Pride Owners Blog

I woke up to the sun again this morning, and it put a happy spin on a sad day.

This will probabily be my last blog entry, because today is my last day working for Pride.

It’s been a nice long run. I first began in June of ’07 as an intern on my way to a journalism degree. That internship gave me a taste of working, and I took to it like a fish to water. After my internship was up, Pride took me on as an employee.

But alas, all great things must come to an end.

I’ve met some great people, and even made some friends. Not to meantion that you guys put up with the ramblings I spin off just about every day.

Hehehe now I’ll have time to spend with my friends getting into trouble, and watching my anime. I’m completely hooked on one called Yu Yu Hakusho. It’s about a delinquent who saves a little kid from being hit by a car. Yusuke, the delinquent, winds up getting killed, but he comes back to life and aquires supernatural powers. Now he has to fight demons and save the world on a regular basis. It’s so cool.

Well, that’s all folks, it’s been a good run!

I may have written about this before, but it’s been rattling around in my brain since yesterday.

Ever notice how music can influence a mood change?

For the record, I have a mild case of bi-polar disorder. I don’t know all of my triggers, but music seems to help more than anything else I’ve tried. When I’m sad, I listen to hard rock, and when I’m in a good mood I listen to mostly country, with some punk and alternative mixed in.

Lately, I haven’t been feeling either happy or sad. Numb, is what I’d call it; because of certain things going on in my life that’s kinda overwhelmed my senses. (That’ll all be covered in tomorrow’s blog entry.)

On the way to work I was listening to the local country station, as that’s my music of choice. One song ended, and another began, and I immediately started to smile and sing along. The song began “I got rice cookin’ in the microwave…” and it’s called “It’s A Great Day to Be Alive.” Travis Tritt sings it.

It got my brain going a mile a minute, even as I sang along. Sure, some things are going wrong in my life right now, and I was really depressed on Tuesday when it rained all day. But I have an awesome chair, a way to get around to places I want to go. I have friends who would do anything for me. I have a family who thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread, even when I mess up.

And to top it all off, I have a fiancé who loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me.

Sure, this is all sappy and whatnot, but it makes me feel good to realize what I do have instead of dwelling on the things I’ve lost. Maybe that’s what we need to do more often. It’s hard sometimes, when the dark comes creeping around, and sometimes the people you love can make it worse instead of better, but as long as you keep that little scrap of light, the dark will go away eventually.

It took a song to make my dark go away today. And it really is a great day to be alive.

I’m in a weird mood today. I’m happy, but I’m… lethargic. Like I have to force myself to think of what to write.

School’s not going to well. I’m beginning to not understand some of the stuff in my Intro to Business class, and we have a test coming up. I’m not a test taker, never was. Even when I study, I don’t do well. I’m a hands on learner, show me how to do something, and I can do it with practice.

On a lighter note, my cousin Erika turned 21 recently. Just Monday, in fact. But she didn’t get the full effect of turning 21, because she’s about 6 months pregnant. It’s a boy! They’re naming him after the daddy, Frankie.

I’m a little jealous of her. I want a child so badly, but I know that I can’t support one financially at this time. It wouldn’t be fair to have a baby and not be able to give him or her the life that they deserve.

I think that’s all for today. I’m having trouble coming up with things to write about heh.

Hey everyone! Long time no blog. Sorry about that!

School is keeping me busy. I have two tests next week, one in my Intro to Business class and one in my Computer class. My computer class will be the easier of the two.

So, I haven’t told anyone this, but I was in the market for a new chair recently, and decided to upgrade to a Q6000Z. What a ride! I got it in the last week or so, and it’s got the power tilt-n-recline, and the articulating footrests. No high-speed motors though. I’ve turned into a slow-poke.

It goes over slush and snow like it’s not there. And I absolutely LOVE the tilt-n-recline. I fell asleep in the chair at my fiancé’s house on Friday, I was just so comfortable. Plus it’s good for my back, not sitting straight up. My doctor agrees, which was one of the main reasons I opted for it.

It’s such a smooth ride. Stops and turns on a dime too.

