it struck flames when it hit the concrete but it didn't – – which is a good sign. But it was hitting me the ice pellets. I figured something was going to happen but I left the apartment this morning. I did want to wear a heavy jacket but I wanted some protection so I took one of my flannels with the head hole cut in the values as a poncho or blanket depending on my need. Today I needed both. There were great peals of thunder amid flashes of lightning the hailstorm turned to a downpour, not a sideways deluging I mean the rain wasn't coming sideways but it was coming down driven by gale force winds. I was pretty wet by the time I got to the bank by cash my check and then waited by the front door to look like the rating was weakening a little bit and drop my chair in the gear headed down the corner across the street and into Taco Time. I used a little restraint and got a small drink with cheesy potatoes and a taco burger. I have found the taco burger taco time delight that's never on the menu but I always conserved when I asked for it. I was a little dismayed because it didn't have any of their signature fruit punch soy diet Dr Pepper and call that even.

But you can imagine I set out the most difficult part of the storm nursing my small order and enjoying the sliced jalapenos server kept bringing me. The cheesy tots were good as well and by the time the rate had diminished at made a decision to jump the bus which has stop right there by the fast food joint as opposed to making the 3 blocks over to the light rail line. The bus was late but that was okay because I was nearly dry by that point in time had my black flannel covering myself next to feeling a bit warm. The rest of the trip was without event that's a blessing. It's a long ride from 700 S. to the Murray track station on the 200 but it was a smarter thing to do considering the storm. But the time I got to the train station where would switch to route 47 westbound storm dissipated in the blue skies house the shining sun. It wasn't very warm but that's okay I had my flannel my guess that's all I needed…

Something To Read

 

Over the weekend I finished a novel I had been reading for the past couple weeks. I knew I was getting close to the end of the volume but I still had not found something else to begin reading. Luckily I have a go to author that I keep around in the bullpen in case I have to tread water until I can get another title I want to read. Of course the easiest solution would be to just go up to the second-floor library here at the apartment complex have another volume of the shelf but just not the same as going to the DI up on 70^th South America growing area going through all the volumes they have in their books section. Today would be the perfect day for such an event going up and just looking around. It was not too cold and I had a pretty good morning with my home health person, Melissa. But I just couldn't get motivated. Last night because I didn't have a title I went to my Stephen King collection and found the volume that I really kind of liked and read the 1^st couple chapters which got me to sleep but it's not something I want to really follow up with. Luckily, I found the volume that I really wanted – – of course I can't remember right now the title – – it's about the widow of a writer much like Stephen King. I really like the volume especially since he's writing from somebody like me he likes the same music I like kind like same quirky things I like. Plus, in the book the protagonists that has been the Pulitzer Prize winning author and King goes into great detail about his writing studio in the old barn not far from the main house. It's just something I'd like to believe I could have had another life. Still tragic that this author was cut down in his prime and not be a enjoy the immense sales of his books. Against got all the weird creepy things Stephen King writes about which are sorry really like. I don't know if I'll read it to its conclusion, maybe I'll jump around the different parts that I like in this volume. I could've also started Insomnia Which I once said I would read at least once a year. Will that really hasn't happened but I'm thinking about reading it perhaps this year sometime.But the book I decided to read the next couple chapters anyway is called Lisa's Story. It's just a cool read. Pretty dense though it took me quite a while but did reread the whole thing. Or maybe I'll just jump around for a week or so enjoy the Stephen King out of it.

Of course it's Monday the last of the good days of this week. Tomorrow whether changes again lower temperatures and precipitation. I'm sure you don't have to wear jacket for sure looks like it will be ringing right during the time that I'll be traveling. That's okay I shouldn't grouse about the poor weather. When the temperatures to be in the 50s and I was traveling all winter in the below 40s temperatures 50 should be a cake walk. Once I get done with my Assist, Inc. business I should be pretty much finished for the rest of the week with the exception of a lunch date I have on Thursday and possibly one on Friday but I think the weather might be getting better by then. Once again I should have done more of my Monday but quite enjoying my Internet subscriptions as well as my Stephen King's so I guess I'm doing okay…Perhaps the high point of my day was a card from my granddaughters I was totally impressed she is becoming such a good little writer and proud of her…

Vampires, Demons and Breakfast Oh No!

