10 December 2024…. Allergies or the VA. Tough choice.

I’ve been feeling so rotten in the past few days. I feel like my brains are going to come out through my nose.

In other news,I have been dealing with the VA and all that idiocy this week. 

There are lots of wonderful people that work at the VA here in San Antonio, (South Texas veterans healthcare system). That being the case, the good, helpful, and competent employees seem to be few and far between, or I’m the most unlucky person in the world. 

I thought I may be able to call the directors office, but apparently that is not a thing that can happen anymore. 

I am beyond sick of dealing with a “Veterans Healthcare System” that treats its veterans/patients like inconveniences. 

Just so you know I have pseudobulbar affect. That means I can have outbursts of uncontrollable and inappropriate emotions. 

I also have aphasia that is worse sometimes than others. 

All that and more from a stroke/brain injury. 

All I can say at this point is if someone doesn’t want to get “yelled” at by the “mean” veterinarians, don’t work for the VA. 

I requested a new kind of mobility device. Then I decided I better stick with a more traditional wheelchair. So I sent a message saying I that was what I wanted to do. I was told not to worry the committee did not make specific recommendations. 

So I waited and finally got a letter. The specific device I requested the first time was all that was mentioned. 

So I sent photos and screenshots and a message. The responses the VA gives are always sickly sweet. I guess that is better than some.

I still need a wheelchair. 

I needed new eyeglasses. I was hoping the would ship them directly to me. Apparently it’s easier to assume the veteran can drive and make it into the eyeglass clinic anytime he or she wants. So I got a call, letting me know my glasses were in, the gentleman, and I use that term loosely, was very rude. I explained that I don’t drive and I was hoping he could ship them to me. He said they would have to ship them back to where they were made in Kentucky and then I could maybe receive them at my home in two weeks so I asked if I could speak with his supervisor. I sent a message to the patient advocates. The lady checked me three times that day to make sure the eyeglass supervisor had called me he haven’t.

Finally, after the VA was closed, at 4:00, I received a call a little after five. It was the supervisor of the eyeglass shop he said he couldn’t ship anything unless it was back to Kentucky. I was so frustrated I just let out a enormous groan. Apparently this man on the other line was so offended that I would makes any kind of a frustrated reaction that he hung up on me despite the fact I have extreme difficulty with my emotions. You could think that the people who work at the VA might be a little more understanding and tolerant. I guess not. 

Another thing I have hated is the Transportation that the VA provides.

One time I had to have an appointment at the end of the day. I finished at 4:00. The VA closes at 4 o’clock. I waited until 6 o’clock and I know there were several other veterans waiting also.

I finally talked to one of the drivers and he gladly helped me and several other veterans. I got home about 7 o’clock or 730. Apperantly everyone that answers phone in the VA transportation department leaves at 4:00. Good luck if you want to get hold of anyone. 

I called the next day and the man I spoke with said that since I was the only veteran that complained about the situation, it never happened. From what I understand that gentleman has been promoted.

I had a similar problem when I went to the dentist. Fortunately for me, the dentist was on military base. I had plenty of witnesses that saw me sitting there and waiting for hours.

I don’t understand why they don’t think that you should make things as easy as possible for the veterans. If you are a veteran, you better hope and pray that you are able to have the basics done, most of the time.

I have had all kinds of problems With my primary care doctor, the emergency department, the ambulance system, the VA police. The left hand does not know what the right hand does. Coordination requires a signed note from God. 

20 November 2024….dumb thoughts

So I was was thinking. This time about the creation. My own thoughts, just thoughts. Please correct me if you think I need correcting.

In Genesis 1 it says,

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

So we are in the image of God. 

It’s almost the difference between a Yugo and a Cadillac. No a very good comparison. 

It would be similar to someone building a 57 Chevy in their garage out of fiberglass. It’s still a replica, not the real thing. 

God is the Father of our spirits. No fault or problem there. 

One Person was God the Father’s physical offspring. Jesus Christ. So physically perfect sired physically perfect. No disconnect between the hardware and the operating system, so to speak. 

The rest of us where created from the dust of the earth. We all look similar to God but humans “operating systems” and hardware are not perfectly in sync yet. We humans are physically incapable of being perfect right now. 

Why am I even thinking about this. 

Well most people know I use a wheelchair. My body seems to be molding itself into the wheelchair. I very much hate it, sometimes it hurts a lot. But this is but a moment. Granted, it’s seems like a moment that goes on forever sometimes. My hardware, my body, including my brain, are broken, not running at peek human efficiency. But I would dare say that I can still run circles around some people about certain subjects. 

There are so many faults between our physical hardware, our bodies and minds, and our spirits.

14 November 2024….something needs to be done

I just sent this to President Trump. 

Honestly don’t think I will hear anything back. Not the point. 

Dear President Trump

I agree that the department of education should not exist. That said it should be rolled into the department of Labor. Education is essential to becoming a laborer, be it a brain surgeon or a plumber. 

While I agree that something needs to be done, and it is a very complex issue I hope something can be done to combine the departments. 

I would write more but I had a stroke that effected my ability to write a lot. 

