Fall Back and Then Some

 

This is been totally lost day as far as trying to have anything productive accomplished. I woke up around 5 AM this morning had to use the catheter to fill my bed bag. I was kind of surprised that this was the 1^st I woke up during the night. I had cough through the night but the coughing did not keep me up as it has in the past. I searched and found a bottle cough medicine once I got up. And to be honest doing that was kind of a struggle this morning. I eventually myself back in my chair but I could tell immediately that I wasn't going to get dressed today. I was not going to stay in bed all day either though I probably should have. I just don't have the tenacity to do that thinking to myself that find that tired I could actually tilt my chair back they tried to nap if needed.

I didn't eat up any of the coffee this morning I was just to beat. I did get some juice out of the fridge now fortified that with some peppers and and ice. I used the rest of the bottle of juice I had stashed in the refrigerator I knew the I knew the vegetable juice was just about out I didn't know if I had enough energy open up a new bottle. I had Gloria put a bottle on the table last night but I also had a bottle of grape juice that I was thinking of pushing liquids this weekend. I have not been doing that, pushing liquids, I even had a couple popsicles which I consider frozen liquids. As I said, I was just too worn out to do anything except watch movies and that's what I did all morning and then in the afternoon. It seems I'm running out of sliced peppers in the one container so I might have to open up a can before I go to bed tonight or just transplant a few spoonfuls from the other container of sliced peppers.

As I indicated earlier I elected not to get dressed today which I hardly ever do. I found the enough liquid from last night to take my medications this morning. I played with the idea of cooking something for breakfast but I just couldn't get on the train for that. I was even thinking about making some chicken noodle soup from scratch. What's weird is that I know I have bottles of chicken broth that I been saving for this very purpose but of course it could not find any such item so second-best I found the local markets Campbell's chicken noodle soup knockoff and opened up the can and put it in the microwave. The soup was hot and I got about my role gently over to the workstation why watch a lot of television at and then ate my soup. The chicken noodle soup was good along the crackers and was pretty salty. And watching another marble concoction then trying to control my coffee outbursts. I did find cough medicine last night which I plan to use this evening when I go to bed. I wish I had a way to measure milliliters small amounts. It says I can take the cough medicine 14 mL every 4 hours. Hopefully it will help you sleep through the night.

I did send Billie across the hall a message around 7 o'clock that I was not going to be able to make the coffee shop today. I just did not feel well enough and I don't think I should expose other people what I may have. Note that I've taken my temperature numerous times and fall well below 98.6. I plan to shave in the morning just because I feel so grody.I don't plan on going over for breakfast. Hopefully I can start shaking the software Monday this is not fun. I've even had some considerable thoughts of jumping the bus going out to Insta care but I doubt that will happen…

Chilly chili Cough Cough

I'm exhausted and a little sketchy – – leave them feeling a little sketchy. I'm really practicing denial as strongly as I can but I fear I've begun the spiral down to illness. I may be to blame for going out in the cold as I did today. I really felt I needed to get some boxes of milk from the dollar store down at 5600 South Redwood Rd. so after a fairly decent nights sleep and a decent shower is suited up and headed south. It was actually a good day for travel as far as I seem to be catching the bus exactly what I needed to which believe me was very helpful. I don't think sitting out in the cold would have done me much good. As it is, I think I expose myself to the elements way too long. I was worried by red jacket however it is stocking But also the day a nagging twitch in my chest is begin causing more coughing that I like to admit. Made up all kinds of reasons why it could be coughing and none of them had to do with a cold. It's got a be just a cold. I mean I have taken time to do all the shots. I got the flu shots I got the Covid shots so if I've got something that some light version of something else nothing is just a cough. I really feel a need for citrus. I have this strange beliefs that that real citrus i.e. oranges grapefruits in particular have more than just vitamin C needed to combat illness. Now believe personal belief is possibly the strongest elixir of all.

I was kind of bummed when I realized I had left the house without my Dennis Dahle basket. Of going to take the basket with me so I can load up on a few things one was the milk from the dollar store and the other one was a bag of oranges from the Walmart to cross the street from the dollar store phone. When I realized I didn't have my basket I asked one of the stackers at the dollar store to have one of the boxes when it was finished they gave me a great box was just bigger than anticipated. The Dennis Dahle basket is just the right size to use my hook to anchor the basket to my lap. The box worked Great until the box started getting squirrely. Like I said the cardboard box that was too big for the hook to really anchored to my chair. I grabbed a lunch deli at the market which was weird I got a burrito vetted been out since 7 AM. Pretty convoluted story but I ended up eating it there at the deli at Harmon's which is totally weird. Luckily I grabbed the bus which was actually waiting at the bus stop for something and was able to go straight home. I worked out for about 40 minutes way past the 200 I needed for the week and spent the rest of the afternoon huddled by the heater trying to get warm watching Marvel movies.I know it's not too exciting I don't have an image of the days events but sometimes November Saturdays can wear you out.

I'm past denial. I know I'm going to get sick and was not going to be pleasant and in these days of Covid and whatever is pretty scary. I hope whatever I give it's a light version since I've been so diligent getting all my inoculations. Had a pretty hardy dinner of 3 being chili my home health person brought over. It was really nice to have something warm inside me. I suppose you figured out that I didn't get to Walmart across the street. I just need to get home and get warm. I still did to get some oranges and grapefruit after all belief is strong…

More Nuts

 

I think I may be going a little overboard on this Amazoncom order anything you want scenario. Today I got a package from Amazon.com which I ordered last week. It was delivered of course to my door here the apartment complex and if I don't bring the package it immediately (and I didn't even know that come today) my neighbors like to scoop it up and knock on my door to let me know I have a package I'm pretty sure this is all done with good intent this kind irks me. Anyway, the boxes kind heavy as I lifted it off the table. I secured one of my rocker knives and was able to easily open up the box and it was 4 pounds of almonds! I knew that I'd order almonds but I'd forgotten how much. 4 pounds is a lot of almonds going to have to stick it in the fridge so the almost don't go bad. So now I have my not orders in. I have received no word on what to do with the filberts and worst-case scenario maybe I'll just keep them in Finder hammer some other weighted device and crack the nuts myself, one by one which could conceivably take forever. Possibly, I could buy some cute gift bags and use the dots for Christmas gifts how frustrating would that be for those who received them especially for folks around here who I doubt have a weighted device to crack the shells. It might be $23 worth of entertainment who knows? This week I also received the cashews and pecans selecting come set. I thought about getting peanuts but I think I have enough already. I cleaned out the plastic container I use when I mix the notes together. I didn't realize how grody the nut fragments and got none some places. I think some of the highly stat oriented nuts like cashews lose fat which in turn, soaks up some of the.fragments left by the nuts that have been there for some time. The weight of the nuts pulverizes the softer nuts into some kind of a nut flour/jelly at the bottom of the container if the nuts are changed on a regular basis. I did this today saved what I could added the rest of the M&Ms I got from yesterday's trip to the market and quick dive through the discarded Halloween candy in many shopping carts for quick sale. I also added part of the bag of cranberries (dried) but I got a few weeks ago on the sharing shelf. I still need to get my container of nuts on a high shelf to finish the new mix.

It's really too easy to order stuff. I worry about myself sometimes but always consider I'm okay well at my bank balances. The case in point however is that Amazon is too easy for me to use. I've spent enough now today even going to the bank/credit union and getting cash that I can run on and not have to charge anything except the occasional Sunday breakfast. If I don't spend anything for a week or so I can see just where I am at and how much I can still utilize. After all it's Thanksgiving month may want to buy a pumpkin pie who knows what!

