Welcome to “Rolling Around The TL” on the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast
Lots of people use wheelchairs in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, a pretty rough area between Union Square and Civic Center
Shout outs
Shout outs to rocky
she’s listened to every episode
Shout outs to the people listening through the past episodes
Send me a n email via the contact form and I will give you a shout out that is quite possibly the best one you’ve ever received and the maybe best that you ever WILL receive
Rolling in the TL, I saw a lot of wheelchairs, but mine was the only one that was electric
We ate at Osha Thai which was accessible, a blast from the past, and sadly due for an upgrade
We got into the car after midnite- Rock & Roll!
I called ahead to the Great American to let them know I’d be coming in my chair, they reserved me a table behind a pillar against the wall. It had poor visibility, but decent sound
I started focusing on the audience. Nowadays people wear their pants wider and hemmed higher
https://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/rolling-around-the-tl.jpg20482048Johnhttps://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wtmwm-green-swirl-logo-icon.pngJohn2023-05-11 18:13:452023-05-11 18:17:08Rolling Around The TL
Welcome to “Multiplex and Talent Show” on the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast
This week, I used my wheelchair to go to the multiplex in Dublin and the talent show in the auditorium at my children’s elementary school. The movie we saw was “Inside” with Willem Dafoe and the elementary school talent show had a few truly bizarre, fun memorable moments.. Using my wheelchair made it possible.
Spicy Nut and Pretzel Mix
Whipped up the David Lebovitz snack mix because our dinner guest brought an extra pie. I think you could say it was burnt, but it’s still so addictive that it didn’t matter – it all gets eaten every time
I heard the band Big Blood from South Portland, Maine on the radio during KFJC’s Female Takeover a marathon of music created by female artists – shout out to cousin Jimmy
Big Blood
The song I heard was “Reproduce and Get Dirty which is like a great summary of all living things. It has great slide guitar and a wonderful vocal melody that soars at times and is also more intimate other times
Shout out to Anjela the hair-cutter who told me she went to movies there when she was in high school
I went with Nami to the movie in my wheelchair. I like going to the multiplex in a wheelchair because multiplexes are big and huge and I don’t know if I’d be able to make it otherwise
We saw the movie Inside with William Defoe
It’s about an art burglar who gets trapped inside a smart house which more-or-less tortures him and features the destruction of millions of dollars worth of of art and furniture.
Kids Got Talent
I went to the children’s talent show in my wheelchair, but beforehand i emailed ahead of time to ask if they would save a space for me, which was no problem. they saved a space for me at the front of the room and a really sweet girl wearing a tap outfit helped me to get settled
There were great embarrassing song and dance routines, solo Hamilton, martial arts, gymnastic cartwheels I & II, Water Under The Bridge interpretive dances and SO much more. It was more interesting than I thought it would be.
My son told me he had a crush on a girl who did a gymnastic routine. When his mom asked why, he said it was because she “ran really fast”
“A pint is a pound the world around”
Despite promises to "believe the science," Biden simply turned Covid management over to private insurance companies. "Back to normal" was not intended for older people, the immunocompromised, or the disabled. They are simply no longer welcome to participate fully in our society.
subscribe to the whatsthematterwithme podcast and you’ll get a very fancy nice email version of the podcast every time a new episode comes out its very handsome be sure to click subscribe right at the top of the page, just a name and your email is all we need to get goin and then youll always get the selfie
https://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/multiplex-and-talent-show-scaled.jpg25602560Johnhttps://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wtmwm-green-swirl-logo-icon.pngJohn2023-03-21 22:21:132023-03-21 22:21:20Multiplex and Talent Show
I went to the dentist, and he attached some teeth to the posts the periodontist implanted in my jaw. It’s been almost two years since I had buck teeth in my mouth, and it is a big change. I made a lot of squash soup, adapting the method for one hand, and I’ve included the recipe in this post.
Shout outs
Shout outs to Klaudhopper, who asked about Hoppin Hot Sauce stickers
Shout outs to Tall John who called me up after I tweeted about not going to Japan
Nami & kids are going to Japan in a couple of weeks. This time, I'm not coming with due to the no-inside shoes + AFO Brace/ wheelchair that i need to use to get around. Need to figure this one out, how to make it work – this time around, a lost opportunity. https://t.co/4qUwX38prj
I had infusion which is a really long slow injection
Roasted Squash Soup
Recipe by John Hoppin
Roasting winter squashes face up concentrates flavor, and using convection during the roast increases tasty browning reactions. Using an immersion blender makes it easier to puree using only one hand. We eat leftovers for lunch with a grilled cheese sandwich and Hoppin Hot Sauce.
