Friday, February 24, 2017

A cherished memory: Mom and her slippers


Poor old Mom!  I am constantly teasing her about her various types of slippers.  She wears one pair that makes a very loud and slapping noise as she walks and this is the one that I like best as I can normally tell where she is and when she is approaching.

Then she has one that makes a much softer sound as she walks.  It sounds very professional and sometimes I cannot tell quite where she is.  However, I can tell when she is hurrying along as opposed to her walking more leisurely.

Then finally there is the pair of slippers that simply do not make any sound at all and this is my least favorite.  I cannot really tell which of these is Mom's favorite but maybe, and just maybe, she likes them all.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Good times: Having tea with the family


I always enjoy having tea with the family and, as a matter of fact, I enjoy this activity on the whole.  However, I always need to adjust my strategy whenever this happens.

If the tea is a sit-down tea whereby you can order from a menu, I need to have someone read the menu to me and then the fun begins.  If each person receives their own plate of goodies then I normally get someone to tell me how my goodies are arranged.  I normally order tea so that when it comes I again depend on someone to help me find the cream or milk.

I can usually pour my own tea from the tea pot but there is always someone there at the table to render assistance.

If the tea party is a buffet event then here is where the trick of the trade comes in as I would need to depend on someone to assist me at the buffet table.  I would ask them to tell me what is being served and then to help me retrieve what I would like to have put on my plate.

This is just another routine task for me if I attend any afternoon tea event.  I will say that there is always someone there to assist.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

A great memory: Mom and the lizards


Never mind that Mom really does not appreciate having those lizards come too close to her, this is how I also feel.  I cannot see them so I allow my imagination to take over whenever I sense that they are close.

How do I know that they are nearby?  First off, they make a sort of a clacking sound when they are close by and then there is good old Mom!  She normally shrieks and runs away whenever she sees any of them.

She may be opening the door to any of her kitchen or pantry cupboards or she may be in her garden or she may even be in her laundry room when they appear.  I am usually not too far away and her protestations are followed by her reaching for her spray can to spray them.

I usually find all of this very funny and humorous but truth be told I am sure glad that I cannot see these lizards.  I can only use my imagination to figure out what is happening.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Friday, February 17, 2017

A refreshing memory: Mom and her magazines


This is probably one thing that must occur each week and that is for Mom to purchase her favorite magazines.  When I had functional vision I was the one who bought these for her and mailed them to her.  I always enjoyed doing this as I was able to pick out her magazines and read the headlines before buying them and then taking them home where I stuffed them in large envelopes and then took them to the post office for mailing.

Now it is Mom who reads the headlines to me and then she proceeds to do her crossword puzzles and browse through the various sections.  I know better than to interrupt her when she is with her magazines.

I sit and wait patiently for her to read and then she is ready to talk to me.  These are the moments that I really treasure: Mom reading her magazines, me waiting and working at my computer until she is ready.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Thursday, February 16, 2017

A challenge: Searching through Mom's fridge

Talk about an adventure for the day, and it is all about searching through Mom’s fridge.  You would be very lucky if you were able to come out of there without having paused to sample something or the other.

As a blind person I find it very interesting and at times a bit of a challenge, and why?  Because I never know what I am going to find, but there is one thing for me to say: it is well organized as everything seems to have its particular place.

For the most part, Mom’s fridge is always packed and contains a wide variety of all kinds of everything.  Things are organized into some sort of orderly piles and it is not too difficult to find something cold to drink.

My challenge is that I often have to open containers to learn their contents whereas for the one with sight this is not the case.  Say what you may, however, it is an adventure that I often enjoy!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

My reflection: Mom's favorite supermarket


Oh, how I love going to Mom’s favorite supermarket!  It is always a treat whenever I go grocery shopping with this very special lady.

We set out early in the morning and soon we are there!  The many smells of food cooking, fresh produce, baked goods, and so much more simply tantalize my nostrils.

On most occasions Mom’s favorite supermarket is crowded with shoppers pushing shopping carts loaded with all kinds of goods, standing around in the aisles chatting and laughing among themselves, and shoppers conversing in various languages other than English.

Some are carrying on conversations in English.  Others are greeting each other in Spanish while others are exchanging information in a Chinese dialect.  I stop, I listen, and I take it all in and I thoroughly enjoy the entire scene.

Mom would often stop to greet a friend and then she would introduce me to them.  Then we would move on to continue filling our own shopping cart.

Christmastime is probably my favorite time to visit Mom’s favorite supermarket as it is overflowing with goodies of all kinds and the crowds are thick and noisy.  It is the time when smells simply outdo themselves as they compete for my attention.