 

I have to admit today was a movie they weather is at the movies itself or streaming on the Internet it was a great movie day for me. Started out with a great breakfast of the kids a fine Sunday morning with plenty of sunshine, a little chill in the air but not bad in less than perfect service at the restaurant which is kind of weird because traditionally they've treated us very well there. I really wouldn't mind another venue but it's hard to get anywhere by 8 o'clock on Sunday morning with public transit. I just appreciate that Mark always comes in for breakfast. We had a pretty good discussion Mark I Jasmine but it got a little political which is a little disconcerting but not bad. Good discussion. Jasmine has lots of questions as she is becoming of age and becoming more sensitive to city national and international events. I think her boyfriend is a little bit more conservative than we are which kind of confuses Jasmine a little bit she has lots of questions and many times an answer which aligns with what she wants to believe versus what is really happening.

The day was a little chilly but I was still committed to take at least one movie but 1^st I had to go to the apartment pick up some cash in the lap blanket just to be more comfortable. The blanket came in handy later on when I was waiting for the bus to go home following the movies. That's correct plural I went to a couple movies both of them dealing with it are supernatural are satanic themes one of them being the old exorcis. I think it's from the same outfit which did the original exorcist back in the 70s. It was kind of silly Catholic Church's short takes a lot of hits on the static movies. The other movie, the one I went to 1^st, something like Rehnquist or something was okay but not stellar by any means. I pretty much went to it because one of my favorite actors starred in the show I can't think of his name I called the dog faced boy – – she's got this long face he was in city of Angels a bunch of other movies. I like it a lot I just wish I could remember his name Cage is his name not sure about the 1^st nameOkay here it is Nicholas Cage a really of the actor. I felt so comfortable going to both movies that I actually purchased popcorn and some candy which cannot be more than 10 bucks unbelievable. The weirdest part in the whole movie was that I was sitting where I always set in the handicap seating area in the spaces set aside for wheelchairs some guy cams and just as the movie started and sits down which is okay. Then halfway through the movie a hearing snoring like a Hoover vacuum! They actually slept through the rest of the movie. It's not that I really care that much and I really know how easy it is that those of in a movie it almost happened to be twice during the 2^nd movie about the exorcist but the whole movie and he probably paid real money. Even though I pay monthly for my subscription that makes you feel like I'm going to the movies for free when I check in. I mean I feel I can sleep through a movie and not be too weirded out. Anyway. I thought about driving by chair back to the apartment but I will it wasn't into that much self abuse so I waited in the sunshine with the cool wind blowing which is kind of uncomfortable until the old bus came by and brought me back to the apartment. All in all A pretty good Sunday…

Pickled Peppers and Me

 

Today was not as warm as I would've liked it to have been but the sunshine bright all day long and it was warm enough to get by with just longsleeve shirt and a good cap On. I had coffee with my friend Janet this morning over the little coffee shop across the street from the apartments. I didn't wear shoes sometimes it makes me nervous not to wear shoes in the public place especially when they have one of those Redneck signs “no shoes no shirt no service” plastered over the cash register or something. I really never been not serviced when I showed up with no shoes – – which is most of the time except the dead of winter – – I can always feign I have something wrong with my feet which prevents me from wearing shoes. Of course the naked talk about while why don't you wear socks or was your blanket. You want to be good disabled guy don't you should have your lap blanket on covering your feet and your lap. Luckily, never had to deal on those levels but I think I could figure it out. These folks know me well enough to let it slide. Didn't seem to be a cloud in the sky so I figured after we finished our weekly coffee I would take off head south and purchase this huge can of sliced jalapeno peppers.

