Cow Appreciation Day!

Monday night I had it all planned out-- I would get up Tuesday morning at my normal 4:45 alarm and catch the first bus going north to Chic-fil-a so I didn't have to wait in a long line for the free chicken. I was sad that I was up all night fighting figments of my imagination and didn't wake up until 6 but luckily I showed the previous night so I could take off right after I scurried through the pertinent parts of the morning routine. When I finally made it to Chick-fil-a there was no line and I was served rapidly. When I received  my free entree I figured I would eat fast so it wouldn't be a problem that my hot rod protruded in the aisle- - I didn't want to rearrange Chick-fil-A’s dining room. I started chatting to a man who mentioned something about being in the military and I asked what his MOS was. He said you must be married to are related to someone in the military. I must have been unconsciously signing as I was talking because he said that it reminded him of his friend Fuji. I said sometimes my dad goes by Fuji. It was determined that we were referring to the same Fuji-- he knows my dad! He actually recalled knowing me when I was younger.

      Soon after Larry left I began talking to Jeff Hinson. I learned that he runs a nonprofit called Unite the Bride. Surprisingly this time pass romanization is somehow in connection with United Way Ivan where my mom works :-).

          Not only was I blessed by Mr. Larry and his wife helping me situate my seating at Chick-fil-A but later the crazy red bearded man was getting me a refill and put more money than I've ever put on a card on my Chick-fil-A card! I was really excited and after what we talked for awhile he left so I decided to go to another Chick-fil-A to get supper. I rode the bus to the other side of town and went to Starbucks where I had a meeting. Before my meeting I was sitting outside talking to a few regulars who I see often. I was blessed again with a Starbucks gift card. Minutes later had an absolutely amazing meeting and I pray that God  used my ears to hear the wonderful information this lady shared and used my mouth to declare His greatness. After the meeting, it was nearing mid-afternoon and I was sure I could hurry to the Garden of the Gods Chick-fil-A and get a free entree at the another Chick-fil-A. This was all in good conscience because I had called Chick-fil-A on the way to the first Chick-fil-A and asked if it was okay if I went to  different Chick-fil-A to get  different meals. They said it was absolutely fine if I wanted to travel to different locations.

Prior to going to the other Chick-fil-A I stopped by Starbucks. Shortly after arriving

a beautiful lady with lovely blonde locks came walking into Starbucks and said “Hi Kimi” and I was like who are you and she said Reid! Reid Biren,” I was like “oh my goodness!” Reid is my cousin! Not only do I never see her in the Springs, I totally forgot she lives in the Springs and is going to UCCS! She is getting  a Nursing degree with a minor in Psychology--I was so excited it's incredible :-) I wanted to do a dance but I will refrain.

          After visiting with Reid for little while and letting the rain pass, I took off to the other Chick-fil-A and got free lunch that hasn't even been eaten yet. I was feeling very successful as I made it to 2 Chick-fil-A locations and back home in time to have date night with Jason :-)! Praise God! Maybe next time I will try to make it to several locations.

Let's Hear it for the Golden Wave! Brain injury story #9652

Let's Hear it for the Golden Wave! Brain injury story #9652

Over the weekend I was on a mission to find accessories for my costume as well as sun dresses. Looking through dresses, I found this dress that reminded me of middle school. During my middle school years not only can I remember my mom wearing different colors of this particular style of dress, but I also remember that someone else wore one however, I could not remember exactly who it was.

With Colorado weather being very indecisive I didn't wear  all of the clothes that I picked out for last week and still had partial outfits hanging on my dresser. Even though the forecast said the temperature would be scorching, at Starbucks I sit right where the air blows and it's pretty cold at times. It was not a complete outfit still hanging on my dresser, it was a three-quarter length navy blue skirt and this morning a deep yellow colored shirt jumped out at me after having a dream about my middle school math teacher in Tupelo, Mississippi, Mrs. Susan Bounds.

