Turn The Page

The page has turned and I have a new month to fill with blogs of my life and things let’s hope I do better than I did last month. I don’t know why I have become so slothful but I have and this must change, a writer writes, and its not like I have not had a vein of inspiration to mine—older sisters provided a surprise visit which resulted in a dinner with the fam and the construction on my building continues—which is pretty much my fault and I am yet another month closer to retirement, so I have stuff to write about. I just need to sit down and make the effort.


With the arrival of September the temperatures have dropped, the night have cooled significantly an mornings traveling to work I am thinking I need to drag out the hoodie for warming comfort. The days still get warm to hot but seems to be a different even then the heat is not the same….my theory is the shifting of the Earth on its axis has something to do with the change and everything. The work on the building continues, the construction of the front of the building has commenced and a major piece of concrete has to be demolished from the front of the building meaning the use of jack hammers and other hydraulics needed for such a challenge which means a great deal of noise too. So much noise that a couple of days in August it was near impossible to carry out conversations on the phone. You all remember this building does not have proper, legal access to people with disabilities i.e. me so in effect the work is being done for me. Actually, I do not think most of my staff has reasoned this through as yet or the staff is just too nice to say anything about the inconvenience being my fault and of course this all should have been long before 211 or I every arrived on scene. This week begins the third week of construction and we should have been past most of the loud construction by now but they, the workers have run into a problem and it should be a couple weeks longer. I am currently having to access my building via the under the building parking ramp the ramp is steep. I would never be able to push this ramp in a manual chair but have no issues in my powerchair—this entry might be a bit dangerous come winter but, not now if I keep my eyes open.

There are other issues of access which must be considered in this building, the most important to me is the restrooms, yes, bathrooms. In the main area there is no way I can get my chair close enough to transfer and the bathroom which is larger the commode is way low making getting off and on problematic if not impossible. So, far the one time I have used it I succeeded but just barely. I just want to finish out my work history and get to my next life…

I have been kind of sickly all weekend, I think possibly due to some of the medications I've been taking, I've just not been able to get away from the toilet – – too far this weekend. Last night, and I felt like all might, I felt as if I might have to go at any minute so didn't get much sleep. Somewhere in the dark morning hours I made the decision I was not going into work today. I was, since home on a medical and try to enjoy the day. This of course meant I would have to call and notify somebody of my absence, work late today. I hate doing that, Monday slam and everything. And really to some degree I still feel a little unsettled and I want to get back to regular poops before going back to work if possible. True I could've taken a couple shots of Imodium buy that make decision I was staying home.

Now that I'm home, I must admit that I'm kind of bored and wished I gone in to work. Oh well, I've been prattling around in the computer room clean a little doing little art and little dictation and just trying to get through the day. So exciting we're a week before Labor Day, a vacation without having to feel guilty about how sick am I really reading. Now I know I probably won't do a single thing on the upcoming Labor Day but the mere fact that it is holiday is reason to rejoice and perform reasonably this week preceding the three-day weekend.

So Labor Day is sort of like the old official end of summer, not technical and but the and for all practical reasons. Vacations are over, tired of the heat, tired the summer reruns, school begins on all levels summer functions begin to wind up it is the end and the flies finally die the first cold snap. Labor Day is a fast holiday he really can't take more than one day for reasons mentioned so you can go far, too much the rest, and maybe this would Labor Day is all about taking a break from the hot summer and catching your breath before you leap into the Fall and all the things it seems great with autumn. I always sucker for the change, thinking I'm going to drink hot apple cider and eat donuts, the part of tailgate parties even though I hate football, cook apple pies from scratch and make delicious barbecue. I really believe I look forward to raking leaves going to the farmers market and canning fruit and vegetables to be eaten during the cold season. This of course is a myth really do any of those things, maybe one farmers market and that's enough to buy a couple squashes, enough to last through the winter and some green beans maybe and maybe the Each or two. I grab one watermelon, the Green River, and hope the ancient Asian lady is correct in her choice. I do feel exhilarated with the cool mornings and make the change for short shorts to long pants and sometimes even socks. I might spend long sun soaked autumn afternoons either in the driveway, or on the deck reading and enjoying the quiet. The Labor Day is the gateway holiday can get the Halloween Veterans Day Thanksgiving eve and Christmas without first honoring and enjoying Labor Day. So hopefully I'm back to work tomorrow, post good numbers and work on the teaching plan – – I may have to talk to Claire.

Like Everyone Else

They’re remodeling my building, or rather they are rehabbing my building or even more specifically they are blasting out the front of the building and building some access into the place. Yes access so essentially this is my fault, as usual—jack hammers and sledge hammers bounding and breaking concrete and steps—today the workers are actually pulling out the wheelchair lift which initially served the building since the place was built without wheelchair access—unless one circles round the back of the building and comes in under the underground parking. The lift they are pulling out looks as if it was an afterthought—to make the building accessible to beat some kind of requirement . I bet it was federal since the FBI I located in this building and obviously it was all just decoration since the lift looks as if it has not worked since the turn of the century. Since the agency I work with is fairly new in this building and very sensitive to how they appear to the public and now since I have come on board—a guy in a wheelchair, working every day in the building and I need access they building owners are having to comply with all access codes and they could just put a new lift in the place of the decrepit one but have decided to go the extra mile and build a ramp to give the building direct access so I and others will  not have to risk life and limb coming and going. So all morning we have been serenaded by what sounds like machinegun fire, as the hydraulic  drills eat away at the old concrete and steel. I should have to deal with the death roll for two to three weeks till the workers can get basic front access completed and I will be able to use the front access like everyone else.

THE CHANGE

It’s the 20th of the month, this month is for all intentions gone and when August goes so goes Summer, my most favorite season. Oh the days will continue to be hot and I am sure the drought will continue will in to Fall but something feels over about this summer. Maybe it’s the later sunrises when I take off for work or the bags of fresh produce rendered from neighbors gardens making fresh daily salads possible. My granddaughters are all talking about returning to school this week and I can see the summer boredom in their eyes—actually just Anakah since Anakah is the GD I have most and easiest access. Still I know if I were to see the others I would get this impression that Summer is just too much with us and it is time for change.


This August is quite possibly my last ‘working’ August, I really cannot imagine not working, sleeping in everyday—or just getting enough sleep—having all the time to do what I WANT TO DO or just hanging out. Interesting, I just got a call from a friend/colleague in Logan who is also a quad and who is also battling butt sores and we discussed the idea of having a problem with not working but maybe working less. I am really struggling with the right decision for myself and Gordon has the right idea of continuing to work but work less, and be up in the chair less for less trauma on the butt. So there are always options. I think being up less is the basic answer to all my butt problems I just don’t know if I can relegate my self to bed rest. I can once I commit besides why do I need to be up, in my chair 18-20 hours a day like I am now.

But I felt the change this morning change is in the air, still lots of warm dry weather left but I can definitely a change on the horizon. They started construction on my building this morning which makes entering my building difficult at best and a little dangerous since I used the drive way down to sub building parking , the second time for me and not a problem and I did find out this morning that the construction will be just two weeks before I can start using the front entry again. It seemed OK—part of the change, part of a glorious Fall…

Done!

Yesterday, was another medical day, a follow-up day from a number of weeks ago when we discovered the testosterone I was smearing on myself was not working As effectively as we would have liked so we started injecting the testosterone straight into the muscle and we wanted to see how this would increase my level of T” and what ever else is needed. I also scheduled my followup with my P.T. an the new A.T. vendor ‘seating Eval’ later in the afternoon so I took the entire day as ‘sick’( which could be an entire blog of itself and maybe one day will be but not today).

Dee Dee went with me to the appoints and my driver my advocate and my support. Dee Dee does so awesome in the medical settings—the day was a perfect day to spend together and the event took all the day—we left the house at 8:30 and did not get home till almost 5:00 PM hot and exhausted.

The meeting with my PT and the AT provider was later in the day and she introduced us to the new provider who was coming on to replace the former provider who they fired a couple of months ago due to poor service. It was during this meeting and evaluation I came upon a personal evaluation(of my self by my self) I am endeavoring to get some repairs on my manual chair and possibly on my power chair as well and we would like to get as much done with insurance as possible. It was during the evaluation I was asked “ do you do still drive?” and almost immediately, with out thinking I responded, ‘no, I don’t drive anymore’. I had to stop and wonder what I had just said—cause I know the PT looked at me like I had just sprouted a second head.

