Ventured Out

Over the years, dad has told many stories of his childhood, and repeated most of them several times. Some of them include cold Iowa winters with lots of snow and the various challenges that came as a result. Weather patterns have changed in 50 years to have cooler summers and more mild winters, at least according to dad's tales.

The last few weeks have resembled what winter was like in dad's recollection. Central Iowa had nearly a week of daily snow followed by another week of dangerously cold temperatures. After that, we have had highs in the mid to upper 30's with almost constant fog and drizzle. I also can't remember the last time I saw the sun.

Due to this, I have stayed at home since leaving church on January 7. On Thursday afternoon, I finally ventured out to get a much needed haircut. The temperature was around 35° with a light rain/mist under gray skies. Relatively speaking, it wasn't bad, but I still wore a t-shirt, sweatshirt, insulated jeans, and put my heavy coat over me. Of course I stayed barefoot, it wasn't THAT cold.

Getting into the van, the lift was very sluggish and could hardly lift my 500+ lbs into the vehicle. My caregiver and I assumed the battery was nearly dead and an attempt to start the van was unsuccessful. With me stuck inside, we called dad at work and he was home a few minutes later to give the battery a boost. Since the commute from home to the barber may take five minutes, it wasn't long enough to charge the battery. Therefore, dad drove my caregiver and I into town and stayed in the van with it running while I got my hair trimmed.

Even with all the extra work, I only ended up being about 10 minutes late. I'm very thankful for the parents God has given me. They not only stay with me when nurses call off, but come at a moment's notice when stranded in the garage. Living the quad life indeed has unexpected times, but it was also a lesson to check vehicles when they have hardly been used.

Room Update

Some people like decorating houses to keep up with the latest trends and modern looks. They may paint walls, rearrange furniture, or get new furniture to replace outdated styles. I am not one of those people by any means. My parents and I moved into our house 30 years ago when I was in Junior High. My locker wallpaper has long since been replaced and furniture updated, but less than other areas of the house. This week though, I did have an adjustment.

My room was originally designed so that my caregiver had a chair to the left of my bed, just a couple feet away. At some point, their chair moved to the other side of the room, about 15 feet away, and a large computer desk took up the same space. For a few years, some of my caregivers would use an old computer to browse the internet during down time, but that eventually faded away as well and the desk became a space for paperwork to be collected and processed as needed. It also took up a lot of space in my room.

After more than a year of debating on options, I got a new desk to replace the old one. It came in a box early this week and dad spent a few evenings dismantling the old structure, relocating its contents, and assembling the new desk. Now, it's sitting next to the wall beside me with most of the former desk's contents placed somewhere in or on it.

I may spend 4-5 hours a week outside my room, but that's even an exaggeration sometimes. Therefore, I'm very familiar with my surroundings. I'm getting used to the shorter desk and less stuff directly beside me and am starting to like it. The desk is a little larger than the space it's allotted though and covers a small section of my window. However, it is very minor and my caregivers are enjoying having more space to work with me.

It has only been a few days since the change and everyone is adjusting habits of where to lay equipment when using it on me and new storage locations. I don't think I'll be making further changes any time soon, but it is fun to have a slight redesign every decade or so.

Snow Fish

The mild start we had to winter came to an abrupt end this week. Monday-Friday, Iowa had snow in various amounts. Monday and Tuesday had a winter storm warning with a blizzard warning on Friday. Dad has been clearing snow from our driveway, sidewalk, deck, and roof before having to do more clearing at work. He has been very tired, but keeps going.

My night nurse couldn't make it in Monday night and my Tuesday caregiver was ill and also couldn't come and only worked half days on Thursday and Friday. Therefore, my parents have had a busy week and I'm thankful for their care. In an attempt to make dad's life a little easier, I ended up making for another long afternoon.

A few years ago, my large plecostomus (cleaner fish) died and we quickly noticed my aquarium's algae increased rapidly. Dad purchased more algae eaters from local fish stores, but they died within a week,

or less. A friend, who is really into fish, suggested an online store that he has liked. Therefore, for the first time, I ordered live fish online. Checkout said shipping may be delayed due to weather, and I agreed. With a cold week of snow and next week forecast to be below 0, I guessed it would be a few weeks before they came. My estimate was wrong, they shipped Wednesday and arrived Thursday afternoon.

I kept tracking their progress and the delivery time continued to get delayed. Finally, three hours later than expected, the box was dropped at my door with no knock, doorbell, or other acknowledgement. Thankfully, mom was watching and swiftly retrieved the box from the frigid outdoors. Carefully opening the cold package, she eventually found the bag with very cold water and six objects in it, one that slightly moved.

Over the next few hours, she put the bag in a bowl of warm water to slowly start warming the new arrivals. As she did, movement started to increase and more signs of life appeared. When dad got home, he rearranged the lid of the aquarium so the bag could float on the water. The new fish now all seemed active and alive. Eventually, they joined the other tank dwellers and all seem happy and doing well.

Now, they have been swimming around and seem to be fine. I presume they arrived in some state of hibernation with the cold water and just needed to wake up. It's fun to see how God designed animals to adapt to different scenarios, including cold shipping boxes. Hopefully they do their job and love eating algae.

Living the quad life has unique times indeed. This week, I'll be staying inside. Hopefully it is a little calmer with other activities.

Long Start to 2024

It's Sunday, January 7, 2024. It is the day for my first blog entry of the year and looking back at the past week. So far, this has been a year that has not started off very well.

My parents were not feeling well in late November and early December, but I was thankful to have stayed healthy. Unfortunately, that changed a few days before the end of 2023 and has continued this entire year, so far. I haven't the coughing and chest tightness they had, but mainly just higher than normal temps, little energy, and no appetite. My temp got up to 100.7° a few nights, but not anything dangerous. Finally, by late Friday and Saturday afternoon, I started feeling more like myself. Germs have been around though as my caregiver had to leave early Friday due to being ill.

The year also did not start well for the community of Perry, Iowa. Thursday morning, a teenager entered the before-school breakfast program and opened fire. He killed an 11 year old boy and injured seven other people before turning the gun on himself.

School shootings are unfortunately too common, but one that's closer to home brings it more to thought. I've already seen the regular arguments for increased gun laws that don't do anything except make regular citizens more hindered. If a criminal wants to get a firearm, they will get one no matter what laws are in place. Other tools, such as knifes and vehicles, have been used to kill people in large numbers. However, I rarely see requests for more regulation on them. The problem that causes everything is sin, and living in a fallen creation.

The very first recorded murder was in Genesis 4 due to jealously. Since then, many more have happened, and will continue to increase. Bacteria was also originally good and helped with digestion and decaying leaves. However, now some have changed so that they cause illness and even death. Both of this year's events serve as reminders for the same root cause, sin.

As 2024 continues, pay attention to reminders, both good and bad, of the world we're living in. Repent from sin and trust in Jesus alone for salvation. He is in control of all things, and we may be selected to answer Him for our conduct in life when least expected.