Frustrating times! Losing cable

 I guess that most of us take it for granted that our cable will always be there for us but I have learned the hard way that my cable service should never be taken for granted.  No!  I am extremely fortunate to have cable service in the first place because there are literally millions in this world who do not have this luxury.

It feels like having one of my fingers removed whenever cable service goes!   My home goes very quiet because my TV stands waiting for cable service to return.  Most of the time it returns quickly but there are times when it goes off for hours.  

I often smile to myself when I think of the good old radio that never fails me.  It is always there for me, whereas with cable!  Well, I must be thankful for cable service!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly award-winning 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 at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Important notice from Donna J. Jodhan
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to share news and or info about yourself or about others, then please read on!
Donna J. Jodhan can help you reach a rapidly growing list of over 12,000 readers and listeners and counting!
All you need to do is to give a listen to her monthly shows and if you like what you hear then here's how it works!
For the very affordable price of $25, Donna will feature your info and news on 2 of her monthly shows.
Once on the Ask Donna show and once on the Dining with Donna show.
Both of these monthly shows run weekly.
This means that your info will be featured twice for the month.
No more having to worry about posting to Facebook!  
You'll be able to engage with ready made readers and listeners!
Your payment of $25 will be prorated as a monthly payment.
So you can either pay monthly, or you can pay as you go.
Just send your info or news to Donna at askdonnaonblindlife@gmail.com
No more than 150 words.
Donna will then post your info or news as soon as you remit payment to her at paypal@donnajodhan.com
To give a listen visit https://www.donnajodhan.com/askdonna and https://www.donnajodhan.com/dwd
Take advantage of this very quick and easy way to reach a ready made audience!

A humourous moment: Turning up the volume on my speakers

Looking back at this experience I can now smile to myself as I put this wee glitch down to a minor lapse in attention to logic.

A few months ago Shane had helped me to set up my satellite radio and after he left I realized that the volume was not very loud. So, there I was, trying to find some sort of button to increase the volume.

I started to search for some sort of button on the receiver itself but could not find any such thing. I must have searched for it a few times and decided to wait until Shane returned to ask him to help me.

Lo and behold, there was the answer, right there on one of the speakers. The volume button was on the side of one of the speakers. I just felt so very foolish when Shane showed me. Good thing that he did not make me feel even more foolish.

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.

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

Happy times: Remembering Dad's radiogram

This is probably one of my very most cherished memories, a picture of Dad's radiogram all lit up at night whenever he sat in his chair listening to foreign stations.  And there I was, lying on his bed listening along with him.

The reception was loud and clear. The screen was always lit up and I guess that it showed all kinds of nifty things but I could not see it. Yet, there was something there that always attracted me. Maybe it was the brightly coloured lights that adorned the screen.

Dad loved to listen to the Voice of America and he even went further afield to find European stations and our very own local stations. There were so many knobs at the front of the radiogram that navigated how to control the reception, how to find the various stations, and how to switch from local to

shortwave.

As I write this I can still picture this handsome looking piece of furniture for this is what it was. Stately looking, with a cabinet that housed a tape recorder and a record player. Then there was the radio gram with its knobs and screen. The top of the radio gram was large enough for Mom to place vases of flowers, both real and artificial, on the top of it and the entire radiogram stood on magnificent sturdy legs.

These were my memories, childhood memories that still linger on in my mind. Memories of a magnificent radiogram that played records, recorded us as kids, but most of all a shortwave radio that could reach so many parts of the world.

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.

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

It requires a wee bit of patience: Selecting the right radio station

I have to admit that every time I need to select a radio station, it means a wee bit of a challenge for me.

This normally arises either when I have somehow lost my favourite radio station or when I am looking for a new one.

I have to admit that I am a creature of habit so most of the time I am listening to the same radio station.

So, how do I find it if I have lost it?  With no guiding support, that is I am unable to see the numbers on the screen of my radio, this is my strategy. Two of my radios are tuned to my favourite news station and the other two are tuned to my favourite music station.  So, when I lose my way on one radio I have a backup and I use this to help me find my way back to the station.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.donnajodhan.com/takeanother5.html

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter!

'Let's Talk Tips' is my monthly resource for the most current and reliable informational tips available in the areas of Technology, Nutrition, Media, Business, and Advocacy.  http://bit.ly/ADJSubscribe

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Happy times: Soap operas on the radio

Oh, how I remember listening to these on our radio.  I must have started when I was about six years old and along with Mom and Granny it was the time of day when we three got to sit together.  There was no TV so we had to depend on the radio. Even after TV came to our neighborhood, we continued our rituals.

Soap operas seemed to play all day long on the various radio stations, starting from around 10 am and ending at around 4 pm and then again it resumed at supper time and ended at bedtime.

I sure remember sneaking my small transistor radio in my school bag and trying to listen to the soap operas during break time and again at lunch. Then when I went home I would race to find Mom and Granny to ask what went on during the day with the ones that I had missed.

They were always so ready to tell me everything and I was such an avid listener.  The voices in the soap operas were so clear and easy to understand and the descriptions were unquestionably the best.  We had no difficulty following along.

As I think about it now, these soap operas dealt mainly with human conflict and descriptions of crime and sex were kept to a very minimum.  This definitely did not prevent listeners from deriving lots of enjoyment. Blind or sighted, listeners used to flock to their radios to tune in.

Would it be possible to bring back those wonderful soap operas?

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

A cherished memory: Listening to the radio when I was but a kid

Another great memory for me: the number of hours that I spent listening to the radio when I was but a kid.

From the earliest of years, I used to sit under our radio which was mounted on the wall.  I would pull up a chair and there I would sit for hours just listening to any and everything.  There was the music, the news, and then those countless shows with all of their tips, hints, and contests.