10 November 2024…..whatever

I have to laugh. I saw a picture a professor at BYU, the university I went to and graduated from, shared a copy of a scripture. Mosiah 29:26-27

26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.

27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.

He feels like President Trump is the problem. 

I feel the opposite. Thank Goodness we didn’t get Kamala. 

I find it funny how one scripture can be interpreted in two ways that oppose each other so much. 

Some people are having such strong feelings, especially about the person that didn’t win the race. 

I’m not the biggest BYU fan, even though I went there. If I had had a professor that posted something like that when I was there, I probably would have dropped out. But, I think there is so much bureaucracy at BYU that any revelation has a very hard time making it to the students. Of course that was over 20 years ago. 

8 November 2024……rain sucks

 I am in watching YouTube and reading on Facebook, as normal. 

I am kind of disgusted by all of the comments by people, and some of the talking heads that the majority of the country must be some kind of idiots.

The presidential election is over. Present Trump won the electoral college and the popular vote. Then most of the people wanted him to be the new president, again.

Personally I would say he was the only logical choice. 

If you don’t like the idea President Trump I bet you a box of Girl Scout cookies your life will be as good or better than it has been. 

If any concentration camps are open, I state before God and the world, I will go with whoever asks, if that person is being forced against their will.

 

That said, we have a new president elect and in a few months he will be the president again. 

I am beyond disgusted at all of the condescending remarks by people I would say are good and smart people. 

An adulterer and murder was the leader of a country. That man was king David. most people would say king David was one of the greatest of all men who has lived on earth, that doesn’t change the fact that he was an adulterer and a murderer.

If you can’t tell, I like the idea that President Trump is going to be in charge of lots of things in the country again. 

What I hate, the most is the condescending attitude of people who think they know better than half the country. I dare say there are lots of people who are probably smarter than anyone commenting, that did not vote for Trump and there are probably lots of people who are not as smart of people, who did vote for Trump. Just because you didn’t vote for Trump doesn’t mean you’re smarter. It just means you know ho to comment. I would dare say right now. I am probably smarter than most of them. Lots of people who voted for Harris. I am not smarter than all of them, but I would dare say most, meaning 51%.

I have friends and family who voted for Harris, I think. I think that is ridiculous, idea that anyone  would vote for Harris, but everyone in America is entitled to throw their vote whatever way they want, someone who voted for the libertarian or green parties or whatever party they want to.

So we have a new President, that we had before.

This is all our country. We all need to help make America great, according to the dictates of our conscience. 

31 October 2024…..damn trip

 This was a trip. It was very fun and not so fun. 

 We started out flying into Orlando and we got an Uber to take us to the Disney Polynesian resort. So far so good. 

Everything was great so far. We got our room and we slept for the night then I went to get my scooter the next morning.

It took me a little bit to figure out where I was supposed to pick my scooter, but I finally got it. 

Then the problems started when I was going back to my room.

The first problem when I arrived at the building that we were staying, my scooter would not fit in the elevator, so I could not get to my room on the third floor. I was already not happy because the room was not handicap accessible. I am sure my travel guru requested handicap accessible room because I mentioned it to her and I trust that she mentioned it when she made the reservations, but it was not a handicap accessible room and they said that handicap accessible room was never requested. ? They said we could get me a handicap accessible room about halfway through my stay. Ugh. So we spent the next few hours trying to figure out where we would be staying. We wandered around the resort and looked at some stuff and ate breakfast.  By about 1 o’clock we had settled, kind of, into our room and we finally made it to the magic kingdom where we were supposed to be going that day, but we have been trying to figure out what room we would be staying in.

After we got back from dinner and the park, we were exhausted. We finally decided to take showers and that was not easiest for me but when I took a shower the bathtub filled with water to my knees. At least they provided me with a shower bench. I took photos of the water sitting in the tub and went to the front desk. It was about 1:30 AM. So, manager, a very nice and helpful man, and explain to him and showed him the picture of what we had.  The night manager and his assistants were very helpful they sent, two people to help get the bathroom working that night. My wife and I were exhausted. It was 2 o’clock in the morning, maybe later, before we got to bed and before my wife was able to take a shower. I was beyond exhausted. So I was laughing all the time I tried to talk. 

For the most part of the trip it was a trip to Disney world. Very fun. I understand the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Hollywood studios and Animal kingdom not so much. 

There is lots of open space throughout the property. While the parks are fun. I think they could do more with the open spaces, for example, create a hiking trail and then maybe every quarter mile or so different different exhibits and rides and shops  restrooms or some other things that would need to be sent out in nature.

I love the parks, but I think too much stuff is too close together. They could create a lot of more fun areas slightly associated with nature. Just one example would be create the hundred acre wood with Pooh bear and all of the characters from that or other stories. Have a few areas that just maintain the natural environment and have a few restrooms and picnic tables nearby and you have to walk a little ways to get to it, but you could get there and in the meantime, avoid the god-awful crowds.

I watch too much YouTube so I have had nightmares of what some things might be like at the Magic Kingdom and the other parks. 

