Amber's Abode

One year later, kicks in the balls and life, the musical.

Well, I'm blogging again, finally.  I'm not sure how long this will be or not, because I don't know what I feel like writing.

The time between the last one and this one has been such a like a roller coaster it's not even funny.  I was all excited about soccer.  Then, almost right after writing that, I found out that I am unable to play soccer competitively because it is impossible for my chair to go fast enough to be safe.  The sport regulated speed is 6.2 mph; my chair maxes out at 5.0.  This is actually a rather dangerous difference.  Because anybody that hits my chair going at that speed, it's like 2000 pounds of pressure per opposing chair.  And there are usually two opposing chairs.  I can't afford damage to this chair because it is my only one.  And I also found out that my insurance will not pay for any speed above 5.0 mph on a new chair.  So there is that.  Another dream dashed; one that I really have wanted all my life.  They told me I could keep going to practice, but it was very much like being nice to the poor little girl attitude.  And the location isn't very safe to get home from.  So there isn't much point.  I was really struggling with this.  I still am.

October 26 marked my year anniversary of being in Arizona.  I had awesome plans of things I wanted to do with Daniel to celebrate.  What did we end up doing?  Being in the hospital, of course.  I was there last year, so I guess it only makes sense.  So infuriating.  I wasn't feeling well and ended up having a climbing temperature.  I had gone to bed early; but when the temperature reached 103.6°, I asked them to call 911, because it was still climbing.  And my normal is 97.2°.  They said they had to call the manager of the house first.  Meanwhile, the temperature keeps climbing, and they keep waiting for a callback.  When they finally get one, they are told to call in nonemergency transport wheelchair van for me to go to the ER in because that is the policy of the company.  I, really scared of what can happen to me now while they debate, repeatedly scream exactly what they can do with their company policy.  They won't let me use the phone to call 911 myself.  Daniel shows up, joins me in communicating what they can do with company policy, and 911 is called.

We get to what is becoming my home away from home at 11 PM.  At 11 AM the next day, I am admitted to the floor.  Diagnosis?  Raging UTI, of course.  They also do other tests, like brain scans and back MRIs, because I have a pinched nerve in my lower back, and they were worried about possible seizures, so they decided to kill two or three birds with one stone.  I prefer not to think about those tests, because nobody listened to me about not covering my face, etc., which led to some pretty embarrassing moments.

Anyway, I was there for about five days, four or five, and on the last full day, Daniel's mom flew into town, and came to see me after she got settled.  I was so mortified.  Nothing like meeting your for all intents and purposes mother-in-law in a hospital gown looking like death warmed over.  But she was great, and called me beautiful, even like that.

Luckily, the next day I was released, and the three of us spent the next five days hanging out, eating, and exploring the city.  It was so much fun.  For someone in her late 60s, she is very hip and spry.  Today is actually her birthday, so happy birthday Mom Linda!  She also likes to randomly sing like I do, mostly songs related to something else somebody said or did.  We just had a whole lot of fun; although she was horrified by the degrading amount of care in my current living situation.  That's another topic altogether.

Anyway, I've inherited true family.  They all are on my Facebook now, and she says I'm good for her son.  That makes me really really happy, just knowing that someone else sees it too.

The dog fundraising is going well.  My friend Marci is having a benefit concert for me at her church on Friday night.  It's in Oregon, so I can't be there in person, but I made a video greeting.  I have around $4500 so far, and she seems convinced she will be able to raise the rest of the love offering collected by her concertgoers.  I hope so.  We shall see.  I also have my own booth at a dog related fair type of event on November 20.

The weather seems to want to astound me lately.  A week ago it was 100°; now it is 65°.  In Portland, 65° was almost warm.  Here, I'm bundled up like you wouldn't believe.  It's really cold.  I guess I'm really acclimatized now.  But my body is not feeling well because of the drastic and speedy temperature change.

The good thing about the cooler weather is that I can go out more.  I figured out the buses to Daniel's house, and I'm attempting to be there more than I am here; or at least out somewhere in general.  I made a new friend at the bus stop near his house named Ray.  Ray is also in a wheelchair and lives right across the street from Daniel, so I hang out with him as well.  He is a computer geek with good fashion sense.  He also has a wheelchair van that I got to ride in.  It's pretty cool.

It helps me keep my mind off the crap that's going on around here, which is pretty much just the same as always.  People quitting, open shifts, people with bad attitudes.  That's all I have to say about that.  For now, at least.

I'm pretty tired so I am done for now.  But at least my readers are caught up.  I hope everyone is well and happy.

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