A great week...

Monday I got up and took Robby for are really long cruise through the wharf and the boardwalk, down to Ross and back through town. After we got back we practiced three of our commands, it feels good to be back in the old routine again. We tried to do the standing frame but the sling just wasn’t right and even though we tried several times it just wasn’t going to happen, I don’t know what I’m going to do except just keep trying and hope we can get it.

Tuesday was a really busy day. I had an appointment with Andrei and Carl to figure out how to put a lateral on my chair on my right side, it fell off a while back so I was going to try to do without it. We decided to wait until I had my appointment with Bob at hangar prosthetics to redo my brace, I lost 20 pounds on this gas elimination diet and I have to be fitted for a new brace. Then I had my final x-ray at Dominican Hospital, I’m so glad to get that over with. Now I just have to wait for the results. After that we went to Cosco, NEVER go to Costco when you’re hungry. It doesn’t have to even be food you just crave everything. We came back and Heather was barbecuing hamburgers, she made avocado and arugula hamburgers and they were awesome. I think I’m still going to stick to the diet for the most part because I would like to lose a little bit more weight and it just felt good to eat a bunch of small meals instead of a couple big ones.

Wednesday I got up and cruise down to Claudius beauty shop to give Debbie a thank you card that I made her or the beautiful cake she made for my birthday, it was so gorgeous and had real flowers on... everybody loved it. I came back and Tom, Kelly, Seth and I went down to the Farmer’s market and met Teresa. She keeps telling me about the sauerkraut stuffed pretzel that they have down there so Tom and I tried one, Tom tried one I saved mine for lunch tomorrow. I got some huge figs and they tasted so good I ate a couple when I got home. Teresa took me to my appointment to see Bob at Hanger prosthetics. He fixed my leg braces and measured me for a new front panel for my back brace, I am so glad that I don’t have to replace the back brace since I lost almost 20 pounds. We went to the wharf and had some onion rings and iced tea and did a little shopping. I found a life preserver for my net and hanging shells on the back porch. I also found an old time model of a Volkswagen bus with surfboards on top, it really looks like it’s from Santa Cruz.

Thursday Robby and I went for our regular cruise around Santa Cruz. There was a lot of dogs out there today, most of them don’t know how to behave in public. I don’t blame the dogs but I do blame the owners are being irresponsible, it’s very frustrating. I went to cost plus and found a bunch of cute stuff that I would like to get, I’m decorating my porch with a beach theme and it is going to look awesome.

Friday I got my massage and my nice long hot bath before I got up. It was a long morning so I didn’t get to take Robby on a very long cruise before we left for dinner and concert. Tom, Kelly, Teresa, Seth and I decided to go to the Woody’s Café for dinner before the concert. I had fish tacos and they were very good, I never had them before and I was always a little bit afraid to try and... the two just don’t sound like they would go together although I love both of them. Teresa and I went there a couple nights before and the guy remembered us but wanted to know where Robby was, the last time I went there he spoiled Robby. He made sure Robby was in the corner so nobody would bother him, but the towel down and gave him three big glasses of water. I told him that I usually don’t take Robby when I go to the concerts on the beach because of the crowds and the loud music. Loverboy was AWESOME, I would have loved to stay in the second show but nobody else suggested it and it was getting late so we came back. My brother and Corinne got here shortly after we came back so I didn’t get to visit with them very much that night.

Saturday was our support group at Dominican rehab. We didn’t think very many people would show up because it was a the same day as the shared adventures 19th annual day on the beach. I wanted to go check out the day on the beach after the support group but it was just too hot and I wanted to go and spend a little bit of time with my brother and my niece. We had some killer spinach, cheese and white sauce lasagna that Kelly made, some olive bread that we got at the farmers market with brie cheese on it and some artichoke and cheese and sausage. Alexia and I watched it the new version of beauty and the beast called beastie.

