I was at the bar...and this lady was hitting on me....

Friday means lunch at Action Jackson's with coworkers Vicky and Bonnie. Happy hour; if we come in before noon, cheeseburgers are $1.99, as are a platter of fries.

I filled my second punch card today. My next lunch is free.

The waitress knows my name...it has that "Cheers" feel. Action Jackson's is a bar and grill, in the same parking lot as our office.

We dine on the restaurant side of the establishment, but we go over to the bar side to pay our bill.

There have been more people on the bar side lately. When I went to pay my bill today, this guy, who was also there last week, was calling me "buddy" and his friend, and talking about how well I do. A touch condescending...I know...but people are who they are and I am who I am. I'd rather have people talk to me and relate to me any way they know how rather than have them ignore me.

It is hard to explain this stuff to people not familiar with disability. I get by fine, but with my type of cerebral palsy, doing the simplest thing takes effort. Getting my debit card and my punch card out without spilling all my other cards...takes effort. Signing the receipt takes effort. I always ask a friend or the server write the tip on the receipt for me.

I get by fine; it just takes effort.

So this guy at the bar, and other people around him, who are having a "happier" hour than my Happy Hour of $1.99 cheeseburger and $1.99 fries.

I was paying my bill today. Vicky, her husband Doug, and Bonnie was over by the door. I am waiting at the bar for my waitress to process my debit card. A lady at the bar started calling me friend. She grabbed my hand.

I signed the receipt. I asked the waitress to write in the tip. I put my debit card away. I was ready to go.

The lady still had hold of my hand! I could not free it!

I kept jerking and pulling my hand until I was free. I was afraid of being rude, but I had to get back to work.

That lady made my day. She gave me a good story to tell...

I was at the bar...and this lady was hitting on me....

What was Pat Robertson referring too?

More perspective:

The Devil’s Reparations for Haiti’s Debt? - Elizabeth Palmberg - God's Politics Blog

Daily Kos: White House Reacts To Limbaugh & Robertson

The link was too long for twitter...this is a good response:

Daily Kos: White House Reacts To Limbaugh & Robertson

What are the requirements of a pundit?

Go beyond the cliche, say something smart...don't insult our intelligence. Can Palin even do this? Let alone run for president:

The Uncertain Future of Sarah Palin - TIME: "The job requirements of punditry — commenting on a variety of political and nonpolitical happenings — are not necessarily the best preparation for a run at the Republican nomination, even in this environment. (Just ask Pat Buchanan.) When asked by O'Reilly why she is still the target of so much criticism, Palin replied, 'It's not about me personally. They don't like the message. They don't like the commonsense conservative solutions I articulate.' Maybe. But eventually, even other Republicans may be emboldened to challenge her."

We're Marching to Victoria!

We received a phone call last week informing us that Jodie's Auntie Bev was gravely ill. Jodie's mom, Bev's sister, had spoken to her the week before and she had been doing well. She had emphysema and was on oxygen.

Jodie's mom and her sister, Denise, went to be with Bev. Jodie was not able to go with them because of the stairs going up to Bev's manufactured home, and the inaccessibility once inside the home. Last Wednesday the doctor's said that Bev had only a few days to live.

Bev was a character. The kind of character that puts a smile on your face.

The Aunt Bev that I knew was the Bev who sat with Jodie and I up at the hospital back in the early 90's. Brother-in-law Ken, Jodie's sister Denise's husband, had a brain tumor. Surgery was being done to relieve the pressure in Ken's head. We were all sad, but doing our best to pull for Ken.

Aunt Bev was a quiet rock of comfort. She had the bag of snacks, she had the puzzles, she had the words of comfort to pull us through.

Growing up, Jodie had many surgeries to increase her mobility. The surgeries were in the summer so as to not interrupt school. Recuperating in the heat of summer was not fun, but there was always Auntie Bev, with loads of books, smiles, encouragement and love.

Bev would help Jodie walk up and down the driveway singing "We are Marching to Victoria".

Jodie and Bev had a special greeting for each other "You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny!" One time Jodie shouted that across the gym at school when Bev came for a special function. Bev was so embarrassed!

This past Saturday we were driving to Eric's basketball game. Our phone rang. Pastor Karl asked the family to call Jodie to let her talk to Bev. Jodie was in tears...so was I. Last words are hard to say to a loved one. The phone kept getting disconnected, but on the third try, Jodie finally got it out: "You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny!"

After the game we got the call that Antie Bev had passed.

