Dec 202013
 

I have some vacation coming up next week, which may allow for more frequent blogging. Assorted MNsure-related issues have come to dominate my corner of the bureaucracy, leaving me more inclined to park myself in front of the television rather than attempt to compose a blog entry when I get home. Lazy, I know. But I’m hoping to post a few Year in Awesome entries over the next week that will highlight my various pop culture obsessions of 2013. I may even share some thoughts on the recent whirlwind events surrounding MNsure.

In the meantime, perhaps one of my UK readers might like to send me this Union Jack Dalek as a Christmas present. Or I could just pay you for it. It would be a nice addition to my geek shrine.

Nov 272013
 

I hope all of my readers enjoy a wonderful Thanksgivukkah tomorrow. I’ll be enjoying some football and mashed potatoes while doing my best not to splurge too much on the Steam Autumn Sale. As ever, I’m grateful for your continued patronage and forbearance. I’ll post again on Friday to accompany your noshing on leftovers.

Oct 312013
 

I’m a little sad that we don’t have more kids in my building. I have so many ideas for costumes that would totally freak them out.

Enjoy your Halloween.

Oct 282013
 

A friend and co-worker died suddenly a couple weeks ago. Like me, Kelsey had spinal muscular atrophy; we first met back in 2006 when she interviewed for a job at the Department of Human Services. Kelsey was smart, funny, and adventurous. She was thrilled when she was elected as a Minnesota delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. We didn’t get to talk as often after I changed jobs, but we still found time to hang out in my office and talk about work, finding decent help, and all the inexplicable things able-bodied people do in our presence.

As happens too often to people with SMA, Kelsey contracted pneumonia and she didn’t have the strength to fight back this time. Her friends and co-workers demonstrated overwhelming support for both Kelsey and her family; a final testament to the person she was.

I will miss her. And I have a renewed appreciation for my own continued presence in this world, however tenuous it may be. Farewell, Kelsey.

Sep 242013
 

The popular Where Bloggers Blog tumblr is a photographic journal of places where–well, you get the idea. And here’s my blogging space:

IMG_0098

 

The desk has been with me for nearly 20 years, a gift from my parents when I started law school. And there’s Spock on the middle shelf, looking down on me with mild disapproval (particularly when I procrastinate my blogging because I’m looking at…well, never mind).

Sep 102013
 

The designers of portable ventilators really need to do a better job of anticipating the various environments in which their products can function. As I was leaving the CHVRCHES concert at First Avenue last night, I noticed that the vent was alarming and showing a cryptic VENT SERVICE REQUIRED message. I felt fine and wasn’t too concerned, but it continued to alarm during the walk home. The vent  seems to be functioning normally today; I suspect that the heavy bass at the concert might have caused the freak-out. Considering that my old tank of a vent never glitched like this, I’m a little disappointed. If this vent thinks I’m going to stay home every night listening to archived Hearts of Space episodes, it has another thing coming.

 

And you really should see CHVRCHES live if you can. Not many bands can do electronic pop well in a live setting, but these Scots sounded great. And they should only get better once they have a deeper catalog of songs.

Differences between Medicaid

Aug 292013
 

Today I learned that it takes five attorneys to lift my chair up a flight of steps into a suburban home. To those of you who wake up tomorrow with sore backs, my sincere apologies. I’d offer to return the favor with some free legal advice, but you probably don’t need it.

Jul 302013
 

I’m getting a new bed to replace the 20-year-old model. But this presents certain logistical problems. The equipment vendor won’t take away the old bed and I don’t have room to store it. I can probably give it away via Craigslist or donate it, but I don’t want to have a hospital bed taking up space in my living room for several days. It’s times like this when I wish I had a garage.

Mar 112013
 

“Why do I feel so crappy?” was the recurring thought in my head last week. I had been tiring easily and fighting chills for a few days, but I didn’t have any of the usual respiratory systems that indicate trouble. I went to see a doctor on Friday and found myself being admitted to the hospital with a bladder infection. I’m fine now, but this may be a prelude to the next chapter of my life. We’ll call it Now The Real Fun Begins: Aging with a Disability. I expect that other health issues will crop up as I advance into middle age. Some of these problems will be mere annoyances, while others may be more serious. Over the last couple decades, I’ve trained myself to be vigilant for certain hazards to my health–mostly of the respiratory variety. That vigilance may require some retooling as I reconcile myself to the fact that my days as a young and rambunctious gimp are receding ever further into the distance.

This isn’t to say that I’ve forsworn any future acts of rambunctiousness. I’ll just need to take my supplements first and perhaps bring along a shawl.

Jan 102013
 

My dad called me a little while ago, asking me if I was feeling okay. The news of the severe flu outbreak has him a little freaked out and he instructed me to get plenty and see the doctor immediately if I start feeling sick. Of course, I’m feeling fine, but I’ll admit that I’m a bit uneasy. One of my nurses was coughing and hacking a few days ago, which made me cringe. As much as I would like to isolate myself for the next few months, that’s not realistic. All I can do is hope that the flu shot will keep me healthy until the outbreak passes.