September 17, 2006

Judy Roitman sent us an email about the architect and designer Michael Graves, who became paralyzed after a spinal cord infection. One of his current projects is designing home health care products, see http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourlife/living_by_design.html

Judy commented to us, I am sure due to yesterday’s blog/email, that maybe he could design a better transfer board. Gary replied to Judy’s email by saying, “Yeah, I need one that doesn't stick to a damp ass!”

We’ll see what Mr. Graves can do – Judy sent him an email about transfer boards being perhaps something he could re-design. I don’t think she mentioned to him Gary’s problematic anatomical area, though ;-)

This afternoon a group (set?) of math volunteers converged on our house. Integral to the operation was Janet Rogers, who tested our limits. Much topological discussion ensued, mainly about how to get the !@#$% (yes, that’s a mathematical term) mattresses down the narrow stairway and out the back door, as well as a bookcase from the small bedroom to the study. I am afraid that no one was able to solve the latter problem in three-space. Trying to shrink the bookcase to a point or bend it in such a way as to preserve volume proved unsuccessful. But thanks to Jack Rogers, Wlodek Kuperberg, Andras Bezdek, T.Y. Tam, Phil Zenor, and Michel Smith for trying. (Others sent their regrets that they were unable to attend the function.)

The group divided the tasks into more manageable units. A truckload of garbage and recyclables was taken down to the curb. Mattresses and sofas and various other things were put in the garage for future distribution to graduate students – or to the Thrift Store or Goodwill, if the students don’t want them. A portable wardrobe and some shelving were moved into the garage as well. A nice desk I had upstairs was moved downstairs to replace the table I’ve been using to set the desktop and my laptop on. (Yes, I’ve run out of math plays on words – feel free to send in any, and I’ll rewrite this blog entry ;-))

When a few of us were in the living room, Michel asked me if I’d ever found my swimming medals (I had had them in the portable wardrobe). I said no. Michel pointed to a lidded, ceramic, decorative pot on a shelf on the cabinetry we have in the family room and said they were in there. This cracked me up – I told him I would have NEVER found them. (Not that I would have been distraught over that, only that occasionally in the past Gary would say something, and I would say, “Ya wanna medal or something?” He’d say “Yeah,” and I’d go get him a medal – a standing joke we had.)

Gary once again got his own meal tonight, using the oven for the first time (on a frozen organic tortellini meal – yes, I’ve relaxed my standards to letting him regularly have canned or frozen natural foods). I was a little dismayed to find him adjusting the temperature of the oven by pushing the button with a long knife – him holding the blade end in his hand and using the handle end to push the button! He said it was a dull knife and he was wearing gloves, but I told him to use his reacher next time.

Tonight he was more tired than he has been lately. He said when we first came home, he was really tired every night, but now he has nights when he feels pretty good. So in general, he has more endurance.