MEADOWLARK'S MIND An Older crip just getting by one day to the next

Bye Bye Rehab...

2012-01-31T15:47:00.003-07:00

I've known this date is coming I've known for some time, in fact every time you begin something new , just by virtue of beginning there is going to be an”1End” somewhere down the line.. Yesterday, Monday, was I thought ,my last day in physical therapy for this insurance year . I've been doing physical therapy for almost a half a year now. Twenty-six. visits is what I get on my insurance allocation, and I've about finished my insured visits. I started out have my physical therapy appointment on Fridays, however this week I switched to Monday so Dianne could come with me. Dianne is only free on Mondays and we needed to have Dianne at this PT session so she could learn some physical therapy movements and processes to help me with my physical therapy at home.

To be honest, I'm kinda glad that my physical therapy is ending. I'm not really sure how much good physical therapy does once a week. Couple years ago I used my therapy in three day a week segments and I saw some improvement in my physical state. Even if I was not as happy with my physical therapist I had then as I am now the three day a week schedule helped me in my ability to transfer from chair to power chair to battle back again. A lot of things changed this year. This time last year the state still on a four-day week which allowed me to schedule my PT appointment on the day I had no work. I did not lose any of my vacation are sick leave. However last September State went back to a five-day workweek meaning I now had to take at least four maybe five hours to do my physical therapy session and get back to work. So having to pay for the 20% of the physical therapy appointments the insurance did not cover plus having to eat 4-5 hours of vacation or sick time, I suddenly realized I was losing out big time and I needed to consider just how much the physical therapy was actually helping me. Hopefully, if I continue to work at this position will have another 26 visits, July 1.

I was under the impression that yesterday was my last therapy visit for this year. But now the scheduler seems to indicate that I have yet one more visit, which is cool but I wonder just how many visits I have coming because this more visit' routine is getting old. I have to say goodbye to everyone all over again and then look stupid when I show up the next week and have to explain what I m doing there. So I have a call into to PT to see if they can give me a definitive answer and if I have to show up for my regularly scheduled appointment this coming Friday morning.

Breaking News: I just got off the phone with the P.T. scheduler from the U., and looks like they have found two !! more visits--and of course my Friday slot has been filled so I will be doing another Monday morning"Last"visit. My P.T. says she want to "hold" onto the other visit so when we get an P.T. aid who will visit us at our house and stretch and bend me there( which is another story entirely)--Doc Sue my therapist

Wednesday Challenge

2012-01-25T10:08:00.002-07:00

I'm trying to get my stats done an I just cannot get to them, I mean this is really bad major self defeating behavior. I am really setting myself up for failure and I just cannot get myself to stop. Someone help me--not really just kidding--I am just having challenge.

Speaking of challenges, this morning while transferring from my manual chair to my power chair, my power chair, left forward, forcing me out of my manual chair. Fortunately, I did not fall completely out of my chair, but I was left hanging precariously on my chair, and I had to screen for Dianne, who was able to come and help me get back into my chair proper and then finished getting into my chair completely. It was a scary situation for me. I don't know what I'm going to do when I fall the way it down to the floor. Going to happen, going to slip and fall I'm just trying to voyages long as possible. Each day and make a successful transfer things I'm that much closer to the day. I don't make successful transfer and hit the floor and then have to figure out how to get back off the floor in the my chair. These are the things I look forward to as I celebrate the 61st birthday in a weeks time. Because of the problems I was having this morning getting dressed and out the door. I missed my regular bus. I took the time to cash in my free coffee from Starbucks fellows. One highlight of my morning.

I got a go. I got a go, I have to do the stats. Bonnie's on my case. Happy Wednesday out.

Testing One, Two Three

2012-01-17T15:39:00.002-07:00

Diann go me Dragon and dictate for Christmas an I have have just started using the system an software and i am finding out i quite lake the whole shooten match. The only problem now is i need to have two headsets or at least microphone systems. I have been trying to use just the head e micro-phone which came with the software but that means having to pack the gear up an drag it with me wherever I go or don't use the program--and I'm beginning to really like the program. I got sick last Thursday night and did come into the office friday o everything I let on my desk stayed on my desk the whole long holiday weekend. I actually thought of running down to best buy to pick up a heap microphone but wussed out due to the cold dark weather. So this morning I used up the rest of my Christmas gift cards n bought a real cheapie on line--now I just have to wait,wait an wait and drag the headset back and forth until the cheapie comes.

Baptism and a Movie Part 2

2012-01-16T13:12:00.002-07:00

9:30 a.m.--The gods were with me , or at least one God was. Between my son Mark a and grand daughters I was fairly respectable when I rolled into the chapel and the beginning of baptism. Now, here I have to admit it has been a long time sine my baptism and I have not been to too many others. But I had been to a couple of Mormon baptisms but the seemed to have changed to what I remembered, In the old days, the kid getting dunked would show up with the others o be baptized Saturday night before Fast and Testimony(F&T) meeting. The individual was processed underwater and then the confirmation took place the next day at the F&T meeting always held the first Sunday of the month excepting for Federal holidays and natural disasters. The ordinance was pretty straight forward event; usually an opening prayer maybe a few remarks by the officiating male, the ordinances and that wwas it...but now things seemed to have changed.

Now, there seems to be a program, in fact there are even programs outlining the events of the meeting, songs to be song, names of officials, music directors and even speakers and then the kids are baptized I could been an half hour late and not missed the event! I settled in for what I perceived might be a long morning. I should have realized the event would be long after all this is Utah, it seems my grAnd daughter was just one of a number of kids born in December eight short years ago and today there were not less then eight others being baptized and confirmed.

The baptism is held in a Stake Center, a large LDS meeting house, bigger,s some times much bigger then the ward house or chapel. The Stake Center comes equipped with the baptismal pool, a pool of water deep enough for the child and grown up to both enter and lay the candidate completely under water. The baptism is traditionally attended by family of the child. Immediate and extended if possible. Mormon families can be huge so depending on home many are being processed there can be many in attendance. So there are babies, little brothers and sisters everywhere, there is a loosely controlled chaos and this chaos is loud enough on a Sunday but on a Saturday something had to be done. So, the baptism is broken up into wards and each ward is baptized in its time in the case of my grand daughter there were four wards and each ward would do they're own individual baptism.

So there is a main meeting where all the baptism candidates and their families are gathered, and before and before the baptisms begin the meeting is held and after a general introduction and overview of events each individual is called and the kids and families leave the chapel and troop over the baptismal area leaving those unfortunate not to bee called alone in the chapel to wait to b called.

Please bare in mind, in the Mormon faith these ordinances can be preformed by anyone who is worthy and holds the power, always a guy and usually some family member and usually the dad. So the kid and well as the individual doing the baptizing must completely change clothes, get totally wet and change back again=long time and there are still a bunch a folk i.e. kids and infants back in the chapel getting restless. I have to admit here I soon became impressed. When the baptizing began the chapel darkened, the movie screen descended and soon one of the LDS greatest hits was playing for the benefit of all those who remained behind—and I was impressed. A film about the theological roots of baptism was being screened. Great acting, sound and story line anything as good as De-mille could have produced interrupted only when the next group was called and all trooped out and down to the “pond.”

Of course our group was last—and I never did get to see the end of the movie. But Jasmine was baptized and confirmed. The ordinance was simple and sweet and over. Jasmine got to pick her choice of restaurants for lunch and there was great pressure placed on her to choose some place like Olive garden but the newly baptized girl new what she wanted was McDonald’s with a Play Land and that is where the family ended up: a brand new page, a movie and Mc Donald’s what could be better...?

Baptism and a Movie Part !

2012-01-08T20:13:00.002-07:00

My granddaughter, Jasmine, was born eight years ago this last December. Eight fast years, hard to believe. I do not see Jasmine as often as I would like, a couple times a year: birthdays, holidays and sometimes when her dad comes over to mow the yard or help me with some computer problem I might be experiencing, a problem I cannot fix on my own. The family has moved far west and south of Murray and makes it problematic for us to get over to Day Break. Trax has recently opened a station at DayBreak and as soon as the winter breaks and the days warm I am going to go over to \Day Break and visit more often.

Mark A called last week to let me know that Jasmine would be baptized and asked if we would like to be present. I of course indicated I would-feeling a sting of terror of having to re-enter that great monolith religion, have effectively left. But Jasmine is my granddaughter and I need to show her I love and support her. Besides a baptism is a short ordinance and should not take long, least wise that is how our family had experienced the event. I was a little surprised when Mark A indicated the event would take place at 9:30 in the morning, in the morning?! I had understood things had changed with the baptism ordinance and the event was now down on Saturday morning and the confirmation too getting everything done on Saturday not eating in to the time of the Sunday fast and testimony meeting.

Dianne was not feeling well yesterday morning so it would be just me going to the baptism. I was up early enough on Saturday morning, I knew I would have to leave way early to make the drive across the valley. I get lost easy, I always get lost and I always have to build time into any destination I have not ever been before by myself. True to form I DID get lost. Daybreak is a designed community wiles away to the South and West of Salt Lake city. I had actually written the address on my cell and put the phone in my pocket—so I could call Mark A, when I became hopelessly lost, and he could talk me into church. And sure enough as I was adjusting myself on the driver's sear the cell slipped from my pocket and landed deep into the step besides the drivers seat next to the door. I had given myself 2 hours to make the trip.

By 9:00 o-clock, thirty minutes before the baptism I was in the general area of the church but I could not find the chapel as much as I drove and tried to read the signs. A light snow had fallen during the night, enough to cover many of the street signs but I thought I could make it.

By 9:15 I knew I needed help because I would need time to get to the chapel, park down load and throw myself back together. I truly mess my closes up when I transfer into and out of my chair to drive. I knew I was going to have to bolt to the bathroom to tuck myself in, put on a shoe. I heard my cell phone,muffled by distance somewhere under my seat. I pulled over, opened the driver's door and then leaned out and saw my cell phone just under my seat. I managed to grab the cell , it took a minute or two but I got it and called my son, who was en route from his work, and mark A led me into the chapel at 9:25.

I down loaded and bolted to the bathroom to put myself back together. I had a few minutes before the ordinance was to begin. In my haste to down load I had lot one shoe from my foot. I sent Mark A. back to the van and got my shoe and cell phone and tablet I had left on the seat of the van in my haste to get to the church on time. ( End part 1)

It's Not About Me!!

2012-01-04T16:23:00.002-07:00

What a weird morning but still enjoyable like winning something totally unexpected, like winning something when you did not even know you were in the contest. I am fortunate enough to have a window, actually two windows and both open to the West of Salt Lake City, actually 300 West and many who visit the building my office inhabits park in front of this great building. I enjoy watching people come and go all day long.

Recently, our building got a new tenant the Utah Asian Association,which will be known from now on as the Asians . This opening has been a long time coming, more then a year. Before the Asians the Mexican consulate shared the building with us. The building has three floors so these folks run a pretty big operation. So, once again our building is full of noise and people coming and going and I have a great continuing show with my Window on the West. So, imagine my surprise today when a station wagon pulled up and two people got out and I was a bit taken aback I recognized the folks as my cousins (my cousin and his wife)!!

My cousin Jess and Judy live all the way in the South Valley area know as Sandy ,Utah. Really the only way they could be all the way up, town parked in front of my very window was to specifically see me. And the only reason they would be all the way up town would be something so large and so dark had occurred, and everyone they knew who knew me/or us had lost our phone number making it mandatory that they drive all the way uptown to deliver the grim news and the only new which could be this grim would be the passing of my most ancient Aunt Elaine. So, I knew a ill wind was on its way.

Because these people are even older then I am and because I imagined them becoming confused when trying to convey to the Asians , who are new in the building and wold not immediately know who I was let a lone where I might be, I flung open the door to head the folks off at the pass. Sure enough there the both of them were engaged with the director of the Asian association I deep conversation which took on an even deeper level of concentration as they witnessed a fat man in a powered wheelchair emerge from the office across the hall and rush toward like he knew you should know him. I could sense their anxiety escalate as somewhere in their old brain they were being warned that somehow they should know this guy but “keep the shield up”. Then suddenly the light breaks through and the realize it is I their wayward cousin. I then notice there are wearing their little “Mormon” tags that all missionaries wear and I remember,'that’s right they are serving a work mission. They are serving a work mission with the downtown Asian ward!! So they weren’t here to see me—which is OK, which also means that Aunt Elaine is not dead.

So once again I am brought back to reality, I am not the center of the Universe, as much as I sometimes imagine. But how nice to believe tht every once in a while.

Vacation's Over

2012-01-03T16:08:00.000-07:00

Back to work, everyone is back from the yuletide break—vacation is over, school is back in session—nice to 1have staff back in place—no major surprises and a few traumas. The phone calls have been strong for the first day back—the beautiful non winter like weather continues. Cold over night with days warming to the upper 40 and low 50's, lots of inversion an no snow. NO SNOW—everyday with ou the white stuff and ice box temps them\ snow brings is one day closer to Spring without the trauma of a snow storm. I doubt if I will be lucky enough to ride out this winter without a major storm but here we are the first week of January and looks like clear weather all the way to the weekend. Sure we could have a major snow event next week and another in February and that might be it.

We have been without the TV since before New Years and it does not seem to be getting itself fixed with everything closed over the holiday weekend and now with everyone back to work, so we have been spending much more time on systems and on the INTERNET. Internet is fine and good but not the network. I am may be too old to adapt and we know what happens to those who cannot adapt.

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-02T18:46:00.004-07:00

I am slow getting the posts to the new year's blog.I just have to gt my rhythm and I think the rhythm will come maybe as I get the Dragon and dictate down ans loose my self awareness. But I am not there yet. So stay tuned and I will return to my daily posts. Happy New Year every one...

Move In Day

2011-12-28T14:59:00.002-07:00

We have been fortunate for the past coupe of years of being the only office in this entire building—oh, there was a time when we shared ghe building with the Mexican Consulate and I like that—I think I was about the only one at my office who did. We had hordes of Mexicans coming into our office thinking our office was the Consulate, infact this building became too small for the Consulate's needs and moved out about 18 months ago—we have been the lone folks here ever sense. The building owner has been telling us of and on for about a year that he had once again rented the property to another minority group, this time the Asians. I really thought the guy was just blowing smoke and the eternal renovation was just a process for his ego. However, in the last week the renovation has become intense with jack hammer pounding—they even built us a code firewall of the front of our office which has been driving me crazy. The disconnected the power doors into our offices and actually rehung one door backwards—the doors all have hydraulic pumps making them so heaving I can barely access the office by myself. Hopefully before they finish the renovation they will reconnect the door. The building itself has been refitted with a new security system—the system now has a feature where a timer is actuated when the building exterior doors are opened (with key) and someone has to input a code to disconnect the system or ear piercing alarms go off and a rent-a-cop company is called and the whole system has to be rest. Yesterday, the first day back to work and I had to open the building andd of course I set off the alarm. The alarm sounded for twenty minutes, shut off and then started again—the cops never showed up as they had done a couple of months ago.

Yesterday the big tucks started pulling up, parking directly in front of my “window on the West” and a gang of five or seven dressed in hoodies, black watch caps and gloves jumped out open the back and started carrying desks, chairs, tables and lots of file cabinets out of the truck and across the hall to the Asian agency. Earlier in the month Frank at my office indicated he had been to the secrete Information Technology room where they had an impressive server arrady hordes. And voices, all morning in the hall people coming and going, laughing shouting and calling out—and this is just their staff claiming individual office space. Windows and familiarity with the premises. There is supposed to be chaos next Tuesday when the Asians first real day of services begins.

Already the Asians have taken over the building like they own it—they have been exhibiting a certain swagger only large populations can render.. The Asians have already settled into the building like they have always been here. Helping our office cope with THEM being here. It feels weird. Our sleepy building is being slapped awake. We are going to have to assimilate to these new folk and quick or we will be just one more species kicked to the side of the road.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

Well Christmas is over for another year, the gifts have been given and received, meals eaten, family greeted, as the sun sets on the second day of Christmas. Can you tell? I got new software for Christmas. This year Dianne gifted me in DragonDictate nuance system and I'm trying learn how to use it. So, I expect this post will be less enjoyable to read but I might as well jump in feet first and learn this pesky software. I got Dianne a new camera, a Nikon cool pics. Diane seems to truly enjoy using the new camera. The red Nikon I was letting her use finally gave up the ghost and it was time for something new. Now, I must confess that I really did poorly gifting this year and basically changed in and relied totally on Amazon.com. But from what I can tell those who did receive that Amazon gift cards seem appreciate which leads me think that I will be using again as embarrassing as using gift cards might be. Using the gifts cards or rather giving that gift gift was simple and relatively painless and counted as true gift giving. Dianne actually manufactured a couple of her gifts for me: robes made for people we use wheelchairs. To robes were made from towels which will be great for me when exiting the shower one was from sort if a flannel material and will be great for just wearing round the house are watching television. Truly these are great gifts and what Christmas should be about.

There were no grand meals our house this Christmas which is okay we did okay for Thanksgiving nets good. Now I must admit Bridget and Gabriel did have a breakfast on Christmas morning but I chose not to go, I am just a poop. Mark A did make it over last evening to receive Christmas gifts that we gave his family. Mark set the example for me using Amazon.com who gift. And I really do appreciate the gift cards which allow me to take advantage of the many e-books that are out there.

I just got busy and washed the dishes we have had hanging around the sink. And I might do some more cooking before this is through that I it. My Christmas vacation is just about finished. Tomorrow I am back at the office manager phones and taking care of business. Now the more I thought about working between the holidays and and how the telephones have been I am beginning to rethink my decision to work between the holidays. Diane actually is not babysitting as I thought she would be, which was my driving motivation to work between the holidays. So if nothing else I will go in at least in the mornings and return calls from the previous afternoons.

I have not been able to do all I had wanted to do this Christmas, but isn't that usual? We do what we can to try to enjoy what we able to do. I would've loved to cook more and had a few more family gatherings that is difficult time consuming, confusing and just challenging. Sometimes less is more. So this is my Christmas post dictated entirely with Dragon it's awkward still, and I have to admit a new at dictation, but I think this will really be helpful once I get the dictation down, sounding more normal, and less self-conscious. But I am encouraged again Merry Christmas everyone.

Gifting Challenged

2011-12-22T16:07:00.003-07:00

The phone action at the office had nearly flatlined as we get closer and closer to Christmas. I am sensing many of those in need now that government support agencies and programs become less and less effective as we get closer to the final holidays of the year. I will get only the very most desperate calls now, of which I will be of very little help maybe I can pull a rabbit out of the hat if the need is not top severe, Our office staff has dropped to three and after today it will be two tomorrow and two for all of next week. I have decided to work between the holidays this year—typically, I have taken the time off but this year with Dianne babysitting at Asher's house I may as well be working then spending the time at home burning off Annual just because I have Annual to burn, I don’t know, maybe I'll come in half days, maybe, return any calls if I have any and deal with emergencies should any crop up.

I have totally failed as a person this year in area of gifting—my grand children will grow up hating me, I did the unconscionable and sent out Amazon gift cards—I shall never be able to walk among my children again. Locally I still have a couple of days to produce some grand fatherly gift but if you're one of my grand kids,kids or in law I would not hold my breadth. I think I have conned myself into believing I will,go shopping after the holiday and purchase gifts them. I will try to get my work mates something then—this kinda works sine half are gone on Holiday leave and will and will return till after the holidays. So, I can buy and leave on the desks of those next week. As for Christmas card electronic or otherwise I have sent non out. I don't know what has happened to me this year I M NOT HUMBUGING AS MUCH AS JUST NOT CARING AND THAT IS DESPICABLE. I truly need to repent. Maybe there is still time maybe. Maybe I can change things just a little and do something to increase my spirit.

