Power Chair Problems

It's probably a small event to everybody else but to me it's major. Remember last week, last Wednesday they're supposed to come in take my chair away to get repaired? Well if it did not as you know and now it's been rescheduled for today. I mean, it's traumatic enough having to say goodbye to your shoes / power chair even for an afternoon but this is like sending your kid off to camp. All day long I've been goosing around in my back up chair because I had the brilliant idea that this day I'm going to have my staff/Annette Place me in my back up chair after my shower. So, I've been in my back up chair all day long which really, right there I deserve a medal. Normally I would have had Annette put me back in my regular chair and then come around 5 p.m. with my pickup should be actually the pickup is between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. but anyway at that of time when the driver shows up collect my chair have to go through this pathetic dance of transferring or trying to transfer from one chair to the other. Not only is the dance  pathetic but also traumatic. In the old days if I was lucky the driver would render some assistance or try to. And this day of the pandemic he's wearing his gloves and just sort of standing back and seeing how I'm going to figure out how to make the jump from one chair to the other. A couple times the driver just gets impatient and helps me with the transfer other times I've done things like actually jumped in my bed and then had him take the chair move it and place the back up chair next to the bed for me to transfer back into. It's awkward but doable. However, I'm trying to avert that awkwardness this time by being in my back up chair already even if it takes all day. I don't know if you can see that I've got a piece of my chair tape to the seat of the power chair. This morning as I was trying to undo the latch that holds my side arm on the right side of the chair the latch broke off. I found the latch it does not look like it's broke but somehow is come off I want to make sure the technicians either figure out how to put the latch back into the mechanism or they can replace the mechanism entirely. Fortunately, rarely do I undo that side of the chair or I don't have to actually. It's very heavy that side of the chair it has my controller on on the right side. Sometimes I disengage so I can slip further under a countertop like to shave or wash dishes. So even if that were broken or could not be repaired immediately I could get by.

That leaves me with trying to exist and my back up chair. Once again I'm totally thankful for this piece of machinery. It is certainly not the best nor efficient but gets the job done I just have to be totally careful all the time. The controller squirrely I think I've talked about this before. For some reason when you're in motion it doesn't really stop you immediately like controllers should. You tend to go a little bit further which could be very dangerous. I don't like to use this chair outside of my apartment  because things  could get very dangerous very quickly. In this time of quarantine the power chair will be fine since I'm not going anywhere to speak of. Or the other drawback with this chair is I think the batteries are very poor. Just normal driving the chair around the apartment and the complex seems to drain the battery dangerously low in just a couple hours. I have reverted to charging the battery whenever I'm at my computer or reading and I can be at one spot for an extended. Of time. In fact I'm charging as I write this right now just so I'll get by for the rest of the night. So, even after all this complaining I am just totally thankful to have two power chairs at the same time and to keep going without pause...

Looking Behind the Curtian

One of my favorite scenes from The Wizard of Oz his is when Dorothy goes behind the curtain to find the little man operating all the levers that brought life the great facade of Oz. Here was this little guy just working like crazy to bring the face to life with all the gestures and emotions. I've always liked going behind the scenes I'm seeing how it really was going on what was back "there" wherever there was. I've mentioned before there was a time when me and my family went to the LDS broadcasts Music the Spoken Word. We would always get there early, you always had to get there early if you wanted a good seat preferably on the front row what fascinated me most was the preparation planning the technicians had to do to get ready for the broadcast. I enjoy this much more than the actual music in the spoken word. For this reason I've always liked going down alleys and seeing what's behind the beautiful houses facing the street. Most of the time there weren't too many interesting things to see but every once in awhile one could see a very interesting backside of a house our yard.

 I've written about Elske, my internet friend who lives in the Netherlands. I really enjoyed getting to know this person and but seems to drive her and her daily life. Choose an educator teaching at a small College. She's an artist as well as a lover of great art. She loves Rome Italy. Interestingly, she goes to Rome whenever she can. It's a ways but I kind of get the impression Rome is like Washington DC or New York City are Florida or San Francisco is the people in the USA. It may take a bit but one can get there and not too big of a deal you just go. Whereas if you live in the USA going to Rome( at least in my eyes) is a major experience are the experience of a lifetime. When my friend goes it's her big event possibly of the year. She likes to explore the area and she likes to go behind the scenes. She recently set me a number of images of her last trip to the ancient city which fascinated me. The image of have posted on the front of this blog is one of those images that fascinate me to no end. I think I've romanticized this image way too much but I just love the windows on the back of this building in the small little porches are balconies and what seems to be add-ons to the original building. I'm enchanted with the small gardens put in the space for one wall meets the other. There's one or two window box gardens that I bet are on the outside of kitchen areas. If you look closely you can see modern add-ons to the building like a satellite TV DISH the upper right hand corner. This building is probably not near as old if I think it is. I'd like to think it's part of the ancient structures of the city but I'll bet you it's new since the war WW2. Still the place fascinates me that it exist as it does. I'm sure the front of the building is smoothing not assuming to the point that nobody notices passing by the building itself periods only when one takes the time to go behind the building you see the real beauty of the architecture and structure. Of course it would not do me any good to visit such a place except to see but I can see from this image. There's way too many steps and stairs for a person in a wheelchair. Even if I was in my manual chair I can see carrying me would be way too much to consider...

Monday Tech Musings

I have been patiently waiting for a set of headphones I ordered last week on Amazon. Expect to see the headphones show up in the next couple of weeks or actually days hopefully by next week for sure. In the interim however I've been using my tablet or tab. I've always enjoyed the ability to use talk to text on the tablets I have had but I've never really used them to the extent I have after breaking my headset. I'm almost spooked, now, because I have become somewhat spoiled at the convenience of dictating my blogs wherever I have access to my tablet. Maybe that's the way it should be but now I've got to headset coming and I most likely will go back to utilizing the big system in the living room the do my dictation.

I think I like the big system just because it's a big desktop computer gives me confidence that my creations will not disappear or be lost. I am hoping that the mere fact that I can access my writings in Google Docs anywhere that maybe it doesn't matter where I have my own system. My big rationale for the home system is that I keep the Raw pieces of writing on the big hard drive. And really probably does not make any difference but it just feels more secure to know the originals are tucked away on the hard drive – – but they're also tucked away on google doc wherever that's at. This is my third or fourth tablet it's the 10.1 in tablet. Much bigger than a small screen cell phone the 10.1 in just me a decent area to read off of if I want to use electronic books. I really thought I was going to be a big advocate for the electronic library. I also became quite enamored with the sketching space the 10.1 offered. I found some software that was really well suited for the 10.1 and my kind of sketching electronically. I don't do electronic sketching very well, for that matter I don't do any sketching very well but that's another blog, I still like having the ability to do that sketching when I'm not too intimidated by the screen. The software is good I have just never the chance to fully understand and learn the software. I really have not found any decent instructional information so I keep searching off and on. I have br1oke the number of small screens as well as 10-point ones but something's happened this last year or so and I had my cell phone for an extremely long time for me that's not broken screened the same with my 10.1 for once I have not rolled over the screen cracked the surface. Now I hope I have not jinxed myself.

