October 2020 Newsletter Edition
The month of October has been good to me. Clearly my life is in transition. But I as I look back on the past 4 weeks I am pleased with the progress I've made for what I spent my time on this month.
I have a modest mobility scooter trailer. It is about the size of a wagon. It is designed to pull 88 pounds. I have adapted this to work with my power wheelchair. I ordered a trailer hitch similar to what is used with a riding lawn mower installed on my power wheelchair. I designed engineering drawings for how the mobility scooter trailer will connect to the hitch. A local metal fabricating shop is fabricating the pieces for me. The idea with the mobility scooter trailer is to increase my independence. This will help with grocery shopping, taking worn out electronics for disposal, going to the hardware store, etc. I see this as a very positive step in doing what I have control over to promote my best quality of life.
I also took the next natural step with my audio recording - music computer. I wasn't able to consistently get a quality audio input signal through the "input" jack. Instead I've ordered a USB device compatible with Audacity. It is the Behringer UCA202. It is here. I have the computer configured to use it. It is a much smoother process than the hit and miss I had been experiencing. I am glad this is situated. The ability to record is essential to my plans. My immediate use is to record myself playing Christmas carols on my digital piano for my annual Christmas Light's video. I also want to write some books themed around living with a physical disability and create audio versions. Before my hip joints were replaced audio was easier than reading. If I want my books to reach their intended audience and have the impact I believe I am able to make sharing practical lessons having an audio version is essential. I am planning for my future and am pleased with this. Some incremental steps are what is going to make it work for me.
I have an aunt I am very close to. She was feeling unwell in September and went to the local department of her hospital. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has begun treatment. I was thinking about how I could support and make a difference. I had about 120 of my nature photos made into 4" x 6" prints. I put each photo into it's own envelope and sealed the envelope. Then I searched online and found 2 inspirational or motivational quotes from famous people I could put onto the envelopes. I made these into labels using my label printer. I put a different quote on the front and back of every envelope. My thinking is that my aunt can open these when she is alone and feeling vulnerable. This is a nice quiet activity that I think will help her through her chemotherapy treatments.
The metal shed roof installation is in progress. I wish the installation was going faster. The young adult is juggling some personal issues. I've been giving him space. What matters is that it is moving forward. There has also been some quality control issues with the metal roof. The metal roof arrived with what obviously was something having dropped on it. Then I proceeded to discover additional roofing panels had severe pain scratching and had already begun rusting. The upshot is that some pieces had to be replaced as being defective. This should be finished off in November. I am grateful for this.
Here in Canada Thanksgiving is in October. The young adult installing the roof invited me to celebrate Thanksgiving with him and his housemates. This was very special. I didn't know what to expect. They graciously went out of their way to provide practical help on account of my physical disability (such as getting my meal) and made me feel welcome. It was really nice. This isn't something I won't forget any time soon.