November Storm

 

The next storms here. I woke cloudy skies actually I barely slept of all during the night I don't know what the problem is but I kept waking up every hour and just laying there and finally getting up at 5 AM to get ready for my home health person, Gloria. It snowed a lot more today than I thought it was going to from the reports from the weather people. It was a cold wet gentle snow that I was glad that I was not out in. Remember I was supposed to been. I was to go out this afternoon to get my toenails clipped at my podiatrist. I still can't believe I wussed out and didn't go. So basically I just cranked up the heater hung around the apartment. I did cook breakfast – – more pancakes – – in the washed clothes. Tomorrow Thursday is my usual washday but I had way too many close in the basket primarily because Melissa stripped the bed this week and I have sheets that need to be washed. I ended up removing the sheets are to do a special wash with the sheets and towels maybe tomorrow or Friday. Tomorrow supposed to be another cold day with snow so I don't really plan on doing a lot outside the apartment tomorrow either. Interestingly I had 2 appointments this week cancel and I'm sorry glad they did be about the elements would've been chilly.

It seems, however, the biggest surprise I got today was the arrival of my new cell phone which I ordered yesterday! I wasn't expecting that cell phone until the middle of the next week and is now I didn't pay for overnight shipping. So I open the phone and begin to immediately charge the device. It was at about 65% charge but I want to charge it all the way. I would like to activated the phone activation kind of scares me. I mean I can do it if I can't find anybody else who will assist me with the activation. Perhaps Rochelle upstairs but most likely Mark Anthony. I did call him and he said he would drop by this evening sometime. I was pretty pathetic indicated that like to have him assist me in finding the best cover for the phone which of course he realizes now I have a new cell phone and he wants to be part of it and see it and all that kind of stuff pretty cool. I don't know how long it'll take me to get the cover but I really need to protection. This phone lasted forever living now has just small cracks at the bottom. Hopefully, with the new cover the new form will ask me significantly long as well.

I could've done any one of a number of items for dinner. I'd have even that happy with soup and a sandwich that I have to use the cheese up soon because it's getting really green I can keep cut it forever. So nice full of steaming tomato soup with toasted cheese with spam/ham. I did something weird yesterday I happen to get to the meat section just as the butcher was put in all the discounted meat and the thrower section and I got a lot meat bacon particularly or ham like 2 and $3 a package so I brought home and cook some this morning with the pancakes and eggs and it was pretty decent. I also got a package of chicken legs which I really like. I find them up tonight just basic I didn't add any special seasoning or anything like that is one to cook the legs up so I can eat them individually or is given for Frank or something. I think it been a mix rice and do some Frank in the near future. Need to increase my vitamin C intake at least. This morning I thought sure I was getting a sore throat. That I worried about maybe I was just having a reaction to the Covid shot but eventually where did get up and take my temperature I was normal. I don't know what this histrionic behavior is about maybe you need more attention than I know…

Happy November!

 

Dianne was great when it came to medications. After all she was medical and new all kinds of medical stuff particularly the drugs. I on the other hand although somewhat medical try to stay away from drugs as much as I can. However during these last days as far as spinal cord injury and the stenosis of everything and then just the age thing of had to accept a lot more medical involvement in particular medications. Couple years ago I started having high blood pressure, this is when I was still married, of course Dianne got me into the Doc and over the course of the meeting and tasks with whatever I was prescribed Lipitor or Atorvastatin I don't know which is which one is the over-the-counter ring and the other is the medical technical definition title name whatever. All I know was that I began taking this drug for the high blood pressure and then found out that I had to be careful that I did not stop taking it cold turkey. This of course scared this not out of me and I'm always trying to make sure that I've got this medication.

This week at becoming more and more concerned as the bottle of atorvastatin dwindled further and further to just one capsule of figured I'd better get going find out where my new prescription is. I went to check the mail with the hopes that the capsules came in the days mail and it was not. I came back to my apartment and contacted the phone number on the bottle which took me to customer care for my online pharmacy. They indicated that they're trying to fill the order but could not get the Doc to renew my prescription. This of course prompted a call to my medical provider who indicated that they had sent an order for their prescription over to Macy's or pick up my drugs. By this time is totally confused I thought I was just going to the online pharmacy but at same time then I remembered I have gotten scripts from Macy's of this drug I wasn't sure what was going on except for I was down to one capsule and I was going to make sure I picked up the order at the pharmacy which I did. So, I'm going to have my online pharmacy continue the project send me more meds but also keep the open line with the pharmacy locally at Macy's. I was going to Macy's anyway because I'd missed the opportunity to 4^th inoculation for Covid. I was supposed to gotten one a week or so ago across the street at the senior center where they had a clinic set up but somehow I missed out on that. So I had to make sure I got the injections today which I did.

So today I managed to pay my rent, get my Covid shot and pick up my prescription for the Lipitor clone. When I got back to the apartment complex I fixed a meager lunch and began my workout on my arm bike. Had I had more energy or will I would've gone to the bank and gotten cash for operations day-to-day. Oh! The big thing I did today besides theCovid was I purchased a new phone cell phone $239! It's a little larger than the cell phone I have now which I should like and I had a bit of an upgrade which also be good for me. I'll just be glad to have a phone I can use again for all the things I want to do. Of course 2 on my charge card will pay it off the next couple weeks once I get my other bills pretty well under control. I hope I haven't shot myself in the foot

Nuts to Nuts

 

If my home health worker, Melissa, had not shown up this morning and the tutu I would not have even realize today is Halloween. Even the staff here at the complex didn't dress up. Which is okay with me I wish that the whole dressing up thing was overrated even as a kid. I think I've written before about going up to the rich part of town, on the 2^nd bench of Boise, where they gave out full candy bars, big ones. I remember only one time making the trek up there I think I was dressed in some kind of rabbit suit or something. All I remember that it was cold and we walked and walked and walked all over the bench. The cloth mask over my head was drenched with ice from condensation from my breathing and then freezing. I was so glad to be over Halloween that evening. I guess the candy was good from that standpoint at least one pillowcase but I still thought it was a high price.

Visiting with my home health worker this morning she indicated that should be taken her kids to a least 3 trunk or treat events. I guess communities dump all the candy and trunks of cars and park in one place and then allow the kids to go from one vehicle to the next and effort control the possibilities of errant behavior from grown-ups. Still all kinds of warnings about having the parents check the candy haul before letting the little kids tear into that much sugar who knows what else.

I actually purchased a new phone this morning! For one reason or another the control buttons on my cell phone screen of becoming less and less active. For example in my emails I haven't able to erase any for the last couple of days. I can identify those emails I want to get rid of but the button to push the finish the project just doesn't work. Luckily I found a way to get around that by going to my Gmail account in my tablet and deleting the unwanted emails or spam. This is also the case when trying to post images from my cell phone camera to different places where I can then use them to upload to different platforms like this blog when I use a image for an illustration. For the 1^st time I didn't get the bare-bones offer I actually went up 1 to the next phone available through consumer cellular. When it was all done the cost is almost $300 which I pretty much bit the bullet and put on my card. I just didn't want to have to deal with 10 or $12 a month for what seems like forever. I have more than enough in savings to cover this if I need to. I spent a little time today also working on trying to figure out what I'm going to do with this box of filberts in the Shell. Of course, We Got Nuts , won't visit anybody over the phone lines to communicate with email which makes the whole thing seem frustratingly impossible. I sent an email and have yet not heard anything in return. I like the outfit that done pretty well so far and I may have screwed up and ordered the filberts in shell but I definitely remember trying to make them take extra precautions that I did not do that. We'll just have to see what happens. The cost of the item was just $23 doesn't seem like a lot but my going to a 3 pounds of hazelnuts in the Shell …

Oh Nuts!