Servings 8 Servings
Cooking Time 75 minutes
Ingredients
3lbs winter squash, cut in half, seeds taken out
4T unsalted butter
Yellow onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup maple syrup
salt and pepper, to taste
4 cups stock
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F {or 325 if using convection).
Roast pumpkins until easily pierced with a fork, at least 1 hour. Let cool, then scoop out the flesh.
Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and once it is foamy, add the onion. Cook 5 minutes until soft.
Stir nutmeg & cinnamon into the onions. When the smell permeates the room, add the stock.
Add squash flesh, bring to a good simmer, stirring.
Remove from heat. Leave to steam for a couple of minutes.
Puree thoroughly with the immersion blender, using a stirring motion. Be extra-thorough to find any chunks of squash or onion that may be hiding under the surface.. It should be thick. I don’t do any extra sieving, so I want to take my time and be sure it is well-pureed.
Add maple syrup, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Sonny At Rikers
Sonny Rollins got 1-3 years for having a gun. He was searched without cause. In 1952 he was at Riker’s Island. He arranged hymns for a hip chaplain at the Protestant Mission House, and he was paroled September 11, 1952
Theme Song
The theme song candidate for this month is less jazz & more industrial
I am considering whether it might have lyrics, maybe it’ll sing the intro part
Tiny Tooth Wrench
When they reattached them, the radio played Lionel Richie’s 80-s smash hit “Hello”. Neither the dentist nor his assistant knew the song. Turned out that the dentist was born in 1987.
The dentist used a little mini Allen wrench to attach them to the bases. there was pressure, it made my eyes water
I have teeth now, so I ate Ramen and spaghetti for the first time since my bridge broke and took my front teeth with it in August 2021
My Gumbo History
Cousin Emily came over for gumbo on Saturday
I made gumbo at the Rockridge Fish in Market Hall in 2003-4
https://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/i-got-my-teeth-back-1-scaled.jpg25602560Johnhttps://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wtmwm-green-swirl-logo-icon.pngJohn2023-03-07 18:52:182023-03-07 19:00:54I Got My Teeth Back
I went to see a jazz concert at Yoshi’s in my wheelchair, and it was pretty easy, for a change. I made a lot of vegetarian bean chili ahead of a trip to the ranch, and the vegetarians approved of it.
Shout outs
Shout outs to Claude Hopper who listened to Wheelchair Dining Experience and wrote in to laugh about the banana salad
My mom told me that I should have complained about the restaurant experience, but I have worked in restaurants for a long time and I think that things can go wrong very easily, so I declined. Kind of a cop out. I was like it’s not gonna make my experience any better to complain.
Write me an email john@hoppinworld.com and I will give you a shout out, perhaps the best shout out you will ever have. What are you waiting for? Send me an email john@hoppinworld.com
Mom reminded me how the meal was like a car crash and i couldn’t look away because It was like I was driving and I crashed my car. Maybe I was like a passenger in a taxi where the driver got into a horrible accident and killed someone and was at fault I was not at fault but I experienced it. And I paid for it. Rest in peace to that dinner
I’ll complain next time.
Ads R Cheesy
It’s still true that I’ve never had an advertisement on WTMWM?, but I was watching TV with my son and they had an advertisement for this nut company and I have to say that I order nuts and raisins a lot. they also sell cheese powder and I’m interested in that. so if the nuts people come calling, I might do it, for the cheese powder
Eight Cans Of Beans
Chili
I made a gallon and a half of bean chili, to bring to the ranch. it got good reviews from the vegetarians who ate it up. I wanted to see if making vegetarian chili from canned beans was possible, and it worked out.
My buddy grilled some carne asada and onions, which mixed into the bean chili just right, lending good meaty flavor and satisfying some more primal urges.
Dave Holland Trio at Yoshi’s
Instruments on the stage
Monday February 20, 2023
Dave Holland, bass Kevin Eubanks, guitar Eric Garland, drums
From jam band to nihilistic noise rock.