I can hear her singing "We are Marching to Victoria!"

Interesting perspective on Leno debacle

I am a Letterman fan myself...still, I think...but this is a good piece by a great comedian:

Paul Reiser: A Teachable Leno Moment

Portland makes top grade for green jobs

The 5 Best Cities For Green Jobs

No!

USC's first call could be to Oregon State's Mike Riley - latimes.com

Free refills!

Soda, and fecal bacteria and fat ... oh my | KATU.com - News- Portland, Oregon| Local & Regional

Looking for and adaptive solution...

Jodie is doing well in her new power chair. We are really thrilled!

The pain in her shoulders that she use to feel at the end of the day is gone. Dr. Molly was even amazed.

One thing we'd like to figure out.

When Jodie gets into the power chair, somebody needs to strap her feet into the foot rests. It makes her more secure in the chair and keeps her legs from dangling in the air. The tightness of her palsy causes this.

It would be nice to figure out a way that Jodie could secure her feet without assistance.

I have been googling around for solutions...no success yet.

The therapist and Dave, the guy from the wheelchair place, could not think of a solution either. They did get get a "charge" from my idea to have an electromagnet pull her feet into place.

Our line of thought is to find some ski boot binding apparatus that Jodie could snap her feet into.

Anyone have ideas?

Links to possible solutions would be nice.

Extra credit for affordable solutions.

;)

Hmm...would this apply to women

Rules of Thumb - GUESSING A MAN'S AGE

Google that!

Google Is Word of the Decade - The Daily Beast

Walgreens in Fairview...you guys rock!

Eric and I stopped to pick up a prescription for Jodie last night. Walgreens at 223 and Glisan.

Very windy there. Eric raced in, and then watched me battle the wind to get in.

The prescription was ready, but things needed to be cleared with our new insurance. We were asked to wait.

Jodie had told me that she keeps dropping stuff and she cannot reach from her powerchair to get it. She needs a reach tool.

I asked Eric to look for one. Why do we guys look for stuff? We can't find a thing!

The pharmacist called us up. We got Jodie's prescription. As we were, one of the other pharmacists said "Hi" to us.

We asked the pharmacist waiting on us if they had the reach tool. Instead of telling us where it might be, she raced out and asked another worker where they were. She found two different ones.

Her eagerness to help...no hesitation...all the workers so friendly!

You guys rock!

Taking the bus? Or need a ride?

Jodie had an appointment with Dr. Molly yesterday at 2:30.

In the morning she had a meeting at the district office. She took the bus from her office to the district office in her new power chair. She had tried using her scooter on the bus before, but it was really hard for her to maneuver.

When she made it to her meeting she was early and gave me a call. She was so excited! Getting on and off the bus was easy. A new found freedom. She does not need me to take her everywhere.

I was going to meet her at the pizza place on 122nd for lunch, and then I was going to take her to her appointment with Dr. Molly.

Jodie got done early, so she decided to go back to her office. She was going to see about taking the bus to Dr. Molly's.

I got a call at 1:30. "Troy, will you come get me?" She returned to her office, forgetting that as an office manager you can't just pop in the office for an hour without getting swamped.

"Woman!" A half hour to get to Jodie's office and get her loaded, then a half hour to get to Dr. Molly's. No time to spare. I did not feel comfortable with it...had to try.

We called Dr. Molly's office on the way. We'd be okay if we were there be 2:45.

The valet guys are getting to know us. The disabled couple with the Sprinter van. The one guy applauded Jodie for doing a better job backing onto the lift than she had done two days before.

The receptionist looked at our new insurance and questioned whether our primary care dr. had authorized the appointment with Dr. Molly. Well...no...the appointment had been made last year when we had our old insurance. She said we might have to pay for the visit. We were irritated, but not at her. In our jobs we know all about "rules is rules". She was able to work it out for us.

Dr. Molly was happy how well Jodie is doing with the power chair, and the relief it is giving to her shoulders.

We had time to kill before picking Eric up from basketball practice, so we stopped for a piece of pie. Simple joys in a hectic day...

Disability language...

Interesting thoughts from Glenda.

I have always felt funny with the term "disability" because it "dis"es any "ability" I have!

Even so, it is a useful label that people use.

It is not the term that is offensive or not offensive; it is the thought behind it.

"Functional diversity". I like it, but I agree with Glenda that it would confuse people.

Maybe we can teach our kids to appreciate diversity - physical ability, mental ability, skin color, nationality, cultural identification, religion.