 

It seems to me that my life is just one challenge after another. And I sort gotten used to that and I guess I should be thankful that my challenges are small challenges compared to what could be huge challenges. However the small challenges are also irksome say the least. About a year ago when on this big nut thing when I took a chance and started ordering bulk nuts. Cashews, Brazil nuts, pecans, even filberts a.k.a. hazelnuts. I call these the exotic nuts no walnuts or peanuts here though I should entertain those as well I suppose nuts are nuts. My rationale is that nuts are a health food particularly in the area of dietary bowel management. Too graphic? It's only true legumes certainly grease the skids. So if that in mind I did some research found some fairly economical nut houses. It's not a real problem but I have to manage large sacks/plastic bags of these nuts. What I've chosen to do is make my own creation of mixed nuts. The nuts I purchased carbon qualities of 2 and 3 pound bags which are really quite a bit when you consider mixing them together in a bowl and then just even a couple every morning as part of your breakfast regimen. Anyway, a week or so ago I noticed that I used the last of my filberts, my cashews were already gone and the only nuts I really had left were Brazil nuts and I came across some weird articles about how Brazil nuts are a dangerous to eat. I don't know how much I believe that but it certainly made sense in the bizarre sort away so I've cut back on the Brazil nuts. On my research I found that they are recommended just one Brazil not a day. I tend to fudge on that but it kind of scares me. Anyway, I finally got around to ordering new batches of nuts. I think I did it wrong and ordered them from the wrong houses but that's a story for another posting.

I did this the middle of the week and was totally impressed by Friday when I started receiving text messages indicating that my orders had been filled in for being shipped. I got the cashews the next day and then.txt that my pecans and my filberts would be here today. And sure enough, one of my neighbors pounded on my door indicating I had 2 packages sitting in front of my door and brought the packages in put them on the table. What was weird was that one of the packages was a box kind a heavy. Open the lighter package 1^st and it was the pecans which was cool then I found the razor blade and opened up the box. When I looked in the box also little confused look like it was full of whoppers you know those round chocolate candies? Then, it dawned on me, someone made a mistake and chances are it was me but I thought I'd took extra careful time to make sure that this mistake didn't happen. The filberts came in the Shell, that's why the package was so heavy like 5 pounds of in the Shell filberts. I didn't even take the package of the box. I just got to figure out a way to send it back not sure how this works so tomorrow that will be one of my tasks. Fortunately, there is a return station for Amazon in the little shopping center across the street from where I live. I just hope this doesn't turn into a nightmare project.

Slack Day Saturday

 

I really should've been more productive today, but it's Saturday and that sort of a day of rest for me I guess. Once again there is no reason to go anywhere. Actually, there was a shooter guy got my shot/vaccination today but that pretty much slip my mind. You know what? I did go out earlier in the day. Went to coffee with Billie is a couple of other residents here the complex. I think we had a pretty good discussion and felt rather comfortable with the crew there at the coffee shop. We are becoming regulars not sure what that really means except for the now is on site and often the drinks we tend to prefer and they are always just kind at least to me. Something really interesting occurred today at the coffee shop. Little guy came around selling tamales. I've been looking for tamales for a long time. They had a pretty good little deal going 3 tamales for 5 bucks which I guess is not too bad. The made fresh all kinds of different tamales. I chose chicken and green think these are peppers. I had when I got home which I felt pretty good then this evening I hadtaquitos and tamales or one ta…male with peppers. Not a bad Saturday night dinner

I pretty much spent the rest of the day in my apartment. I watched some Marvel as always and on the productive side I actually got the letters printed and the envelopes! Now I just have to sign the letters, stuff the envelopes with the letters and then put the cash available of going to the kids. I paid for my coffee with the $20 bill I been carrying around as mad money and made sure I had a couple $5 bills in return. So I know how enough money to get the kids $5 bills for the letters. I hope they appreciate the money especially since the update significantly. Still in inflation is really taking care of any increase I may have produced but I think they can still buy at least one cheap hamburger McDonald's I don't know about fries and a drink but the burger for sure. I guess having a large part of the project on the lobby to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening watching television and that's about it. I was going to fix some steaks, I actually got frozen meat out of the freezer. I was going to try to fix it this afternoon so I have something for tomorrow but it just didn't happen.” Hoping Gloria would bring by some more chili. She kind of indicated she would yesterday that would've been perfect for tonight. Maybe, I can open up some chili to put in refrigerator for tomorrow so I don't have to do a lot of work tomorrow.

I'm sleepy tonight. I woke again at 3 AM but did be able to get back to sleep for a little while. I do not think I was drugged out as I was yesterday. Looks like this can be just market me again tomorrow morning for breakfast. I got a text from Jasmine seemed gained indicating she and Jackson were headed for the dunes. So, this is mostly proud of the night but I'm a knock off, hopes I got my 500 words at least maybe gets to bed early

There And Back Again

 

I was actually quite proud of myself. After doing my Friday morning business and preparing breakfast in getting dressed and do some of the basic things out of the way by checking mail in such I settled down to work on my monthly project of letters to the kids. I had worked a little bit over the weekend and had a few items to change but I started the printing process. I noticed something out of the corner of my eye as the pages were being showdown the printer into the receiving tray there is no words on the paper just white. I could not believe it, I was out of ink! Now mind you, I neglected to say this earlier are right this earlier. But I got little sleep during the night for one reason or another had been up since about 3 AM. I was groggy and I felt that way totally defeated with the printer being out of ink. I thought about the default printer that I have gone to in the past in the computer lab on the 2^nd floor but that printer does not accept envelopes like mine does. I don't even want to think about handwriting out the addresses on the envelopes. There might be a way to use that printer for that purpose but I've never figured out. I can't see where to feed the blank envelopes into the printer anyway. Add to the fact that it really was a cold morning and I felt cold and it looked cold outside. I really didn't want to have to leave the apartment. Find something I can wear for heat and then go to some store large enough to have a good electronics department that would have printer ink.

I downed a little bit more copying got kind of a jolt and decided that I would go ahead and check out Walmart just up the street. A quick bus trip there and back again chop chop and back to printed. It was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon by the time I found a hood and crawled into it then headed for the bus stop. I was astounded at how beautiful the day was. The sun was brilliantly shining in a totally clear sky and window was at a minimum. I was becoming invigorated wow I really need to get out and do something in this nice fall brisk weather. The ride to the Walmart was uneventful across the street and made it to the store and pretty decent time actually. I of course had to wander all through the store looking at everything wondering what would be like to have some of the gadgets and stuff that permeate the place. I tried to find the ink on my own. I didn't put a whole lot of effort into the project but I couldn't find the ink and it was because the cartridge number they have listed on the computer is not necessarily the cartridge at the market. What I've forgotten, because I buy ink cartridges so infrequently, is there' are numbers on the box , in very small print, one of which is the number of my printer 6544! I found me was able to find the right cartridge with the help of Dominic the floor technician we spent a lot of time working with me finding the cartridge as well as trying to help me with problems of having on my cell phone.

So I'm back home. I guess I could've been totally independent and plowed into my printer and try to install the cartridge. However, I defaulted to my son and sent a text to see if he was in the area are going to be after work could you drop by and pop that in and sure enough he did himself to go. We used one letter is the test letter to see if the ink started printing properly it did. I'm tired now however the early morning and the bus adventure to and from Walmart is taking its toll I think I'll watch an episode or 2 of She Hulk Atty.@Law and then try to get an early night in…

Thursday Morning Blues

 

I have a love-hate relationship with the Thursday morning coffee group. I look forward to the group every Thursday morning. I'm always amazed at how this is the only time I see some of the people that I live with during the week. I'm convinced there are people in this building that I have not seen the entire time that I've lived here. But anyway, I digress, first off they never have donuts! Well every once in a while they have donuts. One of the folks in the group who I think surreal controller does the smarter thing of making sweet rolls every single Thursday. I thought they were okay the first couple weeks but then they sorted got old. Then I suspect that the dollar that I contribute every Thursday, mind you I'm one of the few people that do contribute every Thursday, it suggested that everyone contributes a dollar to offset costs. What costs? Coffee I think the organization are the company it runs this joint could do that. I suspect that the sweet roll manufacturer is being reimbursed out of those funds. I know this sounds petty and I guess I am just irritates me.

