Christmas Wishes

Dear Friends and Family,
I wish you all a merry Christmas, a happy Honokaa and a wonderful holiday
season.

It sure is a different Christmas for us. As most of you know Jeff, the
boys and I are living in Ruston, Louisiana this year, as I am training at
the Louisiana Centre for the Blind. It is truly amazing and I am enjoying
my training so much. We bought a house here. Jeff is fixing it up and we
are renting it out, and yes, the boys and Jeff are still living in the
trailer in our large back yard. I stay at the centre apartments during
the week and come home on weekends.
Jeff is being, for the most part, a full-time care giver. My mom is here
for the holidays. She is here for a month. So wonderful to have her
here. She is staying in one side of our new house, which is a duplex. We
miss my dad, as he is back holding down the fort in Victoria and enjoying
their newly-renovated house.

We have a Christmas tree set up in the living room trimmed with Mardi Gras
beads, paper stars, which I learned to make at the centre, a beautiful
African angel my mom made, and penguin rings from a pack of cupcakes.
Yes, an eclectic tree!
This is the most unique Christmas I have ever had. We got a CD with Cajon
Christmas songs, so that enhances the southern spirit. Oh, and we are
under tornado watch and have been listening to thunder and rain all day.
What a Christmas Eve.

We are well, and miss you all back home. Please take care of yourselves.
Please know that you are always in our thoughts and hearts. It is a
different world here, but we always love and remember the people closest
to us. We will be back in late summer.
Love to you all!

Imperfectly Perfect

December 11, 2009
It's been a while since my last update. Time sure flies here. The days blur together and I cannot remember what happened on which day.

We are getting ready for mom's arrival. She flies in tonight. We will pick her up in Shreveport.
Haven't seen her in almost three months. We miss her and my dad so much. She will notice a difference in the boys, as they have changed and grown.

We are watching a DVD with classic Christmas cartoons. Rhys and Ronyn had their Swine Flue shot yesterday, so they are tired today.
I finally have some time to catch up on my blog.

Last week the students and staff at LCB went to a Christmas tree farm and cut down Christmas trees for the centre. We were divided into three groups. Each group cut down a tree: one tree for the lobby, one for the dining room and one for the career centre. I helped cut down the tree for the dining room. We were in charge of the "Charlie Brown" tree; we had to find the most imperfect tree and bring it back.

We each got a chance to cut with the hand saw. Our tree was small and without a top; it was perfectly imperfect. I carried the tree back to the bus.

It was a cold day. Surprisingly the temperature can get quite low here, below freezing – much like a cold day back home. Of course, just like back home, it is damp, so you can really feel the sting of the cold. The weather can also change rapidly. For example the other day, within a period of four hours, the temperature went from 32 Fahrenheit to 72 Fahrenheit. It was amazing.
Then we sat around the dinning room table for the afternoon and made decorations. I learned to make paper stars. Only five different folds and it took me three hours to master it. I have never been crafty!

I taught Rhys how to make the stars on the weekend. We now have colourful stars around our trailer.

Yes, Jeff and the boys, and myself on the weekends, are still living in our travel trailer. We are in our backyard, while Jeff works on the house.

I have been busy with so many projects at the centre. Last week I baked Mexican corn bread; this was my second attempt after my first batch of regular corn bread failed because I forgot to add the Mayonnaise. If your meal doesn't work out, you have to re do it until you get it right.

So far I have had to redo two things: the corn bread and then this week my chocolate chip cookies. I have never had much luck baking cookies. Usually they taste bitter from too much baking soda. This time, they didn't rise, probably because of too much baking soda. I made them once again and they were excellent. I was so proud, even Jeff liked them. It is a landmark in our marriage, as it is the first batch of successful cookies I have ever made for him!

On Friday, I cooked a hamburger paddy on a "George Forman" grill. This grill closes and grills both sides of the meat at once, so you don't have to flip it over. I am getting one when I go back home. It was wonderful!

Another landmark- this week: I finished reviewing the grade two Braille code. Now I am starting on reading books. I will read and read until my speed improves, and then I will keep reading, as one student says "until my fingers bleed!"

My teacher, Mr. Whittle, says we must read at least one hour in the evening and at least five hours on the weekend to improve speed.