We are all on a continuum, with all these things. None of us better or worse.

Each of us simple. Each of us complex. Each of us diverse.

Maybe someday we won't need labels because we will take the time to try to understand each other.

Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt � What is in a word? The evolution of disability language continues: "In my mind, “functional diversity” definitely has merit over “disability”. However, I wonder if using the term in the English-speaking community would lead to confusion rather than enlightenment, at least until the term catches on. I’m also left wondering if other cultures have equally thought-provoking terms."

We got it..

Last night I picked Eric up from basketball practice. I drove over to get Jodie.

Eric was sound asleep.

I loaded Jodie with her power chair into the van. We're getting it down pretty good.

Jodie walked up to the front and woke Eric.

He was so astonished!

Jodie said "See, we've gotten good!"

Yates Basketball Sets Scoring Record In 170-35 Win

A little lopsided:

Yates Basketball Sets Scoring Record In 170-35 Win

Thinking about our kids...

...and America's future. Everything with the economy seems so bleak sometimes. Can we encourage entrepreneurship and the creation of decent jobs for our kids?

I go here because I think we need to inspire our kids with a hopeful future.

I don't know this guy's politics, but this piece seems a good assessment of what it will take to get our economy back on track.

A stand-pat society? | The Stump - OregonLive.com: "There's a warning here for the Obama administration: Complex regulations or high taxes may discourage startups and job creation. As for broader questions, the answers may remain murky for years. Has the mix of economic trauma and aging made us prudent -- or merely fearful? Has economic resilience survived -- or given way to a stand-pat society?"

A new chapter in our life

Today Jodie took her new power chair into church. It feels like a new chapter in our life.

We dropped Eric and Ma2 of by the door. Today was my day to run the computer power point during service.

Instead of going to our regular spot by Luther Lodge, there would be no room to run our back lift without blocking traffic, I parked in the back parking lot.

Jodie is getting better backing her power chair onto the lift. I decided to ride my scooter in also. It was a little further than I like to walk.

Jodie drove her scooter into the aisle beside the back row where her mother was sitting. I parked my scooter in the corner of the Narthex and walked in to sit by Eric.

Instead of going up front for communion, Jodie asked for it to be brought to her. I went over by her and took communion with her.

Eric was annoyed that I took my scooter in. He sees it as more work, having to help load it.

I don't think he quite gets this new chapter of life that we are in. We have had the lift van for two and a half years now. Prior to that we had a minivan in which we hauled one scooter inside and one outside.

We have been using our scooters since about 2001, primarily for long distances. Now, Jodie will be using her power chair most of the time, and I'll be using my scooter more of the time.

I am getting more use to loading and unloading Jodie in her power chair. It does take extra time, but I can feel God's grace with us.

Part of me wishes that Eric did not need to be inconvenienced by all this. I also wish Jodie and I didn't need to be inconvenienced by this stuff either.

I'm ever optimistic. We are blessed to have the equipment we need and we are blessed to have the courage we need. Some people have neither.

Prayers for Eric. I am searching for a way to make all this make more sense to him.

The Calendar Comes Up Short - WSJ.com

A new calender...Symmetry454. 28 and 35 day months.

Every month has a Friday the 13th.

I am game; let's try it!

The Calendar Comes Up Short - WSJ.com

Name that decade - The Boston Globe

The "You Decade"...I think the name will stick. The terror of

9/11 affected us all in some way. Facebook has really connected me with family and friends whom I have not seen for years. I follow people whom I never met through their blogs.

9/11 terror made connections more important. This is a good piece:

Name that decade - The Boston Globe: "On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the planes, and the towers, and the people fell from the sky. The terrorists’ plot was pre-computer age in its conception - a set of box cutters, a term in flight school, coordination, patience, and perhaps the sense that we were all looking away just before it happened. Indeed, the attack was a crisp, cold slap, just as we were revving up to a decade of collective attention deficit. The terrorists’ ruthlessness was a sharp reminder that they were not as entranced as we were with our views, our interests, or our lives."

No more furlough days for me?

My position with the state is federally funded:

The Seminal » Judge Rules Arnold’s Furloughs Are Illegal: "These are employees whose salaries (and the benefits they administer) are funded by federal money or state set-asides and therefore are not subject to the general fund’s being held up by the legislature — but Arnold furloughed them anyway and refused to hear appeals. This slowed disability reviews as well as processing of special federal assistance administered by state employees. In some cases, it has led to reduced federal payments to the state, an absurd situation when the Governor is asking the federal government for more than eight Billion dollars in emergency budget-balancing assistance."

