Placarded

[cjsmith]

My life just got better: I have a temporary disabled parking placard. No more long walks at the grocery store! (Those are always doubled to return the cart, of course.) I can park near my regular Weds 12pm appointment, despite the fact that construction has wiped out half their parking and the regular spaces I can find are a five-minute walk! Yay!

It's not a huge difference, but it's something. What I probably want next is a better way to get around inside my office building.

Comments

[magicwoman.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!!

Susan

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[abenn.livejournal.com]

Yay for placard!

We have to finalize arrangements for you to see Amma on June 11th. So far, it still looks like she'll be doing a Devi Bhava ritual, which means that things start earlier and go much, much later. Are you okay about maybe staying up all night? You probably won't have to because you're new and have the kewl placard, but you may not get your hug until 2 am.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm... not thrilled about staying up all night, it'd be difficult for me, but it might be worth it. I'm vacillating. How awkward is it that I'm still undecided?

[abenn.livejournal.com]

It's not awkward for me, I'll be there anyway. It just might make it more difficult to get together with you ahead of time that evening to show you haw to get there and show you around. But as long as I can communicate with you earlier that day it should be fine.

[aelfie.livejournal.com]

Don't the red cards rock! Enjoy it! My problem lately is that everywhere I go the handicapped parking is full with the rest of the parking lot. Doesn't do us any good to have a red card and not be able to use it. Grrr

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's not fun I imagine. I'm pretty sure I'll have a spot on Wednesdays, which is the biggie for me so far. Heh, wonder if I should take bids for trips to Fry's. :-)

[aelfie.livejournal.com]

That concept makes Joe giggle. Although he hasn't done that to me yet! =)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's more humorous than practical.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Places like San Francisco are worst. We (I use blue, but it's the same for red) can use green spaces and residential zones and parking meters with impunity, so they assume we'll find one of those. I've been unable to find a place to park within five blocks of my destination in SF. Berkeley's a little better, I've not had to park farther away than two blocks.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Yay for better access! :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :-) Currently accepting bids for me to come along on trips to crowded electronics stores. ;-)

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh. Given what the aisles are like in our new Fry's, and how much I hate crowds, that sounds like a lucrative (and tempting) offer. :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

If you're going to shop for long, though, you get to push the wheelchair. :-)

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

I can deal with that, although I don't like to take too long in places like that. :-)

[rampling.livejournal.com]

Oooh - good news!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

So far it's my coworkers who are really liking this. :)

[rampling.livejournal.com]

<little girl voice> Oooh, can I be your friennnnnd? (hee hee hee!)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

*chuckle*!

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

Yay! I <3 my handicrap parking permit!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I've already used it today. Twice. I think I am my coworkers' new best friend.

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

yay!!! good for you for getting it AND using it. *does the happy butt-wiggle dance*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It feels very weird to use it and get out of the car and *walk*. Limping, yeah, but... I have to keep reminding myself that most people do not put up with pain well and it is okay for me to limit my walking.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Sometimes if people are watching, I do make myself look a little gimpier than usual, just because a friend of mine with RA, who walked okay for awhile but then had great pain, so had to be close so she could get back to her car, got her car keyed by someone who yelled, "Those are for disabled people!" at her from behind. I figure if I look gimpy, it'll be okay.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

That's truly awful. I wish people wouldn't jump to conclusions -- or at least wouldn't commit vandalism on the basis of a snap judgment -- but I guess some people just suck.

You use a cane sometimes, right? Hopefully that "looks gimpy" enough. :-/

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I used to use a cane. My wrists got so bad early last year that I had to stop (that's where the scooter became a necessity, and wonderful) and since then, I've lost the cane. I need to get a new one for my in-between days.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I had wondered how bad a cane would be on your hands and wrists. *My* right hand is wonky enough that I'm a little leery of trying a cane (combing my hair requires caution) so I can only imagine that yours wouldn't be too happy about it all the time.