Sunshine and rain are in the forecast this week, I love them both…

Mondays an excellent day. Karen came in and we did some personal care, it only took two hours… I'm still just so excited about that. She got me dressed and I was out of here for a long day, the sun was out and it was beautiful. When it's raining I don't usually go through the lagoon because its really muddy and wet. We cruised down to the end of the wharf and back, down to the end of the boardwalk and back, down to the end of the wharf and back again and it was so beautiful I decided to cruise down Westcliff Drive and I was so glad that I did because it was just gorgeous. I got my Google Glass and my leg bag emptier so I don't need to come back home until it's time for my caregiver to come in. Rosa came in and put me to bed and brought me some killer wings and chili beans that her boyfriend made, he is such a good cook.

                                     

 Tuesday was a pretty good day. Lisa came in and got me up and took me to my appointment with Dr. Jett. Dr. Jett is a spinal cord injury Dr. I found when I first moved here, I saw her every year for a while and then for some reason just lost contact but it was great to see her… It has been six years. She always has such great advice and she's just so helpful. After the appointment we went to Hanger prosthetics to drop off the front part of my hard brace so that Tom can redo it and put stronger Velcro. Then we went over to A Brighter World downtown to pick up my shirts that Jeremy tie-dyed for me, I couldn't wait to get home and look at them… He is so creative. We came back home and Omar was working away, is leaving tomorrow to Mexico for five weeks to work on his house. He installed my Blu-ray CD player and switch the TV's in the living room and the spare bedroom… I will miss him but it will go by fast. Lisa and I went through the stuff in the spare bedroom that we brought back from storage, cleaned up the closet and cleaned out a couple of junk drawers in my room. My house is back to normal and ready for my brother from Georgia to visit. Rosa came in and put me to bed and make chicken enchiladas and rice, it was delicious!.

Wednesday was a really awesome day! I love it when the weather is nice and I can get a bunch of errands down without somebody to drive me around. Karen came in and got me up and I cruised over to A Brighter World to thank Jeremy for all of the awesome shirts that he dyed for me, he said he had two shirts left and asked me what would I like on them so I asked him if he could do a lighthouse and some waves… He said he never done a lighthouse before but he would try it and he said for sure he could do the waves so I'm excited to see what he does. Robby and I cruised over to the Civic Center to see if the Derby Girl season tickets were on sale yet, they go on sale the 1st of February. Then we cruised down to Palo Alto medical clinic to drop off some paperwork from Dr. Owens to fill out for me for LTD. We cruised back with an hour to spare before Rosa comes in, we went 7.3 miles today.

Thursday was a very productive day. Karen came in and got me up and Robby and I headed downtown for my appointment with my psychologist, I have a lot to say so what went by fast. We cruised up and down downtown and then over to the Wharf and back before I had to be here for my appointment with Kay to get my hair touched up and my face waxed. Rosa came in and put me to bed and got me something to eat and I sent her home, I hope it wasn't rude but I just wanted to be alone. My little brother, Dave, is coming to visit next Monday and he's going to stay until the following Sunday… I'm so excited!

Friday was a pretty good day. Karen came in and we did some personal care and shower and it was raining so I decided to just stay in bed, good thing I did because it rained all day. Theresa came in and fed Robby and I and gave Robby a shower. My aunt brought Luanna and Malia for a sleepover at my moms, they love to come over and visit.

Saturday was a very disappointing day.  Cindy came in and fed Robby and I and zapped my face with the silk and go laser gun. It was supposed to rain from 11 AM until 4 PM so I decided to stay in bed, the sun was out most of the day. My aunt came over and brought me a bagel, I have had one for a long time and it was delicious. I like the onion bagel with cream cheese, tomato and capers.  Theresa came in and fed Robby and I and we did a mud mask, it really feels good to have time to do all of this extra stuff at night. The girls and my aunt stayed up at my moms again and watch TV.

