OK, AND THIS IS HOW IT WORKS

NOW, THIS IS CONCENTRATION!!

Well, I'm just sitting here in front of the computer having myself one of those thoughtless Fridays.  Not thoughtless as in being inconsiderate, just thoughtless as in being clueless.  Just haven't got a clue what to write about.  Some days a blog idea will begin to formulate in the morning shower & other days it's a last minute scramble before unconsciousness settles in for the night.

A STUDY IN FACES:))

Dropped into my ophthalmologist (eye guy) today & made an eye appointment for next Thursday morning.  Imagine the eye Doc will just tell me to quit my complaining, take half a dozen aspirins before going to bed & come back again in another year!!  Thanks for the concerned emails & comments about this.

In between mobility van runs today I popped home & decided to take a few pics of the van set up to show how that hydraulic lift on the van works & how people are loaded up & secured inside the van for transportation.  We have an old wheel chair here at home so with the help of a couple unwilling suspects I took a few photos to show how it all works.

   

(click pics to enlarge)  Pics are numbered from 1 to 9 starting at top left.  Pic 1 shows ramp down with chair ready to be loaded.  Caution has to be used here so the ramp doesn't come down & whap somebody on the head...mainly me!!  Pic 2 & chair is on the ramp.  Safety belt is clicked in behind chair & the wheelchair's brakes are put on.   Notice the yellow safety plate at back has kicked up preventing chair from moving back & off the ramp.   I stand between that door & the ramp as it goes up.  Left hand on the switch & my right hand on the person's wheelchair.  The up-down-fold-unfold switch is on the left door.  Caution has to be exercised here so that I don't press the wrong button & flip the person right over the van & into the next county!!  Pic 3 shows the ramp in top position.  At this point I walk around & enter the van from the side doors.  Caution has to be exercised here that I don't knock myself out cold hitting my head on the top door frame while entering!!  Pic 4 shows the chair still out on the ramp. (not good on rainy days) I walk back, take the chairs brakes off & pull the chair into the van. Caution has to be exercised at this point because I have to bend forward close to the person to do this & I had an elderly lady grab my beard one time & nearly pulled my whole darn face off!! (true story)  Pic 5 shows the chair in place totally secured with 4 seat belt devices anchored right into the floor.  Caution has to be exercised here because of the awkward bending & kneeling on the floor to get the belts secured to the chair.  Prime back injury time!!  A shoulder & lap belt is then drawn across to prevent the person from falling forward.  Pic 6 shows the back of the van with wheel chair inside & strapped down.  It is at this point that I put the ramp back up into it's stowed position.  Caution has to be exercised at the point that I don't let the ramp catch a piece of my clothing & fold me up with it!!  Pic 7 & the ramp is stowed in place for travel. (notice I am not folded up inside it) You can see the control box on the left door.  Caution must be exercised here when closing the finger shortening rear doors!!  Pic 8 shows Tweet & Socky Geepers, my unwilling little helpers in this lengthy demonstration.  Caution had to be exercised here because these guys were really ticked off at me for interrupting their afternoon snooze!!  Pic 9 & final photo shows a couple 'jump seats' that can be used if a family member or nurse person has to ride in the back.  Caution has to be exercised here because these seats can come down as your walking by & tear your leg off!! Ok, end of demonstration............:))

                       

COUPLE OF HANGING FLOWER BASKETS KELLY BROUGHT HOME EARLIER IN THE WEEK

I have had 2 wheelchairs in the back of these vans a few times but it is very, very, crowded.  You have to be a bit of gymnast as it is to get around back there & secure the belts to the chair.........So there ya go JERRY...........better get that knee healed up or I'll have to come down there to that Benson town in Arizona & belt ya down right into that chair in the back of the van.   We could load up some cowboy cookies & head up to that paved Escapee Visitor's parking area, smoke up the tires, & do some whirlygig doughnuts:))  I'll bet Suzy would get a kick out of that.

GROANER'S CORNER And did you know that 'old' is when you are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police.

