Ever since many of you commented favorably on Andy’s magnificent tail, he’s invented reasons to “floof” it out!
“No sir!!!”
Looks “floofed” to me, kitty boy!
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People with normal abilities don’t always appreciate how people with disabilities think about apparently insurmountable problems. I, for example, have had to work out a solution to a mountain of trash that accumulated during snowstorms, holidays when the trash wasn’t picked up, hospitalizations, physically weak times related to my general medical issues, the difficulty of pushing the trash on the dolly over broken pavement, the recent addition to my vicissitudes of supplemental oxygen, and failure to recognize I had a solution on hand.
I estimate I had at least two and a half months of accumulated trash, and it was depressing to see it there, nothing happening because I convinced myself I wasn’t able to remove it because I was disabled!
“I should pay someone to take it out,” I thought, a plan that would have to wait till I was sure any auto-payments had cleared my bank account and I was comfortable enough what was left in my account would get me comfortably through to when the payment from my IRA got deposited in the middle of the month.
Then, one night recently when my brain was agitated about the trash problem, the solution came to me! Use your VW Golf SportWagen! That still left the problem of getting the trash to the car, then to the dumpster and the impact on my blood oxygen level and pulse.
You’ve seen these before, a Pulse Oximeter, a health tool I purchased a long time ago. I used it to monitor my status as needed during the many steps dumping the trash.
Here’s how I did it:
Using my walker as a mobile chair, I moved the trash to the front door. Oxy-pulse check & rest till both were ok.
I gave the individual bags a toss toward the car. Oxy-pulse check & rest till both were ok.
Using the car and a cane for support, I moved the trash into the car. Oxy-pulse check & rest till both were ok. (I sat in the open back of the car till safe to move.)
I drove my car around the block to come in so my driver’s side door was opposite the dumpster.
Using my cane, and the handy rail on top of my car, I walked back to the hatch and opened it.
Using the cane or car for support, whichever worked best at the time, I pulled a bag out of the car and maneuvered it into the dumpster till exhausted or done emptying the trash into the dumpster. If exhausted first, I sat in the open back end of the car. Oxy-pulse check & rest till both were ok.
I got in my car and did a quick oxy-pulse check, then drove a circuit around town till I felt oxygenated and rested, which I established with my Pulse Oximeter once I arrived home.
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It is easy to tell disabled people (me!) that this is too much effort to do something an able-bodied person could do with much less thought and bother. I know that!
Yet there is something involved here other than trash and it is the need to assure myself that I CAN do something, that I AM blessed with sufficient intelligence to come up with one more way to stay out of the care center, hopeless, helpless, and scrunched up in a wheelchair, waiting for lunch or BINGO, whichever comes first.
I assure you, if I had a tail, it would be “floofed” out big time!
That trash solution is pretty impressive.
Definitely a process, but it works well. I’m glad to have the trash removed from the apartment. Air quality is much better, as you can imagine!
And more kitty room!
Yes, and much appreciated.
I am so happy for you, Doug; not because you finally got rid of the trash, but because you have tested your ingenuity and endurance and came out the winner! Hearty congratulations!
Independence in all realms is worth the effort! Thanks!
Most definitely, and you are most welcome.
Congrats on the Herculean task of taking out the trash – very clever solution. I think you deserve a reward. Thinking back to the Great Greenie Famine of 2023, what is the human equivalent? Goldfish Crackers maybe? 🐠 (And that’s quite a handsome floofy tail!)
Di think Reese’s PeanutButter Cups would be my choice, those they would add to the next trash!
Sounds great! Great yourself and put them on my tab.
Yum!
I am glad you found a way to deal with the trash.
Me, too. It was depressing to see it waiting there.
While I commend you,do don’t knock Bingo. It’s one of my joys since I started attending the Senior Center.
I used to play it with my mother when she was at the senior center. It is fun, just not what I want to do at this point.
Yes, those of us who live alone and want to continue to maintain our independence have to be willing to admit that there are some things we can no longer do, but with some thought and creativity there may still be a workaround ! Good for you Doug !
It is an important matter, eh!?
This is the song I heard in my heard when I saw that first photo: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=15UffN8eilI&pp=ygUkaW5pIGthbW96ZSBoZXJlIGNvbWVzIHRoZSBob3RzdGVwcGVy
LOL! Yeah, it fits!
I agree with John, Doug, I would gladly help you if I lived anywhere nearby. Do you have friends or neighbors that could help once in a while? Ingenuity is a great thing, and I am glad you have worked out a solution. You are a resource too, though, and you need to conserve your energy to a degree.
The method I created uses rest periods that does just that. The whole point of this is NOT to give up independence till it can’t be avoided.
Andy’s tail is beautiful! I am glad that you got the trash out of the house, Doug, great job! Being a minimalist, that would not sit well with me. I wish that I could help you do this stuff, Doug, I would gladly help you! ❤️😎
i’m working toward get rid of lots of things I never use or rarely use myself.
I hope someone can give you a bit of help, you’ll get it done quick!
You’ve missed the point. Independence is something you cherish and work to save as long as possible. Time saved is unimportant in that context.
I understand now. Sorry.
Thanks!
Impressive floof of a tail! Also impressed with your tactics for the chore!
Thanks on both, Leah!
Great job, Doug! Problem solved. Now forward: any young people in the neighborhood you could hire for a once a week job?
No. This is a 55-years-old and above complex where I live. I can go months and never see a kid.
such a tail can be a statement and the flag of a victory too ;O)
Indeed!
Oh, Doug, your floofed tail is clearly there for all to see.
e’s always been tail-proud!