living-life

Help! It's Hot & My Butt is Chafing!

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:55:32 +0100

The hot weather of summer brings up new issues of making yourself as comfortable as you can so that you can enjoy some fun in the sun and the shade. Remembering my first summer in a chair, brings back some pretty extreme discomfort. That hot, black, non-breathable material that the seat of my chair is made of made any skin surface in contact with it, sweat and then chafe, not to mention sticking clothing to me as if I had sprayed my body with glue before dressing. With all that sweating and gluing and chafing, I soon had skin issues... I am putting that mildly because it wasn't pretty. The point being here is even if you have no feeling in the areas where body meets chair, it is important to take care of your skin. That said, I am going to share how I take care of things.

#1 On my list is: Terrycloth! I like to use terrycloth because it absorbs moisture ie, sweat. My chair seat is small enough that I can lay a thick hand towel down before sitting. (I also use this when it rains because I don't like sitting on a damp seat ) If your seat is larger, try a bath towel or check Walmart fabric remnants for a piece of terrycloth that will fit.

#2 Is Treat Your Skin! Naturally you'll want to keep your skin as clean as possible. Anti-chafing treatments are a matter of personal preference. I generally use baby powder on all areas that are prone to chafing, just make sure your skin is nice and dry before application. If your skin is sensitive to perfumes or talc, or you're broke, corn starch works really well. Recently I saw an advertisement for an anti-chafing lotion, I imagine that it is more than likely kind of expensive, but I have it on my list to at least seek it out and look at it, the next time I go to a store that might stock it. Mild chafing can be treated with A&D ointment... Yeah I know, it's commonly sold as diaper rash ointment... Read the label, you'll see. If you're really having problems with chafing issues or you begin to have wounds that are raw or leaking fluid, go to your doctor! He/she's bored in the summer anyhow since most of the germs have moved to cooler climes, they have nothing better to do then patch up the occasional summertime injury. ;-)

#3 Take a Break! When it is possible, try to take regular breaks from sitting in that chair, allow a little air to circulate.

#4 Comfortable Clothing! Wear lightweight, breathable clothing. Go for items that are soft and a little loose, the softer the better. I prefer cotton, a cotton blend or hemp. No denim! Yep I do know real denim is 100% cotton take my word, it will find a place to chafe! A rule of thumb, rub it on your cheek, if it feels soft there, then the chances are good the material will be comfortable for you.

That concludes the Hot Butts issue! Next I'll discuss ways to keep cool when things go triple digits.

Whats for dinner? Turkey, corn on the cob and beet salad. Farmer's markets are open! The veggies are yummy and if you shop carefully, you can get a great deal!

Summer Bucket List Update Check One

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 23:41:51 +0100

Last night, I completed the item on my summer bucket list, "Speak to one group about this website". To be honest, I already knew that I would be speaking. By writing it down, I pretty much sealed my escape hatches as I have always believed myself to be a "stay in the background" type of person and certainly not someone who could actually speak and be heard. I went to this year's Parent Leadership Academy class and spoke to them about this website and giving back to the community or being a part of the community and some issues that the physically impaired citizens of Tuolumne County face on a daily basis. They are a wonderful group and made me feel right at home. About myself, I found out that I can speak, all I need to do is let my passion for what I am doing here, talk for me.

Now it's your turn! Your challenge is do something you have never done before. Extra brownie points will be lavishly awarded to those who take at least one step outside of their comfort zones. When you complete this challenge, Come back and tell me all about it! Post it on the message board or send me an email. I would love to hear what you've accomplished and the best stories will be seriously considered for a featured article. By the way, this challenge is for EVERYONE! I don't care if you're old or young, able bodied or physically impaired. I don't even care if what you tried to do, didn't work out the way you thought it should. What I want to see is people getting out there and Living Life!

Next article planned is for Keeping Your Cool in a Hot Black Chair or Help! My Rear is Chafing! So stay tuned!