Sunday was the long awaited and needed puppy play date. We fill the pool up with water and Dr. Owens brought Bella and Ozzy over and they had such a good time. Bella is still the only one that will go in the pool but the rest of them use it to drink water out of, I’m hoping as it gets warmer they will all go in. after the puppy play date Tom hung up my copper maple tree and my owl on the front porch, it looks awesome. Teresa hung up a few more accents that we got for the back porch, a little pair of flip-flops, a life preserver and a couple more things we found along the way. It is really starting to look nice around here.

I finally got to see Patrick's band, The Road Hog's...

Monday was the big fourth of July debate... what are we going to eat and what are we going to do. We went back and forth a lot and finally decided to barbecue some sausages, have sauerkraut, Chile and a salad. While we were barbecuing sausages my aunt came over and said that they had a bunch of ribs and some potato salad so we decided to combine everything. My caregiver showed up so I wasn’t able to go but they brought me back a killer care package.

Tuesday was a really busy day. Robby had his bath, I went to get a manicure and pedicure and DirecTV came to fix my television. After my manicure and pedicure and came back and got Robby and cruised around for a bit. Heather came by and cooked an awesome dinner for everyone.

Wednesday Robby and I got back on our 6 mile, around Santa Cruz cruise and it felt great. We haven’t been getting out as much as we should and Robby has gained two more pounds. It’s nice to be back on our schedule. Kelly went to the Farmer’s market and Tom and I cruised down there to meet her, I love that place. They ate dinner there and I came back because Teresa was going to be here at 3 PM. I ate dinner and then we put up the net and shells on the back porch, and looked awesome. We all ended up on the back porch talking and laughing, it was an awesome evening.

"The tragedy in life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach." ~ Benjamin Mays

Thursday I got up and took Robby for a cruise. It was finally the day to go get the first of my series of x-ray’s, I’m so glad to get this over with. It was actually pretty easy, a lot easier than I thought it would be. We brought my sling and while they were getting a lift Teresa put the sling on and they just laid me on the table, took a couple of x-rays, put me back in my chair and we were on our way. Teresa and I both had a groupon for the kick back Café so we decided to give it a try. The guy said that his barbecue tri-tip was really good and gave us a sample and it really was so we decided to give it a try. I had that and a mango smoothie and it was really good. We were so full after that and we didn’t even go to Costco, we just came home and put me to bed.

Friday I got my wonderful massage and a bath and took Robby for a run. We decided to skip the concert on the beach and go to a place called bocci cellar to watch Patrick and his band play. They were awesome. Teresa got sick and wasn’t able to go but Tom, Kelly and I decided to go anyway and we are glad that we did. They usually play rock ‘n roll but they were asked if they could do a swing band for an older group that does swing dance. They sounded really good, you would never know it didn’t come natural to them. It was so cute to watch all of the older couples swing dance.

Saturday Robby and I cruised through the wharf and started to cruise through the boardwalk but it was way too crowded so we cut around the boardwalk and cruise down the Levy. A lady was riding by on a bicycle and asked where Robby was raised. It turned out she was the daughter of the lady who breeds Robby’s mom... small world? She apparently lives in Berkeley and her mom told her if she goes to Santa Cruz to be on the lookout for Robby. I came back and we once again tried the standing frame, this time it was a success. It felt so good to get up in the standing frame again and I know I will sleep better.

Sunday I was exhausted and they look like it was going to be cold outside so I decided to just take a nice long hot bath and go back to bed. I slept on and off most of the day so I didn’t think I would sleep at all at night but I slept all night also, it felt great.

Finally catching up...

Monday Kelly took me over to the DMV to get my new disabled plates for my van. I decided to make an appointment and even though we had to wait about an hour it only took about five minutes to get the plates, luckily I had all the paperwork filled out. I came home and went to bed and my uncle was fixing hamburgers for everyone. He wanted to go to the wooden nickel but he makes some pretty darn good hamburgers so it worked out great.

Tuesday was supposed to rain so I decided to stay in bed and rest. The housekeepers were coming and the guys to move one of my cameras from the back of the house to the driveway. Yesterday Heather made bison tacos for her sister and she’s bringing some over for me, they are so good. Heather came over and made some bison tacos, the best thing I have tasted for a long time and I ate four of them.