Getting around in slush

A snow event two days ago left us with slush to contend with yesterday. Jodie's sister, Denise, helped us get to our van.

We got to Jodie's office. Lots of icy slush. I had to go out to run our lift. I was afraid. I broke my arm once falling on ice.

Lucky for us, Joe, the security guy, met us. I was able to tell him how to run the lift. Jodie backed her new power chair onto the lift like a pro. First time! Her dyslexia makes it interesting....this way Jod...no...that way...your other right...

Then I drove to my office. Very little slush.

We made it!

Google "Faced" on Christmas

It Was a Facebook Christmas; Site Hits #1 in US For First Time

Practicing at the mall

Eric, Jodie and I went to Clackamas Town Center last night so that Jodie could get some driving experience in her new power chair.

Being the day after Christmas, the parking lot was filled with non-moving lines. We didn't know if we would ever find a spot!

I haven't test driven the power chair yet, but Jodie and Eric both say that it is a lot different then driving the scooter. Eric has been loading and unloading it from out Sprinter van so far. I will need to learn to do it. Eventually, Jodie wants to be able to drive it on and off of our van lift herself.

Jodie plans on using the power chair at work, at church, when we are out and about, and, eventually, at home.

Jodie did really well driving the scooter at the mall. She just needs practice to build up her confidence.

Special Christmas Eve delivery for Jodie

From Jodie powerchair

From Jodie powerchair

The real "Rainman" was more interesting than Hoffman's version

Did Dustin Hoffman exploit the rainman? After his death this week, his father makes a startling accusation | Mail Online: "By 14, he had completed the high school curriculum four years ahead of schedule, but it was not until he was 18 that he got a job, managing the payroll for 160 people, a task he performed in a few hours a week without even a calculator."

***

"Surprisingly, his father told me Kim once had a girlfriend, whom he met through a group for disabled people. She suffered from multiple sclerosis, so was largely confined to her home, 35 miles north of Salt Lake City.

"But every month Mr Peek senior would take his son to meet her, and they would go to a restaurant and then the cinema.

"The relationship wasn't physical. 'I think he was interested in females and respected them, but he never showed any sexual feelings about them,' says his father. 'He wanted her to get out and have some fun.'

"His son had a strong sense of duty, and his own moral code, he adds, recalling what happened when he was entered in the 50-yard dash in the Utah Special Olympics, aged 19.

"'He was racing against two guys in wheelchairs and as he approached the finishing line he looked back and saw their chairs had got tangled together. So he went back and pushed first one, then the other opponent, through the ribbon before crossing in third place.'

"He may have received only a bronze medal, but he won the most important prize for this act: the special sportsmanship award."

A Rockwell for Christmas

We went to Jodie's sister Pam's for Christmas Day.

A fun time with family and friends.

Presents we open. We were snacking and the chiefs in the kitchen were getting dinner together.

Nice, calm, uneventful.

Then...

A knock at the door.

It was friends Joyce and her boys.

But wait...they were followed by three dogs. Dachshunds.

Big dogs Vinny and Jesse were already there.

I was thinking "Joyce brought a bunch of dogs to the party...that's interesting..."

The dogs came running upstairs...and they were running everywhere.

I heard a loud "Oh shit!" from the kitchen. They weren't Joyce's dogs. Joyce thought they were our dogs. Pam knew whose dogs the dogs were.

The guy next door breeds Dachshunds. They had gotten out of the backyard. The neighbor was away from home. Mandy called him, and he came right over.

Joyce and all the kids raced outside to gather the dogs that were still loose. They herded them into the bathroom until the neighbor came.

Now for the Rockwell picture: Jodie had been holding one of the dogs. She let go of the dog so our niece could get him. The dog ran in a circle. Brit was running in a circle. At one point, I swear, Brit's feet and all four of the dog's paws were off the ground.

A Norman Rockwell picture. A Christmas to remember.

Christmas wish

Santa;

Stepdad John has been out of work for going on a year.

He worked as a manager of a documentation department at a high tech place...ECO's...engineering change orders...John is a master of those.

John has a master's in systems analysis.

John has followed man y leads so far. He is willing to learn something new.

All this "jobless recovery" talk is weird.

Santa, I'm just asking for leads.

Contact me here.

Thanks Santa!

