Scooter Saga

Obtaining flowers isn't usually much of a problem here.  I see them when scooting on my garden route*.  Earl has developed a green thumb and is cultivating some on his own.  Friends and neighbors are a good supply.  I have developed a reputation in that I never met a flower I didn't like.  Bottom line:  Flowers make me happy and I always have places for arrangements**.  But, when Earl suggested that we go to the Dahlia Festival in nearby Canby, we had decisions to make.  Nothing is simple these days.  Did I really want to go?  1.  Was this event worth the effort?  Answer: Yes 2.  What's the best vehicle***?  Answer:  Skeeter would allow me more unassisted mobility. 3.  Would my bladder last 3 hours?  Answer:  Probably Portland and surrounds, like many cities, holds one celebration or another for its flowers. From June through August, there's the Rose Festival, the Tulip festival, the Iris Festival.  They tend to be ADA compliant, accommodating, and welcome p

Future Street of Dreams pre-2014 Skeeter and I have been watching the construction of the Street of Dreams  (SOD) for nearly a year*.  It became a regular scoot route and I was able to document the transition with my trusty iPhone.  I'm guessing the SOD organizers consider 'the hood' residents to be major pains, but they needed to deal with us.  All in all, we were pretty reasonable and they were fairly responsive to our concerns. The streets were terrible when construction began.  As the property morphed into the Highlands of Lake Oswego , we got better paved streets, improved street signs, and more sidewalk.  It's actually easier for me and Skeeter to ride along the road, even though there wasn't room for a wider street.  Current hood residents are getting used to sharing the road with a lady on a motorized scooter.  When the new homeowners move in, bringing more traffic, Skeeter and I will orient them by haunting the Highlands. Highlands of Lake Osweg

In July, Jason, Elizabeth, Zoe and Lexi vacationed in Great Britain and Earl and I became the designated dog sitters for three weeks.  We consider Porter to be our grand puppy. We looked forward to his visits.  It had been almost two years since our nephew and niece's dog, Prince, provided the first 'canine fix'.  We knew this wasn't going to be equitable, but we did want to be a functional threesome. When Earl and I had Prince for a week, we learned the limits of my dog parenting abilities*.  During our week with the girls in April**, we found Porter to be a typical laid back golden retriever and fairly low maintenance with regard to care.  He had adjusted quickly to my walker, but we wondered how he would cope with the new wheelchair.  Smart dog that he is, he moved out of my way when necessary and seemed to sense that, seated, I was less at risk for falling.  Porter was more inclined to come over for a scratch than before.  I could brush him, but as usual, mo