I am tired though it has been a long week and I still have not fully recovered from the early rising yesterday to drive Dianne in to the Hospital for her procedure—the procedure WAS A success!! So much so that Dianne actually drove into the train-station last night to pick me up and today she is back washing Asher. I am actually looking forward to two three day weekends in a row.

Above is my gift from Frank( the oldest guy in the shop, I am the second oldest) Frank always comes through—I need to be more like Frank but that would fall under resolutions and is not till next week.

Early Morning Surgery

2011-12-21T16:20:00.001-07:00

I spent the morning in the hospital, Salt Lake Regional to be specific, I was not there for me I went to be with Dianne as she went through some miner surgery—outpatient-Day surgery—and I was needed to drive her home. We were first on the hospital's docket this morning mean we had to check in at 6:00 am Salt Lake regional is pretty dead at the time in the morning. Once Dianne checked in and was prepped for surgery I was turned loose and I did a little exploration.

Salt Lake Regional is one of the older Salt Lake Hospital, I actually, think the place used to be called Holy Cross—its a cozy place it could actually be a scary place—really has that old building feel—feels like an exorcist set especially in the older sections of the place. I am sure the place is riddled with ghosts and other items of the paranormal. I did not see any but I imagined a felt a lot. While Imwas searching for the cafeteria I found what I thought to be an ancient tunnel across the street to the Moran eye Center. The tunnel was great for the most part clean and clear with the exception of many electric hospital beds being stored down there plus a host of offices all along the way with few markings. I had both cameras with me and yet I did not make a video of crossing the tunnel. It smelled weird at the end of the tunnel—like damp, dank wet stuff. Not bad, mind you, just weird but gave me the creeps and I booked out of the tunnel straight and fast. The morning was kinda fun...

Office remodel office chaos

2011-12-20T12:54:00.002-07:00

This footage was taken in the reception area of our office--this racket has been going on for days now. Hopefully the project is nearly done and we can return to relative peace and quiet.

2011-12-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Cai by Norman Goundry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the read, a new concept for me and took me a while to wrap my head round the idea of a ghost being a major star of a book, but recommend the read to someone wanting to ty something different

View all my reviews

"Are You Still Alive?"

2011-12-14T11:58:00.003-07:00

I was watching a science show the other night o public television when I got a call from my daughter, Shell, who seemed a bit more emotional then her usual self. Often times when she calls Shelly is exhausted, managing the girls or riding home from work but never teary—today she was. So I paused the show, I am watched and practiced my best 'active listening'. Being an evening call there was a high probability of bad news and of course it was bad news. Her step mother—or her step-step mother since the person question, Carolee is married to Shelly's step-father ( who by the way is no longer married to Shelly's mother) so what he, Don, is I am not quiet sure but my old adage, “if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it's probably a duck. Don was a pretty good step dad to my kids during his time in that position—but this post is not about Don, very much. What had happened is that Don had called my Michelle to report that Carolee had been hit with a pretty massive stroke, dropping her like a rock and was now on life support at a Utah County hospital. I could sense that Michelle was having a difficult time with the news, news which was grim,very grim. Carolee was probably not going to make it. Michelle shared with me that both of the boys were taking the news pretty hard and las night I spoke with Mark A, who was doing OK but seemed to be impacted pretty hard too. Not to make light of a very sensitive subject but this was the step-mother—I could see if this was Don, because Don is a highly special person, hard to dislike, I know I have tried—Don is a good guy—this guy has earned his striped and family worship if that I what it I but Carolee was a bit of a new comer.

Michelle was calling to “tag up”, something very bad had happened to someone she knows personally, what ever happens is going to impact her personally. The only other bouts she has experienced with the Grim Reaper has been with “ancients” My Dad, or her Uncle whop lost a battle with cancer a couple of years ago but this death was expected, she had time to prep for this uncle's death. But this accident was out of t”he blue” no time to pu you “fingers in front of your eyes” to help diffuse the terror such an event can illicit. Wham, right between the eyes, sucker punch!! Michelle was suddenly faced with the reality if something like this can happen to Carolee, my once and past setp.step mother this could happen to my my dad and current step mother—infact, could is the wrong word, they are going to die some time and true as the sun rises in the east—one day I am going to get that call that dad is gone peacon and, if you are going to have a relationship one had to act and act now. I have to admit I was touched by the time we were able to share.

Mark A called last night “they” have taken Carolee off life support. The death watch has begun they have cut the string to the kite Carolee on which Carolee was flying. Carolee is in free fall and ever at the time of this writing has pulled the rip cord on the chute into the next world. If indeed that has happened then that's two in my life cycle who have died on, Captain and Carolee and I do believe “law of Three's” so there is another one out there or maybe even me, that would be a drag, but I suppose better me then someone else. Hold, on I got to tag up on base then begin then begin my lead off.

So Long Captain

2011-12-10T13:52:00.003-07:00

Mac died a couple days ago—I got a facebook notification-- from his daughter Cindy yesterday afternoon. Its weird to have Mac gone. I have been writing him a letter a week, just as I had my mother before her passing. It is weird not having Mac to write now, not having Mac in my life now, but as a memory. I wished I had called him on last time. I almost did last week but never got round to calling and lost my chance.

We worked together for a short while Mac was a medical doctor and I was a flunky kid width a little psychological experience. In the early 70's Mac pulled together an idea and developed a medical delivery system for low income farm workers in Southwest Idaho. Mac 's idea was to use medically trained military personal, when then personal when they separated from the service give these 'medic' a little more training and turn them into nurse practitioners. I had gotten know the doctor when I was working behavior modification at the State hospital where Mac was medical director—its a long story just accept that it happened. The point is now the man is gone. I'll post the obituary when I get it.

12-22-2011---as promised...

Dr. Clarence McIntyre Jr.

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Dr. Clarence
A. McIntyre, Jr. MD
Dr. McIntyre, 80, longtime Nampa, ID community figure, devoted husband for 47 years and father of seven, died after a short illness on Thursday, December 8, 2011 in Charlotte, NC, where he had lived since 2004. 'Dr. Mac,' as he was known by friends and patients, had been a doctor at the Idaho State School, helped found the Terry Reilly Health Clinics, and ran a private practice for many years with his wife, Alice. Mac served in the Army 1960-63 at Ft. Bragg, NC, and then moved to Idaho to serve as a physician for the rest of his career. Over the years, Dr. and Mrs. McIntyre opened their home to over 100 people in different types of need for varying lengths of time. The McIntyre's conducted medical missions to Nepal, China, Mexico, Honduras, and Bangladesh.
Mac was as much loved for his eccentric personality and irreverent sense of humor as he was for his community work. Mac spent his final years in Charlotte, NC under the loving supervision of his oldest daughter Cindy, scandalizing the residents of Emeritus Retirement Home, teaching the occasional art class, and attending St. Johns Baptist Church.
Clarence McIntyre is survived by his brother, Charles, his children; Cindy, Wendy, Roy, Casandra, Patrick, Evan, and Vestal, his six grandchildren, several foster children, a legion of friends and patients.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 18, 2011, at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service. A service to celebrate Dr. Mac's life will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 19, 2011, at St. John's Baptist Church, 300 Hawthorne LN., Charlotte, NC 28204.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Mac's name be sent to the Monastery of St. Gertrude's, 465 Keuterville Road, Cottonwood, ID 83522.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd. Please share condolences online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com.

Just Drifting

2011-12-07T16:01:00.001-07:00

I have a meeting next week which I must be preparing for, yet I just cannot get motivated to prepare—what is wrong with me? These people will be coming to my building and my board room expecting something to be shown them and I don not think I will have anything. I hope I will have some charts and other hand outs but I don't think it will go well. I just have to keep focused. (editor's note: the meeting went great and I did have charts and graphs and even some numbers to share--still, there's lot to do.)

I finished my latest Stephen king, and it was a good read—not great but pretty good. I am still pondering the content and the whole change history and resulting “Butterfly” effect. So, now I am, with out a book and with all credit cards and such frozen what am I to do...I am hoping to get a couple of gift cards or Amazon gift numbers so I can download another e-book on my Kindle...this ebooking maybe come addicting.

Red Tag

2011-12-06T09:48:00.001-07:00

It's the fifth of December, too far out for any Christmas miracles to be happening—oh and I believe in the miracle of Christmas-I have been the recipient of too many Christmas miracles to deny their happening. But it's the fifth of December and already the month is as harsh as a sand paper french kiss. I have had three calls today of people with disabilities facing evictions or utility shut-offs. These folks are seniors or have kids with disabilities but it is a hard town and a hard world out there.

Since I first started this blog update I spoke with my work mate, Amy who directed me to some citations regarding an actual federal and state law which might actually protect consumers. I have started some more research into this data and I have calls out to see if I might find something more definitive—hopefully I'll get some shut-off notices stayed until the severe weather passes. I have included some of the language I have found...Merry Christmas

Shut Off Protection

The Utility Moratorium Protection Program protects eligible households from winter utility shut off. A household can be approved for moratorium protection only one time per utility per program year. The moratorium is provided only by utility companies that are regulated by the Public Service Commission (PSC). PSC Regulated Utilities

The protection of the Moratorium lasts from November 15 through the following March 15. However, the State HEAT Program has the option of beginning it earlier or extending it later when severe weather conditions warrant such actions.

Kaiser Rolls are not Hambuirger Buns

2011-11-28T14:20:00.001-07:00

We just got back from the lunch out for Frank's birthday—we shut the office down, bundled up and trooped a coupe of blocks over to the Red Rock brewing Company (RRBC). I have never been impressed with the RRBC, the place is over priced, under menued and just plain elitist—Bonnie from the office pointed out the place was too white for her taste. I understand. Today though, I was really disappointed in the place. In the past I had ordered major sandwiches like hot corned beef on rye( forgot the for this entry) which was OK, expensive but too much for lunch and I hate dragging sandwiches back to the office. So, I ordered the hamburger—I figured how bad can that be, the least expensive thing on the menu and a hamburger—really, make a paddy and cook till the meat was safely cooked and served with the appropriate accoutrements.

I was shocked when our order arrived—everyone's sandwich really was not a sandwich but something wrapped in that weird wrap from the Middle East pita! Seriously, Pita? Nothing but pita, but I was so dismayed when the downloaded my hamburger(?) two piece of ground beef wrapped in the pita stuff. I did not see anything like pita in the menu. I definitively would not have ordered this item even if I had remotely thought they would serve hamburger wrapped in pita. I sent it back and asked for any bread product the kitchen ha that resembled HAMBURGER BUN.! My order returned a few minutes later in a kaiser roll—which was weird but acceptable. The hamburger offering was too much meat for the humble kaiser roll—it was then I realized mustard did not come with my order. A small vessel of catchup came which I supposed was for the french fries –and there was enough to use for my burger so that was cool but no mustard and our server was no where to be seen, rather then wait I powered my chair up to the kitchen and finally snagged someone who delivered the mustard. I can forgive a burger if the burger has the right coverings you can hide a lot with onions, lettuce, cheese etc...well there was no etc with my order and this etc was pickles. No pickles and at this point I did not want to fight for my pickles. I would jut tough it out and eat my cold meat and get the heck out of there. No pickle?

So I proceed to eat what ever it is I am eating and the meat in the paddy is not done, the meat is raw in paces I almost gag but I pile the mustard on (when it finally gets to my table) and try to enjoy my sandwich—and the sandwich is OK. I rally wish I had taken a picture of this hamburger. I worked my way through the first half of the offering and started the second and then things began to taste funny. I swear a bloom of rotted meat exploded in my mouth, will maybe not exploded maybe the sprouted like the beginning of a toothache—when you're not sure and really don't want to know the realness of what is happening to you—but that was enough for me. I swallowed the bit but stopped there and covered the rest of the plate with my napkin hoping I would not get sick from the lunch.

Hopefully this is the last time we go to Red Rock for anything—I would sooner go to the food court over t the Mall then return to RRBC.

Pizza Please

2011-11-26T19:28:00.004-07:00

Saturday night and i am writing and getting ready to settle down with the new Stephen King and do some serious reading. Dianne and I made pizzas tonight and the pizza pies turned out great--a lot of fun for the oldsters. One more day and then back to work for the Christmas swing--I think I am going to do all my gifting this year on Amazon, books and gift cards and that is going to be it. hey, I am still loving the Season--Ho,ho,ho.

Ho Ho Ho Here We Go

2011-11-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Looking down the barrel of another Federal holiday---this going to be a short week and I am feeling the pressure. Tomorrow I am out q half a day due to rehabilitation and then Wednesday one of my co-workers is having a birthday celebration which is more time away from the office and the phones. Plus I am trying to satisfy one of my funders who wants data broke down to their minute parts. So, what I was hoping would be a laid back week will be filled with stress as I head for the weeks finish line. Actually I am working the day following Thanksgiving which I have not done in the longest time, one reason so I will not have to use up vacation or sick leave and more importantly, Dianne will bee babysitting Asher and be gone and sitting home alone does not sound all that fun. So, I might as well be at work taking whatever calls may come.

Thanksgiving is going to be at Dianne's and my house and sounds like Mark and Jasmine will be attending along with BG&A2 who, last I heard are preparing the lions share of the meal—there was some misunderstanding at first as to where the meals was to take place but I guess all has been settled an the meal will be at the Utahna House. A large part of the decision was made because of the wheelchair and the inaccessibility of other homes being considered. We had talked earlier and I thought the decision of having the meal at out place was a done deal then all of the sudden I hear it the location has changed for the kids place which is not accessible all, also meaning I would have to go in my manual chair and I just don't do will with being in my manual chair away from my house and the access my house affords me. So,I stick to my guns people cave an I m left looking like the family jerk, which in fact I probably am. At this, once again, I am left with just the feeling of wanting to get through the event with the least amount of stress possible.

So ho ho ho and here we go for a nother holiday season, already the calls are long, many and dismal, gas shut offs, evictions and general homelessness but you know what I am going to be up this year throughout the season, keep focused

Submissions

2011-11-15T16:13:00.003-07:00

I just sent off a page of poetry submissions to VSA Utah, Art Access VSA-AA. The submissions are for their literary magazine, Desert Wanderings. VSA-AA publishes a volume almost every year and I have had submissions in many of these volumes. VSA-AA is a fairly high brow operation aimed at getting people with disabilities into the arts I initially got involved when a friend, Lori, e into an acting company twenty some years ago. Art Access was cool, a lot of exposed warehouse bricks gleaming hardwood floors and a chance to play grown up writer, actor, artist a couple times a year. Art Access was housed in art colony, a row of warehouse conversions into art lofts—once a month the whole community opens all their galleries where food and public mingle and wine flows and and everyone speaks local art. I have co-written and produced a small play at Art Access and as I said have had a number of time published via their Desert Wanderings. I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every opportunity Art Access has extended me, over the years—but, what I have enjoyed most was the chance to act the grown ups a couple o times a year, wear my plaid jacket with elbow covers and a dark or white turtleneck and stand round in small groups answering questions about something I had written in the years current literary offering.

I have not submitted anything to the journal the past coupe of years—I should have I either forgot or I had nothing to submit well, I am starting write again, I blame on my Thrive, my hand held. I am writing hai ku on the train—I want to write hundreds, I want to write enough hai ku to fill a book. I am trying to focus on the poetry of public Transportation. I might even try to take some images to go along with the poetry—which would be very cool...but for now I have sent away my submissions and lets see if any are used. Keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck.

Used and Abused...Again

2011-11-10T15:40:00.001-07:00

I think I have been played a again-I mean people with disabilities are such are such a used commodity. I do not think I would not be as pissed off about the whole used think if we ass a class or me as an individual got something out of the usury.

The whole stated a couple weeks ago when I got called by someone named Mike who identified himself as someone who worked with a private non-profit, some sort of advocacy group with the name of Utah Advocates. It seems the Utah Advocate were putting together an award presentation for a Utah congressman and wanted to ask m to attend nd possibly get some face time with the congressman. The presentation would be at a place to be announced and I would receive more information as the date drew closer. I told him I would think about attending the event and pretty much letting the idea drop until I heard more on the topic or I felt like leaving the office for an adventure. Figuring the event would be held at the congressman's office in South Salt Lake or down town or up at the State capitol which should be fairly easy to get to and not too time consuming.

The event was yesterday and Tuesday afternoon, I got a call from Mike letting me know the event was going to be at the Sandy Senior Center,, all the way at the other end of the Valley. I really did not nt to be spending my whole day in transit. I let mike know, this was pretty last minute and what were they thinking Sandy!! But I got to thinking about the event and I watched the weather actually called for beautiful , crisp, dry yet cool, transit weather. I checked with UTA and I could”bullet” down on the train and hope a “Fast” bus with would take me with in a block and a half of the senior center( I found out later when I boarded the bus that tfor just one dollar the driver would drop me off at the front door center, which I gladly payed) and the trip was very comparable with the same trip time wise if I had driven my van. I went

I think It took me between 45 and fifty minutes to get to the sr center. I had time to kill when I di get there. The congressional delegation was just getting there, there was a little chaos. It just so happened on of my best friend's wives works at the center so we chatted and she grabbed the “Puzzle lady” into giving me my own guided tour of the place and I must admit I was impressed but what this center had to offer everything from computers to languages to pottery music to food. It was weird everywhere we stopped I was surrounded and welcomed into the fold—like I was one of “them”. It was just as easy to nod my head yes then try to explain I as still among the living and I was there on business.

The Congressional finally did arrive and all the players were herded to the common room and the Congressman smiled make small talk and pretended to answer questions from some of the more feisty seniors—sensitive questions were deflected a plaque was given and then the congressman was con. I stayed for lunch—just because I could. This whole event was a non event, something just whipped up to have the congressman get some recognition—the event was pure fluff, pure “wag the dog” So, all day I have been trying to get hold of this Mike guy or his “Utah Advocates” The congressman or his people really don't know them, th congressman was just responding to a request to be somewhere , at certain time smile and talk—they did not know Mike, I have been calling to other private nonprofits and they don't know him—Mike is gone pecan. Myself another high profile person in wheelchair “crips of record” we there they just because we were in chairs to look good. We were definitely used new?

Golden Boy!!

2011-11-07T15:49:00.007-07:00

Last Thursday was the Temple Grandin lecture, actually I think it was more like a disability law Center team up with other private non-profit orgs which serve people with disabilities, fund raiser awareness project. Temple Grandin is the PhD animal sciences and autistic not Rain Man autistic but definitely part o the spectrum. Dr. Grandin had a HBO movie made of her life, I usually stay away from such events but since Dianne and I caught the movie on a Red Box offering last summer and we impressed. So when the boss offered us tickets to the event we jumped at the deal. Still, I was a little nervous not knowing what to expect. Since there were so many disability organization sponsoring the event each organization would be responsible for a boat load of tickets and as is often the case these tickets go to staff and consumers when the tickets cannot be sold to the public or board members.

Dr. Grandin was being awarded the Kim Peek, Kim Peek is Utah gift to the world right behind the television, KFC and Family home evening. Kim Peek is who the movie Rain Man is loosely based. Dustin Hoffman receive an Academy Award for his efforts and he gave his Oscar to Kim who became a roving ambassador to the world for disability especially savantism The first part of the night was such a Kim Peek show I was kinda beginning to feel sorry for Dr Grandin who seemed to be wilting on the sidelines. Mr. Peek, Kim's dad, was of course present and with Mr Peek was the Oscar, Dustin Hoffman's Oscar—Mr. Peek sort of pulls Oscar out and passe it round at all his speaking gigs. Golden boy seems a bit worn but good to go. It's a little creepy when one thinks of how many hands have touched on the little guy. I am sure Mr Peek sprays it down with some sort of disinfectant on a regular basis. What was weird was I was not expecting to have anything to do with the little totem and some how he ended up in my lap an since I did have him I decided to document the event –who know it seemed right at the time.