I had voluntarily stated I do not drive anymore and I felt comfortable saying it. What I was thinking at the time was no I don’t drive because sitting in the drivers seat hurt my butt so much I really don’t, not that I cannot drive but I choose not to drive. I know why my PT looked at me so strange because for a person with a disability who can drive and not drive is unthinkable. But you know what I think?... I am done driving—if I need to get somewhere public transit cannot take me the Dianne drives me—we seem together a lot of places—when Auni is over and we go out we often go in masse or I stay home. I AM a home body—I like my house my home and everything I need is on a bus route somewhere. I hate to drive—maybe not all the time but most of the time I just flat out hate to drive. I hate transferring from my chair to the drivers seat back, actual driving and dealing with the rest of the Utah driving public.

So I am ready, I think, I feel that I am but its only Wednesday—but when I ASKED I freely replied I was done driving—and it felt good.

Just Suck It Up!

I spent half of my weekend laying down doing “Butt Rest” in fact Yesterday Dianne was in and out applying hot packs to the butt area in an attempt to soften up the callous and debride the wounds which have amassed a great deal of scar tissue and callous over time. I really did not relish having to spend the day in bed but then again if I can act proactively I will be able to sit up for much a longer, pain and stress free . So time down is just something I am going to have to start accepting as part of my over all plan to survive this point in my life. I mean poor skin issues could be a lost worse for me. I personally know quads who have been down for years, literally year before the wounds eventually took their lives.


I have the technology, books and I hope patience to make this practice a positive experience instead of something to be loathed. I think I would even consider this form of maintenance even if it took one day of my weekend per week, it is that important.

So I am lucky, really lucky, my skin still heals fairly well, I have the aforementioned resources and a family who really cares for me—so few of the people with disabilities I know has these positives going for them—I just need to take the perceived blows life sends my way and just suck I up

Only Better

I am now finishing up my fifth week at the out station work project 211 and it all seems to be going very well. I have been welcomed and I feel fairly assimilated into the 211 bunch . I am no longer monitored on the phones and I am taking calls fast and furious just like the other ops and I feel like I fit in. What has been extremely interesting to me is how little patience and out right anger I am feeling toward some callers, class of callers. I feel I have felt these frustrations before but never with the fury I sometimes feel when I am yelled at or just hung up on, and I don’t know I have been disconnected until I ask a question and realize that I am speaking into dead air.


I am really amazed at how rude the general population has become. Many times, if the information we give is not what they want or meets with their preconceived idea of information the callers often become profane and somewhat explosive living me with my mouth open just staring at the phone in disbelief when the enraged caller slams the receiver down on their phone. Sorry, I digress, this was not meant to be a rant on rabid callers. That post I will keep for another day.

What I feel is the coolest thing about my new workstation is that we share a building with the FBI –which I think is pretty weird in there is huge Federal building just down the block from here but the FBI actually leases the five or seven floors in this building. I did not see any FBI folk at first but as I have settled into a rhythm, arriving early in the morning and leaving at 4:30 I am beginning to notice more and more people with the little ID badge with an American flag background :FBI. They stick pretty much to them selves but I have seen personal a couple of time. So I was intrigues the other day when I arrived at work and noted a sign directing public to an FBI job fair. I have to say the FBI was looking for a few good folk. There were good sized posters I the foyer, in the elevator and even in the bathrooms they wanted linguists fluent in English and languages the FBI are interested. On this day the feds seemed to be everywhere and they looked just like the res of us only better…

Two Movie Tickets and a Gun please

It was hot last night when I trained home from work and even though I got the early train when I got to my spot I realized I was still going to have to wait an extended period of time, in the sun for my bus the Southbound 201 to come. There is a bus shelter which throws a good shadow make for at least a little shade and I often sit in this shade and read or play on my tablet. This is what I was doing last night when this old guy, even older the me came up and mentioned that I was taking up all of the shade. I could not tell if he was joking or not so I played the courtesy and happily moved over. This was dressed nice in bermudas, a white shirt and a straw hat. He had great white hair, from what I could see, and he reminded me of the elderly music teacher who lives in my neighborhood.


So there we were standing and sitting in a little shade waiting for the bus—I noticed three different route come into to stop and leave leaving me to think that he was waiting for the same coach as me the 201. So when the last 200 pulled in and then pulled out I asked the old guy was he waiting for the 201?

The old guy kinda growled back at me that he was waiting for Grandma which sounded like “gramma”. It took me a minute to figure out what he had said. He then clarified the statement by saying his wife “grandma” had sent him out to store to pick up a hand gun. Yes, a hand gun! He was out pick up a hand gun, like as loaf of bread, pound of butter or a dozen eggs. He had been all round the Murray area and no one would sell him a weapon. I finally asked him why he was getting a gun and he methodically explained that he and his wife liked going to movies and to church so of course they would need some protection. So, here was waiting in the scorching sun, waiting for Gramma who had already sent him out on a fools errand then forgot to pick him up and who knows what now was going to happen when Gramma shows up and gramps is hot, frustrated and empty handed.

I am sure this senior is responding the events and tragedies which have swamped the national news of late. This couple cannot even find them selves on a hot summer’s day let alone a fire arm and I do not even want to think of where their terror level might be. But, 201, rolled in about then and all I wanted to do is escape the heat and the wrath of the gun questing senior.

Whoa Partner!!

I have to admit I am beginning to frighten myself and my attitude toward humanity in general as I get deeper into to this position at 211. Yesterday was a Slam Monday , who am I kidding every day is a Slam Monday—I call Mondays Slam Monday because we as operators get slammed as soon as the phones are turned on at 8:30 and usually the calls just keep on coming all Monday long. I was feeling physically challenged all day anyway. My butt was tender from the weekend and I was just miserable—I am sure this pain colored my experience as well.


I am sensing a terseness taking over my voice as I talk on the calls. I find myself not wanting to tke the time and listen to all the reasons the person is making the call at that particular moment when I am fed the next either from the cue or calls coming directly over the phone recently imported from Access Utah network. And an interesting note is—I can disengage myself from the cue—hence no more calls, all the operators can, but I cannot disengage myself form the AUN line; those calls just keep rolling in and those calls think I am going to directly help them as in case management, wrong! I am sensing a boiling rage of desperation as I can tell more and more of the callers there just isn’t anything out there. I have also noticed an edge, an unkind edge to my voice as I often, now, as I cut off the caller when they launch into their miserable lives and what brought them to make the call to my phone—too many times the caller is raging at some low-income ethnic groups whom the caller as feels has stolen all their subsidies –I just do not have time for this misdirected recrimination. There is a meanness in my voice which warns the caller to not get cute or ask for more than their share. I am trying to regulate myself, pull back the reigns and be a better phone person and not let the caller pull me down into their pool of de

Farmers Market

The dog days are here now – – it's hot every day even though forecasters call for monsoon weather, the monsoon weather never comes in, each morning the sun rises hot, promising another scorching day. However, hot as it might be I am not yet ready to relinquish the summer, this 61st summer of my life. So yesterday morning I was up bright and early with the express hope of going to the farmers market in Murray. Dianne was also up for the experience so I got the dishes out-of-the-way, dressed and we are on our way. There's a trade-off to going early to something like the farmers market. True you get access to the best and freshest produce early on but you also cannot really dicker with the farmers at this point because they still want the best price possible for their produce. I cannot fault them and I know if I would wait until the end of the day, choices are much less but so are the prices – – the farmers and most likely the farmers kids are hot, tired and want to get out of there as quickly as possible. They would dump their produce and in some cases they do and if you're lucky you can get some really good prices. But you have to wait till the hot bitter end of the day and then getting a good deal is chancy at best.

