Thinking of Thursday

 The apartment spells great, I cooked Frank tonight. I always love making this dish not only from the settlemental value of when I lived in Nampa and worked the clinics and new Frank bonacour who was my roommate at the time but because I just like the flavors and the odors of the cook experience. I had about everything I needed to make decent Frank except for the celery. The celery I had in the crispr had gone way around the corner along with a head of lettuce that it mutated to just juice of some sort or another. I was able to finagle both of them into double plastic bags from the market and took him out to the dumpster. So what I did have was carrots, onion and of course the chicken that I purchased last night from Walmart, the rotisserie chicken boy that's great chicken. Again for $6 that's a deal. But I used probably a fourth of the chicken half a breast and a thigh minced it up as much as I could and then added the vegetables sauteed for a bit and then of course the rice, jasmine rice and mixed everything together. It was not the best Frank I've ever made but it was enough for a Thursday night to get me through to the weekend.

I'm on the cusp of another holiday weekend, Labor Day. Looks like it's going to be a Cloudy, wet Labor Day this weekend. So, maybe get some fun food to get through the holiday. I'm thinking maybe a Domino's Pizza that plus the Frank and what's left of the chicken should be more than enough I still have half a watermelon I need to use and I think I might have enough peppers or jalapenos to get through. We'll get a little concerned since I've almost used that giant can a sliced peppers I got last week. I go through the cans way too quickly luckily the cans only cost around $7 which is probably the cost of three smaller cans. I think the big cat is less expensive plus gives me so many sliced peppers I can enjoy them at well. I wish I could get the San Marcos but as of yet I haven't been able to figure out how to get a hold of the home office to find out who sells the big cans. I keep waiting for this bad to work itself through it has not yet I totally enjoy the flavor and texture of the sliced pickled peppers everyday. And I totally love the soup kind of product that we make/ I make with the peppers, vegetable juice and ice that I make each morning. I could eat it as soup in the evenings if I wanted to but I don't know if that would really count as a meal. I kind of think that it might but maybe that's just way too weird and too much sliced peppers.

I guess you could tell I'm totally focused on food this afternoon and tonight and I hope that's okay. There was even a presentation this afternoon at the apartment complex and not many people showed so the folks who brought tons of cookies gave a bunch to me for showing up. They were doing an information Fair as far as equipment which really translates into the host is in agency it sells equipment for disability and they're just trying to find somebody to sell to under the guise of keeping a healthy lifestyle. They take your blood pressure and something else I can't remember and give you a written document and a handful of cookies. Well actually they're actually pass it up bouquets of flowers is that too weird or what? It's late now, the apartments a little chilly because I forgot to turn the air conditioner off this morning. I may have to have Melissa shut the window tomorrow with the possible storm that will be coming in over the holiday. I still have to put dinner away..

Wednesday's Wonder

 Do you ever feel there's an unseen presence working directly against you trying to make sure that you don't get things done. I have been getting that sensation a lot the last couple days and trying to get the kid Letters Out by the end of the month. Everything I'm doing or everything I do seems to get in the way of the letters going out. Today was almost traumatic actually but I finally succeeded in getting the envelopes printed.

I was doing just fine I've gotten up got in my shower and stuff got dressed and decide to focus on getting the letters finished at least to get the envelopes taken care of since I had expended the energy to go out and actually get the envelopes I figured it was best to get those finished as soon as I could. I happen to find a couple of Rogue envelopes that got in a way here and there and I figured out at least get Mom Hughes letter out and maybe one of the other kids letter but of course the second the letter or envelope entered the printer it jammed. I just let out a sigh and tried to figure out how I was going to dislodge the envelope from the inside of the printer. I had learned how to use my other chair that could actually Lift Me Up High Enough to look down inside the print mechanism. Allows me to pull out pieces of the printer that had to come out in order to get to the jammed paper/envelope. So not having access to a raised device I was a little beside myself. But I decided I'd just go ahead and what I could and hope for the best. Of course trying to get to the printer now sitting as low as I am is a real challenge but I sort of found that if I pulled the printer away from the wall and down towards me I could actually access the area I needed. But wouldn't you know something happened I'm not sure if I inadvertently hit the joystick on my power chair and moved a little bit or maybe the printer just slipped but before I knew it the whole thing was on the floor. On the floor and unplugged two major challenges. So for the next 2 hours I struggled to get the printer off the floor and not break it at the same time. Of course tried to use my hooks to Loop something on the printer and lift it up but it was just too heavy and a couple times crashed off the hook itself and at one point broke some piece off of the printer that I don't know what it does but it doesn't seem to affect the machines ability to print. And it's not like I really knew anybody I could go knock on their door who could come over and pick up the printer. I was thinking my only option was calling Marc Anthony or maybe my brother Carl to come over.

I kept trying and trying and finally somehow I finagled the printer up alongside my power chair and was able to hook one of my hooks into the opening of the printer and lifted up high enough that I was able to grab the printer with my other hand and drag it onto my lap which totally surprised me. I scooted the printer back on the Shelf and next use the hook to grab the power cord. This was not as difficult as I anticipated it would be and I was able to get the cord plugged back into the printer and soon the black plastic monster came back to life. I quickly loaded the new envelopes into the feed and printed the two addresses in question out and the printer work just fine. That took but seemed like all afternoon. I finished the novel I've been reading the last couple weeks last night and I really wanted to get another book to read befor1e I went to bed so after I finished with my bike workout I drove my chair down to the Walmart since there was no place I could actually catch the bus because of all the construction. I got the book and a bag of chicken you know those roasted chickens they have at Walmart another stores at dinner time for like $6? I got one it was really nice to have food, real food for a change. Definitely worth the 6 bucks I think I'll do that more often. Needless to say I'm not going to get to the letters tonight but I've got one more day so I'm okay. Oh and during that time I folded the washed clothes. Not bad for a Wednesday ..

Chore Day

 It seems like I spent the day running around doing little bitty chores rather than using the free day that I had given to me because the assist meeting was canceled. That's okay I guess it's just seems like it takes a long time to get anything done. I realized yesterday that I'm out of envelopes. Remember I was printing the kid letters with a new ink? Anyway so I figured I need to Saddle Up and head up to Walmart, well actually I was going to go down to 21st South at the big box office store there but I was so confused and so bummed out with the stupid road construction where some buses will stop at other buses won't you don't know where you can get on or off I decided I would not go into 21st South and go down Redwood Road to Walmart or for sure they would have envelopes.

