Soup and Sandwich at Gormandese

 

I can't believe how much I enjoy public service. I know that sounds very Pollyanna-ish but I finally accepted that I might have some altruistic leanings. It's a kind of hate to admit that but some things you just have to own up to. This morning for example I was out of bed by 6 AM actually excited because I have something to do in somewhere to go even if the weather was less than ideal. Fortunately, there was no snow flying or rain falling just cold temperatures quite cold for spring – – as far as I'm concerned. I was going to actually try to leave early so I don't feel quite so pressured. I seem to do that to myself, I'm not sure why but it's pretty consistent. Today was no different even though I tried to leave a cycle earlier things just work against the today I dropped my transit ID out of its case took forever to pick it up making me miss my bus connection by 30 seconds or maybe 50 but still I could've should've made that time cycle. I had to kill 30 minutes so I crossed the street to Dee's restaurant sidled up to the counter and drank coffee like a detective and the cheap novel it would've been perfect if you could still smoke in restaurants.

I was the only board member who was able to make today's meeting which was okay with me. We did a fast meeting process 10 or 12 applications for service and soon I was on my way. I thought about traversing over to the taco time again that I did last week but I felt now that would not be right, way too much calories. I don't know what drove me northward but soon I was all the way to the second South area. And also not realized I was at one of my favorite restaurants Gourmandise A great little Parisian restaurant. It's almost a little too elitist for my taste but today I felt like treating myself. I was a bit surprised on entering they've changed the insides of a little bit seems like they've put in the tables and chairs possibly something to do with the pandemic. There were fewer people inside the my anticipated specially for it being exactly 12 o'clock lunch time. I ended up seating myself and finally had to fly down someone to take my order. I wish I could say something weird happened or maybe I'm just thankful that nothing weird happened. I ordered a lunch combo which is half a sandwich and a couple soup and I also ordered kettle chips. I was discussed in I wore my heavy hoody today– – I kept warm. Still made an insightful bib with my sloppy eating but I didn't care. I spent way too much today for lunch $16 when you include tip. But I'm okay supposedly I have my stimulus check coming one of these first days and will deduct this lunch from that and be thankful for my decadence…

Remembering Lawrence

 

One of the best things about kids is that often they think you're more than you really are. I know that's weird to say but it's true. I have two daughters one by birth one by marriage and they're both great and always amazed when they ask me questions like I might have the great answer or something like I have wisdom. What a sad thing for them to believe. Anyway, the other night one of them was texting me regarding some poetry. She shared a bit of poetry with me and I shared back a little bit of one of my favorite poets. I really don't have favorite poets all of them are great I hate to prefer one over another It's like being asked to evaluate one kid over another you love them both. But when she asked me last night who I liked I answered Lawrence Ferlinghetti the beat poet from the early days. When I answered B it was just like shooting from the hip. I knew I liked this guy, I've always liked this guy. This of course got me thinking 1. Why do I like this guy and 2. How the hell do I find this guy?

Like I said I'm not sure when I fell in love with Ferlinghetti. I can't imagine that I have a class in one of my English classes at University but it is a possibility. I love the fact that this cat was cool back in the 50s especially in the San Francisco region. There was a time when I thought SF was the coolest place on earth. I still do to a certain degree but like so many other things times have changed and the Frisco of the day is totally morphed away from what it was in the 60s. Ferlinghetti was cool. I liked his poetry one of my favorite pieces is from the volume Coney Island of the Mind Appoint a little treasure to carry around in your backpack the pullout at the end of day. It's certainly not Walden's Pond But the Coney is perfect in its own way. My favorite piece in Coney Island of the Mind A poem Which reflects My current thinking about the country right now. I was even blown away more so when she texted me that she found the volume on Amazon and had ordered it in. I'm totally excited for her. Like I said Ferlinghetti is no Frost, Poe or Coleridge but probably might be in 100 years. I genuinely think I like poetry. I like to write poetry when I get in the mood. The mood hasn't been around for a while and maybe has taken the last train to the coast with the other three guys. I wish I had the patience and may be the The skill to read poetry. I can never read the poetry like I think the writer wrote it. I like to find recorded versions of professional actors who read famous poets. They know so well how to read these guys were to break, what to emphasize when to stop when to breathe. Once I hear how the piece is supposed to be read then I can practice and maybe do as good a job. After all this time I'm still a novice when it comes to reading poetry. Perhaps, if we ever get over this Covid thing I should take a course/audit a course at the community college a down the street Street. I'm not sure how I would cope with that but it might be worth a shot.

Sunday Lunch

 

I know I've said it before but am always amazed at how quickly a day can change. When I went to bed I was thinking of putting together some kind of omelete for this morning. I've got a bunch of eggs I need to use and what a better use than a Sunday omelette? However, I fiddled around doing this in doing that would soon I was pretty much past the breakfast time. I made by special drink, he enough coffee, and had a banana and I was set. Like I said I did some piddling around a couple of crypta quotes and some time cleaning up the kitchen from yesterday's roast. Speaking of roast I was thinking of how is going to prepare my roast beef dinner for today. Dianne had a great idea of adding a can of roast beef gravy to lubricate the whole thing up a little bit and have it over rice or something or with mashed potatoes which all sounded pretty good. I just turned on my computer was about ready to start some dictation when I got a notification of a text coming in and I was pleased to see it was my son Mark Anthony. It was a little after It was about 12:30 PM Mark was common in the cityand wanted to know if I was interested in doing lunch. What a change in the direction of my day. Snow had fallen during the night and even though the clouds seem to be breaking up the temperature was still pretty brisk but lunch/breakfast sounded like a great idea for a Sunday afternoon with my son.

This is relatively new behavior going up to Sunday lunch. I don't know how often I will get such an opportunity so I jumped on invitation. We made plans to meet up at Dee's restaurant, One of two establishments at the end of my block easy access for me. How the weathermen better or at least one I would've considered other locations but this would do. I was also pleased that there wouldn't be a lot of waiting time. When he called he was on his way into the city and he could reach me in about 30 minutes which is just fine with me. I buttoned up the computer swept up little bit around the kitchen, appropriate had headed out to Dee's.