Now I need to think of a name for it. I named my other one “Phoenix” and even had a liscense plate on it. But this one deserves a different name, and a different plate. It’s red, so I’d like a play on that somehow.

Any suggestions?

Does disability define who we are? Partially. At least I think so.

I was reading through posts on WheelchairJunkie.com and someone made the comment that their identity disappeared with the arrival of their first wheelchair. That really got me thinking, because my identity was born when I got my first chair.

How does disability define someone? Are we more than “The girl with MD” or “That guy who has Cerebral Palsy”? Of course we are. We are not what makes us disabled, but rather we are because we’re disabled.

Because of our disabilities, our lives are changed, for better or for worse. Mine happened to be for the better, but not everyone is as lucky. I thank my Creator every day for the situation I’m in, no matter who says what about me. Sure, sometimes I’m treated as if I’m invisible, but to be honest, I can use that to my advantage. Do you know how easy it was for me in high school because I was invisable? With the exception of a few jerks, nobody bothered me!

When I got my first chair at ten years old, I didn’t understand what was going on. All I knew was that I was tired of walking and welcomed the whole “sitting down and moving” thing. I suppose I’m in a rather unique position of growing up half able-bodied. Sure I know there are a lot of people who got their chairs later in life, but I got mine before my identity was fully formed. I guess that’s what this is all about.

The day I got my chair I went from being invisible to being me. Twelve years later, I have a family who stands by me no matter what, friends who would do anything for me, and a lover who I would die for. This is all because of who my disability made me.

My disability helped form my sense of self, and sense of self worth. Sure, sometimes I wish I didn’t have to deal with the struggles and the pain of not being able to walk and do some things for myself. Doesn’t everyone? But, at the risk of sounding horribly cliché, I’m a stronger person inside because of it. Struggling with the small stuff has prepared me to be better able to deal with the big stuff in life, and I know I’ve said it before, but I wouldn’t give up my disability for anything!

My van is done!!

Finally I get my van back tomorrow after work. I would get it today, but I have classes after work.

It’s been such a long time, and as someone who values independence, it’s been a real kick in the head. I don’t know how many of you own your own vehicle, or have a family vehicle. But I think it’s safe to say that we all have a certain way we get around, and when that way is disrupted, you feel so helpless.

At first, I relied on the local Para Transit, which was a nightmare in itself. They were never on time, and quite frankly some of the drivers were rude and obnoxious. I wrote a post about being late for work. That driver didn’t care, and I think that if you’re driving people to say, work or doctor appointments, you’d better care, because it’s YOUR responsibility to get these people to where they’re going on time.

Then a local “School Students” van service took over. They’re great, always on time, even if the driver doesn’t say much. Problem is that they’re more expensive than the Para Transit, but we’re looking to see if we can get help with paying for them.

Being without a van is almost like losing your wheels you sit on. Without a way to get around to places, my social life (what little I have) went kaput. But not anymore! My wheels are back and the first thing I’m doing tomorrow is taking a long, long ride and celebrating the return of my freedom and independence!

Someone should make a movie about disabled people. Not a documentary or anything like that, but an actual movie that centers around a group of people who happen to have a disability.

It won’t focus on disability though. It’ll be a movie like, say, The Matrix, but with a wheelchair user in the main role. Or a horror movie where the main female uses prosthetics to get around. I dunno, it might be a good idea.

I can remember two movies off the top of my head that have wheelchair users in them. The first is the movie “First Kid” with Sinbad. It’s about the president’s son and the trials he goes through being the president’s son, and a teenager. It’s a cute movie.

Anyway at one point, Sinbad’s character, Agent Simms, goes to a techie to get a monitoring device for the president’s son. The techie is in a wheelchair, showing people that dispite his disability he can do high tech stuff better than the president’s men can.

The other movie I saw with a disabled person in it was “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector” and it was the single most insulting character I’ve ever seen. The character was sour and depressed because he couldn’t walk, and Larry only made it worse with his bumbling. I wound up leaving the movie about a half hour into it because it was so insulting to me, as a person in a wheelchair.