The world is really trying to get out from underneath the heel the coronavirus outbreak. Little bit by little bit across the country restaurants, amusement parks, and Industry it's slowly shaking itself awake and trying to get back into production. There is a number voices mine included rich it's thinking it's way too early and we are going to get bitten in the butt when this virus comes back on us in the vengeance this summer are most likely late fall-early winter where some epidemiologist are saying they're all be at backlash and the virus will strike again maybe even worse. I'm not working so I'm blessed I'm just almost terrified for everybody else out there who needs to be working, going to school, even socializing and these times on all of that this taken away. We shouldn't let our Shields down...

Sunday Breakfast For One

I woke this morning, kind of late, actually. I slept in I think because the low pressure system had moved in a wet storm overnight and brought the temperature down significantly. Before going the bed last night I actually shut the window because I was frightened that it the temperature might be too chilly and I may not have enough covers since I remove the comforter last bad remake. I did the bed snuggle thing until 8 a.m. then finally jumped out of bed.

The clouds are dark and menacing looking out the window rain was falling and I figured it was a good day to cook. I really do like Sundays for cooking. What are the things I miss most about being divorced is not having someone to cook for especially on Sunday mornings. I don't know what what's my motivation today maybe it was a clean kitchen since yesterday Annette was over. I wanted to use up the rest of the sausage gravy I've been kind of nursing all week with the last of the Frozen baking powder biscuits. I've even used a couple of pieces of toast broken up which actually is not a bad way to go with baking soda biscuits. But today I really wanted to see could I do it can I throw together some biscuits from scratch?

I washed the big yellow bowl plastic with a handle, the bowl is big enough for at least a gallon of whatever. I don't use it that much but it's really convenient and I should use it more often. But soon I had the three-quarters of a cup of milk, I used buttermilk just because  the buttermilk which I had  for another  project that I never used .  I had two of those little pint containers  a buttermilk .  Just perfect  for what I needed , 2 cups of flour, three quarter teaspoon of salt 2 teaspoons baking soda and even the 8 tablespoons of shortening what's really seems like a lot. As I got along with the project I became excited because I was able to use a lot of buy new pieces of equipment. My new rolling pin - made of aluminum, my biscuit cutters and finally my device that I used to cut the grease into the flour but work great! Flip zip and a little stirring and soon I had a a ball of dough ready to roll out but yeah I did. I loved my biscuit cutters. I made about 12 rolls 6 larger than the others. Threw them in the oven and 15 minutes later I had biscuits. Microwave the gravy, I even fried an egg and had a real breakfast. I must confess I wanted a fried egg but when I broke the egg into the frying pan the egg did not stay together. However, I cook the egg at a low enough Heat I pretty much push the egg together and the yolk was just running enough and complemented biscuit and gravy. I made a bit of a mess but not too bad it should clean up easy in the sink is clean. My hardest task was eating on me 1 biscuit-- yeah you're right I had two and the biscuits and gravy were great ...

Coffee Cup

I'm sure you're all tired of me talking about how great I think the sharing shelf is but I still cannot get over how much I enjoy finding Treasures and I check the Shelf each morning, which I do, religiously. I do this because you never know but treasure what's going to find.

Right now I'm having to do with this giant coffee cup that I've been using at the coffee group which meets every Thursday morning at 9:30 here at the apartment complex. The coffee klatch of course that's not Matt during the last two months because of the Coronavirus thin thing. I really don't like the mug very much which is why I have chosen to use it at the coffee klatch. Typically the mug is stored in the cupboard in a little kitchen area. I only have to deal with it once a week. Everyone thinks it's cute, especially since I have an inscription on the front about how beautiful baldness is. I can't remember where I got it one of my daughters may have given it to me as a quasi joke. Anyway, my favorite mug in the whole world broke about 3 weeks ago. Yes I dropped it while I was washing it. The cup was a large 16-ouncer and had an image of a gesture or something from New Orleans. I guess the images are a trademark of this Cafe in New Orleans as well as France / Paris. We got the mug when Dianne and I were together. That could easily be 35 years. I love the mug. I have tried to patch it back together but I doubt it'll hold coffee. Doing this time of quarantine one of my major go to places for acquiring unique mugs and such has been the Deseret Industries, a major local second hand operation ran by the dominant culture in this area. But they do get a lot of coffee mugs / cups. Normally I would just Saddle Up head over to the closest DI and find something unique. When I broke the mug I desperately need to have a coffee cup here at the apartment so I went down and got the Baldy cup and brought it back. Truth is I don't like this cup and one morning as I did my shelf cruise by I was dumbfounded to find it's beautiful black cup. Everything I've wanted in a coffee cup. Style, color and it was a good 16 ounces needless to say I snatched the cup and have been using it the past couple of days. The cup fits my lifestyle perfectly. Last Thursday I was pleased when I got notification the coffee klatch was starting again. It seems the restrictions are beginning to be raised. I think we are safe here at the apartment complex. No one really goes anywhere and even though we are having the coffee social again we are experiencing social distancing. I brought my cup back mr. Baldi and stash that with Irene, the lady who runs the refreshment operation of the coffee group. I don't know how long I can keep the black cup from being destroyed but I'm going to do my best and even better I got news this afternoon with local news .that DI is back in business. I better head over there soon and get a coffee cup back up. I have a suspicion the quarantine relaxation it's going to be short-lived..

FRIDAY Night Fast Food

I forgot my camera so refusing for of being in line of credit union same scenario

I don't know what I was thinking Ark why I didn't attend to blogging earlier today but here it is almost 9 and I have not yet blogged. If I wanted to blame anything it's the fact that I broke my headset to my big computer, which I have the dragon dictate on and therefore I think I am frustrated having to use other text to speech devices. I'm fortunate however that I do have those, I even have another computer, a laptop, on which I have dragon installed. But I've taken a liken 2 this tablet I've been using the past couple of days and the speech to text software on it which actually works remarkably well. Having said that I will now finished the blog.

I cannot believe I took off without my cell phone which is also my camera. Rarely do I do that but this evening a little after 7 p.m. I decided that rather than try to make something for dinner here at the apartment oh, and I have everything I need to make a decent dinner or even a dinner salad which is what I should have had. I wanted to go out and buy something at a restaurant I was hoping I could go in and sit down and not have to repeat the experience I had at the credit union earlier this week. I was wrong. There is a Beto's just a couple blocks from my apartment complex, not far an easy roll in my power chair. I really like there Frijoles and Spanish rice but tonight I want to celebrate the fact it was Friday And the fact I was going out without my mask and try to enjoy fast food, Mexican fast food play like it was like the old days. Like I said that didn't last long when I get to Beto's and find the doors locked of course so I get in line with the cars. Fortunately, there's a great deal of sunshine /light still available, I was safe. Actually, I would have much rather cross the street I'm gone to the real fast food Mexican Del Taco. There I could have got American Mexican tacos, you know tacos made with hamburger. I didn't though stayed on my side of the street and patiently where did in line. Luckily the car in front of me turned off their ignition motor so I wasn't sucking too much exhaust.