... I arrived at Starbucks to write this story when I realized that I was sitting next to a paraprofessional and a former teacher. The teacher was a former chemistry teacher, Ray Coddington and the other educator is a paraprofessional in District 49, Robyn Tyboroski. Wait, there's more…

When I was younger I would look through singles magazine looking for somebody to “hook” my mom up with. We would be standing in the grocery store checkout line and I would say there's one mom… like I was reading off the details of an appliance or a house, I would read off a man's detailed characteristics… his height, age, and other disclosed information. I tell you this because It just so happens that Mr. Coddington was Ms. Tyboroski’s chemistry teacher when she was younger. Now however he is hurt stepfather! Talk about playing Matchmaker :-).

 

….Back to the story of my warm clothing because Starbucks is cold. Although I wasn't wearing  the dress I purchased the other day that reminded me of  middle school, I happened to be wearing a blue and gold outfit... the school colors for Tupelo Middle School! As I was reminiscing about Middle School years and Mrs. Bounds, I remembered that Mrs. Bounds and my mom used to wear the type of dress I had purchased!

Subconsciously  I picked out a gold shirt to go with my blue skirt and was wearing my middle school colors - Gold and blue. Although I already said today was a Wonderful Wacky Wednesday, I hereby change it and say it's a Golden Wave Wednesday: I suppose it could be a Wonderful Wacky Golden Wave Wednesday (just don’t expect that much alliteration to continue)!!  Even though my middle school years were 20 years ago, at times my brain injury enables me to recall memories from 20+ years ago better than events from last week or even yesterday!

Swoll?

I was able to deliver Starbucks to Kirsty and she gave me a tip that was more than the price of the coffee itself! I could really handle this job. I was going to stop by the firehouse (10s) and see if they wanted anything but I forgot to. And I'm not even sure what shift is today :-( I might have to depart when it gets a little warmer outside.

Not even 10 minute after I got back to Starbucks I decided to go to the firehouse. And it was a complete heart break as I did not know anyone at the firehouse and was looked at like I was crazy. They said that they were all new and I couldn't think of anyone's name but Jayme McConnellogue, but I suppose if I bring treats and visit more often I'll get to know them sometime.

I got to Starbucks and there were 2 lovely women sitting in the comfy chairs, Liz and Marsha. one lady works at Rampart High School and  the other educated me about Lyme's disease. They were only in there for a few minutes and they we're discussing  a Bible study before they could not resist the beautiful weather outside.

I also ran into Mr. Rich, the  helicopter pilot,  Ms. Sherry who always checks on my diet to make sure I'm staying healthy :-), Mr. Bob who always teaches me information and gifts me updates on local exciting events. And of course I cannot forget seeing of my favorite barista’s! While at Starbucks I managed to write this- - - a crazy, but true, story--

Swoll?

A long long time ago, I can still remember when I used to think that milk was oh so gross. After my brain injury, when life changed, I decided that I moved milk. Milk was next best thing to sliced bread. However all of this relation came to a sudden halt when I learned during a prayer meeting that I'm lactose intolerant. Let me tell you that this mirror food intolerance did not change the fact that I love milk. Now that I have discovered lactose-free milk, I just buy it. I get Lactaid hoping that this will cure the issue.

A few days ago I went to Safeway and grabbed a quart of Lactaid milk. I woke up yesterday morning and decided because I was going to my mom's house for a Fourth of July picnic and there's always enormous amounts of wonderful food, that I would eat a small breakfast. Knowing that cereal never fills me up I decided to eat cereal. This would be a double positive because I was just told by my doctor that I needed to eat cereal. I poured this ginormous bowl of Cheerios and then grabbed the milk out of my refrigerator. Although the half gallon box felt a little swollen or is my nephew would say swoll, I decided it was okay when I looked at the date and it said July 18th.  I poured the milk into my huge bowl of Cheerios and I took one great big bite. It tasted like sour pickles-- not sour like they're supposed to be but bad bad bad. I immediately looked at the date printed on top of the milk was JUL 18 17. In utter confusion I was like are you sure it is only the first day of July? Since I am known to be very wrong about the day of the week much less the day of the month, I looked on my cell phone and it was July 2nd. To make sure that date was correct I looked on my computer and it was 7/2/2017. It was still July and it was not yet the 18th. Very quickly I called Safeway and told them of my major mishap. I asked them if I could get new milk if I brought my milk in even though I had no clue where the receipt had gone. I was told it would be no problem so I threw the swollen carton of milk in a bag on my wheelchair and raced to Safeway- to show them the milk and get a replacement. I almost wanted to ask Safeway- if I could get Cheerios as well because I used almost the last little bit of Cheerios on that bowl with bad milk, but I didn't :-) go Kimi! Hold your applause Jason, hold your applause :-) I arrived home, ate cereal with some fresh milk, and was soon visited by Jason.