We got a great place to park just outside the opening to the market. I was amazed, the same people, same trucks the same stalls just as last year and the year before and most likely the year before that. The same kids, the market is sort of like a family reunion. I even noticed that a lot of the attenders were repeats this was easy to ascertain there's this one guy actually a woman who walks around monstrous great Dane. That Dane is a beautiful beast looks hot and bored and wishes he was anywhere then the farmers market. You really can't go now to a farmers market and think you're going to get a great price on produce, know that you're going for the experience, the entertainment in the novelty of acting in a great play of hometown America so convincingly that you really believe you are in a farmers market and that you are really going to get good prices on produce after which you will take home render up into salads, casseroles and feasts as pictured in magazines and coffee-table books about living the good life. So I rolled around and looked at people, there were really some great people there everything from grandma's to bikers and a couple of things I couldn't really identify without a medical examiner. Wish I got images of those folks but I was good and grabbed a couple images of cucumbers and backsides at the Murray farmers market.

Good Fit

I have just completed week five. I feel like an old timer both at United Way and 2-1-1 which is interesting. I feel I have just about been accepted as well. Not that my acceptance matters, since I am a short timer, I have always been a short timer, I am just passing through, the ship in the night. But it does matter to me how I appear top my peers here in the call center. I want to be sure to carry my load and not add to the load someone else has to carry. I want to be part of the Fast and Furious set of operators who sling phones during the Monday Slam when the phones are turned after a weekends silence. The crew has really opened up to me and made me part of their reality here at 2-1-1. I sense I have become part of the rhythm, the breaks, the lunch and the communication haiku which goes on between calls. I come in way early in the mornings just because I can and because I feel the early arrivals allows me to get a jump on my day—whether it’s blogging, playing with my lap top or just updating my Facebook. Many time I am the first in the first in the call center—not today the boss was coming in just before me. By the time I got to the floor and into the area she was at her desk and well on her way into her day—so, I stopped by and chatted. I had sent her an email earlier in the week about the Deaf question and I submitted my piece for the UW blog. As we talked she drilled on the importance of making sure calendars are filled out and the calendars are open to all those who need to know where and when you might be. Then she said that I had be sure I did this because now your phone calls count, we are including you—my efforts—into the group as a whole. We need to know when and if you are going to be here so others can plan their lives, work lives accordingly. She said we depend you—you being here, makes a difference and you know what that kinda makes me feel good. I know it sounds hokey and does not sound like me but it is— mean old cynical me, fitting difference on week five part of the crew.

Shields Up!!

Thursday and I am beginning to really feel the week wear on me but the wear is nothing I cannot manage enough rest and a full charge in my batteries and I feel I can take on most anything. I got two calls yesterday from my past both of which were unsettling at best. The first was/is a very needy and demanding and somewhat threatening soul from my last job, all upset about how she has been discriminated against by the state of Utah and how she was now going to take the state those who ( she feels) has persecuted her to court. I am guessing she is wanting to subpoena me and some of my co-workers at my last work station. She is currently in Montana and who knows if she will get down to Utah and what she is capable. This whole issue is just unsettling enough to put me off a fine end of summer and beginning of Fall.


The other call I got was from a past employee/friend about wanting me to put in a good word for her sister who is trying to get job here at the call center. I really don’t know how serious to take the call and the feeling I am being used, just a little bit. I really like this person—but I really don’t know her sister. Thank goodness I am just a peon here and not really an employee of United Way—really so there is very little I can do. Still both of these incidents makes me nervous and want to “raise all shields…maximum strength”.

Really I AM going to write.

Just a note—the call center is slammed and I am not getting the chance to blog like I am used to and that totally bums me out. But be assured, I will continue to blog I just have to figure out a way. Right now all my thoughts seem to be focused on taking calls and transition favorably to my new work settting. More to come, I promise.

Week 4

Just a Little


I am about at the close of my fourth week at the new workstation and I have all but settled in, which is good. I feel accepted, needed and part of a team. This is sort of a unique—I have always worked but rarely felt part of a team and really needed. For the most part I have done labor in the private-non profit sector or State and quite frankly due dates really did not seem to matter , or even if I was at work or not.

The work got done, eventually. I always tried to be timely since many times people counted on me but there was still that bureaucracy, especially where nothing really mattered in the end. For the first time I am at a position to where it really seems to matter if I am there or not—it really matter is we are all there because people are going to call and expect phones to answered. I can tell when the phone are going FF (fast and furious) it matter having another operator in the system to take calls even he is the new guy and he is a little slow.

This week I had a medical appointment (sitting consultation) with my therapist (PT) and I had intended to take the whole afternoon to make sure I had the time to go and get home since I would be leaving directly from physical therapy. I also was to meet with our staff meeting from my old office and I told the folks at my new office about my plans I could tell this is not the way things go. I for sure was excused because I did not know the formalities and I guess there are some formalities like they would like two weeks notice before a scheduled leave or absence is to happen, not just a couple of hours—so I was for given but two weeks come on! Who the hell structures there life two weeks out? Again, this environment is somewhat new to me—the staff really counts on you being there and I understand more now then ever. What was really kind a of interesting was that all the meeting I had planned collapsed yesterday morning and the whole taking time off was a moot point.

Gloria is back today, so we are almost back to full staff if not at full strength, I’ll be interested I will continue to take calls unsupervised or if I will slip back into some type of training mode. I really am anticipating a wonderful weekend.

Don't Get Cocky!!

So ends week three at the out-posting and I am still here and I think I am fitting in fairly well. I am usually the first in the mornings, just because I enjoy getting up early and experiencing the city new at the break of day. Today for example I did not get my usual Friday latte at my local StarBucks. I was informed yesterday that there is a pretty good coffee shop not too far from 211. I pass the Downtown Marriott on my way in and today decided to stop and there was a coffee urn with three or four different coffee options. I had the front desk kid pour me some and doctor the coffee and it was not half bad and it was free. I am taking more and more calls unsupervised and feeling more and more part of the team. It’s a good crew, I still feel I am in training however and must accordingly and not get cocky.


As you can tell I started this way last Friday but I never got a chance to finish last Friday. The weekend go so fast and there is so much to it seems like this weekend, we did not do a whole lot except to support Anakah in her reading needs we read the whole book Fever—a good read but challenging read to do in a weekend but we did it. However, we all sort of ‘melted down’ yesterday afternoon and Ani went home a day early and we just enjoyed the remainder of the day.

Living Large and Easy

Summer’s heat returns today and that is good for me because I like the heat, enjoy the heat even though I cannot tolerate the heat like I used to but I would sooner be hot then cold. If I wear my hat I am ok. But, I have already heard the comment have I felt like Autumn is coming on, or is summer over. It’s not, I know cause I can tell some how, usually it’s a certain smell I perceive usually in the morning as I am heading for work. When I was younger the smell came off the desert just off my home in Boise. The smell was a mixture sage and rotting leaves but there was definitely a specific order. I still get that odor later in the summer these days. I have not smelled Autumn yet.

Last night DD and I were out on the porch watching the neighborhood and he asked if I felt like Summer was over—I said “no” not yet. We just finished a row of days of four days of 100 degree weather and even more of 90 degree or above—a hot spell but the spell ended with storms clouds and cooler weather—I think a lot of folk were ready for Summer to be over but I say that Summer is not over by a long shot. I think a another hot spell will be starting in a couple of days –I predict we will get one after that maybe even two as we get into August. The back of summer breaks sometime in the middle of August—a time when the days begin to cool, slowly. The temp may be hot even wonder back into triple digits it will not be the same kind of heat. I also noticed yesterday, in the afternoon the light was different, the figure ground effects are changing—the light is beginning to look more like Fall but it’s not Fall yet.

I am not ready form the change…yet, I am sure later in August I will be. When I am so hot and frustrated that I long for longer nights and cooler days and a clean crisp day that only Fall can bring but I am not there yet. I still long for hot days when I can go barefoot, wear cutoffs and sleep without the covers. I want fresh fruit straight off the vine and vegetables left on the front porch or on the front seat of the van. I am still up for BBQs and Saturday get togethers and Sunday coffee listening to NPR. I want tom roll round the house naked straight from the shower dripping dry in the summer’s heat feeling like this Summer will last for ever. I still have too much to live for to let Summer go before its time. I look forward to the next batch of Summer storms, electricity falling from intimating thunderheads and cooling monsoon rains and a time for living large and easy.