I was surprised it was way past the morning rush but the place was still fairly packed when I got to Dee's. I had to have a booth which is a little bit difficult to do in the chair but I was surprised how well it worked out. Mark join me not too long after I had been seated. I had coffee ordered already which pleased him greatly and we had a great breakfast/lunch. I ordered chicken fried steak which is probably way more calories than I needed but everything else was so much more calorie speaking. It was kind of fun just sitting there drinking coffee, watching the dark clouds ramble around the Wasatch front and threaten the restaurant going public. Maybe it was the public outspending their newly acquired stimulus money or maybe it was the public out enjoying being totally inoculated (those that are ) be an out in a public is trying to open up which is probably too soon.We talked and drank coffee and later Mark retrieved his new scooter from the trunk of his vehicle we rolled down to my apartment and talks more than he helped me out with some things that needed done. Specifically pulling a dead envelope out of my printer and talking art… Totally different than our thought my Sunday would turn out…

The Roast

 

 

My house smells splendid I'm at the end of a 4 ½ hour cooking session of roast beef in the bag. This is that infamous roast I purchased five or six days ago in the “throw away” meat section that I was frightened I was going to lose before I had a chance to process the protein. Remember, I purchased the London broil the same day and I ended up cooking the broil the second day slices up it's been quite perfect to have around for snacking in such. I was a little bit more concerned about the roast however it was a big guy or is a big guy3.7 pounds would seem like it was huge when I got it. The meat had languished for some time in the been, when I picked it up, it loss that brilliant red color that fresh meats have but that's okay. I have found that aged meat is somewhat better at least I like it or don't have a problem with meat that's a little bit dark. There's a good passage in Shogun ,The novel Of aEnglish man Lost in Japan in the feudal times. There's a piece in the novel where an individual dies because he takes a game bird down that the character was lettingCure or basically rot before he cooked it. So I justify purchasing discolored meet by just referencing the pieces cured and ready to cook.

I thought about taking the easy way out and throwing the meat into one of my crockpots but the one crockpots that I know would be large enough to handle the cut is up on my shelf that I don't dare try to bring down with a hook. The other crackpot is just way too small especially if I wanted to have any vegetables with the meat – – which I do.

I started the process rather late this afternoon around 2:30 PM. I had made a very good breakfast and I was still enjoying the bacon and eggs and English muffin. I purchased a pound of thick bacon a few weeks ago and fried the bacon up this morning it was perfect. I will have ingredients for omelettes the rest of the week I'm pretty lucky. It's a rainy day today even snowflakes intermingled with some of the falling rain. No reason to leave the apartment except to check my mail. So it's been a good day to cook. I still saw myself not really wanting to dive in and put the roast on but I ended up calling Dianne, who encouraged me to put the dinner on which I did. It took a lot of work, well not necessarily a lot of work but just focus on the work at hand to cut the meat from the plastic packaging and put it in the plastic cooking bag with the flour, carrots, potatoes and of course savory onions. That was four hours ago I think it's about ready now at least it smells that way. I noticed on the sharing On the shelf this morning there were some interesting rolls that might be Just perfect To make this roast a meal.

I know this is a pretty lame posting but when it's a cloudy rainy day outside its hard to find anything more exciting to write about them cooking 3 pound roast I wish you could smell it it's delightful…

Happy Friday Evening

 

My 80+ something neighbor, Billie lost her younger brother yesterday or possibly the day before. To me it was kind of a bizarre situation he came down with a number of weird ailments the last month and then died. I don't think it had anything to do with Covid 19 or the fact that this all took place in Wyoming and that's not the issue. The issue is Billie is in that odd predicament folks get in soon becoming the last surviving member of the “old” family. That family made up of brothers and sisters usually sometimes cousins and other extended family members but were all contemporaries and naturally as things age everything ages out and families do too. Billie is quite upset not super upset. She didn't choose to see him in the latter days of his life to the one severe winter storm curtailing much travel in that region. However, Billie is going to the funeral and a couple of days, she'll be flying I think with a younger family member.

As you, the committed reader know, my family – – even though we are adopted one where the other – – have only lost one family member thus far, the oldest Floyd. I have four siblings older than me and I'm 70 years old so their way old. I have a number of younger members as well in any one of us can kick off at any time that's true but it makes sense the oldest will go first. I don't know how much I believe that's going to happen but I sense it could be happening soon. I don't even know how things will go. At this point I don't even think I'm going to have a funeral. However I must admit that I least I'm begin to talk about the event of my passing rest before I was so adamant against the idea of passing on I refuse to talk about it. I didn't even want to do a DNR and quite frankly I still don't but I need to as far as cut and expenses as everything is about money, really in the end. As usual Dianne has been doing a lot of research in this area has found a unique method of cremation not by fire but by some kind of natural phenomenon I'm sure is all kinds of chemicals involved but they're kind to the earth chemicals and a lot less expensive than the current ripoff system. I need to find out more about this system – – later than sooner. I don't think I'm going to have a funeral of any kind is the kindest thing I can do for my family seriously I mean what's the point? Specially in this day and age when travel still somewhat hindered as is the pandemic though it seems like were given on top of the pandemic finally. I think a lot of people have done some reevaluation however and have figured out what's important and not so important. The living are important but better just husks in the wind did I just murder a metaphor oh well… Sue me.

My Meat-O-Rama

 

I don't know for sure what I'm going through right now with some kind of protein crisis or meat crisis. Maybe it started the other day with my trip to my assistant meeting and I stopped off at the Taco Time on the way home got a “meat stick” a.k.a. deep-fried meat burrito. Anyway, earlier this month when I was shopping one evening I bought two different kinds of hotdog/wieners and also some high-end hotdog buns. I have managed to open the wieners and it had one complete hotdog with mustard and ketchup so far. The package now sits in the refrigerator challenging me and vexing me at the same time to finish them. Mind you I also have a package of smoked turkey slices I got yesterday with the protein binge. 2 pounds worth sliced turkey that's a lot of meat! I don't know what I was thinking more like I was hungry or anything I just kept thinking “a stimulus check is on its way I can more than a for this”. Now I'm having to figure out will do with the pound and three quarters of smoked turkey slices – – obviously I had turkey slices last night for dinner – – I can only eat so much smoked turkey in one sitting. In the coup de grace is that as I was wondering around the meat section at the Super Smith on 80^th South (remember yesterday was my visit to the podiatrist which is that 8822 South Redwood Rd. just down the street from the super Smiths) in the “throw away” meat section or “reduced for quick sale” there was a beautiful little London broil as well as a huge roast! They were both at half-price one for six dollars one for $13 dollars I bought them both. I really do anything like this especially other market so far away from my apartment. But since I was purchasing a dishwashing pan I had something to carry my protein with I just went for it.

Now not only do I have open hotdogs in the fridge as well as open sliced smoked turkey I have a pound and a half of London broil and a 3 pound roast all of which need serious attention on going to lose them I have to make some decisions. This morning (I'm always much more courageous in the mornings I think it's a sleep thing) I decided I would look up the recipe for stovetop London broil and just do it and I did. I actually followed directions rubbed the meet with soft butter both sides, shake pepper and I used garlic salt, I did not have any dried mustard which the recipe called for but that's okay, I cooked the London broil three minutes on each side. I know that sounds easy but for me leaving that meat on that cast-iron's skillet and not manically flipping the meat over was a real challenge but I did it three minutes and flip three minutes more. The outside of the steak was getting a bit charred but that's okay gives the piece character. Inside the meat was pink and kind of bleeding some places but I removed the meat from the pan to the cutting board to rest and fawned over my piece of meat and grabbed my largest rocker knife sliced up the whole steak doing quality-control tasting along the way.

