Frontpage
Yesterday culture was on schedule.
Schiller’s “The Robbers” (Die Räuber)
Â
in the Frankfurt Theatre.
Wishing everybody a pleasant 4th Advent
December 18th, 2011A wonderful day!!!
December 17th, 2011Frontpage
The day before yesterday I went to have an x-ray of my
Fracture of the shin-bone
Yet there was a vacant parking place for disabled persons.
Next to my car a minibus was parking. If you want or if you don`t, automatically you take a look at the windscreen and you search for the
“blue parking permit”
(blue-coloured parking permit for disabled people)
What a pity, like very often a driver forgot to place the parking permission. Ho, ho, ho… I do believe in Santa Clause again!!
Just as I got off my car, and was sitting in my wheelchair, a lady came on foot in a distance of 30 meters in my direction.
I spent my loveliest and a bit malicious grin to the lady.
I really don`t understand it completely myself, but this lady didn’t have her best day this day. First she harassed the sliding door of the bus, then she jumped on to the driver’s seat, went into reverse gear and then attack…
The sad aspect in this story was, that a few meters behind her instead of me there was a not to be scoffed concrete pillar. She managed to nudge it to the ground nearly. My grin spread much wider when she repeated this action for a second time. 
My new friend, this
concrete pillar
Her front bumper now looks a bit like a cat scratch pole.
She’ll ever remember this parking place for disabled.
Fracture of shin-bone
My fracture from September 4th slowly heals up – anyway, my day was saved.
Translator Teo
Sport News Part I
December 13th, 2011Frontpage
During my hospital detention due to my shinbone fracture my wheelchair including me has lost almost 10 kg of weight. Maybe due to the food, or did I idle around fasting too much???
Usually I can eat what I want, the wheelchair is getting heavier and heavier,… now suddenly lighter and lighter…
Too bad that my body has not only used up the redundant fat tissue which I basically don’t mind, but also plenty of my painfully worked out muscles.
October had good weather and November was the driest of all times…, but that doesn’t help if you are lying with a splint and outstretched leg, with the overall appearance of a Russian tank, only driving from sleeping room passing kitchen and bathroom to the office and back. In exceptional cases a short break was taken in the dining room.
Now adding some Christmas cookies, and the wheelchair will be more heavy than ever.
To counteract the muscle wasting an individual
Despite-orthosis-indoor-training-program
was developed. On my
leg exercise machine
the foot rests were demounted so that it can be used as arm exercise machine in spite of the leg orthosis on the right.
The familiar
Swing stick
wears everyone down in the long run. ( note the yellow ball).
The daily exercise with the
Thera-band in bed
should according to experience and due to safety reasons not be done without protective glasses.
More exercises with the Thera-band, “Fit in Wheelchair”: Join in!!!
Translator BL
Have a lovely 3rd Advent!
December 11th, 2011Frontpage
Recipe for traditional Frankfurt “Bethmännchen”!!!
250 g marzipan paste
65 g blanched and grated almonds
80 g icing sugar
1 egg white
Egg yolk for coating
Blanched almond halves
Preparation:
Knead marzipan paste with grated almonds, icing sugar and egg white and put in a cool place, if possible over night. Form little balls with the hands and press 3 almond halves in each ball. Then coat with egg yolk mixed with a spoon of water.
Bake at 150°C for 15-20 minutes..
Interactions with other Christmas cookies are not known.
The risk of permanent addictive behavior should be discussed with the attending physician before fabrication and consumption 
(Still with orthosis, it begins to be a pain in the neck!)
Translator BL
Insider Tips for Disabled Parking Place Occupiers
December 2nd, 2011
Frontpage
It happens again and again that a normal ignorant disabled parking place occupying pedestrian is verbally dissed by some random hobbling or wheelchair driving disabled people, only because he is parking with his Land Rover or Cabriolet on a disabled parking place.
They shouldn’t make such a fuss, they are almost all retired anyway, are paid by the general public and have enough time to look for another parking place.
To avoid such disputes in the future and keep on pursuing his God-given right to unchallengedly park on a disabled parking place, the association of
“European Disabled Parking Place Occupiers”
has released some internal tips for the procedure of
“Blue Parking”.
1. You need a disabled parking permit.
The copying of valid permits should be avoided due to falsification of documents. Laminating of blue papers or blue student ID cards didn’t show the desired success.