I was totally surprised—the evening was a great event for Dianne and I from beginning to end—from our dinner at Squatters Brew Pub, to the lecture. I was early enough to get the best designated parking area in front of the pub and the theater. What I did was perched my self in front of the parking space I wanted until Dianne arrived with the van. I was only almost run over once my by good friend Stan.

I liked my time with Oscar, I liked the weight, the feel the magic of the artifact, and yes there is a weird kind of magic to the statue—even though I had nothing to do with the little guy at all in any way, I truly felt special for the few moments it was in my possession. I know that does not make sense but true—when you're with Oscar you are special...

Over the River...

2011-11-01T13:03:00.001-06:00

Snow fell today making the day for me wet and cold—not that it matters but I rode the train in as usual but the van is, once again, in the shop, needing repair to the lift gate and perhaps the door. I spoke with the shop a few minutes ago and a bolt or something has been sheared off making the complete apparatus unusable. It's November and as the great calendar changed months I felt the change to the Majors, of the holidays Thanksgiving and Christmas and new Years cleaning up.

I like November, November has character—the new TV season is well on the way as is the Autumn season. November feels solid to me. The rest f the leaves will finally fall off the trees,like they have been waiting round for some sort of an invitation—no the have it enough below freezing night to drop the sap on any tree and dropping their leave at the same time. The mountain cold drives the hardiest of the herbivores down to killing zones where men dressed in orange and red lay primed for bloodshed in the name of providing meat for the family dinner table.

November provides that brisk calm before the storm of December with its deadly temperatures and and deadly pace of holiday dances,parties and dinners—I think the Thanksgiving dinner a dress rehearsal for the big events of December. November is stoic as the month resides in the shadows of December just happy to be round provide a platform for things political and patriotic and sadly militaristic. Veteran's fading out in veteran's Day parades and Johnny's coming marching home from what ever military we're involved in. We vote in November and if we're really lucky the right person wins. November I m sorry to say. Is all about football and TV specials, chopping wood and having a fire in the fireplace with popcorn and lots of redbox or Netflixx—so enjoy November, bundle yourself up and the kids and head over the river and through the woods to someone's house you go...

Steam Punk

2011-10-23T15:49:00.002-06:00

As a rule, I keep to myself s I ride the train each morning and evening o and fro work. In the morning I am often sleepy from the early hour and lack of sleep; in the evening I am burnt out, tired and often in a foul mood for any number of reasons which could stem from public service. But, I have noticed myself getting into conversations the past couple of days and sometimes quite animated. This is a new behavior for me and I had better watch it. Friday was just such a morning.

I took a later train then usual—Friday is my usual physical therapy day and I usually got into my office quite later and I also catch a later train.--and there is always a whole different crew and I never know what to expect. The train was packed when I got on board there were two power wheelchairs on board and a manual wheelchair stacked with luggage. The driver squeezed me in and I immediately started playing on my Strive—one of the best ways to insure isolation—it did not work this time.

There were a couple dressed in black a women in a power wheelchair and obviously her partner also dressed in black and worked a short top hat. I have learned since I met these two they were followers of Steam punk—Steam punk, a genre which has snuck on me . I should know this genre and I don't. I do now. Anyway, one of them asked about my tablet and how I like it and did I use it as a reader. I answered in the positive n both counts. I became intrigued with these two. I found they were going to a Animi-con being being held in Layton Utah quite a trip for someone in a wheelchair. I found the two save all year to go to this three day con , they stay at a hotel and enjoy the animation. The gentle in the steam punk hat obvious was the care taker and significant other of the women in the power chair, the two were dragging the manual wheelchair which would allow the power-chair user thee ability to get round in the hotel room freely. I was totally blown away—these two were hard core users of public transit.

The woman in the power-chair was seemed to have cerebral palsy, her speech was OK but quite involved physically—she would be a handful. I don't know what their relationship is but they seemed close and significant—most likely married or some derivative of long term commitments. They were off on a adventure on a Friday morning. I envied them. I wished I could go with them. But I had appointments that day an appointment with my boss to see how long my job would last. One of those deep , serious discussions where we discussed things relevant to me and to my future with the office where I worked.. I remember as I took part of this discussion how much I wish I were with this couple living in the moment living in the weekend. Gone...just gone.

"Something's Happening Here..." *

2011-10-20T14:29:00.004-06:00

Its been a stressful week—I have been accumulating data for my quarterly report, that document which purports to show your efforts at your employment for the last three months. I have hated to do these in the past especially when the data shown is not the best data or the numbers are lower then what they could or should be.

Now, I must admit I have gone for over a year without producing such a document just because the data was not there or the need for producing such a document did not seem relevant to me since my program has been rumored to be on the chopping block. I am a government employee a state employee and our state like all states round this great country is evolving through slash and burn service modification inorder to bring spending under control. I have been fortunate to have dodged the bullet for the past couple of years but it looks like I am moving slower and slower and the bullets are moving quicker and quicker and I may be headed for a bulls eye. I fear I may soon fall to the financial downturn.

My boss has been great in trying to save my funding as well as various staff members. We have met, configured game plans, re-invented and re-branded, launched new concepts and held more meeting and finally started producing a quarterly reports which again show little difference in the amount of calls or numbers coming into our darling little call center and the goal is to get larger number of calls coming in—nothing has helped my calls flat lined and it seems not a thing I have done has helped a whole hell of a lot. My funders are dissatisfied at best at the worst ambivalent and are threatened to reduce if not pull all together their funding. My boss is busy and does not or cannot devote more of her time to generate further funding streams which would keep my operation alive.

The boss was out all last week, she wanted me to have my numbers and data together all together when she got back into the office—I did not have it and she was unhappy. I have been working on it all week—there has been semi-terse emails drifting back and forth across the office and lots of closed door conversations and my secretary keeps weeping for no reason. tomorrow its all supposed to come together with the veiled threat “and we'll bring up your performance evaluation to see how you're coming along”. I was getting stressed until last night and Dianne and I had a long conversation about what I wanted to do after or if the work/job evaporated. We decided life would go on and I felt relived: why, I don't know I just did. Really, this stress is not worth it, life is just way too short. I need to get into something enjoyable.

*For What Its Worth, Buffalo Springfield

A Media Award

2011-10-12T13:48:00.004-06:00

I have been trying to get a post up all week, at least since the Golden Key awards because I know just know my public is dieing to see how I survived the event. Well, I did survive and actually embraced the event and my award—weird I know but here's how the event went down. But the quarter is over and I am get some sort of quarterly report put together before my Boss returns from her vacation next week. I can really do this!

I took the van into work since Friday is my usual Rehab day and then I knew I would still have to get up to the State capital where the event was being held and I am just not sure of my of batteries at all and besides the forecast for intermittent rain. Dianne and had breakfast together at the local IHOP, which I like a lot—we even ran into my wheelchair sales guy and our next door neighbors.

Physical therapy, again consisted of my therapist forcing my durable medical person to fix my chair and try to find a solution to my foot hanger dilemma—I zipped out and drove up to my office and got calls returned and took a couple of new calls and then traveled to the capitol. Actually my boss sent me up to the Capitol early so I could take advantage of the capitol cafeteria—which I did and almost enjoyed until the director of the state Rehabilitation program sat down at my tale and had political conversation. Fortunately for me, I was sitting with another wheelchair user, a real “super crip” who was able to engage the Director. Its a short roll from the State cafeteria to the capitol rotunda.

I had not really told anyone about the award I was getting, however, since my boss is a Director of one of the State agency which serve folks with disabilities she was going to awards program. She was also bring her comrade in arms. I was told by the folks hosting this event that I would get a whole table for my supporters. I did not think much about this fact but I began having visions of me siting all by myself, I would be a man without an island so I offered my boss and her pal a spot—then some one I had met the night before walked past looking lost searching for a place to sit in a sea of strangers so I offered Micheal a place, Micheal was totally grateful and I had nearly a “full-house”. I looked like I was loved.

Here I must confess I thought this was going to bee another “crip” gala but I was wrong. In fact the list of award winner was pretty short just like five or six of us award winners. I really must have done something significant. I got my award. A very heavy piece of glass formed to looking the Earth on a glass pedestal which allowed the globe to effortlessly spin—very heavy a tragedy just waiting to happen. I had to make an acceptance speech which I did not think about at all—which I pulled off OK. I think the people who were there were more interested in my chair and all the bungee cords hanging off the chair. The event concluded at 4:00, not really enough time to go back to the office—I went home to start my weekend...after grabbing a couple of Swedish meatballs. I had had enough glory for one day.

And the Winner is...

2011-10-03T16:00:00.002-06:00

Golden Key is this Friday, what a hoot. Golden Key in my mind has always been an inappropriate and degrading, sensationalist use of people with disabilities for the benefit of government programs and the businesses who hire the people with disabilities. SACRILEGE ! A job is a job is a job regardless of how the person with a disability gets the job, the person is working—right? I guess but Golden key is such a Jerry Lewis affair. Oh I used to go Golden Key when the hosting agency served a hot lunch but even then the price was eventually too high for me to pay for a hot lunch and a break from office duties for an afternoon. One must remember the Event was started by a different regime then the on currently in power—whose director I actually like and support—all things being equal. But I do respect the poor counselors charged with services to folks with disabilities in this time o economic down turn with fewer and fewer employes with massive caseloads.

Over the past couple of years I have been producing and staring in an INTERNET broadcast interview show called Access Utah Now. I do two shows a month highlighting some agency or program locally which provides services and supports to families of and people with disabilities. The project has been fun an I have joyed a little notoriety. The main goal in my mind was simply to have another tool in getting Access Utah network out in-font of the public and organizations which serve people with disabilities and hopefully save my job. Yes, I agree totally self serving but I have to admit the broadcasts are usually the most fun I have on a Thursday. We now have 62 programs archived.

A couple of months ago a buddy of mine, Kent, a director of a local assistive technology program, he had submitted me for consideration for the Golden key in Media. I really did not pay much attention to his comment an promptly forgot the discussion until last week when I was contacted by the director of Governor's Council notifying me that I or Access Utah now had one Golden Key 2011 for Media...!

Seriously is this for real? It is and you know what I am going this Friday regardless of what I think or what I have said. If they are going to give me an award I am going to take it and a have fun doing it. Am I a sell out or what. I have to admit the event no longer comes with food and judging by the fact I was notified a week before the event leads me to believe someone else actually was chosen and turned the award down—obvious some one with more personal integrity then I. Its not even job security, I doubt my nomination and award will have an impact whether I might receive more funding come July. I think mostly Kent is a true believer and he nominated me out of the best intentions, I hope. Or maybe I am just mellowing, more then I thought and sometimes it is just nice to be recognized by anyone just for the heck of it.

Slow Down and Save!!!

2011-09-30T15:54:00.002-06:00

How much was that part??
Brent and Sue working on my chair repair!

Friday is my rehab day least wise right now—since the State has gone back to the five day work schedule I a having to burn my Sick leave to achieve my rehab. My physical therapist (PT), Sue has been incredibly supportive which is really, a breath of fresh air. I knew going into this morning rehab session I was not going to get rehabilitation as much as some sort of rehabilitation for my powerchair.

As of last night I was still using the foot plate ( which is still on the chair, I fold it upright hen I use the leg hangers). I knew Sue would be upset when I showed up for rehab without the hangers on sincee tat was the whole idea of using then hangers for a week. Then making adjustments when at my Friday rehab session. I was still hopeful, that Sue might be able to figure out how reattach the hanger piece I destroyed on Tuesday. This piece was pretty compromised when I ran the peddle into the crown of the street but if it could be straightened it might just work long enough till I an get the part shipped in.

DD and I had breakfast at the University hospital cafeteria and waited for my session. Sure enough Sure was disappointed but she also jumped right into the problem and attempting a solution. Brent my durable medical sales guy soon showed up and then new P.T. Student joined. We had a team working on my problem. About the only rehab I got this morning was when Sue placed my dangling feet on the red box. Fixing the problem today is the band-aid quick fix—I was not going to or at least drag my feet but I decided I had better just order the piece into the shop and make change. The part itself will cost $90.00 and if they have their staff puts the piece on that will jack the price another $90.00—ouch what go do.

My problem is I like the speed of my chair just too damn much—this get me when I come down an incline and when I bottom out and start my climb I usually push my pedals into the pavement which has caused my problems. I think the chair has a real design issue and be that asst may, I am going to have to learn to live with it....slow down and live a more careful life—drat!! The on going costs are just prohibitive. I was thinking some kind of behavior modification regimen—I am going to have to live my life at a slight tilt—whether I like it or not. I was thinking perhaps I could attach something to my chair which would prevent me from leveling my chair to the point where I will start ramming the street. Then I as thinking why not tie some sort of adverse stimulus to me and running my chair level, balls out. Electric shock! I bet electric shock would produce a quick learning curve—no one else in the group liked the idea but maybe some sort of sound stimulus could sound out when I was at a perilous hanger angle. Either way I am going to havee to do something this wheelchair living is just too expensive!

“Tilt and Slow Down

2011-09-29T16:21:00.000-06:00

Unbelievable this is seriously true. Lat night I leave work and I am heading for my home bound train and I am being good crossing the street tilted back in my chair just a little so the foot peddles are not hitting and pavement or anything else which might cause the peddles damage. I get to the Planetarium station, just across the street and I see the Blu-line and train, the train I need and everything leaves my head and I crank-up them speed. You guessed it as I come of the crown of the street my foot hangers dig into the bumps of the raised blind warning pad on the sidewalk driving the foot peddle into my chair breaking the hanger at the exact place as I had done the day before. I could not believe it. I just there in traffic stunned—I finally tipped the chair back and limped the rest of the way top the platform. I of course missed the train.

I limped all thee way home with my chair tiled back. My right foot kept slipping back and of the plate but I was just great full I had not had Josh take off thee foot-plate. I was crestfallen, I just wanted to get home. Dianne, who had been meeting me at the train station all week was out shopping and did not meet me so I forged ahead home—I needed to get the peddle out of its receiving part, this is the part which I destroyed and at least with the hanger out and my foot-plate down I could cruise with a little comfort. I thought of stopping at a service station even at strange houses in the neighborhood where I had noticed folks working on cars. They would understand. But nogo no one was out. I even considered at an automotive place like Sears Automotive or Pepboys bur just decided to go home. I lucked out in that no sooner had I got home and was outside on the deck waiting for DD or anyone to come home—my across the street neighbor, Dan, came home and I swooped. Dan pulled the foot hanger off sand I was free of the offensive broken part.

Now, I have to once again head back to the wheelchair shop. This time the repair is going to be expensive, time consuming and I will not doubt have it all over to do do again when I next run my foot peddle into the street. I was hoping could get Frank or someone to pound the piece straight he said he could not do it because the metal is so brittle—he feels the part would surely break. I still think I can do it—even if the piece held or a day. I called the shop this morning and started the process of ordering in the part I need. The part is nearly $100.00 if they install the part it will be another 84.00!! Frank says he'll install the part if I can get it in. So that is where I am waiting for the part to arrive and tomorrow I have rehab and I know Sue is going to want to see me with m,y new foot peddles in place...well it isn't going to happen tomorrow but I am going to start the process of training myself to “tilt and slow down”.

Parrell Univeresis

2011-09-28T13:58:00.002-06:00

Wednesday morning, and indeed, it this week is becoming a long week but as they say today is “hump day” and I am feeling I can make it to the weekend. I kinda felt I had better follow on the trip to the wheelchair shop. Luckily the foot plate, the platform, I have been using to support my feet, th device which came with the chair, has not been taken off so I removed both hangers and returned to using the plate. I left the office and hopped the 200 Southbound and got into Bad Ass Coffee and to Magic rest way before (20 minutes) way before my appointment which was 4:00 pm.

I kinda of had been building myself up ever since I made the call for the appointment that I knew they were going to try to screw me and I was going to have to hold my ground if not get a little bit offensive. So I rolled in with” my shields up”. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. Since the part I needed was already in station it was just a matter of having the technician install the piece. At first the tech was going to charge me for one hour's labor which would have been $84.00 and that just was not right. I did not have to say anything. Magic Rest did it right and blew off the shop fee and installed the broken piece. So, the only thing I really spent was the using of “sick” time.

So, thee Leg hangers are on and I continue to get “used” to them. The discomfort stage is over however I am still getting used to my feet being parallel to each other. I actually kind of like the feeling it gives me. What I have notice is how many other folk have noticed how straight I look sitting in my chair. So the back, leg hangers and cushion are in place and seems to be making a difference. I still have the Sales rep I have been working through coming to meet with me and my physical therapist this coming Friday to tweak” the chair and the new parts so everything will work together. I am having a it of an issue as to how I appear in thee chair. I feel like I really look more gimpish then I have ever before. I don't know I think it's how my feet look: so parallel so un-natural to how I have looked for decades. But, will give this new look the benefit of the doubt and see where it takes me...

More of the Same

2011-09-26T14:27:00.004-06:00

I get so frustrated in trying to live as someone with a disability. I actually I have done pretty well for the 40 some years I have been disabled. I have been fairly healthy, independent and self driven bu the past couple of years I have been spiraling, what seems downward. I am aging out of all the good things I have been in this life and I really don't think there is much I can do bout it.

I have been doing physical therapy, for s much as my insurance will cover the past couple of years; partially to develop muscle or strengthen what muscle tissue I already have to assist me in my activities of daily living you know: showering, using the toilet, get dressed. I have also dipped back into ye ole medical to get some pressure sores repaired. The benefit of being enrolled in a P.T. program is this association opens up channels to get more equipment a person might need to stay independent. In fact I have just about got a complete rebuild on my powerchair.

I started breaking down skin on my butt recently which led me to ordering A NEW SUPER IMPROVED wheelchair cushion. I have never had so much professional intervention in purchasing a new cushion. The device finally came in and I picked it up and started using the cushion a week ago. I have to admit I was disappointed a little. I did not get as much butt relief as I had anticipated even though cushion is maybe a quarter to half inch higher then the worn out cushion. This does not sound like a lot but in economies of scale, an inch can be like ten feet. So, I have really had to use all my strength to get myself up into this chair in the mornings when I transfer from my manualto the power chair to begin my day.

The leg hanger finally came in last week. The hangers are the last step in the process of rebuilding my chair so I might continue being a productive old guy with a disability my PT called the shop and and found the parts in last Friday morning and I scheduled the following Saturday get the parts an start using them and getting used to them so when I go into therapy this coming Friday we will know where to tweak the devices and make them better. And of course this morning on the way to work I break one of the hangers—Grrrr. What is it with me. The right hanger's foot plate was not tight and when I drove my chair down the ramp and onto the sidewalk then onto the street I ran into the crown of the street breaking the cast iron part which is critical to having the hanger be functional.

Naturally when I get into the office I have Frank look at the part and diagnosis the issue, I all my shop and begin the process of getting this piece repaired or what ever. There was so issue of me having to pay for the labor to restore the part but they called while I was out at lunch and will eat the labor. Now, I just have to saddle up and bus down( burn vacation or Sick, at least 90 minutes) to the shop. Its going to be a long week.

Of Spiders and Hobos

2011-09-17T16:52:00.002-06:00

The fall is almost here, the cooler weather has rolled in and we have had storms and thunderstorms which I feel is very odd for this time of year. I have been looking round for long sleeves and turtle neck shirts. The ride into the train in the morning is uncomfortably cool and we have thrown another blanket on the bed. Summer is gone.

