New EasyStand Blog post: The Hidden Responsibilities of the SCI Lifestyle

In my new EasyStand Blog post I discuss some of the Hidden Responsibilities of the SCI Lifestyle.

One Man's Annoying / Aggravating / Funny / Interesting Access Picture

I started a new job on a document review project for a downtown Minneapolis law firm about three weeks ago. Parking downtown is always an extra challenge for me for three reasons: 1) most parking lots/ramps have automated ticket dispensing machines, which can be tricky to grab with my limited finger use (I wrap a piece of duct tape around my finger for extra grip), 2) expense, and 3) proximity to where I work—the latter especially noteworthy in Minnesota winter weather. When I mapped the work location out the night before I started the job I was thrilled to see that there was a parking ramp directly across the street, that as an extra added bonus was connected via skyway.

This is a picture of the closest accessible parking space to the elevator that takes you from the parking ramp to the skyway level. It’s one of the most interesting parking spots I’ve ever parked in. What you maybe can’t tell from the picture is that my van’s radio antenna is butted right up to that caution sign and that exhaust vent hangs over the hood of my van, which was a little disconcerting. But I had no choice other than to park that close so the back end of my van didn’t stick out too far in the drive lanes of the ramp. It was a very tight parking ramp.

Regardless, I only parked there on my first day of work because it cost $18 for the day. The ramp is connected to a hotel and they really jack up the price. I’ve since found a parking ramp that is $6.50 a day. But I have to roll approximately a mile through about five buildings and six skyways to get to where I work. It’s an interesting twice a day commute via wheelchair.