Sunday was a pretty good day. Karen came in and we did some personal care and I got to take a nice long hot bath, it felt great except we ran out of hot water. My aunt came over and the girls were going to hang out upstairs so I asked them if they would like to go over to the lagoon for a while, it's better to get them out and get some exercise. They are so cool to hang out with and so funny, they get along so great. I took a bunch of pictures and we cruised through the lagoon and then up to the playground and they had fun. We came back and I took Robby for a cruise over to the wharf. When we got there the wharf was closed off and they were stringing up caution tape around the pillars of the wharf so I was going to cruise on over to the boardwalk but I could hear music and I saw people salsa dancing so I stopped to watch, I forgot they had salsa dancing on Sundays between the wharf and the Boardwalk. I wanted to stay longer but I needed to get home by 4 PM because that's when my caregiver was coming in. Theresa came in and put me to bed and fed Robby and I and we did a micro-dermabrasion treatment on my face. My brother texted my mom and I to let us know that he was getting on the plane at 5:30 PM and he would be here at midnight or 1 AM, I'm sure I will still be awake.

Still waiting for the big storm…

 Monday was a great day. Karen came in and we did some personal care, it only took an hour and 45 minutes… An all-time record. Since we have been doing my personal care with this new method I have also had a lot less gas and bloating and I just feel a lot better. Stanley made French toast with coconut syrup, bacon and scrambled eggs. Karen got me dressed and in my chair and Stanley and I cruised over to the wharf and Boardwalk, he wanted to find a birthday present for the kid that is living with him and I wanted to find and other care of FeeJays to wear to the support group on Wednesday but most of the places didn't have them or were closed. My char didn't get charged so we had to turn around and come back home. We went into Made in Santa Cruz to say hello to my friend Jake and I didn't find the really cool hat. We came back home and I rested for a bit while my aunt and my brother took my mom to her doctor's appointment.  I emailed Andrei to ask him if he had any ideas about how I can cut up my old Rojo cushion and make it fit my commode chair, the cushion on the commode chair is like a rock. He said that somebody had just donated in Rojo cushion for a commode chair and he would bring it by after work, this guy is amazing and what perfect timing. Stanley Ubered is way back home. Rosa came in and put me to bed and I was out. I didn't sleep very good all weekend.

Tuesday was a really good day. Lisa came in and got me up and then her, Omar and I went to storage to see if we could get rid of some stuff and we found a lot of stuff to bring home and go through, now I only have one storage unit and I'm so excited. We had to put some stuff in the van so I cruised home with Robby after I met Lisa at Safeway to get some butternut squash and green beans for Robby. I cruised home and rested for a bit before Rosa came in to put me to bed, again I was out before she left.

Wednesday was another great day. Karen came in and we did some personal care, we can do personal care and a shower under two hours… That is AMAZING!! Karen got me dressed and Robby and I cruised down to Dominican rehab for the support, the second Wednesday of every month. I was early so I decided to tilt back and enjoy the sunshine, it felt great! Seven people showed up and we got to talking and the hour went by way too fast, it feels great to know that this time the support group is going to keep going. I cruised home and Omar and Lisa were going through some stuff, they put the stuff they knew I wanted to keep away in the garage and the stuff they weren't sure about a foot in the pergola and Lisa and I went through it and we were getting ready to take it to Goodwill when Rosa came in so we will wait until Saturday. Rosa put me to bed and I watched American horror story; hotel, I love that show!

Thursday was another beautiful day. Karen came in and got me up and I was on my way to my appointment with my psychologist Carol, most of the time I think I'm not going to think of anything to say and then I just talked the whole time but at least the time goes by fast. After I left I went to one of the shops downtown and bought another pair of FeeeJays, they are so comfortable and keep me so warm. We cruised around downtown for a while and then cruised over to the wharf and to the boardwalk, the weather was so beautiful I just Tilting back in my chair and enjoying the beautiful view and the sunshine… I didn't want to go home. I came home and Rosa came in early so she could go and watch her son played basketball, she is so proud! The rest of the evening I just watched TV and rested.

