After the convention, Tamra joined us on our road trip from Boston to New York City. This time we stayed in the Marriott in Times Square, which I give high marks for quality and accessibility. The rooms are spacious, with large bathrooms and a beautiful view. However it’s very expensive and the parking costs extra,…
By August 2010 I was more than ready to hit the road again. The last-ditch efforts I made to save my marriage had failed, and things were getting even worse. As I was leaving, she cornered me and demanded my credit card information, claiming she would need it to pay bills – even though I’d…
The downside of writing this blog in retrospect is that sometimes the events of my first two trips blend together. I’ve been to New Orleans twice, and it’s hard to remember what I did when. The assistant I was traveling with had family in Biloxi, so that portion of both trips focused on them…
On my way back across the country, I stopped again to visit my dad in Indiana. I had surprised him on the way there, showing up totally unannounced, and discovered that it’s true that single men only have beer and pizza in the refrigerator. On the way back he was prepared, and we were…
After two nonstop yet all too brief days in New York City, I left full of new hope and purpose – but without much time to think, because it was onto the next adventure! Hartford, Connecticut was beckoning, and the Second Life music jam was about to kick into high gear. Second Life is a…
I learned very quickly that while New York may be the greatest city in the world, it is not the greatest city for wheelchair access. With so many old buildings, I expected some limitations, but the biggest disappointment was how many places could easily be made wheelchair accessible, yet weren’t. Many restaurants and stores had…
There’s no other city in the world like New York City. I’ve been to many large cities, but nothing prepared me for the experience of driving into Manhattan for the first time. It was overwhelming – the sheer size of the buildings towering over me as I emerged from the darkened tunnel, the hustle and bustle…
To tell the story of my life-changing road trip, I must first return to one of the darkest points of my life. It’s not easy to think back on what I went through, but it’s important that I never ever forget. By remembering and telling my story, I make sure I never fall into that…
I had an interview yesterday that sums up everything that’s wrong with the home health care education and training system. My last post discussed the qualities that make a good assistant/caregiver. This is the flip side – what makes a BAD assistant who thinks s/he is good. It’s an open letter to my interviewee and…
Due to the severity of my disability, I need assistance doing many tasks that most people take for granted, such as getting dressed and using the bathroom. At home, I have assistants who help me for several hours each day. They take care of me, my home, and my animals. I’ve been hiring my own…