This last week was the first week the State has returned to the five day week,work now begins at 8:00 and is over 5:00 pm. I have done my share of griping but I am rolling with the change ok. I am forcing myself to sleep in an hour and am enjoying leaving for home aa half hour then I used to. I am also getting an extra day to work and take phone calls. So change back has not been too bad so,I need to stop my bitching.

The spiders are coming into house from yard now the temperature is dropping and the hobos are looking and finding anything they can to give them some protection from the night's cool downs. I am amazed every day when I use our bathroom I have seen huge daddy long legs and I have found out daddy long legs are great to have a round since they eat a host of other spiders which might invade the house. I can deal with daddy long legs. Hobos are another challenge. When I came to work on Tuesday I was met by what looked like a bundle now from the front door to the building I work. I am usually the second person in the morning. Frank the accountant, is usually first in and the door to the building iss unlocked. But not this day frank had not yet come in. I had a suspicion the bundle housed a person but was not totally sure until I looked close and saw a had poking out of the end of the bundle and the hand moved! I thought better of unlocking the door and decided to go round to the back and unlock the back door.

I started my day: cranked up my system, made the coffee and popped two pieces of bread into the toaster oven and got them toasting. I often make toast which I slather with peanut butter and eat for breakfast. I could not get the body in the front of the office of my mind. I was seriously thinking of making a couple pieces of toast and waking the hobo it toast and coffee. Luckily, Bonnie showed up and made short work of waking and sending the sleeper on his way. I sort of feel I failed as a human, as missing an opportunity to put someone in front of myself. But I am not stupid, I have brothers and sisters and know what can happen when someone who does not want to be woken is woken. I have still not fully got over another body I came across earlier this Summer, one who was not going do go on his own any time soon. But still, I feel sad as each day the hours of daylight shortens and the night grown longer, dark and colder. The Spiders and hobos are at risk

A Council of My Peers

2011-09-13T09:31:00.003-06:00

I am a half hour from a yet another meeting in the quest to keep this position live.
Today we have invited representatives from different I&R's throughout the area to come together as a resource council. The council is not my idea but the bosses as a possible way to increase funding to keep my position afloat. I have to admit I'm a bit nervous to bring this in front of my peers, if I have peers.

Five Days Aweek!

2011-09-07T11:35:00.001-06:00

This week the State returned to the five day work week, hours returning to the traditional 8:00 am-5:00 pm, we're into day two, actually three, if you count the holiday Monday as being part of this week. I would love to say I am open to this change, and that I am going to make the best of it—which I will, but I am not very open to returning to the five day grunge. After all as many of you know the reason I started State employment was because this position I am in was set up as a 4-10 work week. Granted when I hired on this was a two operator office and we covered each others position—I had Friday's off and my partner had Mondays and the world was right. However, with the recession, depression or what ever, things all changed and particularly in the State universe. Little by little my funding dried up, I lost my other operator and had to return too the five day week until the governor, the last governor went to the four day week and now we're back.

Looking at the five day week seems more more ponderous then the five day week actually is. I m going to have to re-arrange my life a little. I am going to keep my physical therapy appointment on Friday mornings and just take off sick for as long as I have PT—I should have more then enough hours in my State sick leave account. Then this Friday I have one of my quarterly meetings—which runs from 11:00-2:00 and with travel I I should only be in the office two hours, late in the day. So, the bright side, this is not so bad I just have to get used to the extra day. I start my work day an hour later then I did on the four day schedule, but the later hour does not help me much since I am an early riser—once I am dressed in the morning I am gone. The only benefit I do enjoy is that now I can stop for breakfast along the way—which I did this morning—the golden arches and they have WiFi that is free. I will survive.

Revelation!!

2011-08-29T15:13:00.005-06:00

It was another “work on the house” weekend. This time we had Gabe for two days to finish the ramp—which I sometime feel is a never ending operation – and fix anything else in the house and as I have said many times, as a person with limited hand function and ability to get out of my chair and crawl round on the floor, under sinks, up ladders or get under the house, I take any and all help I can get when the help is offered.

Saturday Dianne finished painting the ramp along with Bridget's help leaving Gabe free to attack the kitchen. He put the new handles on my sink—the “hot” lever has broke for what seemed like years and is actually months. Gabe also looked at the big kitchen sink and found the sink was not as bad as I had thought. I thought we were going to he to replace the whole basin and infact just the disposal needed replaced. So now we have a great working regular sink and I have both levers working on my sink and a disposal to boot.

I had resigned myself to the fact I was going to be housebound until what ever was painted on the ramp dried. I figured I would just have to deal with the confinement. What I had not thought through thatI was going to be housebound with my infant grand son, Asher. Actually I was to be house bound with ?Asher AND Anakah, Asher's older sister.

Friday, Dianne and I had been to Lowes and on a mad impulse we purchased a propane grill, a small thing we could light at a moments notice and cook a couple of steaks, burgers, dogs are what ever. Now the process of stoking and firing up the smoker is pretty defeating. The major problem was the grill comes dissemblance. So, Anakah and I subjected Asher, first to another showing of Babe which Asher surprisingly tolerated an then in a mad flash of genius I decided to begin assembling the grill—I must have been insane—but you know what it worked. Anakah, Asher and I quietly and respectfully put together a propane gril and it worked too!! Dianne cooked a couple a three t-bone steaks for dinner Saturday night!!! It's funny how everything tastes better when you do it yourself. I was impressed with the lad. I knew Anakah could work together—I was surprised that we stuck to the conclusion o the project—Asher watched Anakah and I put the little cooker together screw, by screw by lug nut for the whole project which took hours( it was only supposed to be 30 minutes.

It was fun! What I thought was going to be long and tortuously confining was in fact fun and liberating as the three of us worked to complete our first ever project together.

Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head....

2011-08-22T16:28:00.000-06:00

Remember,a couple weeks ago how I was going on and on about the new roof we were anticipating putting on our house, then actually getting the funding and contacting or being contacted by the roofer the Russian or the Russian the roofer—however best that comes out. We did it, we bit the bullet , closed our eyes and jumped into a new roof. The job was clean and fast and not short on comic relief with a Russian, making it in the USA, trying to supervise a handful Mexican (nationals no doubt). Anyway we have been enjoying our new roof all summer till Saturday afternoon.

Saturday, was beautiful, clear in the morning accompanied by a wind of change. I had been out on the bus system getting my power chair looked at. I was afraid the back might becoming off so I was out to Magic Rest and charging my chair a couple hours , on my return, I sprinted back up to the Red Box and got a couple of movies for the evening and a couple of warnings from passer bys that I had better get in before the rains start. I just smiled and nodded my head kept on my journey. However, the winds were picking and the winds were warm and laced with spits of rain here and there but nothing significant...yet. The clouds were mashing up an turning dark and blustery-something was coming.

I was still dry by the time I had gotten home but now the winds were beginning whip and the rqain started. At first just a couple of drops the a few more then the deluge started. The rain hammered the front of the house at the beginning then the rain was blown sideways as it was blasted in sheets. Lightening was frequent and the thunder loud and constant. The hail started and joined the party bouncing off the pavement and shredding tree leaves and taking many of the re plum tree leaves in the front yard off all together. We had been sitting in the door watching all the weather, DD got up and went to the back of the house to the laundry. She called me in and showed me water streaming down the back walls of the laundry, in one place the water was coming in a steady stream.

We have had a couple of small spitters, a little rain but nothing like the rain which hit us Saturday afternoon. When we had the roof put on we had the contractor put an outlet for the dryer up through the ceiling and through the roof to the outside. Dianne thinks this vent was poorly made. I have been wondering if indeed the vent is OK but due to the amount of water and the wind driving this water maybe that is what happened and water just gushed down the pipe or what ever. I am hoping that whatever us the problem the fix will be easy and swift and the discussions with the Russian will be productive and low stress. We took a video of the “water full” which I plan to post in the near future

The shining ray through this whole mess is the area where we had the leak in the bathroom, before the new roof , was high and dry—is this a half full or half empty kind if thing?

I See Dead People

2011-08-16T14:35:00.003-06:00

I woke way early this morning and knew I was not going to get back to any meaningful sleep for the rest of the night and finally drug my butt out of bed to begin my day at 4:30 just because I could not stay in bed any longer. I was a half hour ahead of my usual schedule when I left the house heading up to State street and my bus stop. Right now being a half hour early is not so bad—the place where I catch my morning bus is literally infested with wifi hot zones, Beans and Brew, Zions Bank even Fed Ex has an office on my corner and they were offering wifi. I connected and read my email and caught up on the news. It is really too bad that Utah Transit Authority does not offer a wifi connection on their train services so I ended up reading my e-book and trying to stay awake.

I have to travel a block or so to get to my office. I travel from the downtown train station cut through part of block then travel to the corner and cross the street to my office. This morning when I emerged from the alley I noticed fire engines and police cars parked in front of the Art Space apartments. Now emergency vehicles parked in front of this building at this time of the morning maybe unexpected but, really not that unusual what was unusual about a half a block down from the fire engine was a corpse covered with a white sheet-just like on TV. There were cops standing an squatting around waiting for coffee and possibly doughnuts and folk waking by just like Tuesday morning—the scene was surreal. I was across the street behind a lamp pole trying to get a decent image of corpse and not be seen as a rubber necking, camera toting opportunist jerk taking images of the newly dead. I was using my cell phone and got a couple images the best I cropped and uploaded. Not the best but you get the idea—nothing is ever dull down town.

Turn, Turn, Turn

2011-08-10T15:00:00.005-06:00

A couple of years ago I gave my wood lathe and turning knives away to my brother ina fit of exasperation because I could not access my garage. Since then I have picked up two lathes but still I do not have any knives. Hopefully that is about ready to change.

I have missed working in my garage and working on my project of making sticks. I want to get back to turning and turning out sticks so I have started searching for turning knives. I looked at the local tv station website on their "Classified" section, I even went so far as to re awaken my membership to Ebay and entered a couple of auctions. Luckily i was out bid for a set of tools--this is good because after I made the bid I saw the auction would not even close until sometime next week. I usually can fins something on the Classified section of the local TV station but not this week. My work mate thought I should check Harbor Freight ( which I am surprised I had not thought of earlier) and sure enough there were a couple of sets available but still would have to go through the mail--then i called the local store and they had the same items at the same price so I will be able to drive down and pick up a set of knives and get to work--I am really hoping the knives will drive me back into my garage and back to my lathe...we will have to see.

Slipping again

2011-08-09T16:48:00.002-06:00

One day begets another, begets anther, and soon there is another week where in I have not written in the blog. Honestly, I have something to say and just not the time nor the energy by th end of the day.

M360P

2011-08-04T14:24:00.002-06:00

I work with a women who actually has a project at the local Airforce base. It called the 360 project and what that title means I do have a clue but I like the title so much I decided to steal number and work it into my own project and thus I have the Meadowlark's 360 Project or M360P. I have only been doing the project for a couple of weeks now but I have been getting good responses.

The M360P is really an off shoot of the Train People project, where I snap an image each day with cell phone and upload the image to my Facebook page. I started turning a circle while filming with the cell, usually at one of my train stops. Now that the “360” is its own project I hope to be turning circle just about everywhere and posting the results.

Read My Lips

2011-08-02T14:11:00.004-06:00

http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/16293961

I was desperate for an interview a couple of weeks ago for the bi-weekly internet broadcast I do when I was contacted by a gentlemen fishing for funding for his program for deaf folk. I turned the call and soon had my last Thursday of July filled. I was a little concerned that this was a interview with person who is deaf. I have purposely stayed away from this disability group because of the captioning thing. I believed once I did the deaf interview then I was on the hook for accessibility to the rest of the interviews we have done. I know we should be captioning or providing some form of interpreting but our budget I so tight—there is absolutely no funding for anything but answering the phone. A couple of years ago, when we at least had budget for two operators—I had the other operator transcribing the tapes from the interviews with the hopes of using Movie Maker software to run a trailed under the video of the actual speech—I figured if we ever did get busted I could call “reasonable” accommodation —the transcription project quietly died when Tory moved on to another job outside of State service.

I made it clear to the folks who are deaf I could provide interpreter and when they started pushing my on the idea I told them I was dropping the interview like a Republican contribution slip. They came back indicating they would take care of the problem. When they showed up for the interview the did not have an interpreter and the event went down hill from there. I have kept the interview—what it was-- on the web site to illustrate the need for accessible and affordable communication options. I told them I would try to find a sighner for a re-do of this interview in two week.

So, I called the or the Deaf and Hard of Hearing an pike with an old friend, there who directs the program. She even indicted she may have a little funding to provide an interpreter. She a good State employee and cautious and will commit an interpreter until she has visited with the couple. She wants to be sure the interpreter will be signing the truth—there seems to be some issues with couple. So, no I am waiting to see if I have interpreter services for my next show the 11^th of August. An what about beyond?

I have the director of the state program scheduled for later this Fall which is a good thing. I have opened the door to the whole deaf thing and now can see where this elephant will go. Maybe the deaf folk an provide their interpreting or maybe a way for us to to get our shows captioned. Already with the director’s I know we are doing the right thing and I think some doors might open up for our little interview project. Now I just have to figure out a way to diffuse the whole deaf interview from last week. Check out the interview talk about Marx brothers...

OK, but not Celestial

2011-08-01T16:38:00.003-06:00

I was about to get ready to launch another rant about the restaurants in this city which are not accessible. Really cool places which have great food but I cannot access due to architectural barriers. There had been a heavy rain all morning but lunch the clouds were breaking and I was thinking on heading out for lunch. I was going to try to satisfy myself with what I had in the fridge but in the end I felt I needed to leave the office and enjoy the weather—the colder air of winter is coming in less this ten weeks, this Summer's days are numbered.

Invariably when I try to find somewhere interesting to dine downtown SLC I always end up at Gandolfo's on Main Street located upstairs over the Stepdown Social Club which always looks like they have a great lunch menu. Today, I finally got someone to send down a person to take my order. The sandwich was OK—not celestial but definitely OK.

August Rain

2011-08-01T09:27:00.003-06:00

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2059176163159

I am going to try to write everyday this month--maybe not the 500 words, I like to write but something like this morning-it is raining in downtown slc, which I feel is extremely odd for August go on ad on about the end of days when it is just a rainstorm in August...

Maybe

2011-07-30T09:36:00.001-06:00

Today! I am going to write something--I really am--maybe

Thriving

2011-07-23T19:01:00.000-06:00

It took all week all week to finally get custody of my new tablet, the Toshiba Thrive. To achieve this required numerous calls to best Buy my credit union and eventually get my new friend, Wayne at the credit union to contact Dakota's boss at Best Buy. I still don't understand, all I needed was an invoice to my credit union who would have instantly cut a cashiers check to Best Buy.

Calls seemed to be flying back and forth between my office and the two institutions I was dealing with. I was not trying to get Dakota in trouble but the poor kid could just seem to get it together. I was reinforced at some point when I spoke With Erin(sales person who answered the phone more then once when I called Best Buy for a status check and she I formed me she thought Dakota was in over his head and Costa the store manager would figure it—Dakota should never have handled the sale. In fact the last couple of times I called asking for Dakota, the lad was gone-- and at the end it was like the kid never existed—I was getting a weird feeling I was dealing with an episode from X-files or 24.

On Wednesday I took what I thought was going to be an hour of Annual I was going to zoom out to the credit union pick up my check the head further down the street to the Best Buy and purchase the Thrive have the folks apply the screen protector and head back to work, charge the tablet and enjoy my new toy. I did pretty good on the trip down south to the credit union but the transit system could have been quicker. I got the check and a quick lunch at Micky D's and caught the bus to Best Buy. It took longer then I had expected for the screen protection but not bad and no sooner had I got the Thrive loaded into my back pack then the left side of my seating system fell off literally. Nothing really serious but awkward as I tried to kim myself in the wheelchair and still drive the char back to work. I was going to have to stop at my wheelchair shop, Magic Rest which I knew was going to really eat in to my Annual.

The bus took for ever to come but eventually came rattling by. At Magic Rest I qualified forth ten minute quickie, a free service if what ever is wrong with your chair can be repaired in ten minutes. I my case I just needed a bolt put in a lock device and tightened.

When I returned to my office I had used more like four hours of Annual, which I have to use but I was hot and tired but pleased and a little excited. I plugged in my new machine and started returning calls and trying not to focus on the the Thrive. We went to Auni's last ball game with her visiting Aunt and Uncle and by the time I got home I just wanted to read.

I have started to use the system now. I like it—I think the thrive will serve me well. I just wish getting it had not been so challenging.

Dakota Where You??

2011-07-18T16:42:00.002-06:00

Dakota where are you? I talked to you earlier about when and where i can pick up my new Toshiba Thrive. I gave you the number to Wayne over at the credit union who really wants to talk with you. Everything is in place they'll even get you a cashiers check for the amount in question. Its a good thing for you that I have my granddaughter's last kickball game tonight and I have a board morning in the morning or I would have been pissed rather then just irritated. Tomorrow, I'm calling you about 11:00 and I better get some answers.

Options--part 2

2011-07-17T15:08:00.002-06:00

Options—part two...

I try to buy local when I can. We used to have a bunch of places in the neighborhood to consider electronic items especially computer. We had a Compusa, Electronic Universe, Staples and even a Office Max but they are all gone, fallen victims to the recession. Really the only place in Murray left is Best buy, giant electronic retailer down on State Street. Best Buy seems to have weathered the Recession fairly well and should be in Murray in years to come, the best part is the store sits right on State State easily accessible by public transit and a bus was coming down the street and I figured the bus arriving when it did was a sign I should check out Best Buy.

I love the smell of a huge electronic store something like plastic and electricity its wonderful. I rolled in like I owned the joint, ignoring the token “greeter” who yelled at me as I entered but I left him holding the Best Buy specials like yesterday's news. I wondered round the place, checking out the videos, flat screens and camera bar and eventually I found where most of the tablets were stocked. It was only then I let a Best Buy sales shark approach and engage—luckily for me she was not from that department or just did not know or what to answer my the specific questions. She called someone over “Computers”: Dakota

Actually Dakota actually turned out to be a good little sales rep. I just had a difficult time warming up to a sales rep named after a truck or US state. Dakota was slightly over weight a bit disheveled giving the lad “floor cred”. I looked at the HP, Acer, Toshiba, Samsung and another I cannot recall right now. I finally chose the Toshiba Thrive, I got the whole package, year back up, buy back option, screencover and my own personal wifi center called a Hot spot” I need to check into this a little bit more after some information I have been reading this morning. I dashed Dakota's spirits when I told him I was working with my credit union which has a special lending plan for State employees and I would have to get an Invoice written up and submitted to the Credit Union who will pay directly to Best Buy. It took a bit for Dakota to wrap his mind a round this concept so he brought in the “big guy”. The concept also challenged the Big Guy but he figured there was a sale in there somewhere like a shark smelling blood, the Big Guy “bit” figuring out he would sort out the details after sale had been made some timeafter closing—it was this killer instinct which got “Big Guy to be the Store manager.

I m in not hurry—will maybe just a little—to take position of my new tablet. I can wait for the system to run its course. I am well connected with my Toshiba lap top at home and work...is work. I have major meeting to prepare on Tuesday but after the meeting I am looking at another holiday weekend and being off work on Monday, a log weekend. Yes, with my new Tablet.

Options...