It is the easiest to look for a senile relative. If you unfortunately don’t have an ideally comatose granny, a visit in the nearest nursing home is necessary. There you are looking for an inhabitant in a wheelchair with Oldsheimer, for whom you become the so-called disabled parking partner. The necessary handicapped ID with the walking disability entry usually lies in the left drawer of the cabinet. Let the person sign the in the download area available application form, or sign yourself. After approximately 4 weeks you receive by mail a blue valid “parking permit for disabled person”. Then the first step is completed.
2. The correct leaving of the car
When you have parked quasi “legally” on a disabled parking place, you shouldn’t jump out of the car like an 18-year-old and walk away. It all depends on the correct technique in leaving the car, as not to be revealed as non-disabled. Always carry a sad face, or best the model: I am displeased with the whole situation!
How to leave the car “not in perfection” can be watched in the following video from our American member Homer.
He is still getting off too fast, his timing is not right yet. His wailing look in connection with the quite good hobbling appears a bit overacted. This can be improved with a little bit of practice. The variant to park like Homer on several disabled parking places at the same time increases the credibility that one is disabled, but can lead to misinterpretations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWpPUVF5JvU&feature=youtu.be
If all these tips are taken to heart, parking in front of the opera or the town house should always be possible, if not another member of the association is already parking on it.
Translator BL
It happens again and again that a normal ignorant disabled parking place occupying pedestrian is verbally dissed by some random hobbling or wheelchair driving disabled people, only because he is parking with his Land Rover or Cabriolet on a disabled parking place.
They shouldn’t make such a fuss, they are almost all retired anyway, are paid by the general public and have enough time to look for another parking place.
To avoid such disputes in the future and keep on pursuing his God-given right to unchallengedly park on a disabled parking place, the association of
“European Disabled Parking Place Occupiers”
has released some internal tips for the procedure of
“Blue Parking”.
1. You need a disabled parking permit.
The copying of valid permits should be avoided due to falsification of documents. Laminating of blue papers or blue student ID cards didn’t show the desired success.
It is the easiest to look for a senile relative. If you unfortunately don’t have an ideally comatose granny, a visit in the nearest nursing home is necessary. There you are looking for an inhabitant in a wheelchair with Oldsheimer, for whom you become the so-called disabled parking partner. The necessary handicapped ID with the walking disability entry usually lies in the left drawer of the cabinet. Let the person sign the in the download area available application form, or sign yourself. After approximately 4 weeks you receive by mail a blue valid “parking permit for disabled person”. Then the first step is completed.
2. The correct leaving of the car
When you have parked quasi “legally” on a disabled parking place, you shouldn’t jump out of the car like an 18-year-old and walk away. It all depends on the correct technique in leaving the car, as not to be revealed as non-disabled. Always carry a sad face, or best the model: I am displeased with the whole situation!
How to leave the car “not in perfection” can be watched in the following video from our American member Homer.
He is still getting off too fast, his timing is not right yet. His wailing look in connection with the quite good hobbling appears a bit overacted. This can be improved with a little bit of practice. The variant to park like Homer on several disabled parking places at the same time increases the credibility that one is disabled, but can lead to misinterpretations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWpPUVF5JvU&feature=youtu.be
If all these tips are taken to heart, parking in front of the opera or the town house should always be possible, if not another member of the association is already parking on it.
Translator BL
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(Deutsch) Nachtrag zum Eigude Pranger X
November 29th, 2011Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.
1. Advent
November 27th, 2011Frontpage
Wishing you all a pleasant 1st Advent!
You have to set priorities, please note the orthosis ;-)
Â
Eigude Shame Part XIX
November 25th, 2011Frontpage
To protect my – caused by the paralysis – non-existent sexy butt after the accident I have got a prescription 2008 from the health insurance for my home for a special mattress and a vertically adjustable electric frame for my double bed to facilitate the transfer in and out of the wheelchair.
This mattress to prevent pressure sores consists mainly of around 5 cm x 5 cm small rubber foam cubes which relieve the pressure on the body by bending. It is quite good.
If you are like me supplied by 3 different medical supply stores at once you shouldn’t get upset if a 100 cm wide mattress is pressed into a 90 cm wide slatted frame of my double bed. That will do, better than lying on a blank frame. An exchange of the wrong mattress was arranged by medical supply store # I only after my request after 1 year when they needed a new prescription (see letter below, in German).
The screwing of the slatted frame on the bed was not considered necessary by medical supply store # II. My wife was lucky that she didn’t crash onto the floor on her side of the bed together with her slatted frame because this was not screwed tightly either because of the modification. The squeaking of the brand new electric frame could be heard by the whole neighborhood. But this could be resolved by a friend with a can of silicon spray within two hours only.
