Ok so I know that I have not blogged in awhile. It is not because I did not want to, I got a new computer and I have been trying to figure it out. I bought a MAC and love it.There are so many pros to it over my PC.
First it is so much easier then my PC. Using the different programs is so much simpler. When you do something one way, more than likely it works that way in other programs.It is very hard for me to screw something up with it.
Second, I have been doing 1 to 1 training at King of Prussia Mall at the Apple Store. All the employees I have worked with are terrific guys. They don't know voiceover very well, but they are trying. There is one guy that kind of knows voiceover, but even he is learning from me. It would be very easy for them to throw me to the wayside, but they are trying. The guys have all been wonderful to me. Together we are learning voiceover.
Let me explain what voiceover is. It is the technology that allows me to use my MAC. All MAC products come with it. From the iPhone to the iPad and even the computers. It allows people without vision or low vision to use their products. The nice thing about voiceover is that it is built-in to all the products.If it was not for voiceover, I would not be able to use my iPhone.
I can do so much with this computer. I love my MAC! I only wish that I would have gotten a MAC sooner than I did. Oh well.
App
Well in my endless quest to make my new iPhone as accessible to me as possible, I think I have really helped me. I got the tvguide app. I know for most this may not seem like that big of a deal, but for me it is huge.
Now with this app I can check what is on TV without asking anyone. It has different tabs and you can set it up for standard, HD, or both.
Rich set it up for me with the HD channels since he has them. There are 24 channels in my favorites. That means I don't have to go through all the channels. I have what I want in my favorites, all I have to do is open it and that is where it goes.
Out of all the apps I have this is my favorite one. I can now look at what is on and I do not need anyone else to help me. It is great. I love being able to know what is on and not rely on others to tell me. The website is accessible on my computer, but takes me forever to navigate.
With this app there is no need for me to use my computer. It was difficult and I was never able to get the hang of it. My life is so much easier with it.
Now with this app I can check what is on TV without asking anyone. It has different tabs and you can set it up for standard, HD, or both.
Rich set it up for me with the HD channels since he has them. There are 24 channels in my favorites. That means I don't have to go through all the channels. I have what I want in my favorites, all I have to do is open it and that is where it goes.
Out of all the apps I have this is my favorite one. I can now look at what is on and I do not need anyone else to help me. It is great. I love being able to know what is on and not rely on others to tell me. The website is accessible on my computer, but takes me forever to navigate.
With this app there is no need for me to use my computer. It was difficult and I was never able to get the hang of it. My life is so much easier with it.
iPhone
So I have not posted in awhile. Sorry about that. I have some very exciting news though. I got an iPhone. Now I feel like I am in the 21st century finally. Let me explain what lead to it.
My other phone charger died and when I went to get a new one I couldn't. On May 6th I went to King of Prussia Mall with mom, Barb, and Rich. We went to the big AT&T store and they could not help me. So we went to Radio Shack and they could not help me. Went to the small AT&T store and they could not help me either. Since we were at KoP we went to the Apple store and they of course had the iPhone 32gb in black in stock, so I got one and so did Rich.
I got the iPhone because it is truly the only accessible phone for me. I have voice over enabled on it. Between that and Siri I love my new phone.
I have downloaded ringtones for my family. I have also downloaded apps.
The first app I will talk about is the Look Tell money reader. I can now read the paper currency without the help of sighted people. It may not seem like that big of a deal, but it is. I got change back yesterday at Wal-mart and was able to check out what the bills were and place them in their proper place in my wallet all on my own. Yeah!
Next I also downloaded ColorID. This identifies colors for me. I can tell what color clothes are or even the color of someones hair.
I also got Ariadne GPS. It is really nice. I have not tried it outside of houses yet though. That is the next step for me.
I also got Weatherbug, Yellowpages, and Price Scan to read barcodes of items. ColorID and the last three were all free. The money reader was 9.99 and the GPS was 5.99 dollars to download.
