Clearing House Season

I have the ‘Russians” tonight so I drove in today. When I drive into to work I am not as stressed getting out of the house as I am when I taking the train. I had some time to kill so as I was wondered round the house this morning I noticed an envelope laying office down on the table. My name was written on back with my address under my name. I flipped the envelope over and it was a Clearing House Sweepstakes envelope, filled out sealed and ready to go. The envelope just needed a stamp. Dianne had obviously filled out the envelope was going to send it in but had not a yet. I grabbed the document and slipped the envelope into my backpack so I can mail at the post office next to my office.

I gave up participating in the Clearing House Sweepstakes, it seems decades ago. It seemed that I would get an envelope every couple encouraging me to take part in the next level of the sweepstakes. It was like a FOX television series which never concludes. There was always another envelope waiting to be processed with the hopes of winning big. In the old days when stamps were five cents this was not such a big deal just a never ending frustration. I finally just stopped entering all together and throwing the CHS envelopes immediately out when the envelopes showed up in my mailbox.

Dianne often gets the mail now in the afternoon and she must have intercepted this piece of mail for me. Dianne is cute in that she is an optimist and really believes we could win this contest and that is great and so she will always respond to the Clearing House and I will be chagrined if she wins. But she won’t no budy ever wins. Do you know anyone, personally, who has won the clearing house? No of course not I firmly believe the Clearing House is a myth, one of the great American myths that the public loves to believe.

Curt Vonnegut died yesterday. Boy do I hate see these old guys leave. Curt Monson turned me on to Vonnegut in the early sixties: Cat’s Cradle. I liked the book immediately. This was also the time I came out of the “nerd closet”. I had always recognized I was different from the pack, possibly even strange. I don’t know what I recognized n Vonnegut’s work but it touched a chord and I felt I had some how come home. The time must have been 63-64 and I was in jr. high school. Curt was in the crowd I hug round with at lunch. We had taken over small room at bottom of the back stairs, which let to the boys locker room or to the cafeteria. There were five or six of us in this group and they had accepted me. The were all smarter the me with the exception of Mark Sterling—if I ever had learned to think this where I started. I hope Curt V has found his own ICE-9.

Dental Neglect

Yesterday I was visiting with my good friend, Amy who is in the middle major dental regimen. Her teeth are crumbling and she is having the teeth re-drilled and having the fillings replaced; just really weird work an a lot of it. She is going to the dentist every week an I don’t’ know for how long. As we visited it came out that Amy is as terrified of the dentist as I am. And I am almost phobic.

My first dentist was a guy named Ralph Frogley, Dr.Frogely was a family friend, actually a friend of my parents, I might clarify, not mine. I think I maws five or six and I was being seen by the dentist probably as my pre-school physical. ( It was weird to be that as I related this experience to Amy how clear the experience came back to me. The medical smell of the event, the largeness of the people round me). I do not clear recollection of my older brother Ross, prepping me—actually now that I think of it Ross did tell me a story, early in my life about getting a shot in his mouth and how the needle felt as if it was piercing his very eye!!! Ross probably did tell me this before my trip to Frogley’s office. Anyway, I still remember being lifted into the chair, having the cloth bib ( they used cloth then non of this paper stuff, this was probably 1955)being put round my neck and then opening my mouth. This time period was also way before dentists wore gloves as they worked inside your mouth. Ralph had his fingers in my mouth I KNOW but he must have had the probe in my too because in a blinding flash of pain so magnificent to rend my psychic from that instant forward I brought my teeth down like a steel tarpon anything which was in my mouth. The “Frog” must have found cavity and probed it. I just “reflexed” pure and simple. The organism was protecting itself.

I can still remember Dr. Frogely, a study of controlled range, quietly unclamping the bib from round my neck, the assist backed up against the wall, and gently but firmly lifting me out of the dentist’s chair and carrying me at arms( as one would a wild animal) length me in to the waiting area and giving me to my mother with the instruction that she had better find another dentist for the lad because I would never be seen by Dr. Frogley again professionally.
It must have been ten years before I was to see another dentist. My teeth were a mess and the pain must have been great to get me back into the dental chair but I went and had gazillion caps placed on my molars and after what seemed like months of work I was done. Somewhere along the line some dentist somewhere indicated that I had really strong teeth which was a saving grace. But I am phobic. I know this. It takes major oral pain to generate the motivation I need to be seen by a dentist and I have a great dentist. Right now I am ok, but I fear my time in the chair is coming and probably sooner then later.

Everthing's Relative

Everything is relative, they say, and the cold has returned the Wasatch Front forcing me to dig out my red jacket and again dress like winter. The front came in last evening as I was watching a rerun of House . Gusting winds and frozen water served as hail blasted our windows and made my dog cringe and yelp with fear. At 24 months Ginger has had limited experience atmospheric events making things thump and rattle by themselves out side the door to her world. Snow fell during the night but not at my house. I saw a new dusting of snow on the near by mountains enough that I could sense the cold air which surrounded me as I left the house this morning for the train. The temperature was in the mid thirties, above freezing and I was wrapped in the red jacket Dianne had gotten me for my birthday. I even had my hood up and on and the jacket zipped up to my nose.

Even though the temperature was in the mid 30’s and I felt as cold and challenged as if the temps were “0” or there about. All week I have been wearing this little woolen like rag I call Black Diamond. Black Diamond is like a light pull over with a zip up front. I put the jacket over my head and wrap the arms round my shoulders, like hood, and the little garment does pretty good. But even with the temps 44 degrees when I left the house the Black Diamond was not enough. I knew I was going to need more thins morning. Because a couple of weeks ago the temperatures had actually been in the 70’s: balmy wonderful 70 degrees, no need for a jacket of any kind even with wind. You see I had been there, the good temperature. And the week before when I had experienced the Springs first 45 and 50 degree mark…I had been ecstatic and was grateful for these temperatures but not anymore. Today. I wore my Red Johnny and I was worm. I hate the feel of regression having to go back to heavy clothes but I ate more being cold.

A couple of weeks ago I had a call from my old friend and colleague The Mad Mexican Christian. He had left a message on my cell and I had planned to get right back to him but have not as yet. Luckily I did archive Jose’s call and had a few extra minutes before work this morning so I dialed his number. I had caught the earlier train than I usually catch and I was into the office a little after 7:00 a.m. Mountain time. I logged in my system and started the coffee and called the MMC, who now resides in Texas. At least an hour a head of me: 8:00. Just as Jose’s phone was ringing my “800” line started ringing so I took my work phone and fumbled round and canceled the Jose call. I noticed my phone started ringed seconds later I quickly stifled that call as well---and noticed then a message alarm went off.

Couple minutes later I cleared my call, got my coffee, and retrieved the voicemail from the MMC. There was Jose’s. gruff sleep clogged voice, “ Hey!! Whats the del call a mann then hang up on him when he wakes up enough to answer the phone!! ? I’ll call YOU later !!! Sheesh, something never change.

