Living and laughing with a disability - cerebral palsy; ordinary life, extraordinary circumstances.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Options

Got an email at work yesterday. The medical review field was not updated on my audit case. Oops. I started investigating. The medical field is supposed to update automatically when the IV-E field updates. I looked up other cases, none of the medical fields have updated. I will write a macro today...then be click clicking all day...

I was pulling out of work yesterday. I go out on a small side street to get to Powell. People were crossing to get to the bus stop. This young dude started jumping and flailing in front of me, as if I was going to hit him. I wasn't that close!

Did I: a. run him over; b: honk; c: sit and look dumb...making sure my doors were locked?

Nice seeing Lu Anne for lunch at Pizza Barron. Anyone looking for a kids rocker, or need and upholstery work done?


Wednesday, October 28, 2009

SOS!

audit. Secretary of State auditing IV-E statewide.

IV-E is federal funding that reimburses costs the state pays for kids in foster care.

I am a IV-E specialist...and one of my IV-E cases is going down to Salem for audit next week...along with a foster home provider file and the 8 volume case file.

Most of my work goes unseen and unreviewed. Every three years we have the big federal audit. In between we have SOS audits, and some internal audits.

I don't mind having my work reviewed, but it is nerve wracking. The initial determination was done by someone else. I went back and did a little clarification. The fewer things the auditors have to figure out for themselves, they better.

Dry, I know...but hey, it's my day job.


Do chimps grieve? - Boing Boing

Do chimps grieve? - Boing Boing: "This incredible image was shot for National Geographic by Monica Szczupider, and shows chimpanzees at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in Cameroon. They're observing as the body of an elder troop member named Dorothy is taken to burial. She died at 40 years of age, which is pretty old for a chimpanzee."

A sad tale from the war...

The war condolences Obama won't send | The Stump - - OregonLive.com: "Current laws prevent transfer of mental health information from active-duty military to the reserves, so Chance's commanders did not know of his previous struggles. Last June, troubled again, he sent his parents a dire e-mail, mentioning suicide. Jannett recalled: 'I spoke to Chancellor the night before he died for about four minutes. And as always, he wore a really tough exterior. ... But what he did tell me that night is that he was going to have a very long, difficult day. His conversation was quite brief. Normally he would say that he loves me, and he would say goodbye. But this time he simply hung up.'"

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Clydester...what happened?

Five dogs.

Bonnie and Clyde. Dachsun/Yorkie mixes, brother/sister. Our dogs...owners of the house. They allow us to live with them.

Shadow and Skeeter. Lhasa Apsos, old men, brothers. Jodie's Mom's "Boys".

Vinny. A bounding big Lab mix. Mellow around all these rugrats. Jodie's sister Denise, and her son Vance's, dog.

Last night at the water dish Clyde yelped, Vinny freaked, and Shadow got out of the way. We don't know what happened. Vinny may have accidentally stepped on Clyde. He was a bit skittish for awhile.

Five dogs.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Pastor Rog reflects on decision to stay and serve...and health care

Koine Community in Portland.: Memorial Gardens: "Our friends who went to Canada face no such predicament. They could change jobs anytime they wanted. No concerns about loss of health insurance. Not an issue. No matter what happens in the future, they will never be denied health insurance coverage, never face the prospect of bankruptcy over health care costs. I remember when their first daughter Claire was born in the mid 70's. It cost them a buck-fifty to buy a nursing bra for Susan. That's it."

Full house!

We have house guests. Jodie's mom and sis, and their three dogs, have moved in with us for the time being. They are transitioning living situations right now. Nephew is staying with a buddy's family.

We have a bed in the living room, and a air bed in the family room.

Prayers for the continuing transition would be greatly appreciated...but we are making it quite fine!

Friday, October 09, 2009

According to the Teleprompter's Blog, not everyone is happy...

...but I think Obama rocks!