Walmart to me is always overwhelming, much like Costco and other huge stores. I get there with one thing on my mind and soon I've picked up this and that and almost forgotten what I went there in the first place. Rubber bands, a three pack roll of paper towels and a bag of six snicker bars for Melissa. It was quite an armful of stuff to take home on the bus and that was after I stopped at McDonald's for my favorite cheeseburger with extra pickles and extra onions. I'm not sure what the problem is well I'm beginning to struggle getting my power chair under the buses ramps. It's like my left motor on my drive wheel is going out. The only time I see this however is when I'm coming up a ramp a little too steep. The bus driver is actually have a lot of control about how steep they make that ramp and if it's even kind of steep I have a hard time powering up the ramp many times haven't overcorrect to the right side and just hope I can stay on the ramp. Today was one of those situations where there's somebody sitting in the other wheelchair slot and the driver of course didn't tell me that the other wheelchair slot was taken, if I know this I can back up onto the bus and slide into the tie down okay but in this case I came aboard then found out the other wheelchair stall was full and had to negotiate my chair around the fair box and into the slot and ride backwards until we got to my bus stop and home. I really thought us going out for the ramp once or twice and the driver's trying to help in many cases making it even more difficult. I was glad to be home with all my treasures and myself. I spent rest of the day trying to read a little bit and getting enough energy to work on the letter task. I still have a couple of days so I'm not too worried.

I'm kind of hoping tomorrow I'll be able to just stay in and work on the kid letter project. I bought stamps today so I know I do have enough stamps- I probably did have the staff so I doubt if I could find them easily anyway. So, I picked up another bunch of stamps so tomorrow I'll work on envelopes addressing them and then signing letters stuffing envelopes stamping and then sending them out the door hopefully on the 1st of the month 3 days away. 

 

I'm okay!

It's kind of interesting living in a senior housing project. We have ages that are sort of young early 60s for those that are like in their '80s and '90s. There's also the gamut of disabilities to be considered people with significant disabilities such as mine partial quadriplegia to Like My Neighbor Next Door who is a stroke survivor and lives by herself. Just this summer I think for the first time she's started using Home Health  support which I totally appreciate. She's ambulatory she does that lurching walk of one leg with a severe disability being drug after she walks a step with the good leg over and over again looking like an extra for Night of the Living Dead. But I appreciate where she's at cuz really I'm not far behind.

I bring up my neighbor primarily because she has gotten upset with everybody knocking on her door to see if she's okay. She stays in her apartment a lot it seems but at the same time daily she goes over across the driveway to the senior center. So it's hard to tell how she's doing. Many of us don't see her walking over to the center and assume that she's still in her apartment. I guess there are some time last year she actually fell in her apartment and laid there for about a day and a half before somebody found her which really raised everyone's concern. So when we don't see her for a week or two at a time we tend to get a little concerned and then we'll knock on your door to see if she's all right. Well couple weeks ago she pretty much it had enough of that and she went out of her way and developed this annotation system to paste on the front of her door that she dates every morning after she gets up let people know that she's alive and doing well. I don't know how upset she was she was okay by the time we had all gathered around her door when she was putting up her document but there really must have been some concern there. But it's a reality for seniors and folks like myself with severe limited Mobility that if something should happen we need to figure out a way to let people know we're okay or that we need assistance. I tried to keep a phone close by whenever I'm transferring in and out of bed- - which I think are the most dangerous times I deal with where I might have an issue if I should fall. I hate having to think like this but it's true and that's the way it is for folks at this stage of life.

I was kind of surprised to get a phone call this morning from the individual who facilitates our volunteer group at assist every Tuesday, Andreas. I of course didn't pick up the call cuz I was in the middle of the shower and called him back and he informed me that there will be no meeting tomorrow because it's the Utah Housing coalition's annual conference. That's cool for me it's like a mini vacation. Certainly got me thinking though I used to be part of that coalition years ago and I kind of missed the guys even though I doubt any of the old folks that served with me are still around. I looked at the fancy Dancy website they have now and that's some of the new members and Leadership and such and I don't know anybody. Wouldn't mind getting involved again. I may do so because without a wheelchair person there I don't think these guys even think of disability issues that didn't when I was there and that's why I was there they've had a reprieve now for 27 years someone needs to get back into the saddle who knows?

Almost Missed

Once again I slipped up and let my weakness for television, Netflix specifically get the better of me and all the sudden it was 9:00 and I had still yet to blog. There were points in the day I could have jotted down a few notes here and there but I didn't. I spent a great deal of time reading on the sidewalk outside the window of my apartment, underneath one of my favorite trees.

It's Sunday so I really didn't do much today aside from my early morning breakfast with Mark and my granddaughter. This of course is one of the high points of my week I must admit. I enjoy the time with them and being seen with them and doing family type things in public. Not only does it satisfy my need to believe I'm involved in something greater than myself but gives me fodder to bring up with friends and acquaintances when quizzed on what I did over the weekend. I mean you can only tell people so many times that you butchered up a watermelon like it was a big deal – and it was a big deal to me. Cutting up a watermelon used to take me literally an hour or so and make a major mess and use at least 10 to 12 paper towels to stop up the watermelon juice which seem to leak out everywhere. Now however it's becoming old hat I have a method that I use and it's very simple- - a little difficult depending on how big the watermelon is making that first cut but once I've split the melon completely in two I can then put one piece away in the refrigerator under covered plastic and the other I cut into slices lengthwise to the overall melon which makes it much easier to remove the meat to put into a plastic container that I can use all week or until I'm out and harvest the rest of the watermelon. Now it's only takes three paper towels and hardly any water and I immediately place the watermelon rinds into a plastic bag which I immediately take out to the dumpster. The event takes about a half an hour and could be shorter if I really wanted it to be but Saturday afternoon I'm in no hurry and in no time I have a great treat for Sunday afternoon or evening.

Mark also made time for me this morning after breakfast came over and helped me put some order to my writing desk in the main part of the apartments. He's a great knack for putting the order to chaos especially the chaos of my papers and books and correspondence. I look forward to the next time he can spend with me on some of the other chaotic Nooks of my apartment. Sure feels good when he leaves to have the apartment look the way that it does.

It was hot today for August for the last of August. As I said I spent time out in the heat under the shade of a tree reading and napping. The rest of the day I spent doing my kid letters for September and yes there's a couple of adult letters in there as well. Just easier to to refer to home all as kid letters. I can't print them yet however I'm out of ink supposedly tomorrow my next shipment of ink will be here thanks to Amazon. If I have any Fortune at all I'll have the letters printed, enveloped and out by the first of the month. I am pretty lucky..

Saturday Found

 Yes I know the image is upside down it's me just being a little artsy fartsy as well as trying to protect the privacy of my granddaughter. I know that you just have to turn the page upside down but still it was a step. Besides it's just the first name I think she'll be okay. I pretty much wanted to highlight the effort and struggle she did in writing the letter. What a great document! I got the letter earlier in the week and actually I only check my mail maybe once a week nowadays since there's hardly any real relevant material coming through the mails anymore except that is from granddaughters. I was a little surprised to get the letter but then again not really she's been doing really well as far as answering letters that I've written to her which makes me feel good. I can tell from her handwriting as well as the way that she addressed the letter she's getting much more confident and it's taking some real finesse and her writing. Think she's going to do really well. I will answer the letter tomorrow or day after as I start drafting the letters for the month of September. Luckily, for me, this letter this September letter will be both answer to her letter as well as just the regular monthly kid letter.

