MUSIC, REFLECT, SURF and READ

I'll start this new post with some music by Miles Davis; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3W_alUuFkA

Listen more closely. That's my life lesson from last week when I was pondering my ways. Communicate better. Always make agreements clearly. Pay attention.

Last week, I surfed across this gutsy disability advocacy group, http://bolshydivas.weebly.com/. Interesting stuff from Aussie land.

Got into an interesting conversation with a friend after the shooting in San Bernandino about guns. I'm not ready to carry a gun yet. Are you? Her perspective was how grateful you'd be if you were somewhere and there was a shooter and someone in your group had a gun and could defend you. That's true, but I'm not used to thinking about people around me carrying. I grew up through the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights non-violent movement and had grown into a 58 year old pacifist. I like to read Christopher Hitchens and watch his debates on youtube. In one, he talked about a the compromise of a well-trained militia in exchange for the military-industrial complex and went a little more in depth about the Second Amendment. That sounds like the track I'll continue in. I'll probably be educating myself more on firearms, just because it sounds more and more like I may need it.

This women's disability group is in England, and inspired by Frida Kahlo, hence the name;

http://www.sisofrida.org They're focused on the Arts and were having

a Film Festival with 2 movies: “Margarita with a Straw” and “Chocolate”, from Thailand. If I find these movies on Netflix or the library or anywhere free, I'll try my hand at reviewing them.

Gregor Wolbring is an interesting guy with a disability in this video by “Rooted in Rights” https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLaYgKAZMUNMx-XDaXffB0PE6OJBq_MBCr&v=uc5P3URLiiA This is their Arts Selections series.

I'll leave with suggested reading: James Baldwin's “The Fire Next Time”, what I'm reading currently. He wrote so honestly about his life, always pushing back against white superiority and homophobia on the cutting edge, without bitterness and with a whole lotta love.

I gave myself the present of a camera. Next time, pics~

Please leave a comment/writing criticism, etc., so I can figure out if that part of this blog is working. Thanks! And here's hopes you'll have a relaxing, loving Winter break!

It's Always, Always About Educating Yourself

http://feministsonar.com/2015/11/accessibility-and-gatekeeping/

Pamela from Absolute Total ( my health insurance, Medicaid) came to do a home visit. They say they're just wanting to make sure I'm getting the care I need. She was very nice, did a med history and quick vitals thing. Asked a little about home. Very nice. Did her job well. She was personable.

There was a death in my extended family. Granted, it was someone I didn't really know. I don't remember ever talking to him, I may have. I hung out more with his sisters, my cousins. But, we were still blood. Same grandparents. I loved my aunt, his mom. In fact, I live in the house where she last lived. Robert, here's to your life and the way your death made me think more about how life is precious and I don't want to let go of it, but I will have to one day.

I was on the phone and e-mailing again this week for self-advocacy and accessibility in my town, Summerville, SC. Known for it's pine trees and azalea's and its fantasy of keeping this a small town, it's really not. It's a little backward when it comes to thinking about the disability community and access to its Town Square. The 21^st century really has come and a lot of things are changing. I really want to see the things I've asked for to be done. One was an accessible door at our local DSS building and the other was to have the curb cut in front of a restaurant on the square, Single Smile Cafe redone. I've tried the curb cut with my rollerator and there's a crack that can catch rollerator wheels and throw someone off balance or cause a fall. Going down the ramp, it slants to the right that causes a W/C (I use one at times), to roll down towards a rain grate and then it's hard to push out of, leaving the person in the flow of traffic. 

I've had some progression in muscle loss the last few weeks also. My right thigh is weakening. That was my principle weight bearing leg on walking down my ramp. I've used my power chair a lot more this weekend. I spent as much time outdoors as I could. Our weather over Thanksgiving weekend was like a dream. Sunny, warm during the day with the last of our fall color. Leaves falling continuously. Spent a day raking a walk for my chair to my compost pile. I plan on letting leaves build up to make beds of composting leaves, with just walkways raked. Think it'll also help with the coming rain and run-off. We have mostly sand in the yard.

On checking my e-mail from the Voc-Rehab resume builder, I now have a beautiful looking resume. My job placement specialist thinks I need to have more experience and suggested volunteering. I'm already volunteering my time and energy on local advocacy and commenting on blogs and articles about Disability issues. I'm going to ask my local independent living counselor for help with this blog. I need a little technical help with the layout. Or maybe I should just start a Facebook blogging page?

The following was a comment I tried to send to Rand Paul's Facebook page, but it wouldn't let me post at the time:

Was here trying to find your interview w/ NPR and what you said about ADA. Sounds like you haven't read up on the history of ADA.

The community of people with disabilities is NOT going to go back on the hard won access acquired so far. Every person with a disability has to work at getting access of some kind almost every day of their life. Something that people without disabilities don't even have to think about. Maybe you should try going about your daily business in a wheelchair. How about taking it on a flight with United? It's not the fed who made ADA, but the people, doing it the way they had a right to.

http://dredf.org/news/publications/the-history-of-the-ada/ This is an article on the history of ADA.

https://vimeo.com/channels/504sitin This is a cool video of the early Disability Community protest work.

Anyway, hope this helps someone to see the process of going ahead with your dreams, however agonizingly slow they may be.