I listened to them all and had so much fun.  In those days Braille books were just a luxury for me and they were  very scarce so the next best thing was the radio and oh how I loved just listening to it.

I can still hear the voices of those wonderful announcers in my mind.  There was Don, June, Valerie, Barbara, Jim, Dick, Ann, Chris, and oh so many others.

I especially loved listening to the recipes and the contests and I even won a few of them!  Then the radio was where I started to get interested in the news; local and international alike, and it was Dad who was my constant coach.

So many wonderful memories for me to remember and keep close to my heart, and oh yes!  Those ongoing soap operas with Mom, Granny and me listening in and my brothers dropping in and out to listen.

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  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
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.
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

My early memories of the radio

I do remember that as a child the radio was my constant companion. I listened to it as often as I could and this is how I learned all about the big wonderful world. I listened to the news, followed all of the children's programs and bedtime stories, followed the sporting events, but most of all there was my music. Heck, I often heard the news before my siblings could read it in the newspapers.

As a blind kid, it was one of the fastest ways to learn, get my info, and keep up with things. I knew and could recite by heart most of the commercials. I used the radio to learn so much and the radio was a part of my daily life.

My radio was almost always with me and oh how I loved it. There were many times when my mom would scold me to put it down so that I could go to sleep and there were so many times when she and granny would join me to listen to those infamous soap operas after supper. Ah, such wonderful memories.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my blogs with others. Come by and visit me at www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

My introduction to music

For as long as I can remember, my introduction to music was one of happy times when I was but a tiny one and my parents had hoped for me to love music. I am not sure if their hopes were driven by the fact that I was blind but that does not really matter.

My mom tells me that at a very early age, I would sit near the family's large radio and engross myself in the music on the radio. She often recollects how I used to just sit there and become lost in the melodies and how I would do my best to listen intently and then try to replicate it on my baby piano. My foot would be tapping away and my face would have an expression of wonderment.

My first memory of my baby piano was a little blue one with black and white notes. Then came the red clarinette, the silver trumpet, and then the xylophone with the colored keys: pink, green, and yellow keys. I loved them all and cherished each one for everything that they afforded me. There was also the flute with the green and yellow bars.

In those days, I played extensively by ear and then one day shortly after my 8th birthday, I received a very precious gift: my very own big piano with all 88 notes. For this I shall always thank my parents. I picked many of my melodies by ear and oh how I loved to do it.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to visit my website at www.donnajodhan.com where you can be a part of my audio mysteries.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

When the radio suits me best

There are some who prefer the TV, others who prefer the Internet, and then there are some like me who prefer the radio. It all has to do with our preferences and how we like to receive our information.

I sure recognize the importance of both TV and Internet but here are the times when radio suits me best. When I am at work in my office and I can keep up to date while I work. I find that when I am working the TV is often a distraction and in the opposite way the radio seems to soothe me best.

When I am in the car on my way somewhere, the Internet and TV are off limits to me. When I am elsewhere, TV and Internet are not available. Example, on the beach, while walking, in a restaurant, and so on. I really find that the radio is more of a friend or companion to me while I am outdoors. I find that I need to concentrate more when I listen to information on the Internet. I use the radio to keep up to date with breaking news, to listen to easygoing music, and of course, sporting events!

I often find that radio announcers are much more descriptive than their TV and Internet counterparts, but alas! Those watching TV and Internet programs can see what's going on and I am unable to do so. So here is where the radio fills the gap for me because everyone is on the same playing field; no one can see what's happening on the radio.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to expand your easy listening by visiting my audio mysteries at www.donnajodhan.com.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

Story telling is for me

Growing up as a child, I had all of the ingredients necessary to become a good story teller. First, the best teachers that I could ever have hoped for: my beloved Dad and Granny. Second, the radio. Yes, the good old radio where I used to be able to listen to so many stories uninterrupted.

You may be wondering how these two ingredients were able to help me become a good story teller. It is quite simple. In those days, the availability of Braille books for me to read with stories in them was very limited, but nevertheless they were there and they enabled me to use my imagination to follow along. With Dad and Granny as my master teachers, my imagination was further developed and then the radio only helped to make me even better.

Granny pitched in to further help develop my story telling talents. Both she and Dad used to make up their own stories and then tell them to me. Teachers from both sides of the family, so to speak. Then there was my older brother, Robert, who used to read to me from those beloved nursery rhyme books.

Dad, Granny, and the radio helped me to become a better listener. They helped me to use my imagination and then I used these two ingredients to develop my own story telling. Now I am writing my own stories, mysteries and fiction, and soon I’ll be having my own radio show.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and share my blogs with others. If you have a moment then come by and visit me at www.sterlingcreations.ca.

Radio versus TV

This is one of the more frequent questions that I am asked:  As a blind person, which do I prefer?  Great question and I will say that there are benefits to both for me.

 

TV has brought and continues to bring me countless benefits; and despite having to deal with several infomercials that do not always announce information on the screen, I continue to use TV as a main source of information.  More and more movies and programs are now including audio descriptions as part of their content and this helps lots.  As a whole, commentators and sports announcers do a great job at describing events and things as they happen.

 

I still use the news stations on the radio to gain much of my information and there is no problem here.  Radio describes everything for after all, they have no choice and they do a terrific job as well.  I also use radio stations to gain much of my information and with the advent of Internet radio, this makes it even more exciting for me.

 

Having both TV and Radio around me helps to enrich my environment and I like hearing the sound of both as I work in my office and go about my daily chores.  For TV:  I enjoy the news channels, the sports events, the cooking shows, and of course my favorite Soap Opera!  I also enjoy movies.  As for radio:  It's the news and the easy rock and classical music stations.

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and share my blogs with others.  If you would like to learn more about descriptive audio then please visit www.wgbh.org.