E. L. Intensive Training

Out with a Bang

2010-08-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

Today is my graduation day. Isn’t it just like me to graduate during a thunder storm? Guess I will go out with a bang.

I am graduating at 11 this morning. I can’t believe the journey here is almost over.

The last few weeks have been quiet. I did my “out-of-town” route on Monday. I went to Monroe on the Greyhound and took the city bus to the mall. I returned in the evening.

In my last update, I said I would talk about my drop routes.

I finished these graduation routes a few weeks ago. On one of them I miscalculated. I thought I was on a different road than I was actually on, so I went the wrong way and ended up near the interstate. I realized my mistake. I was confused, as I hadn’t been up that way on that particular road.

I walked around for three hours, and eventually called for a ride home. I wasn’t disappointed because I was confident in my travel skills. I was safe and doing fine. I just couldn’t figure out exactly where I was and the best way to get back. I called for a ride. In retrospect, I think I could have made it back. I was tired and hot and needed a break.

The next day, I did another drop route and found my way to the school within 30 minutes.

My Braille speed is averaging 50 words a minute. I get nervous when the teacher times me. But the important thing is that I will continue to read when I go home. I achieved what I set out to do.

I completed my final computer assignment. I created Braille versions of the menu at the restaurant back home where the Federation meets. The hardest part was cutting the vinyl covers and binding the menus.

My journey here has been long and life-changing. I am excited to be going home, but also filled with grief to leave my life here.

This is a place both in time and outside time, both in this world and other-worldly.

I am the same person I was when I started. Yet forever changed.

I will go off soon to the library to receive my “freedom bell.”

Did my 10 K Today!

2010-07-28T11:49:00.001-07:00

I completed my second to last graduation requirement in travel today. It
was a 10 KM walk around Ruston. My teacher gave me a preset route in
Braille; it involved combinations of all the routes I've been doing
throughout my time at LCB, all together in one long travel session.
Part of it involved crossing the interstate, then going back to the other
side of town: East, West, North, South, and everywhere in between.
I was lucky because the weather was cooler today – we've had some rain, -
and I started the route at 7 in the morning when it was a perfect
temperature for walking about 76 degrees.
I am proud of myself for completing this route. I did it well and managed
to stay focused.
I fell once on a curb and landed on my behind. But my pride hurt worse
than anything else. I bounced back up and continued on my way.
I lost concentration only a few times near the end and got disoriented,
but I used my skills to figure out where I was and got back on track.
An angel must have been watching over me because it didn't rain until I
finished my route. If I hadn't stopped for coffee, I would not have gotten
wet at all. Now I am sitting here at school in brightly—coloured sweat
pants that look like "clown" pants and wet feet.
Oh well, it's all part of the experience.
I will write more later about my final drop routes, which I completed last
week. .
I will be going on my "out of town," travel on Monday. This is another
requirement. I will take the Greyhound to Munroe, hang out in the city, go
for lunch, do some shopping etc. and return in the evening.
Another wonderful thing is that I timed at 57 words a minute in Braille
the other day. My goal before leaving here is 60. I am only four words
away. This is a huge accomplishment for me. I can read and enjoy reading.
I was able to read my 10 K route today in Braille and I read it fast and
without difficulty.
Love to all.
Elizabeth

Lost in a backyard

2010-06-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

I timed 42 words a minute last week in Braille. I am definitely reading in
the forties now. It is nice to feel my fingers slide more quickly and
smoothly across the dots and to hear my own voice reading the story out
loud with emphasis and expression-- the ability to read with ease for the
first time in my life.
My goal is to reach 60 words by the time I graduate from LCB.

I am working hard in travel class. I now have two extra cane travel
classes a week, which means that two days a week I have four hours of
travel, two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. I also
walk to school every morning with my shades on to get as much practice as
possible.

I did a repeat route on Tuesday on West California Street. The first time
doing this route I wasn't able to find the address, but this time I found
it. It was a doughnut shop. I treated myself to a cinomyn twist and a cup
of coffee. The man who worked there asked me where I was from. My Canadian
accent gave me away. They tease me here about how I say words like "out"
and "been" and "again." This man told me about a man who frequently comes
to the doughnut shop who lived on Vancouver Island for 25 years and worked
as a mechanic. He called this man on the phone. I spoke to him. He is 72
years old and he knew about the Empress, Warf Street and even Campbell
River." I must be getting nostalgic for home.
That same afternoon I went on another travel route and searched up and
down the same block for 45 minutes, but could not find the address.
Finally, frustrated, hot and exhausted and lost in a backyard, somebody
found me and helped me back to the sidewalk. He said " I know we aren't
supposed to help you, but I saw you looking around for so long..." I
thanked him profusely. It turned out I had accidentally been given the
wrong address. Oh well, I sure know that block well now.

I went on bus travel yesterday to Monrow. We took a bus to the mall and I
practiced finding my way around the mall looking for specific shops. My
teacher asked me to find "Pay less Shoes," Radio Shack," and "Yankee
Candles." After some searching and requesting some assistance I found all
three stores. I need more work in malls. Traveling in open indoor spaces
takes a different skill. You listen for openings and must stay by the
perimeter of the store as you walk. One important thing I learned that I
wished I'd learned years ago is when you ask a sighted person for
directions and they say left or right.., it helps to point in the
direction they are saying. Often the direction they have told you isn't
the one they really meant, and when they see you pointing it helps them
get it right.
"It was an adventure and of course gave me an excuse to buy some things.

The pool is open

2010-06-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

I finished my meal for forty on Wednesday. Can't believe it is over. My
adrenalin was pumping until the meal ended. Then when it came time to
clean up, exhaustion consumed me, and I pushed myself to get everything
done.

One of my good friends here graduated this week. The ceremony was
yesterday. The graduations take place in the library at the centre. This
particular young woman is smart and much-loved by everyone.
Students and staff talked about the graduate and each said something
special about her. Family and friends called in to offer well-wishes.

Graduations are intense and emotional events.
After the graduation, we went to dinner at a Louisiana-style restaurant,
where people dined on crawfish, blackened cat fish and shrimp.

I took my sons swimming today. The municipal pool opened last week. It is
a nice pool, so good to cool down in this heat. The little one clung to
me, but as he got used to the water, he grew braver, and let me hold him
as he floated and kicked his feet. My older son loves the water.
They were tired after the swim, so I pulled them both back in the
stroller. Good exercise for me as it is uphill from the pool to the
apartment.