I don't know if I've indicated this before but I'm about the only Male that regularly attends this function. There's another guy shows up periodically but for the most part it's me. I smile a lot I see myself as Jack Nicholson and I try to make Jack Nicholson comments which a few of the attendees twitter at. We always suit the same place at the table so I've got a few folks around me who act as a posse and we are allowed sometimes with other members of the group nothing significant just there in their discussions and we are in ours. As I've indicated usually there's nothing more than that sweet rolls but sometimes as cookies and someone brought hot banana bread this morning which is totally enjoyable. I nibble at the calories simple my coffee make snarky remarks and try to look interested in all the other people sharing images of their grandchildren or videos of the same. I have developed a survival technique which allows me to come and go to the coffee group freely. I start my wash before the coffee group starts maybe a half hour. Of course then I have to go back and forth to check the wash on the throat in the dryer. This allows me to be a good group member yet the same time conscientious to my wash making sure that no one's going to have to wait for the front end loader – – washing machine or dryer's. Seriously, and probably only person washes clothes on Thursday which is good for me. After a half hour to 45 minutes the group breaks up almost like it was on script. There won't has some place to go for something to do in the more honest ones actually confessed to going back to bed for a short nap before lunch. Luckily, I usually have my wash into the 2^nd dryer mode which is just about done now and I can take the clothes back to the apartment to folder hangup . I feel accomplished suffer through another coffee group but got my watch done and didn't lose a whole morning in the interim…

Cornbread and chili Yum!

 

My problem okay one of my problems, is that I tend to hold onto things too long way past the expiration dates. I have this bizarre belief that if I keep things sealed covered the stuff will be good forever. But once again I found my reasoning flawed to the point of exasperation. I've been wanting to make cornbread for a couple weeks now particularly since the weather is beginning to change nothing says cold-weather better than hot cornbread. Remember last week I think I wrote about the fact that I threw away a couple pounds of flour that I've had on my shelf for about a year. The flour was sealed in the wrapper, I thought I was safe but when I opened up the package there was little weevil guys all around wiggling making fun of me. I thought about using the flour anyway I've thought about sifting the flour to get rid of the weevils but in the end I ended up tossing the whole package in the dumpster. Over the weekend I got a fresh package of flour. Today, my home health worker brought a container of homemade chili and what better reason to make cornbread and homemade chili?

I had to search a while to find my can of corn meal by finally found it. I thought it was sealed tight but once again when I opened the lid there was a little guy right on top waving to me. This was the final straw there is like 3 force of a container of cornmeal and near as I could tell very few weevils are husks of weevils past. I sifted through the cornmeal pulling out a few others decided what the hell I'm the only ones can eat this anyway so I decide to use the cornmeal. I've made decision I think of benefit at all of my cooking stuff ingredients. The baking powder was like 5 years past is due date but I've been using baking powder whenever I cook. I'm going to get a hold new container of baking powder maybe the baking soda and a new container of cornmeal. I think my vanilla is okay after all it's like boozegood forever that's what I believe. Just to be full disclosure I did find my canister of flour that has a super tight lid on it that I had hidden in the corner and thought I was okay with it but it was full of generations. I dumped it and watched it and will put the new flour and it, twist it tight and keep an eye on it. I want to make cookies soon, better check my oatmeal before I get my hopes up. Got the raisins and I got the walnuts selected make through oatmeal cookies soon that's if the flour is not infested and I just don't know anybody about my protein farm .

There's something about homemade chili that can't be duplicated by anything from the can. Gloria, my home health person, used onions and tomatoes and great hunks of ground beef in 3 different kinds of beans! The cornbread was not near as good as the chili but together they made a wonderful dinner. I haven't made chili for some time but maybe I'm about do. My poor kitchen takes a beating…

Once Again, Typical

 

You all know how much I hate change and how grumpy it makes me.

Today is Tuesday and of course like many Tuesdays throughout the year I have the opportunity the privilege to serve on volunteer board for a local private nonprofit. This allows me to “saddle up” and had in to the city via bus as well as train. More than just a change of pace and a chance to visit friends at the private nonprofit that gives me the added benefit of thinking I have value to the community. Illusionary as that might be I hold tightly to the illusion. Once again “Change” has challenged me and I'm having to accept something different in my life. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but there are maybe for wheelchair stations on each tracks coach. There may be more but that's what sticks in my mind right now. These are just inside the door that has the ramp that lets people at wheeled devices on the vehicle. The space large enough for person in a power chair or any kind of a wheelchair to face forward on the train. The only contenders for the spot where folks on bikes as well as folks standing often stand about spot. Over the years they've been trained fairly well to give up that spot for folks in wheelchairs when they're on board. Today I noticed, for the 1^st time since I last traveled on tracks that that spot is been kind of replaced by seats that the able-bodied folks can sit. I suppose it be great for seniors too. And of course there's the ever present sign that says please give up seat for people in wheelchairs and seniors they make it sound like it's voluntary but obviously it is so their all kind of folks sitting in this area today. I found a place I could sort of sit out of the way but it wasn't my regular spot but I've gotten accustomed to. This is just so like the authority to pull something like this .

As I wrote on the train into the city I noticed a handle underneath the bench and wondered if it was a release that would fold the seats up. Fortunately before I had to get off at the library the individuals sitting in the seats got up and left. I rolled over and pulled the handle and sure enough the seats looked up. There was space for I could set similar to were I used to be. It is not near as much room as these folding seats take up some space. Now it's just a matter of me having enough assertive behavior assert my right to sit in that zone. Or will I just accept the situation in sit where I can for my trip? Yes I know I probably need a good course in assertiveness training. It's just so frustrating thinking that you've integrated into the system only to find out that integration is okay as long as it's impacting able-bodied's conveniences. Like I said more of the same some things never change I'm such a fool…PS 60 days till Christmas…!

Moisture Monday… Kinda

 

Did I tell you that I stopped at that kind of bizarre clothing shop not far from the Sizzler steakhouse that I went to on Saturday? I like to go in this place look around and build up the courage to purchase something there. I jokingly call the place the hip-hop Emporium because I know it's where the local gangsters go to buy their wardrobes. The place is not necessarily a specialty shop they just offer oversized close at affordable price for all populations and when I say “all populations” I'm totally including low income minority factions. I mean this is a place where I can get 5XL size clothes, he'll probably larger that's when I stopped looking on the rack. 10 bucks for a long sleeve black shirt or other colors. I refrain from purchasing the 5 XL just because that would mean what if there were too large on me? I actually have a couple 5 XL's don't remember when I purchased them but they are pretty comfortable all things considered. I sent away for them somewhere. Today, I had Melissa Pull a Long sleeve off of my and I had her check the size which was a 3 XL and I chose that for my shirt of the day. Sadly, that size is way too short for me and my big belly and I spent the whole day pulling my shirt down over my obesity. I should have taken it off right then this morning run the shirt cropped up but I decided I would wear it all day. I am going to cut it up however either this evening or tomorrow sometime just so that I don't wear it again. The search pretty old anyway lots of holes in the fabric like bleach mistakes and such. The shirt would be pretty comfortable habit but larger.

