No matter what your disability, It always starts with Denial.  I thought I could still do everything.   Giving up my keys to the car was the final straw -  NO denial after that.

That’s a lie.  I am still in denial over a tap cane.  I use a stick – a big heavy stick.  Its painted white with a red tip.  I use it like a tap cane, but Read more »

Posted: June 24th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

The past few days the weather has been really hot. I don’t like the really hot.

I ride my beach cruiser in the morning when its still nice and cool. I am looking into getting a lighter weight bike. I am proving able to get around more. Read more »

Posted: June 23rd, 2008 under Blind Stuff.
Comments: none

i HAVE TWO TIPS TODAY, ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR ME.

Did you ever try to read the side of a box for the cooking or baking instructions. Or even the back of the box. They have to fit ALOT of information there. If someone is around to read it to me – great. if I’m alone here’s what I do. Read more »

Posted: June 19th, 2008 under Blind Stuff.
Comments: none

In the beginning, I took a hand held magnifier to work. It was okay. Eventually, I took a larger, more powerful light to work. The boss laughed, but I found him using it sometimes. I also used a scan pen. It would scan a line and then read it back.

I got audio books from the library. It didn’t matter who wrote them, or what about, I listened to anything they had. I recognized pictures. I have an account with the Braille who sends me audio books by any author, subject, series I request. Read more »

Posted: June 17th, 2008 under Blind Stuff.
Comments: none

Several years ago, I was able to babysit my youngest grandson for four days. He was four years old. He came equipped with Movies, books and his brothers game boy. We watched movies, played in the yard, played with Tasha, ate “Babay Back Ribs”.

Then we played with the game boy. He was good, so for his turn we sat on the couch, with one of the movies on and “chilled’. Then he would hand it to me and say “your turn.” Read more »

Posted: June 16th, 2008 under Kid stuff.
Comments: none

I don’t wear dark glasses. I don’t carry the standard Braille Tap cane, I don’t have a dog. (Well i do, but Tasha, my 9 pound Pomeranian, would only lead me to food.). So when people hear me say I am blind, they respond, “You don’t look blind”.

They see me at the gym (circuit training), at the mall, the local stores, walking, riding my bike (that took a year) and doing these by myself. I do wear a Braille ID tag around my neck, I always wear a visor (blocks the sunlight) and I do carry a BIG stick, painted whtie with a red tip. I may be slow, but I will not stop.

I dont act blind either. I am probablly skipping ahead, but it ready to be said. Read more »

Posted: June 13th, 2008 under Blind Stuff.
Comments: none

The next group of things that happened were very frustrating. Nothing was critical. Just Frustrating.

I bought a piece of meat at the store only to find that I paid $21.08 for a good size stead that I thought was $10.8?. I bought the wrong size clothes. Only to take them back and exchange. Frustrating. I dialed the wrong number on the phone several times. (I either didn’t see it right or didnt hit it right). But the worst of all was going to Trader Joes and craving Potato Chips. Not something I do often. but when I do….. Read more »

Posted: June 12th, 2008 under Blind Stuff.
Comments: none

People ask me how do I do the things I do when I can’t see. Think of the old adage about riding a bike and how you never forget how to. I learned to crochet when I was eight years old. At the same time my grandmother taught me to sew . So all the things I have done in the past, I can do now. Some changes had to be made. My selling machine has a needle that threads itself. I had to get larger crochet needles.

Do I make mistakes – yes . I ripp things out several times and half to re-sew. I will slip the stitch, half to pull out a whole row of crocheting. The basis is basic. When you sew, you put the two good sides of the material together to rm your seam. Read more »

Posted: June 11th, 2008 under Things I make.
Comments: none

In 2001 I found that when I drove my car, suddenly, there would be a Car in front of me . I didn’t know why I hadn’t seen the car. Then I noticed that it was a white car on a white street or a black car on a black street . I also found that my depth perception was off. When I backed into space, there was always several feet still to go into the spot .

I went to the eye doctor, after a series of tests, he said I had macular degeneration. He explained to me that the centers of my eyes, the macula, was deteriorating. He didn’t know how fast it would happen, he didn’t know whether it would be one eye or two, he suggested I go to the Braille institute.

I did. But that is really getting ahead of things. Read more »

Posted: June 10th, 2008 under Blind Stuff.
Comments: none

Okay, Here I am, I’m one legally blind grandma. I’m 55 years old and have been legally blind for three years. I do not let this stop me. It slows me down, but doesnt stop. I have to be careful when I go out side my comfort area, but I’m a quick learner and get going again fast. Read more »

Posted: June 9th, 2008 under Blind Stuff.
Comments: none