So at least now the London broil will not go to waste regardless. I'll go ahead and bag the steak slices and eat them over the next day or so. I'm thinking I'm going to take a couple hot dogs out put them in a plastic bag and the same with the turkey slices and commit the rest of the deep freeze for another point in time. That leaves of course one giant roast which I'm committed to roasting tomorrow. I could've done it today but didn't want to push my luck. With the meat roasted I can cut the roast and half the now freeze the rest. Just as a side note as much as I hate to think about doing it going to do a cleansing or partial cleansing of my freezer. Go to get rid of things I've gotten from the food bank though I thought I would eat but I've never going to do so I know that replace that with items like this roast in Turkey which I know I will eat in time that's what freezers are for right?…

Dr. Richard--Podiatrist

 

My major event today was my trip to the podiatrist. I have a schedule set up now I visit this guy every nine weeks, rain or shine, I jump the bus itself on Redwood Road to the south Jordan transit hub and then take another bus a few more blocks to the office. What a sweet deal for the podiatrist. They must make a fortune off of seniors whose toes always seem to be needing attention in one form or another. I've been going to Richard (my podiatrist) for about four years now as long as I've been out on my own again. In that time I found that there are one or two podiatrists who come to this building once or twice a year it seems like it could be more about don't think so and does the old people's toes here. I don't think it's humanitarian sure they're all linked into Medicare medical of one sort or another and that's okay I don't begrudge them. Had I known of these visits I may not of never met Richard but I've really grown to like the little guy.

I don't think I gave podiatrists the respect they deserve. I sort of, sadly, equated these guys the same way as I do dentists. These professions are real professions of their own right but should we really call them doctors? Now that I've gotten to know my dimmest personally as I do in the same way with my podiatrist I say yes. Especially, my podiatrist who outlined for me once the whole process of having to go through medical school just like “real” doctors. He had to go through the same process interning and doing a residency. Interestingly as a side note when I was in the dental chair last week I overheard my dentist complain about how disappointed he had been his life as a professional at always having to clarify that he was a doctor of dentistry whenever a reduced is just Dr. Alan. He noted that the only saw a shadow, it seemed, to cross the eyes of the people he's talking to when he identifies himself as a dentist. I could tell that really hurt his feelings. I mean I've often thought while the given the dental school are not just go to medical school? Take the same amount of time in the same classes pretty much. But people maybe people just want to be dentists because the whole dental thing intrigues them to the level of wanting to help humanity from the oral standpoint. In the same holds true with podiatrists. I think there's three brothers and my podiatrists family. Richard has a son just finishing podiatry school will soon be practicing probably with his dad which is great!

Now I know Richard is local culture (LDS) it's obvious but somehow today we begin talking about religious experiences, and I've certainly had my share, it got really strange really quickly and soon we were speaking of casting out demons or demonic possession and experiences we both had (and the market go any further than that right now). Now the LDS faith has a number of different levels just like every faith has some more spiritual than others some more mystic than others and some more charismatic than others. We just briefly scratched the surface but until we both knew what we are both talking about and I don't know if we'll ever get any further than that. Richard of course is a high priest and I of course I'm nonpracticing if not totally out – – if one can ever get totally out of a cult. Did I just say that? Oh well, I better get another cup of coffee and think about it…

My Guilty Pleasure

 

I cannot believe how easily satisfied that I am when the item I want falls into my like today. I have to admit the day wasn't necessarily pristine as far as warm but the day was not bad either and far from the day of stormy windy weather that the weather forecasters kind of predicted. For the most part the sun shone on me today as I wandered about my duties. I was just excited to be out on the system after screwing off yesterday completely. After being late last Assist, Inc. meeting I was late to I just wanted to be there at the proper time so I figured I would leave much earlier than before.

I actually got to my Assist meeting with about 25 minutes to spare. I even stopped at the pastry shop next door and grabbed some coffee. Mind you this was even after I had grabbed a breakfast cheese, sausage and biscuit clone from Wendy'sand halfway through my delicious breakfast realizing I had not taken my morning medications and I'd left without grabbing my favorite sign off-pen. I actually went back home got the meds in the pen returned and still got downtown to the coffee shop and to the office of time to burn. I was really excited what can I say?

For that, got the office I had figured the day would be warmer but I felt rather chilly for as warm as it was supposed to be. I was a bit early and spent time gabbing with the staff as my partner Caroline finally to the office and we could begin our meeting at 11 AM. It's always amazing how grand warmth feels when you're freezing some like food when you're hungry and water when you're thirsty. The meeting was okay. We are still getting to know each other is a group or committee and this is particularly true with the leader of the group, Andreas. I'm forcing myself really hard to see them as his own person and not as Dave's replacement. Andrea's continues to learn the role and feels like he's making mistakes – – at least I feel that he is because I tend to compare them to what Dave did but then again Dave did it for almost 40 years. I wasn't totally excited with white David things. Still it's hard not to compare and I force myself to be nonbiased. The meeting went okay I don't really totally understand Andreasen system but as long as they're happy I'm happy. As always as a volunteer on the board my job is to show up and make the operation look good, or at least to try.

I stayed for about 10 minutes after the meeting closed again gabbing with staff and my fellow volunteer but as soon as I could I took my leave and headed out. I've been thinking about this moment for about two days. I was going to go over for five blocks head over to Taco Time one of my favorite places on earth and where I really should my guilty pleasures. Today was that day. I knew exactly what I wanted so when time came that I was in front of the order counter ordering the fried meat breed it was easy or as I call them the “meat stick”. You must remember that I had a fat bomb for breakfast so ordering the meat stick was a little dis—serving. Too fat bombs Monday do I dare? I dare. I even dared to order the Mexi-tots. I was in heaven. It's just the little things that can make me happy. I scarfed everything down not necessarily quickly but it was time to get back to the apartment to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. I justified my lunch reward for my service to the community and folks who need these desperately needed housing services and maybe even a little guilty pleasure or to

Dream People

 

Don't you just want sometimes sit down and get to know those people in your dreams? I mean really who are the dream people? I about this a lot usually right after waking when many of those images are still fresh in my mind, before they begin to fade, loose substance, and eventually disappear except for an occasional hiccup during the day when you might for an instant return to a dream you had the night before but very seldom do you actually see the dream person.

Wonder if dreams are the ultimate alternate universe. Whole universes each of us make every night when our heads hit the pillow and hopefully come to consciousness on some distant shore of “reality”. Clearly I'm not the first one to of considered such options all the great writers have most famously Shakespeare as well as Poe . They all wrote about their dreams as was the great shrinks of our culture around the turn of the 20^th century. They be are totally believed the phenomenon of dreams populated with dream people but they certainly figured something was there and Mr. Shakespeare certainly wrote about it more than most. I really like the movie Inception . Inception Was all about dreaming of what goes on inside dreams and trying to control that energy but it really wasn't about the people The movie was about a concept and the protagonist surviving were goes on inside the dreams. I'm interested in the people who populate these dreams. If remember the Matrix It wasn't necessarily a dreamThese guys are at a whole universe and all the little pod folk those amoeba like people in the capsules were all dreaming's but still not the same as I'm laboring to establish.