As you know I've been doing jalapeno peppers of the daily level for years now. I use the sliced peppers in my morning drink but that's already documented in this blog. Trouble is I go through these cans of pickled peppers as well as pickled carrots way to quickly. I don't think I'm worried too much about the expense though I think I should be but it's just a hassle having to open up another can every other day or so. As far as I can ascertain there are 3 can sizes a small and medium in a large. I like the small cans I think they're like around 7 ounces or so and I dumped them into my pepper pitcher, then there's a larger can which seems not be around 12 or 14 ounces I can't remember maybe more to the seems like there relatively large. The there's a jumbo size which I never see but I know they have them just because because that's how it restaurants usually get there items of restaurant size. I've kind of been looking around the last couple months trying to find something like that in a couple weeks ago I did at the Smith superstore down at 90^th S. Redwood Rd.I've been intimidated to buy one of these cans for a number of reasons one is their huge and usually I don't have a way to carry them and secondly I'm not really sure how to open the can if I were to buy it and then once open how I am going to store the sliced Peppers? Plus there's the issue of having to change buses from route 217 throughout 218. The 217 runs every 15 minutes the 218 runs once an hour which is a big deal and the long wait. Today I was going to take that wait timeAnd get one of these cans once and for all and see if it's worth the energy.

I lucked out and figured out that I can actually time the buses so I didn't have to really wait that long. And since the Smiths is a superstore is always stuff to do and tells time to catch the bus back so it's a win-win. I got to the store and found the Cans of sliced pickled Peppers. There on the floor of course I had to find someone to reach them for me. I guess the cans have a number of number 10 can size, I think for 10 pounds but actually this can of peppers weighs 5 pounds and some change. Still at a lot of peppers I had the person double or triple bag can implement of my book between my legs to get a home. The can's huge I still have Figure out how to open it and the other issue of storage but I think it'll be fun figuring it out. Now, I'm searching for the same size of can for the pickled carrots which ever really grown to enjoy. I need to speak with the manager of that Smith's or maybe even the manager of my Macy's across the street and see what it would take to get them to order these larger canned items in. I know this a couple restaurants stores downtown that sell product to restaurants maybe have a source as well. I mean I don't want this thing taken over my life but I don't want to run out of peppers either

Friday Night Moments

 

I wish I was more motivated but it's cold, it's cloudy and this morning my caregiver found a wound on my butt. It's small and I think manageable, easily but still it's there a reminder that I'm not invincible and every day I think I become more and more vulnerable to the savages ravages of age. Hopefully I'm not sounding depressed just thoughtful. Sometimes I become a little worried about how much time I spend in the apartment these days. I'm really not do anything great stupendous just getting through each day, washing a few dishes, drinking some coffee as well as enjoying my pickled peppers and vegetable juice as well as the daily right on my arm bike (workout) and the joy of blogging. And of course thrown in there is usually they watching of the noon news and the evening news and maybe a movie or 2 depending on my guilt level. I try to get to bed by 10 or 1030So that I can read for a while and I usually turn the lights off about 1145 am lucky many times after 12 AM. It's a good life, better than I deserve I still think I should be doing some more of something I'm not sure what.

Speaking of blogs or more specifically this blog. There is a feature on the software which puts the blog up onto the Internet that allows me to see all the comments people leave on the blog. I did not even know there was a feature that did this for the longest time but I'm always surprised that people do leave messages. These messages are few and far between but they still pop up there and I'm amazed. For example yesterday I believe I was checking out the messages which I don't think I've done in over a year, and there was a message from a boy that best friend. He actually checked out my blog on my birthday left a message of salutations and best wishes. I thought this guy had completely forgotten about me what a joy it was to know that he was still interested in our relationship. He wanted me to leave a response to his message that I had seen it and how I was doing. I'll give them a call the next couple days so we can touch base, catch up and see what the plans are for the rest of our life. There is a time when he would come through Salt Lake to visit his kids who are living here. Now, they've moved back to Boise and John no longer travel south to Salt Lake. You certainly left a message indicating that if I got the Boise to look them up. I don't travel anymore there's no way for me to travel that I've figured out so far. I wish that I could love to see the old stomping grounds or least what remains. Luckily, we have technology and a good video chat is almost as good as a visit. I doubt that John uses technology very much is a very fundamental kind of guy. I'm just surprised he gets on the Internet enough to know about my blog. Some people just amaze me.

I know this is somewhat boring but it's another Friday night in Salt Lake County…

Cheap Plastic!