I actually got out of the apartment today jumping the bus and heading north to the Smith's Market about nine streets up. I wasn't sure but I thought that I remembered seeing large cans of sliced pickled peppers and in fact there was cans of pickled peppers which I was able to get a hold of. It's kind of strange that I've gone through the can I opened up earlier this week. I best be careful I must be ingesting way too many pickled peppers but they're sure good. The amount I get in the 10 number 10 can is like 3 to 4 times what I would get in the middle size can and it only cost me $7. To me that's a deal it's a lot of work however dragging the can home and then opened it up and dumping it into my plastic container I got a few weeks ago and seems to be working really well. The only trouble/challenge I had was the horrible Construction which is being done on all the streets right now in fact many of the streets are blocked off with orange markers plastic things sticking up in the road like construction cones only bigger. In fact the drivers are not supposed to stop and there's no place to get on the bus if they can't stop at these cordoned off areas. Luckily the driver that I got this morning broke the rules allowed me on to the bus. You had to stop in traffic not being able to pull over to the side but he loaded me just the same. Only problem was he didn't lower the bus like he usually does which lowers the ramp which makes a softer rise. I got 3/4 of the way up in my chair stopped working luckily he was able to grab a hold of the front of it with me powering the chair at the same time we're able to get on to the bus. For some reason my chair is now shutting itself off when stressed too much this is something I have to look into if I ever get my other chair back. So it's been a pretty good Saturday so far it's about ready for bed. I don't know if we're having breakfast tomorrow Mark's been on the road all week attending his stepfather's funeral I don't know if he's been back for a while or what but I'll be up and ready just in case ..

Finding Saturday

 

Somehow, in my head, I've lost a day. I've been rolling around feeling like it's Saturday all day. A number oSomehow, in my head, I've lost today. I've been rolling around feeling like it's Saturday all day. A number of people have corrected me assuring me that it's actually Friday. I don't know why got this feeling of Saturday. So at least now intellectually I know it's Friday night, just watched some old films or shows on Amazon which sort of gave me a Friday night feel. Maybe it's because I guess I didn't sleep very well last night, I thought that I did, and I've been yawning all day looking forward to going to sleep tonight and that's not the way to live your day when you know that you only have so many days left. No this isn't the announcement of anything grim it's just that I have fewer days ahead that I have behind if that makes sense. So I didn't figure I was going to be doing anything today there's no movies I really want to watch there's no reason to go anywhere on the bus to spend any money and the only money I do want to spend is getting some weekend treats at the market which I did.

The most energetic thing I've done or I did today was over to the market for the sole purpose of purchasing the watermelon. I have really gotten into buying watermelons then butchering them up and put in the red sides into a plastic container in the refrigerator and being able to eat them whenever I want to. I'm finding for me that's the best way to eat watermelon and not lose a lot of it because you don't want to go through the regular roll of having to cut it off the major source the melon. I'm exhausted tonight so I don't think I'm going to do any cutting tonight but I plan to tomorrow hopefully. I've got to pull the plastic container for the refrigerator and wash it out to put the new melon in. I only use half of the watermelon the other half I'll cooked in plastic wrap and throw into the refrigerator have later next week. Maybe to celebrate the first of the month. I also purchase two ears of corn that I didn't get to this evening. I had a small steak which I cooked earlier this week and cut up into finger sizes- - finger steaks. And a container of rice that I got this week for Chinese food. I should have microwaved at least one of the ears of corn but as it were the rice and steaks and a can of pop was all I could juggle on the way to the television to eat while I watched the news. I have one steak left and two ears of corn that should keep me pretty well for tomorrow if I think I need to have more starch maybe I'll purchase a baker over at the market. From this juncture I don't see a reason to go to the market at least Macy's. If I do get a wild hair and I feel up to it tomorrow I may go over to Costco and get one of their huge bags of chips. It just amazes mqe that it's hard to find the old large sizes of chips the way they used to have them. I know they have them at Costco I almost got a bag last week but I didn't have a way to carry them home so if I go tomorrow I'll take some plastic bags with me so that I can hang them on my chair somewhere for the ride home and since I've got the melon I don't for see any large purchases before now in the first of the month.

Thursday Thoughts

 I'm beginning to wonder whether I made a good decision regarding my involvement with the Independent Living Center, a place where I used to work, becoming a board member of that organization. In my view of being a board member I think of going to meetings, board meetings, then perhaps other events where the program that you're a board member of needs to be represented. I hadn't thought about other aspects as in supporting the organization in some of the recreational type programming. I did a quick search of previous postings that I didn't see anything but I got a memo or an email last week for the executive director of the program wanting the body count of people who would be able to make it to the campout retreat for staff, consumers particularly, and board members. Now the campout is an annual event and is highly anticipated- - or it used to be- - by the consumers. Basically, the whole office would shut down and everybody would pack up the vehicles we had a number of vans at the time and drive up to where ver the camp out was usually not very far from the city but far enough to get the feeling of the rural/ Forest feeling. I never have liked that kind of stuff and I could usually talk myself out of having to go to something like that usually by volunteering to keep the office open, answer phones Etc. I've always maintained that if I can't do something by myself I just assumed not do it whether that's camping out, skiing or what have you. I'm not a very fun guy. So anyway when I got the email brought back all those memories of having to figure out how to get out of the campout. I mean it's a relatively long vehicle trip for sleeping outside all night in the rough and then dining on hot dogs. Like I said it's not my cup of tea.

I've been thinking about this now for some time. There's other events as well like fundraisers usually in the evening sometimes dress up type events, dinners award ceremonies and things of that nature. I hadn't thought about having to be involved with that end of being a board of director. I was just thinking of attending board meetings and occasional legislative events for disability type legislative support Etc. And even that wasn't so bad with the previous director but the new director seems to be a real Fireball and I'm assuming we'll want to have a number of these kind of events particularly for fundraising. I don't know if I have that much of a commitment to the organization but we'll have to see. I really do like the director and if I can figure out a way to get fairly easy transportation perhaps I can get back into the social routine a little bit more. I have to admit though it's certainly giving me pause. Interestingly, now that I Ponder all of this before I had my van and I could drive myself to and from these events now I have no personal transportation and we'll have to be relying on public transit or maybe them driving me back and forth to such events. Like I said taking the bus the middle of the afternoon to a board meeting and Back Again is a whole lot different than going up to the mountains and spending the night…

Blackout!