I encountered one gentleman the first day who I thought was strange. He had earrings and was wearing, I would say, rather heavy make up, but he seemed like a nice guy.

I encountered one man going into Epcot who worked for Disney, who had painted fingernails, and a strange hairdo. He looked like he was trying to channel some kind of woman. I cannot say much about painted fingernails because I do paint my own fingernails. I go to a salon and they help me cut and paint my nails. This person I would say was trying a little bit too hard.

I saw another man who was with his family and he was definitely trying to be identify as female, but he did not have the physique or ability to pull this off. He had a female haircut, he was well shaved, with a tiny bit of shadow starting to show through, his parents and his sister were with him. The sister was a very lovely girl, but she had more tattoos on her then I think anyone should.

If that’s the way people want to live, I don’t care, they can, I think it is ridiculous. If you were born with male anatomy, you are a man. If you were born with female anatomy you are a woman. Its a very simple sight test at birth. Or you can get a DNA test. After your dead archeologists can measure your bones. You can dress up, however you want, but you cannot choose what other people call you and identify you as. I paint my finger nails. I have done activities like sewing that are normally thought of as feminine activities.  What a dumb life this is at times. 

So price. This is kind of a weird subject. Well, most people know Disney is expensive. I would dare say it is outrageously expensive now. You do get amazing service. Only one person this last trip seemed annoyed about my bath when he was working on it. I cannot use both hands at the same time on things so I will not able to turn the water in the shower on same way he was able to.

The service is excellent, but there are many things that are outrageously expensive. The resort we stayed at was very nice and people were willing to help you a lot, but you pay almost the equivalent of your own child. It costs you about as much as your first born. 

There was a bus that took you from the airport to your resort several years ago. That is not available anymore so you have to pay for your own ride to get from the airport to the resort and being in a wheelchair, that is a pain in the butt to say the least.

If you want to go on some rides, you have to stand in line forever.  Years ago they had what was called a disability pass. That’s gone. I rode my scooter and tried to go through the one line and there were so many twist and turns that you were practically doing a type of calisthenics  to stop from crashing into the rails. On top of that you had to wait for a car that could hold you in a wheelchair.  They to don’t have more than one of the cars available at any given time so 15 minute wait can easily turn into 45 minutes or an hour. And if you can find their department/Guest experience, so you can make any kind of complaint, you are lucky. It is nowhere on the map and if someone tries to explain it to you, where to find it, you are beyond lucky.

If you are in a wheelchair, you deal with all kinds of stuff on your own. CastMembers will bring you a manual wheelchair and then leave it and abandon you so you have no one to help you anymore. I had that happened to me on more than one occasion. Star tours and Finding Nemo. Stupid visit, so so ugly!

Trip home 

Very hectic. 

We woke up and got ready and turned in my scooter. An Uber picked us up. 

 I hate Orlando airport. Arriving was ok. Departure, we almost had to beg for service. One lady who checked us in for our flight home, annoyed me so much. She thought she could speak Portuguese. No, it was mostly Spanish. I could not understand when she was speaking what she thought was Portuguese. Sounded like Spanish. Her English was barely intelligible. The one lady was on her phone 90% of the time. Disney needs to take over management of the Orlando airport. I don’t like everything they do but at least they try. Overall, it was the end of a trip. 

Am I ever going to Disney world again?  Big maybe but probably not. It was a money suck years ago when I took my children. It’s even worse now I would say. If you like money don’t go. If you don’t care about money, cost, expenses,  get a good job and throw all the money you want at Disney. I still think most of the recent movies suck. I like the campy movies from the 60s and 70s.  

11 October 2024….cats and dogs.

 

I love our dog. He is extremely sweet. 

If you think of being easily distracted like Doug on the movie UP, he is kind of like that. But he is so strong he is hard to control. 

My wife decided we/she needed to get the dog this past March. He was born in January.

 So he was young, about 4 or 5 weeks old.

 Now he is 9 months old. 

He is part pit bull, part chihuahua. Strange combination I know. But he is a sweet dog.

The calm part is the pit bull. He acts like a chihuahua with OCD at times. 

My wife and I hoped he would stay relatively small or medium sized. Nope.

He is 60 pounds. Plus he is strong. He nearly dislocated my wife’s arm, so we have a carabiner attached to my wheelchair and he walks with me. He wants to run, so I get my chair ready to go as fast as possible and he still seems to be walking. 

While he has the strength of a pit bull he barks incessantly, similar to a chihuahua. He has a strong bark and he never stops barking at times. If my wife or I go out the front door alone, he reminds us that he’s not with you. I want to jump out of my skin when he starts barking. 

He is still very sweet. Would never bite. He will jump up on you and his claws can hurt. He is so excited to see almost everyone. I think I love him, then he jumps on me and I want to give him away. 

We walked around a corner and a gentleman surprised us. Patrick, our dog wanted to play, but the man was nervous because, the dog is so big. 

My wife thinks she should leave me at home alone with the dog.

No. 

She can leave without me as long as the dog goes with her. 

I wanted a dog for years after I had my stroke. There is no way I can take care of a dog. 

That’s why I have a cat. But I love my cat because she can sit on my lap.