Eventually, it was my turn up at the window. I don't think they realized I was there till I knocked on the window and got my order. I was elated. Thursday restaurant I have to pass on the way home and they are sort of famous for their pies so I thought I would stop in and get a piece a pie, apple pie with that great. Like I said the time now was about 7:45 and the door was locked tight so the lights are still on inside. When I went to pick up my dinner I noticed people were inside or coming out so I figured it's w open but then I looked on window and a indicated the restaurant was closed at 7 p.m. I was way late no pie for this guy.

I made it home without incident opened up my styrofoam box and looked at my dinner which was pretty messy the steak was all chopped up in a group but it was quite good. They also sent with me a giant tortilla Which I guess you're supposed to shovel the stuff from the steak into it and roll it up and eat it like that. I kind of did that but finally with quite a bit left I stuck everything back into the styrofoam box neatly folded up the box and threw it in the refrigerator and we'll plan to eat that over the next couple days over the weekend.

A storm is coming. A low pressure front which is causing nice gust of wind. Temperature today was in the mid-90s perfect for sitting out on the patio. Especially after Dark would you can get away with a lot more stuff. The only trouble is by the time it gets dark it's pretty late and I still have close the fold before I sleep and close to fold before I sleep...

Screen Door Assist

You know it’s funny how when you start out on the new day and you think you have a good idea about what’s going to happen during that day and then suddenly things begin to change? This is what happened to me today. I knew I was going to have visitation from some of the old folks I used to work with when I was employed by the state of Utah but soon I realized there were going to be changes.

I really don’t read things taped to my door that comes from the old days when landlords put undesirable notices on ones door. How do I read my monthly notice from management I would have seen that the coffee klatch restarting again today! What a shock. I don’t know what I’m more shocked at the fact that I actually missed this weekly Gathering of folks here at the apartment complex or the fact that the group was starting again which means that life is beginning to return to normal. It was great to see the old crew once again gather around the tables. We probably had double the amount of tables we usually use because of social distancing. I really don’t think we as a group had to worry about much since we’ve all been socially isolated for at least a month or month-and-a-half and there’s been no outbreaks. So I think we’re safe but we did do socially isolating and we drank coffee and we seem to get back into our groove a little bit. A couple of the regulars we’re not in attendance but that’s okay I’m sure they’ll be back next week when they find we met again.

I had an appointment set up for 11 a.m. when I would meet with a couple of folks from Utah assistive  Technology Program UATP we’re coming over to install some sort of a handle on my screen door open and shut the screen door with less stressful I’m currently. Because I cannot access with my hands the traditional way to open up the screen door I’ve been using various sticks and reach extender devices which although sort of works Are not ideal  and well sooner or later lead to me destroying the screen door. I really am trying to change my method of operation. I was so pleased that when they showed up the seem to know exactly what my needs were and went to work installing not only one Loop on the inside of the door but also a loop on the outside of the door! So now not only could I open the door with these go through I can actually shut it behind me once I’m out on my porch and flies will not be streaming in. This is really a great program that’s a shame more people in the state don’t either know about it or use it UATP is another agency I’ve been on the board for decades. I know they’re out there so I use them. I really had a double win  today. Remember about how my power chair are my backup power chair sides wouldn’t lift so I couldn’t send my chair back for the upgrades? Well as long as I have the guys here I figured I’ll ask them to look at and sure enough problem solved. Somehow I had turned the locking mechanism 180 degrees to what it should be and it would not work or function. Once the latches was returned to its proper position it worked just fine so I called in made another appointment to have my chair picked up that will not be till next Wednesday but I’m cool with that my regular chair is working just fine I should be okay until next Wednesday.

Nothing Is Ever Simple

I have to admit I'm slightly disappointed and how this day has turned out. Actually, I'm kind of glad that I'm still in my power chair even though the chair is supposed to be taken by the wheelchair shop for the upgrades which were to be installed tomorrow. I thought I was being so proactive on everything I was doing and I was accept that I didn't check my back up chair. Actually, I did but I didn't check the right stuff. This morning early I threw the charger on the back of chair to make sure the battery was topped off and then I just sort of hang around waiting 4 wheelchair guy to come by and pick up my chair this afternoon between 5 and 8 p.m. . I recently used my chair when I have this chair I'm in right now serviced couple months ago. I don't remember having any issues with the back up chair then. Today my biggest concern was how I was going to jump from my current power chair, the one I'm in right now, into my back up chair. I was kind of excited because since the last time I use that chair I put a new cushion in which I think is going to really help my stay in the chair for however long I need. I was so impressed with the right I had the last time I sent my chair. I was actually looking forward to riding the back of chair in the next 2 days. I was really looking forward to the repairs that are going to be done to this chair to keep it functional until  I order my new chair in about 6 months.

The only issue I was concerned with, was how I was going to make the transfer from my chair to the back of chair. I was praying the driver would help at least spot me to make sure I didn't crash to the ground. I was so helpful I waited out on the porch to my building until he showed up and then I escorted him through the gate to the back of the complex for my apartment is that way it'd be much less trouble to load up the chair. Everything went well until I tried to lift the arm on my other chair but you'll allow me access to the seat but for some reason the arm locks, little plastic box that has a pin that keeps the arm pin to the chair would not work. When you pull back the liver it's supposed to pull the pin out allowing the allowing the arm of the chair to raise up. If this does not happen there's no way of transferring. I think I remember one side being immobile but the other side seemed to work just fine today neither of the sites work I ended up sending the driver back without a chair. I tried to suggest the driver take the non-functional chair and have the arm locks fixed then come back and do the trade out but he wasn't about to do anything like that. So, the chair is sitting back in my bedroom and I'm in my chair trying to figure out how to resolve this issue.


So tomorrow I'm going to call the wheelchair shop let's see what they say. I'm also going to call my buddy over at ucat and see if I can get some arm locks and maybe I can talk my brother into putting them on my back up chair then call wheelchair shop again and repeat today. I'd be surprised if I'd be able to get this accomplished give in a couple weeks.