Movies like that set the disabled community back because of their cliched stereotypes. Not all of us are sour because of the hand life dealt us. Most of us, in fact, overcome major obsticals to live our lives the same as if we were able bodied. We’re not “strong” or “brave” we’re just living.

But back to my main point. It would be nice to see a movie about a bunch of people with disabilities, without centering on their disabilities. I know I’d pay $7.50 to watch it!

Because I have nothing else to write about, today I will give you all an insight as to how my week goes from Monday to Friday.

Monday- Wake up at 8am, get ready for work. Since I STILL have no van, my ride comes for me at 9. I’m in my manual chair since I have class after work. I get to work about 9:20, punch in, and say hi to all you happy people. Work until 11:30, when my ride comes to take me to school.

Get to school at about 12:15, scurry to my 12:20 class which is Intro to Business. That class ends at 1:15, after which I have lunch and take a long break. Then from 3:30 to 4:55 I sit in my Computers and Multimedia class learning most of which I already know. Then after that I go home and do homework for my online English class.

Tuesday- An easy day. Up at 8, to work by 9:20, and work steadily until 2. Then go home and do more English work.

Wednesday- Same as Monday, except add another class at 5:30, my Intro to Public Relations class. Since I don’t have my van, I’m in my manual chair again. My ride drops me off, and I spend time on campus with my fiancé, who takes me home after everything is done with. Wednesdays are my long days. I usually get home at about 9pm and just go right to bed.

Thursday- Same as Tuesday, no class just work until two.

Friday- Work till 11:30, get to school about 12:15, scurry to my 12:20 class then go home after it’s over. Until I have my van back, then I’ll be spending time on campus with my fiancé and his friends.

That’s how my week goes. My weekends are usually relaxing, but not always!

I found out that my cousin Erika is having a little boy today. I was sitting here at work and my cell phone went off, and I looked at it. I didn’t recognize the number, so when I answered it I wasn’t sure what to expect. Turns out it was my 21 year old cousin, Erika. She told me and I was very excited. They’ll be naming the baby after Frankie, her boyfriend/fiancée. (They’re not officially engaged yet but it’s coming.)

I have a long day at school tonight. Yes, tonight. I have my intro to business class at 12:20, then a three hour break. Well, two hours. My next class is at 3:30, and it’s my multimedia/internet class. Then I have a half hour break until my intro to public relations class.

I’m in my manual chair today so that I can get in and out of Donnie’s car. I love my manual chair, but I soooo much prefer my powerchair. I dislike having to depend on someone to push me while I’m in my manual, cause my arms are a bit too weak to push myself. At least in my power chair I can run anyone over if they get in my way.

I’ve done it before too. Run people over that is. I did it once in highschool, and the other kid got in trouble instead of me. He saw me coming and stepped right into my path, and the teacher on duty told him that. It was kinda funny.

That’s all folks!

Lots on my mind again today. I finally decided to go ahead and do my essay on teen suicide, as I feel that’s a major health issue in today’s teens. A classmate of mine commited suicide last year, and to this day I don’t think anyone knows why.

But onto happier things, please I don’t want to be depressed today. It’s almost lunch time here at Pride, and I have a Lunchables in my bag all ready to be eaten.

I may be in the running for a new laptop. Mine has crapped out on me and it seems that no one I know can fix it. I keep getting an MBR error. According to my buddy Ben, that’s a master boot record error, and it’s fixed by the restore disks that came with the computer. Unfortunately, no restore disks came with the computer.

So I’ve been looking at laptops online and whoa are they expeisive! I mean, I guess I could upgrade a new one that’s not so good for less, but still man, it’s nuts at how much they are. My biggest thing is that I’m going to lose all my stories and pictures if I have to wipe the hard drive on my current laptop. That would stick so hardcore because, well, they’re my stories!

The good thing is that I’ve got all my anime and tv shows backed up on my external hard drives, which aren’t affected by the MBR error.

I should get a desktop, but then I couldn’t take it to school, which is the major reason I have a laptop. I miss my laptop so much, I’d rather be without internet than be without a computer all together!