Blog Breakdown

I cannot seem to get motivated today; could be sleep issues, could be the gray sky or it could be the temperature struggling to get out of the fifties and THAT really distresses me. In fact I did long range for cast on Weather Bug and looks to be in the fifties all week so I am back to wearing my red coat and maybe even socks. I hate wearing socks after the Spring Equinox. Maybe its just the Easter aftermath—the back pain which plagued me all weekend has finally moved on –where? I can’t say and I don't as long as the pain is far from me. The good part of the gone pain is that I am sure the cause is not kidney as I was spooked that it the pain could have been secondary to kidney infection. The bad part is the pain , I think, is from a pinched nerve or blown disk or some sort. If the pain is spinal in nature I can live with that as long as I know it will not kill me. I can yip and moan all day as long as I know the pain will not kill me and the pain will eventually pass.

Great! My wristwatch just stopped. Does not that mean some where an angel just died? I am not sure. Easter was nondescript this year. I really did not know how non descript the holiday was until one of my co workers stopped my office and asked how the day went. No ham, no fam no sun, we did drive over to Mark and Kristy’s to drop off the Easter sack we had prepared or the girls. The weather was wet and cold to BBQ so we did the ribs in the oven which turned out OK, a little fatty but tasty. Dianne deviled –up some hard boiled eggs and that was about it. We did movies and kept the dog in the back yard.

I am wondering if I am having a blog breakdown. Yesterday I noticed that my post was number 700! 700 posts impressed me for some reason. I was pleased because I sort of felt that yesterday's post was pretty, a good post for number “700” but I remember somewhere while writing #700 wondering will #701 will be like. And sure enough I sort of “blanked” today when thinking of something to write. But “blanking” is ok , too. Some days one just “blanks” and one just has to wait for the next day or later on in the day. Maybe I’ll have a great ride home on the train and be moved to write the great post of the day. Or I’ll have the most interesting consumer come in at the end of the day making me stay late to serve but also giving me the fodder for the perfect post. But no one showed up. The caller who wanted the wheelchair will come in the morning and claim my last wheelchair. Nothing on the train happened either, I just got some good reading time. Sometimes a Monday is just a Monday.

Happy Easter

ts Easter Sunday and the day is cooler then I would like the day to be. Rain fell during the night, not much you gotta remember I live in a desert, clouds obscured the sunrise this morning but burned off or were blown way by cool winds by 10:00 am. Dianne trooped off to play Best Grand Ma ever to Anakah as Dianne always does Christmas and Easter mornings. I used to go but because the house is hard for me to get into, the bathroom is not accessible to me and the whole event takes place relatively early on these days. I am just thankful that Thanksgiving dinner takes place in the afternoon. I stay home read, check emails and usually get ready for the day. Today I cooked a pound of bacon I want to use to make some quiches sometime today or tomorrow. I wanted to BBQ, the first of the year from me, but with the wind and cool temps I don't know. Maybe by later this after noon the wind will will have calmed and the temp ( in the 60's) maybe just right. We'll see.

I cooked the pound of bacon actually to replace the pound of bacon I cooked yesterday , for the same reason: quiche. I too great pains to place the cooked bacon as far back on the cook top as I could due to the Visla, our dog. Ginger, the Visla, is really quite incorrigible. Ginger is about eight weeks old not and getting large. When she gets in her hind legs she can reach a long way and that is exactly what happened yesterday when I was away at the market. Even though I had the bacon way back on the stove top Ginger was able to stretch and reach and grab the bacon. I did not see the event but as Dianne describes the event the beast scarfed the plate of bacon I had set-a-side for the quiche. Boy I was I pissed! I banned the dog from the house until late in the evening. This “banning behavior” is happening more and more with the advent of the good and warmer weather. We just don't know what else to do. I am looking for a dog trainer or obedience school but have not been motivated to the point of making the final contact and finding out what obedience school really is and how we would do it and finally how much?? “Dog people” I talked to always tell me... “eight weeks!Oh, she is still is a puppy, give her some time, she'll grow into being a great dog!” Boy that takes a lot of faith. So for now Ginger comes round and challenges the door every thirty minutes or so hoping to get in. She has water and food and a blanket out on the deck. She seems more or less happy, out on the deck hours at a time. She better its as good as she going to get for a while.

The pain is back in my back. I may have to go back the Doc this coming week and see what the pain might be. I have thought perhaps its kidneys but more that I feel the pain yesterday and today I am thinking the pain might be a pinched nerve—since the pain originated last week when the arm of the wheelchair was broke and I was leaning way over to the left. Oh well, happy Easter!!

Up In Smoke

This is the infamous Cigarette Smoking Man from X-Files, a great series. This post is not about this guy, but a cigarette smoking man who often catches the train with me, in the mornings for work. A person cannot smoke with in a specific distance from the train. So this guy stands in the zone every morning smoking until the train finally comes; and over the years I have ridden the train I have become acquainted with him. I basically say “Hi” or just wave to when I see him. I know he is a Science type who works for the State but I don’t know where. He is one of those folks , wh you can tell, really likes to smoke and smokes well.

This morning I noticed the Cigarette Smoking Man was significantly dressed down wearing levies and a flannel shirt. I really was not too surprised since it is a Friday, even a pre holiday Friday. But I did mention his being “dressed down”. The Cigarette Smoking Man smiled and agreed indicating he was :on the clock” until 10:00 a.m. and then he was going straight to the airport to catch a flight to Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires like he was going across town or to Idaho!! I asked if we was going for work or pleasure. Pleasure he responded. Then I asked if by himself or his wife. He just smiled and indicated he was going with some buddies he was going to link up with in Atlanta where his Salt Lake flight from Salt Lake ended. Then he was ten hours in the Air to South America.. What a great trip! I had and have a million questions for this guy an I am going to ask them when he comes back. I asked him if he was going to take and he said he was going to take tons. So I know we will be talking. I want to know why Buenos Aires, did he just pick the destination out of a hat—or was the crew he is traveling with have a scheme “dirty business” below the equator. He said he will be gone for about ten days—that’s a long and expensive trip even if you are pinching pennies. I’ll share images if he gives me any on his return.

I don’t think too much of traveling or tripping round until I speak with someone like the Cigarette Smoking Man and then its lie,” ‘Why not? It would be great to heading out on a plane or road trip—just taking off on the road.

Happy Good Friday to everyone; Just me and my boss are in the office this afternoon. I have not heard if we are splitting early or not. I doubt it but I am welling to go if I get the word. The phones have just about gone dead—I have done a little call round and I am surprised at how many office have given their people Good Friday off. But we are here giving our consumers and the State the best service possible. Everyone, Happy Good Friday

Almost Easter

This is an image of the Mexican Consulate. The consulate occupies the top floor of the building I work in and having this agency in our building has been a very interesting experience as well as brought back memories I thought were long gone. One of my first work real experiences was in the early Seventies in Southwest Idaho. I worked in a series of Free clinics partially sponsored by the Idaho Migrant Council. We provided medical, psychological and general support services to Hispanic low-income folks in the community. Having the Consulate above my office, seeing all these families come in for services each day brings it all back.