Peewee Herman And Me

 I don't know if it's the time were living in or I'm just hypersensitive towards social aggression or maybe society itself is just disintegrating and I am sensing that firsthand and first person. I'm really try not to make a big deal out of this event but still the event is festering in the back of my mind and I'm not really quite sure what to do with it. Yesterday, I went to the market pick a few things up and I was pretty much money my own business when I turned the corner just at the same time as this older black person who's looked a little grizzled was in my way. I smiled and try to move out of the way at the same time he Sort of moved in my way we're doing that awkward “two-step”. In most situations when that happens both parties smile or kind of laugh and let the other person pass which I fully expected was going to happen on the situation. Finally I stop and I waved him around but he won't go he snaps his fingers a couple times and tells me to go through which I have no problem with complying but what was weird was as I passed by him he mumbles something like “you stupid idiot”. I have to admit I was totally shocked. You know when you have one of those moments you can really quite believe happened happened. I was caught in a moment of indecision of you I confront the individual and asking why he makes its remark, or just suck it up and go on my way or the sophomore and respond in like manner and I can't believe I took the third choice. I mumbled my retort (with apologies to Pee-wee Herman) “well, it takes one to know one”. I couldn't believe I said that. I just rolled on my way didn't dare turn around let's see if he was coming after but even then I was embarrassed that I took the bait and responded in like manner. Usually I'm so befuddled I don't even make a response and only spend the rest of the day thinking of responses I should've made and wish I had made them. Today however everything worked just right and I responded. I don't know if the old geezer heard me and quite frankly I don't care. I know I didn't deserve the comment in the first place not that that justifies my response but still, I didn't do anything wrong. What I'm wondering is what I've been thinking about since the incident is this just more of our society becoming unraveled? Is this a black man who with all the social unrest that's going on right now with the riots and everything striking out at me, the white guy, in the market We just happen to be in his way. Maybe it has nothing to do with race baby has everything to do with disability. Like what is this guy doing this big old power chair blocking my way? Or maybe this is a guy who's angry because some other guy in a power wheelchair, at one time or another, rolled over his foot and the disgruntled minority guy is never gotten over. Regardless of the situation it feels like the social fabric is unraveling and I hate the idea of me getting stuck in the middle of the unraveling. I suppose it's a bit selfish and admit self protective but if I don't look after myself who will?

Hi Welcome To Mountain America

It's good to feel exhausted from being out in the system. It's been a long time since I've gotten tired and just running for the bus, waiting for the bus, riding the bus and doing my business with a mask and a cell phone I'm out in today's heat and loving it. I probably should stayed in like a good consumer but I felt a need to get a $50 bill for my daughter's birthday. I'm already quite late for the birthday and I know I've talked about before how I failed as a parent not remembering kids birthdays or perhaps even worse Granda kids birthdays. Plus, I needed to cash my check from the county. I wanted to make sure I had the right currency for the grandkid mail out. I'm quite amazed at how tired I am from just sitting in driving my chair around. It's not an easy task actually powering your power chair driving around from here to there. The power chair has a way of beating me up. I think, however just be an out the element as a way of draining the energy out of me. Not unlike when it's freezing cold you can feel the energy sap out of you now today with the temperatures up in the 90° area, and I don't have a hat on, I can feel my energy seeping out of my body. I don't know if it's going to my head but it certainly exiting stage left.as I mentioned earlier I actually went out to my bank branch. I'm bank with Mountain America Credit Union (M ACU). I'm still quite bummed that the credit union closed its branch in the basement of the student union at the Salt Lake Community College. Now in order to use services have got a go to the bank. The branch I have been going to suspend move here to Taylorsville has been the W. Jordan Branch Way south from here. Fortunately on Thursdays when I was part of a reading group I actually can stop at the bank/credit union on the way home and get with banking and using done then. So what I don't have anything else to do but go to the bank it's a long ride out there on transit. There is a credit union branch that I'm beginning to use more and more which is around the corner from where I live in downtown streets. Using this credit union is not such a bad deal except, of course during the severe snow time, the stop for a credit union is right by the DMV which is always good to have access to. I really am dense much of the time. I really could be a better thinker. I was excited about going to my branch and going in seeing the people and enjoy the hospitality that all the employees of the credit union tend to exhibit. They seem honest to me.you have the ever present bowl of candy suckers, the suckers not world-class – – in my estimation – – suckers are going not tootsie pops. The dumb dumbs. I wish the candy was a better selection. Well, I found out today that whatever candies in the freebie dish I'm not going to get a shot at it. I don't know why I did not think for one second that the lobby would not be open. Big signs all over “the lobby is closed for your protection and our staffs”. The bank lobbywas closed uptight, another fatality Covid 19. Of course it was a stupid can I get. In the back of my mind I was kind of hoping you'd been the rules for the pathetic disabled old guy begging services from the locked door. I realized that was not going to happen so I did what any red blooded disability activist would do a crank up my chair and rolled around and got in line. It was hot sitting in the line without a listening to my cell phone. Nobody came running out with a glass of water, a desire to take my order and give me special favorite consideration. I would just put my chair in gear and roll out each time the lead car, business finished, when roll-on out. Eventually, my time came. It's a cute little “teller check” was amazed to see me sitting in front of her she didn't show it. I got my $50 bill and change and headed for the bus stop more than ready to go home even though I had to stop and get vegetables or salad…

With a Little Help from My Friend…

I was really surprised when I woke this morning I found it was the 31st day of May! I don't know why, possibly because that little ditty I sort of got memorized as a kid “30 days has September April May and November all the rest have 31…”. I totally believe that to the point where I cannot unbeliever just because it's not true. I thought for sure today was 1 June. Guess what? NOT! Because I was sure that yesterday was the last day of May 2020 I use this as an excuse to wander across the street and spends money. I didn't need anything really. What I did need was dollar bills, singles and a roll of quarters. Granted, I had washed clothes on Friday (day before yesterday) so I really didn't need quarters until end of the week now but it was a good excuse to get to the market. Oh by the way, I checked my mail before I went over to the market and guess what? My Renters Rebate(RR) check had arrived! I barely even remember applying for this little financial morsel. I don't really know why but because of bills and obligations that we turn in months or year we get what is called the RR. I don't argue with it I just accept it and cash the check. This year 160 simoleons , but that's a blog for another day. The point was/is I'm in the market, and of course I've forgotten my reacher stick/hook and very item I need is totally out of my reach. Actually if I really stretch my fingertips touched the item but of course I just pushed the item further back on the shelf. I have learned that I can get my chair back, and where this does not give me any added height by the chair leaning back I get a few more centimeters of reach and many times I can get something) but not this time. I must look pathetic with by chair tilted back and my poor little quad hand reaching for an item obviously out of reach. That was when I hear a gravelly older voice asking if I needed some help. My back of course it to the person is I'm leaned back in my chair reaching up and I see this senior hand reach up and place the item in my hand. I take my item and begin the cycle in my chair back to its upright position, this always takes a few seconds but as soon as I do, I spin around wanting to thank the person who gave me the assist. As I spun around there was nobody there. I was in the middle of the aisle even if the person had been young able-bodied I was still seems somebody but there was nobody there! I then rolled to the end of the aisle to see if I can spot somebody but again no one is around. When I heard the voice asking if I need a hand, I thought I knew that voice. But was not sure who it was. I try not to think about who I thought it sounded like but it too bizarre I would have to say that voice belong to next-door neighbor Al, who's been dead for almost 6 years! It's still a mystery am not trying to overthink the situation sometimes you just have to go with the easiest explanation even if it's the hardest to accept. I need help that minute, at that place and who better to help me that my next-door neighbor Albert regardless of how far he had to come to help me out…