Friday was another amazing day. Susan came in and gave me a nice long massage, I usually end up falling asleep before she leaves. Karen came in and we did some personal care, a shower and dressed and up in my chair. Just as I got in my chair I got a text from Theresa saying that she didn't feel good and she wasn't like to come in all weekend so Karen said I could cruise around for a while and she would come back and put me to bed, I'm so glad that she is right next door. The weather was just gorgeous and I wasn't that many people around.  We ran into our neighbor Mark at the wharf, I seem to run into him everywhere. We just cruised back and forth from the boardwalk to the wharf until was time to come home. I did get a couple pictures of a pelican, I love pelicans and is so exciting when I can get that close. I cruised back home and can put me to bed and I watch TV the rest of the evening.

 Saturday was a pretty lost day. Cindy came in and got Robby and I something to eat and we tried the flesh and go hair remover on my face, it's nice to finally use all of these beauty products that I have accumulated over the years. Omar came in and started building some rolling storage shelves in the garage for more storage, I love more storage. I slept most of the day so I hope I'm able to sleep tonight. I do have an evening caregiver, Theresa called in sick this weekend because she has the flu… Last weekend her daughter had the flu. My mom fed Robby and I some dinner.

 Sunday was a pretty good day. I got up so that was amazingly right there. Cindy came in and got me up and even though it was sprinkling I took lobby for a cruise down to the wharf, to the end of the boardwalk and back and into the end of the wharf and back again and then home. I rested for a bit and then Seth came over to say hello, they were all over at my aunts house for my cousin Rich's birthday. He visited for a bit and then came back after a while with their new puppy and his little sister's, the puppy is so adorable and the girls have grown so much. We watched Robby and the puppy, Tiger Lily, play for a while… So cute! After a while Sue came over with her two boys, they are so handsome and very sweet and polite. Rosa came in to put me to bed because Theresa called in sick all weekend. My little brother might come for a visit next week, I hope you can make it.

We are supposed to have huge storms all week, El Niño…

Monday was an okay day, two of my morning caregivers we're on vacation and the other one have to go back to work so I stayed in bed, I would be more bummed if it wasn't raining off and on. I watched a lot of TiVo and a couple of movies Fred and Joann were visiting my aunt and uncle across the street so they came by to hang out for a bit. They came to the area to help a friend through knee replacement surgery, Joann had two knees and a hip replaced… she is like the bionic woman. Rosa came in and we did some personal care and I got my much desired Long hot bath.

Tuesday was a great day. Lisa came in and got me up and Robby and I cruised down to the wharf to have a lunch with Fred and Joann, they are so fun to hang around with. I had what I always have… calamari Parmesan over polenta and it was just as amazing as ever. I cruised back home, it started raining on the way back, and rested for a bit and the next thing I noticed all of my Christmas decorations we're put away. Lisa, Karen and Visente got them put away quick and now my house looks really vacant but I love the way that they rearranged the living room in order to make the tree fit… I think I'm going to keep it that way. Rosa came in and put me to bed and I was watching TV… that's all I remember.

Wednesday was a pretty exciting day. Karen came in and we decided to try out the ParaFlush personal care system and although I think we need to make a couple of tweaks I think it's going to workout great… it cuts your personal care Down to less than an hour which is amazing to me because it usually takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. I've been putting off trying it because if it doesn't work I'm going to be very disappointed and I won't have anymore hope I'm doing it in a shorter amount of time. I wish I would've found this 20 years ago. Lisa came in to do some beauty personal care, I have all of this spa equipment then I got to use on myself because every spa that I called got really nervous I'm pretty much told me they couldn't help me out if I couldn't get out of my chair, a couple of them I even asked if I could just come down for a consultation and they told me it wouldn't work out. I realize people are nervous to try things anyway but it's really frustrating because they won't even try. Other times I go to a place and they bend over backwards to accommodate me and my chair. I was telling Lisa about my frustrations last Tuesday and she agreed to come in for a couple hours every week and help me out. We were supposed to have thunderstorms but from 9 AM until 8 PM so I stayed in bed and of course there was no thunderstorms... Not only that the phone came out a couple of times. The rest of the evening I listen to music and watched a couple of movies. Rosa came in and put me to bed and I don't remember a lot after that because I fell asleep.