I love my new phone and come this fall Apple is releasing a new operating system for the iPhone. Siri will be even smarter and FB will be integrated into the phone.
My other phone charger died and when I went to get a new one I couldn't. On May 6th I went to King of Prussia Mall with mom, Barb, and Rich. We went to the big AT&T store and they could not help me. So we went to Radio Shack and they could not help me. Went to the small AT&T store and they could not help me either. Since we were at KoP we went to the Apple store and they of course had the iPhone 32gb in black in stock, so I got one and so did Rich.
I got the iPhone because it is truly the only accessible phone for me. I have voice over enabled on it. Between that and Siri I love my new phone.
I have downloaded ringtones for my family. I have also downloaded apps.
The first app I will talk about is the Look Tell money reader. I can now read the paper currency without the help of sighted people. It may not seem like that big of a deal, but it is. I got change back yesterday at Wal-mart and was able to check out what the bills were and place them in their proper place in my wallet all on my own. Yeah!
Next I also downloaded ColorID. This identifies colors for me. I can tell what color clothes are or even the color of someones hair.
I also got Ariadne GPS. It is really nice. I have not tried it outside of houses yet though. That is the next step for me.
I also got Weatherbug, Yellowpages, and Price Scan to read barcodes of items. ColorID and the last three were all free. The money reader was 9.99 and the GPS was 5.99 dollars to download.
I love my new phone and come this fall Apple is releasing a new operating system for the iPhone. Siri will be even smarter and FB will be integrated into the phone.
Mind Like a Steal Trap
Well March 26 was the first real mobility lesson that I had. I did a lot of walking by myself. It was nerve racking thing, but I did it. I walked in Boscov's, down through the mall and to an ATM that despite the fact that it has the jack for headphones it does not talk. Ugh. Not the end of the world. From there I walked to the post office in the mall, mailed a letter for my instructor, Elaine, and then back to her. After that I walked up to T.G.I.Friday's and got a take-out menu for Elaine. We took a short break then it was back to Boscov's and then to the car. We then went to Wawa to use their ATM.
Ok first to talk about the letter. Elaine gave me 50 cents to get a stamp for her letter that had to be mailed. I haven't done this since I lost my sight. I went into the post office/service center for the mall. There was only one woman working in there because it was in the middle of the day and the mall wasn't very busy. I went in, bought the stamp, and asked if there was any word yet as to what was going to be going into where Sears is. No word yet, but they are trying to get something in there. When I was finished I walked up to Ross and met Elaine at the chairs out front of the store.
Second, I went to Friday's and got Elaine a take-out menu. I found the restaurant all by myself and asked the nice woman inside for the menu. While she was getting it, I talked to the guy that was also working. He asked me how my day was going. At this point I need to mention that Rich did this too, but it was not as easy for him. He had to walk through the restaurant to get help since no one was at the front podium. I was very lucky.
Third, I walked back to Boscov's and made it to the entrance/exit. I had to make it around the tables in the front of the store. I knew I was in the right place because of the pajamas that I felt, I felt them when I came in. I made it through the mall and that is what mattered.
Elaine and I then went to Wawa to use their ATM since the one at the mall doesn't talk. I was able to use my own card since Wawa doesn't charge to use their ATMs. I found the headphone jack and did everything by myself. Elaine was very proud of how fast I did it. Not that it was hard, just plug in the headphones and listen to what it tells you to do.
I know for some this may not seem like a big deal, but when you are blind these are huge milestones. I know I have a lot more training and I may even have it for the rest of my life, but that is ok. In the end it makes me a more independant person and hopefully I won't have to depend on Rich as much.
Ok first to talk about the letter. Elaine gave me 50 cents to get a stamp for her letter that had to be mailed. I haven't done this since I lost my sight. I went into the post office/service center for the mall. There was only one woman working in there because it was in the middle of the day and the mall wasn't very busy. I went in, bought the stamp, and asked if there was any word yet as to what was going to be going into where Sears is. No word yet, but they are trying to get something in there. When I was finished I walked up to Ross and met Elaine at the chairs out front of the store.