Of course I really like the clause I supernatural things that are easy to bring about in the dream whether it's flying or in my case actually walking, having a handgrip can be able poop by myself. But still, this is not the people that I talked to our become involved with in the dream state and they all just poof vanish when I wake. I wonder what they think when all of a sudden they're talking to me and also number longer there in the dream world. I wonder if the dream world goes on after I leave. I would sure like to think so. So many times the dream worlds like alternate universes they're very similar to what's going on in the real world but not exactly the same usually this so different that, maybe not at first but at some point you realize you're in a dream and not conscious reality. I really liked the concept from Inception Participants in the dream segments all have a little thing in their pocket stick in touch to let them know that there inside a dream and can exit should they need to. Sometimes I think that would be great in real life if life were but a dream-Merrily merrily merrily life is but a !…

Sunday Frustration

 

I hate it! I just hate it! I know passwords are important actually the probably vital but I still hate them there my bane and scourge to my life. I live in dread of power surges or whatever else happens that suddenly wipes clean your password identities. Case in point today of course. I have actually been pretty focused on picking up the apartment trying to mop some of the crowd off the floor in front of the refrigerator following container of cottage cheese slipped out of my hand and exploded on the floor throwing its white scuddy slime all over the floor. This was last night just before bedtime.I should about responsibleand taking the time to mop up the messbut I was exhausted and wanted to get the sack. So I tore a couple of paper towels and threw them on the floor and tapped the paper towels down with one of my hooks hoping they would absorb the fluid. That's a whole other story.

I really wanted to get to my blog early today so I could maybe focus on a few other things but something happened somewhere and when I tried to access the Internet where I keep one of my electoral journals I was denied access I was totally blocked from getting on electronic highway. This is happened before and in the be four times Dianne wrestled down the solution or as able to get a hold of Mark Anthony, my semi-quasi-resident computer expert to come in get me back online. None of those options seem to be available today so, I researched on my cell phone, possible solution which is turning the CPU on and off at the modem level and I just must confess this terrifies me. I just barely know what the modem is not sure even now. But since I did have access to the Internet via my cell phone I checked just to see what would happen and I searched my provider and sure enough they actually had a video of a possible solution. And again just as the notes from the computer instigated that I turned the modem on and off by unplugging the modem from the power source. I tried and tried to pull the modem out with one of my hooks. I could see the modem and legacy of plug-in on the modem and that plug could be pulled out and plugged in our problems would be solved. In frustration I knew I was going to have to see if I could find an able-bodied person with the hand function to do my bidding is that when Iwithout into the hall I saw my neighbor in the parking lot struggling to get groceries from the boot of her car into the building. I usually see her drive into the parking lot and go out and help but I did not see her coming today. So I did go out and help and drafted her into my solution plan and it worked.

Back online I tried to get into my Amazon account and for whatever reason my password was fried it wouldn't work. Rather than try to guess that the last password I used I just submitted the (forgot password) selection and spent the next hour trying to produce a password the machine would accept finally doing so only with the use of my cell phone taking a picture of the password I produced then being able to reproduce that password again in the confirmation section and finally I was back into my Amazon account. So much frustration. I immediately canceled the call I had to my son for help. I was able to download the movie I want to watch this afternoon and maybe have time to watch this evening as I get ready to start a new week. I just don't need this kind of frustration but as the great Bard said “all's well that ends well oh hell!”

Saturday Nightcap blah

I'm not sure what's going on right now but I seem to be a plateau. It could be a transition phase as we go from winter to spring. In fact this evening is the spring ahead phase of daylight savings time. I'm really ambivalent about the whole event except for that fact I'm going to have to mess with all the clocks in the house but have to be changed now. I have a digital clock by my bed, there is one on my computerspace CPU, this clock is a Deseret industries digital clock which cost a dollar. By about five of a couple years ago just let always have one.then there are other clocks in the kitchen when on the stove to just be reset, and microwave clock. I'm getting more and more proficient at setting these clocks so the process does not intimidate me nearly as much as it used to plus I have all the directions to the smart clocks close by. So I spring ahead today at 2 AM. This always confuses me I try to figure out that men go to have more daylight at the end of the day are just exactly what. I just end up having to live through the day to see how it's going to work out. Usually by Monday him acclimated and begin as we begin the second year of lockdown released pandemic awareness time distancing the matters near as much as it used to.

I did my recreational jaunt up to the market this afternoon. I have pretty much wasted the day watching old Marvel movies – – and they are old now – – I could not get motivated to do anything else quite frankly I'm surprised I dreamt last down to the market. I only went for bananas I only have one banana left so I figure that would be a fast run but I got sidetracked and other events. I even purchased a half a pound of brisket – – which I never do is to fatty but I got some today. And besides bananas I got expensive hotdog buns and a loaf of bread. I'm sure want to go to use two of the hotdog buns and probably four pieces of bread before it goes bad. I even got potato chips which I need like a hole in the head. I replenished by grape supply – – this time I went with green grapes – – more cottage cheese is some incidental vegetables like green pepper. It was kind of strange because none of the usual checkers were working today which kind of bummed me out. I really like seeing the regular crew. It gives me some form regularity but were all off tonight I felt cheated.

I was kind of surprised at how chilly the ride home was from the market. I was vexed as I waited for the light to cross the intersection. Seemed to take forever before changed my favor. People are beginning to brave the restaurants, markets and bars I guess. Enough people of been immunized that folks are beginning to let their guard down and get back in the public. The lights at the local restaurants seem to be shining brighter this evening as I came home. It seemed that people really were out and about trying to enjoy the evening. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best make sure I've got my mask at the ready

Governor's Committee For People With Disabilities (?)

 

Wow it's not like it was a super busy day it was not just that so many things are happening right now, having a difficult time wrapping my mind around some of them. Remember, the meeting I sat in on yesterday? The Gov.'s Council actually it was the Governor's Committee for something I cannot recall exactly what but at one time it was the Governor's Committee for the Employment of People With Disabilities. That particular name came about after some earlier names which were quite in today's enlightenment almost derogatory to folks with disabilities and the whole employment system. In the previous days I've been on such committees one and Idaho for the city of Blackfoot. On the grassroots levels these committees were called the Mayor's Committees for the Employment of People With Disabilities. I attended the monthly meetings which was usually set at a restaurant with different employers with the idea that we were getting folks with disabilities who are looking for work in front of those folks who could hire them. I was a long-range planner for Sheltered workcenter which used to be called workshops but fill out a parlance for the same reason handicapped was changed to “people with disabilities”. In Blackfoot there was great to have the company by my lunch in the think about a lot of lunches for various employers of the community but I never saw a lot of people get hired anywhere. I was a little disillusioned but it was part of the job and I liked sitting next to other folks from the private nonprofit and government sectors were my friends and buddies. We all got together, ate lunch listened to a speaker and went back to our office and I was always sure to include my attendance at these functions of my monthly report – – very important.