My Gimp Birthday

I am sleepy today and that is not good for a Tuesday, I still have a long way to go before the weekend but I think if I can get to bed at a decent hour tonight or tomorrow I will get more steam by the end of the week and for sure the weekend. We had some great storming last evening and we sat on the ramp and watched the storm till the temperature actually got too chilly to comfortably stay out on the ramp.


I had initially intended to have this piece written to post on Sunday and then yesterday but life seems to have a way of getting in the way. Yesterday was the 46th anniversary of my turning quadriplegic from a motor vehicle accident! 46 years in a blink of the eye. I have never really put to much energy into “what day” and “how many years since” kind of stuff but since I have been back to rehab and seeing my doc on a more regular basis these mile markers seem to have major significance. But over all I feel I have done pretty well: married 2.4.6 kids with grandchildren, long positive work history with a bs degree. Issues secondary to SCI have been minimal but seem to be increasing as I age—I guess its only natural that I degrade s I age. But I am Ok. Dianne uploaded the image from my accident scene on to her Facebook account yesterday when she acknowledged the years and I am surprised at how many folk have responded.

Week Two

I am finishing up my second week at 2-1-1, the first full week of being at work every day, showing up early and getting the feeling of rhythms of this office, building and neighborhood in general. I have been taking supervised call all week—that is I am taking call with the lead operator listening in on the call. I seem to be doing OK but I am not taking calls on my own. Am feeling fairly comfortable and I feel I could be OK on the phones alone but I do like the support of the senior staff listening in. I sense I am coming soon to un supervised call status—the person who sits on the other side of the cube panel is back next week who knows everything I&R and she will most likely act as on-line super and way it will feel like the training wheels are off.

I feel so out of place in this building—this building is just loaded with pretty people. The other day as I was exploring the different floors on my new building—it seemed each floor had a giant set of ceiling to floor glass doors opening to fabulously decorated offices, decorated fabulous looking people. I wonder where they keep these people cause I never see them on the street—just behind huge glass doors or at clubs at night.

As I have alluded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation maintains three floors of the building in which I'm now housed. I mean That's pretty cool. One of the things I've been doing the past couple of days of this week is squeeze out a few extra minutes at lunch wherein I've been exploring the building. As mentioned the fabulous offices of the legal coots warehoused here but it took me a day or two to push one of the buttons that would take me to the bureau' S floor. When I did I was surprised… I'm not surprised when the elevator doors slid open to reveal just to doors with a computer printed document essentially saying the reader of this document had better have business to be here if you're here right now. The same document was a document posted on each of the doors. In fact the doors and what I could see the four looked like a scene The Matrix. I decided I had better leave the area and as I was waiting for my elevator one of the unmarked doors open to the young man came out, the young kid may be just in college or something white shirt and tie sleeves rolled up with a file in hand. The lad acknowledged me but said nothing, he was wearing an ID tag but was turned in I could not read it. I wanted to ask him 1 million questions but I just wrote down in silence got off on my floor went back to work. I never see these people come in early and I wonder if they have like underground passage are entrance point – – I'm surprised the elevator even stopped at that floor.

Oh, I am in the part of downtown that has midblock crossings; this continues on each side street that hold orange flags that pedestrians hold across the street which I imagine means

traffic stop. Anyway, I was waiting such a midblock crossings on my way home one night this week and there was another pedestrian on the other side waiting to cross. I did not have an orange flag and neither did she but I noticed she was charging across the street so I decide to charge for my site the cars came to a halt when nearest me in both lanes on her site which I thought was okay as I continued to cross midway through the first lane on my side I noticed movement on the other side of the of the waiting vehicle it was a lane of traffic which looked empty but the corner of my eye I could see the vehicle coming to the front of that Lane. I stop my chair immediately as the individual realized I would soon begin his direct path and he slammed on the brakes had not stopped, even though he slammed on his brakes, I would've been bounced and who knows how much damage I would've incurred on my chair not myself. The lady approaches me and also stopped her eyes were huge with horror as she imagined for me it just happened. I passed her and continued my drive to the train station. There was only after I contemplated what may have happened to me had I not seen the vehicle approaching out of the corner my eye. I sighed lean my head back and let the train rock me home.

I think the second week went okay.

lay of the land…

I have begun my second week at my new station and so far I have been mostly involved with indoctrination and training into this 2-1-1 system. This week I am experiencing more time answering but never un supervised which is fine by me but sure puts the pressure on staff responsible for training me or seeing that I am ready to take on the phones, supervision free. It’s Summer and that means many folk or away on vacation which puts lots of pressure on the operators left to cover the phones. I feel a little guilty that I sit here and listen to the phones ring not being able to answer unless supervised—oh well.

We are a small shop, just four or five operators if you count the Lead—I am the only male and we are all just getting to know each other. There has also been a new position developed: Quality Control. This person came on board today. I believe she is from the private sector, from more high pressure call rooms. Her position seems a little odd and a little menacing from a management point of view. It seems a lot of her position will be the responsibilities of the current Lead which seems weird—just feels odd like something or someone is being set up. I get to the office early each morning, well before the regular staff—I use the time to get situated, check emails, blogs and sometimes post Facebook account. If I am really together I start a blog posting. I have to admit I am falling behind o my letter writing. I used to write the monthly letters during my morning at my other position between calls but I sure do not have this option now—call tend to come in fast and furious. I am going to have to write more at home or on the road to and from work. The problem I have with this is not having the energy when I get home—I just have to be more disciplined and do a lot more letters during the weekends.


Our project is housed in a major non-profit facility, and like many large private non profits, they are squeaky clean and staffed with altruistic beautiful people(mostly young) folk. Its an interesting organization but a little removed from our operation—enough said about this. I will have to admit I best hold my tongue for the time being—I could really have a lot of fun but I must be careful—I have to remember I am a stranger in a strange land and I am still getting my bearings andf the lay of the land.

Like Charlton Heston looking for his Israelite’s.

So ends the first week of work as a ‘loan out’ to the United Way Information and Referral service 2-1-1 and though the experience has been a bit tedious over the experience has been good. I am still in a training mode and have only been able to answer a few phone calls. I think I am looking forward to getting back in the thick and answering more calls and more disability calls. I think I am going to like this assignment, more then I initially anticipated. I cannot yet answer calls on my own and when I am answering phones I am being listened to with someone on a separate headset.


Last night as I was at the downtown station waiting for my southbound train I came across a person with some disorder which seemed to be making him catatonic to some degree. The guy looked impressive to me, he looked like a Moses casting some sort of spell. He reminded me of Charlton Heston looking for his Israelite’s.

Sleepy Tired

The holiday was laid back, the day was hot and not much happening at home. Dianne went with the kids to Evanston for fireworks but I stayed home and watched some of the local fireworks then went to bed. Holidays which fall in the middle of the week should be illegal—even though I was home I really I no get much sleep because the explosions from the fireworks were so intense—more then usual. Then ofcourse when Dianne got home I woke then as usual so I really did not get any rest to speak of. I have been forcing my self awake all day long—I am so glad tomorrow is Friday.

Transition Week

It is the holiday, the fourth of July and of course I'm home having finished my first two days in my new workstation. I am pleased that I took Frank's suggestion and took a couple days off before starting this new position in doing so over this national holiday which falls in the middle of the week. I'm sensing that this holiday week is a bit laid back at this private nonprofit agency. Holiday, vacation and the general populace being beat down by heat and the holiday week know better than to call until next week. In fact July, in many cases, is lost too many service users in Utah due to the double holidays of the month.Still this hyphenated week is a good week to transition in two 2 1 1.

Already, I am sensing that ebb and flow of the rhythms of this new workstation. I have to admit I'm quite surprised at how new this program seems to be regardless of the history this program has experienced. Josh P the previous director with whom I am most knowledgeable ran a great shop I don't know why everything seems to be some new now even their transition into the software IRis, the different directors and managers of I&Rs in this area have been talking about this software for years, possibly decades. But, this is a great thing for me because this I R seems to be brand-new which means they will overlook my inadequacies as I transition in. I sense I'll be able to do things here.