 

This is what I saw when I turned over in bed to get up this morning. The complete back in my chair look like it was coming apart. I have to admit this kind of freaked me out, just a little, since with the gaping maw like this totally exposes the innards of the mechanisms which drive this chair. Perhaps the thing which freaked me out the most however was how did this happen? I did not notice this when I went to bed last evening in something this significant I think I would've noticed. I spent a good 10 minutes looking at this before grabbing my cell phone snapping a couple images To send to my mechanic which I did. As I raise my bed up to make the transfer into the power chair I noticed a tab on the top of the cover I didn't notice when I was laying down. I actually moved this around a little bit and it kind of snapped into place but I still had the wheelchair guy come out just to double check which he did. I was glad that he came not only for the back of the chair but there's a couple other items he was able to fix relatively easily. It seems I missing a lot of the tabs on the back of the chair which fasten that plastic cover. The only thing I can think of is that sometimes when I'm laying the back of my chair down to dresser redistribute my weight of whatever I sometimes get something not knowing that it's right behind me and maybe that's causing some of the issues with the plastic cover. I still get impatient with this chair think it's very cheaply made. I'm just a grouser.

Week 3 of the coffee social went off pretty well. Last night and got the cookies for the event and by the time I got down to the common room this morning my friend Irene had already pushed the tables together and got the coffee makers loaded with coffee and water so all I had to do is hit the buttons to start the the brewing process. The people are still enjoying the treats that I get though I have heard one or 2 comments on how much sugar there seems to be. Irene has suggested that maybe we do a breakfast once a month or something. When I 1^st came to this facility that was in place they seem to have sausage biscuits every month or so and I love that then they just sort of stopped. I have kind of missed the little breakfasts.Sounds were going to start them again that's kind exciting.

I stayed in today a cold front came in we actually had snow falling a good part of the morning. Luckily the snow just got the ground and street wet everything to want for it to stick around. Still it was unpleasant to go out in the cold so I just stayed in doing my usual workout in trying to clean up a little bit which is a major challenge. With the good weather last week it was just enough to entice me to get anxious for the really good weather come that sweet spot before the harsh heat of summer. But even then I don't have a problem with the harsh heat anything that lets you where is little close as possible is good for me…

Wednesday's Wisdom

 

Surprisingly, the day was warm even though the sun did not shine – – it's the warm before the storm – – it looked cold but it was not. Cold weather is coming, there actually indicating there may be snow on the valley floor by Friday but won't last long will be back in the 70s before too long. However, I didn't do much of my day even though it was nice. I think I have a wound on my butt and I felt I'd better take it easy and since it was Wednesday I figured it it was a good day to do wash do it all the way so the only thing I have tomorrow, as far as I know, is the coffee social. That means I need to get over to the market today – – which I did pick up some cheap baked goods at the dollar store. I did a fast run through the market just in case they had something good in the throwaway section but there is nothing there I want to take a chance on. So far, the people taken to my treats fairly well so far. We got 3 different kinds of cookies for tomorrow and hopefully one or 2 of the participants make something and brings them so I'm sure we've got it covered.

I'm actually getting some of my face. I think I might even have a low-level burn, nothing painful just a tight feeling to the skin. I'm quite red-faced when I look in the mirror and always wonder “did I do it this time? Too much time in the sun ever started a melanoma?” I sure hope not a do like the sun melts glory. I'm Whittling away at the ham I cook…ed for Easter. It's not going down very fast but today I made a ham salad sandwich and almost got a chance to either for lunch but just as I was finishing I had a knock on the door and was Jennifer the building manager. Someone brought her and avocado sandwich and she does not like avocados so she thought of me so I had an avocado sandwich for lunch and later on my ham salad for dinner. Was I should pretty good if I knew how to use my food processor I could probably make a much better product. I would never of offered it to anyone else but I thought it was tasty and I might do it again since I have the ham to do with.