Thursday was a pretty good day. Karen came in and again we tried the ParaFlush system, we don't have a totally dial yet and it only took an hour and a half… I'm so excited about this thing. That is a record so far and I think we can get it down to half an hour, I would be satisfied with an hour. It's so nice to think that there's a possibility that I might have all of this extra time in the evenings for my evening caregivers to use some of the beauty treatments that I have. I have my appointment with my psychologists, I haven't seen her for three weeks so I have a lot to say… I always have a lot to say. After my appointment I started to cruise over to the wharf but the sky was getting really black so we just cruised downtown for a while and then came home, it was getting really cold anyway. Rosa came in and put me to bed and fed Robby and I, again it was so nice to not have to do any personal care and more time to watch movies and listen to music.

Friday turned out to be a pretty good day. Susan came in and I got a really nice two hour massage, I had not seeing Susan for three weeks so it felt great and went by way too fast. Karen came in and got me but as soon as I got in my chair I got a text from Theresa saying that her daughter was sick and she wasn't going to come in, I thought it was going to have to go back to bed but Karen said she would hang around until the housekeepers were finished and then put me back to bed… go Karen!! I was cruising around the boardwalk one day and I saw these sweatpants with footies and they looked really warm so I took a picture and came home and look them up online and it looks pretty cool so I ordered some and I wore them today… They are so cool and when I got home my legs were still warm, usually my legs are cold by the end of the day. I'm definitely going to get some more and maybe wear them to the sport group next Wednesday so I can tell everybody about them. We cruised around the boardwalk and the wharf a couple of times and then Karen met me at Robby's vet so we can get his weight for CCI, he's down to 65 pounds… CCI says they want him to be and 68 pounds so he's doing great. We are giving him a half a cup of dry food and half a cup of fruit in the morning and butternut squash at night so I will up his fruit/vegetables to three quarters of a cup. We cruised back and Karen put me to bed and fed Robby and I and I just watched TV for the rest of the afternoon and evening. I got this little stick creature on Etsy and buy a little display case because it's so fragile and I don't want somebody to accidentally break it and it looks awesome, Karen found a little LED light and I just can't stop looking at it.

Saturday was a pretty boring day. Theresa let me know again that she wasn't coming in because her daughter was still sick and she wanted to stay with her. I understand and I agree that family comes first but I have to think about myself just as she has to think about her family, most caregivers don't get that. When you don't come in I have to scramble to find somebody to come in, which is not easy sometimes, and I just don't get up and have to stay in bed… On days when it's nice out that's very frustrating. Cindy came in and fed Robby and I and I just watched TV the rest of the day. Omar came in, I was going to go to storage with him but since I didn't get up we decided to go on Tuesday. Stanley drove Uber all the way from Modesto for the weekend, he is really liking it and looks and feels great… There is such a huge difference in him and it's awesome. Karen came in and we did some personal care, every time we do personal care with the new method it takes less and less time… Very exciting! I took a shower and went back to bed.

Sunday was another pretty boring day in bed because again Theresa said she was not coming in, I know she has a husband and two older boys so I'm getting a little annoyed. She wants to work more days but calls in sick way too much. Cindy came in and Stanley made a killer breakfast of buckeyes and bacon, one of my favorite breakfasts. Cindy took Robby for a nice long walk and the rest of the day I just watched TV and got really restless. Karen wasn't feeling well so I didn't ask her to come in. My mom, Stanley and I order Chinese food and ate way too much but it was really good.