Whats for dinner? Burritos, rice and salad... Did you know? For the price of a package of frozen burritos, you can make twice as many from scratch and get rid of some leftover meat? Just wrap and freeze what you don't eat for a later time.

Finishing Up!

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:39:01 +0100

I only have a couple more things to say about creative cleaning and that will finish the Spring Cleaning series so we can go on to... Living Life in the Summer! Which will hopefully be quite a bit more fun. So let's get down to business because I can't wait to do some summer living and perhaps even check off a few items from that summer bucket list.

First: Cobwebs and Dust Bunnies: For these messy critters, I have a extendable handled duster... It looks like a really big, blue Q-tip. With it I can reach ceilings, dust off the tops of the ceiling fans and beat the juice out of spider webs. One warning. Keep your mouth shut and also the neck of your shirt because once you feel those little spider feeties crawling down your back, you'll feel them crawling for hours even if there aren't any actually on you looking for revenge because you wrecked their happy homes. The mouth thing is just because you don't really want a sample of spider's dinner dropping in there. You can also use this duster to grab dust bunnies out from under things like beds and the bottom bookshelf... Oh yeah! You can also use it for actual dusting though it is a mite awkward for dusting small and or fragile items.

And second: The Tub: It is very important to keep the tub clean to prevent unnecessary skin infections both fungal and bacterial. The tub is one of the hardest things to get clean by yourself but you can do it. To save major cleanings, I like to wipe down the tub ring while I am on my way out of it from my bath, using a rag and some window cleaner, rinsing it off with the draining bath water. To do a bigger cleaning, I recommend putting 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water and about 5 drops of dish soap in a squirt bottle, get a box of baking soda and a cheap, never ever used in a toilet, toilet brush. Spray the solution on a section of the tub, sprinkle the baking soda, watch it foam! Then scrub it with the toilet brush and rinse! Don't worry if you can't rinse all traces of the baking soda off, it's pretty good for your skin!

One last word of advice: Don't sweat the small stuff! A fact of life for everyone is sometimes there is something that you do not have the capability to do. Focus instead on the things that you can do and take pride in that, for instance I will never be able to train an elephant, but I can keep my house reasonably clean!

Whats for dinner? I don't know! It is not my turn to cook tonight! ;-)

The Two W's or Windows and Walls

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:40:06 +0100

On this subject... First to mind comes... YUCK! Second, if there is any way possible, get someone else to do it.

If I didn't lose you in the opening statement then you are ready to try it for yourself so it's "on like Donkey Kong!" (That sure was a fun game back in the days of Super Nintendo.") Anyhow let us talk a bit about supplies.

The Sponge Mop is your friend: Notice that when I talked about doing the floors last time, I didn't tell you to cut down the handle of your floor mop. The reason for this is for reach ability. With a new mop head, some spray cleaner and plenty of warm rinse water, you can pretty much, mop your walls! Before you start though a word about... Safety.

Always wear Safety Goggles: When mopping your walls you can pretty much count on getting splashed, dripped on and generally immersed in grunge. You can find safety goggles for a decent price at Walmart, sometimes the dollar store sells them and all of the hardware stores keep them in stock. It is important to note that you want the goggles not glasses. Goggles have a barrier around the entire eye and will protect against most splashes and drippy, droppings. A hat will keep cleaning solutions out of your hair and prevent possible chemical irritations of your scalp.

Now that is out of the way, it's time for the actual work. Starting at the top of the wall, (or as high as you can reach) get your mop wet in clean water and squeeze it out as dry as you can, then spray the mop head with the cleaner of your choice. I use Mean Green because it works well and I can get a quart of it at Walmart for around $3.00. Working from top to bottom will keep the "clean runs" from becoming permanent stains and makes it easier to do the wall in sections which will be less noticeable if you are like me and take more then one day to clean a larger wall. Remember there is no law that says if you start a job there is a time limit.