Its Easter week and because it is Easter week the folks upstairs have taken today and tomorrow off to celebrate the holiday. Consulate management taped signs up on the windows and took off. Of course no on told their consumers and they were lined up outside the building this morning when I came into work. In fact the folks have been driving up all morning, parking their cars and coming into the building only to return five minutes to head out.

I don’t know if it is just because we are in Utah or the U.S. in general but Easter has never really gotten very high billing. Easter vacation was always masked as Spring vacation and was not necessarily celebrated the same week as Easter. Easter in my family was always just this funky little holiday which always fell on a Sunday. It has only been later in my life that I realized as holidays and especially religious holidays go Easter is really THE big one probably eclipsing Christmas as far as importance goes. One theory put to me yesterday was Christmas edged out because of the commercial opportunities offered U.S. industries. I have heard it said that even Christmas in the U.S. has only been celebrated big time for the last hundred or so years.

I did work at one office once where they actually gave us half a day, the Friday before Easter because the office manager was from San Francisco and she felt the office should get the whole day because that’s what they did in San Fran and the boss met the office manager half way and we got half the day and that’s hardly enough time to even get to the liquor store. But not here. I am planning on being here at my desk all day today and all day tomorrow, taking phone calls and answering questions. Some of the Mexicans are stopping in our office to ask where their Federalies are. People don’t really read signs anymore and I don’t think many of the folks stopping in can read Spanish all that well. So we tell these fine folks in the best broken Spanish or English possible that we are not the Mexican Consulate and to come back on Monday after Easter. These poor folk just look at me with a blank state then look a some sort of document they are holding, scratch their head with their free hand, if they have a free hand, turn and wonder out the door shaking their head.

WOW!

WOW! Last night was a trip. I wish I had felt better but still a lot of fun. I diod the Information Fair at the City Library—the fair was put on by the local spinal cord injury unit. I was curious why the unit chose not to have the function on their floor at the medical center but being there at the library I understood. There is just not room on the Rehab unit. What was weird there was not a whole hell of a lot of room at the library either. I think the Information Fair would have come off a whole lot better the rehabilitation staff had just used one of the gyms on campus.

Yesterday was a completely full day as I explained in yesterday’s blog—especially with my chair repair. Anyway I suddenly realized it was five o clock and I was supposed to be at the library at 5:30. However, I got into one of those boss and employee discussions as I was leaving so I ended up being late to the fair. I still had to collect the materials I planed to distribute at the function, load them into my van and drive over to the library. Of course, then, being late I could not find an acceptable accessible parking place round the building. I circumnavigated the block at least four times before electing to park in underground parking. This worked out ideally and I was able to push the disability thing afterward and got a deduction on the parking. The four hours I was inn the library underground parking cost $.75—I made out like a bandit.

The event was held on the top floor of the library sort of difficult to get to but I made it. I was blown away when I finely got the Info Fair. All the vendors were lined up against walls of the room we were in. Then there must have been thirty of forty people in wheelchairs and their families milling round. One of the things I hate with public meetings and general public get-togethers is the way people “pack” into rooms and leave no for egress. Blockage is bad enough with able bodies but add wheelchairs and then total stoppage occurs specially when you need access to an exit. I cannot imagine why no one thought of access and egress when this event was being planned. But I have to admit I was impressed at the number of spinal cord injured that were there and I found out this is just the gimps their program has served in the past year and half or so. There is even more wheelchair folks in the area. They served a dinner of subway sandwiches, chips and bottled water. Not really appetizing though I did grab a sandwich by the end of the night. I met some interesting folks and gave out way more cards the I usually do at events like this. I usually do not think these info fairs have much of an effect over all but I felt different tonight maybe tonight I actually think I may have helped someone. But I was tired , way tired when the event was over.

Busy Busy

Yet another long day, and I am only just two thirds of the way through. What a day. I realized yesterday when IK got back to the office and checked out my Groupwise calendar that I had a transportation meeting this morning. This is not a big deal just time consuming. I staff this meeting for my office so I just do things the consumer needs done. This meeting is essentially a conference call which can be intimidating but more then anything just takes time. Plus I keep a running account of the dialog which I later turn into meeting minutes.

Last night after I got home I was working on the computer to post the blog and my left armrest on my power wheelchair just sheered off! The arm rest did not affect the chairs main function just maid it painful for me to sit in the chair without the support on my l left side for any length of time. I knew I would have to make an emergent run to magic Rest to see if they could do a fast repair because I am working U of u REHAB open house tonight till about 9:30 PM and I want to be somewhat comfortable if I am going to be pulling these kind of hours. The only positive of the day’s events so far is that I should glean two to three hours over time which I could use to offset any time I generate running to the wheelchair shop.

I was totally surprised when I called Josh, my guy, at the wheelchair shop and he actually indicated he was not all that busy and he would look at my chair as soon as I could bring the chair down. I had just finished the conference call and cleared the emergency run to the wheelchair shop with the boss. Luckily I had brought my van into the office since I would need it tonight for the Information Fair. I was gone driving hard to mid valley, off the ramp at 3300 South. I called and Josh came out and “eyeballed” my chair and at n first said that there was probably little he could do but I must have looked pretty pathetic because soon he was fiddling with the part, then went back into office for about ten minutes returning to say he had actually found a the part we needed on one of the “loaner” chairs and he set to tearing my chair apart. When Josh got the part off. I could see his brain beginning to churn and he started coming up with solutions for the part he first thought was inoperable. The best part though was that Josh fixed my chair and got me back on the road—and he did not charge me! In the process of the repair we visited a bit and found that we both were going to be working the Information Fair. Maybe it’s Karma.

Slow Getting Up to Speed

I was hoping to be feeling better then I am now, at the end of this work day. I am much better then I was last week at this time but I m yet far from being as well as I wish I were. I should be more patient after all it took me quite a while to get my body to the level of dysfunction it was when I sought medical attention. I suffered through staff meeting, returned calls and fielded new calls which have come in today. Checking my calendar I realized I missed some key meetings last week and I have a conference call tomorrow and a presentation at the City library tomorrow night for the university medical center’s Rehab Unit. The day has been cooler then I thought it was going to be. I should have worn socks but tomorrow, again, holds promise of sunshine and temps in the 60’s.

