On Sat 18 Mar 2006 09:27:49p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Ted
Campanelli?

> Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
> so great) words of knowledge:
>> Ok I have eluded a couple of times to some of the problems I'm having
>> and without going into detail if anyone out there is dealing with
>> physical problems when cooking, would you please mind sharing them and
>> your ways of dealing with them. Here's mine - I need a step stool in
>> the kitchen. Reaching for anything is not an option. I get very
>> frustrated but that's the way it is for now at least. I need things
>> consistently in their right place otherwise it is just too difficult. I
>> do a lot of canning as everyone knows here. I get DH to put the canning
>> pots on the counter as I can't lift them at the moment but I can add
>> water and I can get jars out. Freezers are a royal pain in the butt for
>> me. I can get into the sbs but the chest freezers are really a pain!
>> DH for the most part has to get that stuff out. I cook in bulk as much
>> as possible to compensate for those days I can't cook.
>
> For the stuff in the cabinets, have you considered one of the "grasping
> sticks" (I am not sure of the correct name for them) ? It has 2 curved
> metal clamps on one end (rubber lined for 'non slippage') and a trigger
> on the other end. Put the clamps around what you want, squeeze the
> trigger and get it down. I think they also have them with "locks" so
> you don't have to keep pressure on the trigger to keep the item grasped
> (will let you use both hands/arms to get something down/up ). If I
> remember correctly, these are about 2 1/2' - 3' long.
>

Those things are a godsend. I bought one when David was recovering from
quadruple bypass surgery and couldn't/shouldn't over-stretch to reach for
or pick up things. Now we use them mainly for picking up the dozens of cat
toys strewn all over the house before we vacuum. :-) I'm not tall, only
5'9", and I still use them for grabbing things off the top shelves in the
kitchen and pantry. Beats hauling out a stepstool any day.

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
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BIOYA