Hi blog friends!
Hope this update finds you well. Let me know how you’re doing (or send me the link to your most recent video, blog post or other creation) via message, text or email. Link at the bottom of this post. Thanks to those who’ve reached out so far. It’s been good to hear from you and catch up. 🙌
My body and I are still spending most of our days resting at our kitchen table sipping warm cups of coffee with extra milk, nursing our daily aches, pains and fatigue and enjoying life as best we can when opportunity allows.
Our walking tour adventures continued with videos of Carlsbad, Del Mar and other cities and towns. Also watched a tour of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and caught neat videos about Benji the dog, Stuckey’s convenience store and old schools and jails being converted into apartments. Links are below if you’d like to watch these videos too.
Also had another visit from a wheelchair tech. The center mount footplate I requested is now installed. But more comfort adjustments are needed. That will require another visit or two – or three – or 5 – or 10 depending on the insurance and the process. Gosh I sure miss the way it was in the 90’s and early to mid 2000’s – when wheelchairs were in a space to be more thoughtfully designed and manufactured, you could just call the people at your local wheelchair shop and let them know it was time for an updated ride, about six weeks later you had a new chair, and any comfort adjustments needed were relatively quick and painless and you could go about your day and your life with little to no interruption or inconvenience. Now things aren’t that way.
When I got the wheelchair I’ve been using for the last 10+ years – my beloved, beautiful, practical, metallic apple green, rugged and functional Invacare Action Ranger Storm Series 3G (which was pulled out of production in 2017) it was delivered to my house, I was talked through any updates I needed to know about, paid my copay, then Paul and I happily went for a stroll to get burgers and fries to celebrate. But this time – my wheelchair was delivered, and for the most part it’s been sitting unused since it arrived. Even though it feels a little better than Matilda (the first new wheelchair I got but sent back) I don’t feel excited about sitting in it and I don’t feel excited about driving it. When I think about it, the first thing that comes to my mind is thoughts of indifference, sadness and discomfort – and the memory of the evening that Paul and I went for a stroll and I had trouble saving myself from tipping on a downward hill that sloped in two directions at the same time. That shouldn’t be happening in a power wheelchair with a boss suspension like the Quantum R Trak claims to have. Crossing my fingers tight that more comfort adjustments will resolve the issues. 🤞
Also got this month’s Sam’s Club and Costco deliveries in, saw bits and pieces of a few golden sunrises and ducked out to the building next door to us for ice cream again. I got a cup of Cherry Cordial this time and Paul got a cup of Mint Chip. Left a tip, even though we were told we could skip. Businesses often say that to us when we stop in. We’re still trying to figure out if it’s because we’re disabled, or if they’re simply being kind.
Cute Snail fall themed coloring pages and the Cute Snail Fall Adventures Coloring Book are still available if anyone would like them. All coloring pages are easy print PDF, can be printed at any scale you like and are 100% FREE to download and enjoy.
YouTube Video Links
Carlsbad Village Walking Tour (1 hour, 10 min)
Del Mar Walking Tour (1 hour, 20 min)
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Tour (38 min)
Stuckey's Historic Convenience Store (6 min)
Empty Shopping Mall Shelter Conversions (22 min)
Empty School Apartment Conversions (22 min)
Empty Jail Apartment Conversions (21 min)
NOTE: The survival guide mentioned at the end of the empty mall, school and jail apartment conversion videos is NOT free. If you’re currently navigating homelessness or tough times and need free guidance or free resources, please call 211 or type in your zipcode or the type of help you’re looking for at findhelp.org.
IMAGE ID: A picture of the cherry cordial and mint chip ice cream Paul and I recently enjoyed from Lappert’s Ice Cream.
❤️ Juliet