Barack Obama's Teleprompter's Blog: That's Nobel-Prize Winning Teleprompter to You ...: "Lady M is thrilled, because a check for $1.5 million comes with the medal. While Big Guy was hoping to use that check to break ground on his Presidential Library on the South Lawn of the White House (oops, did I just let that out of the bag?), Michelle says she wants to use that money to 'stimulate the economy a little bit.' That $1.5 million means they can actually go out on a date night and pay for it themselves instead of the taxpayers!

Of course, there are some hurt feelings around here this morning. Big Guy had the Secret Service up in Chappaqua check in on President Clinton to make sure his head hadn't exploded at about 4 am this morning. Al Gore apparently has locked himself in the closet again and they can't get him out. We're hearing there's this weird whirling sound down in Atlanta near Martin Luther King's grave. Joey B. seems kind of sulky during the morning briefing, because he assumed since his name was on the 2008 campaign bumper sticker, he should get half the prize, too. And apparently Poland and the Czech Republic just unitlaterally surrendered to Russia."

Jean is a survivor!

Thank you Pastor Roger for sharing the news. So much joy; such a lovely picture:

Koine Community in Portland.: Happy Anniversary!: "One year ago today, October 8, was the pits. Jean was flat on her back, unable to turn her head without becoming dizzy or ill, unable to eat, unable to even think about rising from bed and trying to stand or walk with double vision and absolutely no strength.

Today, loved by God and us, she is well and whole again. But her recovery is no more miraculous than each successive breath and heartbeat that we take for granted. The seeds of God's love and life are planted in us and all around us. May we daily bask in this grace and give thanks."

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

"Crippled Kids Walk With Jesus, Lefty Journos With Satan"

My internet is slow...when I can, I want to examine this painting.

"Handicapped child" on the right side..."the good guys"??


Crippled Kids Walk With Jesus, Lefty Journos With Satan | Mother Jones

Interesting thoughts on disability out of Pakistan

I confess...My first thought of Pakistan..."Isn't that where Bin Laden is?"

Yes...perhaps...but also brothers and sisters battling life out:

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Disabled by society: "Disability is being redefined in a social rather than a physiological context. Sociologists and human rights activists now place the onus on society to make the necessary structural changes for enabling persons with disabilities to realise their full potential and make a contribution to the state."

Hee hee...

#662 Fixing your wedgie when no one’s looking � 1000 Awesome Things

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

I think it's sexy, Woman...

http://www.allinonemobility-shop.com/jazzy600.html

...Not the guy...but the chair.

I know you are worried. It is a transition, but it will make life easier.

God has brought us this far...He will carry us the rest of the way.

We went to the fitting appointment yesterday. Six to eight weeks, the power chair will be here.

Detroit's move to India

Sad for our economy...happy for their's:


India Ford | Automobile manufacturing

Monday, October 05, 2009

Uh...we live here...

Saturday, Jodie and I were getting ready to go shopping. We had cleaned out the van. Jodie was in the van making her way to her seat. I was loading her scooter.

A lady drove up and parked by our mailbox. I figured it was someone for our neighbor. Living on a culdesac, parking is kind of weird.

I was on our lift, and I noticed the lady was at our door. I called over to her "Can we help you?"

She still seemed determined to knock on our door. Jodie tried to talk to her, but the car window was up and the door was closed. Jodie had to holler to be heard.

The lady was looking for (we are trying to remember the name), we thing, "Janice".

We told her that nobody by that name lived here.

She went back to her car and got on her phone.

This reminded me of a time when a gutter salesman argued with me about wanting to talk with the owner of the house, refusing to believe I was he.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

One leg...and a handicap of three...

True inspiration:

Manuel de los Santos will realise dream at St Andrews - Times Online: "He will be among some of the biggest names in the game and a smattering of showbusiness celebrities and, as well as St Andrews, will play at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Ask him what he thinks of that and his grin could power the national grid. “I cannot believe it,” he says. “My dream has come true.” Put simply, De los Santos has become an inspiration. Now 25, he plays off a barely believable handicap of three, can hit the ball 260 yards through the air and, perhaps most surprisingly, refuses to use a prosthetic leg. He walks, with the aid of crutches, between shots and will not countenance the use of a buggy. “It’s a sport,” he said. “I’m an athlete. I walk.”"