I am also sensing or potently than ever that I am in fact still State employee and I hold onto that when my current host speaks of me as part of their staff. Not that I would mind being part of their staff it's just that I have more power as the (loan) staff. I just have to exploit this to my own ability. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this aspect and to see how far I might be able to push my loaned status. I am hoping my new boss will see that just here till February and cut me abroad breath. I don't plan to nefariously use this "card" but half an hour for lunch, intimidated the use vacation are lose hours, and lunch with staff I plan to use them do. I don't have anything to lose and worst-case him he throws I asked out and I am back on Claire's step. Again, this is holiday talk, I don't think I'm that stupid to abuse this great chance I have of working till retirement.

I can comfortably get to my workstation via public transit, I have to do some transfers and mix of choices of how far I wish to push my chair-I still must charge at all times in this worries me a bit and I may have to take some time to get those batteries. The coffee is free in the office but there isn't much to a coffee cup there. I have access to water and ice and there is a cafeteria downstairs where I can get breakfast and lunch! The prices are extremely doable. Technically one half hour for lunch which is good if I get there it 8 AM then I leave at 4:30 PM which should be really good in the winter and the time of little light, cold weather and occasional snow and slush. You know I said I haven't made. I will write more about staff and parent agency next time. Have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July.

This been weird weekend--but like Stephen King weird but weird like "hang time" weird. Remember in blogs past, I have talked about the time between Christmas and New Year's as hang time, a time when I usually took Annual Leave and just stayed home out of the cold and away from danger. There was a lot that went on in my office over this period of time, at the end of the year. The homeless stayed in their shelters are homes, landlords did not seem so to evict and nothing was happening to the first of the year anyway. Most civil workers were on annual leave and join their time. So nothing gets done except the office is open, calls are fielded and sent to voice message, the more industrious catch up on files while others struggle to look busy. Have found myself in this occupational limbo this last week. However tomorrow should change that as I return or start work in my new office. I feel a little bit like starting a new class at school after having moved into a new district. I feel just a little cautious.

DD decided to paint yesterday afternoon and so I was up late "helping" DD paint. I did this by keeping the music going on the big computer not that duty but I felt I could have been far help it had been able-bodied I often feel. I have to admit DD did a job though now the challenge is to just finish up. Of course the area which needs a painting was the kitchen primarily in the cooking area I use out by my stovetop. Both ranges are covered with customary as the paint quest goes on. So this morning, after we have a pretty good sleep, we went out to breakfast out at Denny's. I used to in different at best about Denny's as a restaurant. Now the have become more and more prejudiced towards the establishment and I hate to have to admit it is my own elitism that is doing this. I am so embarrassed that I have these feelings but it is so. I mean the place for I would like to,Moe's but butMoe's is a working-class grease pit, full of old 60s weirdos… Like me, but the locals like me. Denny's is just too commercial and strange. What are the things I ordered for breakfast was an order of onion rings, they just look good so I ordered some and they were bad I (prejudicial) believe the oils, the rings could've been better. I would much rather had two maybe three onion rings and held me till my order came. But no, have to order a whole set of things; I have been tempted the past couple of weeks with restaurants from there in the stacks untouched food left on plates on tables across from me reaching over and grabbing a handful of onion rings or French fries. But that would be too much like a Seinfeld episode. But I do think that would be good to have the ability to choose a very few almost a sampler to get you through your meal.

So tomorrow starts my new work, I feel I should be taking a bouquet of pencils. My butt is tender and I have to be careful Frank has me frightened that I don't have enough sick leave now but think I'm okay. I'm going to write it out and enjoy the best I can.

Grand Rehearsal

Speaking of my buddy Frank last week, Frank gave me some good advice he said to consider taking a few days few days of vacation or sick leave whatever since I was going to be able to take any time off for the holiday except for the holiday: the Fourth of July holiday. Traditionally, I take whatever days follow the holiday and use annual leave for those days it works pretty good like this year I would've taken Thursday and Friday off so forth false on Wednesday. But since I'm transitioning to my new office over Fourth of July weekend I I will not be taking the usual annual and quite frankly I think I did need time. Well I am taking with the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week but when I called the new boss earlier in the week to check out how things were transitioning she was under the impression that I would be here on Friday to meet with the I T person who is only in their offices from eight till 10 AM she really wanted see how I was going to fit into the new setting. She wanted me some especially to bring over my IT equipment, my computer and other paraphernalia I used interface with the system. Now earlier we Pretty much packed my office and my boss one to pack everything into her little convertible and drop it off at my house so I wouldn't have to come in on Friday but Amy want to be there so there I went.

I drove the van and, and this really reinforces how much I hate driving. I was pleased to see I still had my skills intact I made it into the office without injuring myself or anyone else. It was just Frank me which is the usual setting and we did tear down my laptop and support materials and box them up to get ready to transfer over. Claire finally showed up, she had been sick and I was a bit surprised to see make it in today but she didn't she showed up and we loaded up the equipment that anyone over there and Frank and I drove over to the new building. Now when I was there the other day I chose a cubicle across from the boss. This is a good political process so the boss of have a ability here me and keep notes on me as I transition into the setting. But in the meantime then hired two more personnel who Amy wanted next to her which is great because that's what I wanted the long run anyway. So I chose a cubicle far away from everybody else there some one from the other side of the wall for me that she seems okay. I got a good setting much for Windows but still that's the way it goes I'm just glad to be working. The more I see of his crew the more I think I'm like my time there for however long that will be. Become a stuff in the building squared away and I will continue my transition all over next week where I'll become a go through the indoctrination process learned their software to see how my systems will work with theirs. Looks pretty cool.

Frank and I got back to the office and Bonnie had purchased Brandury doughnuts, my care was running out of power quickly so we had a small party of donuts and talk and I went into the office charged up for about half an hour 45 min. Then Bonnie and Frank loaded my packed boxes in the back of the van and I drove away. We are planning on having at least one staff meeting a month where I would need to come back and interface with staff – –wink wink and call it breakfast.

Claire and I talked a little as I was getting ready to leave, really the last real boss employee moment after I drive away it will all be different -this would no longer be my real office of these would no longer be my real workmates. Since I'm technically tethered to this office we really have to put off the final meal until February when I do retire and leave the state for good. Maybe that's why separation today was not so hard maybe my psyche still waiting for the final final next year. Still this was a good rehearsal.

Vials and VIals of Blood

I had called last Friday the only appointment open this week, was yesterday at 1045. We decided I would go to work and Dianne would drive an picked me up and we would together go up to the University to meet with Katya, my provider. We got to the University good time, got checked in and got some premedical work up done. Becky did this work up she is very good and helpful. And again I only needed to find out why are what happen to the phone calls I place a got no returns and no prescription sent to where I had asked. I also wanted to get injectables for by HRT as opposed to the smear I have been using.

So when I got there I was not too concerned when Becky the technician begin to do all the medical stuff that happens at the first of an appointment: temperature, medical history, do you use tobacco? The usual. I always feel the medical technician question period similar to the warm-up comedian or prep band for the major brand. The practitioner finally got to me, shook more hammered than usual, she looked tired and frayed and that she started asking questions would already covered in early appointments and I began to get concerned. Early on in our discussion we found the prescriptions that we needed in the folder and were never sent to our pharmacy. This really sure the concluded my visit but then my dock one to see my butt. This is when things begin to go wrong, it seems my practitioner who is a nurse practitioner (who I used as an M.D.) was being shadowed by the M.D. she practices under and I sort of think this caused a lot of stress of her day. Anyway, she wanted to my butt on to see how it was healing which I thought was healing great as you think was so great. She made a comment that from now on I need to be down every weekend I. E. in bed with my weight off my butt. Then we revisited the need for a manual wheelchair, and a functional cushion which meant another appointment with my physical therapist which all should've been done in taking care of(another ball dropped). There's just too many weird things happening, what I thought was a 15 to 20 min. appointment was morphing into an hour. However, we did get the injectables we did get some counseling and Dianne did get some training on how to inject me with the HRT and I got my first week injection administered. We got some meds adjusted I got really spooked enough said. Needless to say I got the scripts and a whole lot more. I couldn't get out of place fast enough. I have loose ends of course, I have to make an appointment with my physical therapist, Sue and I get a few more things ordered hopefully. Dianne I are going to go to lunch but she had an appointment she had to get to and we ran out of time. I had to drop me off at Hires and had a great lunch, probably well my last since my cholesterol is way high and I have to take dietary steps to bring it down oh yeah – – they took vials and vials of blood and now waiting for the chem work to come back I'm sure will not be good for a quality-of-life issues going down the tubes.