My home health person was going through a bit of trauma this morning. She lives in a pretty tough neighborhood the North Salt Lake. She woke to the back window of her vehicle smashed and crashed and it will cost of $200 to repair. This poor kid just cannot get a break. I do worry about her of them always kind of surprised to see her come to my door on Wednesday morning's. I wish I could give her the $200 but that wouldn't do any of us of the good. The schedule survivor should finagle a way to work it down before she can get by… I hope. I probably give her about $20 a week in tips when she does a few other things around the apartment besides my regular bathing and bowel routine. I really appreciate what she does as far as the big-money things go by car payments, car repair and rent I just can't do that. The good doctor I used to work with backing away old days was just that Goldman's soul who would give anybody anything they thought they needed it. It got so bad to the point that his family freaked out only took away his rights place to mental long-term care facility and that was the last frigate like good old Mac had. Still breaks my heart. That would be great to help people like that however special ones that are really trying.

Green Grapes

I really like the crew at my grocery store just down the street. That's why I'm so disheartened by a practice I think they are doing but I'm not sure. You are really like full-screen grapes they call white grapes I guess. These green grapes are probably my favorites but I like any group that's crunchy and not soft and gooey. But anyway that's for further down in the blog for today.

It was sort of like a reprieve when I found there would be no Assist, Inc. meeting today. I was really counting on the day to be sunshiny and warm. I was a little bummed out however because last night I was having a hard time getting to bed. I was exhausted and I was trying to make sure I had enough protection in case my bowels decided to let go again. Anyway long story short was let by the time I finally got into bed I realize that I hadn't plugged my my power chair and to charge. And last time I charged was Sunday night. But I was just too tired to drag myself back into my chair just a plug my chair in. I tried not to think about it particularly depended on how much charge I have left when I got up and got in my chair this morning it read 70% on my meter but I also know that that goes down fast and I don't know why doesn't seem like it's a fair reading but by the time I got around to coffee and shaving I was in the red zone showing just 17% of charge. I knew if I was going to do anything today I was going to have to charge the chair for a couple hours at least to make sure I have enough juice and even then I wouldn't feel comfortable. I mean it takes, it seems, a good part of the night when I charge my chair when I go to bed. I just wanted enough charge to get back and forth from the market I really needed popsicles is getting that season. So, I read my book and charged for the hour I read and then when it was past lunchtime time to do my bike I plugged it again and did my arm bike for an hour charging. So I figured a two-hour charge should be enough to get me back and forth to the market and that was! I'm still looking forwards to charging tonight all night even though I probably won't go anywhere tomorrow because the good weather is slipping away as a cold front comes through.

I got my usual at the market pickle jalapeno peppers, a Sack of Popsicles (18) and some green grapes. I'm surprise of never stopped me but I'll actually sit there and open up packages of grapes and test them popping them in my mouth. What I've noticed over the last couple of months is that often all have nice tight firm fruit when I test of the odd number of grapes that when I get home I find a lot of soggy soft grapes when I'm trying to eat them which are not very pleasant for me at all. So I'm wondering, just wondering if the greengrocer guy takes the new grapes which are usually firm and crunchy and puts them on the top of the bag of grapes so we get through the top layer all you've got left is soggy ones. I would hate to think that that's a trick they do but certainly would surprise me. However, I'm now not purchasing a huge poundage of grapes the only causes expensive but when I buy just 1 pound or fewer grapes I can ascertain ever there good grapes all the way through which today's bags seem to be that way but I hate to be that paranoid of my greengrocer's You just not right don't mess with another man's grapes

Easter Monday

 

I looked on the calendar today, I was sitting in a meeting for the month, I noticed that not only was it the 10^th day of the month but it was also Easter Monday. Actually this is the 1^st time I'd ever seen that on the calendar as an actual name for the Monday following Easter. What does that mean? Is that a clause for Christian kids who can't celebrate Easter candy getting and events on the actual day because it's on Sunday that tomfoolery would be like breaking the Sabbath and so they got I have the day they can run around, enjoy themselves while stoking up on candy. Actually should be called dentists day for all the cavities caused by the candy eggs in so many baskets. Of course, the title of the day would probably have to compete with the day after Halloween if there was such a thing to happen. I guess Christmas is a big candy day Too now that I think about it. But that's all the big holidays that revolve around sugar. But that's Easter Monday – – weird.