Santa

Christmas to me is Jesus in a manger. Christmas to me is God entering humanity, a reminder that He loves and cares for us.

The Santa perpetrated by the stores getting us to buy, buy, buy, is questionable.

The Santa who came to my family's door when I was a kid...he was real. We were having a huge Christmas Eve party like we always had. He asked to see me! The first year he came, mom and dad did not know who he was. The next day, a guy came to the door. He was driving a "Armour Meats" truck. Neighbors across the street had asked him to stop at our house.

Santa came and saw me on Christmas Eve for quite a few years. We would move; he would find us. Mrs. Santa was by his side, until one year we heard she succumbed to cancer.

When I first started to go to church, I saw Santa and anything to do with him as an attack on the true meaning of Christmas.

Now I wonder if there is room for us to be the "Santa" to other people, and for us to allow others to be the "Santa" to us this time of year.

Christmas to me is Jesus in a manger. Christmas to me is God entering humanity, a reminder that He loves and cares for us.

Christmas to me is also the love of God working its way through me and you.

Santa made me feel special every year he showed up to check up on me.

Lets try to make each other feel special this season.

We see this star coming home at night

A wonderful local tradition:

Gresham tradition keeps on shining

Of mice and us?

STUMPTOWNBLOGGER: WHO IS DOUGLAS ENGELBART?

Amen!

I don't get "the war over Christmas":

The J-Walk Blog: Leave Christmas Alone

Top 10 coffee-drinking countries

Interesting...we're not on the list:

Top 10 coffee-drinking countries

snopes.com: The Biggest Christmas Tree

snopes.com: The Biggest Christmas Tree

Toys for Tots

The child welfare branches in Multnomah County pick up their Toys for Tots donations for our kids in care. I helped get my branch's list together.

Nice to see Michelle O involved with this too:

How Michelle Obama Turned Around Her Image -- Politics Daily

Prayers for our kids in care...and their families (bio, foster, adoptive, guardianships...)

Peace and joy to all!

Makes sense to me...

You did this to us...we'll do this to you.

The wheels in DC go 'round...the bus goes nowhere:

GOP Blocks Funding Troops - The Daily Beast

The point is?

Controversial Billboard Of Joseph And Mary In Bed: God 'A Hard Act To Follow'

My kaching is on Ahnold...

Palin vs. Schwarzenegger: A Battle for the Heart of the GOP -- Politics Daily

Turncoat....yawn....

Lieberman won't rule out run as Republican in 2012 - CNN.com

Go Elin!

Tiger Woods DIVORCE? Wife Elin Nordegren To Leave, Report Says

Christmas in Japan | Christianity in Japan

Does God love Japan? A resounding "YES"...a place where discipleship is not cheap:

Christmas in Japan | Christianity in Japan

Go Elin!

Elin to Sign Deal with Puma? - The Daily Beast

Three decades after his injury, quadriplegic hunter takes aim� Standard-Times

I'm not a hunter, or a gun person....but this is an interesting story:

Three decades after his injury, quadriplegic hunter takes aim� Standard-Times: "It has been three decades since Cap last fired a gun — on Nov. 3, 1979 — and he remembers it as if it were yesterday, mainly because of what happened the next day: a high school football game, a head-on tackle and a neck injury that left him a quadriplegic and robbed him of hunting, one of his lifelong passions."

The King and Martina - Blue Christmas

Jeff and Jennie's Adoption Journey

The funnest part of Facebook is catching up with old friends. I followed the links and found this beautiful story:

Jeff and Jennie's Adoption Journey

Jeff and I were roommates at the "mansion." I remember when Jeff chopped the half gallon of ice cream in half...and we each took a half.

Jennie came along to out Campus Ambassador's Christian fellowship group. Jeff's heart was caught...and he was domesticated.

Now they have two beautiful kids, Felipe and Andrea.

A beautiful family.

God is good.

One Degree of Tiger Woods - The Daily Beast

A new game:

One Degree of Tiger Woods - The Daily Beast

We all know guys are wimps...

Football is for women:

Fighting Fillies play for the love of football | Portland News - – OregonLive.com

I have days like this...

I don’t know how you do it @ Terrible Palsy: "So, to summarise, it is the additional stuff that keeps me up each night wondering why things can’t be easier. Why we can’t live in a perfectly accessible world where people give bags over to people making purchases, where people don’t make comments on children sitting in strollers or the age of kids that can’t walk. Where saying he has cerebral palsy is just enough for someone to go, say no more, you don’t need to explain anything – no judgements here."

