Lucky

Sorry it's been so long since I've written.  Life is getting busier, and it's getting harder to find an hour a day to sit down and write.  I'm also not very proud of the posts where I just list the things I've done that day.  They just seem mundane to me, but the pithier posts take longer to plan and write, and I'm spending a lot less time on my back than I did in the hospital.  There, I had lots of time to just think.

A couple days ago, somebody told me I "deserved some luck", implying that I haven't had any.  I don't mind if people want to think that although I'm not looking for pity from anyone.  I still feel extremely lucky though.  The injury itself was unlucky, but everything that has happened since has been extremely fortunate.

I've talked about my friends a lot already, and everyone is probably tired of hearing about them already, but I could still not be more grateful to them for the support they've given me.  Even with the HO and no family in the area, I'm still able to live alone with no other assistance apart from my friends.  I can't imagine who else in my position could do that.

So I feel very lucky, and I feel it's important not to start thinking I "deserve" anything.  As soon as you start thinking you deserve something, there can be only two results: bitterness if you don't get it or lack of gratitude if you do.

Here's what else has been going on:

• Several dinner guests
• Kids in my apartment
• A trip downtown with Gus
• Several delicious lunches
• Drinks in my apartment with friends
• Some time on the couch

Watching the Olympics instead of blogging

Justin is coming over tomorrow for the afternoon/evening, so that should be fun.  Haven't seen him since the hospital, so I'm looking forward to that.

Vantastic

Yesterday was so busy I didn't have a chance to write about it, but I'm going to do so now.  It was a great day, devoted mostly to getting my van ready for the road.

Gus came over around 10:00, and we started by going to his mechanic to get the van inspected.  We put Evelyn's car seat in the back, and set off.  We picked up lunch on the way over and ate it in the van while they did the inspection.  I had a BBQ sandwich with mac & cheese and baked beans from Dixie Belle's.  It was pretty good.

Waiting for my lunch

After the inspection, we had to go to the DMV to get the van registered.  Evelyn passed out on the drive over.  Probably wore herself out asking "Why" questions.

Out cold

 
Considering that there's only one license place office for all of southern Wake County, the line was surprisingly short.  The notoriously surly DMV workers were also surprisingly friendly after Evelyn did a little tap dance for them.

Patience is still a virtue

The DMV went so quickly, we had time to go to Target for some grocery shopping.

Evelyn and me in the Men's section

In the evening, Titus and Brittany came down for Sushi, and I talked Titus into fixing the driver side power window.  Titus is really good at fixing power windows, so he agreed, and we took the van over to Gus's house to work on it.  One of my other friends decided to ride over with us.

Titus, Buddha, and me

Titus works his magic

I had a good time hanging out in Gus's garage and supervising.

Good job

I really enjoyed getting out of my apartment and going places yesterday.  It's just what I was hoping the van would do for me.  I got to go four different places and didn't have to do a single car transfer.  I still couldn't be more pleased with my purchase.

Now the van is road legal, and the window works.  The only thing left to do is put some new tires on it, but they are all holding air right now, so that can wait.

Relaxing

It was a pretty relaxing day.  I spent quite a bit of it on my couch.  That's much easier to do since Gus built some 1.5" risers for it.  Before that, it was pretty tough to transfer back to the wheelchair.  Now it's pretty easy.

Uyen told me yesterday Evelyn insisted this video be sent to me.  I told Uyen that Evelyn is developing a fan base on my blog.

Gus is still out of town, but Uyen and Evelyn came over for lunch today.  It was nice to have the company.  I've gotten so used to having guests that it can get pretty lonely over here, especially on days when I don't have anything to do.  It seems like I spend more time alone on the weekends.  I need to start inviting weekend guests earlier in the week.

After lunch, we went down to look at the party van, and Evelyn wanted to take a turn at the wheel.

Give her a license

The only other interesting thing I did today was to finally turn on the Olympics.  It's completely addictive.  I watched swimming, women's gymnastics, men's volleyball, and some water polo.  I really enjoy watching it, but it does tend to be a reminder of all the stuff I can't do anymore.  It's not like I was ever going to do any of this stuff, but it's still a little depressing.

I felt like I wasted the day, but I really didn't have much to do, and it feels good to waste time every now and then.

If This Van's a-Rockin', It's Probably Broken

Today was a big day.  Brian showed up around 8:30 with a stack of cash to finance my van shopping adventure.  The van was advertised for $5500 so that's what he brought.  He got it out of his own account and I wrote him a check when he got here.  He better hope I'm good for it.

It's all about the Benjamins

At 10:00, Julie showed up with her fiance, David, and his son, Justin, to take me all the way out to Asheboro to see the van.  I was surprised I was able to find somebody to do that on such short notice, and I was REALLY surprised that I was able to find enough people to actually buy the van and drive it home.  I only saw the ad at 7:30 last night, and it turns out Gus, Cullen, Caitlin, Mike, and Sue are all out of town this weekend.  Titus and Brittany were busy.  Ben was busy.  Brian and Kelly have too many kids.  Jessica can't drive.  Julie was really my last hope.

So we hit the road from my apartment around 10:15 and arrived in Asheboro around 11:30.  We met up with my contact, Barry, who led us to the van.  He took us to the home of an 80-year-old lawyer and Episcopal minister named John, whose wife just passed away.  John initially showed us the main features, but seemed irritated to answer any questions about the van.