Like Sitting On A Timebomb

What a bizarre day. Actually, pretty mellow day up until about 4 o'clock when I turned on the news. I was shocked to see an honest to God riot in downtown Salt Lake. And seriously I have to admit I got caught into watching the television coverage of this event to just now when I broke away to write my blog. I've been in my share of strikes, peaceful demonstrations, and political actions but never have I seen anything like it's going on Salt Lake right now. Two cars actually been turned over and set on fire. Rubber bullets are being fired at the protesters and the protesters keep swarming. The social unrest is pretty bizarre. Literally thousands of people on the streets of Salt Lake city there's a lot of masks is also a lot of folks that are not unmasked. I will be interested to see the increase, if any, of Covid 19. The Mayor Salt Lake City and the governor of the state of Utah are issued a curfew for Salt Lake from 8 PM tonight to 6 AM Sunday morning how bizarre is that? On top of everything else it's 90+ degrees outside everything's just right for the virus to explode. I needed dollar bills (I have to write my grandkid letters tomorrow and I have to send a couple bucks to each kid) and I needed to get a roll of quarters both items was enough incentive plus my state money came in this morning, to go shopping over at the market. It was a quick trip all things considered. I did pick up some essentials green grapes, hot dogs, and more pickled jalapeno peppers. It seemed most people I encountered were right back so one sort or another. I did notice at the Mexican restaurant across the street from my apartment complex there is a tent set up in this person is trying to sell facemasks. It didn't look too good for her. Sure she's been soiled her brains out all week trying to build these masks and now she's trying to sell on in this little tent off of Redwood Road in 90° heat. I was glad to get home with my basketof Saturday night food and quarters and dollar bills. I really intended to read for an hour, watch the 4:30 PM news then return to my scanning project. In fact this days post was supposed to be about having something around so you need it in the moment you need it that item disappears. For me it was an image taken of the folks who attended my I think the 10th year birthday party. I noticed one of my friends was a bit younger than I am was in that photo which I could hardly believe. I didn't realize I was close enough with this friend to have invited him to my party. His name is Kyle and Kyle was a year or two younger than me. He lived in the piece of suburbia a mile or so from my home. Just recently I found out that Kyle actually lives in Salt Lake County. We have not yet gotten together yet to visit about old times.. On top of all these events which happen today about three hours ago out of the blue my stomach begin to rumble. I feel at risk of a major bowel blowout. I'm quite surprised nothing's happened yet. Hopefully if I can make it to bedtime without an incident thinks a settle down by tomorrow and I then make it through to Monday morning. Because as you know dear reader I only poop three days a week and this nature calls before it's time to have the call Select Home Health which will hopefully send out another person, who I don't know and who I don't know may be infected. So far nothing's happened but it feels I am sitting on the timebomb.…

Finally, Heat I Can Write About

Outside, the weather is finally hot, not outlandishly hot as promised by the weather guy a hot enough to cause the inside of the apartment to feel comfortably warm. It's the kind of warmth that the other seniors in this complex will crank up the air conditioner and if you are not experiencing social distancing what all be complaining out in the front the building about how hot the season is and how soon the heat has come this year. Wisely, I guess, I chose not to read out enough sun, even though there hasn't been much sun due to cloud cover. I'm kind surprised because the weather guy said moisture or clouds would not get this high any significant amount but it's significant to me. It's like in the old days when my older brother and I were taxed with bringing in the hay during the day while my father worked his regular job. I love these kind of sporadic cloudy days because even though the temperatures Mysore in the 90s you could still pitch hay onto the wagon because the heat didn't feel the same as the heat produced by direct sun's rays. Still I chose to read on my porch because I can. I read guiltily thinking that I should be doing something and I guess I am, doing something, I'm socially isolating, socially distancing. I'm feeling comfortable by state money came this morning I noticed when I checked my bank accounts. I'm going to make it another month. Actually, I'm still enjoying the bloom from the stimulus money from last month. Not that I need to but I'm almost wondering if it's true that another stimulus check might be coming.

At the risk of sounding really old I can't help but mention once again time I spent with a group called The Second West Acting Company. If you just search “acting company” you will get a number of references I have made over the years. It's not that I was a heavy duty after I was not, one of my friends who basically started the company was. I just took advantage of her enthusiasm and the fact that company I worked for would just about fund anything to do with disability especially in the arts. Since my involvement with the acting company didn't cost my agency any money (with the exception of night claiming over time and usually taking a couple hours off on Fridays that was about it). My friends agency Very Special Arts funded most of the project. As always impressed on how my friend always made us feel professional doing art stuff to her program. In the image I have posted is a great shot of the group with our real-life professional acting coach all remember now his name was/is Mike something. My friend actually wrote a grant that paid his time for instructing us in the acting tradition. We met once a week after work. From 6 to 8 are 7 to 9 or something like that I can't remember. I hated the hours because it was late especially in the winter it was cold, dark and it seemed like forever before I get home. In this image were going over a play (possibly one that I may have written I did a couple). The plays were never long and we would perform them once or twice then have a function afterwards with wine and treats and the chance to feel artistically professional. It was all smoke and mirrors but kind of fun. I don't know if I do it again but maybe just exercise the ability to meet if this quarantine is ever lifted…

Just Like Real People

I've written about camp Easter seal before and I think I've even included the short video taken of the camp in the late 50s or early 60s but before my time. Today as the temperatures rise to the mid-80s I'm pretty well convinced that summer this year will come early and I can't help but think of camp when I think of summer. Up until my accident the closest thing to camp was the annual trip up to Father and the Sons outing which was a one-day event up at a campground north of Boise Idaho. The drive up Friday afternoon after work (my dad's work) and come back late Saturday afternoon. It is only about an hour's drive. Other than that I never participated in any kind of camp program. Add a broken neck it's endows it all kinds of perks one of those being airlifted out of Boise to the border of North Idaho and Washington on Ccoeur d'alene lake. The place is beautiful.If you research for “Easter Seals” you'll find a number of my previous posts regarding Easter Seals.

Last week I was fortunate enough to have a friend of my return a call. The names Henry he has cerebral palsy and I've known for at least 50 years. I first met Henry at Camp Easter Seals. Anyway, I try to keep in touch of Henry we shared a great deal over the years. We separated by a couple hundred miles Pisan Blackfoot Idaho. As it were talking we, of course, had to talk about our days at Camp Easter Seals. He made the comment that I was the ringleader, nothing fun happened in less I instigated it. I'd really like to believe this, I don't know if it's true or not, but we sure did have a lot of fun and at the expense of many of the able-bodied folks at that facility. This was a camp for kids as most camps are. What is really interesting this is a camp for kids with disabilities. The time and place for for once in your life during the year your disability didn't matter whole hell of a lot just because there are a lot of other disabilities runaround and a lot of them a lot worse than yours, not that it was a contest. It is also interesting was that I was one of the only folks with a disability at Camp would actually been able-bodied. For the longest time I've ever really thought much about this but I began to realize when working with independent living that there is a significant difference between congenital disabilities versus disabilities which come on later in a person's life. Even at 15 I thought different than folks born with disabilities and the guess us came out as instigating inappropriate behavior in many cases. But that's not what this post is about this post is about the big dance!