Pickle Juice

2010-06-01T17:54:00.001-07:00

Did all my shopping for my meal for 40 yesterday, so much to buy. I had to
quadruple all my recipes. I am making chili, rice, tossed salad, baking
powder biscuits and "Dirt Cake." Oh and pink lemon aid. I cooked all day
today and accomplished a lot. The only mishaps were when I broke a jar of
pickles, which fell out of the fridge and shattered into a hundred pieces
of glass drenched in pickle juice. I uttered a few unrepeatable words and
spent 20 minutes cleaning it up. I also put baking soda instead of baking
powder in my biscuits and had to re-do the whole mixture. Anyway, most of
my food is prepared and tomorrow I have to heat up the chilee bake the
biscuits, make the drink and the salad. Then do all the dishes. I can't
wait till it is over! Wow!
It was 91 degrees today, but with the humidity it is over 100, so hot! The
June bugs sing at night, and the outdoor pools are open.
Yesterday was Memorial day in the States. Our school went to the lake and
had a "craw fish boil." Craw fish are mud dwellers with exoskeletons; they
look much like lobsters. They are a delicacy here. People eat them with
corn and sausage and potato. I was unadventurous and ate a hamburger.

My oldest son starts summer school tomorrow.
Love to you all!

Sweat and Tears

2010-05-29T16:33:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,

I am still here in Ruston, Louisiana. I am at the peak of my training; it
is not called intensive training for nothing.

I have now finished the home economics part of the program except for my
meal for 40, which is this Wednesday. I had my meal for 8 when my mom was
here a few weeks ago. I cooked chicken and mushroom soup casserole, fresh
biscuits, salad and lemon mousse for dessert. I also made hot tea for some
Canadian flair. Americans don't often drink hot tea. Down south they
drink sweet tea, which is ice tea. Do you know how hard it was to find a tea
pot around here?

The meal for 8 is more challenging than the meal for 40 because it
is more formal; you have to set the table and serve everyone. I did it,
but became frazzled near the end. It is stressful doing all the last
minute things while your guests are sitting and waiting in the next room.

I placed the plates on the cart and pulled it into the dining room. Rhys
got up to help momma. It was
cute because you are supposed to do the whole thing without help. But I
got away with getting some help from my wonderful son, such a
gentleman.

The meal turned out and tasted good. I finished the other requirements in
kitchen, such as: using a food
processor; cutting up a whole chicken and deep frying it; grilling a burger
on the charcoal grill (that took me forever because I had to clean it
first); shining shoes with the old fashioned shoe polish. I also used an
"ID Mate," bar code reader, and made Braille labels on my slate to put on
the cans with an elastic band; this was a great exercise
because I want to label items at home, such as canngoods, medicines,
cd's..., so I don't get frustrated not knowing what things are. I would
like a barcode reader, but they cost $1500.

I completed the sewing portion of the class. I learned how to do different
stitches, such as the buttonhole stitch, the gathering stitch and the hem
stitch. I struggled with sewing, but once I finally learned the steps
involved, I enjoyed it.

I finished shop class yesterday. I made two memory boxes for the boys. One
is stained walnut and one cherry. Ronyn gets the cherry box because he has
red hair. Rhys gets the walnut for his brown hair. Maralyn, one of the
instructors here is going to wood burn their names into the boxes.

I am happy to be finished with this class. I struggled in shop. Math has
always been hard for me, both because my mind
isn't mathematical, and because I didn't receive a solid foundation in
math, as I
used large print, which was near impossible with my limited vision.

The shop teacher here is intelligent, mechanical and analytical
and he expects his students to think . I shut down in these kinds of
situations and freeze and my ability to think stops. Anyway, with much
help from the instructor, I made it through the process.
I designed the project, cut the sides, fronts, backs, bottoms and lids,
cut the "rabids and dadoes,"
indentations in the wood to enable the pieces to fit together, glued the
pieces, sanded, stained and waxed the boxes. Now I have something special
for the boys to keep forever.

For the rest of my training, I will focus on my Braille, computers and
travel.

In computers, I am learning the Duxbury Braille translation program. This
is a program that translates print documents into contracted Braille to be
printed, or embossed, on a Braillle printer.

Now I will be able to create documents to be embossed for Federation
materials.

I am making progress in Braille. But it is slow. I am still reading
30 to 40 words per minute. Sometimes I will be reading
along smoothly and quickly, and then I get hung up on a word or a
punctuation mark and lose time; this is frustrating. The more I read, the
less I get stuck and the more easily I can decipher words.

The only way to improve my speed is to read as much as possible. Now
that I
have double Braille class every day, this will be easier. I am reading a
book called "Black Mountain Breakdown."

I am trying to slate everyday to pick up my speed and accuracy. I slate
notes during seminar, which forces me to improve on this skill.

I am continuing to progress in travel. My teacher laughs because I have good
problem-solving abilities, meaning I can get myself out of situations that I
find myself in. The challenge is how not to get into these
situations in the first place. It is great to figure things out
because that is what we learn here- how to problem-solve-, but obviously
avoiding difficult situations in the first place is ultimately the best
strategy. For example, I was walking along a busy road a few weeks ago, and
veered away from the road and started traveling down a side
street. I didn't realize my mistake until I had gone down this road for two
blocks. I should have known because the traffic sounds on the busy road had
disappeared and the direction of the sun had changed. I corrected myself,
figured out what was wrong, but I could have saved myself a lot of extra
steps if I had kept my focus.

Focus is vital during training. It is important to concentrate and avoid
distractions as much as possible. This is a struggle for me. Being a mom,
running a household
and being CFB president has taught me to multi-task. Multitasking is not a
virtue here. Or it isn't, unless you can stay 100 per cent focused on all
tasks at once.

I went on one long route a few weeks ago down a busy street called
California, This street has few sidewalks, so you must shoreline the
street along side busy traffic. The sun was hot that day and the cars seemed
extra loud. I walked and walked for about eight blocks. When I reached the
spot I was supposed to be at, I realized I had once again turned down the
wrong street. I walked back, but didn't find the address I was looking for.

The students did a 10 K walk last month. This is called the walk to
"Grambling," and all the students look forward to it with anticipation and
anxiousness. We were divided into groups of five students with an
instructor. We brought water as the day was hot and we shorelined much of
the way, even along the highway. It sounds difficult, but actually it went
well; it was a great traveling experience.

I did my first supported drop route a few weeks ago. On a drop route, a
driver takes the student to an undisclosed location in Ruston. The student
does not know where they are being dropped off. The student must find their
way back to the centre without asking any questions. They must navigate
using the skills they have been learning at the centre, such as audible and
tactile cues, traffic, the sun and recognizable landmarks. A supported
drop route is one in which a travel instructor accompanies the student. The
instructor does not know the location.