The spring weather seems to be holding because it was such a beautiful day I decided to take myself to lunch and use up the rest of the gift card I got from Mark Anthony and the family at Café Rio. This necessitated trip up to 5400 S. Mark Anthony had given me a card for $25 and I used $12 of that last week when I got a meal and I took great lengths to make sure I'd have enough for another meal. So imagine my surprise when I went to the whole rigmarole of “building my lunch” and going to pay for it and the little guy says you card only has $2.50 on it! I couldn't believe it. I should've just let it go and paid the rest of the the bill which is around 6 or $7. But I sure got stuck in a rut thinking that I should have $12 would should be enough to cover the the lunch and a drink. It was kind of weird I didn't see anybody looking weird at me like what's this hobo trying to pull? But at the same time I think I looked a little shifty. I wasn't trying to make our scene but almost got the impression that the little manager, guy that was helping me was basically told me I could have it for whatever I said they didn't care “the meals covered”. I couldn't tell whether he was taking the bullet or Café Rio's taking the bullet or somebody else from some Christian stronghold had covered the bill and I just wanted the rest of the card that was due me that my son gave me for whatever holiday/birthday I got the card for. I eventually shrugged my shoulders and said okay and totally enjoyed a huge meal since I did want to take anything home or didn't have a way to do that. It seems like I went up to 5400 S. for another reason besides getting lunch but somehow that got lost in the meal fiasco. By the time I was done with my meal I just wonder catch a bus home and enjoy the sunshine outside this afternoon.

Happy Easter

 

Another beautiful spring day, a perfect day for Easter. I was awake at 5 AM but I stayed in bed till almost 6 AM that's okay but still gave me 2 ½ hours to get ready for breakfast at our restaurant. Things went surprisingly well I was set ready to go by 7:30 AM so I pretty much played by word puzzle until it was time to leave

I was a little surprised law enforcement had taken over our regular table so I had to find a table of closer to the front which sort of uncomfortable for us but it would do for today. We were well ahead of the morning rush/Easter rush at that, in fact aside from the law enforcement boys on our table there were a whole lot of other folks there for breakfast yet. My guys finally showed up in we had a great breakfast, good conversation and best of all my granddaughter picked up the check. That was kind of a shock so rare to get shocked these days and a good one at that. It's so amazing to see visible guys grow up and become adults doing adult things. I mean I don't know if I would ever have picked up a check For a meal with my parents. Actually after adulthood there weren't very many times when I had meals with my parents and thus I think about it when I did, they still picked up the check I never did. Interestingly think about it.

Following breakfast we scattered it was great being out in the morning. It wasn't cold but the sun hadn't really warm things up yet but you could tell warm-up was coming but today was going to be an actual spring morning or day for that fact. I totally did not have anything scheduled for the day. The movies it all changed and the ones I want to go to have departed in the ones that are left I wasn't too interested in. I actually dug out my novel and one outside and sat in the sun for a while, dozed under the heat and then tried to read when I could. I couldn't get over how many people were coming and going it seems like they all had to stop and talk to me about how great the weather was, happy Easter are what is the book I'm reading. I only ignored one in query that was from one of the residents here who speaks in Bosnian and acts like everybody should understand what she's saying. I don't know if she's psychotic, naïve or just trying to get attention but I didn't have time to attend to her mystery language. Like I said the afternoon was beautiful except for high clouds that crept in not blocking out the sun but with the little breeze that was blowing took the comfort level way down. I read a couple more chapters fended off a couple more neighbors and return to my apartment to enjoy the afternoon fishing up couple movies had started watching yesterday in the series on Netflix. Sadly, after all the effort I went through to make my Easter dinner I don't feel I can eat anything because it feels my bowel is full I don't want to jeopardize a blowout. It's making me move kind of slowly if I just make it till tomorrow morning when Lisa shows up all be fine.

I have fresh rice, a newly cooked ham, and potato salad that was meant for today which I think I will enjoy all week. Part of the week should be splendid then clouds moving in but I don't really see a whole lot of moistureBut I'm sure begin to get a good dose of spring fever…

Easter Options

 

I cooked ham today, I cooked it for Easter it's that time of the year. But before I get to that, the ham, let me tell you about the rest of the morning. Finally, the sun rose on a perfect spring day – – well almost perfect. There is a little cloud cover a bit of a chill in the early morning but as the day went on it warmed up nicely almost perfectly. I really felt an itch to get out into the community and feel my spring's oats. Of course 1^st I had to go to coffee with my friend upstairs Janet. We've been meeting for coffee on Saturday mornings the past couple of weeks actually months. Remember when I 1^st started going with my friend Billie? That's when Janet joined us but then Billie died so it seems like it's just me and Janet right now there has been some interest by others but nothing that's been long-term like the 2 of us. Anyway, I went over met with Janet we drink coffee till about 1031 our ways.