The van is a Dodge, so I feared the worst, and it's true that the paint is peeling pretty badly in spots, but Dodges from the 90's do that so it wasn't unexpected. The driver side power window is broken, and the right front tire is a little bald.  It may have an alignment problem like my parents' old Caravan, but I probably won't put enough miles on it to notice.

John let David take me out for a test drive, and I had to rely on David's analysis, but we couldn't find anything wrong mechanically.  The transmission seemed to work fine, the brakes felt great, the suspension felt fine, and the AC worked.  There wasn't any pulsation, and it tracked straight when you let go of the wheel.  Under the hood, there was a little oil on the valve cover, but it's a Dodge.  I'd be suspicious if there WASN'T any oil under the hood.

I'm pretty sure I can get Titus to fix the window, and get me a pair of front tires for cheap, so I offered John $5000.  He said $5200 and we shook hands.  That's about half what I was expecting to pay for a wheelchair van.  It's a little older than I'd prefer, but it only has 116k miles on the ticker, and it looks like it's been very well maintained.

Once we agreed on a price, John was really very friendly.  We sat inside with him for a while doing the paperwork, and then left to go get lunch in town.  We weren't able to park in town because of a classic car show that was going on, but while we were there, John chased us down in his Honda to give us the spare key fob he had.  Nice guy.

I was giddy on the way home about my purchase.  I think it's going to be perfect for me, especially once I get the nit-pick items fixed.  Julie drove me home, and I had her check all the bells and whistles.  Everything seems to work great.  The ramp also seems to work fine, and the tie-downs are adequate.  I may need to find a better way to attach them to my chair though.  I probably also ought to come up with a seatbelt solution.  Right now there isn't one.

A new van owner

When I got home, I posed for a picture with my new ride.

I need to get some sweet rims

This van should mean more freedom.  I'll be able to leave the apartment complex much more easily, and anybody who wants to take me to a doctor's appointment can now do so regardless of what sort of vehicle they own.  That opens up a lot of opportunities for me.  All that's left to do now is to register it.  Anybody want to go to the DMV for me?  :-)

Doctor Visit

Today, I had an appointment with my doctor at UNC.  Gus is out of town, and Brittany volunteered to shuttle me to and from the hospital.

I can actually get in her car

I always enjoy hanging out with Brittany, and I was very grateful to have a ride.  I don't enjoy bumming rides from my friends, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

The appointment was uneventful.  I didn't learn much except that there's another doctor I'll need to see soon.  Hooray.

After the appointment, we went up to rehab on the 7th floor to say hi to all my friends there.  It was nice to see everybody, and I even wore my custom rehab t-shirt for the occasion.  I felt bad making Brittany wait for that, but she was a good sport.

I got the form for my handicapped parking hangers at the doctor, and Brittany took me by the DMV so I could pick them up.  I've been wanting to get those for a while.  I'm looking forward to better parking spots.

It felt good to get out of the house today even though it was 100 degrees out.

The parking garage in my building

Obstructing traffic

When we got home from the doctor, we had lunch, and Brittany vacuumed my apartment.  I helped a little.

I missed a spot

Tonight, I found a wheelchair van on Craigslist way out in Asheboro that I want to go look at.  It's older, but it's in my price range and much cheaper than any other I've seen so I really want to go look at it.  Unfortunately, most of my friends are out of town this weekend so I had to make a lot of phone calls, but I think I found somebody go get me some cash from the bank and somebody else to take me all the way out there tomorrow along with somebody else to drive the van back if I buy it.  It took hours to set that up, but I sure am glad I've got good friends.

Hopefully by this time tomorrow, I'll be the proud owner of a used, but reliable (I hope) 1997 Dodge Caravan with ramp.  Then the fun will really begin.

I hope it's worth the effort

Sushi Night

Titus and Brittany came down for sushi last night.  I've been looking forward to sushi night all week, so I was excited that it was time.  And then I ate too much.  Again.  I really have to stop doing that, but it's so hard when the food is that good.

Sushi feast with friends

The physical therapist that visits me at my home, Syed, said he would try to visit me on his own time to help me get more workouts in.  He also said he would call me to remind me to do my workout.  I thought that was incredibly nice of him whether he actually comes here or not.  He called this morning, so I'm off to do my arm/shoulder workout.

Pizza

Today was a pretty good day.  My physical therapist, Syed, came over and put me through my arm/shoulder workout.  I had a delicious lunch of leftovers with Gus and Evelyn.  Later I got a shower, and Gus helped me put clean sheets on the bed.

I did a lot of moving today, and that seemed to be good for my flexibility and my pain.  I should probably try to be more active every day.  Unfortunately, it doesn't mesh well with my laziness.

For dinner, my former roommate, Julie, came over and brought me pizza.

I love good pizza.  I especially like leftover pizza.  It's so easy to fix and eat.  Therefore, when I ordered, I ordered the largest pizza Rosati's makes: the 20-incher.

Julie and the biggest pizza you can get around here

That thing was delicious.  I'd never had Rosati's before, but it did not disappoint.  They put their pepperoni under the cheese like one of my other favorite pizzas, Rudino's.  They even cut their round pie in square slices.  Don't ask me how the physics works, but this makes it better somehow.

I think Julie and I were able to consume less than 1/3 of the pizza so I have a TON of leftovers.  Just the way I like it.  There are some more good lunches in my future.

Five layers of leftovers