Because I was ill last week I was not able to purchase my bus pass for April. I have bus tokens so no big deal. But for someone with limited hand function as I am I don’t like to use the bus ticket vending machines, especially under the pressure of a train coming into the terminal. So, what I do is go up to up to one of the buses “dieseling” in the parking lot and ask them to sell me a Transfer—that slip of paper issued by a driver which will act as a pass for the two hours following its purchase. I also know that 9 times out of 10 the driver will just give me the Transfer. This morning when I asked for a Transfer I was taken a back when the driver caller me by name. I checked to see if my nametag was on but it was not. Then the driver identified: it was Dan, Jin’s husband. One of Dianne’s best friends who now lives in Beijing, China! In fact Dan informed me that he was leaving for Beijing next week. Jin is from Beijing and has been less and less happy living in the USA the past couple of years. I did not think to ask Dan if he were coming back but I assumed that he was because he did not mention anything about closing out his house, or selling it or a final good bye which I am sure I would have sensed if he was not coming back to the USA. It’s just weird to run into him like this now just as he is about to leave—like the meeting was supposed to happen.

Time to Smell the flowers

Today is one of those “in between” clouds and foolish days but the clouds are thin enough to lets the radiate from the sun through making for a warm enough day to enjoy some outside time. We are blessed with a warm southern breeze as another storm system blows itself into the area. this also means the weather is warm enough that we can keep Ginger outside for extended periods of time without fear of the neighbors calling the ASPCA. We are still paranoid of letting her out front for fear she might bolt and have to bail Ginger out of the Slammer again. We have to be careful of relegating the dog to the backyard because Ginger tends to yap and cry until she gets let back in the house. We're a little spooked the neighbors might complain but nothing yet so out she stays on these nice pre-summer days.

Last week as I lay in bed I made the decision I would just let the blog go until I could get feeling better. I was pleased to receive a couple of emails from dedicated readers. I was surprised that I had any—people who actually become concerned when I do not blog. Granted most of these concerned folks are family but they count as readers.

LeRene is one of my faithful readers. LaRene is my older sister's daughter and it's hard to think of LeRene as just a few years younger then I. LeRene will ever be fixed in my mind as the cuter skinny, reddish blond cowgirl who would come up to visit us with her parents. We meet now at family reunions and hug, visit breifely and show pictures of our kids, maybe a Christmas card in the season and every once in a while an email. I just love it that Le Rene has her own my space account where I can see images of her kids and yes even grand kids and more interesting listen to music she chooses for her 'space', her colors and other images of her life let me know her just a little bit better.

Life is funny at how distant it keeps us from the ones we love and care about most. We are 'running' hard day to day week to week year to year. I am so glad to have the magic of the INTERNET to keep us together. The INTERNET does not write the emails or blogs but allows us to move them round we write them.

I rolled round the neighborhood this afternoon and got some images of what magic Spring is working in my world. I have also included a stray mut---it seemed fitting,

More Reunion Suff

OK once and for all the 2007 Family Reunion is going to beheld in Boise on Saturday, July 7^th. The place is yet to be announced—however, Julie Davis and the Veteran's Park are heavy contenders. I apologize for any confusion I may have caused—it was not malicious. Everyone is on their own regarding lodging and a menu for the Reunion meal has not been decided yet. There has been some discussion of catering over cooking and the effort it seems cooking is. Organized games seems of little interest as opposed to just visiting but lets us know and well figure something out. I will send this information out to the emails I have or use the family address on some Irene's emails. Seems to have everyone listed.

It's Conference weekend which means it is going to be chilly to cold but looks nice. I am pretty much healed from this week's monkey business. Now I just wish the temperature would would just warm up. Auni's over for the evening and she and the dog are running each other ragged.

I spoke to Shelly, James, Charles and Gabe and everyone is doing ok. I still need to visit with Mom and Mark A...it's looking good for a Saturday night.

Hunting in Vein

I have finally made it into office since the first day of this week. I finally made it into the office about 9:30 this morning. Dianne was not all that happy that I came in but what could I do.

Wednesday morning at my medical providers office they wanted me back in their clinic for a final blood pull and urine check. They said it would be best of this was done first thing Friday morning so that if anything “showed up” the doc could call me in before the weekend and get everything taken care of. I also welcomed the early appointment to have a reason to be up and showered and dressed and be ready for work.

Since the doctors office did not even open till 8:00 a.m, I slept in till 6:00 and got ready and out the door. The morning was cold and overcast but there was a promise of Spring. Of course my shoes fell off as I transferred from my power chair to my drivers seat—to be expected but frustrating. I had thought about stopping to fill up the van but I was still over a half a tank so I blew off the fill-up until later this weekending. I was a little spooked at having to drive, especially using the Interstate during “rush” but I handled the drive like a pro.

The Family practice on the Rim seems to me to be a high end medical delivery system. Nice parking, lots of designated parking spots with busy practices. You know their staff are herding consumers through like cattle but you get the impression these folks care. My doc part of a larger practice, in fact as I indicated in a earlier blog, I did not even see my primary care doc, but one of his partners. I was mildly astonished when this doc actually changed direction came totally across the officer to ask about me and to be sure I was being taken care of !

After I was checked in for ‘Lab’ work up I was assigned to the waiting area . A ‘holding pen’ for us ‘cattle’. My name was finally called and I motored up to the space where I had witnessed everyone go. There I was introduced to Lance, a young guy in deed of a shave who acted like he knew what he was doing-and I have always been complicated for the size easy access of my veins. Blood people love my veins and since they just pulled blood Tuesday night Wednesday morning and done so professionally my ‘wuss’ level were way down. But the lad just could not piece my protruding veins to save my life. Thank God, Debbie was standing next door and you could tell she was just going crazy with frustration seeing Lance botch each attempt. Debbie grabbed my hand and flipped it over saying the veins were gone for today and we’d try one on the back of my hand and effortlessly found the vein, tapped in and pulled out with no pain what so ever. It was beautiful to see her work.

I have been back at the office, back at my desk letting staff know my grueling time off and catching up their stories. I have returned calls, answered emails did sme end of the month routines. It’s good To be back.

I'm Fight to Come Back

I really thought I would be back in the office today. The doc gave a sleeping pill last night and I really thought after a full night's rest I would be ready to get back to the office. But not today. I was exhausted by the time I finished dressing. I am forcing myself to stay up all day just to build my endurance. Listening to the radio and trying to survive the dog. Tomorrow though, I hope get into the office and return phone calls at least. I have done a few emails from my home computer but most of the stuff can wait till Monday.

The City Never Sleeps Nor Do I

The city is so weird at 2:15 am. We had the streets to ourselves as we cruised to St Marks. My body had been racked with the worst spasms I have ever endured all night long. The spasms had been getting worse all week. I had missed work and I had missed blogging I was even surprised t find my blog updates had been missed as well. I was actually getting frightened as my body was being thrown all over our bed. Dianne agreed with me that it was time to do something about it.

I had been coughing earlier in the week—really nothing I thought was too bad but I was also all of the sudden too tired to get into work and this never happens. I thought I was exhausted after participating on a panel discussion at a local rich kid college. I was not. I has picked up something. And now what ever I had picked up was beating me up all over the bed. Literally. I felt I was in the middle of a Stephen King novel.