I don't know if you can tell but you see that blue cord sneaking along the wall that goes behind those items stacked up in the corner that blue cord goes to a power strip I have mounted on a little box next to my bed that I have all my items that use electricity in that part of the room located. My arm bike, my clock radio, my lamp, my electric bed and a couple of chargers most importantly the charger that I have to plug into every night to my power chair to make sure I have the juice to run around the next day. It's critical that I have this power especially my power bed cuz I use it to raise and lower myself in the bed which greatly assists me in going to bed then in the morning raising me up to a height that I can basically fall into my chair when I get up. So last night I was feeling pretty good because I was actually going to get to bed by 11:00 PM maybe even a shade earlier but just as I was adjusting something on my chair I don't remember what all the sudden the lamp went out and I was in darkness. Luckily I had my cell phone so I turned it on flashlight mode I thought sure the cord where the power strip connected to the extension cord had just come loose I struggled for a few minutes to get to it but it looked like it was okay I wasn't sure what was going on totally frustrated because here I was sitting naked in my chair and the bed won't work the light won't work everything was off. I finally in a fit of desperation called Melissa my home health person and just luckily she was still up in fact she just come in off of a long day of work. And she came over about 11:30 p.m. and Save the Day. She traced the blue extension cord to behind the clothes and sure enough they'll plug it come out of the the plug-in in the wall. She plugged it back in and I was good to go. I really I'm trying to figure out a better plan that I can do when this happens or somebody close close by that can intercede and save my bacon. I guess I should be just thankful that this didn't happen while I was in bed or sometime during the night or something and I was able to get someone to come and fix it immediately. I cannot believe how much energy it takes to be independent. I used to take my Independence so much for granted and now I guard it jealously and try to set things up beforehand that I don't have to rely on somebody or something else to get by.

The days are slowly warming back up again up into the 90s in a couple of days I don't think we're going to see any more triple digit days which kind of breaks my heart but truth is it's almost September with the days will work down from the 90s to the '80s to the 70s and soon fall will be here and it's glory and it's coolness. I need to find some clothes for the coming winter season. I need to find some clothes that are kind of dressy because I think in my new position on the board of directors for the Independent Living Center I'm going to have to be a bit more visible. I sure hope I haven't shot myself in the foot with this new position. 

Some Rainy Discomfort

 I wore a long sleeve shirt today because I wasn't certain how chilly it was going to be. Not only was it overcast but there was precipitation as well. Luckily, I did not get caught in a lot of rain mainly just sprinkles but still uncomfortable getting wet is never appreciated when it's unwanted. I have to admit the long sleeve was uncomfortable but I was glad that I had it by the time the day was over. I am going to have to consider either getting a few fall and winter clothes or where in the old ones I have already but I think I'm getting a little tired of those. I would really like to find some things that fit and looked okay on me. I really need a closed coach that there is such a thing.

I got an email today from the Independent Living Center, that place I've just become a board member of and if I used to work for a number of decades. Interestingly it was a quasi invitation to their summer camp out evening. I'm sure it's something that good board members are going to go to which is a ride up the canyon and then I can't fire a cookout and I think some people even spend the night none of which sounds interesting to me. It would be difficult for me to get there but that's a poor excuse for the Independent Living Center because they would probably happily transport me and I don't know about camping out and what kind of support systems they have but it sounds very intimidating to me. I never took advantage or did the camp out but I work there. The rest of the staff sure did but I was willing to work support from the office especially keeping the office open answering phones and doing General coverage and whatever prep that I could be useful at but jumping down around the buses and going on the out bound trip to wherever they go that wasn't for me and and I doubt I would have done it had I been able bodied who knows? But, I guess that issue I need to rethink my willingness to serve on this board particularly if they want an active person doing a lot of stuff with consumers. Probably wouldn't hurt me to be more involved and doing more stuff and maybe that's what I need to be doing. I'm just not up for it right this second. Maybe once I get my regular power chair back with all the amenities working maybe that might help but the actual going up to the canyon hanging out for a hot dog dinner I can't see that flying too well with me. I'm just an old stick in the mud. Maybe if I'd been more involved this kind of stuff with Denise as well as Dianne they would have kept me around. I Feel Like lyrics of the song about not being any fun anymore. That's a trick this old dog I don't think going to pick up anytime soon.

Dreams and other things

I had another one of those dreams this morning, you know not quite a nightmare and not a terror but a very discomforting dream reflecting a part of my work life that I'm glad that I'm over with basically working with employers/bosses. I don't remember the dream now specifically except for I was a work oriented dream and my boss was involved and I had done something and I was in trouble. Of course, never did find out how the situation ended thankfully I woke and upon waking and the realization of the dream and the great relief I had as knowing that it was just a dream I took a deep breath turned over my pillow and grabbed a couple hours more sleep before I had to rise for the day. But, I don't know if those dreams are becoming more frequent or I'm just remembering specific ones more clearly but it's interesting at this point in my life I think I'm reviewing parts of it that was uncomfortable and that I'm glad that I'm passed.

It is unseasonably cool this August and it's a very strange August I think, we are getting the revenants of a hurricane/ tropical storm that came in the West Coast- which hardly ever happens. Thankfully we are not getting deluged with water as parts of California seem to be and parts of the mountains are being washed away houses with them and I'm sure any number of people as well. We are supposed to get some rain possibly late tonight early tomorrow morning or maybe during the day and possibly till the end of the week. Seasonally cool and Monsoon like moisture. That leaves me with the decision of short sleeves versus long sleeves. Tomorrow most likely will be a long sleeve day since I need to go into town for my weekly meeting and I don't want to get caught freezing to death on the train or should it rain be in the rain without something covering my arms which will definitely make me chilly I am even planning on trading in my regular cap for a stocking cap just to make sure my cap doesn't blow away. I almost lost one of my favorite caps today when I got handled by a gust of wind.

I took the bus again over to Murray to check out Costco. I purchased my glasses from Costco the newest pair the ones I ran over a couple weeks ago I wanted to see if they could pull it back from the brink and make him wearable again even though the lens is pretty messed up. I'm always impressed at what they can do with my frames and lenses. Sure enough I was correct after a short wait in line I gave the challenge to the little person behind the counter who grabbed a hold of them and it's been about a half an hour resurrecting the poor things to the point where I can wear them now full time not revert to my backup pair of glasses which I've been wearing for the last 2 weeks which has been good to have but those are a challenge as well since they were ordered with darkening lenses which has been my Bane as far as glasses go. I was still with Diane when I got these glasses with self-darkening lenses and they just drive me crazy particularly in situations where it's dark a little bit where I'm at like maybe on the bus or something and the handheld screen is kind of dark and the glasses are dark and I can't hardly read anything on the screen so I have to take my glasses off which is no big deal since I pretty much do that anyway. Today I also spent time with my pharmaceutical provider trying to make sure I have baclofen my medication for spasticity when I run out of the current bottle I have now. I tried to get it on one of those 90-day things but that's been a real mess and I had thought it was done last week but then I got an email over the weekend saying they can't fill my prescription I need to talk to my doctor which I did today it's it's messed up but I think I still have some prescriptions at the local pharmacy three more fills so I think I'll just pop over there tomorrow and pick them up. So the day was fairly productive I didn't get any reading done but sometimes I have to be on the road and tomorrow will be another road day possibly a wet one and possibly when it feels like fall. I may even have to dig out a jacket or something if it's raining when I leave in the morning. Wish me luck 