I sort of felt like Rip van Winkle waking up, or Capt. America been thought out from the ice when I realized this “governors council” was actually the state level of the employment program are on this level called the Governor's Committee for the Employment People With Disabilities. I actually worked with an organization that kind of didn't support this operation here in Salt Lake or Utah. We may have had a person on the Committee just because it was expected but it wasn't me. There is some opposition on a national level because there are some thought about using people with disabilities as a token. We've come a long ways in a lot of situations of disability political correctness and everything else the last bunch of years and unlike think things are different but I certainly got a lot of the same feeling at the zoom meeting I was part of. Luckily, the camera on my flatscreen and fallen off and no one can see my face which I'm sure would've given away my feeling had anyone been watching when I was donned by the revelation of the meeting I was participating in. I'm now having to sift through my feelings and adjudicate whether oh will be part of this group especially after having this minor presentation at the end of the meeting about how much I enjoyed being part of a meeting again. People laughed people felt sure I was being truthful (and I was) but the same time have we come very far at all? I have to figure this out. Luckily, right now I'm just a visitor I have no power, I do not vote on the board/committee and that sort of a early dating situation. We just have to make sure it's the right fit are no feeling all. Seriously, I just need to be patient the right chance to serve well come along . Until then I got the blog, Covid shot number two and a whole spring and summer to look forward too and let me remind you when I started this blog there are number of things going on that's trying to wrap my mind around this with just one maybe I'll get the others later on in the weekend but until then happy Friday at the weekend…

Dental Fun

Are you pretty much it was going to be a good day when I woke there is daylight in the room! Very rarely do I wake up and there's like in the room from the outside. There is no sunshine course it's a cloudy day with even possibilities the snow which only makes sense because I'm going to have to be out in the elements for a little bit rolling over to the doctor's office/dental office for the work done on my teeth scheduled for today at 10 AM. It was 7 AM and I was astounded but I still had way more than enough time to get up and get ready to make the role across the street.

I must confess I was pretty excited. It was going to be a N2O nitrous oxide day. What used to be a white knuckle morning filled with fear and anxiety is now one of almost giddy expectation of putting on what I call the “clown nose” and huffing my way to an exaggerated bliss level while the dentist and staff go to work from my mouth. This is truly bizarre behavior for anyone who knows who I am in the fear that I've carried for this profession for the majority of my 70 years but not anymore I'm like born-again. I pretty much just piddle around the apartment since I didn't want to get into anything significant before going across the street. I checked the mail visited with department manager about my neighbors one particular use leaving the property. Then back to the apartment to wait. Now didn't have any breakfast are even any coffee because I didn't want to have the dentist exposed to “coffee breath” a brush my teeth again as well as washed out the mouth with blue-green mouthwash and to be sure and to be sure catheterized one more time push down as much liquid as possible so I never have to relive having to have my dentist assisting catheterization climbing the dental chair. I'm still getting over that and I really appreciate his willingness to give me a hand ;-) that didn't come out right. I got at least two messages and one recorded phone call that emphasized not to show up at the office before five minutes of your scheduled appointment. I did okay do the right time. I think I can gotten better 20 minutes early and they would've made room for me. I really lucky because they like me a lot.

It was like old home week my rolled him I felt like a brother coming home from war and everybody stops what they're doing to say hi you know what probably more like Norm from the cheers gang every time he would come into the bar. That's how it feels when I roll into the dentist office in a secret side door that only staff gets to use. The always do me in chair number two . There are three chairs in this little office and they squeeze me in between chair to chair three. After spending enough time with social etiquette of letting everyone know that I'm well and doing fine and catching up since the last visit I invert my chair and Cindy puts on my “clown nose” turns on the nitrous- oxide and I start huffing my brains out and trying not to act stupid or inappropriate. The only time I even came close was when I asked Cindy to take a top-down to have a selfie with me and it took her a second to realize I was talking about her mask. That got a good laugh and for a short while I felt at home in almost enjoyed anesthetic needles and drilling on my face…

602 S. Latah

 

This is the closest any objective findings the green shade house on Latah of course this is only a portion and this is the middle family

I've talked about my early morning revelation/inspiration where thoughts sometimes tumbled into my mind and I can't really get rid of them at the moment however they tend to fade as I gain more consciousness in the day erases the ideas even further, nothing but a frustration in my chest that wanted to be born but because my inactivity was not. If I sacrifice the possibility of further sleep rolling over and accessing my cell phone , my equivalent of a notepad and paper by my bed, and dictating if you comments I can develop these thoughts into beautiful/pristine documents. Obviously that never happens is you have yet to find those kind of documents. I have done this before though and at least allows me to develop these ideas. The trade-off in doing so however is that when I do such a thing invariably I become too excited and basically have to kiss off sleep for the rest of the day.

Today,once again, I had such inspirations. Today I away thinking about the house on Latah Street, you know the one 602 S. Latah? The green shade house? I was surprised a few moments ago I actually do a search on the blog for “Latah” Street and I was totally surprised at how many blog postings I've done regarding not only Latah but early-morning ponderings. This is not new territory but what is was actually taking the pondering to a new step. I held onto the inspiration and by the way today's inspiration was the layout of the house by that I mean the floor plan. Many times I play with the idea of sketching out the floor plans but I never get around to it and I don't know I don't know if my thoughts are valid. A couple of days ago I spoke with my older brother and asked him this question and would he be willing to sketch out the floor plan of the flat out told me he just didn't remember about the house which has been interpreted for me as he doesn't want to think about that time in his life and I have to let him have that goes I guess it was pretty rough there for a while. So I called his older sister Faye, the potato Chip chick. What a great idea! Not only did she remember this Faye has an incredible memory which is also a trained draftsperson working for Lockheed or some other airplane Corporation out of Kansas.

I was so excited when I got her on the phone this morning and went over the idea with her. Of course she said she would do the project and even more exciting was she be excited to do that project. I told just to sketch something not a problem but she said no she would do it professional that's what she is trained to do. Then she told me a lot of stories about the old place that I did know anything about. I didn't know that when my dad and his family moved into that place sometime during the 40s that the place didn't even have a bathroom to have an outhouse top of the chicken coop. But even more exciting was that my dad had actually dictated his history onto a CD-ROM that all the family was supposed of gotten a course which I did not get but I won't go into that. My sister Faye is going to make a copy are downloaded to her hard drive and send me a copy of the document over email. This is just totally exciting I can hardly wait.I hope she's quick at least with the drawings I don't know why this excites me so much but it does… I miss that old place

Things Coming… Something Good

I don't know if I've mentioned before that I currently do not have a housekeeper and slowly by slowly my apartment is dropping into full chaos. Fortunately, my current person who does my morning program three times a week will do some basics like sweep the floor and sswifter the floor and basic picking things up. However, things like my mail random pieces of paper scraps, writing wrappers etc. are piling up. I should have the will keep things picked up that they always get you on my control.