Within 2,5 years the second mattress, the third remote control on which within 6 weeks the labeling was not readable any more, and the complete electronics including power unit were exchanged at this bed.
Each year I am contacted by medical supply store # I that they need a follow-up prescription from my doctor for the continuous supply of the mattress. If it would be defect, 10 cm too wide or sagged it would possibly be exchanged.
(Letter asking for a new prescription and to get in touch with the medical supply store under the mentioned telephone number to make an appointment.)
Since a couple of weeks the prescription is lying about on my desk. I am definitely interested to make an appointment, see letter. Nobody is answering the phone, the waiting loop is yelling as if you are at boot camp, and nobody reacts on my e-mails either. At least they are thanking me in advance for my efforts.
Translator BL
I am freezing, let’s get going!!!
November 18th, 2011Frontpage
I took the ad hoc decision to follow the established tradition as German retiree and drive around on the canary islands in the coming winter.
Because the journey with the boat would be “going” a little bit too slow (actually it wouldn’t matter, I would have time and could “sit” it out easily) I decided anyhow in favour of flying.
Because I have already gone through a couple of flight miles with a wheelchair and experienced some weird things here are some tips.
Flight trips with wheelchair made easy!
When booking at your travel agency specify already any required medical devices with indication of size and weight, and if required additional assistance at the airport. Medical devices will be transported free of charge anywhere.
It came to my attention that if you need to take along any hard drugs, especially at the entry of the United States, a medical certificate and a lot of time is required.
At the check-in, approach an airport employee and get to the check-in counter with him from the side without any bad conscience, independent of the length of the queue.
Alternatively there is a “handicapped meeting point” in the terminals with an assistance button, after pressing of which a professional wheelchair pusher is coming who will manage everything.
In Frankfurt it is allowed to sit in your own wheelchair until you reach the door of the aircraft. Usually you are the first passenger on the flight. Then you are carried by two “volunteers” in a small plane wheelchair which reminds a bit of a sack truck to your seat, and then the “dwarf tossing” to the window seat begins.
Now it is advisable to pray.
Will your own wheelchair find its way into the cargo bay of the same aircraft?
Will your wheelchair be available and navigable at the destination airport?
In order to avoid that your wheelchair will be treated like ordinary luggage at the destination airport, but hopefully will be brought to the exit of the plane instead there is a label:
Delivery at Aircraft.
This means for the luggage guys at the plane as much as: Please be so kind not to load the object adherent to the label on the luggage cart and leave it here!!!
Keep the labels, don’t throw them away, you might need them for the return flight.
Sometimes there are no more labels available, which might end up extremely annoying when you are still sitting in the plane, and the wheelchair is already lying on the bulky luggage belt in the terminal.
The airport employees around the world are trained so well, they even manage to fold a wheelchair with a rigid-welded frame.
Although I have a foldable wheelchair it has a cross bar to attach an electric wheelchair-tractive type Minitrac. What I have experienced with that, see older blog post.
When the luggage loaders tried to fold my wheelchair it ended with little crashes several times already. Meanwhile I have a reversible, bilingual label on the seat:
Wheelchair not foldable.
It helped the last two times.
I have another label to offer:
Handle with care!
It probably doesn’t help, but brightens the wheelchair up with its red and blue design.
You shouldn’t forget to remind a flight attendant approximately 30 minutes before landing that you are a wheelchair user.
The pilot then hopefully won’t forget the notification at the destination airport, and the probability to leave the aircraft in a reasonable time increases dramatically.
Have fun with your next flight trip!!!
When I think about it, maybe I should better take the boat after all!
Translator BL
3 Handicap parking stories in one day!
November 9th, 2011Frontpage
Today no complaints!!!
Yesterday I was positively surprised that I actually could get hold of one of the 6 disabled parking places in front of the hospital for my X-ray appointment.
A black „mobile home“ with a star on the front was standing next to me.
Because SUV drivers often forget to display their disabled parking permit I made small labels which I put on their cars.
Furthermore I have fixed my new wheelchair parking sign on the window (see older blogpost), which unfolded its full effect after the car parking next to mine had changed, so that I really had enough space for getting into my car. Great thing.
When I wanted to back into my disabled parking place in front of my house around 6 o’clock, it was already dark, a woman on a bicycle was just passing by.