Out of Sight Out of Mind

I have got one of the best medical practitioners I think a person can have – – she's European and she's good she does a great job of insulating me from a medical doctor she practices under. The only drawback, I feel, is that she tends to get super busy because she's in such great demand. That's well and good but drives crazy been trying to get a little medical advice that she just can't return my phone calls. This is been happening all week I am at the end of my first month of male hormone replacement therapy HRT and the stuff cost me about $400 a month which is ridiculous. Dianne has done some research and found we could do injectables much less cost. And I talked my friend Kenneth, who is a paraplegic and has been doing the injectables a says it's great. So I called the practitioner wanted no if 1. Could she give me some counsel on smear versus injectable and 2. Could just go ahead and write the script and prescribed an hour so training for Dianne in the process of using injectable HRT. Not rocket science, it should be straightforward but it hasn't been. So today Friday I finally remembered and called the hospital/rehab unit and set up an appointment to visit with my practitioner and go over these items face-to-face – – I guess it's only thing I can do. Have an appointment for Monday 10:45 AM and I don't know if Dianne could make it but I think she can hopefully we'll have to see. Why the things have to be so hard.

Okay okay I have never explained why I want to do the injectable well I sort of did, but actually I hate the smear. The processes I have Dianne's smear the HR on my shoulder my left shoulder and the process is really bizarre. Dianne has to wear a plastic glove and then be careful that none of the hormones gets on her is a can do weird stuff and even I have to be careful that I don't really get on me anywhere except for the point of contact at the smear hits my body or my shoulder. So the injectables is one-shot a month and that's it. That would mean I would not have to worry about having to wear short all the time when I have the smear on as well as just being scared around the smear all the time I met touch our Diane's gun touch it was just too strange and then again as I said earlier the cost the cost is prohibitive on the smear. I guess the smear is not covered under insurance so I can pay the whole load myself in this pricey. I my bottom line I just as soon not do the HRT at all but I really have seen some positive results of this therapy most significantly the wound closures so for that alone I will continue the therapy if financially feasible or acceptable.

It seems I just have one week left in this office, we begin the process of throwing stuff away taking down pitchers books and other stuff that makes an office and office. I really am sensing now I'm about out of this place is even if I still on payroll and out of this office when you're gone your gone. I wasn't born yesterday there's a reason for the phrase out of sight out of mind have a great weekend!!

Rose's

 

 

Anakah spent the night last night kinda rare this happens in the middle the week but it's summer to make sense having Ani during the week is a little awkward in that I end up going to bed pretty early and I think that frustrates her little bit we did okay last night. I went to bed they stayed up late. Cool.

So this morning, as usual, I'm up and at em ready to go. Before I went to bed Ani had been promised I would wake her before I left for work. I was up, dressed and out the door by six, said goodbye Ani and was gone. I stopped at Starbucks got my copy was still early enough to catch the 625 in the Salt Lake. This is okay but puts me into downtown at just about seven o'clock hour before need to be there. So I decided to the time do a little exploring.

Cool weather blew in overnight it was not chilly, especially after the past couple days and I 90 degree weather, rather quite enjoyable. With coffee in hand to have itself after disembarking the train I felt myself in front of Rose's. Had been the Roses before over lunch did never been there in fact I did know they even were open breakfast but they seem to be, I rolled inside. I do like the inside of Roses, the place has real potential they just haven't reached yet. The closest thing they offer for breakfast our pastries and rolls which can be heated up. Since I was essentially killing time, and already had my coffee, I decided to try the cheese rolls which did look good. A little pricey but would expect downtown Salt Lake? I was also disappointed and that the little place did not offer any Wi-Fi which is pretty shocking. The cheese rolls would've been good if they were just cheese rolls but they have to be trendy started sticking all kinds of herbs into the biscuits way too much Rosemary or some other kind of herb. Now the biscuits could've been saved had they had any kind of gravy to go over the top of particular bits of sausage but no nothing like that. I did ask do they have the capabilities to fry an egg that would've been good all things being equal that no they weren't up to that yet. The waiter, a frail and delicate figure with all kinds of strings tied around his wrist suggested they would some point in time offer a more full breakfast menu – – I can hardly wait.

The biscuits were supposed to be buttered and I'm sure they were I just couldn't sense the butter over the herbs I left one biscuit whole on my plate and washed the other down with my Starbucks coffee and left. Mind you this is not a review just my experience at this restaurant and it does hold great potential. I'm sure I will be going back in the month or two months in the hopes they have fleshed out their kitchen and offer a fine sausage gravy to drown the herb biscuits in.

Published!!

Back in November I posted to this blog that I had submitted a number of pieces of poetry to Desert Wanderings, the literary magazine published by Art Access of Utah the local affiliate of VSA or Very Special Arts. I went on and on about how Are Access publishes this document and if you submit your almost assured publication. And when I first started publishing and Art Access the editor was a close friend of mine which almost assured I publication. But Lori has separated with the organization and have gotten busy and with life and seem to always miss the deadlines for the upcoming publication. But at the end of last year, the submission date is the last of November, I had my writer's notebook out and I remembered and I submitted a number of haiku I have been working on. Actually, I'm trying to put together enough haiku we will publish a small book. Now I suppose a when does haiku but what makes my haiku different and hopefully alluring is that my haiku is focused on public transit. The genre I feel has greatly been ignored: the poetry of disability public transit. I hope that makes sense.

I don't know how much the volume is this year, in past years the prices been about five dollars a copy, a deal. So, if you want to get your hands on the latest edition of the Desert Wanderings before they're sold out, because the magazine is going to go fast. Contact Art Access of Utah at 801-328-0703 operators are standing by.

http://meadowlarksmind.blogspot.com/2011/11/submissionsno.html

It seems I've been out of the office a great deal this week today was no exception. I got back a few hours ago from the annual UILC's annual summer picnic. Picnic is always held at a place called fits Park at 3100 S. 500 E., Salt Lake City. The summer picnic hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, number three red dye punch and watermelon. If you are staff it's one of those mandatory things that you are there and you participate even if it's just speaking to other consumers. So, the summer picnic is a free meal, much as the Halloween party and the Christmas party are all free meals in these events bring out the consumers as no other events seem to do. It's a sure thing. Over the years I've fallen out of attending many of these old events for one reason or another, just another thing in the day to do. And if attendance wasn't mandatory I begin to blow off the event. I sort of promised staff at the 30 year open house last week that I would attend today and the promise made is important so I went.

It was a good day for travel, dry warm southerly breeze and best of all I could pick up the bus I needed halfway down the block on second South second best of all was that the headways for buses on second East is every 15 min. Now this is important right now since I have no faith in my batteries with what soever, the charger I have the office is kinda worthless but, I came in and charged and I made it to duck park without issue or problem. The picnic is a laid-back event nothing serious goes on just people talking in the good picnic stuff we've been doing it so long now I think it's also a place where consumers can look around and see who still live and thankful that made it to one more picnic. Today I got my mandatory hamburger and hot dog, potatoes salad and runny beans potato chips and pickles meant to the far side of the covered picnic area. With me in line of sight it when my old clients/consumers Tommy. Tommy has MS, is having since I've known him just 30+ years and is in the and stage of the disease process now. Tommy is still verbal and fairly alert, looks pretty thrashed but who would after 30 years with MS? Seems like Thomas respiratory system has been negatively impacted with the disease process every time I see them now expect this the last time I see him. But there is that the next function not Mr. wood chipper but he's there. I think, could prepare a lot better for the endgame, fuses a group that I facilitated for a number of years and I rode Tommy pretty hard to be more independent, to better prepare for the endgame did take to heart and sure enough his attendants seem a little spooky and questionable. As I said Tommy's breathing is labored makes it difficult to hear me speaks even more so in and out of doors setting like a picnic. But he was asking me a question today that I really want to hear so I leaned closer and he asked if I'd seen Steve, fellow trees to see Tom's company a lot 20 years ago I thought they knew each other from school and they were both in University. Steve was affiliated with a local low income food gathering program lost track of them over the years. But Tommy is asking had I seen Steve recently and I had seen Steve about a year ago and he left me with the idea he was going look Tom up and I guess it never happened. Of this meeting with a commitment to myself that I was in the fine Steve Johnson given meeting up with Tommy for Tommy passes away. It won't be long you can hold out much longer but then again I've been wrong before.