For example it would be tots actually trying to put some order on the desk behind my computer, you know the participants get when they see me on Zoom and I'm not worried about me but the chaos behind me. I know it's pretty shallow and to worry about what people think of my living scenario but that's just me Shallow Mark – – that be the premise for a movie? Anyway, I'm seriously considering trying to find a housekeeper but the message about this the other night now they think about it? The point I'm laboring to make is that I was digging down to the bottom of my stacks of papers and I find my current wheelchair evaluation done by my occupational therapist and the DME guy who's actually going to put the chair together. I was so fascinated by the document. I must've seen this before because it with my stuff that I came away from the meeting with my two chair professionals. However I guess I really did not pay much attention to the document until today. I thought it was fascinating to see all the items that I will have on my new chair nicely documented all of one space. The only thing that would give me more information would be if the actual price followed each item. Of course that doesn't happen that probably would scare me to death (even though I'm not directly paying for the device). Perhaps the most exciting feature on this new chair going to be the elevator function which will not only assist me in attending parades and other gathering are human beings tend to left to stand in front of me but also hopefully shopping been able to reach residing on the top shelf that only now is accessed by cornering some unsuspecting walking person or when I remember to bring my hook. Close observation of other items on the list would be the possibility of ordering a larger set of motors but according to the DME guy quantum or colors no longer even have access to both motors which would give me the extra 2 miles an hour I quest for. I am trying not to get my hopes up. I don't want to be a kid again waiting for a new Schwinn bicycle only be offered JC Higgins bike. (And seriously, I grew to love my JC Higgins Flyer ). I know I will grow to appreciate whatever power chair I finally get if and when that power chair ever arrives. But there's just something about seeing the evaluation all written out in freehand that makes you think the chair is actually coming…

Brutal Allergies?

 

I don't know if you can see the puffy eyes stuffed up nose and other classic signs of allergies

It's the warm up before the storm. Today's go to be in the 70s will be be 70° but still compared what was had that would be divine but I just can't get myself up and going. I don't know exactly if it's exactly a disease process that I have or is it just the result of the vaccination for Covid 19. Either way I'm feeling pretty drugged out and wanted to stay in the apartment even though the day looks good outside. The days overcast so the temperatures a bit deceiving, I found that out Saturday, with the wind blowing it works significantly even on a warm temperature to feel uncomfortable and at risk out in the elements. I'm doing this progressive thing. I wake up feeling pretty decent this the day progresses I seem to spiral down into some sort of a lethargic thinking. I'm trying to stay ahead by telling myself I was just situational will soon pass but also possibly whistling in the dark.

I also have a strong suspicion that what I'm sensing and going through similar to what happened last year and the year before about this time. I am thinking for the first time in my life I'm experiencing allergies. This is probably apropos because I have been short sided of so many people my life who proclaim to have allergies that I did not give them the benefit of the doubt or even understand allergies could do to a person and their lifestyle. My brother suffers from allergies. He plows on through these because he is tough and a great role model. However I remember him complaining about the runny nose sore throat watery eyes etc. etc. everything that I am experiencing now. And I have to be realistic to the fact that I live right next to a park. So whatever might be happening over there with the plants and B cell getting frisky for the spring could be drifting right over here to my apartment and quaint little life. So hopefully after spring has its event pops or whatever spring does things will settle down and I'll get on with my life enjoy the heat enveloped little freedom our short-lived spring and summer tend to offer.

I still am planning to do something with this day. I have a market news show at 3 PM that I listen to . I don't know why I like the show so much as I really don't do a whole heck of a lot with markets and the economy but the whole thing really fascinates me as well as the guy who anchors the show. I hate to miss them and when I do thankfully the radio station stores his show as a podcast. And I can actually listen to them later on or anytime for that matter. It's just a half an hour show so I could be done at 3:30 PM. If I feel strong enough I want to cross the street and visit my barber. I don't know if she's open on Mondays a lot of times they are not since they work on Saturdays. I went on Saturday but she was quite busy she had a number of other heads she had to attend to. However is is open today maybe are running get a buzz. Tomorrow I'm supposed to go downtown for my Tuesday morning meeting and men debating not now what I'm going to go or not they can live without me for a week with almost a year before. So I spend the rest of the day (if I don't go to the barber) huddled here in front of my heater watch a movie or two and wait for spring…

Appearances

 

I know I am beginning to sound like a real wuss but I don't know whether if it is the allergies or this freaking reaction to the vaccine I took earlier in the week. I was quite proud of myself the following morning when I seemed no worse for wear but this whole weekend I'm assuming the struggle with headaches, runny nose and possible fever. I did take my temperature at one time and I was a solid 97.6° so I am obviously not running a fever but I'm going through something. Assume to feel better in the morning when I wake up but as the day progresses I debilitate into a groveling, snot dripping headache! I'm using this excuse to blame on what little I did this weekend as far as kid letters and clean up the apartment. I've made major progress on the kid letters and hopefully they will go out tomorrow but the apartment is another story entirely. And I've got to do something with it or part of it by Wednesday or Thursday.

Remember how excited I was earlier last week when I blogged about being asked to attend another state advisory board with the possible end result being membership? Well there's a meeting this week that I've been invited to attend. There's also two other board meetings on Zoom I'm supposed to be part of. I kind of like the Zoom meeting, one can certainly hide a multitude of sins with the aid of a good computer camera. However I became a bit self-conscious a couple weeks ago when I noticed on various news interviews people being interviewed obviously from their home and what you can see in the background. This bothered me to the point that the last to resume meetings I've actually gone to the library here in the building just so other Zoomer's would see a more academic setting. That just shallow or what? So, with that in mind I have been trying to clean up the area directly behind me when the cameras going. I don't know if it's something I could do by myself the chaos is so out of control. I really need to find another cleaning person. I really like it when my whole health person kicks in when does significant cleaning while I'm on the toilet but that's happening less and less which is okay. I understand her limitations and what she's got a be able to do all day long. Still the brings me back back to the scenario of somebody to work about two hours week on my little apartment. Those two hours recall the difference of the world. So silly as it sounds, tonight Sunday night rather than watching one of my favorite Marvel universe motion pictures that I have through Disney plus I'm working on process and the last of my kid letters and picking up the area behind my back the camera has view of. Now there is something else and that's the fake backgrounds that I see a lot more people using one there on broadcast mode. It's kind of funny though looks like it's easy to do and I know it's all kind of tacky just because I don't want to be seen as the typical male slob I am. I would still however rather be seen as Prof. Higgins then Oscar Madison…

Greasy Bacon and Cheese Please

 

I don't know if I had a fever yesterday from the vaccination I sure could of it certainly felt like I did often on. I did not feel good much of the day but I got by all right. Sadly however, I'm way behind on my letter writing just about got half of done this month which means I still have three or so to go it alone do it right anyway. I thought sure I was going to buckle down today and get the letters out now just have to wait till Monday which is probably just as well great project for tomorrow. We had gusting wind today a little bit late for the lion of March but today it was definitely here. But with the wind's there were warmer temperatures and since I'm down the last of my bananas I figured it was good enough excuse to head out to the market at least. It was a beautiful early afternoon and I just did not want to stay in the apartment and write letters (like I should). I been talking a lot about the Canadian geese that frequent a couple of the fields that I spend time at so I figured they would be a great time to go out to see if I can get a couple pictures of these guys but of course I think I've lost my window for that. The Canadians were not in the park nor do I think they are at the graveyard but I did not travel that far north. Instead I bolted headed south I thought you know I'm going to see if Belles was still in business. I know I've posted about this little one person restaurant around the corner from where I live a couple years ago. I haven't been back since that initial visit soon after I moved the apartment complex here. It didn't look too busy then so I thought perhaps with the pandemic it would be out of business for sure.