Hillary's cold shoulder

 I am not beside myself but I must admit that I am somewhat distressed how cool the weather is right now. I don't think it even got to the 80s today here in Salt Lake. Hi clouds and dark clouds from time to time permeated the sky with the sun just peeking through here and there giving the illusion or slash promise that it's going to get water possibly even hot but it just couldn't bring it off today. And I think it's probably going to be like this all week or for however long hurricane Hillary is active. Hurricane Hillary the West Coast hurricane that came ashore last night and it did lose its hurricane status and went down to a tropical storm but still I think where it's the eye of the storm like San Diego they're still getting drenched. I tried to watch the news tonight but as a little late and couldn't get a fix on what's going on with the great storm. And you know it's all climate change the conservatives still refuse to believe it but it's true. I'm sure there's a lot of West Coast territories that's going to get flooded and flooded bad as the storm washes over the West. We could get thunderstorms and that's not bad but this clouds and block into the sun in the heat needs to be rethought that's for sure. I tried to read outside for a little bit but it was just a bit windy and chilly and I kind of kept falling asleep. I could have slept better through the night and I didn't sleep through the night I woke up around 3:00 a.m. and then just light slept for the rest of the night for fear of not being able to get up when it was time to get dressed to be ready for breakfast at 8:0 a.m. I finally got up around 5:45 a.m. but realize I actually didn't get to bed till almost 1:00 in the morning. So it was fitful  sleeping at best. This evening I tried to get lost in one of the Marvel movies but it was just two cold I thought at one point I even had a partial blanket over me. This is just the beginning I'll be interested to see what other pieces of the storm we get here in Utah.

I was feeling a little antsy this afternoon and so even though I had things here I could eat besides I'd go out and try to find something to eat at a fast food joint or something and ended up over at the market Deli section space where I got a small container of mashed potatoes and gravy and the Frozen burrito well I got the burrito from the frozen section and nuked it at the eating area by the deli. It was pretty good I should have had something to drink but it was relatively inexpensive and I was able to hang out at the market. I even treated myself to an ice cream cone they'll have a nice cream cone of Softee for 98 cents. I don't want him to pile too many rims on it but I enjoyed eating it as I was going home from the market. Not much to report and no mind-boggling events happened just me and my own trying to stay warm and make it through the day and the start of a new week. …

Slow Saturday

I totally surprised myself at how functional I am for as little sleep as I tend to get. I can function pretty well on 6 hours of sleep and often that's what I get but last night I did my usual read until 12:00 or so and then go to sleep only to wake up around 2:30 a.m. with a full bladder or what felt like a full bladder. I drained and figured that would be good that I could sleep another 4 hours before 6:00 but I woke again around 4:30 a.m. with what again felt like a full bladder and I just couldn't get everything together to drain before I felt it was time to get up. You will remember that Saturdays have become my 9:30 a.m. mornings over at the coffee shop where I meet one of the folks here at the apartment complex or anybody else who wants to join us for coffee and we just eat on her for an hour or so then go on our way. I would really like to believe that if I didn't have to go to the coffee function that I would turn over and go back to sleep for a couple of hours but I know that once that clock hits 6:00 a.m. I just can't get back to sleep. Like I said I thought I was going to be dragging today but I wasn't too bad and I didn't have the midday Sleepy's like I usually get and try to take a mini nap by laying back in my chair usually out by my tree or someplace else in the shade to enjoy Summer's Heat and such. I really didn't do much of that today. I did take an Excursion over to the market and got a few things that I thought I needed to get through the weekend.

I think my main bit of excitement today was opening up my number 10 can of sliced peppers. I just had a few old Peppers left in the container I purchased a couple weeks ago that will take a whole can at one time. I placed the peppers that were left that were whole into a skinny plastic container that I can use to pull out for burritos and such freeing up the large plastic container for the number 10 sliced peppers. I have to admit I was excited once again as I use the handheld can opener with the crank and opened up the big can. I found that if I pour the juice in first that not only lightens the load at the can but cuts down on the spillage of the pepper juice, brine or whatever the liquid is. The pickled peppers in the can are good but not as good as the one brand that I've been using and enjoying out of the smaller cans. I hope to find the big can number 10 can of this other brand that I really enjoy. The pepper seem a lot more crisp as do the carrots. I also bought three large carrots. I usually buy a bag of carrots throw them in the crisper in the refrigerator then forget about them until I try to use them then they're all so grody and stringy I hate to use them but I will use them but for the same amount these big fresh carrots look like they'll do the job trying to stretch out my pepper money as long as I can with buying a giant can of peppers with pickled carrots and then adding the regular carrots for crunch and deliciousness.

Not much else is going on today no great thoughts and ponderings. There was promise of more monsoonal storming possibilities which never came to fruition aside from a few cracks of thunder and a flash or two of lightning but that's okay there's always tomorrow the freaky West Coast hurricane was supposed to make sure today but I haven't heard anything we'll see tomorrow ellipsis

Funky Friday

It's Friday and who doesn't love Friday? That last day before Saturday and the weekend and as you know I have come to include Friday as part of my weekend going all the way back to high school. I didn't have anything on my agenda today as far as being out of the apartment except for meeting with my friend Duane B for Chinese. We haven't done Chinese before that I remember so this should be an exciting afternoon.

I was able to get a few things done this morning before my morning person showed up. I probably should have done more but I think I got enough done to get me through the weekend anyway. I still have to do some sweeping in the kitchen and maybe use the power mop off and on but I'm not expecting anybody here over the weekend so I'm not that worried about the whole clean apartment thing which I've almost given up on. However, Gloria did show up the other day indicating that I definitely needed some help and she would give me an assist of course for the pay and I totally agree with that. She still recovering from her broken arm or wrist but she's a lot better than I thought she was from what I heard. She always needs quarters for washing so she stopped over for a roll last week. I don't know how soon she would consider doing some housework and I certainly don't want to pressure her but the kitchen floors getting pretty grody. I did some work on the bathroom floor this afternoon spend some time trying to clean between the tiles. What a weird scenario people who have tiles in their bathroom that do nothing but clogged and get dirty. I doubt that I would have those squares again if I were to get a different bathroom floor. I could have done more work in the bathroom but I sort of got it presentable in case anyone should come over. And again I would never let anyone use my toilet I would send them down to the guest toilet at the front of the building. I think most people would gag at my bathroom. I really need to get somebody.

Like I said after lunch in the park I really didn't have anything to do and I didn't want to go spend any money if I didn't have to at the at the market or anywhere else and I'd ridden the bus enough times this week enjoy not having to go anywhere specific. I spent time in the Sun trying to read the new book I purchased yesterday day before but I just couldn't get into reading over sleeping well not at first. After a while, I was okay and I read a little bit but not enough to count.