In shop I learned to use a radial arm saw. There are many safety steps we must learn to follow before we cut. My first cut was terrifying. I have never used a power tool in my life. I did it. Now I cut all my own blocks. I am still making grid blocks. I divide the block into a grid of squares using an awl, so you can feel the lines. Then I make indications and drill the wholes.

I had a scary travel experience a couple of weeks ago. It was my first independent travel route, meaning I did the route on my own with out the instructor. I was excited, but nervous. I walked to the apartments and back. Everything went well, I was so proud of myself. I was on my way back. Things were going well, when suddenly cars veered out of nowhere to my left and to my right. The motors roared diagonally across ahead of me startled, I realized I was in the middle of the Street. Yikes! How had I managed to veer into the street. I had been walking jauntily down the sidewalk and then the next moment in was in the street. I didn't know which way to go, so I stopped and stood frozen. A voice called to me from somewhere to my left. The female voice called me over. She yelled, "you are in the middle of the road." Well, I already figured that part out. Anyway, she got out of her car and helped me over to the sidewalk. I walked the rest of the way back to the centre, disappointed, but knowing it was all part of the learning experience. Of course, veering into the middle of the street is something best to avoid, but if you do, it is good to know how to get out of the situation and back to safety. My instructor said, if that happens again, to wait until it is safe to move and then head back in he direction of the sidewalk I was just walking along.

The experience shook me up a bit, but a few days later, my task was to walk to the apartments and back again. I did well and felt much more confident.

This week I practiced walking along the sidewalk and finding stores. I am learning to locate the door of the shop with my cane. My task this week was to find the door, enter the store and then find out what kind of store it was. Then I had to locate the door again to get back outside.

My favourite store was "Bath and Body Works," a scented store like the "Body Shop."

On Friday, I learned how to navigate my way over the train tracks: the main goal being to get across them as quickly as possible before a train came. Ruston has many trains. The train whistle shrills through the centre all day long.

I have a small part in the Christmas play. I am an elf. I am also in the quire.

We practice almost every night. The performance is on Tuesday at the LCB Christmas party.

Friday was the Ruston Christmas parade. Jeff and I took the boys. We stood and watched the lighted trucks, local high school marching bands and even Santa Claus passed by. People in the vehicles threw candy to the kids and honked their horns. Rhys spent the entire time waving and picking up candy off the road.
Ronyn sat mesmerized on the tailgate of our truck and sucked happily on a sucker.
----
PS.
In seminar this week, we did a personality test. It was like the popular "Myers-Briggs Type"
test, but simpler. I learned a lot about myself and certain personality traits that make me who I am. It is a great way to learn about others and yourself and learn how to work better with others. There are four main personality types and usually everyone has one primary type and a secondary type. I can't remember the name of the test, but if you google, "Sanguine, Melancholy," it should come up. I think it would be an excellent thing to do with our members back home. And it is a lot of fun.
Here is a brief description of the four types from the Web:
""
Sanguine
A person who is sanguine is generally light-hearted, funloving, a people person, loves to entertain, spontaneous, and confident. However they can be arrogant, cocky, and indulgent. He/She can be day-dreamy and off-task to the point of not accomplishing anything and can be impulsive, possibly acting on whims in an unpredictable fashion.

Choleric
A person who is choleric is a doer. They have a lot of ambition, energy, and passion, and try to instill it in others. They can dominate people of other temperaments, especially phlegmatic types. Many great charismatic military and political figures were cholerics.

Melancholic
A person who is a thoughtful ponderer has a melancholic disposition. Often very kind and considerate, melancholics can be highly creative – as in poetry and art - but also can become overly pre-occupied with the tragedy and cruelty in the world, thus becoming depressed. A melancholic is also often a perfectionist, being very particular about what they want and how they want it in some cases. This often results in being dissatisfied with one's own artistic or creative works and always pointing out to themselves what could and should be improved. They are often loners and most times choose to stay alone and reflect.

Phlegmatic
While phlegmatic are generally self-content and kind, their shy personality can often inhibit enthusiasm in others and make themselves lazy and resistant to change. They are very consistent, relaxed, rational, curious, and observant, making them good administrators and diplomats. Like the sanguine personality, the phlegmatic has many friends. However the phlegmatic is more reliable and compassionate; these characteristics typically make the phlegmatic a more dependable friend.
""

Turkies, Turkies and more Turkies!