Ah, yes!  This is Mom’s favorite supermarket!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Friday, February 10, 2017

Forever my doll house: My makeshift doll house


This is exactly what it was.  It was a makeshift doll house but it was mine, nevertheless, and I loved and cherished it because I had created it with my own two hands along with my imagination.

This is what it was.  A large piece of board supported by two small crates. There were three tiny rooms.  The center room was the one between the two crates and the outer rooms did not have any outside wall. I placed all of my main furniture in the two outer rooms while my little dolls slept in the center room.

I did all of my cooking and ironing and other activities on top of the board and I called this my kitchen and pantry.  I made space for a very tiny yard outside of my little house and there I would bring my dolls out to play.  It worked very well and it was my little space in our family's home and mine alone.  Everyone left me to do what I needed to do and even the dogs respected my privacy.

I can still picture it now.  It was all mine and will be mine forever.  Mine where I played, imagined, created, and dreamed.  Dreams that I kept secret and ones that, for the most part, have come true.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Thursday, February 9, 2017

A great childhood memory: Hunting for almonds


I have to admit that this was one of my favorite childhood activities at school.  There I was, along with my classmates, hunting for those ripe and juicy almonds at break time and during lunch hour.

We were all vision impaired so accordingly we had to walk gingerly in the grass in order to find them.  We needed to make sure that we did not crush them when we stepped on them as it was the only way for us to find them, by stepping on them.

I do remember having been able to find so many of these sweet, large, juicy fruits and each time I found one it was as good as the previous one or even better.

I know that my classmates felt the same way and we often had competitions to see who would find the most during break time.  Ah, yes!  More memories to cherish and love forever.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Memories forever: My little blue rocking chair


I still remember my little blue rocking chair: so tiny, so delicate and so bright.  Oh how I loved it and I can still remember sitting in it and being afraid to rock too hard in it for fear of breaking it.

I must have been only about five or six years old and thank goodness that I was very petite or else I may not have been able to fit in it.  My memories are clear but the one thing is that I do not even know now what became of it.

All of this being said, I definitely have great memories of my little blue rocking chair.  I really loved and cherished it and will always hold these memories very close to my heart.  Those were the days when I could just sit, rock gently, and imagine so many things.  I imagined about fairies, kings and queens, and princes and princesses.  I imagined swimming with the fishes and flying with the birds and I dreamed of flying with fairies and playing with princes and princesses.

Ah, yes!  My childhood dreams and ones that live on in my mind and will be there forever.  My little blue rocking chair sure helped me to imagine.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Friday, February 3, 2017

Not much difference: Interacting with Mom's TV


This is, indeed, a very interesting but humorous type of interaction for me. At first I had refused to even go near Mom's TV, but in the summer of 2016 I decided to bite the bullet and grab a hold of this situation.

Mom's TV is very moody at the best of times but when she works she really does.  Mom has two separate remotes to make her TV work but I have figured out a way to get around this.

I can turn her TV on and off with the buttons at the top of the TV and I can also increase and decrease the volume the same way. I only need to use the remote to flick the channels.

I do not mind doing it this way because I cannot navigate her remote without being shown where the numbers on the numpad are positioned.  Ah yes!  Just another humorous challenge for me.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Our new way: She sees and I hear


Now that Mom is losing her hearing it has become necessary for us to work even more closely and as a real team.  In short, she sees and I hear.

This is taking some getting used to but we are both working very hard to make it all work.  Mom's eyesight is very good and my hearing is as good. So we assist each other.

Of course, we have our kinks to work out but this is an ongoing work in progress.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Precious memories: Mom and I in St. Lucia


Mom and I have been making it our annual holiday since 2011 and this is an event that I really look forward to every year. Yes!  It's girls' time and we head off to sweet St. Lucia every year to simply relax and have some down time.

It is always so interesting to me whenever we go down for our meals.  These are always buffet style meals and, as always, Mom is my main helper. But the staff has grown so used to us now that they automatically help us out at meal time.

Everyone is just so helpful and oh so cool.  They chat and laugh with us. They bring us whatever we want and they know exactly how to help me out as a blind person.

Then there is the always to remember beach with the sand and surf in limitless abundance.  Nights are very special to me as it is the time when I get to be in touch with my imagination, my self, and my thoughts.

Mornings and evenings on our balcony are so relaxing and so memorable.  Just listening to the sound of the waves as they break gently on the sandy shore, the singing birds and the chirping crickets.

Ah, yes! Sweet St. Lucia!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan