Ever have one of those days when nothing seems to go right? Of course you have, but hopefully not today. Meanwhile, you can revel in my recent misery.

I was planning on an afternoon of yardwork on Sunday, so, as usual, I started the mower. I seemed to have to push more than normal, so I looked closer and noticed the self-propel feature was not working. I have had this happen before and knew what to look for and how to fix it. Luckily, the belt just slipped off. Easy fix.

After mowing, I decided to spray down the patio. As I unwound the garden hose from the hose rack, the handle broke off mid-spin, skinning my knuckles on the metal frame. No biggie. I found a cotter pin and pieced it back together. I also found a Band-Aid and patched myself up. It was a frustrating incident but another easy fix.

I then attempted to start my gas blower with an aggressive pull, and the starter cord snapped, sending me in a back somersault with half of the cord still in my hand. I had not attempted this this repair previously. After a couple YouTube views, I decided I could give it a shot. I did not have a replacement cord, so I decided to make do with the longest of the two pieces that were once one. It worked. The pull is now quite short, but it starts — without back somersaults.

Bad things often happen in threes, so I assumed I was safe for the day.

I relaxed over a nice dinner on our deck with my wife, sharing my magnitude of mishaps. When we finished dinner, I opened the screen door and walked inside with my dishes, leaving the door open briefly as I was going to bring the seat cushions inside, too. Jolene decided to shut the screen door without telling me. On my return to the deck a few seconds later, I walked through the door nose first, taking it off the track and snapping the wheels. I kicked that screen door across the deck and let out some words that are not in the dictionary, fully realizing it was time for me to end this day before I lost a limb.

If nothing else, I contributed to the economy with purchases of a lawn mower self-propel belt, a gas blower starter cable, and a screen door repair kit.

Next weekend has to be better, right?

Have a marvelous Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

Your Clear Mortgage forecast from Jason Parkin

It’ll be a hot and dry week ahead with highs in the 90s. Our next rain chance looks to not come our way until Friday.

For help with preapprovals or refinancing, get in touch with Jason at parkin.mortgage

The new Wendy's at Third and Grand in West Des Moines has opened. Across the street, Hy-Vee will soon go mano a mano with Casey's as two of Iowa's largest corporations face off in the convenience store war.

CITYVIEW announced its 2022 Best Of Des Moines readers' choices Feb.1. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Valley Junction Store
1. Bing’s
2. Hinge
3. MoMere

Deichmann helps implement technology

An audible prescription label helps those with low vision

By Lindsey Giardino

A mechanical engineer by trade, Craig Deichmann has extensive knowledge of the way things work.

So, when he learned of a new technology that changes how people who are blind or with low vision learn about their prescription medication, he was intrigued.

Deichmann, a longtime Winterset resident who is blind (he only has 3% vision), first encountered ScripTalk a few years ago. The technology enables pharmacists to program a small electronic label with a patient’s prescription information. Then, using a smartphone installed with the ScripTalk app, patients put their phone up to the label and it will read all the medication information out loud.

... Read More From the July issue of Winterset Living.

Happy Birthday to these celebrities: Vin Diesel, Kristen Bell, Kelly Reilly, Wendy Williams, Chace Crawford, James Brolin, Elizabeth McGovern, Penny Hardaway, Lil Bibb

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to:tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com