At the end of the two-week long campout there's a dance and it's held in the main cabin where the dining area is turned into a ballroom. The counselors pretty much put on the dance, remember the counselors are physical therapy and premed students from Washington State University and University of Idaho. Really fun kids. Records are played everyone gets gussied up in their best outfits and we dance for a good 2 to 3 hours just like real kids. Wheelchairs, people on crutches, people with canes

and blind folks all get the dance its the last night at camp the image I've posted the day is an image of myself and three of my buddies Ernie and Scott all wheelchair users all rocking out on the last night of camp…

We Are Not Yet Done…

I'm just back from feeding the ducks. There's a nice little stream which wanders through the park adjacent to our building complex. There is actually a bridge over the stream and a road that goes along side the stream. Sometimes it takes a little effort to throw the bread out into the water clear the banks but it's fun when the docs finally realize what you're doing. I'm impressed there's a number of wild ducks (I'm sure all the ducks on this water are wild one form or another) but they don't seem to be as tied into recognition of being said bread as the white ducks. I don't know if the ducks actually see the bread flying into the water are just the gross body movement of my arm trying to heave the bread. But the white ducks steam right over and are fairly aggressive. What I find really interesting is that many of the wild ducks have little duck families 8 to 10 ducklings all different sizes when two or three families mingled together. An interesting is the little guys seems to know exactly what the white breads for when they come right out and gobble up as much as they can capture for themselves. Sometimes the parents get into the bread foray but usually they hang back. I had a whole loaf of Wonder Bread that I got the food bank a couple of weeks ago. Recently I got another loaf of white bread which I'm going to most likely use for French toast if and when I get motivated again. So, the initial loaf I could justify feeding the ducks.

But sexy hot outside the day in the sun temperatures are approaching 80 if not hotter! These are my type of days. I had my staff cracked window in my room so now I have access to fresh air all night long which is kind of exciting. I've been meaning to have her open the window for some time. On Monday's visit I had Annette remove the comforter from my bed so I just had the sheet in the top comforter now. I'm doing pretty good more than enough heat to get me through the night. Speaking of heat or lack of it. I don't plan to use my air conditioner much this summer if I use the air-conditioning system of all. Last year I actually did use it a couple times but I don't like “canned air”. Like the oppression of the massive heat. We should be in the 90s tomorrow and the day after. I'm kind of excited. There's been no word on the remodel of my apartment which is okay. I'm the only one is not worried about if and when the project get started and done. I'm a firm belief that the project will happen in this good time. I still don't know what they will do with me while the renovation takes place.

Slowly the country in the world is trying to get past the Covid virus. Every night the news is filled with municipalities and cities kind of giving up on the whole idea of social distancing and trying to start the “machine” again. There is more and more in-house dining as restaurants and fast food joints start to be no toes back into the public pond. The experience is going to be slow, hopefully, however there are a number of stories on the national news addressing the problems of literally thousands of people crowding on beaches off the East Coast and West Coast paying no attention at all to social distancing. It's too soon I think and we are going to get ourselves nipped on the butt if we aren't careful. Truly, I would rather be back on the road on my beloved buses traveling back and forth to my meetings, lunches and exploratory journeys but it's too soon. I just feel it. The viruses out there napping in the pre-summer heat and then the summer heat building up, getting stronger sharpening its teeth and claws for the autumn and winter seasons. We're not yet done…

What If?

Even retired, even quarantined even during the epidemic it's hard to adjust to the day of the week following national holiday. I guess some things never change. Of course there is no going into my Assist, Inc. meeting however there were some hopes that perhaps David would do a remote meeting but that was not to happen either I think the holiday was to blame. I know I often had quarterly meetings which invariably followed a three day weekend. I guess the social distancing it just makes the matters worse. So I spent a good part of the day actually being productive scanning images onto the hard drive. I finally gotten all software working properly. Just for a break I also sprinted across the street for some essential shopping.

This image has been laying around my sink in the bathroom for a couple days and I finally picked it up yesterday and examined it closer. I scanned the image in a couple weeks ago and I just briefly looked at the image and checked out the back inscription. There in my mother's handwriting was a short commentary that I had lived in the image of the house I first year of life. I really didn't pay much attention to the image at the time that I scanned but when I looked at it again when I shave the other day I noticed there is more to the inscription that my brother, Ross had lived there from the time he was born 1946 and that we moved in with my dad I guess in 1951 to the house on Latah Street. Now, I've gone back and re-looked at this image and am beginning to get some kind of a weird feeling of nostalgia for this little cottage. Even though I lived there for just one year after I was born I must've had some kind of feelings about the place. The address for this little houses 1917 South Atlantic St. I'm not sure and I'll have to do some research on this but my grandparents lived close to this area. I don't know if that was the reason my mom was living there because I think she was married at the time she delivered my brother Ross. And she had to be living there when my grandmother brought my birth mother home to Boise to ride out the last days of her pregnancy. I assume Doobie lived with my grandparents during this period. It's too bad I wished I could of gotten the image of when my mom lived there in the middle of the last century. That would've been cool. I'm just amazed that just an image of something long gone to bring these feelings about this kind of weird. I would love to go knock on the door and see if whoever lived there now would allow me to wander through the property and see what the insides of the house look like. That of course will never happen adjust what if?

Repeat, repeat, repeat… Infinity

Every time I try to write something I start thinking about what I'm writing and suddenly realize it has no relevance because of the virus and the quarantines. Even though it seems more and more parts of the state/country are getting back to what is considered “open”. I think it's too soon I think it's going to go into another lockdown before Christmas. So,, what I'm thinking about doing doesn't make sense because I won't be going out doing anything that's not essential i.e. fun. The kind of feels like Groundhogs Day where Bill Murray wakes every morning to the same day that is that the day before. I am beginning to feel the same way. I wake up and is to be anything new. I get up get dressed drink coffee take my meds and then check the emails, Messenger, and then I usually write my arm bike for at least 45 minutes now. Wander down to the mailroom then I read for an hour or work on the image scan project. Grab my lunch, watch an episode of whatever series I'm binging then listen to Marketplace . If I have not already written I then focus on trying to get my blog post ready and posted after which I might go out, hang out and read in the sun if it's available. Back in time for the news block where I have to make dinner and then have focused on well work on some more scans. I may try to squeeze in another episode of Gray's anatomy before I hit the bed benefit for the day and that's it for the day after and the day after that. It really is kind of Groundhog Day.