Now, the dedicated reader knows of my pathetic quest to try to capture the joyousness of holidays and I like to do that by cooking whether it's a turkey at Thanksgiving a nice roast beef at Christmas and of course Easter is the ham! And I always tell myself I'm not only do this again. Cook a piece of meat that sizable for a whole family/group of friends for one person and then I go ahead and do exactly that. I really need to be in therapy no doubt about it. Because the morning was so beautiful rather than going across the street to the Macy's which sometimes I think there meat is little sketchy I jumped the bus and headed south to Walmart. I learned I can find almost anything at the Walmart in today the ham was no different. It took me a while of searching. The hams are big and bulky and the just dumped in the been so I have to search and move things around and try to find the most humble ham I could find and buy humble I been small. At least I'm trying to take steps into sizing down my holiday needs. It took a while I finally found a ham with bone in rested at the bottom and over to the side where it had been pushed by other ham searchers probably looking for the bigger the best. The smallest ham I could find was a little guy weighing 7.5 pounds. And it was bigger than I wanted but if I wanted to go smaller then I would get the little bitty ham packages of usually sliced pieces of ham that's great for sandwiches but doesn't seem to give the feeling of a holiday like you need for Easter or New Year's.

So I purchased the ham as well as a aluminum cooking container. I found it much simpler just to take the aluminum container the items cooked in a just throw it out rather than having to wash up one other huge item. I found what I thought was the box I needed to put on my lap and try to hook up with my hook stick because I also had a couple other items not Easter related but still things I needed. Some the only box I could find was very unworthy I'm surprise is able to get the whole mess home. I really haven't discussed this issue I'm having about almost falling over in my chair one side. I'm having to hold myself up with my left arm anymore but this is very difficult to do with a box of on my lap of ham and other items it took me a long time to get from Walmart to the bus stop. When I actually stopped in the street last trying to cross and helped me cross the street like I said it was looked pathetic but it wasn't going to stop me. I eventually got home and through the ham directly into the oven 325° for almost 2 hours that's 15 minutes per pound roughly. My house smells like a holiday and I love that I now have to get the ham out of the container it was cooked in then figure out what I'm going to do with it. I'm thinking of whacking of large segments of the ham and throwing it in freezer bags and put into force of this ham in the freezer and then just eating the rest of the bone as the week goes on next week. I also made a pot of rice so I really could be up for stirfried rice as well I have many options.

I don't totally pathetic purchasing a ham for one person. But it makes you feel like the holidays (whatever holiday I'm experiencing) and maybe that's as good as I get to enjoying the holidays my way. Sure wish I get a hold of some Clover club potato chips

Easter Holiday Begins

 

I know it's cliché, but I have to say, I can't believe it's another Friday. The outside atmosphere is valiantly trying to make itself welcoming to someone like me but it seems to be a bigger challenge than I'm willing to work with right now. Today I went out once even though the temperature was pretty nice the clouds and the cool wind drove me immediately back into the comforts of the apartment. I know I should be careful it's easy to get lost in my place and totally enjoy electronic escapes that I have available to me. But I just keep saying one more day it will be warmer and drier or whatever outside in tomorrow I'll get out and enjoy myself in the community. Yep, it's that kind of thinking which totally bums you out when you wake up dead.