Dianne was great! She got me up and pulled on Grandmother Smith's red sweat pants, one of my Turn Em Loose fish tee shirts, a blue hoodie and my slip on shoes and then we were out the door in the morning snow storm which was five or six hours late getting to Salt lake. The snow flakes seemed as large as tennis balls but the flakes disappeared as soon as they hit the warm pavement, no accumulations regardless of what Fox News promised. Only a few cars were on the streets and I marveled at what houses in our neighborhood had their lights on at a quarter past two in the morning. Interesting these were all Old Guy houses. Sitting up I had no pain but I was exhausted for no sleep. When we got to the Emergency Room they took us, filled out the paper work and seemed somewhat friendly but not too. They asked questions, pulled blood and had me pee into a free catch bottle. They wanted to cath me. I was not ready for this after watching House last night. I have never been able to tolerated being catheterized and it did not want to be cathed this morning. They made a deal that if they could find what they wanted with the sample I provided they would not cath me. They did not catheterize me! After four mosterous hours they turned me loose indicating I had only half the platelets I needed ,a UTI and a promise I would see my primary care provider with in 24 hours. It was a little after 7:00 am and they did not give me any samples for the UTI and the pharmacy would not be oped till 9:00.

We crashed for a couple of hours and Dianne got me into to a doc by 10:30.we went straight to the doctor's office and they took ,me right in! The doc was not my usual doctor, who has a broken collar bone and was swamped. But this doc was great-talked to me and Dianne explained things were not as bad as I thought they were and that I was basically OK. We got a new more powerful scrip got it filled and I got some rest this after noon. I may even go into work tomorrow. Boy that was frighteningly close.

Just Coughing In

I don't know what I have got but I have what ever it is pretty bad. I have been basically down in bed since last Friday. No fever, not a lot of coughing but some but just feeling miserable. When I do get up I am dizzy and feel feint . I do not seem to be getting any better so today I am up trying to build my endurance of being “up”. I am going to try going into work tomorrow and see if I can make the work scene all day. Actually, it's not a bad time to be away from work, not a whole lot going on; I just hate missing work.

I am wondering if all the symptoms I have been have is actually allergies? To my knowledge I have never had allergies, least the kind one sees and hears about, itchy eyes, scratchy throat general mucus. But the trees are out in all their splendor and and I sure have all the symptoms. If this continues I will get myself checked out—then what ? Be afraid of the blooms for the rest of my day?

I Feel Sick....

I did not post yesterday because I was in bed ill. I had been up late the night before doing the panel discussion over at Westminster College and I felt pretty miserable then but by the time I was done with the panel at 9:00 and by the time I got home I was pretty wasted. Then yesterday morning I could not even get myself out of bed and had Dianne call in “sick” for me. I just laid in bed all day. Actually I was not as sick as I thought I was going to be. Dianne has been coughing round the house for the last week and half and I was spooked that I had finally caught the disease process she had. When I had a coughing fit at my office on Tuesday I knew I had something.

I do not feel so hot today but I have not had any debilitating fits of coughing as Dianne has had .I wonder if I was just exhausted after Tuesday’s 15 hours of being on the job. I just hate to think I have become that weak. I used to be able, to run on maximum for days and still not feel the worse for wear. And really I would have stayed in bed this morning but I felt I had better get into the office. The boss is leaving this morning for southern Utah and will be gone till Monday. Plus my partner, here at the office, called in sick I so it’s good I am here. I took off a while ago across the street for lunch. I went to Café Trang and got spicy beef and some chicken dish. I have a theory the more spicy you can get your food the better for you that the food is. I REALLY believe this to be he case when a person is feeling sick. So I sat there at my table burning up eating my spiced beef and chicken. I actually feel a little better now then I did earlier, a little more symptomatic but over all I am feeling better; just tired.

A could tell I could tell I was not feeling very well the other night at the panel discussion by the way I seemed to be lashing out. The people I on the panel with were/are idiots and kept saying idiotic things; I really tried to keep myself in check. I could not do it though—they would say something which was just plain stupid and I could keep myself from attacking. I know it was just the disease talking but I swear everyone looked at me like it was me talking. I am sure I am going to be sensing repercussions for sometime. I do have to admit the super-crip was OK. Sure he was a super-crip but he did not pretend to be anything else. Where as the Rasta man was so flim flam I could barely hold my gorge and the ARC representative was such a dimwit we almost got into a fight right there in front of people. Clearly I was not feeling well but I cannot hide be hind such an excuse. I should have been more professional we almost got into a fight right there in front of people. Clearly I was not feeling well but I cannot hide be hind such an excuse. I should have been more professional

Lost Treasures

I pass this small industrial park each morning evening as I go to or return home from work. I have written of the industrial park before when talking about the place where I often pick up glass and mirrors. I have watched, with interest, over the years the operation of a laundry. The laundry was pretty large taking up two of the office in the industrial park. I was intrigued by the place since it seemed to run either a very late night and early shift or they ran round the clock. The laundry always had their lights on and they were always venting steam from their buildings. A couple weeks I noticed the lights were out in the building as I past the building on my way to work. Then last Friday when I left the office early in the afternoon, there were huge tables racks sitting out in front of the laundry. I swerved off my homeward path to get a better look at these items and happened to run into one of the guy pulling items out of the laundry with a little tractor.

Sure enough, this place was no longer the laundry. They were not going out of business, as I feared, but moving to an even larger facility. The guy on the tractor saw me coveting the tables and racks told me I could have what ever I wanted.

Two huge folding tables which would no way ever fit in my garage or even the concrete space between my garage ad the fence. There were also two racks and nine foot table with metal legs. Of all the tables the table I most wanted was the table with steel legs which I would have to modify if I were going to be able to use the table effectively. I wanted all the stuff jus t because it was free! I probably got my lust for items free from my dad who would have my brother and I squander a perfectly good autumn afternoon dragging three quarters of a ton of free coal from a basement to the pick-up because it was free coal.

Yes the tables and rack are salvage items going to the trash unless someone carts the stuff off. Even if I could figure out as way to the items from the laundry to my house I don’t anywhere I could store the tables until we could clear such a space. Even if I were to get my table with steel legs; how long would it be until I could get someone over there with a torch or saw to cut the legs down to my size??? So painful as it has been I have left the “free” items be. Maybe someone else will take the items and be able to use them. I have almost learned the lesson: that even though a item might be “free” I might be money ahead if I just purchase the right item for the job intended or have someone with real skills build the item to MY needs.

To nights my panel discussion over at Westminster College, remember: easy duty, 7:00 to 9:00. The boss just stepped in and indicated she would try to get to the discussion. I think the panel will be fun. I wore a white turtle neck and I have been slaving all day to keep the garment clean and the shirt still is---just a few more hours. I’ll be wearing my black sports coat as a cloaking device.

Monday

I gotta catch my breath! This day has been massively busy and if I don’t start this posting started now I may no get anything done now. A crazy day though—the craziest part of the day was meeting for an hour and half with a lady who may need as much professional help as her grand son. Actually her grandson is doing OK—I think he is being used as tool for the daughter and the grandmother to wage “war” on one another. The grand son is being kept in group home and the grandmom is sure the whole operation is being run by organized crime.