Second, I went to Friday's and got Elaine a take-out menu. I found the restaurant all by myself and asked the nice woman inside for the menu. While she was getting it, I talked to the guy that was also working. He asked me how my day was going. At this point I need to mention that Rich did this too, but it was not as easy for him. He had to walk through the restaurant to get help since no one was at the front podium. I was very lucky.
Third, I walked back to Boscov's and made it to the entrance/exit. I had to make it around the tables in the front of the store. I knew I was in the right place because of the pajamas that I felt, I felt them when I came in. I made it through the mall and that is what mattered.
Elaine and I then went to Wawa to use their ATM since the one at the mall doesn't talk. I was able to use my own card since Wawa doesn't charge to use their ATMs. I found the headphone jack and did everything by myself. Elaine was very proud of how fast I did it. Not that it was hard, just plug in the headphones and listen to what it tells you to do.
I know for some this may not seem like a big deal, but when you are blind these are huge milestones. I know I have a lot more training and I may even have it for the rest of my life, but that is ok. In the end it makes me a more independant person and hopefully I won't have to depend on Rich as much.
Only 1
Well as of today, I am only on 1 pill. I am off the tricore for my tryglyceride levels. To think that 4 years ago they were over 1600 and now they are normal. It took me awhile, but now I only take 1 pill. The pill I am taking is DDAVP for the diabetes insipedis or DI for short. I am so happy about this. I was actually crying over this. I am so excited about this. I am getting control over my life. I was taken off the DDAVP briefly, but needed to be on it. I still take some suppliments to help me out, but I do not count them. The DDAVP is a small pill and I don't mind that one. I don't show many signs of DI and I would love to be off all meds, but it is just not meant to be at this time. I am just thrilled to be off all meds for the tryglycerides. First I came off the fish oil tablets then the niaspan. That helped with my bruising and hot flashes I was getting. The bruising was from the fish oil since it is a blood thinner. The hot flashes were from the niaspan. It also helps that I continue to lose weight. I am so happy.
TSO
Long time no post. Last Saturday November 19th I went to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert.. It was so much fun. It was me, Rich, his mom Barb, my sister Cassie, and my parents. The same usher that helped my parents, Rich, and I last year was the same guy. He remembered us, I am not surprised though. Honestly how many blind people does he deal with. The show was great. It was the same story as last year, but it was still enjoyable. It was down in Philly at the Wells-Fargo Center. The seats were awesome. Like last year, I really couldn't see much other than the lights changing colors. Also there were pyrotechnics towards the end. I did feel those again. All in all it was a great day. This is the third time me, Rich, and my folks have seen TSO. Although it was the same show as last year, it was still fun.
Swimming
I have been swimming a lot. Today is the second day of 80 laps.. I swam 80 yesterday. Since the beginning of September, I have been swimming tons. Rich is taking lessons so he can swim with me. The first time I did it, I only swam 24 laps. After that I went to 40 laps and I have done 60 laps. I have done 80 three times now. 72 is one mile, so swimming 80 is a little over a mile. I have tried other strokes, but feel most comfortable doing breaststroke. I am doing awesome with it though. I am under 160 pounds.
I guess I should explain that Rich and I now have a membership to the Pottstown YMCA. We got it because they have the indoor pool and Rich wanted to get me back in the water. He knew I can swim and thought it would be great exercise for me. There are two pools, a whirlpool, two gyms, a weight room, and an indoor track.
I guess I should explain that Rich and I now have a membership to the Pottstown YMCA. We got it because they have the indoor pool and Rich wanted to get me back in the water. He knew I can swim and thought it would be great exercise for me. There are two pools, a whirlpool, two gyms, a weight room, and an indoor track.
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