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.
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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:
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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.
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