Updates are in order. I’m still on the waiting list for low-income housing in Oklahoma City. The housing authority is actively seeking a place that is wheelchair accessible. I should be moving up the list as the waiting lists were updated and many people who are no longer looking for places are being removed from the list. I have no idea how long this wait will be. My friend in Denver who works for a large landlord said that out there, she’s heard of horror stories about low income people waiting over five years to get into a place. In my case I am doing alright here in the suburbs. I can run a wheelchair well enough now that I can navigate my parents’ entire house except for doorways. I have to fold up the wheelchair and walk though for the doors. Haven’t been outside since the current heat wave started. We’ve had many days of 100-degree Fahrenheit heat since mid-July. Not exactly sure what that translates to in Celsius, I’m thinking 40 something degree Celsius.

Made some new friends since I moved to Oklahoma. Staying in contact with old friends from back in Nebraska. One friend was someone who lived in the same complex I did. We are both homebodies but share several similar interests. I regret not visiting her in person more when I still lived there. But the last two years I lived in Kearney were during the height of the pandemic. I didn’t visit many people in person those two years. Did a lot of reading and writing though. Moved out of Kearney in June 2022 and went to physical rehab for eight months. Moved in with my parent in February 2023. Lost over 180 pounds between February 2020 and February 2023. Sadly, gained about 20 pounds back in the last six months. Too much sugar and carbs. I was easily losing weight when I was eating mostly grilled, roasted, and baked meats (mostly chicken, turkey, and pork) and vegetables. I gave up most carbs, most sugars, most fast food, etc.

Saw my physicians’ assistant yesterday via teleconference. It was for my sleep apnea. I needed to renew my prescription so I can get replacement parts for my CPAP machine. As my machine is only three years old, it should last at least another three to four years. But it works so much better when I replace worn out parts regularly. Since I don’t use distilled water or oxygen, it’s easier to keep clean. And I just use the nasal units rather than the full-face mask. My doctor thinks if I get back to losing weight again, I could possibly be off the CPAP entirely. I think I should be able to get back to losing weight now that I’ve adopted my pandemic diet again.

My blood pressure is stable. Has been for weeks. I have to see my general practice doctor again by the end of August for general checkup. He wants to see his heart patients every three months. I see my new psych doctor this month too. Since my psychiatric health has been stable for the last few years, I should be doing just routine maintenance. I do have occasional psych flare ups, but they usually don’t last long. I have found if I limit stress the flare ups are fewer and further between.

Making most of my own meals now. While my parents are thrilled with my ever-increasing independence, I think my mom is kind of sad that she doesn’t cook for me very often anymore. I think my dad is kind of sad that I don’t watch Westerns with him much, certainly not like what I did in the first few weeks I moved here. I buy most of my own groceries, pay some in utilities, and order my own home supplies via Amazon. As there is a huge Amazon facility in our metroplex, almost everything is next day delivery. I’m still not washing my own laundry just yet. Our washing machine is in a tight closet that is impossible to navigate with a wheelchair. My knees are chronically hurting due to bad arthritis. If I take Tylenol every day, it seems to negate it some but not enough to restore my ability to walk without serious knee pain.

Even though I don’t eat most of my meals with my parents anymore, I still talk to them in person some every day. During the pandemic I made a point to call them at least once a day. In some ways I am not in a real rush to get my own place. The big reason I need my own place it that I can’t afford their house on my social security disability pension. Sure, the house is paid off entirely, but I still couldn’t afford property taxes and maintenance.

Shortly after I moved to Oklahoma, my new social security case worker told me that since I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 20, I should have been able to qualify for social security payouts based on my parents’ income and not mine. Since both of my parents were medical professionals, that alone would significantly increase my benefits. So we applied for benefits increases. Naturally we were denied. But denials are standard in disability cases, at least here in the USA. I plan on hiring a lawyer to appeal this case. I had to lawyer up when I first applied for social security in the mid 2000s. Even with a lawyer my case took over two years to resolve. Since I no longer was covered by my parents’ insurance, I needed a high-risk emergency health insurance. It was a rugged two years waiting for that verdict.

I’m hanging in there overall. I’m just ready for some fall again.