Dwayne got beef and broccoli and egg foo young for lunch. Big Square styrofoam container stack next to smaller containers of rice and who knows what else. We had plates that we just each other we dished up the meal we had a fast meal or good meal anyway. I got the spoils Dwayne sent the remainder of the leftovers home with me. Seriously I think it's enough to go through the whole weekend. I noticed I got one of the boxes a little scary Wampus in the plastic bags as I came home and threw them in the refrigerator now there's a pile of juice that seeped out of one of the dinners hopefully it won't be a problem if I can just get it out of the refrigerator before the bag breaks and gets beef and broccoli juice all over the refrigerator still a good reason to force myself into cleaning the refrigerator again…

Thoroughly Thursday

 I wish I could have gotten a better image of this shoe I passed along the way, today. I was hot and somewhat tired however and even though I took two or three images the one I have here is the best of the three. I even edited the image a bit enlarged the item but still it's not as graphically pleasing as I would have liked it to have been. Of course she all remember my project and my interest in shoes without mates found along the way. I think it's a sad commentary to a certain degree not that the shoes really care but it just seems so symbolic to me where there should be two there's only one looking sad and forlorn often on the side of the road. Anyway that's my image for the day there are others I wish I had taken but didn't get the chance or the opportunity.

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Of course today being Thursday was Coffee Day and I must admit it went pretty well except for when I brought my purchase of cookies that I did last night in for today's treats Marsha looked a little sad because we already have Bunches of cookies from coffee groups from the past. So we should be okay for a while. I thought I had a lunch appointment with my good buddy Dwayne today and embarrassingly I find out that it's tomorrow and it's right there in my messenger between him and me that I set it up for Friday, the end of the week. So I had my whole day ahead of me and it was only around 10:45 a.m. so I decided I would do another trip in to Costco and maybe Barnes & Noble. Once again I noticed that my day was totally evaporating and that if I wanted to get home before 3:00 p.m. so I can listen to Marketplace in the comfort of my apartment while working on my own bike I'd have to forget one of the projects and I ended up being Costco thinking that there's always another day to do Costco but I really need to get something to read before I go to bed so I cut across the street and was at Barnes & Noble. I forget how much I enjoy just hanging around a bookstore even a huge heartless plastic store Lake Barnes & Noble it's still just being around so many books and so many things of interest. I pretty much stayed with fiction I don't want to read about science and other things nonfiction and I don't have the patience for biographies and such- - though I should. I found a piece of literature which looks pretty interesting not quite science fiction are horror but something I think that will be enjoyable however not as long as I would like to have been it'll take me a while to read if I save it just for the evenings before I go to bed. Monsoons have returned to the area with a fairly decent rainstorm this evening. Luckily, I was in for the night and didn't get caught in any of the deluge. I did sit underneath the awning in the back and watch the rain for a while totally enjoying the phenomenon. There was Thunder and lightning to some degree but quite a bit of rain for a little bit and the best part was I didn't get soaked. I'm kind of excited, listening to news tonight, it looks like we'll be doing monsoon for the next week or so with high probabilities of more precipitation. As for now, and once again pretty tired looking forward to an evening with a new book and lunch with my friend tomorrow…

Working Wednesday

  Nothing vexes me so much then to open my mailbox and pull out a returned piece of mail! I could understand this when I was still thinking I could address envelopes by hand and even before my accident my riding was so atrocious that I was some part of a legend in my 6th grade class. Mr Kuntz my teacher brought out my poor penmanship every chance Mr Kuntz seem to get. I wonder now if Mr Koontz had it in for me but it never really showed one way or the other. I like the guy actually past tense he's long gone. I never saw this as him being mean he was just amazed at how poorly I wrote. However, that aside after I started getting letters returned I decided I would go to the printer or the typewriter whichever that would allow me to address a letter. So, I was really distressed when I saw this kid letter returned. I'm still trying to figure out what went wrong because as far as I can tell this letter was sent to the exact same address that the other three letters went to. I did check with the other addresses I have for the family over the years, sometimes I get confused and send a document to one of the other addresses when it comes up on the computer when I'm printing the envelopes. So I was a little concerned that maybe I had picked out one of the other addresses when I send it to this address but I don't think so. I will make contact with Michelle just to make sure I'm not Goofy and resend the document and the monthly stipend- - which I'm most worried about. I'm sure the lowly $10 makes little difference and this budding teenager's life but everything helps especially when getting back into the school frame of mind. I'm really beginning to believe that somewhere either on this side of the post on the other side of the post has it out for me and just loves to return pieces of mail even when properly addressed- - who knows Maybe, I'm just being paranoid.

However the high point of my day was lunch with my old boss Claire. Our relationship is fairly straightforward however before she is my boss she was my friend we shared the same office that what used to be the governor's Council for people with disabilities. And through a series of weird events she ended up becoming my executive director for a number of years. We had a good relationship and since her leaving the state and then my retirement and subsequent medical issues and the pandemic we just have not been able to get together until today at the restaurant. It was good to get together again sadly we don't know how much time we've got that's so true of people our age and with our particular physical challenges but hopefully we have enough time for another couple meetings enjoy your lunch, crab about the politics an the in general and enjoy our time together and you know Claire bought lunch…

A Little Self-doubt and a Free Lunch!

  Nothing vexes me so much then to open my mailbox and pull out a returned piece of mail! I could understand this when I was still thinking I could address envelopes by hand and even before my accident my riding was so atrocious that I was some part of a legend in my 6th grade class. Mr Kuntz my teacher brought out my poor penmanship every chance Mr Kuntz seem to get. I wonder now if Mr K had it in for me but it never really showed one way or the other. I like the guy actually past tense he's long gone. I never saw this as him being mean he was just amazed at how poorly I wrote. However, that aside after I started getting letters returned I decided I would go to the printer or the typewriter whichever that would allow me to address a letter. So, I was really distressed when I saw this kid letter returned. I'm still trying to figure out what went wrong because as far as I can tell this letter was sent to the exact same address that the other three letters went to. I did check with the other addresses I have for the family over the years, sometimes I get confused and send a document to one of the other addresses when it comes up on the computer when I'm printing the envelopes. So I was a little concerned that maybe I had picked out one of the other addresses when I send it to this address but I don't think so. I will make contact with Michelle just to make sure I'm not Goofy and resend the document and the monthly stipend- - which I'm most worried about. I'm sure the lowly $10 makes little difference and this budding teenager's life but everything helps especially when getting back into the school frame of mind. I'm really beginning to believe that somewhere either on this side of the post on the other side of the post has it out for me and just loves to return pieces of mail even when properly addressed- - who knows Maybe, I'm just being paranoid.