Popcorn and a Movie

I took off yesterday at 1:30 to head over to UCAT for some repair work on my power chair. I wanted to see if they happen to have any casters which would fit my chair.  The casters in the back of my chair had just about worn themselves down of the nubs and people will begin to worry.  In truth it was a beautiful afternoon and I felt like getting out of the office and I had vacation hours to burn.

So imagine my surprise when I got back to the office morning spoke with Frank.  Frank indicated the boss was taken the staff to movies and popcorn.  There happens to be screening a film about people with significant disabilities called the Untouchables. I watched the trailer this morning and the movie looks hysterical from a disability standpoint.  So, I am sitting here charging the chair, hoping to have enough juice to make the run over to the train station and then over to the movies should be fun either way.  Eat your heart out world.

Ahhh,Perchance To Dream

They say a race of giants were on the earth before the great flood they called these giants Gibborim. I would like to have seen these guys I would like to known just how big these giants were. Be that as it may I still believe giants roam the earth and every once in a while I am fortunate enough to sit beside one in my day-to-day life. One such giant in my life is a guy named Mr. Riggle-- Mr. Riggle, of course has a first name but that's not important at least not to me. Mr. Riggle is a person with a severe disability, college graduate and an employee of a local private nonprofit agency. Salt Lake that provides quasi-legal services for people with disabilities. Mr. Riggle is a policy wonk, this guy eats drinks and sleeps policy on every level. I think he's brilliant the Utah treasure sorry to say I think I am one of the few people who recognizes that he is the treasure he is.

I've known Mr. Riggle for five years now maybe a little longer I first ran into him I think on the train. I think he was kind of drifting at the time, kid gotten his degree and was out bounced around the community trying to find work or better yet trying to find someone who would hire him in a real-life job. I doubt I had anything to do with the the like to think that I did, I did speak to a few folks here and there. I noticed soon after Mr. Riggle begin to show up at some of the state Council and Board meetings that I was attending. For as I tended to show up to these meetings to sample whatever lunch stuffs were available Mr. Riggle jumped in to any and all discussions with gusto, intelligence and the focus to accomplish a goal, his goal. I don't know why from the onset we addressed each other by our surnames Mr. Smith and Mr. Riggle it just seemed right. Mr. Riggle has cerebral palsy which is pretty involved, please is a power chair from ability, pretty fast chair that. I'm pretty sure he has attended care who dresses him give be very difficult, for instance, for Mr. Riggle to put on or take off his own jacket which means he never wears a coat. Whereas I dress my huge white coat once the temperature drops Mr. Riggle never wears a coat are hardly ever. I see that subzero outside my window snow on the ground or snow flying and the lookup and see Mr. Riggle' zip past my window going to meeting in my building. Here we are on many of the same committee still and often ride the same buses are trains to these meetings. Me in my great height jacket and Mr. Riggle at most in the longsleeved shirt. Fortunately, Mr. Riggle is quite fluent speech and often speaks to different and specific pieces of legislation during the legislative season. Like I said the guys brilliant.

Mr. Riggle should be here in Salt Lake city, bouncing around the private nonprofit arena basically working for peanuts. Mr. Riggle should be working out of some senators office or Congressman's office help them develop and define legislation for people with disabilities and the systems that serve people with disabilities or he should be in some hotshot national phyz-diz private nonprofit agency or lobby bring about the same results changing influencing legislation to best serve people with disabilities. He should be getting big gun money for what he does but he doesn't and he probably never well and that sucks. The reason I bring all this up is that you today is on the train and Mr. Riggle boards and we settle indoor you discussion about this and that and some how the ideas of dreams come up and I make statement like “the tragedy of my life is the system robbed me of my ability to dream”. Mr. Riggle looked at me and shook his head and grinned," come on Mr. Smith, that's all I have is the ability to dream". And once again, I am put in my place by a member of the younger legions. I have so much, even my worst days, I can do so much I better get off the Crapper and start dreaming again , that's all we've got is our dreams... Thanks Mr. Riggle I knew that.

 I think they Photoshopped my head--but this was basically me thirty years ago...

I migrated down from Idaho almost 30 years ago to work at the Utah Independent Living center (uilc). I basically enjoyed my time at that I LC but eventually moved on. I was intrigued when last week I was contacted by the Executive Director of the center could called to inform me the center was having a 30 year celebration and asked if I would attend as well of the old staff. The event was timed late in the day and actually I think I can count the time away from the office community integration time. This would give me a chance to leave work a little early, bus over to the center and see old staff and friends. I figured two hours why not?

I was surprised to find the building seemed to be bursting at the seams when I got there. There was old staff and old consumers – – consumers I have not seen in decades consumers I thought were dead,. I was amazed it's interesting to go back to a place where I once worked – were in some cases I often felt like family. When I worked at the center there is really just for us and we were family back to nearly 80s we did just about everything together for a while it was like a cross between Seinfeld and Gray's anatomy. But we'll moved on, or at least I did.

Maurice was there, Maurice or Moe as I called in those days was the director of the facility when I interviewed for the job (which is another story entirely). Moe was one of those folks I thought was dead but he is very much alive. I think I like Moe more than the other staff, I think I understood Moe more than the other staff I appreciated the way he Moe thought, but we got rid of them there is a mini insurrection, I caved and was part of it. But we talked long time yesterday, we talked long time Moe and is relatively new life. I'm I look them up have lunch with some of these days if you live that long they look good so I assume he will live that long. I was amazed at how many of the consumers with serious disabilities, some progressive disabilities are still alive. I really thought that belong dead but there are there Tommy with multiple sclerosis, and others. I was surprised his love these folks have stopped coming to all the other events the center has been having, the Halloween party, the Christmas party the picnic and so forth the all really forth came out for the 30th anniversary. Unbelievable, really wasn't even that big of a food draw: cheese on a stick and cookies and number five red dye punch. So these folks obviously really want to be there which is cool. I mingled, got buttonholed spoke to some people way too long another's not long enough – – made promises to getting together knowing I never well. A couple of them I really do want to do that got some ideas and then their input would be important to the success of these ideas and there is a bit of a timeframe as well, I want to do something with some of these people before they die. So, I did the 30 year reunion--I wasn't a reunion but I'm pretending that was how if I just make it another 10 years for the 40 year reunion!

Computer Ninja

I've covered at great length in previous blog postings about my lack of social ambiance come five o'clock and I'm headed home on the train. I just want to sit in my car and from the train reading my book and being left alone. I think I've done pretty good job training most folk who travel the same train I do going home. I will smile, nod my head, of make appropriate gestures with my hands but always be sure, I hold my tablet so they can tell I'm reading. So I'm not a total social isolate--still, I just want to be left alone.

So I was kind of intrigued I noticed a smallish, younger fellow board the train. Short cropped hair, black rimmed glasses, angry bird T-shirt and a unique way of staring down as he walked down the trains aisle he started talking to all kinds of people not inappropriately necessarily, just way too close in cyberspace and questions that were more direct than is usually socially acceptable. In short he seemed a bit developmentally disabled. There is another patron on the train in a wheelchair dressed in military fatigues little guys begin to ask him questions is how I would fill given wheelchair, what branch the military had even then, the fly jets, and so forth. When the veteran retired of his questions the little guy got up and walked across the island sat down and ask a couple where, who were looking at photographs, book on camera the photograph are used, or the photographs taken, did you know there is a better camera that he could've used until the photograph are pretty much shoot fellow off the seat which is that point left only me at the far end of the train reading my tablet. I took a deep breath as this little guy noticed I was reading from my tablet and he asked "what kind of tablet is that?". I answer that it is I Thrive which totally excites the little fellow. He then launches in to a song and dance about did I like the tablet,am current on all the updates of the software for this tablet, and was everything I needed to end up on the tablet. In the process he actually requested to look at the tablet which I gave over and he expertly begin to go through the system settings and asking if I wanted certain changes made. I said no but at this point in time realized this little fellow had shipped into my ice shield and I begin to ask him questions. Turns out this little guy's is named Nick, the proud owner of Nick's Computer Fix. I asked if he is making any money. Nick said Jesse was. I asked Nick the have an storefront ready work for somebody else and he said no my offices here, wherein he reached around and patted his backpack. "All I need to fix computers is in my backpack". Nick indicated he was 14 years old and he could fix just about any computer plus he could unlock cell phones in their number of other items in the technical electronic field. I was transfixed with this little guy--I'm sure he's high functional spectrum disorder buddies out on the tarmac do it for himself. During the conversation he indicated that he had a Facebook account and I of course looked it up and indeed he is quite a little computer geek of the highest order. There were a number of testimonials to his expertise and gratitude for his ability to fix their problems.