Wednesday I ended up staying in bed. All of the family was gone and it was just a good day to reminisce on a very special month.

Thursday Gabriel Came over to pick up my van to do some modifications on it, Gabriel is awesome. Robby and I took a cruise over to the wharf and then to the boardwalk, the weather was perfect and everybody was enjoying everything. I came back and talk to my uncle for while and then Kelly came back home with Tom and Bailey, it was so good to see them again. They are the family that you never get tired of. They’re always willing to do stuff and go places and I love that. Teresa came over and waxed my face... life is wonderful!

Friday I got my massage and my hot bath and decided to go back to bed and miss the concert.

Saturday I got up and cruised Robby around for a little bit and then met Tom and Kelly at the Nickelodeon Theatre to see a movie, midnight in Paris. It was a really good movie.

Sunday I got up and cruised around for a little bit with Robby, the crowd was already starting to come in for 4 July and it was hot so we didn’t do too much.

Haven't been keeping up very well with my blog...

Monday almost everyone was gone, it was kind of sad. Time sure does fly fast when there is a lot of family around.


Friday I didn’t get my massage because one of Susan’s kids was sick but it was really nice to sleep in. Karen came in at 10 AM to get me up and Kelly and I went to go have sushi at Mobos, of course it was awesome. We came home for a while and then headed out to the concert on the beach, Eric burden and the animals. They put on a really great show but there was a lot of commotion around us, late people trying to scoot everybody out of the way so they can get in to see. I’m kind of torn about how I feel about that. I believe that since people in chairs can’t see over everyone else they should be able to sit up in the front but there was some people who have been standing there for a couple of hours waiting to see the show so it’s not fair to make them move. How about everybody show up early or on time and not expect anything?

Saturday Kelly, Teresa, Karen and I went to the Woody’s on the wharf. I went last year but it wasn’t much fun going by myself and I didn’t stay very long, this time I got to really look at everything and it was awesome. I was supposed to go to a 20 year reunion from where I used to work but I was just exhausted, I couldn’t even keep my eyes open. We decided to go have a chimichanga and come back home. Coming back from the wharf Kelly ran into a couple of friends and she decided to spend more time with them. Teresa and Karen wanted to go shopping downtown a little bit but every time I would stop I would fall asleep so I decided to come home.

Sunday I decided to stay in bed and get some rest although that never really happens. I think I just didn’t want to think about all that time to get up and then go back to bed when I could just be comfortable all day. It was a nice relaxing day.

Lots of family and the surprise 50th birthday party...

Monday was a beautiful day. I got up and took Robby on our very long ritual cruise. I stopped along the way at almost every souvenir shop to see if I could find something to put up on my back porch, I decided I wanted to go with the nautical theme. I found a fishing net and I already have a bunch of shells, starfish and sat dollars to hang on it. I found some outdoor metal wall decor that looks really cool. I found a mermaid, some fish and shells... I found a bunch of stuff I just have to figure out what I want to do. I came back and worked with Robby for a while although he was really being a butt head and didn’t want to listen to me. When I ask them to do something and he’s in a silly mood he will lie on his back and roll around, stretch for scratch himself.

Tuesday was really frustrating and I ended up staying in bed again. Personal care took a long time and then it got to be too late to get up. The ladies were coming to clean the house at 11 a.m. and my dentist appointment was at noon... needless to say I missed my dentist appointment. Heather came by and cooked a really nice dinner for Teresa and I and Teresa and Jess got me a big copper tree for my front porch, it is awesome. The last time we went to Costco I was saying how much I liked it and wanted to get it and of course we conveniently forgot it so they went back and got it for me for my birthday.

Wednesday my personal care once again took a long time and maybe feel miserable so I missed an eye appointment that I had made at Cosco. My new caregivers fiancé works for an alarm company so he came out to look at my monitor and see about moving one of my surveillance cameras, the cameras in the back and there’s really no reason for one there so I would like it moved to show down the driveway. Dave and Desiree got here Wednesday afternoon to stay for a couple of days, it always goes by way too fast.