The lady in my office is nice but local culture which colors everything does. Her daughter has sever depression, medically documented which may or may not have resulted from living with her mother. The mom has set limits on Grannie, which Grannie resents, and part of those limits is when and how Grannie can visit with the grandson in the group home.

These grannies and granddads really need to ban together, to unionize or something so they can enjoy their grandchildren. It seems like such slap in their face to in many cases raise the grandchild for a good portion of the kids life only to yank the kid or suspend the grandparents visitation when the grandparents get to uppidity with the grand child’s parent. These grandfolks really take this separation seriously and they should. I think it’s time legislation be considered to give grandparents more rights. It’ weird to me to have so many grandparents actually doing the hands on raising of children. The phenomenon could be a sign of the times. Many of these grandparents, if not all, are going to be babyboomers because that who are the becoming seniors and we boomers have always got our way; one way or the other.. If enough of us seniors start being denied grandchild visitation things will change.

I fear sadly, however, that the boomer generation may not be that concerned to organize for the sake of the grandchildren. I know Dianne would but I would only under much duress. I am not ready to raise another set of kids after finally getting my guys out on their own. I saw my parents do this and I never heard them once complain—at which I have always been amazed What I am wondering is if a person might need a psych evaluation to voluntarily consider such intervention. The longer I spoke with the kindly grandmother in my office this morning I ended up wondering why the daughter was so majorly depressed in the first place.

It was way passed lunch when I finally got the this women out of my office. I was tired and hungry and working hard not to be angry with his lady who just wanted to help her grand son. But I gave her the best referral I could think of. She had thanked me for spending the time with her and giving her some ideas which may help her with her quest. Sometimes that’s the best you can do.

More Mom

I spoke with my mom yesterday, who is now in Boise firmly entrenched a long term care facility. I am pleased to report that Mom is well and doing fine and seemingly enjoying her new environment. I have to admit I have been nervous all week since she flew out of Salt Lake last Monday. In fact Mom sounded great, perhaps a little tired since I called her last evening about 7:00 pm I am not sure how she really feels about being back in Boise but she had better make th most of this move because this is good as it gets, as laid out to her—not by me but by some one I respect greatly. This was something I could not have done.

She sounded safe and secure, more so then I have heard Mom sound in a great while. I had tried to caller earlier in the evening but just got the perpetual busy signal that happens when Mom is power calling. This was securing to me. Mom has her phone and knows how to use it. When I finally did get hold of the 95 year old, I heard her television going in background. This is also a good sign. If Mom has the set on—usually on public television all is well. I don't know but I hope she has cable, she loves the old channels: Turner Broadcasting especially where the movies are shown in black and white, almost commercial free. I understand these channels are also showing old series:Bonanza when Adam was still in the good grace of father Ben, or Dragnet where Joe asked for the fact and only the facts and a host of other 50's and 60's media content that lets these seniors know all is well.

I also found out that Mom actually ventured out of her room and started meeting the residents in her new little universe. She even played her harmonica for the crowd and the crowd loved her. This means Mon will soon be making the rounds visiting with the residents who cannot make it out of their rooms, welcoming the new comers and becoming the “best loved” resident at the facility.

So the family “hot spot” is cooling and the fam is getting back on course. We are little by little scheduling this summer's reunion, now the first week in July in hopes a sister can be there who would not have been able to make our initial date. Mom needs letters though; that's what she asked for when I asked what she needed. Letters from family not close by.

I know these images have nothing to do with todays post but they're images from last week's Trax rides. They are just glimpses of what I see day to day.

Beware The Machines

Happy St. Patty's Day—this most beautiful day we have had this year. It must be in the 70's today. I have not really done much but enjoy the day. I had to venture out into public this morning to fix my glasses I broke in the spokes of my wheelchair getting up this morning. I also had to my battery charger for my power wheelchair fixed too.

I have noticed for the past couple of weeks that my charger has been acting more and more unreliable. I charge my chair almost every night and each night I have found I must wiggle the plug which fits into my chair round till the charger turns on and charging begins. Last night I went through this process but this morning my battery was still nearly drained. The battery had not charged a bit during the night! Si I knew my first stop was Magic Rest. I knew they closed at one on Saturdays.

I was in luck because a teck took me right in, or my charger. The Teck did not take long to find the problem: the plug I mentioned earlier actually had a broken connection. When I would wiggle the cord when I plugged the chair in each night would make the connection long enough to charge the battery, usually all of the way or enough not to be issue. They are not sure if they can repair the problem but gave me a loaner chair to work with until they van get a better diagnosis on the box sometime Monday.

So, of course, I was using my van to get round today when I noticed the seat was acting up. The seat is a six point power chair. The seat moves forward and backward, up and down and it swivels The forward and back motion mechanism seems to need scrutiny. I was at Eye Glass World” when I noticed about 12:00 and called my mechanic just on the lark he might be at the shop. He was on his way out. I mentioned that I could be trapped in the van but he informed me he had been in all morning now he had a birthday part to get to. I graciously let him off the hook and he graciously said if I stilled assistance Monday to be sure and give him a call. Luckily I was able to get home and into my power wheelchair. The seat seemed to work fine once I got home—so I don't know what could be the problem but I am sensing all things mechanical are going for me right now. This happens from time to time. My right lower molar has been giving me threats the past couple of days. I continue to ignore the dull slabs of pain, not severe enough to move me to make an appointment with Drew Luke. The pain originates in an area I was supposed to have a tooth extracted a couple of years ago. Drew did a “fix” against his well, gave me the referral to the oral Surgeon and that was that. So now the ducks are coming home to squat.

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Yikes,Its Later then I Think

Yikes! I just realized my afternoon is filled with meeting and I am not going to have anything to post if I do not get my butt in gear and write. I was hoping I would have this afternoon but my boss poked her head into my office just before she left for the aiport for her long Portland weekend to ask if I would attend her 2:00 meeting over at the office of Inhuman Services. No problem, but attendance at this meeting seriously cuts into my afternoon.

The meeting is at 2:00 and since I am in my van today I will need to leave at 1:30 to be sure I am at the meeting in time to set up—you know have a great seat yet still have easy egress should I need it. One of my biggest beefs with public meetings is that people just jam in to these meeting room a and if you use any form of assistive technology for mobility your are effectively trapped. If you gotta take a leak, you have to do the “ Moses and the Red Sea” trick never mind if you have to testify or even see what is going on if people are standing in the room.

The office of Inhuman Services is housed in a building which has one of the worst feelings of any public building I have ever been in. I used to have to visit this building s lot when I worked for Independent Living: hearings, advisory boards and other committee meetings. I personally feel so many things have been perpetrated against people who are low-income or people with disabilities that the very karma of the building has been fouled. I have even considered doing some research on the site where the building is constructed to see if there was anything evil which happened on this ground or maybe a grave yard or something because something is definitely bad there. The folks who work there must know this because they pay to have an armed guard sit out by the front desk—granted the guard is usually ancient and if the need arose whether he would be ble to pull the trigger on his Glock would be in serious question. The place is completely locked down, surveillance equipment is everywhere and one cannot get to the bathrooms unless he is passed through Security first.