It's Easter weekend and it kind of feels like a holiday. I know I've talked about my feelings for Easter and the past as one of the minor holidays and how that's how I was raised but I've changed my thoughts on Easter is a minor holiday welcoming it to the big leagues. I remember my 2^nd wife was really into celebrating any holiday she could as a way to close down the office when we work together at the Independent living Center. She was a big advocate for the Easter holiday. I thought it was totally weird at 1^st but sort of got behind the ball and pushed it forward. Then living with Dianne I sort of got more of a feeling that the Easter holiday should be brought into the majors that's what I believe now. Even though you couldn't have Easter without Christmas (so Christmas could be a little bit larger) but resurrection! That's pretty massive when you think about it. Raising from the dead?! And then bestowing that is a gift to all human kind that's another major gift. So definitely majors. I guess the larger communities in the East or you have larger Catholic groups good Friday is actually a holiday taken off by many businesses and maybe even state systems but it never really wasn't Idaho. I think the Catholics celebrated good Friday like the Mormon celebrate 24 July like it's their own little holiday. Having Catholic friends from working for a time with Idaho migrant Council with the clinic system I got to see these individuals really celebrating the holiday especially since it was the closure of their giving up whatever they did for Lent. Again, not understanding that process at all going thing I could equate that too would be breaking your fast on fast Sunday in the Mormon domains. Both are forms of self-denial and I guess have some positive consequences. Now however, it's a just another holiday that I kind of block out here at the facility department complex. I don't know yet if will be doing breakfast on Easter morning – – we should since we didn't have breakfast last week. I think going to breakfast as early as we do around 8 o'clock in the morning that will miss the “Easter rush” and be on our respective ways. I thought about getting a ham to cook which might be a lot of fun – – and a lot of work – – for a whole lot of red meat salted protein. I still might. This afternoon one of my neighbors brought over I think barbecue rib some potatoes and rice. This person speaks very little English and we just wave to each other and communicate as best we can in the hallway. This is really the 1^st time she ever offered be anything like a meal and I was quite flattered. I guess what I'm getting to is I might be interested in grabbing a chicken and either put it in the crockpot are funded in barbecue sauce and baking it whatever you do to it in the oven that would be great except also be very messy but maybe that's half the funOf barbecue.

"Sunshine Makes Me High "

 

Finally sunshine and lots of it with very little of no wind. Maybe it was a sunshine on my face are just the fact I was outside without heavy jacket but us feeling much better and positive that perhaps there will be a spring this year.

It was a busy morning all things being equal.. I kind of oversaw the preparation for coffee social at 9:30 AM. Irene with the oldest residents here pretty much ran the show this morning getting things ready, getting the coffee gear out two pots, two coffee makers and the usual materials not cans, paper saucers, over the tables around etc. It's interesting Irene comes from that early generation that everything had to be done in a certain way usually clean and orderly. Every time I'm with her as she begins to unpack things from locked cupboards she grouses about how poorly things are put away and in many cases neither washed. She spent a good part of the day going through some of the covers of accumulated plastic materials like plastic containers which food comes in or materials for banquets and dinners in such. Things that seem too good to be thrown away get thrown among the closets are cabinets only to come cascading down when one opens a door On an Overstuffed cabinet. She has found complete dinner sets/dishes hidden away and no one knows for they came from and why they've never been used. I totally appreciated all of her help this morning leaving her comments low unsolicited. Rochelle actually brought donuts across the street from Macy's. Just a dozen but we cut them in half and made 2 dozen and it worked. In fact, it works so well we had quite a few leftover pastries which I noticed had been scarfed up by the time I got back to the market this afternoon.

You read me right. I finally got it together enough to cross the street to hit the market and the dollar store. I did take one of my lap blankets just in case it was colder than I thought it was going to be but I never really had to use the blanket the day was perfect, a little risk but definitely doable and longsleeved shirt and head covering of some sort. I enjoyed getting my usual stuff vegetable juice, sliced jalapeno peppers and seeing the staff seems to take extra good care of me. Picked up a couple potatoes and onions so I'm set for anything I might try cooking whether it's Stew or steak and potato. They even had whole milk at the dollar store so I got a couple quarts of that which will hold be well past Easter but I still might get some more to have in the pantry I've really grown a liking to the milk in boxes.

I don't think I would call it a maintenance day but it was a day that I got a few things done, workout in my blog written and washed a dish or 2. The coffee social came out okay everyone communicated and a few other folks drop by that weren't usuals. I can't tell if the population is growing on not but the folks who show up Are definitely socializing/Communicating That's all I can hope for…