Thursday kelly came to stay for a while. We all went out to the ideal restaurant because of the third Thursday of every month everybody with a birthday that month get a free prime rib dinner. Nine of us went, three with a birthday that month. I cruised down there and met everyone so that little early because it was getting cold. Stanley, Janet and Corinne were here when we got back. I also found out that my uncle Ronnie, aunt Patty, their son Shawn and his girlfriend were coming to visit also. We were planning on having a family reunion around this time of year so I didn’t think too much about it although I did cancel it.

Friday I wasn’t going to have Susan coming at me a massage because my family was here but I was just so sore. I wanted to get up a little late because I was going to be up late at night, the first free concert on the beach was starship. After I got my massage I had a really nice surprise, my cousin Kevin came from San Diego to stay for the weekend. I haven’t seen him for years. Most of us ended up calling to the concert and they put on a great show. It is so awesome when all my family can be here.

Wow Saturday... I knew that there was a lot of family from all over the place gathering at our house is and it was awesome but I never even thought that they were there for a surprise 50th birthday party for me, I don’t know how I didn’t even think about it. Everybody decided to have a barbecue at Oak Meadow Park because that’s where we always got together when family was around. Teresa and Karen gave me a ride in my new van and while they were parking it I followed Corinne and Lexi through the park. I looked up and saw my mom so I knew we were getting closer and then I heard a voice say “are you even going to look up?” I looked up and saw Angie and then I started looking around and seeing all these other people and I can’t remember if they all yelled surprise or not but I definitely was. There was people from fifth grade, eighth grade, people I had worked with... I was just so overwhelmed. It was a really great birthday party. Apparently my brothers had been putting this together for a long time, I don’t know how they kept it from me but what a great job they did. I spent the whole afternoon chatting with people I had not chatted with for a long time and people that I have. I usually don’t like to be the center of attention but I was really grateful for all these people that came to celebrate my 50th birthday with me, I won’t forget that for a very long time.

Sunday everybody got up and had breakfast and just visited for a while, it was really nice. Pretty much everybody had to go back home on Sunday but it was sure nice seeing everybody. My uncle Ronnie was going to stay for a week and Kelly is going to stay for a couple of months, her husband Tom is going to come and stay for a while also... and of course Bailey.

A boring trip to the doctor...

Monday turned out to be a really good day even though it was supposed to thunderstorm, it did not. Robby and I finally got to go on a long cruise through the lagoon, to the end of the wharf, through the crowded boardwalk, down the reservoir to pet Smart and then back through town. Robby practiced pushing the button to make the traffic light change, he gets a little over excited sometimes but he does a great job. We came back and Heather was cooking some barbecue boneless pork ribs, they were awesome. I forgot about the standing frame and ate a bunch of them. I got an e-mail from CCI saying that they’re going to be in Santa Cruz in the end of July for recertification, I’m so glad I don’t have to drive to Santa Rosa.

Tuesday was such a beautiful day. Gabe and my uncle came over to see if they could move where the tie downs are placed in my new vehicle. Both of the tiedowns are way over to the right, they should be on the outside of each wheel to make a wheelchair more secure. Gabe is going to be able to fix it. Teresa and I took the van in to see about getting a backup camera, a GPS and an XM radio. The guy really knew his stuff and said that he could start it that day so we left it there and walked over to pick up Robby who was having a spa day. We came home to get Robby’s vest and his collar and then went downtown to get something to eat at the Tiki room, it was closed until 4:30 PM... it was noon. We wanted to be out of the way while the girls cleaned the house, we rehired a company that we used a while back. We went down to tonic where Karen was getting a haircut, manicure and pedicure for graduation. We hung out with her for a while and then when she was done we stopped at a couple of shoe places on our way to El Palomar for lunch. I had chicken tacos, Teresa had a chimichanga and Karen had a burrito... everything looked and tasted so good. I like going there and they have a push pad so Robby could practice opening the door for us, always such the gentleman. We came back here and I talked to my uncle for a while while Teresa took Karen home and then I went to bed, I was exhausted.