Nick is a charmer, I'm pretty sure he knows he's a charmer but he also seems committed to make his business work. He knows what sells and I think he's worked his angle enough has tuned it well to meet his needs. He charges 20 bucks an hour and he comes to your house Monday through Saturday he's off Sunday's. He carries a cell phone and is there to help. I get the impression that many of his fixes he knows he can do in an hour. I'm sure the lead gets all kinds of tips is the embodiment of the American dream a little slugger out there with a disability making a difference in his own life. I'm a little worried for Nick about his lack of recognizing boundaries and in fact when I did explore his website noticed that he has already been robbed once that he's indicated that he continues on and that's admirable. So, I want to keep my eye on this guy I think his got great potential. He could rise to that of a leader in the disability community but that might be selfish on my part but we'll have to see. Below is a link to his face but Facebook page check Nick out, "like" him spread his name around. Nick could be the next big thing. 

Check his video

Train Ride

Last Thursday, I was ready for work, dressed and ready to go by 6 AM so I figured. At Starbucks grab some coffee and then jump nearly bus into the train station and you jump my day. Morning was perfect, warm breeze, was a clear and above normal temperatures for the afternoon a perfect spring day.

I had just settled in to my usual spot on the train turned on my Tab and was planning to read following to the Planetarium stop. As many great plans are foiled by the small things of this world so that this plan of mine at the next train stop when a mother with a stroller two small children in tow entered the train off the mini—high block ramp. So of course the little family settled down right across the aisle from me. The oldest child is a boy named Jeffrey who seemed pretty well mannered then there is Alexi was totally out of control, five years old for will be on report and district for any attention possible the third child was a babe in arms that I never did get the name of that made no difference. It seemed Alexi's favorite expression was”shut up”screen at the top of her small voice of voice shrill and brittle as glass. Jeffrey tried to stay a good boy as long as he could the but kept getting baited by Alexi… The mother seemed totally removed from the situation get involved only when the Alexi would would get so much out of control that the neighboring transit passengers would begin interfering with her children. The mom, who will call Maria, seemed and a couple enough talk about her life with folks on the train. There was an ancient couple sitting on the other side of the aisle, this couple were senior missionaries for the Mormon church who of course smiled benignly. Now the sister missionary sitting next to the window I think knew what was going on just kept staring out the window as your world washed by but her husband was another question. Whether he truly was a grandfatherly type or felt he was just doing what service missionaries did try to engage Alexi and her mother and conversation and smiles. As I said his wife stayed a little longer she could but the good brother soon had his arms full of both Jeffrey and Alexi and a mother forthcoming with all kinds of information which included she was indeed pregnant now and her husband was deployed by the military. What was interesting, was that the husband should have been home the week before but did not have enough money for the plane trip home so would have to wait to the next month. Now the mother also reported that the husband was a major in the US Armed Forces which means he actually makes a great deal of money all things considered so there's more to the story than we're hearing. Was interesting was the mother, with children in tow, was on her way to drop the kids off at daycare as she was on her first day of employment at Deseret Industries, training facility for low-income earners.

Thing one and Thing 2 were riding to the stop beyond mine and I was so thankful to disembark the train I reached the planetarium. He tried to put the morning-hell out of my mind as long as soon as I could. You cannot believe my chagrin at boarding the train on my homebound trip that might there they were Thing one and Thing two, baby sister pregnant mother luckily the day had worn Alexi down quite a bit, she was near sleep which I took as a perk.

City Creek Take Down

Wednesday, I must admit, is kind of a slow day so I was appreciative when any calls came in on my line. Access Utah network always been one of the "touch points" the Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA). So naturally over the years and hundred of access calls. But Wednesday's call was one of the best. When I answered the phone there is a pause, there's always a pause, as the caller gets ready to launch into their explanation. The caller was timid to begin with and he asked if this was the A D A to which I replied--this is access Utah, Utah's disability information line and we can answer ADA related questions. So he launched into a bizarre story of the dog, personal the disability and a rent a cops with to much time on their hands.

Briefly stated the individual who called we will call him Dutch has a service dog--you didn't tell me what kind of dog he was but I assumed he was a hairy dog or furry dog, whatever. And he in his dog had gone down to the new Salt Lake City downtown mall, City Creek. Now, I really haven't written much about City Creek but is Salt Lake's new, upscale mall, it's an outside mall two stories, fountains and still parts under construction but is now open to the public. Well, the caller tells me was a rainy morning, and we've had a lot of rainy morning to late here long Wasatch front and he was telling me how his dog had walked through some mud and was was tracking mud all over the clean floors of the City Creek mall. So Dutch, like any self-respecting service animal older would do grabbed racks holding back to the bathroom and washed his positive the sink where else? I mean if I had a service animal in the service animal had muddy feet--and I and I cared--that's what I would do huckem up to the sink and wash his positive everybody else. So let's let this part of the story sit for a bit of the back burner and then we'll talk about the $.24.

So not only is Dutch a conscientious consumer worried about the tracks his service beast leaves in the public space Dutch is also concerned about the fish of the world. And not only of the world but in City and Creek. Now bear in mind that City Creek is actually built on a city creek weird is that is and the Creek, man-made as it is has been channeled the flow right through the mall. Another Creek is spanned more than once a cutesy little bridges that the patrons across and gaze into the running water and guess what there's fish in the Creek! Now remember people shopping across any bridges they have changed jiggling in their pockets and so more than one is tossed the extra pennies dimes and nickels into the Creek. It just so happens that Dutch is a conservationist at heart and he cares about fish. So he was horrified to see the gleaming coins reflecting sunlight off the bottom of the Creek poisoning the fish. So like any conservationist he started fishing out the coins – – to save the fish. Sometimes point of view (P O V) can be everything. Now City Creek mall employs a host of rent a cops which where Smokey the bear type caps which really makes the cops look quite ridiculous. So it's not surprising when the Smokies happened upon Dutch with his hands literally in the the Creek the Smokies took a dim view of him fishing out the coins. Now Dutch really didn't want to coins for himself in fact he is only pulled out about $.24 and laid the change on the side the bank of the creek. This went unnoticed by the Smokies who in short time hold them up to the office. Now there was some exchange of conversation where when challenged Dutch informed the Smokies they could only do a citizens arrest, hold him over, until the real cops got there and of course that's exactly what happened. It was when they brought him into custody they realized Dutch was the same culprit who washed his beasts pause in the men's restroom sink. Which soon became an issue is great as removing coins from the public Creek.

One can imagine I was about 45 min. of the call at this point in time and kept getting imagery of Alice's Restaurant, but Mr. Woody Guthrie and I was struggling to maintain my professional dignity. The long and the short is that Salt Lake City check the observation cameras and saw that Dutch was not keeping the coins in fact he was absolutely right about poison the fish not that they cared – – the Mounties not the fish – – but Dutch soon became a defendant and when brought before the judge begin to try to educate the judge regarding the Americans with disabilities act and what it does and how it doesn't which was way too much for the judge to hear him tell the case over for hearing which of course moved out of the arena of public defense meaning Dutch need to find Council somewhere somehow, which is one the reasons he was contacting my office. This is all $147. 00 which of course Dutch did not have an he also did not have money for the Council.

I left the call not knowing what Dutch is going to do--I suppose he will survive the legal system you may be in debt, is.maybe in debt but Dutch will survive the legal system. Another case in point at how quickly things get out of hand and a little information is a dangerous thing.