Hello again,
Gee, Thanks Giving is certainly a big holiday in the states. My school
and Rhys's school have a week off. I wasn't really ready for a vacation,
as I was just getting into the swing of things at the centre. Oh, well,
guess I shouldn't complain about a holiday!
I had a great third week at the centre. We had a big Thanks Giving Dinner
on Tuesday and every student at LCB made something for the meal. I made
banana pudding. I cooked the banana gelatin on the gas stove. Had a few
panic attacks, as gas stoves make me nervous. But I got through it all
right. Not as bad as the stove in our trailer, which is propane, and
which you have to light, and which I won't touch!
It was a busy week in the kitchen everyone making different dishes: at
least three turkeys, a ham, a pig, countless bowls of stuffing, casseroles
and many desserts.
Because everyone is blind, we always say out loud when we are opening the
oven, or when we are carrying hot water or a hot pan through the kitchen.
The boys and Jeff came o the big Thanks Giving meal. I don't remember the
last time I ate so much food. The food was set up on the counter and we
all served ourselves.

Funny because the next day, we went to Rhys's school for his special
Thanks Giving dinner. Parents were invited to eat in the cafeteria and
visit with the children in their class room. Rhys was very proud to show
us his school an introduce us to his friend Nicolas.

Enjoyed travel class this week. I made great strides. Pardon the pun! I
walked in shades to the apartments and back and only veered onto the road
a few times, but each time I knew what I had done and managed to correct
myself.
Another trick I learned is when I cross a road and get to the other side
of the road and am trying to find the sidewalk. I learned to always turn
towards the parallel road and shore line the side of the road I jut
crossed until I find the sidewalk. It works almost every time.
I am also learning to tell when I am close to something like a building by
the sound. It has to do with the air being cut off by the building, and
then when I ass the building, I can hear the air around me open up and I
can hear the space around me. I am sure there is a more technical way of
describing this.
I am also learning to line myself in the direction I want to go jut by
listening to the traffic sounds.
The model of travel we are learning here is called "structured discovery,
which differs from the traditional rout method of travel, where the blind
person memorizes specific routes and doesn't deviate from these.
Structured Discovery allows the blind person to learn to travel anywhere
through problem solving and figuring things out as you go.

I am nearly ready to try independent routes on my own. I will go to the
apartments on my own next week, and then eventually my instructor will
give me address, which I will have to find on my own. I will go there and
bring back something to show I was there, like a business card etc.

I am working my way through he grade two contractions in Braille class. I
learned them in high school , but have forgotten them. They are slowly
coming up from my subconscious to the surface. I am reading and slating
Braille everyday. I am determined to be able to read and read at least 80
words a minute by the time I leave here.

We had apartment instruction this week; this is when the staff come to the
apartments to check on the apartments and make sure students are keeping
them clean. If there is a problem, staff will teach the students
techniques to improve. Staff will work more intensely on these skills for
those students who might need this help.

On Friday, one of the students at LCB graduated from her nine-month
training program. It was neat to see someone finishing what I am just
beginning.
Her ceremony was an hour or so in the centre library. Students, friends
and family attended either by conference call or in person to talk about
her accomplishments and to watch her get the freedom bell. The
freedom bell is rung here anytime a blind person does something
independently. All graduating students receive a freedom bell to keep
always as a symbol of their time here.

Love to all.

My second week at LCB

Hello everyone.  I meant to post this last Friday.  Sorry for the delay.  Will also have another one up soon.

 

Friday, November 13

Another week over, my second week at LCB, the training centre.

 

This week started off slow as I had a cold.  Unfortunately I missed one day of school because I couldn’t stop sneezing.  Of course the boys got it too.  I’m all for families sharing, but it’s too bad the sharing has to include germs.

 

My travel classes were much better this week.  I am starting to orientate myself  using audio and tactile cues.  I didn’t realize how much I used my limited vision to navigate and avoid, or not avoid obstacles!