Just in Time!

Just in Time!

I tossed and turned all night in tears thinking that Jason was terribly mad when I told him to send me a picture of the receipt from Barnes & Noble. I could perfectly remember reading the periodic table of elements book at my dining room table. It is just dawning on me now that what I was remembering might have been a dream because I never had the book to begin with :-).

         I was so nervous this morning and I had mentally prepared myself not to get the wonderful morning greeting that I receive from Jason most mornings. I was thinking that he was going to be rushing for work because he had to go out his vehicle last night. However I did preface my asking with “the next time you go out to your vehicle will you please text me a picture of the receipt from Barnes & Noble.” I am in tears just thinking about what I thought was going to happen because it has before although probably not with Jason

           Needless to say I still got a wonderful message this morning and he did not say a thing about me requesting proof :-). I don't know if it was purposely or if it just happened, but I've been telling him that because I'm not at work I don't realize what day of the week it is so his message this morning reminded me that it was Tuesday :-). As I was on my way to my office

I ran into Mrs. Victoria. Who told me about Spruce Hill Community Church being available on the internet. I had looked for it before but was unable to find it. However hearing this re-energized me to search the Church’s website and hopefully be able to access the sermons. She also reminded me about potluck Sundays and told invited me to return some time. We also talked about Jason and I could not even put into words how amazing he is. Having this story at the front of my mind I wanted to spit it all out, however I knew time did not allow; I mean my goodness we met in the parking lot of a store :-).

         Arriving at the office when I looked up Spruce Hill Community Church and found how I can listen to the sermons. Looking at the very first podcast available, it was a sermon about the Super 8... I have those notes! I attended at least the first sermon of that series so I can listen to that entire series! This discovery has totally made my day!

            I now realize that when I was trying to find please sermons online I was not looking to the right far enough on the screen. I was sure that they would be under a different tab and I gave up searching when I did not find them. Oh my goodness, God is exclamation point Miss would swear you have no idea how exciting this is :-)! I think now would be a good time arriving so I can listen to as many sermons as possible before it's time to leave the office.

Someone’s Trash is Someone else's Treasure!

Someone’s Trash is Someone else's Treasurer

I decided that I had to rush to Starbucks to get some water and macha to calm down before I embarked on a journey to a far away in land with Jason. As I was coming home from Starbucks I saw a woman walking up the stairs who was obviously struggling using coaches that seemed oversized.

Remembering that recently I found a perfectly good walker outside my apartment that someone was throwing away, I decided to keep it and prayed that God would put somebody at my doorstep that might need it. When I prayed that I didn't think that God would literally put someone on my doorstep but you know God works in mysterious ways. I invited the injured lady to stop by my apartment so I could give her the walker. As the lady, Chelsea, was wobbling into my apartment, she saw my recumbent trike. She became very excited and explained that she volunteers for a man who sells those kind of bikes. What!?! There is no way that she would know Kelvin, Al, or Allen. But sure enough as I was shaking with excitement trying to recall names of the cycling group she spit out the names of the people she knew and Allen was one of them. I was beyond excited that she knows and is volunteering with one of the men who sold me my trike- Mr. Allen!

Mrs. Juli Walker I totally thought of you while writing this because every time I would dictate the word walker it would capitalize the word. I thought of the many times I wrote in my journal about how amazing you are.

But wait..  there's more!