I was excited. First step, I determined the cardinal directions: north,
south East and West. Then I
listened for clues. All was quiet except for a busy street in the
distance to the south. I walked toward the traffic sounds. When we
reached the
street, I heard the distinctive clink, clink sound of the cars running on
concrete. This clue told me I was most likely on Alabama. Alabama is one
of the only streets in Ruston with this distinctive sound.

Then I listened and heard cars to my left to the west on the parallel
road. There weren't many cars and the cars I did hear were coming from
both
directions, north to south and south to north.

. I determined, since I was most likely on Alabama, the street to the west
could only be Bonner, Trenton, Vienna, Munro, Minden, Homer, or
Everett. I ruled out several of these streets right away. Trenton is a
busy one way street, where the cars only go South. Munro is a fairly busy
road. Bonner is also busy. I decided it must be either Homer or Everett. I
went on this assumption and walked east. If wrong I could
always go back to my starting place and come up with another theory.

As I walked, I realized that I was right about my location.
When I heard the one-way traffic of Trenton, I breathed a sigh and
relaxed. When I crossed Trenton , and turned south towards the center, I
knew
I had done it.

In seminar we have watched some movies about blindness, such as "Butterflies
are Free," and "At First Sight, and the "Extreme home makeover episode that
featured a blind man and his family. We watched these movies and then
discussed them. We often talk about issues such as how we interact with
our families
and how they respond to our blindness, how to positively educate the public
about the abilities of blind people; and our own feelings and concerns about
our blindness and people's perceptions of it.

Every Monday after school, I take horseback riding lessons. So far we have
been learning to groom the horses and lead them in the ring. Next session, I
will get to ride the horse. I have taken horseback riding lessons before,
but it is nice to once again have this experience, particularly on a hot
and
humid, green Louisiana ranch.

I sprained my ankle last week. I was walking back to the apartments after
dropping off the boys. It wasn't a hard fall, but my ankle turned the wrong
way and boy did it hurt. Luckily a man and woman saw me and stopped their
car. They drove me home. I kept ice on it and limped for a few days. It is
better now. Interestingly, when I sprained my ankle, I wasn't wearing my
sleepshades. If I had been, I
probably would have payed better attention to where I was walking and used
my cane properly. I was just pushing it along in an inefficient manner
and didn't detect the uneven spot on the sidewalk until it was too late.

We say here that our sleepshades are precious to us because they
represent our hard work and determination to get through this training and
to improve on our skills. Many times my shades have hidden sweat that drips
down my face, or tears that fall from my eyes.

Many students who have become close friends are graduating, and new
students are starting the journey of training.

I miss those who have left. I will be graduating in August. It is hard
to believe how fast my time here has gone. In other ways though, it seems
as if I have been here for a lifetime.

Lots of love to all.
Elizabeth

whirlwind

2010-03-25T08:34:00.001-07:00

My life is a whirlwind. Home seems so far away, and it feels as though I have been living in Ruston Louisiana forever. What a different world.

I have been training for five months now. I don’t know where the time has gone. It flies by. I am steadily progressing in all my classes. The progression isn’t as drastic as it was in the beginning; it is more of a continuous evolution of skills and confidence. Though my travel instructor still accompanies me on routes, I walk the majority of my routes independently. He gives me an address and I travel to it and return with a business card to show I successfully found the location.

The other day I travelled 20 blocks, 10 blocks each way. I did this in approximately one hour. My speed and accuracy is increasing. But occasionally I still make big mistakes. It’s funny because when I make a mistake, I really make one. Reminds me of an eraser I had as a child; it was six inches long and bright pink, with giant letters that read “for big mistakes.”

Last week I was traveling with confidence until I discovered I had walked in the wrong direction and down the wrong road. If it hadn’t been for the construction workers who notified me where I was, I might have walked to Canada before figuring out my mistake.

On Monday, I traveled down a busy street called “California.” To get down this road, you have to shoreline the whole way because there are no sidewalks. The street is lined with parking lots, which can be the Bermuda Triangle for the blind. I did well until suddenly the cars on my right jumped to my left. That’s when I realized, either the cars were driving off road, or I had veered to the other side of the street without knowing it. Of course the latter was the accurate explanation.

The “big mistakes” are happening less often than before. I am learning to focus and to concentrate on the parallel traffic to keep me in line and out of the parking lots. I have to avoid distractions as much as possible. If my mind wanders, my feet will follow.

In shop class I am progressing to the end of the requirements prior to starting my final project. I spent at least two weeks learning to use a tool called a router. The router and I don’t have the best relationship, but we are managing to work together. The first task was to learn to tighten and loosen the bit with two wrenches at the same time. This improves coordination and dexterity. It also significantly improves one’s ability to bite one’s tongue and stamp ones foot in frustration.

You have to tighten and loosen the bit ten times without help before progressing onto actually using the tool. For me, routing wasn’t much easier than dealing with the bit. After much practice, I am now able to use the router to smooth the sides and corners of my Braille blocks.

This week I learned my last tool of the series, the sander. The sander is beautiful in its simplicity. I have two more Braille blocks to make using all the tools, including the sander. Then I must make three perfect Braille blocks with out asking questions or getting assistance.

I’ve decided to make a memory box for my sons for my final project in shop. I will also spend a few weeks learning home maintenance, which includes learning to unclog a toilet, handle electric circuit panels, change a door knob etc.

My Braille is steadily improving. I am reading on average 30 words a minute, sometimes reaching 40. The challenge is finding the time without distractions to read. I am unable to read much on the weekends because of my children, but being a mother of small children while training has its challenges

Jeff is an amazing fulltime father. I certainly couldn’t do this training and take care of the children on my own.

I still have a few more dishes to make in cooking. Recently I made pasta from scratch, including the dough and running the dough through a pasta maker and making Alfredo sauce with chicken; the best part was eating it. There is usually much to eat at school, as everyone cooks and shares there creations.

I also made waffles from scratch, which involved separating egg whites twice. I had to separate them twice because another student accidently knocked my first bowl of egg whites over in the fridge. Patience is a virtue around this place.

I also made a blackberry pie with a bottom and top crust (this took me a week to complete); a vanilla cake with white icing (this also involved separating egg whites); fried a hamburger paddy on a skillet; made beef stew in a Crockpot; and as I write this blog my roast is in the oven.