I think it's going to be a great year…

 Monday was a relaxing day. I wanted to get up but everything took a little longer than expected so I decided to just stay in bed, the sun was out but it was a little cold. I just watch TV all day, I found a couple of movies on pay-per-view and recorded them to watch later. Rosa came in and I did get to take a nice long hot bath.

Tuesday was a pretty good day. Lisa came in and got me up and took me to my monthly appointment with Dr. Hurray, my foot doctor. He is so cool, okay do not be cool with the name Dr. Hurray? After the appointment she took me over to whole foods market to get some food to last me through the weekend. I didn't realize the private chef was going to not bring food for two weeks, I thought it was only going to be one week during Christmas and my family was going to be here. Thinking back that's exactly what the email said and there was an option to get food but I guess I read it too fast. before I moved to Santa Cruz I used to go to whole foods market and by their entrées and have my caregivers put together dinners for me and it worked out great, they have a lot of really good food. I haven't been shopping in so long, I'm really trying to hold it down on my spending, I just went crazy and everything looks so good… I will definitely have enough food. We came back and I took Robby for a cruise up and down the wharf at the boardwalk a couple of times. I came home and rested for a bit and then Rosa came and put me to bed, we did some personal care and of course a nice long hot bath.

Wednesday was a really great day. Karen came in and got me up and I took Robby for a cruise up and down the wharf, up and down the boardwalk and then down Westcliff Drive to the lighthouse museum where Lisa came and picked me up to go shopping at Home Depot to get some bubble wrap and some plastic storage boxes, shopping two days in a row… I am in heaven! All of their Christmas stuff was reduced in price but I only got a few things, I'm so proud of myself because I love Christmas stuff. Came back and I rested for a bit before Rosa came in to put me to bed, I was kind of wound up because it was such a beautiful day and I got to go shopping again sign took a couple of PM'S hoping it would calm me down. When I'm all wound up I just lay in bed and shift my shoulders back and forth and I can't relax my arms, hopefully this helps.


Thursday was an okay day. Karen came in and we did some personal care so that everybody could have New Year's Eve off, I had planned on getting up but everything just took too long so I decided to stay in bed. Rosa came in at 2 PM and fed Robby and I and the rest of the evening I was going to watch movies but I ended up going through my photos and deleting some, there's a couple of places in Santa Cruz that looks so beautiful every time I go by so I take a picture but when I get home they look just like the rest so I picked the best ones and deleted the rest.

Friday was another okay day. Karen is off, her boyfriend took her to Las Vegas for her birthday, so my mom came down and fed Robby and I and hopefully I will be able to watch a couple of movies today. I did get to watch Ted 2 and it was hilarious, my mom and my brother came in a couple of times and I had to shut it off because of the language and such… I almost feel guilty for loving it and sending it to play again later. Theresa came in and fed Robby and I and took the fingernail polish off of my fingers. My brother Stanley came down from Modesto for the weekend.

Saturday was a really good day. Cindy came in to get me up and Robby and I were out of here, both of us get restless when I have to stay in bed.  My brother made a killer breakfast, he is so creative. Kay came in to touch up my hair and give me a haircut. Theresa came in and put me to bed and we did some personal care and I got to take a nice long hot bath and get all of that hair off of me.

 Sunday was another great day. Cindy came in and got me up and my brother made another killer breakfast. Robby and I took off for a really long cruise through the lagoon, down Westcliff Drive, to the end of the wharf, to the end of the boardwalk and back and then home. It's been really cold so I just love these HotHands, mostly unaware the beanie and neck warmer… Such a great invention and I wish I would have found it sooner, I have learned that as long as my ears, head and neck are warm I do really good… Bulky sweaters and sweatshirts just inhibit my driving the chair. The waves were gorgeous and I'm so glad that I got a chance to get out and cruise around. Theresa came in and put me to bed and Robby and I fell sleep pretty much right away.