2011-07-16T22:13:00.000-06:00

I bought a 10.1 Sylvania tablet three weeks ago at our local Shopko. I truth I like the tablet and the price was OK, I knew the product was not top of the line but I just wanted to have something all the other kids on the train had. I really thought the Sylvania was. The item acted like a tablet but just little drawbacks. I really liked the wi-fi feature and early on I started using the Ethernet jack at the and was surprised at how much faster the Ethernet loaded item on the tablet—I did not even know the tablet would take an Ethernet connection. Again one of the great features of the Sylvania is all it points of connectivity. Then about the Second week the Ethernet port just stopped working and even though I could still manage with the Wifi I missed and wanted my Ethernet connection back. It was during this time I started paying attention to short lived battery of the tablet—just a couple of hours. I had to charge the tablet all night only to plug in again at the office or I would have a dead tablet. I thought about getting a second adapter but I could not find any which would charge my tab—I was warned by various nerds That I better be careful with the power supply or soon I may have a very expensive paper weight. And quite frankly pulling in where ever I went was becoming a real pain in the ass.

It was Frank at my office who witnessed my frustration and suggested I return my device and get what I really wanted—a high end device with speed, longevity, adaptability and great connectivity. I would take my Sylvania back, get my money back and use that cash as a down on the new device

. So yesterday I stopped at Shopko on the way home from presentation I was supposed to give and explored just how do able returning the device would be, it turns out I still had my receipt (miracle) and box and parts, I could exchange for a new tablet or take the cash and roll. The manager started to give me hard time but I just turned and left. Somewhere on the trip home I remembered I had taken out number of signature loans with my credit union, specificity for electronic technology i.e. computer so I figured I would stop and see what they could do form me. A lot. I could get more then enough for what I needed at half the interest rate and have a the item payed off in 6 months! Perfect!! I basically agreed to conditions and and started thinking about what I was going to buy.! TO BE CONTINUED...

He Who Is Without Sin...

2011-07-12T14:34:00.001-06:00

I think in many cases I am my own worst enemy. I don't try to be mean or vicious but it seems my dark self comes out. This last week has been good cases in point. I unfairly unloaded on my friend Dennis last week after our lunch, because he tried to do me a favor. He tried to get me involved with his MLM. I should have given Dennis the benefit of the doubt and not judged his work choice. Sometimes I think I am just mean.

I really cannot talk about having had work experiences in less then generally socially acceptable occupations. I discovered over the years that I am pretty good telemarketer. There I said it, its out on the table : I was one of those guys who call your home and tried to get you to purchase something anything over the phone. Telemarketing did not come naturally, to me at first. One of my first work experiences, I refrain from calling it a job, was with the Kirby Vacuum Sales rep who was in the same ward as me. His name was Bob and believe it or not he owned a gold Kirby for selling over 1000 Kirby vacuums in one rear. Bob “hired” me to set appointments. I was terrible. I just did not believe anyone reaslly bought stuff in quantities large enough to make the telemarketing experience worthwhile.

It was not until after my university experience and numerous math and stat classes that I began to see the world as a set of probabilities: and given a large enough sample set a desired outcome should and could occur i.e. the more calls you made the greater chance of success. It was my first real job out of University building and selling wheelchair vans—I worked for a crook who liked to hold out on the money he owed me. My shop attendant taught me I could make money selling junker batteries back to the battery shop. I devised a formula for calling houses after work, before 9:00 pm. I use the Polk directory, a fabulous volume which listed phone numbers of peoples houses by street—if I madly called each house, in order down the street, I would invariably “kick up” two to three batteries and since these batteries would be in the same neighborhood, I was not burning up tons of gas. The more calls the more batteries. I made a script and kept to it an the script worked. Five or six years and a divorce later I was brand new to Sal Lake City, working making OK money but I needed something to do after work and the weekends to keep me out o trouble. I don't remember how I found out about the place but I started working for a major call room. I was working a place called the Nice Corporation. Nice was a contractors working a host of different contracts. We did warranty extensions, magazine sales and condo timeshares in Europe. We called four hours a night from 6:00 -10:00. We start selling on the East coast and “walk” the time zone West until we got to the West coast. Many night I was “high sales”. I saw my self as a hired gun. I did ok—i WAS GOOD.!

So once again Dennis apologize—we all have a checkered past and mine is telemarketing

So Sorry

2011-07-10T20:06:00.001-06:00

Dennis I apologize--lunch my treat you name the date...you really are one of my heroes...ms

I Love A Rainy Night

2011-07-10T18:15:00.003-06:00

It's one of those million dollar Sunday nights--storms moved round three with lightening, thunder and a cool rain--not a gully washer but just enough moisture to cool things off a little, put down the dust and makes everything smell wonderful; a perfect end to a pretty fine weekend. I found this video of a Japanese flash mob doing the song--enjoy your evening.

Myth Maker

2011-07-06T15:01:00.001-06:00

This an image of an old friend, friend yes but more of an acquaintance, his name is Dennis and he is quite bit older then I. His younger brother Kim was my age but as long as I can remember I was always aware of Dennis. Dennis was raised on a farm out in the South East end of Boise. In the farm country which was fast being returned in to Suburbia. Dennis went to the same church as I so I seemed to see a lot of him. In summer we swam at the Twin Bridges—the bridges spanned the Ridenbaugh Canal an irrigation ditch which wound its way through Ada county. Many hot lazy summer afternoon were spent on the rough wooden bed of the bridge bringing youth of the South East side to hang out and try to be cool. I was not a teenager and my main mode of transportation was by bike . The teenagers got to the bridge by truck or car-all style and show. If there was a King of the Bridge it was Dennis. In fact there is an early mention of Dennis and the bridge from a couple of years and a famous Twin bridge fight. Dennis the warrior. Dennis also has some notoriety as a high school varsity wrestler. Dennis very well could have been King.

Dennis popped up on Face Book not long ago and of course, I immediately “friended” him and he did the same for me. I was interested to note that Dennis was also living close to me is South Salt Lake County. We chatted and of course we talked about hooking up but nothing has happened until this week when Dennis pushed the idea of getting together and having no reason not to agreed and tomorrow we are on. So, jut for fun I have been doing some research on this guy. He looks to be conservative, local culture, he is self employed and “loving it”--I am sure he is something out of Ayn Rand. Dennis bills himself as an Appreciation marketing coach...as a man thinketh etc.

So now I'm a little spooked at what I may have gotten myself into. Once in college my then and I wife were so desperate for friends we accepted an invitation from another young couple only to be AMWAYED right after dinner with something”wonderful” they wanted to share with us. So I m wondering if the lunch is going to turn into a “come on” to be a cog in some multi-level program on becoming you best self. Either way I plan to use the time with Dennis to catch up with someone from my own history, compare POV and maybe just generate a more perfect myth.

2011-07-06T06:37:00.001-06:00

Its darker now when i catch the train in the morn-visons of things to come.Waiting for last leg of my home tri

The Russian and the Mexicans

2011-06-30T16:04:00.002-06:00

As promised The Russian and the Mexicans. For me the worst part of home ownership is there is the owner is expected to take care of his/her property which is a lot of work and expense. Once again if I were able bodied, I think I would and could do a lot of this basic home maintenance by myself. I have to admit I have been somewhat neglectful of our home. Luckily, I have DD in my life who only lets me skate so long before she will intervene and assist me make a decision like home improvement. The last couple o years we have developed a major leak in the roof of our master bathroom. The drip falls—cascades-right over the sink where I shave and get ready for my day. About five years ago, right after the leak started (maybe longer) we had my brother Carl come over and try to find and fix the leak and when that did not work we even had professional roof repair guys over and they too failed in stopping the leaks. After these professional roof repair guys failed we sort of became discouraged and started ignoring the problem and procrastinating the solution and the solution was a complete new roof! We found out the roof which was on the house was one for about four which was two more then is legal in our fair city. I sort of think we procrastinated as long as we did also because Utah has been in a multi-year drought. We had a few leaks when the snow would melt and when the rain did finally fall we would have the leaks but the leaks would stop right after the rainfall. But this year has been different, much more snow it seams and rain fall this Spring changed everything. I could have gone on but DD had had enough.

In my family wee did all that kind of stuff ourselves, my dad would have never hired someone to do such a thing. So, my dad and my brother an myself were on the roof laying down the shingles. I have a brother, nephew and cousins here in Salt Lake I know I could call on and would call on when the time came. DD comes from a family of all girls and they never did such things as roof the roof. So, we started getting bids and they ranged anywhere from 5,000 to 16,000.00 all or which scared me to death. I do not do well spending big money. I drug my feet and stalled but DD did excellent research and compiled great data. DD has some money in her 401 K and I had a lot, by my standards but not enough to live on as a pension but enough which could make a difference on something like a remodel or a roof project. I began to thaw to the idea of having strangers up on the roof putting shingles down. We ha working capitol.

Last Summer my son had his roof replaced and spoke quite highly of the fellow who did the job. Ziam. Ziam seems to have done a good job at a good price and we started seriously considering the fellow. DD has been mostly working with Ziam and indicated he had an accent but seemed OK. In the past hen we had done some building projects one was fairly large and we were naive and half way through the project we were red tagged and had to tear the whole project down since wee did not have papers, i.e. building permits, etc. So now we were being through. We had not made a decision on Thursday night and so we were a little shocked when about 6:30 on Friday morning Ziam called and wanted to know where to park the dumpster to put the roof tear down in. We were to meet with Ziam later that morning to go over all the arrangements an to be sure Ziam had all his papers in order. This is when realized just how significant Ziam's lack of understanding the English was. DD finally got Ziam to understand we wanted to have one last meeting at our local Beans and Brew.

The meeting at the B&B as my first meeting with the large Slavic who I am fairly certain is Russian. I am not sure even at this meeting how much Ziam understood what was being said. Ziam has sad almost childlike eyes and has a strong desire to please. Ziam just nodding his head and saying 'sure, sure sure” to everything said. We decided to go with Ziam. With in an hour Ziam had his crew Mexicans up on the roof tearing at least thirty years of shingles free down to the boards.

Ziam, drives a nice “contractors” truck late model something with a four door cab. He seems to have four or five jobs going at any given time. His cell phone is always ringing and his eyes always seem on the move. The whole event of the re-roofing of our house was almost surreal Ziam barely speaks or understands English and I think even less Spanish. But here he I wrangling a force of four to five some just kids, like twelve or so years old. I really doubt any or documented but these guys worked hard and long and fast. I really thought they might have the job completed by Saturday night, but that was too much to hope for. The weather was warm and I was outside reading and watching the project there was one moment when the workers were sitting down and some sort of negations were taking place—finally I heard one of the Mexican men say something about $100.00 and Ziam grunted and the whole crew went back to work.

Ziam was in and out of the job, really only actually being on site a small portion of the time-but the job got done and we paid in cash to Ziam and the Mex's delight I am sure.

Ziam's bid was the lowest and we seemed to have gotten everything we wanted. We have a thirty year warranty which I am sure I will be long dead before the warranty is up. Its nice to know the water is going to stay off my head this coming winter when the snows melt.

Slacker!!

2011-06-27T16:24:00.003-06:00

Last week our front desk person, called me a slacker. I was first astounded then taken aback but I have been thinking about the comment all weekend long as i watched the workers, the real workers Gabe and Albert work on my ramp. i like to think of my self as a real worker but i don't think that i am. When I could really get involved in physical labor, i think i enjoyed physical labor--or certain kinds of labor for instance I loved splitting wood but hated milking cows. I liked shoveling coal but hated pitching hay or digging ditch. Lawn mowing was OK but not a favorite.

Now Gabe works, my DD works hard--i don't think I work hard. DD and Gabe actually enjoy hard physical labor--even on their days off like on the weekends. DD is a also a major worker, she loves to work and work hard if she had a project. She likes to crank the music hen crank the work. I would rather sit in the shade or sun (if cold) and read or just look at clouds. I like working on the computer but I don't like computer work. I could be a slacker. I talked about this with my buddy JJ the famous writer fr the Deseret News and he said he was a slacker by definition and that he was fine with that. As a writer that is what he does slacks off and thinks and messes round( he calls this research) and i know exactly what JJ means. He can deliver on his deadlines whether its a deadline for one of his columns or deadline for a book-JJ produces and that makes the difference.JJ does not do much physical stuff unless it pertains to one of his projects. JJ still says he is a slacker and he would know. I know I am a slacker, it fits, its why, I guess, I seldom go back and correct spelling or capitalization. I guess one just has to be a slacker with class to stay ahead of all the workers who make the world turn... I am still trying just to make the wheels on my chair turn...

Working Weekend

2011-06-26T19:40:00.003-06:00

Its been one of those weekends, a weekend lost in remodeling or rebuilding, a project where I can I can only watch, maybe fetch water or make a sandwich or two but not even that another weekend where I am Captain Dunsil.

I have been batching it the last couple of days. Dianne has gone to Louisiana to visit mother and sisters and I have stayed home partially cost and questions of access on the other end. Truth to tell I have been a little nervous regarding the trip and the issues I have been having with my butt but miracles of miracles , I stayed home from work three days last week and the wounds closed and I have been fine ever since. I am being careful and watching how much time I am up, doing my pressure releases. I am excited being wound free for the time being.

The Spring has been long and wet and we have suffered with the roof leaking torrents. We decided to get a new roof but to do so we had to get creative with funding and made the hard decision to rape our 401 K's. We figured we should use the funding now while we are young enough to enjoy it and when the funding is needed and really over the long run there is not enough funds in the 401's to make a hell of a lot of difference. So we did it. I will be writing more about the Russian and the roof in posts to come but we had a little money left over so we decided to paid attention to the ramp leading up to the front of the house. We wanted to do it while we still had the financial fortitude and Dianne worked with Bridget and Gabe to come over and do the remodel while she was gone and the weather was good and over the weekend.

Gabe started the project Saturday afternoon. I had been warned to get what ever wandering I wanted out of my system Saturday afternoon because once the ramp project started I was going to home bound. Gabe started the project yesterday afternoon and the project started slow but steady during the tear down phase. Bridget and Asher brought over KFC for dinner and Gabe left around nine o clock.

The project resumed round 8:00 this morning and to my surprise my great neighbor Al came over and has been assisting all day long. Steady work, hot sun an focus has brunch the ramp to about 65 percent completion. Bridget, Asher and Auni came over for lunch—Bridget made sandwiches from the deli selection Dianne bought before she left ansd we had a great feast. I rented a movie last night which turned to be a “chick flick”and me and the girls watched that together and let Al and Gabe work. The movie was dreadful but dfun to we watching with Bridget.

I am exhausted now, I just sent Gabe and Al home—those guys worked their butts off but I am the one who feels exhausted. We fished the floor of the ramp. I can get to work in the morning. There's still work to be done but the worst is finished—I have a solid surface. Rails and painting and sealing to come this week or the weekend. Two major goals done.Thanks.

Old Ties

2011-06-15T17:19:00.001-06:00

Today has been a bit of a ho hum day. I have been doing my comments to my personal performance evaluation(PPE). Doing my PPE has been on my “to do” list for a month or more. I got around the task for a couple of weeks when the State applied new software to the server which really did mess up my ability to access the server and add the information needed. I held on to this excuse far too long and soon I was getting emails from the boss indicating I needed to get this in soon as possible because after a certain time she as going to be out of town and this whole project—my boss’s part must be done no later then the end of June. So, I have been head down and computer focused hammering out responses to my evaluation. At one time this project would have been intimidating but anymore I don’t care. I wonder if this is an age thing, I am not sure but the attitude sure helps with sleep.

But I got the initial project done a little before lunch and as I was closing my comment I got a call from my old buddy KC. KC and I go back almost forty years. We went to University together, actually spending part of that time as roommates. KC works at a hospital here in Utah and we have re-made contact in the last year.

We did not talk long—KC actually needed a little bit of information was able to assist with. Allowing me to count the call in my daily stats. But it was good to connect with the lad and to know KC was still out there and that he had “my back” if needed. Mwe always say we are going to gether but we have not as yet but maybe.

Its’s almost hot outside my window on the West and I have been carrying a couple of checks I have been going to cash all week and have not been able to get out of the office for one reason or another—but today looked like the perfect day to get out of the office and head to the bank. So, when Bonmie got back from her walk I too off. I cashed the checks and headed next to the drug store to spend a few buck just because I could and as I turned the corner to the candy section my buddy JJ is standing there. JJ is again one of those people who have been important to my life. He is a professional writer and works for one of the local papers. JJ writes a couple columns for the paper plus he writes books—JJ is sort of what I would like to be in another life. We shook hands, kinda hugged and talked about the usual stuff. JJ is still working part time at the paper and has a book coming out. It was great to connect. We renewed our friendship, and set a lunch date.

So today was the day for renewing old friendships...it was a good day.

It Hurts Just a Little

2011-06-12T18:33:00.002-06:00

Betsy

I got a card from m old friend and mentor Mac. Mac is short for Mc Intyre an MD who took a chance on me years ago and hire me to be the psych counselor for a new medical delivery project he was organizing in South East Idaho back in the early 70's. Mac is a work of art, Mac is a whole book waiting to be written Mack is a national treasure who is now waiting away in a long term care facility in North Carolina—but all this is another blog entry, if not a book which I hope is written at some point in time but not right now. Mac is the person I write to each week, Mac is my commitment. I wrote my mom weekly before she passed and I decided to keep the practice up with my old friend. Anyway, in his response from last weeks letter mentioned a nurse practitioner who worked with our project. Betsy was young and attractive and from Vanderbilt. The Clinics were staffed by young idealists all trying to make a difference, some professionals like Betsy, we had VISTA's and me hired on some Idaho work program.

I did some searches for Betsy in hopes of being ale to give Mac an update on the beguiling Betsy. I of course found her right off. She is still in Boise, still in medicine a certified flight nurse, which I think is pretty cool—actually I sort of thought she would be a physician by now. Anyway, my research kicked out a 1973 article describing the project with images and names. I was excited to see this document, this document is the closest thing I have seen to a history of project. I am so glad that the piece is written but with some hurt I noted there is no mention of their counselor, affectionately know as Shrink.” Like I never existed on the project like I never was. It's really not a big deal, I am not that insecure. I know I was there and I know I contributed and I know that Mac and Jose our Physicians Assistant know I was there—I rode shotgun everyday, week in and week out for fifteen months. I don't know if the others will attest to my being there but it doesn’t matter. It's just weird to be so invisible.

This link will take you to the article...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1616027/pdf/healthservrep00043-0013.pdf

Money Pit !!

2011-06-10T15:21:00.000-06:00

Last week we over a $1000.00 on the van and now its safety inspection time and of course the vehicle will not pass inspection and so back to the bank account and this week we are spending almost another $1000.00 just to bring the beat legal. I really do autos—I wish I could do with out. Hope gully the piece of junk will be ready sometime this afternoon.I think I have just enough power in my batteries to go down and get the van—so at least we'll have the vehicle for the weekend.

Time slipping away into the furture...

2011-06-07T16:59:00.003-06:00

Long day, long week--I m ready to go home. I just had a call from someone who wants to organize people to battle the local transit authority but she doesnot want to rub shoulders with true advocates to bring this about. I want to write more about this tomorrow--time has just slipped away from me today.

Save Me

2011-06-06T14:56:00.001-06:00

My spider senses are tingling. Something's up I m not sure what but I am sensing from the “force” I bet be looking both ways, up and down and behind my back because something's definitely in the wind. When I get these feelings I start cleaning my office-not packing- just cleaning. I clean my office and then if I nee to go to the next level I do. So now I am jut cleaning m office.

We had another “Save meadowlark meeting” this morning which included a director type from a think tank from up north. This person also has control of lots of money and she and her comments can directly impact the flow of river of money. I do not think the meeting was all that productive except to have those sitting round the speaker phone realize the tree we had been barking up for funding was not really a productive quest—which brought us back to focusing on the funding we had and developing and refining out current project. We have funding in place now for the next year—which is good, for me. Now we/me are trying to build some sort of sustainability for the project now. This part is hard, the hardest part of all because all these funding source are crying for data. Data I do not have primarily because I do not have the calls coming in to count. I have poor software which always fails me one way or the other and my equipment is getting more and more faulty each day, with no hope of financial infusion to up grade the systems.

