Rest in Peace Cameron: One never knows

 

This could be viewed in several ways.  One never knows when the unexpected will come knocking at our door.  Or one never knows when plans will change or that it could be the final hour of our life.

These are things that are common to everyone, mainstream or not.  Living with a disability or not.  In short, this is what makes us equal in this way.

Yes, one never knows and no amount of preparing for certain things could take away the unexpected.

This is how I felt when Stephanie phoned to tell me that her husband, Cameron, had passed on suddenly.  Sad, upsetting, but so sobering.

I remember Cameron being very kind, gentle, and so very helpful to me.  He never seemed to feel uncomfortable around me.  He would always take my hand when guiding me to the table and would hasten to read the menu before we ordered.  Then he would tell me exactly what was on my plate when our meal arrived.

Rest in Peace, Cameron.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
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Anxious moments: When the dogs come barking

 

This is one of the most difficult challenges for me living in a condo and it is only getting more difficult to deal with.

It appears that more tenants are using dogs as companions and service dogs to help them cope with the pandemic.  For whereas I fully understand, it is difficult for me whenever some of these dogs come running at me barking at the top of their lungs!

They are not trained and disciplined enough so that whenever they see someone with a cane or wearing a mask, they simply run at me and bark so loudly that I am almost ready to faint with fear.

Not being able to see them approaching is so fearful and then I have to make sure that I am not too close to them.  This is almost impossible for me to gauge.  

I just wish that owners could be a bit more careful and considerate.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

A precious friendship: Enjoying dining with Pearl

She is what I call a breath of fresh air and I am just so honoured, so privileged, and so pleased that my precious Pearl has come into my life.

I met Pearl when she volunteered to drive me to my medical appointments several years ago and our relationship has blossomed into a friendship from that of her being a volunteer.

Our dining adventures are simply filled with a lot of humour and entertainment.  Pearl is such a gentle person: understanding, generous, and so very kind.

She is never afraid to ask me how I go about doing things as a blind/vision impaired person and is so quick to offer suggestions and tips on all kinds of things.  I'd say on life in general.

We are both very spiritual and share a deep understanding of our religious beliefs.  We share and exchange experiences and she is always willing to help me learn more.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight loss coach and 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.

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

Tedious times: Cleaning the kitchen

The pandemic has made me work ever more diligently to ensure that my kitchen is cleaned more than regularly.  So, what do I do?

I sweep my floors more often. I clean my dressers and cupboard with a homemade mixture of bleach and a gentle disinfectant. I do the same with my stove top, my microwave, and my toaster oven. My sinks are also more than regularly scrubbed. Garbage is taken out more than regularly.

Hard work but it gives me peace of mind. I'll probably retain this process well after the pandemic is over.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

A humorous moment: Hunting down the elusive jersey

 

Looking back now I can only laugh at myself for having been just a bit too zealous, or well organized.  Or maybe just a bit of both.

This all happened when I went to take my clothes out of the dryer and fold them.  I meticulously counted each piece of clothing and then realized that I was missing a particular jersey.  So, off I went in search of it.

I searched the washer, the dryer, and the surrounding floor and carpet, but nothing.  I counted my pieces of clothing once more and still no sign of the missing piece and then, alas!

To my utter bewilderment and humour; I never washed it!  Just needless hours looking for a jersey that was never washed.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

Tedious but necessary: Tracing the spill

 I can honestly tell you that when it comes to tracing a spill of any size, it is not much fun for me.  I need to ensure that my mind is crisp, clear, and just ready for any surprise.

The first thing is for me to identify that there is a spill somewhere close by.
Next, the challenge is for me to locate it.
Next, to determine if this is just one spill or are there any other associated spills close by.
Then, to determine the type of spill: dry, wet, soft, hard, or crusty.
Then, to get to work to determine the best way to clean said spill.

Not much fun for me but just another fact of life.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight loss coach and 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.

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

Exciting times! Preparing for a team building event

 

This is one of my newest initiatives and I can tell you that I am very excited.

Andrew and his team have just been so very helpful to me and we are going to work together to hash out the technical challenges.  This is really and truly a team building event.