Windows on the other hand... I like to do the parts of a window that I can reach in the traditional way... With hands, window spray and soft cloth that is. It's really hard to eliminate streaking with the mop method but you can get them a bunch cleaner by mopping the part you can't reach, then take a chamois (the kind you dry a car with) and pinning it around your mop head to dry up the water and try for a shine. If you can, get a long handled window squeegie, you can skip the mop deal although having the chamois covered mop on hand you can use it to buff out the little lines that it can make and dry around the edges where it can't reach.

Now that those chores are done, pat yourself on the back and go out to enjoy this beautiful Spring weather, even if it means sitting on the deck or in the yard.

Whats for Dinner? Cheese omelets, little sausages and biscuits with butter n jam!

Spring Cleaning or Housekeeping 101

Fri, 11 May 2012 22:15:16 +0100

I am only calling it Spring Cleaning because I am talking about it in the Spring time. Cleaning house is one of my least favorite of things to spend my time and energy on, but alas it is most necessary and facing the matter head on, I do feel better when my house is clean... Well I should say cleaner, rather then dirtier. With a lot of us either cut or greatly reduced in the home care department thanks to budget cuts, and a legislature that listens to the squeakiest wheels that squawk the loudest, we must do our best to fill in the holes where we can. In my house it sometimes means that some things are clean up to a certain point but it is certainly better then nothing done at all.

Starting from the bottom, today's focus is on the floors so I'll talk about equipment along with the chore.

Sweeping: Looking back at myself, learning how to sweep a floor in a chair, all I can say is ohh boy... and not in the excited sense either. Now I manage pretty well, but I can still remember cracking myself in the skull with the broom handle and taking headers out of my chair, trying to pick up the dirt. So lets talk about the lowly broom. If you can find a broom with a wooden handle, you or a friend can cut it shorter to make it easier to manipulate. Make sure you sand down the cut end really good. Don't try a metal handle, I did this and even taped up the end and it cut the heehaw out of the palms of my hands. For easier gripping, a few inches of pipe insulation, measure the palm of your hand and add two inches, taped tightly around the handle where you would grip it, helps tons. A hole drilled in the end of the handle and threaded through with a loop of stiff cording, will help you pick it up if you drop it. (a good job for the hooky stick) Now you cant talk about the broom without it's trusty companion, the dust pan! I used to get long handled dust pans from the dollar store but they were easily broken and after a while, they quit selling them so now I am saving my pennies to get a long handled one like professional janitors use, in the meantime, I just get someone passing by to dump the shorty for me.

Mopping: Mopping is a challenge of the first degree. Plan out your mopping strategy before you start so that you're never rolling on wet floor. I have black tires (huge mistake!) so along with the regular dirt of everyday rolling, they have this lovely black residue that seems to be water soluble. You haven't lived till you've looked back at what should be a nice clean floor, and seeing a giant, black tic tac toe board where you've rolled wet tires around. Next, forget the buckets! Buckets are heavy, weight shifting, giant pains in the necks and other body parts. Use what is closest. In the kitchen I use the kitchen sink, in the bathroom, the tub, just plan on scrubbing those things last in each room, after the floor is clean and dry.

Vacuuming: When you buy a vacuum cleaner, try to get one with an adjustable handle and set the handle to the shortest it will go. This is the biggest pain of all the floor jobs. To keep the machine as light as possible, empty the dirt cup often. Start at one edge, set your brakes and vacuum as far as you can safely reach, relocate and do it all over again. This will take up a good chunk of time but at least it will be done!

Now to finish up this lively article I say... Section! Before you start working on your floors, plan to do it in small sections, it is easier to do when you concentrate on one square of room at a time and before you know it... You're done! Pat yourself on the back and treat yourself good!

Whats for dinner? Italian sausage patties with cheese and eggs on English muffins and a big green salad. Three more weeks until the farmer's market opens! YAY!

Be A Bucket List Bunny!

