Indignant

Today, after work, I was filling up my scooter tires by my car. I was talking with one of the guests (for some of you, clients). A man walked up to us, looked at me, then said to him, "Can I pray for healing for her sickness?" The guest was flabergasted. I retorted pretty strongly, "I am NOT sick". He stood there, looking at me. Then spoke to him again, "Can I pray for healing for her sickness?" I again retorted "I am NOT sick!" I stared the man down and he left without a word. Based on the conversation I had with the guest after, I'm guessing the other man was staring him down too, with anger in his eyes. Maybe that's why he walked away and not because of my staring him down. Because apparently, I wasn't enough of a person for him to speak to me directly.

The guest then shared with me about his brother who uses a wheelchair and requires a lot of assistance. He emphasized how smart his brother was - he has two degrees including a masters. He said he didn't know what to say but that he was SO mad at the guy. He talked about the frustration he experiences when he goes out with his brother and store clerks, cashiers, or people in restaurants talk to him instead of the brother. How people don't even see his brother as a person. I told him the same thing happens to me whenever I am with someone else. Maybe we'll have another conversation sometime where he can learn some ways to handle situations like this when he is with his brother ... not so sure I was the best role model. He definitely respects his brother a lot.

Back to the man, the stranger. The self righteous 'christian'. The man who couldn't even speak directly to me. Who, essentially, spoke right over me, ignoring me other than staring. I have no idea why he was at work. I could well have been a friend filling up the tires on the scooter for someone else. Or, hey, an OT preparing some equipment for someone. I was sitting, so he didn't see me walking. Why would he even assume I have a disability? And, what would make him assume I am sick? Apparently, a disability means I have a "sickness"! Seriously!!! I hope nobody reading this equates having a disability with "sickness". Maybe the good thing is he wouldn't have thought I was staff. At least he couldn't go in and tell a staff member that a staff put him in his place. Although, to be honest, I doubt it phased him. And he'll continue to do the same the next time he sees someone with a disability.

Peanut Butter Cookies

You know that recipe on the back (or side, or on the other side than the product name) of Kraft Peanut Butter? The recipe that has 3 ingredients - peanut butter, sugar, and an egg? Yeah, don't try that one. It doesn't work.




Honestly, impossible to have round cookies with this recipe. You can't even roll the dough into balls, as the instructions state. Never mind doing the forked pattern that indicates the cookies are peanut butter cookies. And, what is that anyway? That we know it's a peanut butter cookie because of the forked pattern? And these cookies are way too sweet and don't even bake properly. They were in the oven for way longer than the recommended time and were still basically unbaked peanut butter in the center. Oh, and this recipe - 1 c PB, 1/2 c sugar, and 1 egg are supposed to make 24 cookies? How is that possible??? Seriously, how can that same recipe be on the jars for so many years! Aren't recipes on packages supposed to be tried and true?

What a messed up healthcare system!

Let me vent for a few moments ....

Today, I spent about 6.5 hours in the Emergency Room with one of my clients for the purpose of getting her admitted. But, no, would they admit her? Basically, it came down to ... is it life or death. Since it wasn't death yet, no admittance. It doesn't matter that she wasn't eating for the past while, that she wasn't taking her meds, that she's depressed, that she hasn't been taking her meds, that she needs stabilization. No ... instead, I was made to look a fool for even bringing her in. Oh, sure, the concerns were noted. But that's it. Oh, yeah, and at one point, we were told it would be about an hour. After that hour, I went to check ... apparently, the wait time was now increased to 12 hours. Yes, you read correctly ... 12 hours! I ended up pretty much pleading to somehow get us in quicker. I think it helped some. At least to see the doctor.

I guess it doesn't help that there weren't any beds in the entire hospital. Or that there was a red alert for ambulances .... none available. Or that there were piles of EMT's in the ER waiting for their patients to be admitted. Seriously, I've never seen so many EMT's in my life in one place. It's a pretty sad use of resources if all the EMT's have to wait around in the hospitals. What a system, is all I can say! There must be a better way. Even, hospitals getting staff to be with the patients who aren't admitted yet.