She stopped, came to me and friendly pointed out that this was a disabled parking place. In this moment she saw my wheelchair and parking permit.
I thanked her, she thought probably that I hadn’t seen the labeling in the dark.
I think her behaviour is exemplary and absolutely worth mentioning!
Translator BL
Feedback on the shinbone fracture
November 8th, 2011Frontpage
2 months after the involuntary flight show from my wheelchair during which I broke my shinbone (see older blogposts as of 06.09.2011) I was yesterday at the
X-Ray check-up.
X-rays from 06.09.2011 / 29.09.2011 / 08.11.2011
Since my accident 4 years ago I was x-rayed so often that I meanwhile have an
“Inner Glow” !!
That the fracture is healing very slowly due to my spinal cord injury is nothing new, but even for me this is “going” a bit too slow.
To my question to the doc if I could maybe leave the orthosis out at least at night I got the reply:
Well…, if it’s cracking, you have to wear the orthosis longer.
When the doc is right, he’s right…!!!
Everything is going to be alright!
I have decided to stay calm and to “sit it out”.
Translator BL
Crazy Flash Part X
November 6th, 2011Frontpage
That a 40 year old wheelchair user is put on the scrap heap is more than just a rumour, especially if you receive a pension.
On inquiry at the travel agency about possible assistance at the holiday destination I was referred to a
Service for Elderly People
German Nursing Service
That gave me something to think about…
Wheelchair Tuning Part XXVII
October 29th, 2011Frontpage
The instruction of my chief physician to rest my injured leg in an elevated position meanwhile causes sleepless nights for me.
Because the special
rented tank wheelchair
with foldaway footrests is innavigable for me and far too big I am already thinking since the time in hospital how I could realize to mount something on my wheelchair so that I can permanently rest my leg elevated, but also bend it.
I got the tip several times to put a wooden board below my cushion. Everybody who was ever sitting on a rocker knows where that ends.
Yesterday morning I woke up after a leg-elevation nightmare and miraculously I had a foldaway, removable footrest from my tank wheelchair on my everyday wheelchair. Strange things happen…???
I was very much delighted, a miracle, it must have something to do with Halloween.
First active wheelchair oft he world with fixed and foldaway foot rests
I would never dare to drill holes into my medcial supply store wheelchair.
Translator BL
Technical Aids construction corner :-)
October 25th, 2011Frontpage
I already mentioned several times that I should rest my broken leg despite orthosis in an elevated position as much as possible.
To rest the leg elevated sitting in my own wheelchair under my desk on a small flower stool turns out to be a little inconvenient, especially when you permanently need something, or the arm is not long enough again…
I refuse the tank wheelchair in my flat (see blogpost below).
The latest “technical aids construct” appears a little clumsy at first sight, but is well thought on and almost ready for series production.
With a Swedish drawer box, the book “Our Wonderful Planet” and a blue pillow of a German coffee roaster a rolling board for flower pots from my stairwell which I coaxed as permanent loan from my neighbour was pimped to the exact positioning height of my leg.
Rolling board
I now put my leg coolly on my rolling board-drawer box and drive comfortably with my wheelchair under the desk.
With a special adaption on the wheelchair my rolling board should also be outdoor suitable. A medical device number has been applied for, and a motorization is currently in the planning phase!
Translator BL
Technical Aids Tips and Tricks XLV
October 23rd, 2011Frontpage
I am coming back again to my favourite subject,
Handicap Parking
I have already experienced the “Worst Case” several times, that somebody parked his car in that way next to mine so that I wasn’t able to open the driver’s door completely any more, what is a “must” for me and my wheelchair.
To draw the attention of the other road users to it I have fixed a sign 15 cm x 15 cm with the text: „Please keep distance“ at the inside of the door, which is however still “not seen” by some people.
The CBF (Club of handicapped and their friends, Darmstadt), sells for little money a
yellow sign, “Please keep distance!”,
which one can fix to the window of the driver’s door, like the flags from the football world cup. This sign can’t really be overlooked any more.
I think this is great and ordered it immediately. Due to my broken leg with hospital stay a long time test could not be executed yet.
Source of Supply:
CBF Darmstadt e.V.
Link: www.cbf-da.de
There you can also order the handicap toilet key (see older blogpost).
Who still parks his car too close to mine then, I declare handicapped as well, i.e. blind, chronic off road dementia, or an incurable psychic disease.
Addendum:
A guarantee can’t be provided, teehee…read Robo’s comment
Translator BL