I forget just how far east from me this little place is. Belles is around the corner from my apartment complex then down about six Salt Lake blocks which are big blocks. But as in the mood for some traveling in a chair was charged I feel good. I think I went about a mile finally coming up to the establishment I was impressed to see how many cars were parked in and around the building. She was definitely in business and doing quite well I suppose. It's always kind of strange to me join in this place is like an immediate flashback 20 years maybe even more. I think at one time there was a grade school or two in this immediate area. I don't know about a junior high or high school but definitely there was more foot traffic and evening and weekend traffic that supported a little joint like this. I'm sure was commonly called a greasy spoon of that kind of descriptor but she makes good burgers. As near as I can tell she runs this place all by herself is busy busy busy. Today the must have been five or six folks in their two or three families but it was pretty steady. I know this does not sound like a lot but I think it is for her. I'm impressed at how accessible this place is even to the wheelchair accessible bathroom. I don't think that was accessible last time I was there but now it is. What I really like is that the counter is perfectly high enough for a person in a wheelchair to sit and enjoy their meal with the only places I've been to have such a convenience. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and that was all it was less than five dollars and I know that I could've gotten something cheaper at Mickey D's or some other fast food joint but would not have the nostalgic atmosphere this place has as well is the immediate feeling that money are spending to stay in right here in this place helping this community along. I could've gotten fries and a coke but I didn't just the burger that's all I wanted a nice greasy burger that's what I got…

I Am Iron-man… NOT!

 

I will have to admit I was getting a little vexed last evening regarding everyone's concern about my condition after receiving my second vaccination for Covid 19. I thought I felt great all things being equal. I was tired but I just finished a half a day commute in my power chair over relatively rough terrain and even though I had a fairly decent hood and even though the day was fairly spectacular there was a bit of a cool wind and even the best sidewalks with the crack for one sidewalk to the next causes stress on the body and tires you out. I figure I'm just tired. Dianne seemed quite concerned that I was doing okay I had to convince her that I felt just fine. My next-door neighbor dropped in to see that I was all right and that I wasn't feeling bad or anything that I didn't have any headaches/migraine's or whatever. I couldn't figure out why no one believed me. One thing I did notice was that after my dinner I began to get a pain in the back of my neck or mouth were my tonsils are at. I'd stopped at the Mexican restaurant on the way home to get an order of beans and rice to go with my last tamale. I figured the discomfort I was feeling was just the rice getting caught in the back of my throat and I would just tough it out.

This morning I still had some pain in the back of my throat but is also sniffing and I felt a little stuffed up. Sometime during the night I remembered that I've gone through this before and it's usually in the spring about March. It's the allergies I've picked up later in life. I don't know why this always shocks me but it does. That's all I've got allergies it's a spring break out. I was going to get so much done today I was going to get the letters written and get them out this weekend. I was going to clean up the kitchen and work on maybe arranging my desks before the zoo meetings I have week. I would much rather have them here at my apartment supposed to happen to go all the way to the library upstairs. But as the day wandered on I became more and more tired I didn't think much about it just that I should of got more sleep or wish that I could of but it's program day and I never sleep in on program day. I was feeling kind of hungry about time for the 5 o'clock news and then I kind of felt that I might be running a little bit of a fever and then it dawned on me maybe I'm having a reaction to my vaccination. It's not a big deal, in fact from the way everyone active after hearing of my vaccination that it was kind of expected. While I didn't expect it. I thought I was too tough for that I thought I would just bulldoze my way right through to a brighter and safer tomorrow. I think, I was wrong.

I did build a pretty significant dinner plate from the leftovers of my Mexican dinner. I had the last quarter of the two tamales with the fresh beans and rice along with jalapenos. It felt pretty good to eat then I realized I am feeling pretty yucky. I was feeling bad because I hadn't done any more with my day that I did but now I have an excuse I'm feeling the results of the vaccination. My body is building the defenses are going to need for this next go around as I begin my journey back to some form of normalization…

Public Transit

You know when you get that feeling that something is going to happen strange? Not a feeling like UFOs are simply going appear or that folks are going to start popping out of holes in the graveyard just the feeling that something weird might happen. One of my disability poems is about one night while writing all personal history all boards of the bus and the driver cannot understand what the consumers try to say. I can understand but I'm hot and I'm tired and I just want to ride home in silence. I since this weird feeling when that person cerebral palsy boarded the vehicle . I got the same feeling as I was waiting for the bus to go home from my meetings downtown Salt Lake. I passed this consumer who was definitely appeared blind , he had a cane and the sunglasses in this beautiful seeing-eye dog (I assumed it was seeing-eye dog it was on a leash and a kind acted like one) but the beast was the German Shepherd or one of those golden retriever types. This was like a husky with bright white spots over the eyes. The poor beast looked confused as it was being kind of yanked around almost I was not sure if he was a real certified guide-dog or one disguised as training for his own use. The poor beast looked miserable. I was hoping, just hoping, this would be the last interaction of have with this fellow today but of course that wasn't going to happen.

I' D had a long day. I was tired and most likely cranky as I made my way over to the 201 bus station. Route 201 runs every half an hour during the day so often the drivers when they get to their end of the line parked vehicles close look up they leave for a bathroom or smoke break or something but did not around leaving the consumer to just hang out until they return which I was doing and sure enough I could hear behind me blind guy and his poor beast. I kept quiet – – I was running silent – – I really didn't feel like engaging.. I know my chair mix electronic noises as it wanders through its program. I'm sure the blind I was totally aware of my presence but elected not to say anything. At this particular bus stop therefore five routes living the bus station sauce kind of hoping that maybe this fellow was taking on the other buses but of course not. Sure enough when the driver did show up 10 minutes later and open the door the blind guy with his pooch were right there. I'm sure there's some kind of protocol developed for servicing a blind guy versus a quadriplegic in a big old power chair. I moved back and let

consumer with his mutt on first. I let him get situated then I came on the bus from my spot back in the chair and the driver. While this was happening the blind guy one to get into some kind of esoteric conversation about what I feel was worse being a quadriplegic in a power chair of being a blind guy. Little did this guy know who I was and how much I've pondered these questions. One of the games we often used in independent living training/counseling was “Choose a disability” again structured so that individuals can get some kind of feeling for what other disabilities must feel like.. So when Buster Brown asked me what I rather be disabled in a chair or be blind I had read between the eyes with “no way would I want to be blind versus just be able not to get around by walking”. This certainly shut the guy up which is okay for me. I didn't have time or the patience to play a game of “one up”. The rest of the bus trip was done in silence as I played with my cell phone the blind guy kept rattling on about different aspects of his disability's and the dog looked relieved to be stashed underneath the seat with his paws over his eyes wondering how it gotten there…

Gadgets

 

I think I'm very fortunate because I was able to find a dentist literally across the street from where I live. This was informed me since I have no adequate transportation except for local transit authority and Service which is somewhat financially prohibitive and then having a vehicle is accessible at any given time is a little bit risky. This way whether it's emergent or like today teeth cleaning which I guess false under the category of general maintenance and easy do for me.