Wearing a blind fold all day is allowing me to focus on the audio and tactile senses and learn to use them to their potential.  If you pay attention, these senses can tell you so much.  My instructor, Roland, and I walked down a few blocks from the centre.  I practiced finding the street crossings and keeping on the sidewalks.  I am gaining a reputation for veering into the street.  The street we are walking along is a quiet road, so it isn’t dangerous.  Roland says to me,” “so where do you think you are?”  I laugh and say “in the middle of the road?”

 

Funny how you can think you are walking straight when you are actually walking in a diagonal.  Walking at an angle is fine as long as you know how to recognize you are doing this and learn how to correct it.  I am learning to listen to the sounds of traffic on the parallel and perpendicular streets and feel the direction of the sun or feel the incline of a drive way to judge if I am walking straight.  If the cars suddenly sound like they are in front of me instead of to my left, then I am beginning to realize it isn’t the road that has magically changed position, but me.  I simply move my body back so the traffic sounds are again on my left, and then I continue on.  To experienced blind travelers, this probably sounds elementary, but when you aren’t used to using this kind of cue, it is liberating to become aware of it.  What a powerful feeling to be able to make travel decisions based on sound and touch rather than sight.  That is what the centre calls learning alternative techniques. 

 

Today I travelled with Arlene Hill, a travel teacher who has written several excellent articles about traveling as a blind person.  It is wonderful to work with blind people who are travel instructors.  It feels motivating to know that I can eventually become as competent as they are at getting around.

 

Another thing I am working on is called the “open palm technique;”  this is a technique of holding your cane.  It is tricky to do at first.  When I was little, I was taught to hold my cane with my index finger down the cane.  The open palm technique involves a loose rolling motion in the palm of your hand.  And you are not supposed to move your wrist.  The movement is all in the hand / fingers.  The thumb hovers over top.  At first it feels like the cane will fall out of your hand, but I am gradually getting used to it.

 

At LCB we are taught to tap the cane from side to side and not to do constant contact.  Apparently constant contact is for people who have neuropathy and may have a limited sense of touch.  Apparently the constant contact method can slow you down.  Interesting.

 

In shop this week I made another grid block.  I used a drill for the first time in my life and learned to use a drill bit.  I had heard the term “drill bit” before, but never knew what it was or what it did.

 

The drill is heavy and it takes all my strength to hold it in place.  I need to build some muscle!  I am looking forward to learning to use other tools like the table saw!

 

I made coffee yesterday in Home Ec., and today I made bacon and eggs.  Cooking in a frying pan is another thing I normally use my sight to accomplish.  It was neat to cook the whole meal under sleep shades.  I used tongs to turn the bacon, and listened to the sizzle of the bacon grow quieter, which told me it was time to flip it over.  I used round, metal devices, called egg rings, to fry the eggs.  These egg rings keep the egg in place, so you can locate it on the pan.  For once I didn’t burn the bacon and I ate my concoction for lunch!

 

After cooking anything at the centre, we do our dishes and put everything away. 

 

The Centre is putting on a Christmas play about Santa Clause losing his sight.  Santa is depressed about going blind.  He learns about the training centre in Ruston Louisiana and goes for training to become a competent and confident blind Santa.  I am in the quire.  Mr. Whittle the play writer says I can have a part in the big play at convention this summer.  It will be about a blind doctor.  Can’t wait.  I’ve been wanting to do some acting for a long time.

 

We have “seminar” twice a week.  Seminar is an opportunity for all students and staff to gather to discuss blindness issues and how to handle blindness in a positive way.  This week we watched a movie called “Blind Sight.”  This movie is about the blind man who climbed Mt. Everest  and how he worked with blind teenagers from Tibet to go on a climbing expedition.  It is an excellent movie.  In Tibet blindness is seen as evil and as a punishment for sin in a past life.  Certainly much negativity for these young people to overcome. 

The movie features, Sabrea, a blind woman from Germany, who travelled with a cane to Tibet and travelled on horseback into village to find blind children.  She started a school in Tibet called Braille Without Borders.  What an amazing person, not because she is blind, but because of what she is doing to empower blind people around the world.  Sabrea is a symbol that blindness has no boarders, and we all must unite to change what it means to be blind in this world.

 

Well, tomorrow a group of us are going to a flee market in Arcadia, 20 minutes from Ruston.  We are going in a bus and I am taking Rhys.  Will be good to spend some momma son time.

