High-end Wheelchair

Recently, I got myself a power wheelchair. It was hard to come to terms to this decision.

For years when I was talking about the illness and people recognized that I was having difficulty getting around, I would always say, "at least I'm not in a wheelchair!" I can't do that anymore. Well, I still move as much as possible without it. I'm stubborn as a bull with an infected nose ring! Gross! What a nasty image for me to impart! I'll pass it off as a clumsy simile. Sigh...Writer's block is a handicap to which I will not succumb.

Ah... the chair ... It's the BMW of assistive  devices. It can turn on a dime,  it can get through most doorways, unless there are prohibitive operator errors. Aaargh (thank you, Charles Schultz!) It's like Driver's Education, but I can't  burst into tears and swear that I'll just ride the bus for the rest of my life.
 
This chair is dangerously powerful. While learning maneuverability, I managed to move the sofa, the bed, and inadvertently try to remove some door frames, until I quit to catch my breath.

In addition to the movement, when stationary, this chair is  amazingly comfortable! It can recline, has a headrest, rather remarkable padding, and armrests.

The rest of the entry will have to continue tomorrow, but I'll leave you with this video, directed by my fantastic roommate!!

Happy connections!

What an extraordinary weekend! I recently came in contact with a friend from high school. This week, he took it upon himself to send me homemade preserves. What a beautiful gesture — as well as tasty. I've never had preserves made with Whiskey before. It didn't intoxicate me, but it did lend warmth and interest to the flavor. That was a delicious surprise! Pardon me while I wax some poetic about Facebook. I am in touch with my friends from high school, college and grad school with whom I probably wouldn't meet physically. I can see where my friends are working, pictures of their children (some pe-natal), their pets and (not as exciting) the Woodmore Wildcats football team. Also, I'm kept abreast of those who are sick or who have passed. I have recieved photos of tornado damage. It is being part of a community where I no longer have a physical presence. Living in this era is exciting! Not a long post, but my bed is calling me temptingly!! Good Night!

I owe this idea to Douglas Adams.

I  came across this idea watching the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. It seemed like such a good idea to me that I'm trying very hard to  incorporate it  into my life. It now has a different meaning to me since I am faced with a more advanced level of disability.

The first really trying issue was when I no longer felt that I could drive myself. The next was when it was clear that I should have a wheelchair -- a power wheelchair even. Life stole my ability to drive and stole my ability to walk without assistance but it really hits a tender nerve when it threatens my sense of humor. Hope is still hanging in there.

My sense of humor is having one last gasp. I have decided that my guardian angels are Abbott and Costello. It seems to me that they are having a great time just seeing how my sense of humor rescues me hourly. It gives me joy to imagine them laughing at me laughing at myself! Also I find myself joking with them then asking for a little bit of assistance. The three of us have a grand time dealing with my different losses of ability and the funny things it makes me do!

I'm glad that you're sharing this with me. One of the reasons that I can is that I have dictation software so it doesn't take me four years to write a paragraph! I must admit, though, that speaking all of the punctuation is challenging!I

I will talk to you tomorrow!

Here is a little giggle for you.

Again! Again!

To those who know me, here is yet another  attempt at creating a blog. My challenge is to keep the passion going longer than just the idea of the blog, one post and then,'Kaput!.' My Enneagram friends will attribute this to my '7-ness.' Probably so. Nevertheless, this inability to stick with projects to completion is driving me insane! Still, I'm no quitter. So here I go again! Oh brother-- I need to correct myself. I am a serial project starter, so I guess I'm also a serial quitter - but not my intention. Wow! That was arrogant. I don't believe anybody starts a project expecting to quit it. I digress. Another consistent habit of mine. Ah well. at least there is consistency in my inconsistency- doggedness in my indifference- Organization in my chaos. I could go on forever. Thesauruses are amazing. I looked up thesauruses to see that it wasn't thesauri. Apparently you can say that, too! I am starting to recognize what a dork I am. I'm comfortable with that.

Intro/test

Jazz on the Tube

What do Dizzie Gillespie, Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Snooks Eaglin, Louis Bellson, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Rob Carter, Tony Williams, Joe Cuba and Wes Montgomery have in common? I saw all of them on my computer this week! Everyone knows that you can find interesting recordings on YouTube. But what if you aren't sure what to look for? Try Jazzonthetube.com . When you subscribe to the list, you will receive a jazz or jazz-related video every day. It's certainly a bright spot in my email inbox. Happy Viewing!

Happy New Year.

All the best for 2009! 

We are sure to hear that yearly question - "So, do you have any resolutions this year?" Wow. How nosy to ask a person what his/her personal improvement goals are. I made one resolution years ago to not make any resolutions again. 

Still, there is a 'clean slate' feel to January. I have goals for 2009. I refuse to call them resolutions because I hate how 19th c. that word feels and also, I feel like it sets me up for failure. When I was a kid, I would consistently make resolutions that I thought I ought to, not ones I wanted to. Spectacular plan for failure.

My goals for 2009 are malleable - changeable, so I don't know what I will actually end up with. However this year I'm going to consult with a financial planner and record a CD. You can call them resolutions if you want to. Just don't say it to my face.