More Snippets

[cjsmith]

1. Yesterday I went flying. We went to Napa, did a couple of crosswind landings, and came home. The whole airspace and working-the-ATC-system thing challenged me, since it's been years since I've done a Bravo transition. In fact, don't quote me, but it may have been my first one ever as pilot. I sure could use some crosswind landing practice too. Scary.

When we were northbound I heard NorCal mentioning "numerous targets" (meaning "there are other aircraft around, so look sharp and don't hit them") near "the accident site". I didn't know yet what that was. I thought of an aircraft accident. Um, no, it's something else.

2. I have created a wonderful little rule for myself. We have a seemingly-endless supply of these mints in the office. They're nothing more than poisonous little sugar blobs, and I know I shouldn't be mindlessly putting sugar blobs in my mouth, yet they're addictive. My new rule: every one of these "costs" five pushups. Now I can't shovel them in my mouth nearly so quickly! Now there's an upper limit to the number I'm eating in a day! I'm even getting some upper body use, too.

3. The average visitor to Rome walks six miles a day. (I got that from a web site written by a wheelchair user. I don't know where she got it, but from my random international travels to large cities I find it very believable.) Before we leave I am going to try to buy a wheelchair. It will be the a) lightest-weight b) collapsible one I can find that c) allows self-mobility (no transport chairs), d) allows pushing, and e) has big tires (or I'll bend the frame on cobblestone streets). No, we do not have trunk space for a scooter. At one point in the trip we'll have five people in one car. Too bad; a scooter is totally the right answer.

Comments

[inflectionpoint.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! I like that rule, in number two.

I like that rule a LOT.

I may try to find something that I can work toward with Sun Salutations, hmmm.... one hundred Sun Salutations equals... getting a massage? or getting to go to a yoga class? (I love going to class, but it is a cost of time and money, so "earning" classes strikes me as something fun.)

If you want more of the ab work and the stuff that can be done seated or lying on the floor, just holler. I'm noticing that I can break a sweat without ever standing up, and I'm also noticing that my abs are becoming... visible, defined, and capable of doing nice things like making my back ache less, which makes my shoulders happier, which makes my neck happier, which makes my jaw happier, and I'd just about do
-anything- to make my jaw less unhappy.

Have fun in Rome!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, that rule could be expanded and modified to fit so many different things! Maybe five hundred pushups equals getting a massage, or fifty crunches is a soak in the hot tub, or a hundred leg lifts buys me an hour with a trash novel.

Any yoga-ish stuff that can be done without feet, Yes Please! Bring it on! Yoga seems like a great form of exercise, and if I can do it by myself I'm all for it. I can stand up, but I can't put pressure on the ball of the foot, so Tree is okay for a limited time but Downward Dog is right out.

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

"the accident site"

That made the national news -- I've been hearing about it on the radio all day. That video you linked to was amazing. =shudder= Thank goodness it happened at 3:00 in the morning so nobody else was hurt. Imagine the carnage if it had been rush hour!

every one of these "costs" five pushups

What a great idea! I can't do pushups -- hell, I can't even do half a pushup starting from the top! -- but maybe I can come up with something along the same lines for myself. Thing is, you need the discipline to really do it, and in my case, Wimps R Us.

The average visitor to Rome walks six miles a day

See icon.

Too bad; a scooter is totally the right answer.

What about a really minimalist lightweight one that comes apart, like this one (http://www.planetmobility.com/store/scooters/shoprider/scootie-jr/index.html)? That doesn't look like it would take up a whole lot more room than a folded wheelchair.

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

No, we do not have trunk space for a scooter.

We got my mom a thing that looked like a trailer hitch with a square opening. Something like this (http://mobilityflorida.com/Lifts-&-Carriers-ATV-SOLUTIONS-TILT-A--RACK-350ARV-4-251-1204.htm) only cheaper and removable when you don't need it. You might even be able to rent something like it.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Imagine the carnage if it had been rush hour!

Well, in rush hour in the Maze he'd have been nearly stopped. :-) But, say, 10pm? Yeah. I'm really glad the injuries were so few overall.

See icon.

I'd like to hear more authoritative information if you have it.

That doesn't look like it would take up a whole lot more room than a folded wheelchair.

Not much more room, true -- but we've discovered that even a folded wheelchair is probably too much. FIVE people PLUS luggage in ONE CAR. One EUROPEAN car. I *might* be able to get a transport chair or a walker. Too bad I didn't think of this little requirement before the trip was planned, because then we never would have agreed to the five people in one car bit.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm, now there's a thought. I wonder how one finds such a thing for rent in Italy, from here.

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

Getting a wheelchair is a fabulous idea. I hope you can find a truly excellent one, with all the features you need, plus a drink holder. :) (Hey, touristing is thirsty work!)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Sadly, it seems that any wheelchair small enough is a special-order weeks-in-advance expensive deal. We could get one for $375 that... is no smaller when folded, is not much lighter, is wider when inhabited, and has no better tires than the one I already have. Sigh.

But maybe I can get a walker with a seat, or a transport chair (a wheelchair without the big wheels, so the occupant can't move by herself). In that case, well, my hands make great drink holders. :-)