This whirlwind of confusion was rolling round in my mind as I boarded the train this morning, a good morning, new and warm and full of promise. As we pulled out of my station I pulled out my new MP3 player and began messing with the pile of music Dianne downloaded onto it last night—then I whipped out my cell-phone camera and started “sharking” for my next image for “train person” of the day.I took a couple of snaps and was about ready to return to my frets about the save “meadowlark” project when we pulled into the 33^rd south station when a raggedy man pushed his shopping cart loaded with what looked like his entire life. Raggedy then pushed his cart right next top me and too the seat next to mine and began talking to himself as these “shopping cart cowboys” so often do. What I think was most remarkable with Raggedy an his shopping cart was a handmade cardboard sign with “Jesus Saves” written boldly and defiantly. This guys face was wonderful I startd working my cell phone into place to take his image. I clicked a coupe of images when Raggedy asked :hey. Would take my picture?” “Sure I said,”No problem” what luck. We were working on get him in frame when suddenly he stops and ways wait and adjusted “Jesus saves” so it faced the riders on the train. Raggedy smiled and winked at me saying, “These folks just hate it when I do that...praise the Lord”. This guy was not nearly as crazy as I thought—just an undercover agent for God. He made me feel good and smiled a lot thinking of him today especially in my survival meetings.

Battery Closure

2011-06-04T18:36:00.000-06:00

I just returned from a run up to 7-11 up on the corner to test the new batteries(yes, I got them and that drama is the stuff of todays post). I was pleased with the way the batteries preformed –I left with the batteries at 98 % and returned with the batteries registering 79% and that was a walk round the neighborhood with the whole family especially with Asher in the new perambulator. What a sight to see us all marching proudly down the street. This was one of Asher's first out bound excursion. This was a considerable walk too going Al round the hood Almost all the way up to the “7ve” so this was quite a load test to place on the new chores.

I would like to report the trip to the battery store Standard Battery went off without a hitch but that would not be true so here is the rest of the story. Yesterday was a good day, not only was the day quasi warm acting as the gateway for warmer weather which is starting today but the day was also Mark A's birthday—once again Happy birthday Mark—know that you are loved. I copped out this year and sent him an “e-card” for Amazon—Mark seemed to like the card so I wass left off the hook easily. No lunch, dinner just a e card and a call that's All.

I was up early, showered and dressed and ready to go for my second PT Appointment at the University Out Patient Rehab. I purposely scheduled the appointment early on Fridays so I would be up and out of the house early and its working. The workout was good, lots of good stretching and a minimal cardio vascular work out. I was driving th van and I did not want to be too exhausted as I drove cross town to Standard Battery. Hopefully, After I get the batteries using the van will be s none issue since I'll be using my chair for the ride back And forth to PT meaning I will be using the bus and train to get back and forth.

Following my work out I was going to buy lunch at the hospital cafeterian was shocked to wallet was not in its usual space in my backpack—luckily I found this out before I had loaded a tray and was at “check-out”. I also new the rest of my planned morning was a no go if I did not have my purse and credit and debit cards. Luckily when I returned dto my van I found the wallet on the foor when I had tipped the back pack upside down when I was getting out at the PT unit. I set off for the batter store.

Standard battery is a solid operation. Blue collars hanging round, smoking and doing their jobs of replacing dead cores with new ones. Mostly young guys, dressed in gray service shirts with their names sown into the shirt above the left hand breast pocket, waiting for closing time or any other diversion to take their minds off the heavy, itchy burning batteries they handled all day long. I was that diversion.

I pulled up to the service bay with the doors open And Tyler, sundered out and got stuck me. I coached him though the opening of my automatic doors, deploying the lift tipping the seat back of my power chair—the lad was a quick learner. He struggled a bit with getting the from off the battery box but eventually prevailed-- mind you Tyler had already found the batteries which had been “brown trucked” in from Boise. The seacond we had the batteries out we could see--as the week before-- the replacements were to large for the battery box.

Tyler scratchezd his head and backed away calling Todd to come over, Todd was a slightly obese guy who had worked at Standard for years and “knew everything” especially how to be lonely. Todd was a genius one glance at the battery spectacle developing in my van and said, “them's too big” duh?!! We gots some which will fit though fifty ampers.They're in the back.”

Sure enough, the batteries I had been driving for two years were 50 amp batteries much small then I had realized—no wonder my ranging abilty seemed severely compromised. At this point I wanted to be done and out so I said “put'em in” and they did and I was gone.I am a little disappointed the cores are as small as they are but the size has not been too bad. I just have to treat the batteries better and know I will wear them out quicker. But, I am also going to see if there is anyway of getting a bigger battery box in hopes of increasing my ampage and there for my distance. The best part is the smaller batteries have smaller cost and that is mighty fine by me.

Power Up!!

2011-06-01T16:01:00.000-06:00

Every once in a while fates turns it's head and smiles on you or in this case me. I have been fretting about having to get new set of batteries for my power chair. I have been considering a new set of batteries for some time—since I found out my insurance will no longer do their once a year purchase—which was one of the main reason I opted to buy a power chair new. I was led to believe if one does buy a power-chair new with their insurance the batteries are always provided by he insurance. Wrong!

So, I have been putting off having to purchase a set of batteries as long as I could, but, this is becoming less an option. The batteries I have now drain more and more quickly. Thankfully I have not be stranded as yet but I must be vigilant and charge at every chance I get. Even if I charge all night and my batteries register at 100 percent when leave the house I am now down to the mid 80's by the time I get to work and if I don't plug in with my “at work” charger, I best not be going anywhere for lunch and I had better get my charger on the batteries a good two hours before I leave for home or have my phone be ready to call Dianne when I get to the train stop for her to fetch me in the van. This kind of living has been do able but is getting to be a real pain and the fact remain I still need new cores.

So last week I actually started my physical therapy regimen at up at the University and decided I might as well to 'bight the bullet' and buy the batteries since I was out anyway. Dianne was occupied when I started calling round to different battery houses and I mystified to see there was almost $100.00 difference in price of one batter and I needed two. I knew if I were able to buy a set of batteries somewhere I could get my friends at Utah Center for Assistive Technology do the install saving me some money. I finally found three places where I could but the batteries for les then $200.00 a piece more like $150.00 which is strikingly high but compared to $250.00 much more palatable. One place I called did no have any the size I needed and would take a week to order the batteries and the other place one battery and would take an hour to have someone bring another from the warehouse and then yet another who had two cores in house but these batteries cost two dollars more then the lowest cost but there were in stock and I swooped over and picked them up.

An hour later I was over at UCAT dismayed and tired. The batteries were too large for my battery box—the batteries would not work. So, now I has to shag ass back to the battery store return the cores and have them put the money back in to my account and get over to the hospital for dinner with the family of the new born. Which I did.

yesterday I spoke with my friend, the director of UCAT, who gave me the name of the person he goes to when he needs batteries for the wheelchairs he works on. I called and found I was eligible for the State's cost of batteries since I was a state employee-sweet--. I have an appointment for friday afternoon following my physical therapy. So $300.00 for a set o batteries is far less then $500.00 but still way uncomfortable especially since one of the reason I went for a new chairs was the battery perk but that was then and this is now and I gotta power on.

Two Birth Days

2011-05-29T15:21:00.003-06:00

We had an addition to the family this week. Asher was born to Bridget On Thursday morning or afternoon—I forget all I knew I was getting ready for or had just finishing my broadcast. I remember because I was tied up with my guest when my phone range and Frank took the call and notified me the birth had taken place, I knew the birth was going to happen began Asher was induced because he had been having such a difficult time initiating the birth process. Now, Asher did have a bit of a challenge exiting the womb and he had to twist and turn to make the great escape but he managed and made it. Following work I took the train yo the hospital and was surprised to see Brooks, Bridget's brother standing in the room with the fam. I cannot say I was shocked, it was just natural to see him standing there. Brooks actually took time off from his insurance business in Vancouver and flew to Salt Lake City/Murray to be with his sister and family. This was really a “'Waltons”moment which does not happen all that much with this family but was great to see and experience.

Today Sunday the 29^th of may is also my daughter, Michelle's 29^th birthday. Shelly lives in Oregon, not far from the Washington border. Michelle have given me two very special grand daughters. Michelle, Dustin and the two girls live in the great North West—they're kinda hippies and I think that is cool. Michelle has done very good in establishing herself in her relationship as wife and mom and manager in a manager telecommunication company. Michelle is special in that I have never really had to worry about her. Michelle has always managed to take care of herself and her family i.e. her two younger brothers and she still does time to time. It seems I have never really had easy access to Michelle. There was a short while when she lived in Blackfoot right after she was born that we were neighbors and I saw he daily, and that felt good but not long after the divorce her mom remarried and moved from easy access. For a brief time in her high school years Michelle actually lived with our family in Murray I believe when Michelle was a Junior at Murray high. That was the year of Michelle preforming in Murray choir by day and living on the INTERNET by night. Many times we her the clicking of computer keys, madly into the night behind the door to her room but immediately after graduation Michelle migrated, once again, to the great Northwest.Two bisrh

Two birthdays in may at the end of the month very close to Memorial day. Cards and or presents to get and send,Michelle continues to grow and mature and Asher is starting out. Ashers seems quiet, strong and self assured –I don't know why I feel that way but from holding the lad and watching him the day of his birth makes me feel that way. Happy birthday my special may babies I love and miss you...

Give Me Something with a Kick, Please

2011-05-25T14:02:00.000-06:00

I am sitting here at my desk intermittently dozing, trying to stay away but I seem to be loosing the battle.!I am falling asleeep at my desk is I am out of coffee and hat is not completely true. I am out of regular coffee which I usually drink through out the day.

Remember my last post on Friday? Where I was sitting waiting for the phone call from my cousin or who ever is supposedly repairing my van. Guess what the call never came and in fact I was prisoner at my house over the weekend which was not too bad except I did not preform one of my weekend chores and run to the market to get the items we will need for the coming week. I usually pick up coffee for the office, if I need, at this point in time an that point did not happen last week. So this Monday morning in a fit of responsibility I actually left the house early and stopped into the corner Beans and Brew looked over what they had. I knew that what ever I got was going to be expensive but I figured the cost was do able and only had to hold until I could get out to get another can of crude since crude is what I usually use to get me though the day at work. I found some bags in the $2.00 off bin and figured why not? I was still pretty groggy and so was their staff since the time was not yet 6:00 a.m.. So, bought the brew and had the baraista ground the beans and I was on my way. It was later when I was at the office and tearing into the bag of coffee that I saw “DEF” on the bottom of the bag—that was all not green anywhere on the which is always the “flag” to me that the coffee is denuded, defrocked or lacking in kick which is what I needed. Actually I saw this and did a shoulder shrug, there could not be that much of a punch now for as long as I have been drinking coffee at my work, surely I must have built a tolerance to the caffeine's effect long ago and truth be told I did not think the decaf coffee was any different then my regular until Frank asked if I had had a rough night. I said no thinking I had actually had a pretty good night allowing me to rise early enough to pick up the decaf, and asked Frank. His reply was that I was looking pretty rough then later in the day Dianne called and as we chatted she asked if I was tired!! Again, I asked why and she said I sounded exhausted. It was then I did feel more tired then I usually felt .and the only difference was the non “octane”. I coul not believe it. I needed some real java.

So the coffee has been a ow priority for me. I have been trying to get by with my make believe. If I really thought I needed real coffee I would just grind some at home and bring it in and mix with the other. The van was nor ready on Monday and yesterday, Tuesday we got the call the vehicle was done and I even picked the van up on my way home from work, so I could have stopped and got some coffee but I didn't and I brewed another pot of the stuff today but the consequences have been challenging. Tonight I will grind a few beans to get me through tomorrow and then over the holiday weekend I'll pick up some real coffee and we cn then hope for a more alert Tuesday.

The Week that Was

2011-05-20T16:47:00.000-06:00

The week of work has finally passed and the weekend has started. I really wanted to write more but the office is actually getting busy with more stress on me to be more active in my job preservation campaign I have admit am getting into the process even though the efforts seem some what counter productive. So,its Friday and I here I sit finished with a lot of the household cores and some of the homework I chose to bring home.

I am home alone, the baby has not been born yet. DD is over babysitting bridge until Gabriel gets home. Yesterday we got the bad news the transmission in the van was gone and we had better get the transmission repaired or we would be out personal transportation. We took the van to the cousins and he got us a deal of $1800.00 and who knows how much more when all is said and done. Luckily it seems like we have a little bit extra but those funds are kind of committed to roof. Nothing ever works out the way one wants. I am sure we will go by. I just hope the van has enough life in it to justify the amount of money we are dumping into the beast. Today is wet and cold, will warm weather really ever return? The weekend looks to have just one day which will be semi-dry and hopefully enjoyable and maybe some drying out of the territory the end of next weekend which is also a holiday weekend.

My butt has finally healed to the point I can stay up all the day without being in pain. I have gone to hslf days at work—which is fine. I surely have the “sick” leave accrued. I have been coming straight home from work and actually going to bed to get the weight off my rear which seems to have worked. Now, to keep the skin break down away, pressure release, pressure release, pressure release. This morning I also contacted my physical therapists and scheduled an appointment for next week where I can further discuss and detail my needs. I need to some solutions done to my power chair will make my life much more bearable, have a closer look at getting a cushion which will give my butt more protection and get some much needed strengthening and stretching. I would eve like a dietary consult with some food ideas for meals which will assist me in some weight loss. If I can get some of these issues addressed now, I should have a much better summer and remainder of the year.

So, now, I am just waiting for a call from the shop to let me know if I will be a prisoner at my home or will I have personal transportation. I could use public transit but it nice to know the van is here if we need it. The van being drivable I also imperative for watching Aunakah if and when her brother arrives.DD terribly wants to be at the hospital and part of the process. In fact I found out from Mark A's face Book that Jasmine had her tonsils adenoids removed and tubes inserted and that is just alright by me.

Thoughts on Being back...

2011-05-17T14:12:00.001-06:00

I can never choose a good day to be out of the office. Today I am back after taking yesterday off as a “sick” day and I WAS sick too. Well, not sick “sick” like a running nose sick but sick, like a skin break down sick—some of the weak places on my butt were looking spooky so I figured I had better stay off the butt for a couple of days and Sunday and Monday looked like bad weather days so I figured I would lay around all day and I did but now I am paying—always a payment.

So I did the usual thing that someone does when missing work, I rolled right into the bosses office as soon as she got here to do “the why I was out” speech. I know, I don't need to do this speech but I always feel I have to just to make sure everything is OK—helps me roll easier. What is really cool I how cool of a boss I have. My boss is really one of those world class bosses that you hear about, the mirage boss, one you see off in the distance, chase after but never quite get. My boss asked how I was, is everything OK, should I actually be back to work, and what can she do to assist me takes the steps I need to take to make sure my butts heals up and stays healed so I can not only work but enjoy my life, pain free.

So how cool is this? If I nee to I am going to go on part days, not part time but use my sick leave(which I have large amounts of). So, I would do hal day in the office in the mornings, take and return calls and then book home in the afternoon to get off my butt to let the skin rebuild itself if it well. Next I am going to get hold of my P.T. To see about getting better butt protection for my wheelchair and maybe do some physical therapy which might lo include some weight loss strategies. Actually, I thought I had already do this, I even met with a new P.T. And I was waiting for a response an nothing has happened...so now I am “picking up the ball” and finding out hat has happened and what I need to be doing to make sure something positive happens. If I can get these thing accomplished I can then return my focus on things which are taking place in my office to make sure my position stays round for the near and distant future.

Of interest to note, I got my Galaxy Tablet and the hand held device is quite wonderful as I learn how to use it because the device is actually a small computer system in and of itself. I am trying to with hold judgment and not be disillusioned because I cannot use the system as effectively as I would like, granted a large part of that use was laying in bed with quad hands. I may have, once again, over bought bu we shall see. Right now the hand held is a device that DD and I can both us and seem to enjoy and since I got a special deal from my son we are enjoying he device even more.

Back, once again--

2011-05-17T07:45:00.003-06:00

Seriously! I promise to write more this week--I have been down again due to skin issues and this getting old! I have to do something soon.

Feelings

2011-05-09T15:55:00.000-06:00

The area I caught in a slow moving storm. A storm which is going to last a couple of days bu then get back to warm Springtime weather. The storm is a wet storm with cooler temps. The temps are not necessarily cold like freezing or sub freezing just wet and uncomfortable and again, I have found being out in the weather is nor so bad as being inside looking out and the inside never warming up. So everything feels slow and I am hard pressed to get in gear and my 'gut' is telling me, I better get in gear and be busy if not at the very least look busy.

The office bean counter was just in my office dropping off the monthly budget summary which tells me just exactly how much money is left in my programs budget. I spent more then anticipated last month and somehow I get the feeling I better beware as I come up to the end of m fiscal year. An though there has been talk about having funding in place for the next year I don't have anything concrete. So, closed door discussions, brisk confrontations and gray days with lots of rain.

Mother's Day One Way or Another

2011-05-08T16:08:00.002-06:00

Its raining the nice days of Spring have come and gone and cold front has move in for the rest of today and the first of the week. We just finished a small Mother's Day lunch with BGndA. The event was nice and low effort. We prepared the roast an the kids brought rolls, an vegetables. This event must be placed in the context of BRIDGET being so pregnant that the poor girl could deliver at any second. We ate dinner timing the time of the contractions something definitely seems to be happening. So, now its just a matter of waiting.

Dianne and the girls have gone off shopping. Anakah thinks she needs shoes which was a good enough reason to get out to payless and who know where else. i just Asked Dianne to be home before dark unless our little john doe arrives hen who know wwhen dd will be home.

One day at a Time

2011-05-03T15:51:00.001-06:00

It really Is quite remarkable that I throw myself out of my bed,into the shower get dressed and fix me something to eat and get out to the bus stop each morning usually totally independent. This sounds like a small thing but for me, doing all this before 6:00 A.M. IS A BIG DEAL! I love being as independent as I am. I am getting more then a little nervous as I age and loose the ability to take care of myself even just a little. Its happening. I am getting by I just don't know for how long. I am sure I still have years of quasi-independence but I just wonder.

A coupe nights ago I was transferring on to the toilet,or trying to and my arm gave out, just a little, or maybe the chair slipped and I started to slide down between the chair and toilet towards the floor. Luckily, Dd was in the computer room which is next to the bathroom an she was able to run in and push my chair up against the commode blocking my fall and I was able to drag myself back up into my chair saving me from what ever I would have had to do to get back up after the floor: neighbors, brother or sons or worse case emergency responders of one sort or another. It's going to happen and I am going to fall its just a matter of time.

This morning started out great, good night's sleep, shower no problems, even was able to eat some breakfast and then transfer into my power chair and then I felt the urge—you now it gas or something else? I caught myself in time it was something else and I made the decision I had better get on the pot ans see what business I could do, even though I only had about 14 minutes before I had to leave the house if I was going to catch my usual bus to the train station. I made it though, I pulled down my pants and transferred onto the throne just in time. Now, mind you this was all done from my power wheel chair which I rarely do. I was not able to make the transfer back to the chair after my movement and after I cleaned my self up. I called and called for Dianne, finally waking her she was able to assist me in getting back into my chair and getting my pants back up. Dianne ended up driving me to the train station and I was only 10 minutes late for work! It could have been a lot worse. I could have been on the train or at work and had the “ accident” pooparama in the pants. The poopaama has only hit a couple of times and the pooparama is not pretty.