However the high point of my day was lunch with my old boss Claire. Our relationship is fairly straightforward however before she is my boss she was my friend we shared the same office that what used to be the governor's Council for people with disabilities. And through a series of weird events she ended up becoming my executive director for a number of years. We had a good relationship and since her leaving the state and then my retirement and subsequent medical issues and the pandemic we just have not been able to get together until today at the restaurant. It was good to get together again sadly we don't know how much time we've got that's so true of people our age and with our particular physical challenges but hopefully we have enough time for another couple meetings enjoy your lunch, crab about the politics an the in general and enjoy our time together and you know Claire bought lunch…

Happy Monday!

 I think I have always loved Mondays. I may have written about this before but Monday's of Summer are a bit different than Mondays during the rest of the year, at least to me. Monday morning signifies the chance to have a whole new week to do whatever you didn't get done the week before or to explore new things you get to do now that it's the first of the week whether it's a job assignment, or finishing a school assignment or going to the movies either way Mondays are fresh. I have course love Monday just because I get to poop since I haven't pooped since Friday. So Mondays are more than special they give me a new opportunity to eat once I evacuate but maybe that's too much information.

Luckily I had no assignments to do this Monday. I could have gone out and done stuff but what? My goal was kind of to finish Stephen King book I've been reading for the last couple of weeks- - which by the way I did. I had read this volume before that's okay with Stephen King there's always more to find in his words. I finished the volume late this afternoon after two attempts earlier in the day going out and sitting underneath my tree and enjoying the Heat and taking a nap or two along the way. I'm sure there are other things I could have done to be more productive but I thought this was pretty good for today. I did sweep the floors this morning before Alyssa came which was sort of a good job. I dropped a lot of bamboo sticks that she used to eat with you know how to poke stuff. And they are all over the floor of course plus all the bags that I used coming home from the market the number had fallen on the floor as well so I needed to sweep them up break them in half put them in the garbage otherwise they tend to punch her the side of the garbage bag. I had brewed coffee and made my morning vegetable juice drink utilizing the whole peppers that were pickled from Michelle. I need to pull a couple more out now from the big collection of pickled peppers. I laid them on a cutting board take the tops off and then slice them into slices to the best of my ability it's not like I get from the cans but it works. This last batch of vegetable beverage that I put together I'd used diced tomatoes with this weird flavoring to it I can't remember it right now but it was okay but not my liking actually. I suffered through the last of it this morning using it to flavor my drink but that's the last time I'm going to use that kind of diced tomatoes I like the kind that got the tomatoes onions and pepper to certain degree in the chopped mess. I never have really used it for the soup but it would work tastes great. It's going to take a while to use up all these peppers but I am enjoying them just the same. I want to start eating them along with hey bean burrito the way I used to in the days of Murray where I would have a couple every morning before work. I'm sure the peppers will be gone before I know it.

The rest of the day was spent but not finishing the book just watching another Marvel movie and kind of enjoying the time in the apartment. Tomorrow I have lunch with my old boss from the governor's Council that should be fun. I'm sure I'll report more on it tomorrow…

Watermelon Cut

 Aside from a great breakfast with Mark Anthony this morning I really didn't do a whole lot today except enjoy the day. I really only had one meal today since the breakfast was fairly large at the restaurant nothing significant just some kind of omelette and pancakes. Oh, and of course coffee. The granddaughter is in North Carolina this weekend with one of her sisters. Hopefully she'll be back next week. As I said the rest of the day I read a little bit of course and then I actually did more work than I really like to do on a Sunday and I cleaned off the table a little bit and cut up the watermelon or at least half the watermelon. I got the watermelon in a couple days ago and I've been somewhat intimidated to process the piece of fruit or just flat out two tired after some of the days I had this last week.

Like I said the table has become once again a focal point where everything is deposited when I come in the front door with the apartment. This is also where I do a lot of my morning puzzles. So after I cleaned off a fairly decent space I then moved the watermelon from one side of the table to the other and this time or this melon I actually found a good sized washcloth or maybe it was a small hand towel to put underneath the watermelon to catch the juice as I cut into the fruit. Usually I have a handful of paper towels that seem to be totally soaked almost immediately on cutting the villain. But today, to my Pleasant surprise, the towel worked really well not only stabilizing the watermelon but catching a lot of the liquid which there really wasn't a lot and I'm still scratching my head about that. As I did with the last watermelon I cut it lengthwise and took the half that I wasn't going to use today wrapped it up in cling wrap and threw it back in the refrigerator the rest I cut the half of watermelon and half again then cut slices off and put them in a polyethylene cake top container. It's oblong and about 4 in deep and maybe 18 in Long or a little bit shorter. Then I cut the two remaining pieces into smaller slices like triangle slices and cut them off of the watermelon rind which which I didn't put on or in the containers fast the lid on and put it in the refrigerator. My only regret was that I did not do this earlier I was not totally pleased with the watermelon itself. It tasted okay but was getting a little sloppy not the firm Red watermelon that I really like. I also think once the watermelons in the refrigerator for a period of time it'll be it'll be possible. It'll be good with cheese sharp cheddar. I had all kinds of things I could eat besides the watermelon I still have steak left over from Thursday night and then I also have the potatoes I baked which I cut into slices that I'm intending to possibly fry up with some eggs in the near future I also cooked the Jimmy Dean sausage I picked up at the throwaway meat section of my local market so I had things I can peace on but I just, like I said, wasn't very hungry probably due to the fact that the breakfast was kind of large and I didn't want to push more stuff into my colon that might not be wise before tomorrow morning and my Monday morning evacuation of my bowels. So, I watched part of a Marvel movie tonight and that was enough to get me over my fixation to think that I need to watch a movie every night and I'm just enjoying a quiet evening now with my tablet and my bedroom..

Lazy Saturday

This might be a short posting today just because I really didn't do much of anything with the exception of going to coffee which at least got me out and across the street and doing a little bit of socialization with my friend Janet upstairs. As far as days go it was a good day as far as temperature and such not too hot, no clouds to speak of just a nice warm August day. I thought about going to the market but there wasn't anything I really needed since I went yesterday my biggest goal today was to cut the watermelon and open the peppers and put them in the new container. I got the container and the can open which really shocked me that I was able to do it by myself. I really have been holding off to have somebody with decent hands who can clamp the can opener shut while they crank the crank but I was able to do it by myself. Of course, it took a minute or two but I certainly had the time for that. I made the transition scooping out a number of peppers into the Container to the point that I could lift the can by myself up over the edge of the container and plop them in there and it worked. I did leave a couple out that I processed to put into the regular container with the pickled carrots, diced tomatoes and whatever else I'm putting in there. I really wanted to do this so I didn't have to open up another one of the little cans. I still like the little cans of sliced pickled peppers but I need to use these regular peppers and then the can of sliced peppers that I have that I'm holding off in the back. I also watched a few dishes but I didn't get the floor swept either. In the middle of the late afternoon I did spend an hour on the arm bike pumping giving me 180 minutes for this week kind of bumps me out I like to have done the 200 but this will have to do for today and this week.

