Overjoyed! Fresh air at last

 

There is nothing more refreshing than to be able to breathe fresh air and this is exactly what I did as I stood with Mom at the airport, waiting for Rambo to bring the car around.

Ah, yes!  Fresh pure air, cool air!  So refreshing after having been seated on a plane for so many hours!

I know that many take this for granted but I surely do not.  It is like drinking in a tall glass of tasty, cool liquid!

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

My precious Mom forever! Greeting Mom

And as I hurried towards my precious Mom to greet her after not having seen her for almost two years, it was all worth the wait.  The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and the air was fresh and pure.

There she was, calling to me as I hurried along and there was Rambo beside her, greeting me as well.  Of course, we could not exchange kisses but I nevertheless hugged Mom so very tightly and she did the same.  It felt very funny exchanging greetings with masks on.

Then we were driving away in Rambo’s car, bound for Mom’s home and looking forward to a nice long visit.

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

I could hardly wait! Traveling to see Mom at last

It was all worth every moment of it.  From traveling with Sue to take the mandatory PCR test, to getting Shane and Sandra and Ruth to assist with all of those cumbersome mandatory documents as required for travel, then meeting Ruth, Marc, and Faith at the airport to embark on our long journey.

Moments to remember but moments that I dearly hope will not be repeated.  For over a period of four days, as this is how long it took to prepare and fly, the anticipation and expectations were so much to deal with.  

It all started on the Monday and ended on the morning of Thursday and as a blind/vision- impaired person depending almost solely on sighted assistance, it was just so much more stressful for me.

This is probably one of the most challenging circumstances, when I need to depend on sighted assistance to get things done.  Good thing that all of these wonderful folks were trustworthy and so very helpful.

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

Great expectations: Getting ready for bigger things

 

It was time to get ready for bigger things and this was the hour!  Final law exams were now over, a huge chunk of my advocacy projects and initiatives were now complete and now was the time to get ready for those bigger and more important things!

Yes, to look forward to seeing my precious Mom and to see my family!  To greet those loyal and faithful workers!  Such special moments to look forward to!

Most of all, to spend time hearing myself think!  To listen to my heart beating and to hear Mom bring me up to date on all of her news!  Even to see Rico, that snobbish cat and to hear those troublesome lizards moving around!

Yes,  looking forward to bigger and better things!

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 stressful time:Preparing for my final exam

This was no different than any other previous exams except that it was the final exam of my law studies and the one that would stand between completion of a long and arduous journey to obtain my dream of a law degree.

For these reasons, this final exam was probably the most important for me and so I took some additional time to prepare.  I listened more carefully to my coach and to my intuition.  I was more meticulous when studying and I took time to rest well and to catch up on my sleep in between periods of studying.

These strategies sure paid off and on the day of the exam I was as ready as I could be.  And there was Sam, walking with me and helping me to be calm and positive!  Yes, my dear friend Sam!  She was my anchor on that day!  Keeping things light and uplifting!

It worked! Thank you Sam!

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
 

Refreshing! Quebec City, what a wonderful time

 

And a wonderful time it was!  Why?  It was all about the people and their friendliness and welcoming manner!  It was all about how they went out of their way to help me as a blind/vision-impaired person!  It was all about how they listened, understood, and acted!

They sure made up for their city being one that included so many steps to ascend and descend, but this was definitely not their fault.  Those challenging steps made this beautiful and quaint city quite trying and inaccessible at times, but at the end of the day it was those wonderful city folks who made it all worthwhile.

I can definitely say that accessibility comes in so many various forms; a plethora of variations and this is what Quebec City is all about!

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

Looking forward! Preparing for a train trip

 

I have always enjoyed train trips and this upcoming one was no different.  It was going to be to Quebec City at the end of October, with Sue, and I was not disappointed.

From beginning to end, everything went so right despite all of the pandemic requirements that had to be adhered to.

I made sure to pack enough hand sanitizers, masks, and hand wipes for my trip.  I also made sure to pack them in a place that I could quickly and easily access them and I also packed carefully enough so as not to forget anything.

As someone who is blind/vision-impaired, I believe that it is even more important for me to pack all that I need, everything that is required, and most of all to be alert so as not to be a burden to my travel companion.

Sue is a wonderful traveling companion.  She makes suggestions, she helps out so much, and she is always there to oversee my activities.  

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 good strategy: Planning for a trip

 I do not think that it really matters when it comes to planning for a trip and I would say that the more I plan the easier it is to ensure that everything goes smoothly. So, here I go.

Choose a hotel that is known to provide accessibility features to me as a blind/vision-impaired person.
When booking with airline or rail, make sure to let them know that I, as a blind/vision-impaired person, will need assistance from station to station or airport to airport.  That is, from departure and back to arrival.
Plan events where I am comfortable that I would be able to enjoy activities that are accessible and navigable.
Make sure that if I travel with someone else who is sighted, that they are comfortable traveling with a blind/vision-impaired person and that they are fully aware of my needs and requirements.

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

Making sure! Positioning the mask correctly

This is one thing that I have taken the time to ensure that I am doing correctly, and as a blind/vision-impaired person I need to ensure that I check regularly with someone who is sighted.

I need to ensure that the elastic is securely tucked behind each ear and at the same time to make sure that the arms of my glasses are firmly in place so that they do not fall off.  

In addition, I need to constantly check to make sure that the mask is fitting appropriately on my nose and that it is covering all of the required areas on my face.

Yes, lots to do but I need to get it right and to play my part.

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
 

Time to get ready: Preparing for the holidays

This is probably not going to be any different from 2020.  The pandemic is well and alive so the same restrictions will be in place.

All of this being said, I intend to enjoy my upcoming holidays.  I’ll do my best to stay away from purchasing unnecessary things, just sticking to what is really necessary.  I’ll only attend functions if they fall within the requirements and restrictions of the pandemic, and I’ll find ways to enjoy the holidays from home.

I’ll probably be with Mom and the family for the holidays.  At least I am hoping so.

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

Who is listening? The continued request for electronic documents

 

Without having access to electronic documents, I am afraid that blind/vision-impaired persons will continue to struggle to keep up to date with info; especially so in cases of urgent and important information.

As I continue to struggle to encourage and convince the team at the management office in my condo complex, I am finding more and more that this is a challenge that is going to continue to haunt and irritate me for a very long time to come.

It is a weekly struggle for me.  More often than not I have to keep reminding them to send me my documents in electronic format.  They almost never apologize, instead proffering  lame and anemic excuses!

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

Frustrating and humourous: Retrieving the wrong package from the freezer

 

Well, this is what happens when I fail to ensure that my packages are correctly labelled.  No one to blame but me and myself!

The other day I retrieved a package from my freezer thinking that it was a shepherd’s pie, but how wrong I was!  Lo and behold, it was a package of ground beef.  And where did things go wrong for me?

First off, I should have properly labelled the packages.  Second, these two packages are different to the touch and had I been paying sufficient attention I would definitely have picked up on this.

There is no excuse for this and as a blind/vision-impaired person I know only too well how important it is to be able to identify packages in my freezer.

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

Seeing them at last! Thanksgiving with my family

 

This is a day that shall forever remain with me.  One where after almost two years, I got to see my nieces Ruthie, Martha, and Faith and to see Marc once more and to meet Jake for the first time.

I bonded all over again with the nieces and I hope that they felt the same.  They were simply so accommodating, so very considerate, and just such a joy to be around.

Yes. indeed!  Thanksgiving is definitely a time for family and friends to come together.  To give thanks for each other and to be blessed to have food on our table.

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