Wednesday was another beautiful day. When I got the sun was barely coming out so we started to our cruise through the lagoon, through the wharf where it was REALLY windy, through the boardwalk which was really crowded, down the reservoir, to Ross and back through town. Sometimes Robby does really good hitting the button to change the light and sometimes he just doesn’t hit it, sometimes he turned his whole body sideways when he jumps and he hits the part on the top with the arrow but not the button... we’re working on that. I just found out today that CCI representatives are coming to Santa Cruz to the Capitol Mall July 29, Robby’s appointment is at 11 AM. I came home and my van still wasn’t ready, they said they will have it tomorrow afternoon. I went to bed and then Lee and Claudia, my uncle and aunt and my mom and I played cribbage. My aunt was my partner and we lost all three games, we’ll get them next time!

Thursday the weather was perfect. Teresa got me up and went with me to my doctors appointment at Dr. Owens. She gave me my Depo-Provera shot, froze a couple of weird looking barnacles off of my face, gave me a new anxiety medicine and I think she’s going to fix me up with a psychologist for a while. I just seem to have so much anxiety built up and I am frustrated and annoyed all the time. She suggested I get a bicycle that you work your arms and possibly even one for my legs, she thinks exercise might help. After that we went to Home Depot to get some concrete anchors to hang some stuff on the back porch and some stuff in the house. We got everything and went out to the car and after she frantically looked for the key founded in the ignition with the doors locked. When we left the key was not on the back of my door where it’s supposed to be so we just figured we would take a spare key out of my wallet and use that one. My aunt had to drive all the way over to Home Depot to bring us the key. We went to Costco and actually just got what I really needed this time, so proud of myself. We came back and she put me to bed and Karen called and asked if she could come over and wash the sheets, her family is coming to visit. She brought over her new little kitten, Juno, to play with Robby. We have so much fun watching them play in the kitty was not at all afraid of Robby, even though Robby is about 10 times bigger than Juno, Juno didn’t even put her claws out when she patted Robby. It was so adorable.

Friday looked like it was pretty nice outside but I didn’t get up, I just don’t feel very good and I’m exhausted. I just wanted a day to stay in bed and relax. Teresa and cleaned up the yard and scrubbed down the patio and rearrange the furniture so it will look nice when my family comes next week. Janea is cleaning out the drawers and cupboards in the kitchen and is going to put pledge on the furniture outside. Earlier this week she put it on the metal furniture in my bathroom and it looks really good, it will protect it a lot too we hope.

"Properly trained, a man can be a dog's best friend."
-- Corey Ford

Saturday I got up and went to see Claudia to get my hair dyed, manicure and pedicure. It was still kind of cold when I got out of there so we cruised around the boardwalk and around the wharf and then came home. When we got home it smelled SO good in here so I went to the kitchen to see what smelled so awesome, Heather had made some barbecued pork rips. I went outside with Robby to practice a few of the commands, we try to practice three every day, and the neighbor came over to talk for awhile. It was really hot out and Robby was just done for the day so we didn’t get to practice our commands, luckily they are three that we use almost every day. I hope I’m not going to have a problem with the neighbor coming over every time I go into my driveway and try to work with my dog.

Kindness is not to be mistaken for weakness... nor forgiveness as acceptance.. it is the knowledge that hate and resentment are not the pathway to inner peace.

Sunday was a beautiful day and I have been really looking forward to it. The personal care lasted a long time and just wore me out. I tried to get up in my chair hoping that feeling would go away but it just didn’t so I ended up back in bed. Dr. Owens was going to bring Bella and Ozzy over for a puppy play date, we were going to Patrick’s birthday party in the mountains and we were going to go watch Karen graduate. I missed all of it. It was nice to stay in bed because I was so exhausted but I’m looking outside and the weather is perfect, that sucks.

The new girl, we found a winner...