I'm still somewhat astounded by how well this chair, my backup chair, is acting. If the chair had an elevator function it would be great. I'm always amazed at how much I used the elevator function once I had it. It's kind of hard to go back. Aside from that however, I can get back and forth to the market on and off the bus and do what I need to do. I still wouldn't mind a larger foot - box but so far this is working out splendidly even though I have to wait until the repairs can be done on the other chair. I'm just praying that the repairs will be done under some sort of insurance provisions. Because that can get pricey really quickly. I still have some time before I'll be eligible for another power chair. I hope I just lasted out. Well that's it for another Saturday night and another week. I've contacted Mark Anthony and it looks like we will be doing coffee tomorrow things will be good…

A Bump On The Walk

J It was kind of nice to have a day that wasn't as busy as the days have been this week today. After Melissa finished this morning with my Friday needs and went her way I had only one project I needed to do and that was to cross the street and go get some vegetable juice for my daily drink that I make every morning- - I've rambled on about this before it's in the notes somewhere. Yet at the same time I wanted to make sure I got my 60 Minutes on the arm bike in and a couple chapters read in my book. So it's not like being out on the bus going in and out of buildings crossing streets and such but it still was a bit of a touch all the bases kind of day.

There is road construction all around my building it really is a challenge trying to find a way to get from point A to point B without having exposure self to either traffic or heavy equipment and again they usually chase you away as far as the heavy equipment goes. There is the long way around however which means I have to go down pass the park then cross the street at 4700 South and Redwood Road. All along the way there's little things that you have to negotiate just the little things enough to drive a person crazy. And today it was the work guys that are working in the holes they've dug on the street for whatever cables they're laying or fixing or whatever they're doing left the hoses across the sidewalk which makes it almost impossible for me to get over them. Actually the hose that's shown in the picture above I actually did get over it but it almost hit me over in the process kind of scared me. I suppose worst case scenario had I gone over these work guys could have picked me up and threw me back in my chair pretty easily but still you have that Terror when for a split second your chair is tipped at a weird position if you don't know if you're going to go or not you just power through it and soon as on the other side of the hose. It's bad enough having the roads torn up and everything but to have these work guys just leave their junk all over the sidewalk pisses me off. Many times they even parked their vehicles on the sidewalk don't they know that people still have to get around? I wish I could go ape shit crazy mad when I confront these people but I end up being civilized and forgiving them for not realizing there are tormenting somebody trying to get from point A to point B and that somebody was me. I made it though mature seems to be still running pretty good. I'm really beginning to enjoy the backup chair now almost maybe as much as I like the regular chair that's in the shop. I do miss the elevator function that light raises me up like 8 in that makes so much difference when you're shopping and stuff as far as trying to get stuff down from an upper shelf or even get things around the apartment in the kitchen area. I think it's going to be some time before they work on my chair and get it fixed and running again. Sometimes I get a little nervous as I'm running around I don't have a backup chair now there's something should happen to this chair I'm really out of luck. I suppose now that I'm a board member of The Independent Living Center I could possibly use some of the equipment they have stored over there which they have quite a bit. We'll have to see if that happens I don't think it will.

It wasn't really hot today it was in the low 90s so I guess it was kind of pleasant there are some Breeze blowing but not uncomfortable. I try to hold on to these memories as long as I can because I know the cold is coming back and the snow and the ice along with it. I hope to live through the winter to enjoy another summer. The Summers go so quickly just a flash in the months of the year. I'll enjoy the Autumn I think to a certain degree as well as the spring but the winter will be a challenge. I kind of think this new job as far as being a ulc board member it's going to keep me pretty busy and there's no harm in that…

Container Envy

  

It's the end of another very long day. It's been a good day however and I feel like I got something done that was worthwhile. Of course today was coffee social and even though it's not my job I sort of have a feeling of responsibility to make sure the thing comes off okay. And it did had a few more than usual at today's function but we also had lots of leftover goodies so we had enough treats that's all I really worry about. The coffee and the pastries whatever they might be and what conversation might be had as well but that's not a big deal with me. Following the coffee group I had a little time said to myself I had a meeting with the Writers Guild at 2:00 for lunch, a late lunch but it sort of worked into my day, and then I had my first uilc board meeting this afternoon. Interesting schedule. I tried to do more than I probably should have because I wanted to get a container for my pickled peppers. Remember I stopped at Walmart yesterday and picked up a very tall canister but it's too big to go into the refrigerator where I needed to go so I decided but I really needed to do was go to standard restaurant equipment which is this Giant superstore for restaurants it's great I can get lost in it forever but if anybody had a container these guys would. And they did but I had to squeeze it in before my meeting with the writer's guild at 2:00. It took some major Power Wheel chairing and bus use but I got to where I needed to go and actually found a container that I think will work we'll have to see once I get the big cans open and stuff it full and see if it'll go into the refrigerator. The only problem I have is that that's charge for a lid that really doesn't fit the canister itself which was $6 and some sense cuz the whole thing came to around $9 and change. Now I'm just excited to do the transfer from the can to the plastic container see if it works. I was just about 17 minutes late to the writers group but it was good to see Lori and Jerry again. Jerry and I had the same thing off the senior menu hamburger patty with onions on top I had mashed potatoes and brown gravy it was actually pretty good for the senior menu. We visited for about an hour and a half and I had to take off to get to the board meeting which was zoomed so I had to go back to the apartment. I should have just dropped into the Independent Living Center cuz that's in the area that I was at but since the director and the assistant director we're at the summer camp there wasn't going to be anybody really there but I should have done that.

I got home with a half an hour to spare before I had to zoom in to the meeting. When it was time for the meeting I thought I was going to have time to print out the agenda previous minutes stuff you have for this kind of meeting but of course my printer is out of ink and I didn't have time to take it upstairs to the printer up there to see if I could get that to print besides I've noticed lately that people tend to steal the paper out of the printer people drive me crazy. But the meeting was okay little unorthodox but I think the new director is kind of an orthodox and that's pretty good that's what that's going to need to shape up the center I think I was invited to be there as a try on type of a thing but they need to have a vote and I was there with the zoom and that's one of those things where they interview you you ask answer their questions and then they ask you to leave the room if they're going to vote that night but there's no way for me to leave the room so they went ahead and voted with me there and I got in yay! And sure enough I was able to take part in the meeting a little bit and it was a little like I said on dorthodox because the director and assistant director ran the meeting from a restaurant up at the summer camp for a consumers. I think the September meeting will be more typical of the meetings. I think the organization is still in the middle of reorganizing itself from the previous director as these things go I think it's only natural so I think it's a good time for me to come aboard if I was going to do it at all. It was nice to have it done when it was done. I had another phone call video chat and then dinner. It's the end of a long day I noticed now how dark it is at 8:00 we are really losing the hours of daylight which I guess is all part of the process…