            I'm sure you've read Jason’s version of what occurred this weekend; while his version might be a little more accurate as this weekend was experienced through his eyes, let me tell you how I saw this weekend--

Jason came to pick me up and ended up assisting my neighbor to her apartment after recovering much needed items from her car - - making it through the night without one’s cell phone? This woman is downright amazing!    

That was only the beginning... The beginning I tell you.

The events overlapped but only by a few  minutes. So Jason arrived assisted my neighbor and then we were off - - Jason and I went to Castle Rock Adventist Hospital where we saw many people dressed in church clothes. Somewhere between Jason mentioning that Saturday is their Sabbath and me simultaneously thinking that Saturday is their Sabbath, I started thinking about Katherine and wondering if she had gone to Church that day yet or it or if she goes in the evening. We even went into the hospital and Jason showed me his office.

       His office was super exciting ( although this is a place that action figures still supersede pictures of me :-(. Hahaha I crack myself up! After touring his office, we went to Manna-- a restaurant in the hospital and it was so amazing! If Only they would deliver :-).

           After having an amazing meal we went to a pretty extensive comic book store. At this comic book store  I watched a little girl come in and ask the extremely knowledgeable salesmen about the reviews of certain comic books and neither of the salesman could give her a direct answer (perhaps they aren't as abreast on all comic books as I thought, but only the ones that are of Interest to them. Or as Jason would say,  I only read serious comic books. I had to wonder what the little girl's comic book room looked like. In the interim between the comic book store and he next stop, I needed a five-minute nap so I said “I wish there were hotels that you could pay for by the hour.” This was when I learned that those type of hotels actually exist. There are even some in Colorado Springs! I was so excited to learn this although Jason quickly removed my rose colored glasses by telling me a little more about those type of hotels. We later went Glacier Ice Cream which has amazing gelato and is pretty hidden but Jason the master navigator found it :-). While I was eating my milkshake I reminisced on the very first speech therapy I had after my injury. The therapist discussed how drinking thick liquids through a straw would help in my speech recovery.

Jason and I then found herself in Barnes & Noble. I was gifted with amazing books-- one about how do brain works and another about the periodic of elements. Again I thought of High School although this time the teacher I was thinking of was Mrs. Stowers. She had a periodic table that hung on the board to the right of the students.

             Although having memories of high school resurface doesn't really blow my mind as I've spent so many years with a brain injury thus this happening  -- having a better long term memory most of the time and my short-term- memory being almost non-existent. This will become oh so very clear by the end of this story. My memories of high school chemistry class are pretty vivid. I can still picture Mrs. Stowers standing in front of the periodic table explaining details, but for some odd reason with it being 15 years later, her voice just wouldn't come through my memories. So I did what I do at my favorite Starbucks, I observed others, although not as in-depth as I normally do and asked a man who had on some sort of name tag  I'm moving to him being some sort of an employee.

Not being at my home Starbucks I was a little worried about asking a stranger however having Jason there made me feel a whole lot better. So I turned around and asked him about the periodic a table. Is was amazing! Even though he wasn't 100% sure of and answer, he offered justification for the conclusion huge drawing. I was super excited to relearn the information offered during his justification and now I cannot wait to research further information when I am  able.

Wow! That much excitement and I haven't even begun to tell you about the experience of the play.

The play was at CU - Boulder. I have never been to Boulder (okay I did once when I was much younger to participate in the BolderBoulder)  nor have I ever been to a college campus of that size. I went to UCCS, the Colorado Springs branch of CU.  At UCCS I could ride my wheelchair around the campus from one class to another not having to travel through terrain that was too uneven or mountainous.  That was then and this is now.