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

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AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/ (a work in progress)

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

NICE DAY FOR A WORKING DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY

 

WELCOME TO THE BAYFIELD BUNCH'S PLACE

Another nice mobility van drive today over to University Hospital in London, Ontario.  The hospital is in the north end of the city so didn't have to get into any downtown traffic madness.  Had a 2 hour wait & then it was back out into the quiet & scenic countryside & back home.  Sure am glad we don't live in, or anywhere near any kind of a city!!!!

OUR IRIS FLOWERS ARE IN BLOOM

A comment question from JANNA AT TIN TEEPEE/LOG CABIN about last night's blog photo of our little Motormouse on the porch wearing a long blue lead.  Both Checker's & the Motormouse are very crafty girls & like to wander off.  We always have to watch them closely when they are outside of their fenced in back yard.  They are both explorers & know we are easily distracted when people are around.  You get to talking & forget about the dogs.  Both Checkers & Motormouse know this & will slip away every time.  A couple weeks ago we got distracted doing some gardening & before we knew it we couldn't find the little Motor.  She had walked all the way over to the mail room to greet people picking up their mail.  Checkers has always been a happy wanderer & will do the same if we don't keep a close eye on her.

IT'S THE MOTORMOUSE CATCHING A FEW RAYS THROUGH THE SUN ROOM'S SKYLIGHT

Had another comment question from SAM & DONNA -5TH WHEEL VAGABONDS which asks, "Al how do you handle the Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde transformation when you climb in the van."  This is in reference to my blog A PLEASANT WEATHER & WORKING DAY.  In it I was talking about my job of transporting elderly Seniors & stated, "Of course they don't know me as a cranky old Cursmudgeon though. To them I am one of those bouncy, good natured & friendly young guys." 

To start with I have often heard people say that whenever they are around young people it makes them feel young as well.  I am the total opposite to that.  It is when I am around young people that I feel old & when around older folks I feel younger.

Now, about the Jekyll/Hyde  thingy.  Yes, it's true, I am basically a Cursmudgeon alright in these latter years, but on my mobility van job the transformation out of my Cursmudgeon character happens automatically & willingly as soon as I enter a nursing home facility, hospital, or a Seniors home & meet the person I am transporting.  I seem to get an extra little bounce in my walk & am easily able to talk with these people.  All of these folks are in need of help & that is why I am there.  It is my job to safely transport these wheelchair folks to & from their destinations & quite often that means right into the hospitals, medical centers, dentist offices, etc.  Up the elevators & down the halls looking for waiting rooms & Doctor's offices.  And I am always talking & kibitzing along the way trying to make them feel comfortable & at ease.  Years ago doing travelogues at Seniors facilities I used to get the very same feeling.

I feel very good about that so I am comfortable & able to relax & bring out that humorous young good natured friendly guy that still lives inside somewhere.......somewhere within the shadow of the Cursmudgeon!!  Don't want to get too deep here but sometime in a future blog maybe I will expand on my Jekyll/Hyde & Cursmudgeon theories.  It could get a bit lengthy though.................. And, while on the topic of Seniors I would just like to thank everyone for all your kind comments about my Uncle Harry in last night's blog.  Very much appreciated.  Thank You:))

JUDY & EMMA are in the process of moving into their new home.  'New to them' Motor Home that is.  Lots of excitement going on over there as they transfer things from their older Motor Home into the newer one.  Nice looking rig for sure:))

THIS LITTLE SIGN WAS MADE BY OUR FRIEND 'BUTCH' WHO HANGS OUT IN THE DESERT NEAR BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

Our weather just continues to get nicer & as I sit here at the computer looking out over our front yard I am always amazed at how such a barren & bleak yard-scape during winter & early spring can explode into a veritable jungle of green foliage & colorful flowers.

 

JUST OUTSIDE THE SUN ROOM WINDOW IN FRONT OF ME

My gardening style has changed over the years.  Gone are the manicured large lawns, the perfectly trimmed shrubs & razor edged flower beds with everything precisely measured out & planted like you see so often in suburbia.  Nothing wrong with that kind of landscaping where everything is crisp & neat as a pin.  Did that for a bunch of years & It's just not what I care for anymore.  Now I let the foliage grow in together giving the yard a more natural woodsy look.  Kind of a junglescape flavor.  In fact, I thought I saw a saber tooth Zebra near one of the Azalea bushes last week.