It's pretty entertaining every time I've been in this gangster clothing emporium I've seen very few gangsters just there mothers and most likely significant others looking through the different clothing options reflecting the organizations insignias or trademarks. I think it's kind of a hoot. But purchasing clothes here is better than getting skinned alive over at the “big and tall” shops were the same shirt that I can purchase for $10 would cost me 40 or $50! I don't think I'll be purchasing the clothing anytime soon since I have a number of decent shirts already. I may pop down there may be after payday picked up 3 or 4 shirts just so that I will have something new to where the case I need something to wear under a jacket.

The precipitation was minimal this weekend just enough to keep me in. I was surprised this evening when I took last week's garbage to the dumpster how nice it was once I got outside. I thought it looked a lot colder. Need to run to the market and purchase 5 pounds of flour. I had a 5 pound sack of flour stuck in my pantry never opened when I did this weekend, to make cornbread, I found it was well infested with slugs and and husks of slugs past. I probably could assisted the debris out of the flour and used the flour to make cornbread but is just too disgusted with myself I knew that I had to use the frozen baking soda biscuits in the freezer before they to got too far out of date. I had forgotten that I actually have a canister of flour (actually I didn't have much in the canister when I found it) but forgotten all about it until I start looking this afternoon and found it way behind a bunch of brooms and mops and by utility closet/pantry. The flour in the canisters at least 2 years old and not very much so I figure I can dump it and get a new bag of flour that I can keep in the canister bug free… Hopefully. I didn't make it to the market today maybe tomorrow if the weather is not too bad when I get back from my Assist, Inc. duty. I have to go past the market and I could swing in pickup the flour. Need to pick up a few other things to. Of course, since I'm going out tomorrow, another cold front coming in and should be precipitating just as I head out for my meeting that's okay I could dress accordingly and I will enjoy autumn day hopefully receiving life-saving moisture this region needs…

Nonchalant Sunday

Of course we didn't get near the amount of snow which is been forecast which is probably good I should not complain since I had to be out in the weather this morning to get up to D's restaurant for our Sunday breakfast. I wasn't sure if we were going to have one today partially because of the weather and partially because Mark Anthony had a gig late last night that I knew would be tired but we were able to pull it off. Jasmine is in California this week with her family doing Disneyland. So is just Mark and I but we enjoyed our company. I was kind of surprised at how many people missed this last week when we went to Betos. It was nice to be messed. Aside from that however, I really haven't done much at all today except just how you out watching way too much television but it was fun to do with the cloud covered day with hints of winter laced in. I really wanted to write the day off is a snow day it was not a snow day a bit of a rain day but nothing that I want to be out in that was for sure. I did enjoy train up my heater and laying back and watching and streaming some fun shows.

I'm not looking at a much more aggressive week in the next 7 days almost a copy of the preceding. There will be cooler much cooler weather and a chance for more precipitation. Tuesday looks rather good for traveling and it sounds like we will have another Assist meeting. This is good I don't mind is not really cold enough to really to curtail my travels. Of course I'm wearing shorts is always. I'm surprised at how many people at this facility don't realize is where shorts all year round. There always commenting on how cold and good and get because I'm in shorts silly people. But, aside from the one meeting don't have much on deck which I guess is a good thing. I was pretty excited because I was able to text with Dianne last night which I've not been for some time. She seems to be holding up well under the Parkinson's disease process. I'm still quite worried about her as far as her long-term housing goes. Hopefully she can remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. I just want her to be in the safest and secure us to situation for herself and her disease process. It is really rough be in this old really is.

I really don't have a whole lot more to add for today's blog except that I'm somewhat excited about heating up the stew for tonight's dinner and biscuit. I found a plastic container store the rest of the biscuits in which I think will keep the biscuits somewhat fresh and have them available for biscuits and gravy. I think I'm going to offer biscuits and gravy to my home health person, tomorrow. I think she enjoys great biscuits and gravy. Beside from that I'm doing okay. I was totally impressed when I turn over looked at the clock when I 1^st woke this morning and saw that it was 15 minutes after 5 AM which was the longest I've slept for a long time. It is felt great. I got the bed back together again and now my little concerned about tonight since I had so much sleep and I have not done anything really to tire myself out physically. Maybe I'll just enjoy the warm bed all night long. Supposed to be just above freezing tonight so I should be just fine…

First Snow

 

Unlike most storms which wander into the territory vicious with great wind and vicious rain turning to snow quickly overtaking the last of the good weather this storm is a slow mover gently wandering into the Wasatch front. The temperature was actually in the 60s this morning as I rolled across the street to the coffee shop to hang out with Janet and Billie. Saturday morning coffees becoming tradition. This morning we were kind of shocked (Billie and I went over together) as the parking lot was full and inside the coffee shop seemed to have wall-to-wall people. We had wandered into a “meet the candidate forum” for one of the individuals running for office in Salt Lake County. I was a bit scared that we may not have a place to set , since the table one we usually where are usually sit had been taken over by the campaigners. Luckily Janet had come earlier and stick to table out for us so we were set to go.

My neighbor Billie impresses me so much. She is very old-school misses dressing up and having formal occasions where people are nice to each other. She especially likes getting totally involved with meet the candidate forums. She says she doesn't like Fox news but it's always on my visit her at her apartment. Her apartment is spotless as is her attire. I'm totally are raised that she spends time with me. However I am her neighbor across the hall at the end of the hallway and we see ourselves as our own support system if and when we need them. We text a lot these days even though we live just across the hall from each other. I sense that Billie is going to bed earlier and earlier each day. She is totally worn out and must retreat to her bed which is good. I am in and out most days a least during the summer and autumn. Now the weather is getting more and more inclement I don't know. I think we wear each other out when we're too much in each other's business. Perhaps that's natural.

I have not heard from Mark Anthony yet. I know he has a DJ job tonight I don't know how long or how late he will be. At this point I assume will be doing breakfast in the morning. I'm not sure if snow will fall during the evening. Rain for sure is coming down right now not a lot but enough and if the temperature should drop significantly we will have some snow not much – – after all it is the 1^st snow of the season. I even got donuts the other day at the market. The cake donuts and is not like cake donuts but now I've certainly grown fond of them particularly with my morning coffee. I am anticipating on returning to D's restaurant tomorrow even though the kids have an issue with the place. For me it's simple and close by even foul weather I can get easily to the restaurant and the keeper coffee cup always fall and that's enough to bring me back

Sizzling Sizzler

 

Supposedly there is a storm coming in. The temperature today rose to the mid-70s but I chose to take a jacket with me just in case I needed one. The wind was blowing sure sign of an oncoming storm. Friday morning of course is one of the days of a home health people are here. Gloria did a great job as always goes up and ready for the world by quarter after 9:00 AM. Normally this not a big deal but today I was scheduled to meet with my other home health person Melissa for lunch at Sizzler steakhouse. I'm not sure how this event even came about except for I know one time before we had said a time to go out and have dinner or lunch or something which never came to fruition. So they we rescheduled that meal for 11 AM. Like I said I wasn't really sure why we're having a meal except we both felt that was something somewhat adult to do. I really needed the reason to go out and Melissa needed a reason to go out who in adult adult type of function. Her life is provide home health services and being overworked mom. I enjoy this person's company a great deal. I wasn't sure how we would react socially, in public but certainly worth a shot.

I'm well aware that Sizzler steakhouse Has morphed from a cut rate stake in poor him to a rather entry-level high-end meet market. Perhaps the best feature is the never ending salad bar and if I were smart that's what I would stick with because the stake that I got… Or just occurred to me that I ordered off the senior menu! Perhaps that's the reason that the stake was so small. Seriously it was just a little bit larger than my thumb. I wish I had taken an image of the portion size. Again, I did order off the senior menu so it should the shocked me. There is the steak and one little plop of mashed potatoes and gravy. I did expand my order to include the never ending salad bar which really is a beautiful affair and I quite full relatively quick I think to the dismay of my date. I was dumbfounded at how much my friend was able to eat and that the speech is able to consume the food on her plates. She truly enjoyed herself I enjoyed watching her eat. I was kind of shocked that my adjudication scale seems to have become a little rusty over the years. I forced myself to make conversation. Sort of like a married couple who'd been together so long they had nothing left to say to each other. In the end we are both adults but one was the caregiver and one was the patient. That's okay, the staff thought we were darling.