I do not anticipate any issues and I just plan to be a ‘fly on the wall” for my boss, take notes and maybe a few images and report back on Monday. The guy who is running the meeting is a jerk and tried to do an ‘end run’ with this meeting, hardly any lead time of notification and did not even publish the meeting time on this morning’s E-mail—took my boss off guard. They’re just slimes but what else is new.

The other meeting I am going to at 4:30 I found is a just a hearing and they’re even serving food kinda cheese and crackers; it’s better then nothing. I thought it was another meeting but no, just public hearing on their 5 year plan. I do not even have to testify.Sweet!

Day Light

Daylight time has been with me now since Sunday and I swear I am exhausted. I cannot say my lethargy is from the longer evenings but something has changed. I can barely keep my eyes open. I am not staying up any later or getting up any earlier either. It’s just light longer in the evening. When I leave in the morning the sky line is dark. I am sure in another week or so the morning will significantly brighten by the time I get to work. Now leaving work when I usually do: a few minutes after five, I feel like I am leaving in the middle of the afternoon. The best part is there is direct sunlight and that means a little heat and I get home before the sun sets.

The networks are still airing first run episodes, at least on the series Dianne and I watch which is weird to be watching in daylight. It’s warm enough that we can actually keep back door to the house open so the dog can come and leave at her will. I can see the neighbors beginning look over the fence into our yard to see if we are out there getting things cleaned up for summer. But as long as House, Bones, 24, Prison Break airs fresh programming looks like we will be social isolates. Should not be long now just a few more episodes left on each series and what is nice some I can watch later either with a repeat showing FOX has been doing with 24 ABC has been doing with a lot of their programming or better yet going directly to the networks websites and watching the missed episode at my leisure. Daylight savings will make a difference when television is done for the summer. Things I can do with more light in the evenings, work out in my wood shop, exercise the dog, read out on my deck, visit my neighbor(s). Spend time with children and grnd children, maybe ride my bike, maybe go swimming or just to the park, how about the summer concert series, go to the library, Barnes and Nobel maybe push my manual wheelchair( but I doubt it) take images with my digital camera. Not that I could not have done any of these things when there was not daylight time it just more probable these activities will get done given more light to do them in.

My dad used to actually count on the daylight savings paradigm to get real work done round the farm where I grew up. I can just remember my dad rushing home from work, milking the cows and then starting up the tractor and haying until after dark. Whether cutting, raking or throwing hay onto the rack it all goes better with daylight.

Home Again

There was just too much happening yesterday for me to write anything. I was

slammed. Today is Council and today looks to be very much the same. But I am starting the blog early enough I will get some moments throughout the day to get my 500 words in. Council Day is always hectic as staff run back and forth getting ready for them meeting. A lot of Council calls too, we will come out of the day with way more calls then we usually get. Coffee made, chairs set up, name tags laid out—looks like its going to be a meeting.

It’s already nearly lunch time and between council members coming into the office or, actually into my office and having a conversation and phone calls for staff or questions about the Council meeting I have not got anything productively done. I just let the cater in to set up today’s lunch and I’ll go into the transportation meeting after lunch. Lasagna, garlic bread, salad and fruit salad. This was actually a good lunch meat lasagna! Nothing I hate more then the smell of what promises to be a beautiful lasagna only to find out at serving that the lasagna is vegetable lasagna. I do not know why vegetable lasagna has this effect on me but VL does.

Good news bad new the good news is that Diane stopped at the pound yesterday morning and got the dog. The bad news is Dianne stopped at the pound and got the dog. We were fined $50.00 for the weekend. We figured we got off light in that a good kennel would have cost the same. We finished getting her tags though so now she is a legal ‘begal’ actually a Vizsla. She seemed little worse for the wear of being pounded with the common canines for the weekend. She did seem a little quieter when I got home. He funnel was gone and Ginger seems to be fully healed from her recent surgery. By the end of the evening, how ever, Ginger is back to being her old self welled pain in the butt, self. The weather has finally turned nice, really nice and I think I or someone else is just going to have to take the dog out and run her butt off.

The image I have posted for today is the sign at the top of the mini-high block used to access the train I use to get back and forth to work. It flat out says the ramps are for folks with disabilities only. It never ceases to amaze me when the train pulls up to a stop and there is a women with a buggy for triplets full of kids wanting to use the disability access point to gain access to the train. Some times the driver plays the tough guy and does not even open the door at which point the mom person either goes ballistic with rage or tears, either way. The guy with the disability is stuck in the middle again. We become the bad guys just for being there. Most of then times the driver just lets them on and does not say anything. Just like designated parking once established they are used by everyone except who they mere developed for.

Spring's Here but Dog Gone

Ginger is in the slam! She was busted at some time Friday afternoon while Dianne and I were at the movies. We had left Ginger in the back yard, the day was nice: spring like. There was no reason the dog should be locked up in the house while we are gone for who knows how long. We did not think anything of her being outside, actually as Dianne and I were traveling from the theater to my brother’s home (see yesterday’s blog) Dianne suggested that we maybe should check on the dog. I nixed the idea think Ginger would go crazy if we happened by the house. So, we traveled on over to my brother’s place. When we got home, later that evening, we had a notice from the city Animal Control that Ginger was in custody. It looked like she got popped about 4:00 pm. The document further indicated she was found wandering round our yard. The document listed a regular number plus an emergency number to contact the “Control” and collect your beast. Dianne of course called the number but we did not get an answer it being well after 5:00 p m. So, we are just waiting for Monday morning to roll along and see what we have to do next to get our beast back.

We are not sure what happened or how Ginger got out. Dianne found the side gate to the backyard and has speculated that maybe some of the neighbor children may have opened the gate to play with the dog and she escaped. I am not sure but that may have happened. I kinda of feel that the dog is smart and I have seen her trying to open the lever handled doors to the backyard. I can see Ginger doing the same thing with the gate to the backyard. I was visiting with Albert, my neighbor, and he sort of agrees with me with the dog letting her own self out theory. Regardless the dog is gone the house is quiet, the doors are open letting the great day in and the house odors of the winter and the dog out. Truthfully it has been a petty nice weekend with the pooch gone. Maybe we should ‘kennel’ her a couple weekends a month. Hum something to ponder.

I wonder what kind of dog we are going to get back. She will probably have kennel cough at least and who know what habits she has picked up while “inside”. You have to remember she still has the collar on to keep her from licking her incision. So, I am sure Ginger will be isolated by the ‘tough dogs’ in the slam for good reasons. She is so young the other dogs probably referred to her as the ‘pup’ and hopefully will show her the ropes at least till we can spring her tomorrow.