In life skills, I changed a florescent light bulb in the ceiling, and failed. I found the light on the ceiling with my cane, (yes canes have more uses than you could imagine.) I climbed the latter and attempted to connect the new light. I must have jammed it because the light did not come on. I will have to do this again before I can finish this class. Yesterday, I answered a set of questions using the talking calculator. I found the calculations much easier than changing the florescent bulb, which says a lot because math was never my favourite subject.

Computers has been fun as I am doing searches on google, doing research, writing small essays and downloading music and learning to burn cds. Computer word processing, the Internet and Jaws, come easily to me, as I have been doing this for so long and I excel in this area.

All the students have classes in which they excel and those in which they have to work harder to keep up. There are 25 students here now. The school is getting crowded.

When a student walks into a room, people say “hello.” If there are several people in the room, the person is greeted with a chorus of hellos. It is a centre joke now and throughout the day, the “hello” chant reverberates down the halls.

Seminar is usually lively. It is difficult sometimes for everyone to get a chance to speak. There are always some people who speak more than others. On Tuesday, Dr. Schroeder, NFB first vice-president and LCB board member, spoke to us. I always enjoy listening to Dr. Schroder.

I am taking a Swing dance class with some of the students from LCB. We had our first class last night.

I took the kids to a flea market on the weekend. Rhys went on a bungee jumper. He was attached to a harness and jumped at least eight feet in the air. He was so brave and did so well.

Rhys is so athletic. My travel instructor plays basket ball with him in the apartment parking lot, and he is learning all the moves. Ronyn likes to do everything his big brother does. He runs after Rhys yelling “my turn,” in a sharp, high-pitched voice that means business. They are the best of brothers.

Love to you all back home. I think of you often.

Love

Elizabeth

Getting into the swing

2010-01-26T07:15:00.000-08:00

Hello dear friends,

I know it has been too long since my last blog. It feels like a million years have gone by in the last few weeks.

My mom left on Sunday and is now safely back in Victoria with my dad. She was here for five weeks. It was a long visit for her and certainly an experience. It’s hard for her because she was with the children every day and now she has to be without them for months. It’s all or nothing. The Christmas break was long. Even though our Christmas was wonderful, the holiday blocked my progress in training. Once I started my training in November, I wanted to continue and build momentum. It is good to be back at LCB, getting into a routine and working hard.

I completed grade two contracted Braille and am now reading books and working on building my reading speed. My speed is improving. I read approximately 25 words a minute, a huge improvement from when I started in November. But I must make sure to read everyday. Our teacher, Mr. Whittle, recommends reading an hour a night and five hours on the weekends to really increase speed.

I’ve started working out at the gym. A group of us go after school at five almost everyday. One of the instructors drives us there and we find our own way back, usually by cab. The gym is new and equipped with the latest exercise equipment. It feels good to be exercising. I haven’t been on an exercise routine in a while.

I am making progress in travel. I traveled over Christmas in shades and my mom noticed my speed and confidence had increased. Even without sleep shades my travel is easier because I am not relying as much on my small amount of vision.

I am doing a variety of routes with my instructor. He is also assigning me several independent routes. He gives me a specific route or asks me to find a specific store. I go to the store and bring back a business card to show I made it there.

I walk with my cane at a good pace. I am fast, but I am working on my accuracy. Some days I have excellent travel sessions where I get where I am going without many detours. Other days, I have an adventure. Veer to the other side of a street without realizing it, get turned around and walk the wrong way, walk on the street instead of the sidewalk… When these things happen I get frustrated, but I also know that it is a part of training and these little adventures are not mistakes, they are discoveries and learning experiences.

Ruston has many trains that go by throughout the day. We all stop whatever we are doing because the train wistle is so loud it prevents all thought or activity. In order to travel north down one of the main roads here, you must cross the train tracks. This is one of the only times that our instructors want us to shoreline. We shoreline the curb and then the grass until we get to the tracks. Then we cross the tracks, with a bit of stumbling involved, and breathe a sigh of relief when we get to the other side. The goal is to get across the tracks as quickly and safely as possible.

I am learning about addresses this week. I learned that most cities have dividing boarders within the city. In Ruston the north south divider is the rail road tracks. The east west divider is a street called Vienna. When you stand with your back to either of these boarders, the odd numbered addresses are always on your left and the even numbered addresses are always on the right. I am also learning to count the blocks. I am memorizing the sequence of the streets and now can figure out where specific businesses are located, simply by knowing their address. You can’t usually pinpoint exactly, but you can narrow it down to within two or three businesses.

I went on bus travel last week. There is no bus system in Ruston, so a group of us go with our travel teachers to a nearby city called Monroe to practice taking the bus. I took the bus to a specific destination. I went to the mall and practiced indoor travel, found specific stores and weaved and wound my way through the food market. After eating, I excused myself to use the bathroom. I left the table at the food court and proceeded into the abyss of open space. Tables, chairs and echoes overwhelmed me. I returned 30 minutes later. Needless to say, finding my way to and from the bathroom was an adventure. When I finally found my table again, my instructor said I had been brave to do that on my own. He said many students will not order a drink, so as not to have to use the bathroom. That is so sad. As blind people we deprive ourselves of so many basic and not so basic things and experiences because we don’t want to take a risk and step out of our narrow and often imprisoning comfort zones.

Cooking class is going well. Since Christmas I baked chocolate chip muffins, oatmeal cookies, brownies and a chicken and rice casserole. I’ve never cooked so much in my life!

Oh, I forgot to mention, I learned how to tie a man’s tie, or it could be a woman’s tie, in a Winzer knot. I never tied a tie before. It took me two hours to learn how, and I can’t say I’ve really mastered it yet. It is funny because I am short and the tie is far too long on me.

In shop class, I completed the first phase of making grid blocks. Now I am making what are called “Braille blocks.” Braille blocks are thirty three sixteenth inches. We scribe our lines, make our indications and drill the wholes. The end result is a block with six holes exactly like a Braille full cell. We do three of these and then learn a new tool, and then do three more and learn another tool. The latest tool I learned to use is the table saw.

Soon I will be learning how to make pegs for the Braille block. Shop is my most challenging class. It doesn’t come naturally to me, so I am working hard and pushing myself.

In computers I am learning many JAWS and windows commands that I didn’t know. I am learning to be even more efficient on the computer. We get assignments to do, such as writing a short essay about our experiences at LCB, and formatting the document. The instructor gives us specific instructions of what she wants us to do. For example: bold all the headings, indent all paragraphs by half an inch, make sure all text is full justified and so on.” Just when you think you know things, there is always more to learn.