             The great idea I had the other day to bring my manual wheelchair had completely slipped my mind as complete excitement had taken over every thought and bit of rational thinking I might have had. Arriving at the campus we began looking for correct building I was thinking oh no! Using a trusty navigation device, we neared what we thought was where we were supposed to be although it did not look very packed. The navigation device told us that we needed to walk a little way. We really thought it was only a little way however it was over the river and through the woods. Let me remind you that Kimi is Wobbly Woman on flat ground and now she is walking on uneven unstable terrain with only her cane and Jason's hand… bless Jason's hand as I'm sure I was putting my entire body weight on his hand through the woods. When we finally arrived at a building we basically ran into another couple with a navigating device out trying to find the Shakespeare play. Absolutely unintentionally I collapsed actually it was not collapsing I was just was standing by myself and thought the world was spinning. Parents, fear not, it wasn't that serious...or maybe it was :-). Jason spoke with the other couple (Matt and Amber) and indeed they were looking for the same thing hyphen hyphen the Shakespeare play! There was some discussion however it was across the street from me. All I know is that Matt and Amber offered to give us a ride because somehow he managed to figure out that the play was quite a distance from our current location. There were many interesting details about the play like a female Hamlet?

As the play was nearing the end, Jason and I began discussing how we were going to get back to his vehicle. He was dressed very nicely and I had on a dress. As I have stated before although not in this blog, A girl's got to do what a girl’s got to do. I do recall that I did wear leggings underneath my skirt or dress just in case a situation such as this arose. However I am on medicine that is causing weight gain and I did not want to throw myself on Jason's back :-(. I was stressing however as we were nearing the door to exit the auditorium Matt and Amber could not be found. There were quite a few people there it was like playing where's Waldo although Waldo wasn't standing still. Out of complete shock they were waiting for us by the door offering a ride back to Jason's vehicle! Sometimes I think my mom is right, I am God’s favorite :-)!

It was very late on our way home and we still had to travel through Denver.

Finally made it home and overall I'd say it was a totally exciting trip!

The following week I was reminiscing about the books Jason had purchased for me and when I went to locate them I was only able to find the Brain book. Although Jason says that we only got the Brain book, I am pretty sure I was just looking at the periodic table book at my table yesterday. Bus am unable to locate it today. I called Starbucks to make sure I did not misplace it or forget it there and Jason says that we only got the Brain book. I however I'm sure that I was looking at the periodic table book at my kitchen table just the other day.

Jason kept telling me that he only bought one book; however I can remember sitting at my table looking at the periodic table book. My helper had come tonight and she looked for it as well. Where could this book be? I can imagine ways that I would have talked myself out of getting a book as I do with most things, but the memory of reading it at my kitchen table was so vivid. Finally I asked Jason to send me a picture of the receipt. He said he would later that the receipt was out in the car, I began to play the waiting game although I had no clue how long it would be. Still thinking of places that the book might be comma I received a picture text from Jason of the receipt. The receipt showed only one book purchased-- the Brain book!

Wow! Jason had no idea how much weight that he had taken off my shoulders.

So there you go - an example of how my short-term memory is in a constant state of… well the memory is a human ability that is very personalized.

Through this most recent incident I've learned important things about Jason and myself. Jason will do what it takes to prove his point (at my request...hahaha), and I have learned that to me words are cheap-- I need solid evidence.

To have or not to have...

It has been shown to me time and time again that a brain injury is not the only reason for forgetting. As I try to rationalize what makes others forget I think about how I fail to remember things. If an activity is not that important to me even if I want it to be- - I forget, not on purpose but it just happens. If I have a thousand things going on - - I forget. Because I am human- - I forget. So everybody else  has  most of the same reasons I do and probably even more reasons that may cause them to forget.

As I was reading over this I was thinking that I must not be that important in others lives--that's why people forget things concerning me. If you're thinking, okay I never want to make plans with her again because she will announce if anything goes wrong. Fear not because this has nothing to do with anyone in particular. I'm just throwing around thoughts.

Also I think this medicine I'm on is effecting me in crazy ways. I've also gathered from writing this that maybe I don't need to get so excited about things before they occur. I'm filled with childlike excitement anticipating what I think should occur. When the anticipated event doesn't occur I am heartbroken to the same degree that I was filled with excitement. Recently I was reminded that I should not have expectations. While in some areas that may be good not having expectations, it's fun for me to have many days of excitement before an event occurs. That way if the event is not what you anticipated, you can leave saying you had -- number of days being super excited about the event. Partially reading over this story, I realize that I have that outlook about excitement pertaining to most things. Yay!