Let the stereotyping begin

Pathetic!!!

Beck Compares Tiger to O.J. - The Daily Beast

Temps in the mid 90s

My college buddy Wes (most memorable moment, a ride is a 4x4 cadalac...door 4 feet off the ground), was in Ironman competition in Western Australia. Temps in mid 30's...celsius. I did the conversion...mid 90's F.

Looks like he placed 81 in his division.

Good job Wes!

Crawford and Vernay win at Ironman Western Australia � IRONMAN.com

ELCA (Lutherans) to air a show...Faith and Disabilities

I am proud my church would make this:

ELCA Leaders Appear in ABC-TV Program on Faith and Disabilities - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

$100,000 a speech? Wow...

Bush Speech Profit: Former President And First Lady Ramp Up Speech Schedule

No service dogs allowed on lift buses?

We had our run-in with Trimet 19 years ago when a driver refused to take one of Jodie's crutches so she could get on the bus. Here's another interesting one:

Disabled woman: TriMet discriminated against me |
KATU.com - News
- Portland, Oregon
| News: "PORTLAND, Ore. - A disabled woman said Monday TriMet discriminated against her because a LIFT driver wouldn’t allow her to board with her service dog, which caused her to miss an important surgery."

"Happy meal" banned?

;....(

Spain Considers a Ban on Selling Fast Food with Toys - TIME

I'm not "right"...I'm never right

Ok...I'm outed...I am not a "righty"...but I do like Huck. I listen to his radio show at lunch, since he took over the time slot of the great Paul Harvey and his "the rest of the story."

Huck leans toward the center. I like his words of wisdom. I find it sad that this might bring him down:

Huckabee White House Chances Look Slim to None After Police Slayings -- Politics Daily

Not funny...just strange...

Former Miss Argentina dies after plastic surgery - CNN.com: "Solange Magnano, 37, died in a hospital after being transferred from a clinic where she underwent an elective surgery on her buttocks on Wednesday, the agency reported."

How dumb are we?

...don't answer that.

Such a manufactured frenzy:

The Quick Cyber Monday Link List - Shopping - Lifehacker

Who'd of guessed?

I'm a twit...are you? I tried for "twittren"...they would not let me have that name on twitter...so I am "wittren":

Twitter Declared Most Popular English Word of 2009

Sosa's choice -- not just cosmetic - Leonard Pitts Jr. - MiamiHerald.com

So...where's the ointment to take away my disability?

Sosa's choice -- not just cosmetic - Leonard Pitts Jr. - MiamiHerald.com: "``Your column on Sammy Sosa's skin cream use is off base and sends a wrong message. The issue is the man's character -- not the color of his skin. Your column seemingly assumes he lightens his skin color out of shame and fails to recognize that he may simply be doing it out of vanity or his own sense of personal style. Plenty of fair-skinned people use skin-darkening creams, sun baths, tanning beds for that purpose and the only criticism leveled at them is vanity and stupidity for ignoring skin cancer warnings. The same should hold for Sammy."

Buddy...can you spare a buck for a turkey?

Cataract Surgery for Turkey - The Daily Beast

Everybody wants to be in a reality show...

White House crashers called aspiring reality show stars - CNN.com

Thanks Wheelie...

WHEELIE cATHOLIC: A Thanksgiving quote

Has the decade really been this bleak?

Eric went from 4 to 14...lot's of baseball, basketball games...Jodie and I are still working and getting around...we now have scooters...our mutts, Bonnie & Clyde guarantee never a dull moment at home.

Lot's to pray for...for sure...but my glass is over half full...how about yours?

The 00's: A Decade from Hell - TIME

Bailout for Santa?

Thank you for this one Leissa:

Even Santa Wants a Federal Bailout | Small Business Trends

Google Wave

I got my invite to Google Wave this morning. I sent Eric an invite.

Now I need to figure out what it is...

I'm breaking German law

I love Google Analytics. I can see how many people are looking at my blog, what posts are most read, and where they live...city...not address.

Yes, I am snoopy!

Achtung! Google Analytics is illegal, say German government officials

A "Troy" moment...

A prayer of faith to accept myself as I am and others as they are, a swift kick in the butt, and a piece of chocolate...and I'll be over it.

I went on a job interview today. Probably one of the least favorite things to do. I get nervous. My cerebral palsy acts up. My mind goes blank.

I love my current job, and I love the people I work with. 20 years in with the State, the challenge of a new job, and a pay raise I have gone years without is a draw.