Eubanks is a natural sideman and laughs at everything
This jazz concert at Yoshi’s was accessible in my wheelchair
I just had to call in the afternoon to let them know I was coming that night, and they reserved a table for my wife and I
They gave us a good table with a clear vantage point and we enjoyed the show. We were not off to the side, or around the corner. It was easy to get to my seat, and I had a clear path to the bathroom which was useful because i had two whiskey sours
Spatula Debates
Spatula appears in English for the first time in 1525, when it morphs from being a weapon to a utensil most commonly used at apothecaries. Today, it describes any cooking tool with a long handle and a thin flexible blade.
https://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/concert-at-yoshis-1-scaled.jpg25602560Johnhttps://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wtmwm-green-swirl-logo-icon.pngJohn2023-02-24 01:49:152023-02-25 02:17:42Concert At Yoshi’s
In this episode, I rolled out to eat with my wife for a wheelchair dining experience and it was a comedy/tragedy of errors. It was supposed to be a fine dining restaurant but the experience fell short in a lot of ways. I’m so starved to get out that it didn’t stop me from having a good time, but I don’t think I will be back.
Press
This week, we're presenting the "What's The Matter With Me? Podcast", hosted by @johnhoppin.
He shares his experiences, challenges, and triumphs as a patient with MS.
Does the date of your MS diagnosis loom large in your life? For some, it becomes a day to remember. For others, it's a day they are happy to forget… You? https://t.co/Lwu6DkRKbE
Does the date of MS diagnosis loom large? For me, the answer is probably a no, even though I haven’t forgotten it. I just haven’t given it much weight.
Unprecedented and Unique Dinner
Dinner experience in my wheelchair, it was a singular experience
When companies/products/marketers have come to me asking to advertise on WTMWM? I have refused.
Big Question I’m Always Asking
How can fatigue and achievement coexist?
Lent
Friday fish from Scends: snapper, shrimp, fries, mac n cheese, coleslaw, corn bread hot sauce. The kids liked it.
Sam Kinison Auto Parts Jingle
I made the Sam Kinison auto parts jingle
Bad Old Ideas
"Yale professor has some ideas" about eugenics. I thought WW2 made pretty clear about whether these are good ideas
Bluebird Pizzeria in San Leandro is the only bona fide pizza in town, but they’re closed on Monday And they Sell out on Friday and Saturday nights, so you can’t even get a take away order placed at 7 o’clock. Its a little place& lotsTogo- no delivery. Guess I’m just ranting about there Isn’t enough pizza in mytown
Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast S6, Ep. 45 “San Diego Trip”
In this episode, I’m on the road again for the first time in what feels like a long time. My wife and I flew to San Diego to attend her company’s year-end holiday party. For the first time, I flew with my wheelchair.
I got frisked and swabbed lot, but I didn’t miss my flights, so it evened out and I made it home in one piece. It was not without hiccups, but we managed to have a pretty good trip overall, and I’m looking forward to traveling again in tyhe future.
Booze Only Yankee Swap IV
It’s Swap Time
We came back to town and had the Booze Only Yankee Swap. The next day, we took the kids to see the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra’s holiday concert.
There’s some sound effects in this episode, like a plane taking off and some other stuff, but I tried to keep it to an absolute minimum, I swear.
Shout-outs
Shout-outs to Empress Nami who wrote in to say, “I listened to WTMWM on my commute in. The ending….so many sound effects! I was laughing so much.”
Sometimes I’m just communing with Roy, who taught me how to do audio production. Roy always encouraged me to use more sound effects.
Hey MOMA, do you have the what’s the matter with me? Podcast?
Forking Hell
They think I only ordered one fork
Descended From Royalty
I took the kids to eat at Taco Bell and we met a stranger
San Diego Trip
We flew to San Diego
I made a recording just outside the airport terminal
At The Company Holiday Party
I sat down at the table for the holiday party and it turned out to be the adult table because the CSO sat across the table and the CEO sat down next to me. Which was kind of *gulp*-inducing but they were nice people and they listened to me when I told them how great my wife was.
The people at the company have an impressive track record of creating medicines.
I saw the lab and it was a big glassed in structure at the core of a long rectangular one story building in San Diego
I flew back, and they swabbed and frisked me again. The TSA guy said to clean my brace with rubbing alcohol next time.