The adventures of the Wobbly Woman and the Pigeon Toed Man - starring Kimi R. Burton and Jason Madwell by Jason Madwell

The adventures of the Wobbly Woman and the Pigeon Toed Man - starring Kimi R. Burton and Jason Madwell
By Jason Madwell

Yesterday (June 24, 2017) I went to pick up Kimi for our day's event. Kimi was entertaining her new friend who said she tore a leg muscle wrestling. She was going to get her keys from her car when Kimi met her. Kimi had found an abandoned walker several days earlier and gave it to the woman to replace her ill sized crutches. Kimi says she smelled alcohol on the woman's breath (my sniffer is not as in tune as Kimi's). I did not notice any swelling or bruising on the woman's leg but as I helped her carry stuff back to her apartment, she was in noticeable pain.  Why her able bodies roommate did not go get her keys from the car is a mystery.

Kimi and I then went to my work where Kimi took over my office. We had lunch in the hospital restaurant which is fabulous.

We then drove to Boulder CO. I talked Kimi out of calling Starbucks to complain about a expired coupon she has. I know this is only temporary and Kimi will soon get that expired coupon reinstated.

Kimi is super excited about our trip to Las Vegas and staying in a hotel. She expressed her wish hotels to offer rooms for 5 minute naps. I told her there were hotels you could use by the hour. She was shocked and could not believe that such things were in Colorado Springs.

We stopped in Boulder at the local Comic Book store which is a fabulous store. When then went ti a local Ice Cream shop and had milkshakes. This is where I googled cheap hotels and proved to her that hourly rate hotels exist.

We then went to the local Barnes & Nobles. Right when we walked in there was a section of books on the brain, math, and the periodic table - Kimi's favorite subjects. We picked out three books and Kimi sat at a table and decided which on she wanted while I wandered the store. It was during this time that Kimi found out that the B&N Starbucks would not accept her regular Starbucks card causing great sadness.

Once I rejoined her, a periodic table question came into her head and danced around. She was debating ask anybody in the store the question which I begged her not to do.  I was overruled an she ask a random store employee her science question and SURPRISE - he new the answer. Kimi was stoked and I was humbled doubting her social butterfly ways to get answers.

We then went to go to the UC Boulder Shakespeare festival production of Hamlet. The problem was that the Apple Iphone map was wrong and there were no signs pointing us in the right direction. The parking garage the instructions told us to park at looked to be closed for construction.

I parked at the closest spot I could find to where I thought the theatre was at. We had to walk about a mile. I did not think to bring Kimi's wheel chair. It was a slow rough walk. When we got to the spot where the map said to go, there was nothing there. Thankfully, another couple was lost as well. Kimi crashed on the ground to help our cause and the couple gave us ride and we were able to find the theatre. It was still a hike from the street to the building.

We watched the show and it was a great production. They mixed it up and had Hamlet be a woman. Before the show, the couple next to us told us the under construction parking garage was actually open for use. I was fooled again!

I thought that to get back to my car, I was going to have to put Kimi on my back and hike back to my vehicle. Thankfully, the couple that gave us a ride to the place, waited for us after the show and gave us a ride back to our car. While leaving the theatre we were all doused by the sprinkler system and left soaking wet. I realized on the way back that my hiking plan would have been a disaster. It was probably two plus miles back to the car. It would have took forever in the dark with Kimi on my back to make that trip.

Back on the road, we had to stop to find a restroom. It was around 11pm which made things difficult. The first gas station I stopped at was closed. Then I had to drive thru Denver. I think not want to stop there for having a fear of being attacked by hooligans. We finally found a place in Castle Pines. 

We made it back to my apartment around 1230am. We had to walk through a mini flood to get to the building door. Water does not drain well at my place and even the sprinklers can flood the walkup area. Once inside, Sleep soon was obtained and thus ended another exciting adventure of the Wobbly Woman and the Pigeon Toed Man.