Much more critter friendly too with squirrels, chipmunks, bees, butterflies, & lots of birds flittering about.  And I like the privacy all the foliage provides because we do have a few prying eyes in our Park!!  Well, doesn't every neighborhood!!

HEY, WHAT THE HECK IS THIS PICTURE OF A JEEP WRANGLER DOING IN THE BLOG.....Hmmmmmmm!!

GROANER'S CORNER:((  And it's real darn scary when you start making the same noises as your coffee maker too.

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

A PLEASANT WEATHER & WORKING DAY

Late getting to the computer tonight so might be a short blog.  Had us a great sunny day with temps in the low 70's so we are definitely headed in the direction of summer.

THIS LITTLE GARTER SNAKE FELLOW HAS TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN OUR CACTUS GARDEN & LOVES SUNNING HIMSELF ON THE WARM ROCKS

Managed to get myself another three & a half hours of work time in again today.  Picked up a couple of folks with the mobility van in a small town nearby & took them to another nearby town & dropped them off for a bit.  Returned them home a couple hours later.  Because of confidentiality rules with the company I drive for I can't really say too much about the people I transport or where they are going or for what reasons.  But I can say that it is just general things like medical appointments, visiting, errands & some grocery shopping etc.  All folks are in wheel chairs or  electric scooters & that is why it is a mobility van I am driving.  Been doing this for about 6 years now & probably 98% of all the people I have transported over those years are elderly Seniors.  Of course they don't know me as a cranky old Cursmudgeon though. To them I am one of those bouncy, good natured & friendly 'young guys.'  Yep, I like that job alright:))

TIME TO GET THE KID'S POOL OUT FOR THE SUMMER

I have half a dozen blogs or so I read every morning & another dozen or so I check periodically to see how people are doing.  It's just impossible to read everybody's blog & of course I feel guilty about that when I miss things or realize I haven't read so & so's blog for awhile.  We all pour our heart's & minds into these darn things & I do try my best to keep up with people's writings.  One of those half dozen or so blogs I read daily is written by a lady who goes by the road name of Gypsy.

AWWWW MOM, DO I REALLY HAVE TO HAVE MY SPRING BATH

I think it was a year or two ago when I first came across GYPSY'S BLOG out here in RV blog land.  Her postings caught my attention right away because she was down to earth with her writings & talked about how she felt about things.  It wasn't just a run of the mill 'nice-nice sugar & spice' blog that would fit quite comfortably into any glossy travel magazine.  I liked how Gypsy talked about the down days, the challenges, & hardships, of being a single lady RVer alone on the road driving a big truck hauling an even bigger 5th wheel trailer.  Although off the road now for awhile she continues to blog about her daily happenings & more importantly, how she feels about life from day to day.  The ups as well as the downs.  She approaches each day with the reality of challenges it holds for her.  No glossing over the difficulties with big happy face Cheshire grins or skipping through phony non existent never ending wondrous days.  No, Gypsy will give you her honest opinion & is not afraid to tell you how she feels.  If she's grumpy, she's grumpy & if she's happy she will tell you about that too. 

YES, THIS IS DEFINITELY A POND OF FROGS

I have great respect for people who face reality & who understand & accept the realism around them.  I admire those folks who have the courage to break from the herd & think for themselves.  They are definitely in the minority but I feel they are definitely on the right track.  Keep up the good work Gypsy....you go girl:))

A LONE CANOE AWAITS A LONE PADDLER

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Irishman Patrick Finnegan came home drunk every evening toward ten.  Now, the Missus was never too happy about it, either. So one night she hides in the cemetery and figures to scare the beejeezus out of him. As poor Pat wanders by, up from behind a tombstone she jumps in a red devil costume screaming,  "Patrick Sean Finnegan, sure and ya' don't give up you're drinkin' and it's to Hell I'll take ye'".  Pat, undaunted, staggered back and demanded, "Who the hell ARE you?".  Too that the Missus replied, "I'm the divil ya' damned old fool".  To which Finnegan remarked,  "Damned glad to meet you sir, I'm married to yer sister."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.