Lots of love to everyone.

My first week at the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB)

November 6
Well, I did it. I finished my first week at the training centre. Wow, what an incredible experience.

In one week, I learned to thread a needle, slate the alphabet in Braille, travel independently around the building in sleep shades (blind fold), measure wood with a click ruler in shop, practice on a Braille note taker and more.

My day goes from 8 AM to 5 PM, with two ten-minute breaks and a one-hour lunch. My schedule is as follows: (morning) announcements in the library with all the staff and students; one hour of Braille; one hour of computers; two hours of cooking / sewing/ other life skills; (afternoon) two hours of cane travel followed by two hours of shop.

I am learning so much and thinking in ways I haven't before. I am calling on all my powers of concentration and skill, even my long-dormant math skills, to get through the days.

Today was my first travel lesson outside. My instructor and I walked back and forth in front of the centre and practice finding the street crossings. I worked on finding curbs. Usually I overstepped them or didn't go far enough and found myself standing ten feet away from the crossing. Two times, my instructor called me back from the road, and once I fell almost gracefully against a parked car.

By the end of the lesson, I did walk successfully to each curb.

Today was also the day I learned to thread a needle- something I've never done before. I faced this challenge with absolutely know knowledge of how to do the task. I used a needle threader and after 20 painstaking minutes, hooked the needle onto the threader, caught the thread on the hook and pulled the thread through the eye of the needle. For me this is an incredible accomplishment, as my high school excluded me from sewing class and no-one ever taught me to sew.

Today in shop, I measured 24 three-quarter-inch segments on a block of wood with the click ruler. (note: a click ruler is the only blindness-specific tool students use. It is a metal 12-inch ruler divided into inches, half inches and one-sixteenth inches. Each click represents one-sixteenth of an inch).
All the other tools, including saws, drills an routers have not been adapted in any way.

I am invigorated, exhausted and overwhelmed. I remind myself to forget my ego and start fresh, and to realize I am on a journey and will not know everything all at once. That is why I am here: to learn and to grow.

I moved into the LCB apartments this week. The apartments are like townhouses and are all ground level. Each unit has two bedrooms and one bathroom and a kitchen an living area. The complex also has an activity centre with tables and couches and laundry facilities.
I have a lovely roommate, who is 20 years old. She has been at LCB for three months. She is a great support and mentor. We walk together each morning to the centre.
PS. Our house purchased has been finalized and we move tomorrow. Will be nice to be closer to Jeff and the boys.
Lots of love to everyone.

Tigger and Spider Man

Went trick or treating with kids last night. Drove for an hour and couldn't find any little kids. Finally I stopped at McDonalds and asked someone where kids went on Halloween in Ruston.
We discovered everyone goes to one central location and goes from house to house. We made it just as dark fell.
My little Tigger and Spider Man had a great time at last! Also went to fire hall during the day, games and rode in a 100 feet bucket.
I start at the centre tomorrow. Yes I am nervous. Can't believe the big day is actually here.
Rhys knows that momma is going to school just like him!
We are going to send each other good thoughts each day! Note: there are pics up on Facebook.

Accepted Offer

Well, we did it. We made an offer on a house in Ruston. We thought better to buy than to rent. We wanted an investment and to get back into the market again.
Hard to believe we are buying a house some place other than back home in Victoria!!
Our offer has been accepted. Everything closes on Friday.
It is a duplex, so we can rent it out and get income, which will help so much.
It's an old house, but a good investment. The property is large about 16,000 sqf. A great yard for the kids to play.
We will hold onto the house when we go back to Victoria.
Jeff is getting excited about fixing it up a bit. I can hear the happiness back in his voice.
He can't wait to get his hands on the house!
Next weekend will be busy – Halloween party for the kids, tricker treating, moving into our new place and I start at the centre on Monday! So much excitement!
Miss you all back home!
hugs

Getting up at 6 am!

Yikes 6 am is much too early to get up!
October 22
Went to look at two duplexes today in Ruston. Asking around $75,000. Would be great investment opportunity and a way to live in Ruston. There is much truth to southern hospitality. Everyone is so welcoming. 70 degrees today and raining.