I was also quite amazed at the number of blue-collar working folk and seniors who were in attendance. Cleaned up versions of folks who probably usually go out to D's restaurant just on the streets of this Sizzler restaurant. Wives who of twisted the arms of husbands or significant others take them out someplace special and this was it Sizzler's. Sure for the price we could've gotten perhaps more food that these restaurant but not the goldplated elegance of the Sizzler's trademark and renowned staff…

Phony Baloney

 

I have a Samsung phone cell phone that is more specifically it's a galaxy S 10+. I'm sure that mean something folks who really understand this stuff but not to me. I feel so stupid when anything goes wrong got a find somebody young enough to understand the whole cell phone situation. Cell phone I currently have I have had for number of years down. Usually by this point in time in my poor cell phones life is pretty well destroyed the device 1 were the other usually inadvertently running over the machine and crushing screen in other parts of the device. Even if I haven't ran over the cell phone I've dropped a number of times and usually have major cracks in the screen but not this time. I actually think I had this phone call Dianne and I were still together and she got me this like rubber membrane that I stuck the phone into which actually I believe has prevented the typical destruction of the cell. Be that as it may machine is begin to act funny now and I'm beginning to look for another cell phone or to see if there's other plans that would give me a cell phone if were to switchover. This should be really challenging for me since I'm a very loyal customer.

One of the weird things my phone is doing now is that the keys seem to refuse to work you know the button to push to change things on the screen. This solution just fine for a little bit than all the sudden it's as if the screen freezes up or part of the screen which makes the the stupid thing useless. Many times I'm finding that if I push the button on the side of the cell phone which makes the screen go black then when I switch it back on by pressing the button again I can access the cell phone and finish what I was trying to do but this is truly annoying. I have thought of going down to Best Buy where I think I got the phone at amassing some of their folks what the problem is. I'm also considering contacting Consumer Cellular and see if they have any deals for acquiring new phones is a perk to loyal customers. I would be surprised if there is any any program or incentive things out there but for the shot. And of course I'm always trying to figure out how to access my messages on the cell phone. The last number I had that would let me into the recorded messages I've forgotten the password for. And there doesn't seem to be any kind of a system set up to make a new password. Seriously, I sound so whiny I should be smarter than this particularly working on cell phones but I'm not. Mark Anthony's not close by are just too impatient to wait I want to be able to figure this out myself.

It was coffee social today. Getting kind of tired of going to the coffee social and having to just deal with cinnamon rolls as opposed to real donuts which is what I would love. I know this sounds really immature but, getting tired of tame my $1 a week just to get homemade cinnamon rolls every week. I sort of categorized the feeling that I have which is a don't feel very uplifted by the coffee social is over. If you watch this for the next couple weeks which may lead to me stopping my attendance altogether but then again talks cheap…

I have a Samsung phone cell phone that is more specifically it's a galaxy S 10+. I'm sure that mean something folks who really understand this stuff but not to me. I feel so stupid when anything goes wrong got a find somebody young enough to understand the whole cell phone situation. Cell phone I currently have I have had for number of years down. Usually by this point in time in my poor cell phones life is pretty well destroyed the device 1 were the other usually inadvertently running over the machine and crushing screen in other parts of the device. Even if I haven't ran over the cell phone I've dropped a number of times and usually have major cracks in the screen but not this time. I actually think I had this phone call Dianne and I were still together and she got me this like rubber membrane that I stuck the phone into which actually I believe has prevented the typical destruction of the cell. Be that as it may machine is begin to act funny now and I'm beginning to look for another cell phone or to see if there's other plans that would give me a cell phone if were to switchover. This should be really challenging for me since I'm a very loyal customer.

One of the weird things my phone is doing now is that the keys seem to refuse to work you know the button to push to change things on the screen. This solution just fine for a little bit than all the sudden it's as if the screen freezes up or part of the screen which makes the the stupid thing useless. Many times I'm finding that if I push the button on the side of the cell phone which makes the screen go black then when I switch it back on by pressing the button again I can access the cell phone and finish what I was trying to do but this is truly annoying. I have thought of going down to Best Buy where I think I got the phone at amassing some of their folks what the problem is. I'm also considering contacting Consumer Cellular and see if they have any deals for acquiring new phones is a perk to loyal customers. I would be surprised if there is any any program or incentive things out there but for the shot. And of course I'm always trying to figure out how to access my messages on the cell phone. The last number I had that would let me into the recorded messages I've forgotten the password for. And there doesn't seem to be any kind of a system set up to make a new password. Seriously, I sound so whiny I should be smarter than this particularly working on cell phones but I'm not. Mark Anthony's not close by are just too impatient to wait I want to be able to figure this out myself.

It was coffee social today. Getting kind of tired of going to the coffee social and having to just deal with cinnamon rolls as opposed to real donuts which is what I would love. I know this sounds really immature but, getting tired of tame my $1 a week just to get homemade cinnamon rolls every week. I sort of categorized the feeling that I have which is a don't feel very uplifted by the coffee social is over. If you watch this for the next couple weeks which may lead to me stopping my attendance altogether but then again talks cheap…

Vote Season Starts Now

 

I guess the best part about retirement, once one gets over the preceding guilt of not doing anything, is just that you don't have to do anything if you don't want to. I make this statement at the beginning of this blog presents another day when I really haven't done a whole hell of a lot except just poop in shower and hang around the apartment complex. Actually I did take off this afternoon and did some quick shopping at the market just down the street. Of course I did my 60 minutes on the arm by this afternoon while listening to NPR but that's about it. I could say I use this day as an adjustment day to get used to my just returned chair from the shop. It is been a bit of an adjustment I wish my backup chair ran as good as this chair does probably just stay in the backup chair however I do love the elevator function of the seat. I use it all the time, the elevator function. So tonight my butt hurts a little bit I don't know which that's the chair are my shorts bunched up underneath my buttocks and where that cloth is bunched up start pressure pain. It's getting late all not be up a whole lot longer. Hopefully tomorrow my cushion will be more supportive.

My election packet came in the mail today. The local news threatened that it would ensure enough when I open my box there it sat. I'm not opened the document yet. Maybe tomorrow maybe something to do over the weekend. I'm not too happy about this election midterm wise. I'm going to vote for somebody that I don't necessarily have a lot of faith in so I'm basically voting to 1 vote and to to try to block the incumbent which I think is a real bizarre little guy. I've never liked the guy and I don't trust him besides he tries to sell himself off as a personal friend of the last president of this country. He also uses major characters from the book of Mormon to justify his support for the Republican crook. I mean that's enough right there or it should be to cancel anybody's vote for the little twerp. Sadly however, I don't think the guy voted for has a chance in hell/Zion to pull off a win. The whole election process this year is like a chapter out of bizarro land. Down is up, left is right and just means no and vice versa. I wish I could be more active in politics but I've just never been able to stomach the whole process. I should talk with my old friend DD lives in California. This is a man of great wisdom surviving in the bizarre political land. If he can survive is surely can hear in Zion. So next day or so I was sit down with the hot cup of coffee that was also afraid of alcohol admit myself a drink and go through the election document or the ballot. I just want to block the vote for Mike Lee and hope for the best on all the rest.

