After yesterday I felt better about things in general. I didn't achieve anything monumental, but things seem to be coming together.

One of my first things to do was a little plumbing. Faucet washers. Often after we are gone for extended periods this is the case. I had picked up a package of washers and located some of my tools. I alerted Krl that I was going to turn off the water for a brief time. Just after I extracted the first valve from the housing I could hear my cell phone. I made a mad dash through the house trying to get to it before the caller hung up. I picked up just in time to hear the caller hang up. Using caller ID I called them back. Long story short I talked on the phone longer than my repair project should have taken. I finished up the repair and turned the water back on. I tightened the stem packings and may have over done Krl's tub because she had a problem with it later. I will have to see.

Krl found the elusive prescription for the handicapped parking permit and I took it with me when I left the house. I was a little surprised when I got to the tax assessor collectors. I went ahead and took proof of insurance with me because it seems like they can't do anything without it. I handed over the Rx from the doctor and the lady began asking questions.

Is this for you? You don't look handicapped.

No. This is for my wife.

What is her problem?

She is going to be in a cast for three more months.

So it is a mobility issue?

Yes, I would say so.

What is her driver's license number?

Huh?

I don't know Krl's license number. It is all I can do to remember my pertinent numbers! Finally the lady skipped to the bottom of the form, made an X and told me to sign there and asked if I wanted one or two placards.

Give me two!

That'll be ten dollars!

I guess they charge extra for disabilities. That just doesn't seem right.

On the way home I went to Circuit City. I have been mulling over the Black Sheep stereo saga once again. I had been told that Circuit City had more inventory and better educated personnel that could help me out. Can't prove it by me! A young man was quick to meet me, I told him what I was doing and he told me to bring the truck in and they would tell me what I need. Now that would be a train wreck. How can they tell me what I need if I don't know what I want? When I told him I wanted to look at speaker boxes he told me they were in the warehouse. He said if I would tell him what speakers I wanted he could tell me what box I needed. Call me crazy, but the way I look at it if I know what size speaker box I can use then I can find a speaker that fits it. He even went so far as to tell me they could put some really large speakers under the back seat. I told him they would have to be really good because this truck didn't have a backseat. In our initial exchange I had told him what I was working on and space was an issue. I think listening is a lost art.

I think I'm going back to Wal Mart. At least they just show you what they got and aren't pressuring you into something you don't want.

It sure makes a Walkman look good.

I think my patient may have turned the corner yesterday. I'm not sure, but I do know one of us did. Actually when I walked by the couch earlier this morning she was sleeping on her side, and that is a good sign. I've been trying to be helpful but not make her feel like she is helpless. I also think it has to be refreshing for her to have the parking permit, even though she probably doesn't want to go anywhere. She can. I think I may look around on the internet and see if I can find a simulator for driving those electric carts around in the store. Training is essential!

I am going to issue a cast(er) call. I need to re-cast my office chair. As some of you are aware this chair is about forty or fifty years old. It had to be a Cadillac when it was new because the mechanisms are phenomenal. In fact, I thing they would rival some of the top of the line SteelCase chairs on the market, and they've got some good products. This chair was at one time the chair of the president of the local bank in the town I grew up in. He was a real banker, not like the modern day bankers who look at numbers and don't ever see the people. Oh, he could analyze numbers too, but he knew people and believed in ideas and innovation. He was conservative, but having grown up in the bank, advancing from teller to majority owner and President, he never lost sight of the fact that the bank was the result of it's patrons. These modern day bankers seem to forget that fact. Anyhow, this gentleman was a family friend, and when he died his son sold some of his office equipment to my Mom. One of the items was this chair. I pestered and pestered her for it and after they encountered some caster problems, she finally relented. It seems that the casters this chair needs are not available anymore so Dennis at AP&S improvised and adapted some new style casters. Problem is they won't stay tight. So later today I am going to remove all the casters and then re-install them using larger screws coated with gorilla glue. Ahrrr! I caught an old show of Tim the tool man!

My friend K.O., his wife, and another couple are leaving this morning driving to Colorado. They'll be back Monday. I must be getting old because I can't justify the miles for the return. Of course my knees don't like snow skiing either. Anyway, better them than me.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for sticking with me and for turning things around.