Wed, 02 May 2012 22:15:41 +0100

I have always found it hard to make "goals" for my life. As I am not a member of the Head Shrinking Society, I can only guess that I have a fear of failure and a goal means to set it in your mind and keep working at it until you have succeeded. A Bucket List on the other hand, you can keep your entire lifetime, you can put things on or take them off without ever feeling that you have failed because it is more like a glorified dream shopping list.

Most of us have played the game of "What I Would Buy IF I Had A Million Bucks" Well a bucket list is sort of like that but you should list at least some things that could actually happen. Up till now, my bucket list has been in my head and it is time to put them into print, not only to share, but to also see about making some of them real and some of those things on my list, if I am able to do them then it is possible you can too! So without too much more yakking on the subject, I will set to print, the things on my bucket list that I would like to work on this good season. (also known as Summer to the great unwashed)

1. Learn how to bowl from a chair.

2. Grow some plants outside.

3. Have a picnic in a place I haven't been before in my chair.

4. Make contact with Tuolumne City's, district Supervisor member about making our little town a bit more friendly for the physically impaired.

5. Speak to at least one group about this website and why it is here.

6. Finish painting my kitchen.

7. Do something new... By myself!

Okay I'm stopping now before I make the list too long and/or complicated and with complete understanding that life rarely goes as planned, therefore keeping my mind open to embrace whatever crosses my path in the meantime.

Now it is Your Turn! Make those lists and put them in those buckets! (You can get a pretty good sand bucket at the dollar store for.... guess what? A dollar!)

Whats for dinner? Chicken? Garlic Taters and greenie beanies! MMmm!

Just Say Yes!

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:01:38 +0100

Over the winter months this year, I managed to not only catch every bug that came into the house, I also experienced some physical setbacks. As a consequence, I was confined to my home for a pretty good chunk of time and although I was not happy being so isolated, I got used to being stuck this way. When you are by yourself for long periods of time, your mind has a way of making you feel useless, unworthy of being in society and just downright helpless. For a short time I even wondered why I am alive which is downright silly because I know why I am alive and why I am here writing this post and developing this website. I was born to be the person that I am, but I digress.

My point is, I got so used to being stuck at home that I got stuck in my head too. When one of my daughters, whom I hadn't been out with in a long time, offered to take me shopping last week, my mind automatically started looking for reasons why I couldn't go. I couldn't find a good reason and my mind told me that the odds were good that she would either cancel at the last min. or forget, so I said yes and didn't think about it anymore. The day came and so did she and we went shopping for a few hours. I got some nice little Easter gifts for my family and a Big Mac. I felt like a kid on a school field trip!

Then... The daughter that lives with me, surprised me with tickets to go see Titanic in 3D at the Jackson Cinema. This one I had trouble wrapping my mind around. It had been 3 years since I'd been to the movies at all, mostly because it is really hard to find a sitter for a lively toddler when you want to take that toddler's main sitter out (that is me ya know). It is a pretty decent drive from my house to Jackson and my mind started coming up with tons of excuses as to why I couldn't go. To make a long story, short, I did go and I did recite out loud my most favorite lines of the movie... "Oh Jack! I'm flying!" and "Oh Jack... I promise I'll NEVER LET GO!" and I ate some greasy popcorn, drank some awful soda... And I had a most WONDERFUL day! I am very glad that I didn't let my mind win the "Excuses To Stay Isolated" argument, so while I am on the subject, I'll just list out some of my mind's favorite excuses to stay isolated so you can see just how silly they are.

My Mind's 5 Most Silly Excuses To Stay Isolated

1. It Will Hurt: Well if you suffer from pain issues like I do... Yes it will hurt... The thing is it hurts all the time and if you wait for a pain free day, you will never go anywhere and quite frankly, at least for me, It is easier to put the pain in the background if I am doing something then sitting home.

2. It Is Too Much Trouble: First trust the person who asks you to go somewhere that they know about the lifting and loading of equipment and/or you and they wouldn't ask if they didn't want to do it. Second if they want to give your chair a push... give your arms a break and let them. And third, it takes more effort to come up with a decent excuse when you don't really have one.