Yes, I am immersed in all this learning, but by far the most incredible part of being here is the people. I have met and bonded with so many wonderful people. There are 20 students here. We do so much together and experience so many things, good and bad. The bond grows each day. LCB is a family. The emersion is not only physical emersion to learn the skills of blindness, but also, at a deeper level, an emotional emersion. Training is a time, a space away from your regular life to take stock of life and to work on yourself, something I haven’t done in a long time. I have cared for so many people over the last few years and now have been given this unbelievable opportunity to take time for myself. Sometimes it feels so luxurious to do this, but I know the training will benefit me enormously in the long run and will benefit others as well.

Love to all of you. Keep safe and be happy.

Love Elizabeth

Christmas Wishes

2009-12-24T11:22:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends and Family,
I wish you all a merry Christmas, a happy Honokaa and a wonderful holiday
season.

It sure is a different Christmas for us. As most of you know Jeff, the
boys and I are living in Ruston, Louisiana this year, as I am training at
the Louisiana Centre for the Blind. It is truly amazing and I am enjoying
my training so much. We bought a house here. Jeff is fixing it up and we
are renting it out, and yes, the boys and Jeff are still living in the
trailer in our large back yard. I stay at the centre apartments during
the week and come home on weekends.
Jeff is being, for the most part, a full-time care giver. My mom is here
for the holidays. She is here for a month. So wonderful to have her
here. She is staying in one side of our new house, which is a duplex. We
miss my dad, as he is back holding down the fort in Victoria and enjoying
their newly-renovated house.

We have a Christmas tree set up in the living room trimmed with Mardi Gras
beads, paper stars, which I learned to make at the centre, a beautiful
African angel my mom made, and penguin rings from a pack of cupcakes.
Yes, an eclectic tree!
This is the most unique Christmas I have ever had. We got a CD with Cajon
Christmas songs, so that enhances the southern spirit. Oh, and we are
under tornado watch and have been listening to thunder and rain all day.
What a Christmas Eve.

We are well, and miss you all back home. Please take care of yourselves.
Please know that you are always in our thoughts and hearts. It is a
different world here, but we always love and remember the people closest
to us. We will be back in late summer.
Love to you all!

Imperfectly Perfect

2009-12-13T10:59:00.001-08:00

December 11, 2009
It's been a while since my last update. Time sure flies here. The days blur together and I cannot remember what happened on which day.

We are getting ready for mom's arrival. She flies in tonight. We will pick her up in Shreveport.
Haven't seen her in almost three months. We miss her and my dad so much. She will notice a difference in the boys, as they have changed and grown.

We are watching a DVD with classic Christmas cartoons. Rhys and Ronyn had their Swine Flue shot yesterday, so they are tired today.
I finally have some time to catch up on my blog.

Last week the students and staff at LCB went to a Christmas tree farm and cut down Christmas trees for the centre. We were divided into three groups. Each group cut down a tree: one tree for the lobby, one for the dining room and one for the career centre. I helped cut down the tree for the dining room. We were in charge of the "Charlie Brown" tree; we had to find the most imperfect tree and bring it back.

We each got a chance to cut with the hand saw. Our tree was small and without a top; it was perfectly imperfect. I carried the tree back to the bus.

It was a cold day. Surprisingly the temperature can get quite low here, below freezing – much like a cold day back home. Of course, just like back home, it is damp, so you can really feel the sting of the cold. The weather can also change rapidly. For example the other day, within a period of four hours, the temperature went from 32 Fahrenheit to 72 Fahrenheit. It was amazing.
Then we sat around the dinning room table for the afternoon and made decorations. I learned to make paper stars. Only five different folds and it took me three hours to master it. I have never been crafty!

I taught Rhys how to make the stars on the weekend. We now have colourful stars around our trailer.

Yes, Jeff and the boys, and myself on the weekends, are still living in our travel trailer. We are in our backyard, while Jeff works on the house.

I have been busy with so many projects at the centre. Last week I baked Mexican corn bread; this was my second attempt after my first batch of regular corn bread failed because I forgot to add the Mayonnaise. If your meal doesn't work out, you have to re do it until you get it right.

So far I have had to redo two things: the corn bread and then this week my chocolate chip cookies. I have never had much luck baking cookies. Usually they taste bitter from too much baking soda. This time, they didn't rise, probably because of too much baking soda. I made them once again and they were excellent. I was so proud, even Jeff liked them. It is a landmark in our marriage, as it is the first batch of successful cookies I have ever made for him!

On Friday, I cooked a hamburger paddy on a "George Forman" grill. This grill closes and grills both sides of the meat at once, so you don't have to flip it over. I am getting one when I go back home. It was wonderful!

Another landmark- this week: I finished reviewing the grade two Braille code. Now I am starting on reading books. I will read and read until my speed improves, and then I will keep reading, as one student says "until my fingers bleed!"

My teacher, Mr. Whittle, says we must read at least one hour in the evening and at least five hours on the weekend to improve speed.

In shop I learned to use a radial arm saw. There are many safety steps we must learn to follow before we cut. My first cut was terrifying. I have never used a power tool in my life. I did it. Now I cut all my own blocks. I am still making grid blocks. I divide the block into a grid of squares using an awl, so you can feel the lines. Then I make indications and drill the wholes.

I had a scary travel experience a couple of weeks ago. It was my first independent travel route, meaning I did the route on my own with out the instructor. I was excited, but nervous. I walked to the apartments and back. Everything went well, I was so proud of myself. I was on my way back. Things were going well, when suddenly cars veered out of nowhere to my left and to my right. The motors roared diagonally across ahead of me startled, I realized I was in the middle of the Street. Yikes! How had I managed to veer into the street. I had been walking jauntily down the sidewalk and then the next moment in was in the street. I didn't know which way to go, so I stopped and stood frozen. A voice called to me from somewhere to my left. The female voice called me over. She yelled, "you are in the middle of the road." Well, I already figured that part out. Anyway, she got out of her car and helped me over to the sidewalk. I walked the rest of the way back to the centre, disappointed, but knowing it was all part of the learning experience. Of course, veering into the middle of the street is something best to avoid, but if you do, it is good to know how to get out of the situation and back to safety. My instructor said, if that happens again, to wait until it is safe to move and then head back in he direction of the sidewalk I was just walking along.

The experience shook me up a bit, but a few days later, my task was to walk to the apartments and back again. I did well and felt much more confident.