I really wish I could get behind this whole Memorial Day thing but, once again things are foiled by the virus but to be honest I can use as an excuse. It's not like I go out and decorate graves like many other folks do every year. I don't have a way to get to cemeteries and again I don't ever remember doing such things. I folks may have done it but I was unaware of things going alike on. Maybe later on after grandparents started to die. So I don't have a feeling for soldiers dead our family members dead and going out to decorate their graves. If I had transportation possibly we'd go out and pay some attention to mom and dad's grave and local JSS in Santa Quinn. I'm not sure where grandmother and grandfather Harker are hanging out. So even though the day was a little bit of a change from the usual I'm still in self-imposed lockdown except for “essential” shopping. I can't say that I'm bored and I can't say that I'm stir crazy there is enough going on in my life thanks to technology cell phone, power chair and my home health fresh and concerns me three times a week and then for two hours on Saturday clean my apartment. I even have a good relationship with my ex – DD which allows me to feel like I am having good communication and I'm a,socially functional Dunsil¹.

1See TOS, The Ultimate Computer

Privacy… I Don't Need Stinking Privacy!

I know I'm going to run this topic into the ground and is always no one is putting a gun to your head to read this stuff but this particular topic is freaking me out right now and has nothing to do with Covid 19, social distancing or lockdown.

You remember you yesterday's posting about side of my arm falling from my chair and then me being immobile and no way to contact anyone for the next hour and a half. Until Steve my upstairs neighbor heard me calling frantically. So, I'm resolved to carry some form of emergency responder device in case that happens again. This so hard to watch your back all the time. In fact it can it wears you out. Yesterday actually drive my cell phone around with me every minute. I'm getting used to keeping the cell phone tucked in my belt on my power chair at all times. Well sort of. Last night, as I was laid back watching weekend about 5 o'clock all the sudden message flashes on my controller window saying something about #2. I later looked up which means it's something to do with overcharging. However, while that sign was flashed on my controller my chair was immovable nothing worked I try to turn it off and nothing happened, I tried to use the mechanism to Laura and raise the back foot rests nothing happened I tried to put the chairing gear go forward or backwards again nothing. There was like the controller was dead yet there was a sign that said check #2. Needless to say I started screaming. I've learned that I need to yell loud and hard to have someone here me. This time I feel just a little self-conscious knowing that if I'm going to have any kind of resolution I've got to be heard. Actually, about five minutes later I heard seven shy knocking on my door and at the same time the check number two sign disappears and replaced by my normal driving image. The door knockers are this kindly Hispanic couple who speak no English heard by cries and respond to help luckily I assured them that I was okay. Now I'm getting a feeling of the little boy who cried Wolf. So I was gun shy now. Controller seem to be operating like a champ but I didn't dare feel like I should push the issue at all. This is when I decided that I would start carrying so sorry notification device in case something happens.

“Check #2” is now haunting me. Whatever fired off this morning is still nestled deep inside this controller. I assume it is the controller when I think about it, I don't know. It's a holiday weekend of course and nobody I can call is aroundif this happens again except neighbors within hearing distance and possibly the fire department are an older brother, or my ex, DD volley who always saves my bacon.Actually, when I list my options I feel pretty well covered. I still fairly paranoid as I sat watching Netflix the rest of the evening inadvertently looking at my controller gauge, making sure when I went to get ready for bed that I had my cell phone with me. I'm even thinking about checking out the various personal assistance out there with Amazon or Google. I hate to go that route but maybe I have to realize this is where I met anymore and if I'm going to be living independently I have got to be able to reach out immediately to my supports. Remember in yesterday's post? My upstairs neighbor almost unloaded on my housekeeper because she was late and I needed her. I got to thinking was he basically saying “don't bother me” by my yelling at odd hours the night or day for that fact. The trade-off I know personal assistant thing is that you're actually inviting your technology to listen to you all the time. Many think this is an infringement of personal privacy but again it's a trade-off for me and who the hell knows ? Those guys are listening to you all the time anyway and tracking the hell out of you this way just having a cigarette with them at the end of the exercise…

Saturdays Miracle

Me and my buddy Stephen my upstairs Savior!

I woke up somewhere around 5 AM this morning. I had really hoped to sleep in later even though I knew that my cleaning person was coming today. I pretty much laid there and tell till 6 AM when I figured I would get up and start the day. I slept really well all things considered perhaps it was the rain falling outside has not rain for some time here in the area and finally were getting a little moisture. Low-pressure system came in with lots of wind and lots of rain being blown against my window sounded reassuring. I can to slept better during the night but I was okay. It's not that I was excited but Annette did put a new sheet protector on my mattress yesterday morning and I figured getting out of bed be a pleasure. I have found these plastic sheet protectors slide really well off the mattress allowing me to plop down into the chair. I still took extra careful measures to make sure the bed was lined up all right sticks were I can get out if I need them and that turned the bed back to make it easy to make and went for it. Cake! I was in the chair a little off-center but that's okay I righted myself rolled in and started the coffee I decided to start addressing sequence. For the new readers, I dressed myself in the power chair which allows me to tell myself back and spasm in an arc which allows me to drag the clothes over my butt and around my waist. With very little effort I got my shorts on the partially pulled up then rearranged my chair so I could lean back and finish the process the time was about 7:30 AM I leaned my chair back…

When I had my chair repaired a week or so ago I made sure that they fixed the locking mechanism on the right-hand side which locks the arm onto the frame of the chair. When I got the chair back the latch worked perfectly. That is not the issue. When I shave I often lift the right-hand side of my chair which is often the called the “drive” side or the “controller” side. This side of the chair is significantly heavier than the other side. I did that this morning I disengaged arm of the chair and set it down rolled under the sink and shaved. When I was finished I backed out and reset, or I saw I had reset the arm of the chair. Often the small piece that slides into a receiver on the base of the chair sometimes gets bent and it feels like the piece inside its “home” but is not. That's what happened this morning. As I tilted back in my chair the arm slid off in the controller, which operates the chair, became totally out of my reach. Had not paid much attention to her I was at when I did this process and suddenly realized I had no access to my sticks or my cell phone. I was not upside down by any means but as tilted back in a pretty radical angle. I was not too concerned because worst-case scenario I did nothing I was hoping my staff would be there by 8:30 AM. Still however I tried to fix the situation. It seemed like everything I tried to do every MacGyver move I tried was foiled. Fortunately, I had plugged in my tablet on the side of the close hamper next to my chair and with major effort I was able to secure the tablet. When I did secure the tablet I pulled the charger out of the wall of course and there is only 12% charge. I texted my older home health person who is now a nurse at the hospital which is a no go. I did leave a message with DD but I was not sure she was up. I was hoping DeeDee could call my neighbor across the hall to have her come over and assist. Then of course the only thing left was I started screaming/shouting which I thought was useless. Long story short my neighbor Steve, who lives upstairs, who has never heard my screen before (and I've screamed a lot over the three years I've lived here) heard me and actually came down. It was now past 9:00 AM. My home health person was over a half hour late and I had been able to contact her via the text so she knew I needed assistance still processing that issue. Stephen save me there was a high price because he is sure and I'm almost sure there is a miracle involved. Now I'm committed to resolving the situation so the probability of this happened again is low. I'm seeking some form of artificial technology like Siri are Google or Amazon offers. The first alert items does not seem to be an option. Either way I'm back in the race I'm thankful for neighbors who are willing to hear me one way or the other!