I studied the questions, then was escorted to another room for the interview. I felt comfortable with my answers. I tried to give focused answers without rambling too much. The three ladies who conducted the interview were very gracious.

After the interview, I was escorted to another room for a written test.

When I got to the room, there was a sheet with questions, a small stack of typing paper...and three pencils.

OMG!

A like a deer caught in the headlights...a "Troy" moment.

There are reasons I learned to type at age 7. My hands are shaky and my handwriting not very legible.

I should have asked for accommodation right then, but I thought I would give it that good ol' college try.

I made my way through the test. As I did, I realized that the endurance that I use to have for handwriting was gone. I have been using the computer for years...I just have not had to handwrite anything.

When I was done, I realized that my best effort would probably not be at all legible to my testers. I alerted them to that, and accommodation has been made.

I need to be more faith in myself to feel more comfortable when I interview, a kick in the butt to ask for accommodation when I need it, and now...I need a piece of chocolate.

A bull in a car?

snopes.com: Bull Transported by Automobile

If you are getting a disability check...

...stay off HGTV:

Working for HGTV Lands Designer in Hot Water for Insurance Fraud - mediabistro.com: UnBeige

WHEELIE CATHOLIC: Not just for quadriplegics...

...with no keyboard.

Hmm...

Not sure I am up for that!

WHEELIE CATHOLIC: Not just for quadriplegics...

Hamster hotel

If you have not seen this yet:

YouTube
- Une villa hamster �louer �Nantes !

"Are you good without God??...millions are"

Atheists’ ads ride TriMet buses

I suppose I should be offended by this message that will be appearing on local buses this month.

I'm not.

But neither am I paying the $5,900 to have the message put on the bus.

I don't think we cherish freedom of thought anymore.

The funny, or sad, thing is, is that if I were to pay the $5,900 to get my message on the bus, it would probably be rejected or protested: "Smile - God loves you baby!"

Our baby boy...

Conservative porn?

Let's call Trump...he'd know what to do:

Prejean Calls Trump for Advice - The Daily Beast

I hope this does not include my chocolate chip Eggos...

Hold the syrup - Kellogg's forecasts Eggo shortage | Oregon Business News - OregonLive.com

Check these out...11 Awesomely Creative Billboards

11 Awesomely Creative Billboards (PHOTOS)

Rganks!

Twenty years ago Gary hired me. I typed a lot out of the bucket...before caseworkers had computers.

Gary use to say he hired me for my "flying fingers"...all 15 wpm worth.

My flying fingers hit the wrong keys sometimes. Last week I came up with: Rganks...

Made me laugh...

Karen puts it well....Palin is taken serious because she's hot...

We are that shallow, folks...get over yourselves:

Karen Spears Zacharias � Ugly up: "I don’t resent that she’s pretty, I replied. Nor do I think people ought to “ugly up” to be taken seriously. What I resent, what bothers me is knowing that sometimes people — men and women but more so women — are afforded credibility and respect and all sorts of advantages just because they are good-looking."

I unfriend you...

2009’s Word of the Year - The Daily Beast

Cast Offs: British Reality TV's Disabled Survivors - TIME

A reality show about the disabled to show that we are as f...I mean messed...up as everyone else...hmm...

Cast Offs: British Reality TV's Disabled Survivors - TIME

Sarah Palin Rates Obama Job Performance a 4 Out of 10 -- Politics Daily

::::(

Sarah Palin Rates Obama Job Performance a 4 Out of 10 -- Politics Daily

Restful day...

Stayed home all day yesterday. Caught up with our shows - Good Wife, NCIS, NCIS LA, Mad Men season finale. Also watched a couple shows of Jeff Dunham, ventriloquist/comedian...very funny day.

A couple games of chess...forgot who won.

Popeye's Chicken spiced up the day.

OSU Beaver's #19...Rose Bowl bound?

Going Rogue

Looking forward to Sarah Palin's new book, "Going Rogue".

I mean, she can see Russia from her house...and, well, she is so HOT!

Might be an interesting read...

I took third...bad Dad!

I took third place in a jr. high chess tournament, quad play. Three kids...I was a sub.

Eric took fourth.

Bad dad!

I know...

"Glee" Wheelchair episode shows why we fight on...

I had never seen the show "Glee", but after seeing a tweet from Glenda about the subject matter, I decided to watch.