3. It Will Make Me Tired: Well yes that is a possibility and more likely a probability but this is a good tiredness. I went with my daughter, the day before yesterday, spent yesterday still feeling pretty worn out, today I'm back to normal for me and if you were to ask me if it was worth it, I would say YES!

4. People Will Stare: They might... So What? You are going somewhere for your own pleasure, because you deserve to be out and about and experience as much as life has to offer. Enjoy yourself, be pleasant, answer questions that aren't too personal and ignore those who's parents never taught them acceptance.

5. I Might Have A Medical Problem: Once again, if you're going to have a medical problem, it will happen wherever you are, home or out. I take a bag with me whenever I go out with all my medications and insurance information plus a change of clothing, camera and extra batteries. You can also research online, the closest medical facilities so there won't be any confusion in an emergency.

And so continues the journey of life... Fight those feeble mind games and until we meet again and forever after...

Just Say Yes!

Whats For Dinner? Leftover Easter Ham, broccoli and deviled Easter Eggs!

Funky Fiction, Poetic License and Bookshelf Overload

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:40:58 +0100

I love to read. My bookshelves are so overloaded that they are almost a hazard to human and animal kind. Recently I decided that it was time to "weed out" and donate the books that I do not like all that well. Naturally, some have been sitting for years and I have forgotten if the story is good or not so I decided to re-read them. The very first one on the stack is called December by, Phil Rickman. I know what you're thinking. "Why in the holey heck is she bringing this up?" Hang on a few words and you'll see.

Three hundred and sixty nine pages into the story, I came across this paragraph. Quote:

""The up side of being in a wheelchair was the curious power it gave you over intelligent, able-bodied people. The way it was now, with everybody so politically correct, concerned about facilities for the disabled, you almost had to be careful not to abuse the power.""

And then later in the story (page 433), I read this, Quote:

""He was more comfortable with the embittered cripple, selfish and aggressive and determined to shock.""

This book is a work of fiction. Fiction gives the author the right to just make things up out of his or her head... called.. poetic license. What bothers me is the ignorance that people are absorbing when they are reading such statements.

I used to be a so-called "intelligent able-bodied person", now I am an "intelligent mobility impaired person". Admittedly when able-bodied, I had no clue of the issues that mobility impaired people face every day. Call me enlightened? You bet your boots! Am I embittered? No... I do on occasion, feel a little sad, sometimes I'll miss wearing cute shoes or shopping by myself. Am I selfish? No... I believe that isn't an issue. Aggressive? I wish I was a bit more aggressive... but I am not. Do I shock people? Well... Mostly not, if I do shock you, it will be only that I say something that you have not heard before.

What can we do? About fiction... Nothing. About ignorance... Educate! Try writing yourself. Let people know how things really are, show people that we are the same as the rest of the human race. People who live life as well as we can.

Whats for dinner? Meatloaf, baked taters and green beans MMmm!

Parking Permit Abuse, What Can We Do?

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:25:50 +0100

An issue that has long been on my brain is the parking situation for legally permitted vehicles, transporting physically impaired people. As I wrote in the previous issue, there seems to be a lot of blatant disregard from both those who're using disabled parking spots, without permits and those who are responsible for making sure those spots are used by those who really need them.

Here is a little challenge for you to prove my case in point. On a rainy day, go cruising the disabled parking spaces in any business oriented parking lot, take note of those displaying proper permits that are dated between 2012 and 2014 vs vehicles with no permit (or some relative's expired permit). What you find out will make you think.

Briefly, the truth is, the only people who care about this issue is, US because we are the only ones affected by it. I have never seen a non-permitted vehicle, parked in disabled parking, either towed or ticketed in Tuolumne County. Have you?

Another truth. The issue of who is responsible for enforcing ADA parking space laws, is one giant, buck passing joke. One point being that most parking lots are private property and therefore the responsibility of the individual parking lot owners, who think that their obligation ends with a couple of signs and some blue paint. Law enforcement, (all 3 branches) is already strained, trying to take care of the general population's public safety, have no time to take on this issue, which at times, can and does threaten our public safety, but face it, right now we are a very tiny minority, with an even smaller voice.