Banana Bread And Gail Force Wins

I almost made banana bread tonight, I still might but probably not. I even went to the Internet and downloaded the “EZ banana bread” recipe. It's essentially the recipe I use a couple weeks ago and the love turned out just fine. In fact I still have some “curing” in my cookie container. I like to petrify my baked goods before ingestion. I do this for everything. My dad used to do that with cake that generalized. Cake, doughnuts, soft gooey cookies especially and banana bread.

I've had for bananas which I've been holding out for some time waiting them to “mature” to the right space that I can blend into a nice batter. The recipe I use is pretty simple. It calls for a cup of sugar but I only use ½ cup to three quarters of a cup. I also have maybe a half a cup of pecan nuts that I got from the food bank couple weeks ago. The pecans don't taste quite as good as walnuts but now do the job for cooking during the pandemic. But I have everything else I need except for will, tonight. Always surprises me that to make this recipe takes little time at all. However, I've decided to put the project on hold until tomorrow. I might mix the whole thing up tonight and then put in the oven tomorrow and have my cleaning person pull it out when she is here.

As one can tell since I'm pretty much self quarantined trying to practice radical social distancing I don't have a whole lot to blog about. I think this quarantine is the right thing to do. I don't have enough political gumption to really get into anything political regarding should we or should we not be out in public with this pandemic. And the funny way that life has a way of mimicking movies I see in the movies where the society thinks everything is done and get some of the life only to have the meaning evil virus come down and back with a major sucker punch. I believe enough in these movies that the same thing is going to happen as the majority of impatient and spoiled Americans/world dances and prances back into socialization and wham the hammers going to fall. I just hope the virus will miss me. But with my luck I just know I'll get it sooner or later. It sounds a little ghoulish but I'm kind of interested to see how this whole thing plays out. It really is like a movie script. I'm just sitting back and watching everything go by. It's really kind of mind blowing.

A significant cold front is moving in and there's lots of wind and commotion is kind of interesting. The temperature dropped significantly in the class went dark and menacing. The plan to enjoy these effects for the next day or two because the next week major heat is due to come back to the Wasatch front and then all I'll have leftwill be the pandemic and that's… Enough.

Yesterday – 1966 – summer

I know I'm asking a great deal of all of you who read this blog with any kind of regularity but I get such ideas, thoughts and feelings triggered by some of the images but I'm coming across to as I put things on to the hard drive. Today's rendering for example is an image I am titling “Incorrigible”. I'm not sure when this image was taken but had to be shortly before my accident which changed my life forever. I had to be at least late 14 early 15 years of age in this image. It's really one of the only images which show me with a fairly decent stature. Of course it's the summer you can tell because my hair is relatively long compared to how long my hair is during the winter months of the year when I'm wrestling. I was cut my hair short – – one of my tactics for winning. I look fairly tanned in this image. This means it's probably early July just weeks before my accident. The shirt that I'm wearing I barely remember hacking off the sleeves and thinking that I look sort of cool in this garment. Thank goodness I've not found “wife beater” T-shirts at this point. Then I would looked like something that wandered in from Garden City. I cannot imagine who took this image, makes me think that we had company or something and the camera was out to take images of the visitors and somehow someone snapped one of me. I like the image however and wish I had more images from this point in time.

Since this picture was taken in the summer we probably have gone through the first cutting of hay. This means I would've been out with the pitchfork in the hay wagon throwing loose hay on the wagon and then throwing that hay from the wagon onto the stack. What a great workout. The days are hot and sweaty and often I would be caked green with hay dust. We often would take a couple hours during the hottest time of the day usually over lunch and either walk across Johnson's fields to the twin Bridges or pump the 10 speeds. The trick was to dive in water swim and then around 2 PM or 3 PM bike back to the house and drive the hay wagon back to the field and load hay so that when dad got home he would see is working in the fields. As an adult now I can see how stupid my actions were. He knew we were working over that period of time or the whole job would've been done. I think he just shrugged was glad to see that something had gotten done. I really was not a very good farm child. I'm sure I deserve whatever I've gotten in my life wreck included.

The picture documents my preaccident life. I was tough, sort of, I looked okay all things considered I wish I could just Stephen King myself back some days and release some of those moments…

Wednesday Wondering

It's a little early but I'm looking down the barrel at another holiday weekend. It's Wednesday I know what I'm feeling kind of excitement already. Excitement I don't know why because were to spend the holiday in the apartment more or less. The weather's not going to be spectacular couple cold fronts moving through with the promise of rain and possibly a little bit of thunder and lightning action but I'd be surprised. Plus checking whether on NBC this morning before Annette came and of course the talk is all about what to do in quarantine. A lot of talk about what books to read and music to listen to.

I'm in the middle of a Robin Cook that I swear I read before by like the premise so much that I'm rereading the entire thing. I don't know if it's healthier not that's one of things I'm finding myself doing a lot these days is rereading things as opposed to opening the covers of new books taking the risk. In fact, I'm eyeing one of my Stephen King's which I don't know what I want to read entirely I just some of the high points. While about a Stephen King novel is the mood that puts me in. King writes in such a way that I really turn onto his suggestion. King seems so much like me I find reading is material a sheer joy. Actually still quite cool weatherwise to do a King novel, I like his stuff when temperatures really hot are really cold. Conceivably I might be of finish the cook novel by Friday but who knows it's going to be a holiday weekend. Memorial Day.

I of course am suffering buyers remorse over the 34 bucks I paid for the AC/DC software I purchased earlier that I wrote about yesterday. Remorse is not too significant because are still a lot I can do with the software I just have to spend some time with the software and the project that I'm working on. Try to say where I met with the scanning. I think I'm way past halfway. I'm looking forward to using the new software to manage and allocate the images in the specific sections and categories. So the buyer's remorse is not too bad. Since I've spent very little of the stimulus money and think it might be interesting to invest in something like Audiobook. I've played with the idea for quite a while of joining audiobook but I have not wanted to do the cash outlay, the risk and everything you know. Somehow the investment does not seem risky if I'm using the president's money. I'll be interested to see if I significantly use the audiobook. Mark Anthony is really liked it if you are the people I know like audiobook concept of digesting written material. I can try for a while for the like it I can disconnect we'll see.

Life is good be different this summer with the Covid issue. I don't know how much different but it's going to be different in different even more as we go into the fall and winter and see how the virus manifests itself in these weird times. It's so strange it feels like we've been under the cloud of the Covid virus forever when this hasn't even been three months. But for now I have a project, new software and probably enough holiday food to give me by till Tuesday.…