The big controversy is why disabled actors aren't used for disabled role. It does bother me, considering there are probably many disabled actors who could us the employment:

"Glee" Wheelchair Episode Upsets Disabled: "For them, the casting of a non-disabled actor to play the paraplegic high school student is another blown chance to hire a performer who truly fits the role."

The line of the show for me was when the the coach of the Glee club tries to encourage the team to raise money needed to rent a bus that would accommodate Artie's wheelchair. The team does not see the need at first. His dad can take him...he takes him everywhere. The team leaves the room and the coach apologizes to Artie for their reaction.

Artie's response is priceless. It summarizes disability awareness, or lack thereof:

"It's okay...they just don't understand."

If you are disabled, you know what I mean. Acceptance of status quo is how we survive. If we fought every injustice and every barrier that we run into, we would have no strength or sanity left.

We pick our battles. Backed into a corner of despair, sometimes we fight. It kills us inside to rock the boat, to not be the smiling inspiration that people admire us for.

We lose many of these battles. The barrier or injustice is seen as minimal, or too expensive, by the people who have the power to fix it.

Some battles we "win"...but really, everybody loses. A fix is made, but the experience is killed for everyone. A meeting is moved from a nice place that 97% of the people could get to, to a plain, maybe undesirable place that everyone can access...but do they want to.

The battles that are truly won are those where "they" really do "understand".

For this I commend the episode of "Glee" last night. All members of the glee club and the cheerleading squad were asked to spend 3 hours a day in a wheelchair.

It led the kids away from the extremes of ignorance and pity, to what should be the goal of all of our human interactions - patient understanding.

Jodie's followup with Dr. Molly

I took Jodie in to see Dr. Molly for a followup visit regarding the tightness in her shoulder. Years of walking on crutches has taken a toll. Her motion has gotten real limited...but using the power chair that is coming will help. Getting older with cp is not a very big issue in this country yet Dr. Molly said.

I asked for her take on the health care bill: "CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN!"

Cool story...

A paralyzed superdog lifts spirits of sick kids - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com: "He gets just close enough on his wheelchair for the children to pet his forehead or stroke his coat.

Lance, a 5-year-old dachshund, is a therapy dog at the hospital, where he has been visiting children since he became a patient.

``We decided to turn his situation into something good,'' said Caio Stinchi, Lance's owner, who lives in Coconut Groove."

Calling all knitters in Portland area

We are in need of mittens, scarves and hats for the kids in State care...foster kids...

The group of ladies who use to provide these items is no more.

If you knit, crochet, or can otherwise provide these items by Dec. 12, please contact me..fb, twitter, or click here.

Just show me the way around it..

We were rocking at church yesterday...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE THAT MOUNTAIN LYRICS by Trisha Yearwood: "You don't have to move that mountain
Just help me Lord to climb it
You don't have to move that stumblin' block
Just show me the way around it"

Using her ability to help others

I don't know about other people with disabilities, but I know that I get set into a routine. I have adapted my life and my job to my abilities. Change makes me nervous, but not this lady:

Mid-career change to nursing a happy switch for disabled woman | Health and Fitness - cleveland.com - - cleveland.com: "Brigitte Folds, assistant nurse manager on H81, says that a few patients have expressed concern about having Lewis take care of them because of her disability. Other patients are too sick to notice. But most are welcoming, she says.
'They almost look at her as an inspiration, which I think is really cool,' Folds says."

This will be me...

...walking in on my own funeral:

Dead wrong: Man attends own funeral after mix-up over body's ID - CNN.com

Theological musing of the baseball season

...and the significance of the logie...

Mayfield: God in the outfield | SummitDaily.com

Wise words from Pastor Rog

Koine Community in Portland.: Half Staff

Pictures to guide your prayers...

Wish I had words for this. There is no political statement here...just a sick, crazed man who attacked our brothers and sisters:

Ft. Hood Shooting (PHOTOS): Dramatic Pictures From The Scene

I rooted for the Phillies...but this is a cool story

New York Yankees manager wins good Samaritan title - CNN.com

Nice thought for today

My dear Aunt Pauline had this on a plaque...and showed it in her life:

Prayer of the Day: St Francis of Assisi - God's Politics Editor - God's Politics Blog

Shut up you fat b.....?

Provacation @ Terrible Palsy

Rude people. kind people...everything in between. I hate crowds myself. I always feel in the way.

My new ride...

A fast food morning with the Tesla Roadster Sport - Boing Boing

A nice landing spot...

...for lib christians like myself who have more questions than answers:

God's Politics Blog

;)