This week I practiced walking along the sidewalk and finding stores. I am learning to locate the door of the shop with my cane. My task this week was to find the door, enter the store and then find out what kind of store it was. Then I had to locate the door again to get back outside.

My favourite store was "Bath and Body Works," a scented store like the "Body Shop."

On Friday, I learned how to navigate my way over the train tracks: the main goal being to get across them as quickly as possible before a train came. Ruston has many trains. The train whistle shrills through the centre all day long.

I have a small part in the Christmas play. I am an elf. I am also in the quire.

We practice almost every night. The performance is on Tuesday at the LCB Christmas party.

Friday was the Ruston Christmas parade. Jeff and I took the boys. We stood and watched the lighted trucks, local high school marching bands and even Santa Claus passed by. People in the vehicles threw candy to the kids and honked their horns. Rhys spent the entire time waving and picking up candy off the road.
Ronyn sat mesmerized on the tailgate of our truck and sucked happily on a sucker.
----
PS.
In seminar this week, we did a personality test. It was like the popular "Myers-Briggs Type"
test, but simpler. I learned a lot about myself and certain personality traits that make me who I am. It is a great way to learn about others and yourself and learn how to work better with others. There are four main personality types and usually everyone has one primary type and a secondary type. I can't remember the name of the test, but if you google, "Sanguine, Melancholy," it should come up. I think it would be an excellent thing to do with our members back home. And it is a lot of fun.
Here is a brief description of the four types from the Web:
""
Sanguine
A person who is sanguine is generally light-hearted, funloving, a people person, loves to entertain, spontaneous, and confident. However they can be arrogant, cocky, and indulgent. He/She can be day-dreamy and off-task to the point of not accomplishing anything and can be impulsive, possibly acting on whims in an unpredictable fashion.

Choleric
A person who is choleric is a doer. They have a lot of ambition, energy, and passion, and try to instill it in others. They can dominate people of other temperaments, especially phlegmatic types. Many great charismatic military and political figures were cholerics.

Melancholic
A person who is a thoughtful ponderer has a melancholic disposition. Often very kind and considerate, melancholics can be highly creative – as in poetry and art - but also can become overly pre-occupied with the tragedy and cruelty in the world, thus becoming depressed. A melancholic is also often a perfectionist, being very particular about what they want and how they want it in some cases. This often results in being dissatisfied with one's own artistic or creative works and always pointing out to themselves what could and should be improved. They are often loners and most times choose to stay alone and reflect.

Phlegmatic
While phlegmatic are generally self-content and kind, their shy personality can often inhibit enthusiasm in others and make themselves lazy and resistant to change. They are very consistent, relaxed, rational, curious, and observant, making them good administrators and diplomats. Like the sanguine personality, the phlegmatic has many friends. However the phlegmatic is more reliable and compassionate; these characteristics typically make the phlegmatic a more dependable friend.
""

Turkies, Turkies and more Turkies!

2009-11-23T13:47:00.001-08:00

Hello again,
Gee, Thanks Giving is certainly a big holiday in the states. My school
and Rhys's school have a week off. I wasn't really ready for a vacation,
as I was just getting into the swing of things at the centre. Oh, well,
guess I shouldn't complain about a holiday!
I had a great third week at the centre. We had a big Thanks Giving Dinner
on Tuesday and every student at LCB made something for the meal. I made
banana pudding. I cooked the banana gelatin on the gas stove. Had a few
panic attacks, as gas stoves make me nervous. But I got through it all
right. Not as bad as the stove in our trailer, which is propane, and
which you have to light, and which I won't touch!
It was a busy week in the kitchen everyone making different dishes: at
least three turkeys, a ham, a pig, countless bowls of stuffing, casseroles
and many desserts.
Because everyone is blind, we always say out loud when we are opening the
oven, or when we are carrying hot water or a hot pan through the kitchen.
The boys and Jeff came o the big Thanks Giving meal. I don't remember the
last time I ate so much food. The food was set up on the counter and we
all served ourselves.

Funny because the next day, we went to Rhys's school for his special
Thanks Giving dinner. Parents were invited to eat in the cafeteria and
visit with the children in their class room. Rhys was very proud to show
us his school an introduce us to his friend Nicolas.

Enjoyed travel class this week. I made great strides. Pardon the pun! I
walked in shades to the apartments and back and only veered onto the road
a few times, but each time I knew what I had done and managed to correct
myself.
Another trick I learned is when I cross a road and get to the other side
of the road and am trying to find the sidewalk. I learned to always turn
towards the parallel road and shore line the side of the road I jut
crossed until I find the sidewalk. It works almost every time.
I am also learning to tell when I am close to something like a building by
the sound. It has to do with the air being cut off by the building, and
then when I ass the building, I can hear the air around me open up and I
can hear the space around me. I am sure there is a more technical way of
describing this.
I am also learning to line myself in the direction I want to go jut by
listening to the traffic sounds.
The model of travel we are learning here is called "structured discovery,
which differs from the traditional rout method of travel, where the blind
person memorizes specific routes and doesn't deviate from these.
Structured Discovery allows the blind person to learn to travel anywhere
through problem solving and figuring things out as you go.

I am nearly ready to try independent routes on my own. I will go to the
apartments on my own next week, and then eventually my instructor will
give me address, which I will have to find on my own. I will go there and
bring back something to show I was there, like a business card etc.

I am working my way through he grade two contractions in Braille class. I
learned them in high school , but have forgotten them. They are slowly
coming up from my subconscious to the surface. I am reading and slating
Braille everyday. I am determined to be able to read and read at least 80
words a minute by the time I leave here.

We had apartment instruction this week; this is when the staff come to the
apartments to check on the apartments and make sure students are keeping
them clean. If there is a problem, staff will teach the students
techniques to improve. Staff will work more intensely on these skills for
those students who might need this help.

On Friday, one of the students at LCB graduated from her nine-month
training program. It was neat to see someone finishing what I am just
beginning.
Her ceremony was an hour or so in the centre library. Students, friends
and family attended either by conference call or in person to talk about
her accomplishments and to watch her get the freedom bell. The
freedom bell is rung here anytime a blind person does something
independently. All graduating students receive a freedom bell to keep
always as a symbol of their time here.

Love to all.

My second week at LCB

2009-11-19T07:34:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. I meant to post this last Friday. Sorry for the delay. Will also have another one up soon.

Friday, November 13

Another week over, my second week at LCB, the training centre.

This week started off slow as I had a cold. Unfortunately I missed one day of school because I couldn’t stop sneezing. Of course the boys got it too. I’m all for families sharing, but it’s too bad the sharing has to include germs.

