Lost in a backyard

I timed 42 words a minute last week in Braille. I am definitely reading in
the forties now. It is nice to feel my fingers slide more quickly and
smoothly across the dots and to hear my own voice reading the story out
loud with emphasis and expression-- the ability to read with ease for the
first time in my life.
My goal is to reach 60 words by the time I graduate from LCB.

I am working hard in travel class. I now have two extra cane travel
classes a week, which means that two days a week I have four hours of
travel, two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. I also
walk to school every morning with my shades on to get as much practice as
possible.

I did a repeat route on Tuesday on West California Street. The first time
doing this route I wasn't able to find the address, but this time I found
it. It was a doughnut shop. I treated myself to a cinomyn twist and a cup
of coffee. The man who worked there asked me where I was from. My Canadian
accent gave me away. They tease me here about how I say words like "out"
and "been" and "again." This man told me about a man who frequently comes
to the doughnut shop who lived on Vancouver Island for 25 years and worked
as a mechanic. He called this man on the phone. I spoke to him. He is 72
years old and he knew about the Empress, Warf Street and even Campbell
River." I must be getting nostalgic for home.
That same afternoon I went on another travel route and searched up and
down the same block for 45 minutes, but could not find the address.
Finally, frustrated, hot and exhausted and lost in a backyard, somebody
found me and helped me back to the sidewalk. He said " I know we aren't
supposed to help you, but I saw you looking around for so long..." I
thanked him profusely. It turned out I had accidentally been given the
wrong address. Oh well, I sure know that block well now.

I went on bus travel yesterday to Monrow. We took a bus to the mall and I
practiced finding my way around the mall looking for specific shops. My
teacher asked me to find "Pay less Shoes," Radio Shack," and "Yankee
Candles." After some searching and requesting some assistance I found all
three stores. I need more work in malls. Traveling in open indoor spaces
takes a different skill. You listen for openings and must stay by the
perimeter of the store as you walk. One important thing I learned that I
wished I'd learned years ago is when you ask a sighted person for
directions and they say left or right.., it helps to point in the
direction they are saying. Often the direction they have told you isn't
the one they really meant, and when they see you pointing it helps them
get it right.
"It was an adventure and of course gave me an excuse to buy some things.

The pool is open

I finished my meal for forty on Wednesday. Can't believe it is over. My
adrenalin was pumping until the meal ended. Then when it came time to
clean up, exhaustion consumed me, and I pushed myself to get everything
done.

One of my good friends here graduated this week. The ceremony was
yesterday. The graduations take place in the library at the centre. This
particular young woman is smart and much-loved by everyone.
Students and staff talked about the graduate and each said something
special about her. Family and friends called in to offer well-wishes.

Graduations are intense and emotional events.
After the graduation, we went to dinner at a Louisiana-style restaurant,
where people dined on crawfish, blackened cat fish and shrimp.

I took my sons swimming today. The municipal pool opened last week. It is
a nice pool, so good to cool down in this heat. The little one clung to
me, but as he got used to the water, he grew braver, and let me hold him
as he floated and kicked his feet. My older son loves the water.
They were tired after the swim, so I pulled them both back in the
stroller. Good exercise for me as it is uphill from the pool to the
apartment.

Pickle Juice

Did all my shopping for my meal for 40 yesterday, so much to buy. I had to
quadruple all my recipes. I am making chili, rice, tossed salad, baking
powder biscuits and "Dirt Cake." Oh and pink lemon aid. I cooked all day
today and accomplished a lot. The only mishaps were when I broke a jar of
pickles, which fell out of the fridge and shattered into a hundred pieces
of glass drenched in pickle juice. I uttered a few unrepeatable words and
spent 20 minutes cleaning it up. I also put baking soda instead of baking
powder in my biscuits and had to re-do the whole mixture. Anyway, most of
my food is prepared and tomorrow I have to heat up the chilee bake the
biscuits, make the drink and the salad. Then do all the dishes. I can't
wait till it is over! Wow!
It was 91 degrees today, but with the humidity it is over 100, so hot! The
June bugs sing at night, and the outdoor pools are open.
Yesterday was Memorial day in the States. Our school went to the lake and
had a "craw fish boil." Craw fish are mud dwellers with exoskeletons; they
look much like lobsters. They are a delicacy here. People eat them with
corn and sausage and potato. I was unadventurous and ate a hamburger.

My oldest son starts summer school tomorrow.
Love to you all!