Monday I got up early so I can go and check out my new van. We had a problem with the safety Sensor mat, we just have to wait for a couple weeks and then get rid of it. We cannot put the ramp up or down while I am on the mat but if I’m in the van I’m on the mat. After I got up into the van we couldn’t get the ramp to do anything, we finally figured out that one of the wires got pinched and broke in half. Luckily we called Gabe over and he figured everything out quickly, Gabe retired from taking care of the wheelchair ramps on the Metro bus line... he is a really handy guy to have around. He’s coming over tomorrow to put some eye bolts on my chair so it will be easier to tie me down. We all loaded in the van, there was seven of us, and went downtown for lunch. Robby and I cruised around for a while and then came back home, I am exhausted.

Tuesday morning Gabe came over and put some eye bolts on my chair so it’s a lot easier to tie me down in the van. He also took out that noisy Matt and we had a really nice long chat, he is such a neat guy. Teresa got here around noon and it was cold and windy outside so I decided to just take a nice long hot bath and go back to bed, it felt great. My uncle came over for a while and we talked about how awesome my new van is, I can’t wait to take it for another spin.

Wednesday was another long frustrating personal-care day, REALLY getting tired of this. I am following the diet and it’s not doing any good, I only have a couple weeks left and then I will be able to eat whatever I want again... problem will probably not be solved so I will go to my spinal cord injury doctor like I probably should have in the first place. Today was Cassy’s last day, she’s going to go to school and work for her parents. Lee and Claudia, my uncle and aunt and my mom and I played cribbage tonight... my uncle was my partner and we won four dollars each.

Thursday was very cold and windy. Teresa came over and got me up and we had an interview for my new afternoon caregiver. Her brother is a quadriplegic and she helps him out, she was not nervous at all... I think it’s going to work out great. She comes back tomorrow for training. The company that used to clean our house came back out to give us an estimate and they start on Tuesday. It seems like everything is coming together. Gabe and my uncle came over to visit for a while and Gabe said that he would help me out with my van, I’m not really happy with where the tie downs were placed. Teresa is off for a couple of months so hopefully we will get a lot done around here, I really missed having her around. Not just because she gets things done but because she’s really fun to hang around with. We went to a sushi place downtown and had a really nice lunch, I found out about them through groupon. Then we went to the nursery and got a few things, went to cost plus and looked around and then went to Ross. We were going to go to Costco but for some reason I haven’t felt really great all day so I just wanted to come home and go to bed, I hope I feel better tomorrow. This is going to be a very busy month so I hope I’m not going to be sick. Hopefully I just need to get a good nights sleep.

Friday turned out to be a really good day. The massage therapist was sick but I still got to sleep in and until 9:30 AM, it felt great. I got to take a nice long hot bath before getting dressed and getting up. Karen mentioned that there was any student art show at UCSC so Teresa and I decided to go up there and check it out, we were not at all impressed and didn’t stay very long. We came home and talked to uncle Dick for a little bit, stole some groundcover from the back of one of his triplex’s and came home to train the new girl Janea. She did really well and I think she’s going to work out great, I am so excited. Instead of standing back and watching she just jumped right in and helped. Her brother is a quadriplegic since she knows a little bit more about the personal feeling stuff, it’s very nice to have somebody like that around. We did the standing frame and some exercises and neck stretches, I am a little bit sore right now but I’m sure I will be really sore tomorrow and for a couple of days. The weather does not look promising in the next couple of days.

Saturday was not looking like a really good day. I got up and took Robby for a cruise but it sprinkled the whole time and by the time we got back we were both soaked. Teresa and I were going to go to Costco but when we got there it was really packed, we forgot it was Saturday. We decided to go to the nursery and instead, I’m still on a quest to find some art for my back porch, it looks so bear out there. I did find a hanging plant, string of hearts, to go in a hanging bird cage that I got a while back. I also found some little garden mushrooms that I don’t know what I’m going to do with yet. We came home and trained Janea one more time before she is on her own, she is going to work out great. I did the standing frame again for an hour and exercised, my arms are really really sore. I took a couple of Tylenol PM’s so I hope I sleep good tonight.

Sunday was another rough day but it’s all better when I get a nice long hot bath. I didn’t get up so the new girl dusted and straightened up both bathrooms and cleaned my room really good, I hate clutter. The day went by really fast. It was supposed to storm but it didn’t, I hope it’s like this again tomorrow.