My travel classes were much better this week. I am starting to orientate myself using audio and tactile cues. I didn’t realize how much I used my limited vision to navigate and avoid, or not avoid obstacles!

Wearing a blind fold all day is allowing me to focus on the audio and tactile senses and learn to use them to their potential. If you pay attention, these senses can tell you so much. My instructor, Roland, and I walked down a few blocks from the centre. I practiced finding the street crossings and keeping on the sidewalks. I am gaining a reputation for veering into the street. The street we are walking along is a quiet road, so it isn’t dangerous. Roland says to me,” “so where do you think you are?” I laugh and say “in the middle of the road?”

Funny how you can think you are walking straight when you are actually walking in a diagonal. Walking at an angle is fine as long as you know how to recognize you are doing this and learn how to correct it. I am learning to listen to the sounds of traffic on the parallel and perpendicular streets and feel the direction of the sun or feel the incline of a drive way to judge if I am walking straight. If the cars suddenly sound like they are in front of me instead of to my left, then I am beginning to realize it isn’t the road that has magically changed position, but me. I simply move my body back so the traffic sounds are again on my left, and then I continue on. To experienced blind travelers, this probably sounds elementary, but when you aren’t used to using this kind of cue, it is liberating to become aware of it. What a powerful feeling to be able to make travel decisions based on sound and touch rather than sight. That is what the centre calls learning alternative techniques.

Today I travelled with Arlene Hill, a travel teacher who has written several excellent articles about traveling as a blind person. It is wonderful to work with blind people who are travel instructors. It feels motivating to know that I can eventually become as competent as they are at getting around.

Another thing I am working on is called the “open palm technique;” this is a technique of holding your cane. It is tricky to do at first. When I was little, I was taught to hold my cane with my index finger down the cane. The open palm technique involves a loose rolling motion in the palm of your hand. And you are not supposed to move your wrist. The movement is all in the hand / fingers. The thumb hovers over top. At first it feels like the cane will fall out of your hand, but I am gradually getting used to it.

At LCB we are taught to tap the cane from side to side and not to do constant contact. Apparently constant contact is for people who have neuropathy and may have a limited sense of touch. Apparently the constant contact method can slow you down. Interesting.

In shop this week I made another grid block. I used a drill for the first time in my life and learned to use a drill bit. I had heard the term “drill bit” before, but never knew what it was or what it did.

The drill is heavy and it takes all my strength to hold it in place. I need to build some muscle! I am looking forward to learning to use other tools like the table saw!

I made coffee yesterday in Home Ec., and today I made bacon and eggs. Cooking in a frying pan is another thing I normally use my sight to accomplish. It was neat to cook the whole meal under sleep shades. I used tongs to turn the bacon, and listened to the sizzle of the bacon grow quieter, which told me it was time to flip it over. I used round, metal devices, called egg rings, to fry the eggs. These egg rings keep the egg in place, so you can locate it on the pan. For once I didn’t burn the bacon and I ate my concoction for lunch!

After cooking anything at the centre, we do our dishes and put everything away.

The Centre is putting on a Christmas play about Santa Clause losing his sight. Santa is depressed about going blind. He learns about the training centre in Ruston Louisiana and goes for training to become a competent and confident blind Santa. I am in the quire. Mr. Whittle the play writer says I can have a part in the big play at convention this summer. It will be about a blind doctor. Can’t wait. I’ve been wanting to do some acting for a long time.

We have “seminar” twice a week. Seminar is an opportunity for all students and staff to gather to discuss blindness issues and how to handle blindness in a positive way. This week we watched a movie called “Blind Sight.” This movie is about the blind man who climbed Mt. Everest and how he worked with blind teenagers from Tibet to go on a climbing expedition. It is an excellent movie. In Tibet blindness is seen as evil and as a punishment for sin in a past life. Certainly much negativity for these young people to overcome.

The movie features, Sabrea, a blind woman from Germany, who travelled with a cane to Tibet and travelled on horseback into village to find blind children. She started a school in Tibet called Braille Without Borders. What an amazing person, not because she is blind, but because of what she is doing to empower blind people around the world. Sabrea is a symbol that blindness has no boarders, and we all must unite to change what it means to be blind in this world.

Well, tomorrow a group of us are going to a flee market in Arcadia, 20 minutes from Ruston. We are going in a bus and I am taking Rhys. Will be good to spend some momma son time.

Lots of love to everyone.

My first week at the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB)

2009-11-06T18:10:00.001-08:00

November 6
Well, I did it. I finished my first week at the training centre. Wow, what an incredible experience.

In one week, I learned to thread a needle, slate the alphabet in Braille, travel independently around the building in sleep shades (blind fold), measure wood with a click ruler in shop, practice on a Braille note taker and more.

My day goes from 8 AM to 5 PM, with two ten-minute breaks and a one-hour lunch. My schedule is as follows: (morning) announcements in the library with all the staff and students; one hour of Braille; one hour of computers; two hours of cooking / sewing/ other life skills; (afternoon) two hours of cane travel followed by two hours of shop.

I am learning so much and thinking in ways I haven't before. I am calling on all my powers of concentration and skill, even my long-dormant math skills, to get through the days.

Today was my first travel lesson outside. My instructor and I walked back and forth in front of the centre and practice finding the street crossings. I worked on finding curbs. Usually I overstepped them or didn't go far enough and found myself standing ten feet away from the crossing. Two times, my instructor called me back from the road, and once I fell almost gracefully against a parked car.

By the end of the lesson, I did walk successfully to each curb.

Today was also the day I learned to thread a needle- something I've never done before. I faced this challenge with absolutely know knowledge of how to do the task. I used a needle threader and after 20 painstaking minutes, hooked the needle onto the threader, caught the thread on the hook and pulled the thread through the eye of the needle. For me this is an incredible accomplishment, as my high school excluded me from sewing class and no-one ever taught me to sew.

Today in shop, I measured 24 three-quarter-inch segments on a block of wood with the click ruler. (note: a click ruler is the only blindness-specific tool students use. It is a metal 12-inch ruler divided into inches, half inches and one-sixteenth inches. Each click represents one-sixteenth of an inch).
All the other tools, including saws, drills an routers have not been adapted in any way.

I am invigorated, exhausted and overwhelmed. I remind myself to forget my ego and start fresh, and to realize I am on a journey and will not know everything all at once. That is why I am here: to learn and to grow.