So, I made it today, I feel a little unsettled but I made it. Hopefully the rest of the week will run smoother and I will not feel I am living in a crises. I just don't know how long I can keep this up.

So Long Mrs C-

2011-05-02T13:41:00.001-06:00

A couple of days my friend's Tom and John's mom died, Mrs C was a great person and a great mother and a great best friends mom. Best friends moms are kind of special because they often are kinda like your second mom and Mrs.C was. Not that I needed a second mom, my mom as just great. I was just over at the C's so much, Saturday mornings many weeks of the school year my older brother and I would be over at the C's sleeping over Friday night to Saturday mornings. The C's always had bacon and eggs on Saturday morning—we did not eat pork in our family illicit bacon was wonderful. Ms C was always at our ball games and I was little league up to Jr. high.

Many morning I would cross the fields from my house to John's early so I could wait for John to finish getting ready so I could hang in their house and feel a little of their lives. Mrs C always made me welcome—gave me extra ice cream at John's birthday and often kidded round with me.

The C's were a young family kind of or maybe an involved family which was a lot different then mine. They supported thgrade school, jr high, high school and even the college which became the university. They were democrats, I think they genuinely loved people of all kinds. They took care of the grand parents right next door, year round till they died—I was impressed. A lot of this was Mrs C's own doing. I knew this—she was one of those folks who made a difference by just smiling—Mrs C lived a long and good life. I am sure she will rest well. I grieve for the family for their loss. It's just not the same once you be come orphaned.

Am I a Monster?

2011-04-26T16:54:00.002-06:00

It's going to be one of those days if not weeks where there seems to be a lot of pressure going down at the office. It is a snow/rain day today as this area struggles to shake off the hold of Winter and break into Spring. It is snow/rain day and I have meeting out in the community and so I will be riding bus and train trying to make my meetings. The big issue for me is not the weather as much as whether I will have the power I will need to get from point to point. I should have gotten batteries Saturday or Friday but it is just too much work—I will get the batteries when I can no longer get from point to point.

The first thing I did once I get in from the train ride downtown to my office was, actually after I got in and talked to Frank, made and got coffee was to plug my self in to my office charger to make sure I had the power needed for my trip to the train station. The who time I kept an eye to the window watching the hurly burly black clouds rolling in from the West. Rain and snow was coming down at different time of the morning and by the time I took off for my meeting. There a light rain falling as I got to the train stop but soon turned to snow and heavy snow for a few minutes once I was at Central. The snow came and went in waves and I got covered more then once with snow but really I was not that uncomfortable. I made good time and had more then ample power. The meeting was a joke but joke meetings are not a surprise. I really tried to be part of it and I kinda think I looked the part. But these folks I doubt are going to give me any funding. And I doubt they are really going to get their project very far off the ground before they run out of funding or time.

Back at my office I am dry and plugged in charging again for my return home—the clouds have parted a bit but continue to hang round and threatened me and other transit users. The afternoon buses has picked up their pace and the home bound traffic is building. The meeting at my office have ended and I got caught myna master degree candidate from India and a low-talker on the phone who I could not help in the least except to inform him there were no more options for him to consider and he will have to deliver some sort of game plan for his problem of no acceptable housing, emergent housing. sometimes that is the best I can do is to tell the caller there are no more options as I see it—does that make me a monster? Does it make me a monster that I don't seem to care that this caller has no more options and I don't know what he will do tonight—but seriously there is just so much I can do.

I suspect I will run into more precipitation before I get back home.

Hon"

2011-04-25T15:12:00.002-06:00

Friday has turned into an outing day—Fridays we pick up one of the grand daughters from school and following her pick up we usually head out to lunch in spite of the fact that Ani has already had her lunch at school—lunch is for Dianne and myself. We usually like to sty in the neighborhood if there is nothing larger on our agenda for the day—we harbor this belief it is important to keep our dollars in the neighborhood or city. I have noted the past couple of weeks we have defaulted to the local Village Inn.

The Village Inn (VI) is OK, good food, good service (its a place where the waitress calls everyone”Hon”, “Babe” or some other term of endearment. The menu is OK, anything good is offered after five o clock but breakfast is served all day with lots of coffee and a place whee old folk go. I would just as soon go somewhere else but DD and Ani like the place and it's close to home. I just hate going to all thee places where I am the Old Guy.

Easter Prep and Air Force Imagea

2011-04-22T11:44:00.004-06:00

Getting ready for Easter Sunday and dinner, washing, mopping, dusting and picking up, maybe more later but for now here are some images from the info fair recently held at the air base.

yes Sir,Clear Sir!

2011-04-21T16:38:00.003-06:00

It's always weird being on any kind of military establishment, for me. Being on post is such a experience. Uniforms, structured speak and good posture. This was was where I was all day yesterday at the information fair. This was the event I have been dreading ever since I got sucked in to doing it. I ha a table last year at this event so I kinda knew what I was in for but it WAS an all day event.

Not that the day was a cursed day but I should have realized the day would be challenging when I went to load up to drive to the air force base and I could not gt the automatic doors on my van to open. I have learned that when the door is stuck like this if I can get someone to push from the inside of the van out, on the door, the actuator arm will become unstuck and the doors will open. O, I had to return to the house an wake DD nnd have her push on the door an soon I was on my way north to the Air Force Base. Luckily I did not have any problem driving North, in fact I found the experience somewhat refreshingly stimulating. Since Utah has spent on much money road construction the past couple of decades the drive North has become much more bearable.

The next challenge I face was actually gaining entrance to the base. One of the things asked of everyone participating in the event was driver's license numbers and copy of and just who would becoming from your organization. Still when I pulled up to the sentry and he challenged me for my drivers license he wanted me to “park of there and step out of the van” at which point I let the man know I use a wheelchair for mobility and it would be a lot quicker for him to take my license and check against his records in the guard shack. Of course this is what he did and everything shut down on the on my lane and the cars began to pile up behind me. Eventually I was allowed on base and surprisingly I drove right up top the officers club. Amy had brought my small box of items up earlier, setting up took minutes and soon I was scouting a cup of coffee. To my amazement there was not coffee to be had at the check in and registration –only in Utah—I cannot believe I was the only to make such a request. But, there was a little restaurants not far from my building called Runway Ruby's and for she they would have a cup of joe and they did but guess what they were not immediately wheelchair accessible! Unbelievable. There was on door which had just one very small step which I was sure that my chair could negotiate if I could get to it but this was a two door entrance and only one door was open and it was too narrow for my chair to pass through both doors would have to be open. I had to flag down an airwoman exiting the building and have her go advise staff I was out front. One of the waitress' came out and eventually we got both door open and I entered got my Starbucks and returned to my table.

The only other issue I had was lack of power for my chair—the batteries are bad BUT I started out with a full charge and I figured I had enough power for the day. Wrong—by lunch (chicken ) I was dangerously low. And had to remain stuck in one spot all afternoon! Anyway I finally made it back home without being stranded—enjoy images from the airforce!!

The Wild Blue Yonder...

2011-04-19T16:51:00.004-06:00

Tomorrow I am at the Air force Base all day taking part in an information fair. You know one of those events where every vendor who wants to sell something to people in wheelchairs or people who serve folk with disabilities i.e. sell stuff to ... congregate to see what's new. The air base is about fifty miles away and I have to be there about 7:00 o clock to set up my table. The problem I have is I really do not have anything to give away. Sine budgets have been so severely slashed I have not been able to replenish my trinkets and goodies I usually use to entice people to my table where I an then pounce and sell them on my program. So, today, with the help of our office administrator we made some pink brochures to pass out plus my business cards and that it.

I have done this gig before--I do it because my office mate, Amy is kind of in charge of it and she want to be sure that vendors attend....so I am there. Essentially all day--I leave at three to drive back to Salt Lake and maybe I can at least return calls and send out the email for broadcast Thursday. Sorry if I do not sound enthused...I'm not
!

What , Me Dead?

2011-04-18T13:49:00.004-06:00

Saturday was a pretty good day for being cold and wet—slept in late and watched 127 hours—what a drag of a movie. I m still trying to get my head around the movie and the guy who got himself into the predicament he did: really cut your arm off. I suppose but the only one who would do something like that is someone dumb to have done everything else leading up to the event. 127 was so intense that DD and I had leave the house to unwind from the movie since we had to get the movies back to Redbox this was not a problem. It was then, going outside that we realized that even thought the sky was gray it was not really cold, actually the day was pretty nice so off we went to enjoy a Spring day.

We received a page of coupons, earlier in the week, for a place called Culvers, a fast food joint I had not seen in this area before the place looked pretty good. There is only one Culvers in Utah right now and it I located out in the West Jordan area and that where the Deseret Industries (DI) where DD wanted to explore so we figure we'd kill two birds with one stone. Culvers was Ok, not earth shattering as I had hoped. I was really hoping to find one of those family run old time hamburger joints where they still throw the hamburger buns in the hamburger grease and toast the bun in the hot oil but no such luck. Culvers looked like—and tasted like just the newest fast food chain to invade the State with homogentic fast food although I must admit the Culver basic burger was a shade more tasty then other like burgers n the area but I am still searching. The meal was OK but we both agreed we would never traipse all the way to West Jordan or the burger unless we were going over for another reason.

The West Jordan DI is one of the Churches mega DI's with all kins of junk to choose from and the place is a magnet for low income, and lower middle class from all over the Valley. Multiple languages, and kids fill the building—the toy isle is one giant free for all nursery. There are toys all over the floor mixed in with toddlers and pre-schoolers. There are about fifteen Hispanic, cowboy booted, cowboy hatted males lounging in the furniture section having some sort of a meeting lots of smiles, head nodding ad laughing as they wait for their wives wonder through the different DI departments. It seemed every aisle was crowded especially the book section ( where I usually migrate), every where I turned I was crushing someone's foot, hand bag or infant. I had to escape. I did a quick search for DD to let her know I was heading for the van and for her not to worry when she could not find me when it was time to leave.

The temperature has actually warmed a bit I found as I made my way to the van. The clouds had parted and sunlight was making its way to earth. My van is while so if I park myself next to my van and get not only the radiant heat but also the heat bounce of the van, refractive heat:perfect. So, I bundled my hood round my shoulders and tipped my chair back closed my eyes and listened....I heard voices of people walking by to and from the store, doors opening and especially slamming shut. I even head sea gulls wondering round above me and then I think I drifted off to sleep until my arm was jerked by some Latter Day Zionist asking if I was OK. I HATE BEING WOKEN THIS WAY. And responded that I had been OK until she woke me. I never say stuff like that but I did my comment was laced with irritation.

I guess I could have been in trouble—did she think I was dead or something? The good Samaritan huffed her way back to the store and I tried to get comfortable again but my moment had passed. I righted my chair and headed back into the chaos—thinking not a bad Saturday.

The Rest off the Stoy

2011-04-17T18:03:00.000-06:00

He bank folk said they were going to call me back when they notified someone at my branch but since Dianne and had planned on going out anyway an stopping by the bank on the way to pick up Anakah and we did. The problem was solved swiftly and of course the error seemed to be me. It seems I have my checks direct deposited in to my account and the account I have set up is a money market account which I then have to go in and move the funds over to 'Checking” its a bit of pain but I have gotten used to it over the years. The issue is or was that I have to leave at least once cent in the account or the computer shuts the account down when all the money is moved out or “zeroed out”. So I had my money just sitting somewhere in my account but I could not see it. The bank lady moved my funds to checking and reopened my account and al id good. I am just glad I found the problem before I was bouncing all over town—this was a close one. And that is the rest of the story.

Where's The Cash??

2011-04-15T10:50:00.003-06:00

So, i go to transfer funds from my money market to checking and there is no money in the account--some home my money Market has been closed and my deposit is sitting at the bank and not where it needs to be working and making it safe for Dianne and I to use our checking account--so now I am waiting for branch bank to call and get this worked out--this is a real pain in the butt--more later.

Saving My Bacon

2011-04-13T09:51:00.001-06:00

Why is it the harder one focuses on a task the more difficult the task becomes? We had another “Save Meadowlark's job” meeting last Thursday and it was decided that I would once again rebirth my self and make my office something the rest of the State want's to be part of. We continue to look toward technology for this saving grace. There continues to be interest in the semi-weekly broadcasts –the interview show I have been doing. We now have more then sixty filmed and in the archives. I like doing the interviews the producing and management is getting somewhat tedious but I keep turning the shows out.

One of the results of last Thursday's meeting was I am to produce a series of five minute shows illustrating :”how tos” for people with disabilities. This sounded pretty interesting and something I thing I could do, might be fun and even valuable to some of our funders. Something we could put together then host on You Tube or other INTERNET self video publish provider—there are tons. Anyway I got the task with first product to me examined tomorrow Thursday. I of course did nothing on the project until yesterday except think about the project. I actually changed to the topic which was how to work with Vocational Rehabilitation to how to get a designated parking plate.

I was alone for most of yesterday here in the office—the main Council held its monthly meeting in some remote corner of the state leaving me and Amy to host the office which means basically me since Amy is out in the community a great part of the time. The staff was gone Monday and Tuesday so while I was alone I decided to use the quite and private time to begin filming the first project. I am going to film this project with a cam corder or with my little red camera and then edit the takes and put the whole mess together. So, I have started with the camera on the lap top and Movie Maker which came bundled with my lap top. The process is slow going and now with staff back in the office the going maybe be even slower still but I hope to have something to show. by tomorrow afternoon.

So, I truly believe this project will fun but be a lot of work and who knows, maybe just the thing to save my bacon.

Heal! Damn You, Heal!!

2011-04-11T13:13:00.000-06:00

I did it again, I spent nearly the entire weekend down, off m,y butt in bed trying to heal wounds before the wounds get so bad I wind up back in the wound clinic or worse in surgery for butt repair. I am sorry I am so focused on my rear and how much time I am spending off of it---it's just my wounds seem to be foremost in my life at present. If my skin is not right I am not right which means I am in pain and/or worse having to miss work, go to the doc's, hospital etc. And seriously I am not a boob, I do not believe I am hypochondriacal.

Even though I did spend a of of time down I di manage to go out to breakfast on Saturday and spent some time watching watching Ani an Dianne play pin pong at the Murray Rec Center where I did something stupid (which I figured out later). I was bored and playing with my cell phone and put as my update atone point Help! I am being held hostage at the Rec Center. Really not thinking anything of it but about fifteen minutes later I started getting responses from folks asking if I was OK. Only then did I realize the words written could have be misconstrued as a desperate cry for help or assistance!! I quickly sent a note indicating I was OK and for no one to worry, there were no rampaging gunmen at the Murray Rec Center.

But this weekend was a good weekend to be down, clouds and snow fell , what felt like , non stop through the weekend. I cannot believe I actually went out but I did. I ave been sitting for six some odd hours and I can tell my skin is taking a beating, I am lifting, tilting in place and thinking light and hoping this coming weekend will be better then the last...

Conference Afternoon

2011-04-03T16:09:00.002-06:00

Snow fell during the night, a lot of snow, at least eight inches of snow and the looks cold and un-inviting outside my front room writing window. Snow fell all morning too but now the skies are bluing up in patches, the snow has stopped and the snow is beginning to drop off branches and telephone lines in clumps as the birds sing and look round quizzically wishing they has a hand to scratch their heads. Yesterday, running up to this Spring storm the temperature s high as 74 degrees: the ground is warm ad so is the street pavement and the sidewalk concrete so the snow ,of course did not stick on these services. The snow is melting fast as the day's temperature races up to the low fifties. Spring in the Rocky mountain states.

It's Conference weekend in Salt Lake! It's World Conference. The sheep from all over the world gathers this weekend for meetings, shopping and eating like they cannot any other time of the year. The meander round don town Salt Lake City Temple Square between sessions. Bulging bellies in ill fitting clothes wander aimless downtown, clutching their scriptures looking for cheap food outlets. I usually avoid this scene at all cost but yesterday I found myself downtown, through no fault of my own. I had agreed to be on a panel for Skywest airlines a couple of weeks ago, actually, I got into this whole panel thing because of my boss. Skywest called on her to put this panel together and she in turn put the touch on me. I was charged with putting together panels one on Wednesday and the other on yesterday( Saturday). Skywest has had their employees in the town all week, thousands of people doing conference from 8:00 to 5:00. I ended up getting six other folks with disabilities to populate the panels. Of course, my boss bailed for the Saturday panel but that was all right. I had negotiated with Skywest who agreed to feed my people which I figured was only right for these folks many of who are low-income, giving their time and expertise. My Saturday session got out at 1;00 PM and the LDS Conference was already on their lunch break and I was astounded. The sheep were or should I say cattle were meandering without shepherds or cowboys. The majority had a distant lost look on their faces, I tried to avoid eye contact eyes which seemed to be searching for a prophet to lead them to a promised land of fast food, which would feed them, make them happy and allow them to return to Temple Square and into their place for the two clock session. By this time of the day I just wanted get as far as downtown as I could—I threw my power chair in gear and escaped to the train station heading South.

Change Day

2011-03-31T11:35:00.003-06:00

Ep Tau

Tomorrow Is April first, April Fool's, someone's birthday I am sure and Utah Transit Authority (UTA) Change Day—one of two days during the year when the the local transit authority—bus company—makes adjustments to routes and more importantly when route drivers take over their new routes. Sort of like a transit musical chairs. The drivers are sort of like the low-men and women on the totem pole in the transit universe, which is actually pretty stupid since the drivers are the face of the agency for most of the public and for many of the public the only face of the authority.

Not that it matters but the drivers are union for the most part but being has not helped their plight too much. The driver system is a seniority system driver who have driven the longest has best shot at the prized route and times. It seems the UTA is all about split systems. New drivers are on the low end of the food chain the must suffer through a 'split work day. The drive may have a ten hour but that day will have two parts mornings from 6:00 to 10 and then have a four or five hour break and drive again 2:00 to 8:00 in the afternoon and evening. The work week will also be split one day on and one off then three days, or two days and another day off and another day and for those drivers driving 8 hour shifts their days get really crazy. I guess through out the year drivers have the option to bid on selected pieces of work and of course routes which might be more desirable to spousal and family life. But that's the way their system rolls, the longer you work at the authority the better the pie is. So anyway twice a year the customers has to also deal with “Change” some routes actually change, usually service is reduced by dropping actual bus stops or in some cases suspending service or routes entirely. JI suppose there has been instances where service has been restored but I have not heard of it direct or from n actually customer and then there is the (of late) constant fare increase and the newest way to scalp the passenger is the fuel surcharge the immediate “stick it to you” UTA management uses to raise fairs every time the middle East raises the price of crude.

But this all happens on “Change” Today, I said goodbye to our morning driver who has been driving my morning bus since last “change”. This driver is a South Sea Islander, Tongan. This bus is an early bus, it is the first bus on the route in the morning, beside me there are between four and five other riders this early riding to the train. This driver—I don't really know his name something like Ep'Tau. This driver is always happen, warmly welcomes you on his bus ad gives the customer the benefit of the doubt letting one use the excuse “the cat ate my bus pass” once but lets you ride. Since the wheelchair station is right by the driver we have talked a lot—he watches out for me crossing the street if I'm late and driving my power chair on and off the ramp of the bus. He even took my direction as I had to talk him through fixing my power chair one morning when the chair stopped working all the way in the back position.

But he is moving on “ Change”:the only constant and now I have break in another driver...groan.

