I'm Chia Wald and this is my blog. Here is where I share my thoughts and my art. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it isn't. That's life... and that's me. 
The boys took me out to dinner tonight at the Elephant Bar. I love going to the Elephant Bar. Every time I’ve been there the food has been excellent, no matter what I’ve ordered. It is one of the few places where I haven’t found and stuck to one favorite from their menu because everything is so good that I can’t decided what is my favorite.
Something else that happens almost every time that we go there is that I see an older person standing my the parking lot curb waiting from their ride to come pick them up and save them from having to walk across the lot to the car. Tonight was no exception, as I strolled up there was an older gentleman stand at the curb, leaning on his walker. Then I noticed something that I don’t normally see at Elephant Bar.. or anyplace else.
This is where it gets a little gross and unappetizing. Hanging from the top rail of his walker was a nearly filled urine bag with a catheter tube that dropped down to his ankle and back up, disappearing into the leg of his shorts. This was not what I wanted to see just before sitting down to a nice meal. I spent the rest of the night noticing how many of the older gentlemen were wearing shorts and uncontrollably checking to see if they had anything dangling out of their shorts. The image was seared in my brain and had taken me over. Does that make me shallow? I’m not insensitive, I feel for the guy needing this device for health reasons, and I don’t think he should be hidden away in his home. But shorts? And couldn’t he have draped a sweater over the walker and bag, or something?
So, that is what is stuck in my brain this evening. I’d rather have an endless chorus of David Cassidy singing “I think I love You.” Whats in your brain this evening?
I stayed late at The Boy’s house last night helping with the last push to get his place ready to start moving into. We were cleaning kitchen cabinets and putting in shelf liner. We haven’t touched the bedrooms and there is a lot of work to be done there, but he has enough of a start now that he can move in and finish working once he is there. A few short hours later I dragged myself out of bed and had a play day with Billie and Arlynne. We are still doing the paint and texture thing. Thankfully, we all agreed it is high time to move on to something else. The picture at the top is one of the two that I made today. Both pieces turned out to be abstracts. I’ve decided that I enjoy playing with paint. I’m just not sure how I feel about all the texture effects, mostly because they take more effort and a longer dry time.
Stumble it!
5 responses so far ↓
1 Shannon // Oct 23, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I see you subscribe to the same theory I do: “If I have to suffer with this knowledge/mental image, then I’m going to make sure you do, too!”
2 CeCe DuPriest // Oct 24, 2009 at 8:15 am
Long pants are definitely in order and a cover for the walker is also the considerate item–for both the gentleman and the public. There is no doubt, however, we all think differently. I also have noticed for the most part I adore the AZ casual lifestyle where one is able to dress from shorts to an evening gown and not be out of place. This code seems to be misused at times though but I imagine this would happen everywhere come to think of it. Rambling. Maybe if I am bored today in Defensive Driving School I will picture the image along with you!
3 chia // Oct 24, 2009 at 10:14 am
Hi CeCe, I like the easy dress code too and have never been bothered by the older men in shorts. It’s just that last night I was suddenly more aware and noticing how many men dress in shorts. As much as I didn’t want to see another catheter at dinner I couldn’t stop looking for them.
Traffic school – ugh! I’ve been there twice and and found it a waste of time for the most part. It was more like punishment then education. What I learned the first time was that more people carry guns in their cars than I would have thought and what I learned the second time is… well… there are a lot of stupid people in the world and at least 3 of them were in class with me that day.
4 Jolene // Oct 25, 2009 at 12:54 pm
There must be some nice way to let a person know that they are visually offending people. I’d have thought perhaps the restaurant people would have noticed, and for the sake of their business, helped the guy. Unfortunately he probably has had to live this way for long enough he has become insensitive to the fact he is grossing out other people. What really bothers me is that he should not have his bag up that high, certainly not higher than the problem… he will soon die of infections or something at that rate so no one will be offended much longer. Even in hospitals, they put a pillow case over it. Do you remember the 8 months I had to deal with one. I’d have died before letting anyone see mine!…. but I think in this case the restaurant should have been ontop of the situation. I’ve decided that many time’s it’s a kindness to mention a problem to other people, that they may not be aware of…it’s all in how you say it to them I think. Kindess is the word for the day! Sounds like a great place to go, so hope you enjoy it many more times… We will be seeing some “after” pictures of The Boy’s abode soon?
5 Jo // Oct 25, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Chia..I loved the colors you used in your
painting, I actually think it looked African
from the Elephant Bar. Good job!
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