Our Holiday Party
ABV 30%+
Booze Only Yankee Swap
1980s STYLE
Someone brought Peach Brandy to the Booze Only Yankee Swap and that created a minor kerfuffle. It was the fourth time we’ve had this party.
GARBLED FLYER
The graphic design program spat out this garbled flyer and we can post it here because it doesn’t list our address, or anything at all, really- it just says, “in” over and over.
Trading Up
I put in a bottle of Beefeater gin and I ended up with a bottle of Don Julio tequila. My wife traded a bottle of Cazadores for a bottle of Glenfiddich so it was a pretty good exchange for both of us and we very nearly felt bad about it.
Someone brought peach Brandy to the booze only Yankee swap and that created a minor kerfluffle
San Francisco SymphonyYouth Orchestra Holiday Concert
We took the kids to see the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra at Davies Symphony Hall. I used my chair and it was totally lucky that we got a handicap space just two blocks away. But, we hadn’t charged the chair.
We were there to see Kaito play the violin and we had pretty good seats in the first balcony at stage right. We had a good view looking down over the orchestra, and from our seats you look the conductor in the face as they played.
https://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/san-diego-trip-1.jpg10801080Johnhttps://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wtmwm-green-swirl-logo-icon.pngJohn2022-12-13 19:21:322022-12-22 22:25:12San Diego Trip
I made it through surgery- artist Gary Cannone preview- Helen Garner on fate- awkward dinner party conversation.
Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast, “Body Horror”
Cool episode! I made it through a surgery with all the hallmarks of body horror: zombie anesthesia, facial electricity and a burning nerve. David Cronenberg will be perfect to direct the movie version. Plus, artist Gary Cannone interview preview- Helen Garner on impositions- an awkward dinner party conversation.
We are running out of Hoppin Hot Sauce on the zon, because I misread a figure on the inventory report.
I want to learn to write hilarious poetry in Japanese but apparently that’s not a sensible idea
Some very dear friends of mine had a three-year-old son who was profoundly autistic. They didn’t know what was wrong with him, and there was no name for it back then. He couldn’t really speak, and he didn’t know any words, but songs would reach him where other things wouldn’t, and he had a pure little voice when he sang. It interested me to see how his parents lived around this huge duty that had been imposed upon them—to see how an act of fate like that would scour you of all your triviality. You’d have to find something in yourself that was much deeper than what most people would need to find.
Helen Garner
Helen Garner on autism, about trivialities in the Paris Review
My wife was like, “I don’t think I knew that Gorbachev had died. I was like, “We did that last week. That’s why you need to subscribe to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast. So you don’t miss anything.”
Our listeners know about everything
Organic Hellfire
I had the worst trigeminal neuralgia pain – from my mouth up to my eye around my eye out to my ear. Spasming organic hellfire that sent me scrambling for more medication and sobbing under the covers.
#CIL50
#Cil50 is happening in October at the Berkeley Center For Independent Living.
Do it now what’s the matter with me is for the children
It Happened Fast– My Chair Tipped Over
My wheelchair tipped over in the park
I was counting critters with my daughter Koko and wasn’t paying attention
The wheelchair bottomed out when it went off the edge of the concrete where there was a couple inches of gap between the dirt and the concrete
I was ejected from the chair and ate it to some degree- just a couple band-aids were needed in the end
Bystanders came running and helped me up and got me back in the chair
My daughter ran away when the people came running to help me, but she seemed to realize they were helping me. It didn’t seem to scare her too much– we went to the swings and she had a good time.
https://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wheelchair-tipped-over-1.jpg10801080Johnhttps://whatsthematterwithme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wtmwm-green-swirl-logo-icon.pngJohn2022-09-08 17:00:462022-12-22 17:52:18Wheelchair Tipped Over
In this episode I battle face pain to go to a birthday dinner, take a family train trip, and have a date at the movies.
Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Season 6, Episode 30, “Birthday Dinner.”
In this episode I battle face pain with varying levels of success to go to a birthday dinner at Trader Vic’s, take a family trip to the Embarcadero, and have a date at the movie theater.
Shout outs
Shout outs to Jersey Girl who used to work with Judy Huemann
Rode the BART to Embarcadero to watch kids skate off the stairs
Market street Elevators
I was wearing my “SECURITY” t-shirt- from my Halloween costume. Lady came up asking me to defuse a situation with a guy on the escalator. I was in my wheelchair SMH
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