Wheels on the ground

I really should have worn a belt.

That was the thought pounding through my head as I began my day of testing tricycles.

Mom, Dad, Claren and I drove down to Lynchburg, Va., to meet the wonderful folks with Wheels on the James who work with a company called Ambucs to provide trikes for people like me.

Well, OK, younger people like me, usually way younger.

Everyone there looking at trikes was looking for their kids. But there was one guy with a trike who was 31. I am actually getting his (more on that later.)

It was pretty awesome. Everyone there was great and kind and interested. The only bad thing is that the day convinced me that I need to give up the idea of riding a foot-cycle. I had hoped that Ambucs had enough adaptions to make a foot-cycle possible, and we tried most of the adaptions. But it just didn't work.

First, my feet don't push on the pedal. My feet wind up almost straight as my ankles extend completely. We tried a pedal that was a platform not a pedal, but my ankle still bent straight down.

We also tried to solve my floppy knees. They had a strap to keep them from flopping out. They also had a knee separator to prevent flopping in.

I also tried a trike with pedals below me not in front, but that had what was called a tractor seat that I felt unsafe on.

So I tried hand-cycles. They were better than mine but similar. Then I tried the one the son of the founder rides.    

Instead of sitting, your legs stick out in front next to the front wheel, similar to this.

It felt good, I told them, so they gave it to me. If we had room to bring it home, I'd have it now. Instead they are going to dissemble it and ship it to me.

Awesome.

I'll take a lump on the head

I turned off my shower this morning, and almost died.

OK, that wasn't quite what happened, but knowing me it could have. And I'm sticking to the "almost died" part.

I have two shower faucets and two shower heads. I was originally using the shower mounted high on the wall. But I noticed water was splashing off me and getting the wood floor outside the bathroom  wet. So I switched to the shower mounted on the side wall that is low down and removable. That works well, but on cool mornings I get chilly. So I changed the pressure on the high head and started using that again. It no longer splashed the wood, but a stray stream shoots straight in my face now. So all that is to explain that I use both showers.

This morning was a side-shower day. That faucet is above the other one. Without thinking I turned the lower faucet off (on actually).

A blast of cold water shot down all over me.

My rockin' nerves responded to the chill by rocketing forward.

I still had on my seat belt, so the result was I bent forward quickly.

Fortunately, my head flew into the front wall of the shower. Sounds painful, and it was, but without the wall I'd have ended up on the floor as I have done before, and that is really bad. (I just searched for that post, and it is sad that I have two posts titled "Man down.")

Not that I still didn't almost end up on the floor.

After smacking the wall, my head began to slide down, forcing me to scramble to find a hold on something. Fortunately, I got hold of a nylon belt-like thing I use to hold my shampoo.

Then I just hung on till the water warmed up, sat up, turned off both showers and got ready for work.

I ignored the desire to throw up.

I hate terrorists

Not a day goes by that I do not feel helpless. Whether it is something simple like not being able to position Claren''s pillow or something more significant like falling and not being able to get off the floor, there is just an awful lot I can't do.

That's OK. (Well, not really. It FUCKING sucks.) I'm unfortunately used to it.

But it depends on others not feeling helpless and being willing to help me.

That is why I really hate terrorists who thrive on a culture of fear, striving to make everyone feel as helpless as I do.

I realize, of course, that I am not helpless. Asking for and accepting help is a staggering power. But if everyone feels helpless and fearful, why help the dude in the chair?

Bastard terrorists.

Bad thoughts

I am in trouble.

Early this week, I thought to myself, "Wow, my nephew and niece are never sick."

I didn't even say it out loud.

But yesterday my nephew came home from school and had a fever. Even worse, he snapped his lifelong streak of no barfing at eight years.

And even worser, my sister texted Mom that he vomited and Mom responded, "Poor Matt." Which, of course, was the right thing to say. Someone barfing within a mile of me makes me worried. (It turns out less cool. Mom was responding to a text that said, "I blame Matt.")

My nephew was better tonight, starting a new streak. Me? I'll never think again.

A good walk spoiled

It was such a great day out today that I went for a long walk at lunch. (The night is turning out less pleasant because somebody turned on the AC. HA I kid, sort of)

But the walk grew longer than expected because there was no curb cut. I thought I'd be rolling forever on the streets of Ballston as the man who never returned.

Another issue was that garbagemen, or whatever they are called, do not worry about putting the cans back on the edge of the sidewalk. They were fun obstacles, really.

Finally, did you know that stroller trumps wheelchair. I didn't. But this woman pushing a stroller came right at me and I had to move.