At 70 years of age all look back on my life and knowledge all the mistakes I've made specially in the area oral health care. My parents really tried to do a good job but I kind of fought them all the way. I hardly ever brushed first my teeth, and just way too much candy and other sugar-based treats. Luckily, I have hard teeth. And up until the last couple of years the only time I ever saw dentist was an emergency but the pain was so significant I could not stand the pain another second. If only I had been more proactive I would be in such a better position in that I am.

Aside from writing grandkid letters my dental appointment was the only thing on my calendar. I probably should do more with my day but a trip to the dentist is all I could muster. Maybe two years ago the dentist suggested I should try a electric toothbrush kind of deal. I thought he was just trying to sell me product they go to and had sitting in their closet(kind of a side racket ). I wish I had jumped on the wagon then but instead invested in this weird little vibrating toothbrush powered by one doubles C battery. I use this strange little device every evening before bed as well as flossing. The dental hygienist indicated by gums look great which totally surprised me and convinced me to my game and get a better device which I did. She was kind enough (the dental hygienist) was kind enough to print out a number of options she found on the net while I was with the dentist. I found a great deal for Oral-B device which will only set me around 50 bucks which I guess is a deal. I can spend my money on things worse. I was pleased this evening when I placed my order that the device supposedly, should arrive at my door tomorrow! Anyway, I think I made the right decision shamefully just way too long in making the decision.

Of course, she found a number of targets for the dentist to look at but luckily the dentist only settle on to possible cavities. The cost will be about 250 bucks payable next week when I go to the drill. You probably saved 50 bucks if I elected not to use nitric oxide which I have somewhat become addicted. What the heck I figure I might as well get some enjoyment out of the experience. The staff also loaded me down with all kinds of equipment and specialized mouthwash to assist with repairing some gum damage. I don't know how well I'll maintain all the stuff they wanted to do but at least I'm going to have Oral Be 1000!…

Chance Meetings

I'm always amazed at how quickly bonds developed between people even from nothing more than random events. I'm not sure the function of age for this just me what but I've been a little concerned recently at seemingly events that used to be simple now becoming more and more challenging. Case in point is riding the train. I'm really quite prided myself at being able to roll right up to the “low riders” in person but in how the ramp deploy. I don't know what the problem is maybe it's wintertime and I covered with lots of paraphernalia usually backpack, jacket and whatever else I might be carrying making it a bit difficult to touch the bottom which opens the doors to the coach. I can still do it good enough, I never miss the train, but I'm sensing people are worried about me not being able to make and often intervene and push the button for me. Which is cool, I appreciate the intervention whatever gets me on the train into my destination. I've had people board the car on one and the way and try to open the door from the other side for me. These are all good people and I really appreciate their efforts but I can really do it myself.

The above image is a woman/girl named Cherie. As I indicated earlier, I first ran into her last week when I was returning to my weekly Assist, Inc. meetings schedule. The meeting is at 11 AM all the way downtown. I usually leave around 10 AM to catch the bus is I need to. Last week, there is a what I thought at first was a young woman waiting for the train. She had a baseball cap on with your mask and they uniform of a fast food joint. She was obviously going into work for the noon rush. It's not that I was fixated on her stress that she opened when I seem to be struggling to get on the train. Then she sat next to me on the ride-in. Of course, I feel obligated to visit with since she was so kind to me. I mean as soon she wants to present or she would not have sat so close to me. So we talked I was a bit taken back at how forthright she was. She is currently staying/living a halfway house for recovery drug offenders. Obviously sentenced there by the court. She has this low-paying job with just a few hours a week to “helper” with the transition I think she's been in a 90 day program some sort. I used to know all about this stuff when I was a drug and alcohol counselor rehab facility in Pocatello way back in the old days.

We chatted until her stop him up 1300 S. I was not sure what fast food operation she worked at but wished her well and good luck.

This morning, time wise was a duplication of last week so I should not been surprised when I got to the station and was fumbling around the button not really finding it when also a hand reaches over and touches the button and the little ramp employees and sure enough it's the waif. This time her jacket is open and I can read the name “Cherie”embossed on her name tag. She's on her way to work in the distance of more. She's worried she has to leave the program in April, she has till the end of April to find affordable housing on minimum wage job. It would be near impossible to find affordable housing that she had 40 hours of work a week but not at this point time. My information referral instincts kicked in given her the option of checking out the Community action program as well as several housing authorities. She should have a counselor working with her but she does not. I hope she can stay clean up hope she can rearrange her life and find something better. I don't know if she can do it I hope so. Maybe I will see her again next week or maybe I'll even our earlier…

March Meandering

 

I don't know what the mistake I made today was except I got lazy. I had time to do my stuff, ample time to do my arm bike as well as the blog – – I mean really what else to do during this day? Granted, while service person was late today really significantly. I took time to build breakfast which is pretty decent but in doing so used up precious time I use for my daily routine. Oh, I remember, I washed clothes that was the difference. I never watched close on but because I changed the sheets Friday I wanted to get sheets washed out of the way as well as the winter clothes/jackets etc.I still have more to do wash flies but I didn't work out because I would be in and out checking my wash. Actually I also wrote a couple letters after all it is the first of the month. This is the routine change or altercation which got me to this point of writing the blog at nearly 9 PM. That's okay I'm enjoying the process even though I'm not really writing about much I am still in the process.

Already the temperatures outside are beginning to climb. As we work towards spring I already sensing better days better weather at the cost of cold and snowy need to build a water table that will sustain us. As usual I take the easy way out and thanked God's better weather traveling and enjoy life in a power chair. Speaking of assistive technology. I don't think I mentioned that my old boss , the person who controls the grant money for the lift on currently purchasing denied my request for the scales which one has to purchase separately for this device. She's absolutely right. She made the right call I just have to figure out will be $700 for this device. I mean after all pretty sure that stimulus monies coming without behalf of the stimulus award. Should just be brave and do it. Just have a problem plopping down that much money for one item but maybe this is the lesson I've got to learn to let go of stuff especially money. I really think the scales are essential for me trying to maintain my weight which translates out to a healthy lifestyle. I have been messing with the idea of going through a program like assistive technology foundation which theoretically would help me purchase a portion if not all of device I'm looking at. It seems like a lot of work I may still try to “shake that tree”. I think it's important that I get scales.

I think actually working out my regular routine this week is going to be challenging. Tomorrow I have used this meeting which means that all the much time to work out tomorrow Thursday I have the second inoculation for Covid which I think is really important. That will be traveling all afternoon going out to Sandy for the inoculation. By the time will be taking out one week which is okay I need to learn to roll with the punches. Maybe this is what it feels like to start getting back to a new normal after the pandemic…