October 21, 2009,
We just picked up Rhys from school. It was his fourth day. He is starting to get used to it. He is doing his homework with dad on the trailer table. Has to write three words that end in the letter "P".
He had hamburger, fries and ketchup and cake with icing for lunch. My goodness!
Trailer is very small for all of us. Hard to keep things in order and keep it clean not to mention can't find any time to yourself.

Jeff and I have been looking for possible properties to buy in Ruston. Would like to get an investment property, maybe a duplex to rent out and keep when we go back home.
You can get a shack that looks like a barn outside of Ruston in the country on one acre for $40,000. But we want to get something in Ruston. An average house is going for about $100,000 in Ruston, close to $200,000 for a really ice house.

Rents are relatively high, not much cheaper than in Victoria.
We will see how it goes.

Marsh mellows

Finally a sunny day in Ruston LA. Kids are outside by the camp fire roasting marsh mellows. Came home to ants in our trailer yesterday! yuck
Rhys had his second day of kindergarten. Actually had a reading test. Yikes. A bit intense. But seems to be enjoying school. Maybe it's harder on me! He gets homework next week!
I start at the training centre at the beginning of November. Can't wait. There are blind people all over the city. I've never been to a place where blindness isn't a big deal. I go into a store and the clerk talks to me like I am a normal person. Like I am in a different dimension where everyone's educated about blind people!

starting kindergarten

My son starts kindergarten tomorrow. Early start, 7:30 am to 2:40 PM a full day. They have uniforms. We shopped for this today. Cackie or black pants and polo shirts, either red, black or white.
My little boy looks so handsome all dressed up. Hard to believe. The school even has a cafeteria and provides lunches.

Thunder

Thunder today. Rain doesn't stop, pelting down. Did our laundry at the laundry mat in Ruston. Got Rhys registered at school. Will be so good when he starts. He needs to be with other children. We are going to look for rental housing tomorrow. I will be living at the centre apartments during the week days and at our family house on weekends. Drove by the centre apartments today. They are very nice, like town houses, not far from the centre. Crickets are loud tonight, now the rain has stopped. Finally got the kids to sleep.

Happy Thanks Giving from Ruston

Dear friends!

We are staying at a camp site called Antique Village about 10 minutes from the city of Ruston. Weather has been poring rain for the last few days. We were 20 KM away from a twister the other day. WE have been settling in. Finally got a cell phone so we can stay in touch with everyone back home.
Working on getting Rhys in Kindergarten and will be starting my training at the center at the beginning of November.
Had a wonderful turkey dinner to night in celebration of the Canadian thanks giving!
Miss you all.
Love
From the Lalondes.

--
End of September, 2009

The boys, Jeff and I left on our big adventure to Ruston Louisiana on Friday. We drove through Washington State, Oregon and now we are in Idaho. Staying tonight at an RV site with goats. Boys have been giving the goats bread. We are all well.
Very hot here. Feels like a dream. Reading Harry Potter as we drive! Great to lose myself in a book again! Drove by "Moon Crater today / touched real lava from volcano.

October 3, 2009
Reached Oklahoma yesterday. Today we are in Checotah. We drove for hours the last few days to escape the terrible icy winds in Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas.
Couldn't believe how cold it was. So glad I brought our winter coats.

One site in Kansas had an organic garden. Jeff and the boys picked tomatoes and a pumpkin, which is ripening in the back of the truck.

Don't always have a payphone to use and sometimes, if there is wireless at the camp sites, the connection is weak. So difficult to stay in touch with people back home.
We don't have a cell phone yet to use in the States. Will wait till we get to Louisiana.
The weather here is much nicer than when we were crossing the high Plaines; it is about 70 degrees in the evening. Starting to feel more like the south, a pungent, sweet smell in the air – a playground for the kids and even a pool!
We will stay here two nights as we desperately need a break from driving. The kids have been so good, but it is hard to travel for so long and to sit so much. Our backseat looks like it has been hit by a tornado – books, crumbs, empty cd holders litter the seat and floor.

We often lose our tempers, crowded in the truck or trailer for long periods, but we manage to rejuvenate ourselves between bouts and laugh and feel excitement about the great adventure we are on.

We're Here

Hello everyone,
We've made it to Ruston. I'll write more very soon.