Public Service

 

As you know I have a standing Tuesday morning meeting almost every week. With the private nonprofit that I've written about extensively Assist, Inc. we don't have the meetings every single week but usually at least twice a month when we have funding. Right now I really like these meetings not because not because of their entertainment value as much as they give me credibility to myself as having value. Anyway, today's the day, Endres and even called me last night our yesterday afternoon to let me know for sure we were meeting. I was a little worried about being able to make the transfer to the chair this morning since I'm using my backup chair but everything went well even dressing seemed easier with the backup chair. I did my usual caught the bus and got to be office about a half an hour before the meeting was scheduled to start and stop the little le Parisian space pastry and coffee shop next door. actually, before I went to the coffee shop I went through the library since it was on my way. The red line train drops me off in front of the library. I was minding my own business checking out the closed shops and reading the announcements on the Billboard when suddenly one of the library renter cops asked me if I had little drop some of my belongings. I couldn't imagine what he was talking about turned around and look for a pointed and there was a blanket and some other kind of bedding. Obviously the officer thought I was some homeless guy and had left so my belongings at the library. The library is a major go to place for homeless folks. I have to admit I was a little shocked. I thought I looked pretty good I was even color matched worried my Borah green. My shoes hadn't even slipped off my feet yet though I have to admit my poor palsied legs still look pretty intimidating. Be sure the officer that was not my stuff then rolled onto the coffee shop. I'm trying to let this stuff go. I'm sure the guard meant no harm but still is my presentation that bad? I may have to rethink my year-round wearing of shorts.

My meeting of the Assist volunteer board was fairly productive. I signed my share of documents that assured low-income individuals would get emergency home repairs. I even made nice with the other the other volunteer who is a good person but quietly drives me insane. We reviewed and signed the requests for service then did the obligatory chitchat and then I said my goodbyes. I had pretty much done as much goodwill is as able for the day it was then the coordinator of our program remembered and ran to his desk and came back with an envelope with my name on it. It was a stipend, a check! I had not planned on this I never do and I'm always surprised when we are rewarded for just doing good amazing…

Just Another Monday…

 

The beautiful days are now deceiving. There been no clouds to speak of but there's just been a very slight breeze enough to really compromise sitting out in the sun to read or just enjoy the direct sunlight. I did that however for a few minutes today. It's tolerable, sitting out in the sun right now, but not totally enjoyable. Today also was the 1^st time people started stopping and actually wanting to visit. I don't think I was snarky but I was beginning to become a bit impatient. I think with each day as the planet loses its direct contact to the sun that even though the days are bright and sunny the warmth just doesn't seem to reach the same efficiency as before. I have to acknowledge fall is definitely here.

Today, Melissa was my home caregiver, I had a load me into the “backup” chair because I made arrangements to have the main power chair picked up by IHC wheelchair shop for some general maintenance bolt tightening things like that as well as the replacement of the front end foot box and I think one of the posts on an arm to the chair. As a couple other items on the chair that needs to be worked on but doesn't necessarily have to happen today/tomorrow and hopefully my chair will be back tomorrow evening. Once again I'm totally thankful to have a decent backup chair but but there is something definitely wrong with this vehicle. I think the left motor is pretty well gone. I may have to focus on a stick of another motor on the chair. Of course I would go through my folks at ucat 1^st to see what they could do. I am still a believer that you have so much equipment and much of that equipment are items like motors that are still quite good and would work well on the back of chair since I rarely use it more than just once or twice a year when the manger is not available. I'm not sure what the cost would be on such endeavor but I know it would be cheaper than going to someplace like IHC or some other wheelchair shop. I'm way past the warranty/support for the backup chair.

I think more to prove to myself that I was okay and not totally hibernating/hiding in the apartment I used one of our coupons for the Arctic Circle across the street for corndog. Inflation is hitting everything forever the corn dogs were a dollar 50. They're now a dollar 50 still if you have one of the coupons that come out with their little flyer the 1^st of each month. If not it's about $2.25. I know it's not a lot but it's just the principle and it gets me out of the house. Of course they don't have their lobby open so I have to go through the drive-through which is kind of scary but today was kind of slow. When I asked for mustard to go with my corndog stipulating I would like to have the mustard in a cup when they the serving person wanted to hand me a handful of mustard packages. I hate those small mustard packages. Even if I can tear the top off to access the mustard I still have to push the mustard out and apply it to the hot dog/corndog in my other hand. Just easier to have a large cup of busters. When I said this the guy at the window said okay hold on and I think he went back and cut the tops off all those packages and squeezed them out into one dipping cup. I mean I think they had gallon jars full of mustard back there with pumps I hope you did that. The sun was warm and very little Windows I ate my corndog in the parking lot of the Arctic Circle knowing that these days also be a thing of the past…

Sunday Breakfast Burrito

 

Thank goodness for rituals I finally left the confines of the apartment complex today due primarily to the ritual of having Sunday morning breakfast with my son and sometimes granddaughter. Today was extra special because we are trying a new place for breakfast. Not that we've grown board are tired of D's restaurant we are just interested in doing something different and seeing how much if any thing we liked. There is a Betos Mexican restaurant about a half a block further down than the restaurant we usually go to. Of course, whenever we pick something we've got to find something for someplace that is in fairly easy rolling distance for me. This means accessible by bus line. But of course the problems run into on Sunday mornings is that the current transit authority runs slower and fewer lines on Sundays. So it would be easiest for me to stick somewhere on Redwood Road. Today was Betos.

I actually like this place, Betos. They are one of the few places that remained open during the pandemic couple years ago. Betos still has a problem with opening up there inside dining. As a consumer you have to about pound on the door to get the attention of whoever's working the let you in. What you said during the shutdown actually rolled through the joined couple times I mean the drive-through and I enjoyed what I got the rice and beans particularly sometimes that being the only order. I was the 1^st person to get to the restaurant this morning's like I said it was locked up tight but they said they were open.. Jasmine showed up finally been Mark Anthony and if I got the attention of the 2 workers inside who opened up the doors for us and a couple of the patrons at had shown up. The Betos experience was bit different than the D's restaurant. For one there's no coffee! Scott surprised when asked if they wanted to go somewhere else both kids so they want to stay here so we did. We drank water is our beverage and ordered the breakfast burrito – – which is the only breakfast type of food product that they have. It's whatever you want bacon and eggs, sausage and eggs, treats over legs etc. etc. all wrapped up in a giant tortilla good 8 inches long and about 3 inches thick not thicker. I cannot believe people eat that much food in one setting. It's quite a bit different when maybe the same amount of food is spread out over your plate that haven't all rolled up into a compact burrito/tortilla is somewhat mind blowing. The breeder was great however. I'd forgotten that I'd had them in the past and I think you're just ideal for on the go dining which I believe a lot of their clientele is during the workweek. Stop at Betos grab breakfast and lunch at the same time. Everybody love their Fritos everybody only ate half electing to take the rest with us to dine someplace else at some further time in the afternoon or evening. We had somewhat compact conversation which is good. Fast food fast conversation I guess it all works out. You have an extended version when you do this at a restaurant with the seating ritual, menu reading and then selection them bring in the food. It's a different kind conversation versus the intimate direct conversation of having a Sunday morning breakfast in the seating area of a fast food joint. I don't know if we will do this again sometime soon. We are thinking of checking out a few other restaurants relatively close on Redwood Road. I think we may end up coming back to the D's restaurant just because a familiarity and convenience to me the old guy. And besides is not necessarily where and what you eat for your Sunday morning breakfast it's the company that you keep…

Celebrating Saturday… Leisurely

 

As much as I tried today I couldn't get myself to leave the property. It is but a beautiful Saturday, autumn at its finest (we could use moisture any moisture but short of that) with brisk morning temperatures fade into pleasant mid 70° perfect 1^st sitting outside the apartment and just reading. I kept looking at the back gate thinking all I had to do was grab my “Go” bag and go anywhere UTA takes me downtown to Siegfried's deli, or south the DI, Smith's grocery store with lots of specials or even just up to the movies a half a block from here. And the point is, I just could not get enough gumption to do anything. There is the case I guess, I could make, of having coffee with my neighbor at the coffee shop across the street. So maybe that was my escape from the apartment complex. I'd made sure that I had been all my shopping the things I might need yesterday the weeks laundry is done and the the floors are swept into my bed is made. I wish it looked as nice as the image I have at the top of this blog entry. Melissa, my Monday person, changes the sheets every 2 weeks and puts together this fine looking bed. I just love sheets as well as the comforter after the bid is made, the 1^st night. I always sleep better the 1^st night after the beds made. Really does make me feel like I'm cradled all night. But my bet is made, and this morning I made it, not as pretty but it still functional and welcomes me at the end of the day.