Let us start here with letters to the editor in our lovely local newspaper. http://www.uniondemocrat.com/Submit-a-letter-to-the-editor Write how you feel about this issue and let us see if we can get a couple of us printed to begin some public awareness. It is time to open a few eyes around here. Next issue, I will have a new bit of homework for you, until then, stay safe!

Whats for Dinner? I think it is left over taco casserole, which was once taco pig out night, salad and tortillas.

Prompt Care, Parking and Germ Factories

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:56:22 +0100

You can most likely guess that I have been sick, simply by reading the title of this post. I have the pleasure of living with a 2 year old "germ factory" That is, he is 2, goes to day care weekdays and brings home a lovely variety of germs that he then transfers to the other household members in the spirit of love and affection. Even if you happen to pin him down and swab down his face before the spirited smooching sessions, I figure there are roughly several billion active germs on his lips alone and can I say no to that little one that just wants some love?

Several weeks later I find myself on my way to the Indian Rock Prompt Care with a raging case of acute bronchitis. The destination is actually one of my least favorite places to be. In this county if you are sick but not sick enough to risk the lengthy abandonment of the hospital ER staff and too sick to wait a month for an appointment at the clinic, your choices are reduced to two, either the Forest Road Prompt Care or the Indian Rock Prompt Care. I choose the Indian Rock Prompt Care because it is closer to where I live and on occasion can actually be prompt.

When we get to the Indian Rock Prompt Care, which is located in East Sonora on highway 108 in the Indian Rock Center, we find that the 2 previously disabled persons parking spots are both filled with non-permitted vehicles. One belonging to a well known courier service. We were forced to park in the regular parking on a small hill in front of the building. The front of the building has no ramp in the curbing to the sidewalk so I was forced to roll down the driveway, over a speed bump meant for cars, around the corner then uphill between the two vehicles to access the ramp to the sidewalk and back around on the sidewalk to the front doors. Makes me tired just thinking about it.

After I caught my breath enough to speak, I mentioned what I thought of as abuse of disabled person's parking spots to the receptionist. I was surprised to find out that the parking had been converted to staff parking only. Really? I never saw any staff that didn't look healthy enough to walk the 8 or so feet from the regular parking area, seeing as they can easily step up on that curb and a disabled person might not be able to. But i digress a bit, (this is the second time I've written this post) My point is that the physically impaired people of Tuolumne County need doctors too and we deserve reasonable access! What I went through was not reasonable and in fact was extremely dangerous, a wheelchair is not easily seen by motor vehicle operators who are looking for the best parking spots. I was fortunate that we came at a time when the volume of traffic was very low.

Now you will most likely say to yourself, "She is just venting about getting a bad parking spot, poor thing." and that is that. NO! Every time I go out I see lazy people abusing the disabled permit parking spaces and it doesn't matter where it is. This time it is just incredibly blatant and uncaring of a medical facility, charged with caring for the health of ALL residents.

To Sonora Community Hospital/Medical Care Planners:

Remember you were the ones that agreed to taking care of everyone when you put the county medical practices out of business. I need to brush up on my laws, but I believe that means you have the responsibility to comply with the federal ADA laws and that means not only having proper access but also making sure your delivery and courier services do not use those spots, just because it is easier for them to make their deliveries. If you'd stayed private, then you could discriminate against the physically impaired and keep us away but you didn't and now you can't because I will not stop writing and talking until things are right.

Well I am going to call this post good for today and hop down off my soap box. The issue will never close until things get better or my time on earth ends, whichever comes first and I hope by then there will be others to take up wherever I leave off.

Whats for dinner? Breakfast! I love a good breakfast dinner with cheesy eggs and toast, today we even have home made banana bread that I made with my 9 year old grandson Sean.