Conference Chicken

2011-03-30T15:46:00.001-06:00

Today I participated in a panel discussion for a local airline, a one hour cog of a larger wheel and on Saturday I participate in another panel for the same group but with different folks. Today we presented to about seventy 'above wing” staff who might have reason to interface with folk with disabilities; tickets sales, boarding crews and baggage folk. Today's efforts was culmination of a couple of weeks work. My boss pulled me aside and asked me to put together these panels which I was able to do fairly simply. I know the folk and I made the calls and got the commitments straight away. One blind gut, two pretty involve people with CP, two spinal cord injuries and a little person and each one is gregarious as hell. I really did not think of that when I got their agreement. I just wanted the panel populated as soon as possible

There were four of us on today's panel, my boss, me, Andrew and Everette. Andrew is thirty something and has a good case of athetoid CP, he uses a power chair for mobility and gets round the city and county very well. He is also highly verbal and very bright and works as a legal advocate. He travels a lot for someone who is as involved with CP as he is, Everette is an Assistive technologist for the state center for the blind, me = Mr I&R for disability questions and my boss who is director of the local DD council and she also travels a great deal with fold who are DD. We spoke for an hour to a packed room. We each gave a small bio and then opened the panel up questions. One of the participants sort of monopolized the microphone but I think no one cared, this was easy duty and a free hot lunch.

The lunch was hot and tasty: grilled chicken breast over a rice pilaf with lemonade or ice tea, hard rolls with butter balls but no desert( which I thought kinda of strange ) but not a big deal. When I set up the panel I specifically asked if a meal was included for the panel participants which they were happy to provide. Some times for people with disabilities , a hot meal is the best one can hope for. The airline lady had to get back to me but in the end the caved and we got out chicken on rice. I did not think much of it but two of the panel participants went out of there way to thanks me for lunch which kind of shocked me. I just thought the event was fun and got me out of the office and a hot meal even if it was Conference Chicken.

We do it again in Saturday, my boss and me and with the other disabilities mentioned. She be good weather, Spring weather with temps I the low 60's. Again, it should be fun—I think I'll take the train—Hum I wonder what kind of Chicken will be served.

Who?

2011-03-29T10:14:00.001-06:00

I have been trying to locate someone from my past for a couple of years now. Since Face book has come on the scene I have been able to locate a number of folks I thought I would never be in contact with again. One way I have done this little it of detective work is to think of someone we knew in common, a friend or family member and search for them and maybe they will lead me to the person I am searching for.

Dennis is on of the guys I grew up with, he was strange like me but only a lot smarter. Dennis was a year older, socially inept but Ok to hang round. I have been trying to get hold of him for years to no avail—So yesterday I remembered a couple brothers in the same ward as Dennis and I and maybe they might be in contact with Dennis. I was pleased when after I entered their name into the FB search engine their pages with images and everything popped up. I cannot believe I had not tried to contact Norman or Duncan before. Of course they barely resembled them selves as I remembered, but they still lived in the same city, same high school so they had to be the same. These kids were first generation English and this was the time of the Beatles which made them that much more cool. I was not close to either but I knew who they were.

So I was surprised when I got the message back from Norman that”he should know me but tell him more.” At least he responded even if he barely remembers me. I have sent back more biographical detail and we'll see. I think getting to know Normal will be fascinating he had definitely changed as have I but maybe just maybe he can lead me to Dennis .

I think I am ready to work

2011-03-28T16:49:00.001-06:00

Its the flux period of Spring—that time when any kind of weather may show up—like to day there has been rain, sleet snow and of course, snow; the only season not showing is summer. No, warm to hot temps. I have been sitting at my desk freezing all day. I left my FBI hat at home but luckily I had an old scarf laying round and I have been wearing that all day like a little old women from Russia.

I am pleased to announce that it looks as if I am good to go for another year! My boss emailed staff last Thursday that one of the State hold out got funded better then anticipated and looks like they will be funding me another year. I spoke with my boss this morning and she assures me the the heat is not off just turned down a little, which is OK—I think I am ready to work.

I Feel A Little Bleached

2011-03-22T16:35:00.002-06:00

I really do want to make a long juicy post but I am just too tried right now. I have been out in the elements all day busing and traxxing going to and from meetings. A cold wind has been blowing and there has been intermittent snow flurries and for the most part I have been fine but I am feeling just a little bit bleached.

Process

2011-03-21T15:09:00.002-06:00

Today has been a crush!! A typical Monday, with enough stuff going wrong that the whole days seems in jeopardy. I am having a battle with the medical center where i take my rehab services. I have been trying to get some prescriptions changed it the process has been nothing but pain. i just hung up the phone again with them and we are going tto get the scripts aent through again but th process is driving me nuts!!!

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS!1

2011-03-19T13:20:00.001-06:00

Tony was back in my office Wednesday, this was the second time this week. Tony wanted some support to help him try to keep his apartment which he rents through one of the local housing authorities. He wanted some help to fill out his annual housing authority document indicating he was who he is a mentally disabled, low-income person who is scarred shit-less of the System. The system which. I sadly, am part. As most of you know, I am an information and referral specialist. I tell people where to go: people with disabilities who need services to survive I am the System.

Tony wandered into my office, first a couple of years ago,and that visit was simple, I referred him to some housing options and some other options like where to get food stamps and where to get food boxes. You must realize, I DONOT DO CONSUMER SUPPORT!! Consumer support is something social workers, housing coordinators and support coordinators do—not me. I used to do that, and I don't like doing that—I was a housing coordinator for the independent living center in Salt Lake City. I tried to empower my consumer as much as I could trying to get them to do their own work as much as possible as being “independent as possible”. Really, I just don't like doing this one to one stuff—getting 'real' with the people. It's just too messy. So, Monday of this week when he walked past my window I knew Tony was going to come into governor's council office and then they would send Tony in to me, and sure enough that is exactly what happened.

Tony lives on subsidized housing, the Feds basically pay 2/3s of Tony's rent. Apartment owners and land lords love it. One of the most widely used programs is called “Section-8”. Section-8 is easy and in many cases guaranteed money. The money goes directly to the property owner and everyone is happy. But once year the property must be inspected by the Fed to make sure the Consumer and the Fed is not being taken advantage of. In many way the process is traumatic to the renter. He is usuall y notified with a document left hanging on the front door t their apartment or slid under the door—traditionally these folks have learned paper taped to their doors or slid under those doors is 'bad news' never 'good news', their world is going to get messed up one way or the other.

Tony is in his late forties or early fifties, most likely a candidate for mental heal services if not being developmentally disabled. Actually, I think Tony is pretty bright, but has been trained by the 'system to act a dumb as possible. On the initial visit of the week, I looked at his document, a pretty standard piece of Apartment crap which management wants filled out. The document is pages long with lots of print ans spaces to be filled in and signatures to be written and then returned. Tony needed help filling out document—which I was not the person to assist. I sent him to the Housing Authority, IL even the Community Action Program. The first visit of the week I spent a half hour with him and sent him on his way.

Tony returned on Wednesday clearly agitated and once again filled my office with presence and aroma. No one wold help him and he had to get it done or they would kick him out. Why couldn't the world jutst leave him alone—he I not going to be responsible if they pushed hi too far. I took the document read through it and noted the document had to be filled out and returned to management by the end of Friday. Tony had just a little more then two days to fill out the document.

Wednesday, I was under the gun, my boss had returned to work a day a head of when I thought she was and I was still reeling from the Intervention! I had phone calls to return and new calls coming in I was swamped. I did not need to do client support on this of all days. But if I did not do it—it, was not going to get done and sometimes you have to do what you don't want just to get by.

The document was simple, EZPZ, but the ore I sat with Tony and helped him answer the questions and check the appropriate boxes the angrier I got thinking of how stress this was on Tony, and me in the day when I rented and seemed to always be getting 'notes' on y front door. I remember how returning home from work on a Friday afternoon getting such a note would wreck my entire weekend. But we got the task done—I even made a copy for tony instructing Tony to keep the document somewhere safe to 'spring' on the land lord(manager) if the original he turned in should mysteriously come missing,

Tony thought having a backup was great! In an instant Tony had become empowered, in a small way had be able to take a little control over his life. Tony had learned something which evened the playing field just a little—he had a chance.

Tony was a little bit different when he left my office, he still smelled, had three days stubble on his face but Tony was a little bit stronger. Tony was going to save his apartment and live there another year—even if we wanted to go 'month to month'. I am sure I will see Tony again, sooner then later. I did something I knew better then to do—I “fed” the animals and if you feed the animals enough they always come back.

The Icredible Vanihing Me

2011-03-16T15:23:00.002-06:00

Yesterday when I went back to the coffee machine to get my second cup of coffee I was ambuhed into a work intervention--you know: an intervention where people who care deeply about you get you alone, usually surrounding you and then confronting you with'straight' talk till you do the correct thing.

I have been charged by the boss for a couple of months to come up with a plan which will re-invent me and my job so my funding agenciees will flood back to me and give me large amounts of money. I have not come up such a plan because I don't have anything t sell the agencies which would want to make them buy back into to our program. I could try to old razzle dazzle , which is basically 'smoke and mirrors' selling the vendor something which just is not there. I sorta have an issue with that. The boss then charged one of my office mates to assist me. This person is incredible and highly motivated sort of "Rah Rah" but I have alot respect for this person. I pretty much avoided her as well as Frank, money guy in the office , ho also, got the assignment to talk to and reinvent me and that is what brought about yesterday's
intervention. I tried to passive aggress my way out of the event no go. I finality agreed to try doing it there way was doing a surrounding state survey to see what they are doing for the ame sort of project I am involved in. I learned some things of interest most of which is that i doubt i will be working here after July and I really am not all that worried which is a little puzzling to me I think I will still be employed...just not here.

so the boss is back her trip today and still nothing has happened--I think we are all just waiting till the end game starts when we find out just how much money, if any, the legislature left which makes me feeel more and more invisible.

All Day Long

2011-03-14T16:57:00.005-06:00

Its been a long ten hours but I have been here all day an I am a bit worried that i have been on my butt too long but we'll have to see but the day has been a little exciting. Over lunch the Front desk person came back reporting there tons of cops at the Apartment house(building ) next door so I had to go check and sure enough there were. I did not see Coroner's unit but the Speial Crimes Unit was there so something bad went down.

It's almost time to go home and there is so much daylight left I cannot believe it!!

Buy Me Buy Me Buy Me

2011-03-13T20:37:00.003-06:00

It's been a pretty good weekend all things considered. I have been being good being in bed a lot of the weekend and giving the butt a good rest but i was up a little. We even went to breakfast with Anakah and later BARNES AND NOBLE. I am amazed at how many kids were there with parents on actual book quests, even more interesting was to see how many kids were putting on the 'BUY ME' pressure on the parents to buy more books then initially agreed upon. I used to see this behavior in the toy isle or the candy isle at the market but never at the book store...very interesting. Remember turn the clocks ahead!!

Up a Little Down a Little

2011-03-12T21:10:00.002-07:00

I am changing my lifestyle. I am not sure that I like the change but slowing down a little and taking care of my of my skin is a lot better then having the be down for months and having to endure surgeries to try to combat the ravages of skin breakdown.

Friday I had my DDS(Division of Determination Services) Advisory Board meeting not a bad assignment--the lunches range from hot to cold but they are usually good--I have even grown to accept the potato bar. I even like the sandwich bar we had on Friday multiple cuts of meat and really great breads to choose from not a bad lunch. One of the members to the board is a quadriplegic fellow from Logan, Utah--a very forthright academic who takes his job very seriously. His quadriplegia is much more involved then mine but his involvement downs not stop him one day I'll write more about Gordon. Gordon is really is really a piece of work. Anyway over the winter months a and now with the cost of everything especially fuel escalating Gordon and others from the Logan have been joining the meeting by telecommuting of one sort or another. Friday he informed the rest of the Board that he was going in for skin surgery Monday. It seems that Gordon has a major skin condition or butt sore much worse then mine. The surgery to do a 'flap' a procedure where a flap is manufactured from the patients body and sewn over the wound in hopes of curing the wound taking monsterous amounts of time in bed and a significant amount of risk to the patient. Gordon has been through a couple of these surgeries--I do not envy him and appreciate what he is facing by what i have just experienced even though what I have experienced is 'nothing ' compared to what Gordon is. I hope all goes well for Gordon and that Gordon can rejoin his life in six months or so.

So yes I am changing my life style--more pressure releases and time down in bed--every day maybe. Today all wounds have healed and I want to keep them that way...closed. so more trips to the Doc, weight releases, better equipment and a commitment to being well. Good luck Gordy!!

Easy Does It

2011-03-10T14:27:00.001-07:00

By way of explanation as to why I have not been posting the past couple of days is my continuing saga of the butt. I am really trying to be more proactive, adult and self supportive and that end I have been leaving the office early—all week. Last week I felt and DD informed me that I was experiencing some skin breakdown: a wound had barely appeared on my but and no matter what I did—except get off my butt—the wound just would not go away. So I have been getting off my butt when ever I can with the hopes the wound will heal swiftly. I was in bed pretty much all last Sunday and I have been leaving work early each day to scurry home and hop into bed. Really, this is the most committed to heading off pressure I have ever been.

I hate bed rest right up there with dental specifically root canals. I don't know why but, there is just something about waiting a loosing day, week or life just laying around. And I'll do what I must to avoid anymore down time then I need. But I have been being good an so far the result have been favorable. The wound I have been combating are all but healed leaving the wound site tender and I suspect vulnerable. Hopefully next week I will experience much more “up-time”. And that I what has been happening...I have not posted from the office since I knew I a running shorter days I had to get things done. I did not post from home because I was going straight to bed once I got in the door so there was no time to work at my home lap top. Luckily I have a good novel and I have been able to devote lots of time to reading.

So the wound I closed but I am still taking it way easy—Just want to stay up in my chair longer and enjoy the Spring which is finally breaking into the areea.

All Summer Long

2011-03-05T17:01:00.002-07:00

Yesterday was sunshine and and warm temperatures; this early Spring weekend. The day was not THAT warm but warm enough to drive me out of the house and toward the garage and to look at the mess of a wood shop that I keep there next to the house. I hope to be able to spend more time out in the garage this Summer making sticks and sawdust. I was in the garage looking for my tools and wood product to make a couple of hooks to help me in my feeble attempts to live more independently then I have as of late.

I, at one point in time, had twenty or thirty hooks made and ready for sale. The sales never came and I used the hooks as gifts, prizes at various private non-profit fundraisers and ofcourse assists, to me a person with a disability, to easier live my life. I have written of this before but by in large the reason the hooks came to be was to have an excuse, for me, purchase tools and collect wood scrap. But to surprise I have gone through almost all of the hooks I turned and sanded. Now, I need more hooks and that means I have to access my garage wood shop.

To me the first acceptable weekend of my wood season is always filled with frustration and hope and I venture out to the garage. I hope to just get out intothe garage an do some prep work but I have come to expect that being able to get in and start working will be impossible—at least three national holidays, family and friends visits associated with those holidays has caused items to be moved to the garage for storage or until the holidays run heir course. I hope I will be able at lest get to the far corner of my wood bench, the corner of the wood bench where I have the vises mounted and tools I use the most scattered: the hand saws, power drill and various rasps, files and sand paper. If I can get to the end of the bench I can do th basics like vise-up and cut sticks the lengths I want to start working on The garage I open however this Spring is chaos. I have to begin a constant slow burn of pressure to family for assistance in getting this handed to me or plugging in that till I have my space accessible to thee point where I can turn a rough piece of oak, poplar or pine into a hook. Some time I tun up the heat a little more then others but I have to be patient and remember there will always be another weekend. My goal this year though is to start early in the hopes of getting out early and enjoy my garage wood shop all season long.

Some day I am going to have heat in the garage, The garage will be cleaned out to the point where I will enter and start to work. Someday I am going to use the 220 outlet in the garage for something productive and I am going to have power outlets ALL around the garage so I will have power anywhere I need it..Oh, yeah I am also going to have power always on to the garage—day or night.

But yesterday I got out there and saw what I have to do. I got a couple of the last hooks moved them into the house, one I'll take to work the other I'll use round the house but soon, a couple more weeks I will be out in the garage making sawdust an happy feeling...all Summer long.

RIP

2011-03-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

I think I had better more explain the “RIP” quote post I uploaded yesterday. It all started last week when I could not not boot my computer, here at the office, when I came in the morning. I did not think too much of the issue since I was busy with some other projects. but I was a little irritated since I was not able to track my data. So by late Wednesday so last week I had had enough frustration and I did open up a ticket with State Information Technology (IT), which means I make a call to the “trouble line” an usually with in an hour someone calls me back and asks some question and if they cannot fix the issue they will send out one of the IT people, who usually doe a good job of finding the problem and getting me back in the game of work. By ten o clock the next morning, Cindy, our tech support person was out and went through the whole bit,”as the system plugged in”, “Are th drive free of materials” and on and on all the things I have learned may prevent my computers from booting up over the year and none o these thing worked.

Cindy had been watching me go through the boot up process over my shoulder and what she saw interested her to the point that I knew I needed to power up my chair and back away from the system Cindy was taking the challenge. With me safely out of the way Cindy dived into the ritual of saving the system. Was using all her secrete signs and codes on the little computer, and nothing seemed to work. Cindy worked the little CPU over for about thirty minutes and announced she was going to have to “bench it” meaning she was going to have to physically take the system over to her office where I guess things are set up for the heavy duty work: brain surgery. Cindy did assure me that something was definitely wrong and she feels the hard drive may have crashed. Really, this did not alarm me too much, I really did figure that if Cindy could not figure out what how to reboot the system surly she had a way to access hard drive and harvest data I have been compiling for years. I really, Cindy is state IT they can do anything computer related. So my little HP was headed to CPU hospital and I found out later to CPU heaven.

Luckily I have a back up system, literally a back up system, in fact, I have two, I have a little Compaq which was used by Tory—or the other operator—before she left and I also have the lap top we got a couple off years ago but has only been used for broadcasting our INTERNET interview show. So the lap to is basically new and one of the better machines in the office. Cindy plugged in the Compaq and I was back in business sorta. A computer like shoes or glasses is something a person has to get used to, especially a computer. Each system is different and doe things their own way and since we though the computer switcheroo was only temporary I did not think to have the printer installed or the “Groupwise” ( State- E-mail system) configured to work off this computer, my stored passwords are gone and my bookmarks too!! I can access my State e mail if I come into the Groupwise via the INTERNET and I can at least read my emails and write emails but I cannot access my “Address books” I can store appointments to the calendar and other little things. Late Thursday Cindy called and let me know that my CPU had “pass on” the hard had crashed and there was nothing she could do and could not access any of the store data but her supervisor had ordered some special software and the supervisor wanted to try to glen some of the data if possible.

It was late in the day on Thursday my Friday so I figured what the heck I'll wit till monday to get back up and running and maybe if they can save some of my number I'll be OK.

This has been a busy week and I have had meetings away from my office forcing me to spend a good bit of time on public transit and I was half expecting to get back from my meetings Tuesday to have resolution to my issue but no Cindy, I called left a message and a little before closing Cindy called and let me know that her supervisor's “hail Mary” had indeed failed and my little HP was indeed flatline and we just better move on.

So here it is on Thursday and I am waiting for Cindy to show up and we can do th grand switch to the laptop, install Groupwise the way n it is supposed to be and , yeah, Cindy was all “let's get you a docking station for the lap top, she thought she had some laying round from employees who have”moved on”. I have calls in for her and hopefully she'll turn up later today. I really need to get some work done—this waiting is getting real old.

RIP little HP

2011-03-02T16:56:00.002-07:00

Seriously. I AM going to write again soon but not today--things are just busy right now and FB and Twitter is the best I can do right now. I am trying to get anew system or working system at my office--my hard drive died with NOTHING retrievable...lets have a moment of silence...tip little HP !