There are supposed to be over 30 participants but they do not know that I am going to be a guest at their event.  I just love it!

I have prepared my texts and now I wait to overcome my nervousness re the technical side of things.  It is going to be a lot of fun!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

A smoother experience! June 16 exam is over

 

Just one more exam for me to sit and with every ounce of luck I will have completed my beloved law degree which I have dreamed of obtaining ever since I was a child.

This particular exam went much more smoothly than the one of October 2020. Sam was with me to help me get set up and to download the exam.  The technical part of the exam to download and upload went without a hitch.

Sam was so very supportive and while I sat in my office writing my exam, Sam sat at my dining room table doing her work.  I took 2 brief breaks to visit her and to visit the washroom.  We chatted for a few minutes each time I came out of my office and mercifully I was done with half hour to spare.

So, this is now behind me.  One more exam to go! I would say that as a blind/vision impaired student, this is not for the faint of heart.  Sighted assistance and support are both necessary.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

A disturbing sensation! When my ears clogged up

I can certainly tell you that as someone who is blind/vision impaired, it is almost always double jeopardy whenever my ears clog up, and why?  Because I lose my balance and, as I cannot see where I am going, it is difficult for me to concentrate on maintaining my balance while trying to find my way around both at the same time.

It is no fun and for anyone losing their balance it is not very pleasant. So, here is how I deal with this dilemma.

Whenever I lose my balance, I find a safe spot and sit and wait for this to pass.  Sometimes it does not take long for my balance to return but occasionally it takes quite some time and I just need to either wait it out if I can or gingerly move around without falling or bumping into things.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight loss coach and 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.

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

No different for anyone: Those irritating aerosol cans

 

I do think that this is a problem for  anyone who is blind or sighted.  It is all about those pain in the neck aerosol cans that stop working when the can is still very full.

I absolutely detest those cans when they do this and there is nothing that one can do to bring them back to functioning again.  Believe me, I have tried and have even enlisted the assistance of many willing persons.

I just think that the pumps in these cans are just too small and if one tries to use them with a bit of robustness then here is where the problem lies.  They simply stop working.

I just wish that someone who is listening or reading this blog can share some useful info.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

A frustrating experience: Hunting down the rubber band

This is probably one of the most difficult tasks for me, having to hunt down fallen objects that do not make any noise when they drop onto the floor.

Such things as rubber bands, plastic bags, loose leaf papers, and so on. The only time that I can tell that I need to go hunting for them is when I either miss them or I am somehow made aware that they have fallen.

Such was the case recently when the rubber band fell onto the kitchen floor. No, I did not hear it fall and only knew that it had when I went looking for it on my counter and could not find it.

So, off I went, meticulously searching and mildly scolding myself for not having been more careful.  I will tell you that most of the time I do find what I am searching for but there are definitely times when I am unable to find my prey, so to speak!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

Technology's dirty trick:When the screen rotated

 I can tell you that it was not very funny and I would probably never have realized this on my own.  It took a pair of eyes to tell me that my screen had inadvertently rotated.  Yes, when Shane visited me for some tech time, he saw this right away.

This circumstance lasted for about two weeks and I had to live through some very stressful and challenging times.  At first I thought that the problem was my poor old screen reader and I spent so much anxious time trying to restart, reboot, and reinstall.

What a relief when Shane helped me and showed me how to get out of this almost impossible situation.  Looking back now I can probably smile at it all, but at the time it was not very funny.

Ah, yes!  A day in the life of a vision-impaired person.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight loss coach and 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.

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

Condo living: Watering the plants

 

Ah, yes!  Just another so-called problem to overcome when one lives in a condo!  The resident below me keeps complaining that when I water my plants, the residue water falls onto her balcony.

This may be so but, in turn, I am constantly sweeping away objects that fly onto my balcony and almost every day one of my plant pots is flooded with water from above.  So what can I do?

I do my best to water carefully, using my fingers to gauge the water levels in my pot.  I really try but I suspect that this particular person may just not be used to condo living.

Flying objects landing on balconies and water dripping downwards are just two challenges of condo living.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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