I moved into the LCB apartments this week. The apartments are like townhouses and are all ground level. Each unit has two bedrooms and one bathroom and a kitchen an living area. The complex also has an activity centre with tables and couches and laundry facilities.
I have a lovely roommate, who is 20 years old. She has been at LCB for three months. She is a great support and mentor. We walk together each morning to the centre.
PS. Our house purchased has been finalized and we move tomorrow. Will be nice to be closer to Jeff and the boys.
Lots of love to everyone.

Tigger and Spider Man

2009-11-01T14:10:00.001-08:00

Went trick or treating with kids last night. Drove for an hour and couldn't find any little kids. Finally I stopped at McDonalds and asked someone where kids went on Halloween in Ruston.
We discovered everyone goes to one central location and goes from house to house. We made it just as dark fell.
My little Tigger and Spider Man had a great time at last! Also went to fire hall during the day, games and rode in a 100 feet bucket.
I start at the centre tomorrow. Yes I am nervous. Can't believe the big day is actually here.
Rhys knows that momma is going to school just like him!
We are going to send each other good thoughts each day! Note: there are pics up on Facebook.

Accepted Offer

2009-10-26T18:52:00.001-07:00

Well, we did it. We made an offer on a house in Ruston. We thought better to buy than to rent. We wanted an investment and to get back into the market again.
Hard to believe we are buying a house some place other than back home in Victoria!!
Our offer has been accepted. Everything closes on Friday.
It is a duplex, so we can rent it out and get income, which will help so much.
It's an old house, but a good investment. The property is large about 16,000 sqf. A great yard for the kids to play.
We will hold onto the house when we go back to Victoria.
Jeff is getting excited about fixing it up a bit. I can hear the happiness back in his voice.
He can't wait to get his hands on the house!
Next weekend will be busy – Halloween party for the kids, tricker treating, moving into our new place and I start at the centre on Monday! So much excitement!
Miss you all back home!
hugs

Getting up at 6 am!

2009-10-23T06:58:00.001-07:00

Yikes 6 am is much too early to get up!
October 22
Went to look at two duplexes today in Ruston. Asking around $75,000. Would be great investment opportunity and a way to live in Ruston. There is much truth to southern hospitality. Everyone is so welcoming. 70 degrees today and raining.

October 21, 2009,
We just picked up Rhys from school. It was his fourth day. He is starting to get used to it. He is doing his homework with dad on the trailer table. Has to write three words that end in the letter "P".
He had hamburger, fries and ketchup and cake with icing for lunch. My goodness!
Trailer is very small for all of us. Hard to keep things in order and keep it clean not to mention can't find any time to yourself.

Jeff and I have been looking for possible properties to buy in Ruston. Would like to get an investment property, maybe a duplex to rent out and keep when we go back home.
You can get a shack that looks like a barn outside of Ruston in the country on one acre for $40,000. But we want to get something in Ruston. An average house is going for about $100,000 in Ruston, close to $200,000 for a really ice house.

Rents are relatively high, not much cheaper than in Victoria.
We will see how it goes.

Marsh mellows

2009-10-16T15:50:00.001-07:00

Finally a sunny day in Ruston LA. Kids are outside by the camp fire roasting marsh mellows. Came home to ants in our trailer yesterday! yuck
Rhys had his second day of kindergarten. Actually had a reading test. Yikes. A bit intense. But seems to be enjoying school. Maybe it's harder on me! He gets homework next week!
I start at the training centre at the beginning of November. Can't wait. There are blind people all over the city. I've never been to a place where blindness isn't a big deal. I go into a store and the clerk talks to me like I am a normal person. Like I am in a different dimension where everyone's educated about blind people!

starting kindergarten

2009-10-14T19:13:00.001-07:00

My son starts kindergarten tomorrow. Early start, 7:30 am to 2:40 PM a full day. They have uniforms. We shopped for this today. Cackie or black pants and polo shirts, either red, black or white.
My little boy looks so handsome all dressed up. Hard to believe. The school even has a cafeteria and provides lunches.

Thunder

2009-10-13T18:51:00.001-07:00

Thunder today. Rain doesn't stop, pelting down. Did our laundry at the laundry mat in Ruston. Got Rhys registered at school. Will be so good when he starts. He needs to be with other children. We are going to look for rental housing tomorrow. I will be living at the centre apartments during the week days and at our family house on weekends. Drove by the centre apartments today. They are very nice, like town houses, not far from the centre. Crickets are loud tonight, now the rain has stopped. Finally got the kids to sleep.

Happy Thanks Giving from Ruston

2009-10-12T18:05:00.001-07:00

Dear friends!

We are staying at a camp site called Antique Village about 10 minutes from the city of Ruston. Weather has been poring rain for the last few days. We were 20 KM away from a twister the other day. WE have been settling in. Finally got a cell phone so we can stay in touch with everyone back home.
Working on getting Rhys in Kindergarten and will be starting my training at the center at the beginning of November.
Had a wonderful turkey dinner to night in celebration of the Canadian thanks giving!
Miss you all.
Love
From the Lalondes.

--
End of September, 2009

The boys, Jeff and I left on our big adventure to Ruston Louisiana on Friday. We drove through Washington State, Oregon and now we are in Idaho. Staying tonight at an RV site with goats. Boys have been giving the goats bread. We are all well.
Very hot here. Feels like a dream. Reading Harry Potter as we drive! Great to lose myself in a book again! Drove by "Moon Crater today / touched real lava from volcano.

October 3, 2009
Reached Oklahoma yesterday. Today we are in Checotah. We drove for hours the last few days to escape the terrible icy winds in Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas.
Couldn't believe how cold it was. So glad I brought our winter coats.

One site in Kansas had an organic garden. Jeff and the boys picked tomatoes and a pumpkin, which is ripening in the back of the truck.

Don't always have a payphone to use and sometimes, if there is wireless at the camp sites, the connection is weak. So difficult to stay in touch with people back home.
We don't have a cell phone yet to use in the States. Will wait till we get to Louisiana.
The weather here is much nicer than when we were crossing the high Plaines; it is about 70 degrees in the evening. Starting to feel more like the south, a pungent, sweet smell in the air – a playground for the kids and even a pool!
We will stay here two nights as we desperately need a break from driving. The kids have been so good, but it is hard to travel for so long and to sit so much. Our backseat looks like it has been hit by a tornado – books, crumbs, empty cd holders litter the seat and floor.

We often lose our tempers, crowded in the truck or trailer for long periods, but we manage to rejuvenate ourselves between bouts and laugh and feel excitement about the great adventure we are on.

We're Here

2009-10-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
We've made it to Ruston. I'll write more very soon.