So I spent a good part of the morning after coffee and after the day warmed significantly out in the back of the apartment complex basting in the sun, intermittently laying back in my chair watching clouds and jets make contrails are reading my current paperback and trying to be cordial when people pass me going to the dumpsters or to their vehicles. The truth is I feel guilty enjoying my days like this. I feel I should be doing something else. You should be doing something productive I'm sure it's that Puritan/Mormon training. It's a sin to relax. I thought about making something. I want to make a party/robust stew but it's just too warm still. I was going to try to make the stew out of materials I have in my pantry and then make cornbread to go with like a bunch of all next week – – that didn't get done. So now, whenever I eat tomorrow will be either already made something in my refrigerator or one of the items frozen in my freezer. I might even try soup. I've been doing a lot of soup lately since I have so much of it. I was searching all afternoon for some cans of vegetable soup I know I have at least one can of vegetable soup I want to use as a stew extender. I have a bag of stew I got from one of the food drops which landed on the “sharing shelf”. I figure I can empty the contents of the bag of soup into a pot at a can of this condensed vegetable soup then add some of the steak that I got the other day cut into small bits and then boil the whole thing or similar until the meat gets tender adding perhaps fresh potatoes and carrots and onions. Basically, making a whole new stew. Now I intend to do this project next Monday. Now quick confession spent the afternoon binging the last part of the 1^st season of the “The Defenders” a Marvel offering. I was surprised at how taken in I was with this group of superheroes in New York. I was, shocked at the demise of daredevil however no don't know if delivered be a new season to resurrect him because I can't believe they would kill off a main character like that. If you have time or that your board check out Disney's/Marvel/The Defenders.

I'm going to breakfast tomorrow, as usual, with Mark Anthony and whoever else joins him. Were going to try something new and not go to our regular restaurant. Someplace new in this case Mexican should be really interesting maybe I'll give you a report…

Weekend Treats

 

The days are just beautiful incredibly perfect for just sitting out and reading after the morning warm-up. It's brisk in the mornings not really freezing cold or can certainly tell the cold is coming whether or not we get moisture with the cold is a whole another issue. My goal is to enjoy each moment of the sunshine that I can even if it makes you look like a lazy bum to all my neighbors here at the apartment complex. I mean once again what is the use of going out if you don't have anything to do once you're out?

There was no reason to go to the market for shopping except, I guess, to pick up some fresh bananas. I was down to my last reasonable banana but I took the black basket with me just the same as one never knew. And sure enough I went on the mini shopping spree. If I had to justify my actions I would say this is my form of recreation purchasing “fun” food for the weekend. Chances are all is at the market again tomorrow for something I feel that I may have missed today. But I kind of doubt it. I feel the market has everything I need for the social experience. Getting ready to go out in public, visiting the store personnel once I get there and socially interacting with other shoppers. For example there's always something way up high that I can't reach sometimes even with the help of my eye level chair. I have to grab somebody as they walked past and asked if they would consider hand-me-down whatever it is I'm interested in. In all my time I think I've only been shut down twice the people who either did not have time or just bigger pricks than I am. I get a lot of frozen stuff, items I can just pop in the microwave and a few seconds have something to munch on or eat or in some cases put together for real-life meal. This week I got more taquitos. I found that my Monday home health person loves taquitos and it certainly doesn't hurt me to share them with her. She often has to leave home without breakfast and spammers for the time she gets her. I got a couple more frozen pies, meat pies one of my favorites. Whenever I'm bummed out are confused about what to have for dinner I can always turn to one of my beef meat pies these pies are just a perfect size. I even got scoopers Fritos corn chips, party size, as well as being dip! And then I stop to the dollar store on the way home and got sandwich cookies and fiddle faddle, special treats for any movies about be watching tonight Saturday and Sunday if they should last a long period.

I really should be stronger and fight my impulse to fill my life with treats. There really is a false form of security for me and delight. The kind of pat myself on the back for not stopping at the fast food joint/Arctic circle on the way home and buying even further treats or even dinner like a hamburger, shrimp dinner are there great fish dinners. I even bypassed the Chinese food place. It only put my pouch with the credit card away and it was quite buried under a lot of groceries which is just as well because I have great food at home just waiting for me to chow down. My apartment is pretty clean thanks to Gloria who came back from her grandmother duty up in Idaho. I washed the dishes up and the floors are relatively clean until I start cooking again but I'm okay for now and for the weekend. I hope you guys have a great weekend enjoy

Cool Is The Rule

 

I usually don't blog about people when is their birthday just seems so cliché and not that I'm a great writer because I'm not I just would like to avoid the predictable if at all possible. However, I'm writing today about my oldest living brother (that I associate with . In my recently surfaced blood relative family I think it may have a brother who might even be older but like I said I don't associate with those folks very much).

This is a picture my brother Carl when I think he was about 16 or 17. The image is taken on our farm in around 1957 maybe as early as 56. I thought my brother was the coolest guy in existence not only do you have a great motorcycle but he also tried to live by himself in this trailer that sat beside our house on the farm. Everything about my brother was exotic . In the early days even for this image is taken my brother and I and the rest of the family lived in the city of Boise. As the story goes in the late 40s my dad purchased a home that needed much repair and did the work to make this house live-ably cool. When my father and my mother married to each had families of their own, so counting me there were 6 of us living at home from time to time in this house that my dad refurbished need to have numerous bedrooms which went into the basement. Before then however my brother lived in a utility room in the hallway of that house. All of his stuff was visible. Carl lived on the top bunk of a set of bunk beds and there was a gas mask and a painted coconut the fearsome face in his area both of which I thought were the coolest things on earth. Sadly, for me, Carl my older sisters had a mother who lived in another state and the often travel back and forth. I didn't see much of my older brothers are older family for that much and it was always a treat when I got to visit with them. Carl also little different in that he and his wife Jean actually volunteered to let me live with them for a year or so following my accident I think more than anything else to give my parents a respite. I didn't really understand this at the time I thought I was just lucky to go with my brother and sister-in-law to live with them in another state. My brother Tommy a bunch of stuff not directly but indirectly. If anyone tell me to shave it was him, I sort came of age while living with him in North Carolina, I did not realize it at the time but he listened the public radio. Only later did I realize the same kind of programming I listen to now was basically the same kind of programs he listened then. He was a literal artist and I found out later quite a poet. A spiritual giant, a great father and a great husband as well as stepson who literally took care of his stepmother in her later years. Gosh, this almost reads like an obituary I hope not. It's want to write about them whatever reason the post is image on my blog. I believe I have been most impressed with my brother as a grandfather. I'm totally impressed with the support is given my niece, his daughter and more specifically his grandchildren from spiritual blessings, guidance and how little life which is honest and true as well as gifts of financial significance as well as vehicles and how to care for them. He seems to have a perfect life that makes sense because after all he is a perfect brother