And Spring is here today. A beautiful day in the neighborhood; I talked to my neighbor. The day is cool but definitely Spring.

Last Supper

My mom is moving back to Boise on Monday, actually she already has moved. Her belongings what few she has left was driven out of town, this morning by my brother, Paul. Mom is flying out Monday morning. Until then mom is trying to sleep is an EZ Boy recliner and seems to be a bit of a challenge. One more night after tonight mom hang in there.
Paul flew up yesterday morning and rented the Uhaul—Carl and Paul an Mark A packed the truck. I figured there was not much for me to do and I had the afternoon off and we had planned to go to the movies—which we did. Half way through the move my cell began to sound but I did not hear the phone. I had four calls backed up when the movie was over. This was the summons to the last supper, the final meal with mom. I called and Dianne and drove over to Carl’s where everyone was talking and I guess waiting for us. We agreed to have dinner at the Chinese Buffet on 45^th and State. Amazingly this was a pretty good call. I would have to wager the Chinese Buffet is one of the best buffets in Salt Lake. The buffet had real choices of protein beyond chicken. I had prime rib an shrimp this a great meal. So this was it. We had visited and packed and now the final meal was complete. Actually, I had visited with mom on Friday and she wanted to go out with Dianne and me on Saturday but I was to understand this meal superseded the earlier invitation. I was just getting comfortable about leaving and spending some quality time with my brother who had agreed to spend the night at our home when mom asked in front of the whole family could she come over and visit for while. In the back of my mind I suspected this was coming. What was I going to say? No? , Dianne thought the house a mess and Carl said he would bring mom the long way. Paul volunteered to help “police up” the place a little. And that was that—we got home opened the doors to the house, lit candles and used fragrances and straightened the front room where we held “court”.

Carl dropped mom off a bout twenty minutes and sprinted for the door with the promise to return when mom called. We had a great discussion, visit last interlude. Ice water was offered and accepted. Mom was still stuffed from dinner. We talked a lot about the farm and experiences we all remembered: Tree houses and furnaces and pot belied stoves; cat’s legs amputated by the harsh mowing machine and a father which seemed to work way too much. What first seemed to be a panic filled evening turned out to be a nice piece of time, maybe one of the last pieces of time we will share together. Carl returned when summoned and we had a great visit with my little brother. Thanks again to Paul and all he has done with the relocation of mom.

Duty Lite

Every once in a while I am contacted by someone from the ‘community’, who does not know me and wants me to speak at an event of one kind or another. It’s that time again. I just got off the phone with Tim from one of the local private universities inn the city: used to be a good Presbyterian, wealth and wisdom college and now seems to have lost the religious component to just a school for the wealthy. Again, I am pretty easy I will just about speak anywhere especially if the event is work related and I can scam off some comp hours.

These speaking events are one of the perks of being a gimp as long as I have been. A person becomes an expert in their field just by default or being in the public focus long enough for the public to start believing their own judgment. I will be part of a panel made up of other folks with disabilities, one other I actually know, and one who is every ounce as strange as I. So doing a panel is doubly cool because I don’t have to do the whole show myself and I am usually skilled enough and have enough edge to have the other panel members generally support me in what I state. I have found out from the course instructor that this is a ‘general’ education class which means hundred of students and the class is set in one of the campus auditoriums.

So on this panel is a Rastafarian want to be, a former Para-Olympian, someone else and me. The Rasta want to be wears this great tam, he has honest to goodness blonde dreads can walk but uses a wheelchair for mobility. The Rasta has become a local disabled rights activist and is held in high regard by folks who don’t know any better, the jock is a para who found a way to play all the time and call it athletics and who knows what else. Perhaps the biggest difference in this job then other panels I have sat on is this panel is in a private institution. Tim actually indicated they were having an open house for the panelist before the class and would serve hot horde vies! Hot food…I hope they serve meat.

New Bio for Mark L. Smith

­Activist, actor, poet, writer, advocate, parent, and information specialist: Mark Smith. Mark smith has been on the Salt Lake scene since 1984. When Smith migrated to Salt Lake City from Blackfoot, Idaho when he had been employed as Disability Long Range Planner. In Salt Lake Smith was employed at the Utah independent Living Center where he toiled as their Community Resource Coordinator.

Mark became disabled in 1966 when he broke his neck and head in an auto motor cycle accident in his home town of Boise Idaho. Mark was 15 years of age at the time and the only thing which saved his life was the scene of his accident happened to be in front a fire station.

Mr. Smith currently works for the State of Utah as an Information Specialist, Utah’s only cross disability, cradle to grave, information and referral system. He is a home owner, husband, grandfather and aging baby boomer. His interests include, woodworking, cooking, reading, computing and searching the INTERNET. He and his wife, Dianne resides in U with their dog, Ginger. Mark’s favorite disability quote is Die bold’s, “Everyone has a right to risk”.

Cross Town Bus and Hearing Aids

What a beautiful day! My computer thermometer indicates that the temperature is currently 62 degrees. It feels like Spring . I had hoped that I would be in my office all day. I even trained into work only to find that I had a meeting over at Buffmire. I was fortunate enough to have the time to plan a bus trip across town for this lunch meeting. Of course once I got to the UTA web site the trip planner refused to work—I wasted twenty minutes of failed software before calling the Authority and speaking to a ‘scheduler’. She gave me a route which would get me to my meeting on time, but I would have to go three blocks out of my way. I knew there was a closer route but I did not have time to fight with her.

The meeting I have today is Assistive Technology Foundation. Another spin off of the think tank also know as UATP (Utah Assistive Technology Program.) The program is located up North in Logan at Utah /state University. I sit on the board of directors and essentially we meet to authorize loans and grants to people with disabilities trying acquire assistive technology. Dr Marilynn Hammond directs the project and I think she does a pretty good job. I refer one or two people a week to her program, usually, for assistance in getting help in modifying a van conversion or a car with hand controls, or for a specialty walker for a kid with CP. When I see the results of the quarter’s loans at these items I get kind of dismayed. What I a finding is that 90percent of the loans are going to old farts, like me, for hearing aids. Hearing aids are items which most insurance programs will not pay for. Why? I cannot tell you. The little suckers are expensive too over a $1000.0 a piece.

We became plagued with these requests for funding for the hearing aids over night it seemed. What happened is that one of the audio places which sell these items found out about the Fund and the rest as they say is history. What is really sad I cannot be too pissed off as of yet because the people with disabilities, who truly need this funding, do not come forward and apply for the funding. This fund will loan money for anything which can be justified as to being a form of assist technology. I mean I have used the program twice: once, for buying my hand bike and the second to purchase a major computer upgrade. So, I know the money is available. So I guess if the folks with disabilities are not smart enough to take advantage of this program then give it to the seniors, t really there should be a program which should help these people out with there hearing needs. I complained about this when I first noticed this trend but alas my complaints fell on deaf ears. Seriously this program is a great program that really tries to work with the person with a disability who can carry a loan.