Spring semester....

 Hi everyone. I know it has been a long time since you all have heard from me. I just have not had much inspiration to come up with creative posts. I started my spring semester about 6 weeks ago with 3 courses. I have been excited to take a course called First Aid and Safety. In easy terms I have been learning CPR(basic life support) and Advanced First Aid. I have really been enjoying this class and learning different ways of helping someone who has gotten sick or injured. I do get to go in person to practice the skills that are needed for this class. I will also earn  American Heart Association BLS CPR certification and American Red Cross Advanced First Aid certification when I am done with this course. The other two courses I am taking this semester are totally online. I do not know about some of you guys but this semester is seeming to drag on slowly. Greyson has not been a happy puppy due to all the snow we have gotten over the last few weeks. I do not mind walking threw the snow when its about a foot high but anything higher I do not try. Greyson does not like it either so we have not gotten out for regular walks. This means he loves when we get to go to class on my college campus. My other animals are doing very well also. My elder cat Sheba is starting to get stir crazy because she usually spends some of the day outside. She does not like the snow and cold so she has been meowing at me to try to fix it. I open the door for her to go outside and she accuses me of tricking her. I am still in the process of job searching. I have had a few good leads but they ended up not turning out. I got an Instant pot for Christmas but I am still trying to figure out how to set it up properly. Remember if you have any ideas that you want me to post about just email me at wolf.t.manor@gmail.com

If you have any questions about blindness do  not be shy to email either.

Fall semester and Work

 Hey everyone I know i told some of you that I will write a post last week but I got focused on reading and not writing. I thought I would tell you guys some of how I am doing in this crazy world now. I finished my summer semester at the beginning of August and I actually started my fall semester of college on August 24th. I have also been doing lots of job searching and actually had some interviews to go to after months of no interviews. Unfortunately, I did go to the interviews and did some on the phone but they did not go forward with the hiring process afterward. I am just excited at this point that places are doing interviews again. I will look into some other job positions that had a governmental hiring freeze to see if I can go forward with those. I think I will also look into jobs for my college.  Several weeks ago during my break I went to the lake and got some pictures on the beach with Greyson. I was not sure if the injuries he got were from the beach or not. The next day though when we went to go on a walk he was limping very badly and panting extremely heavy when it was not hot. I offered the harness to him like I always do and he got in it with zeal like always. So I brought him to the vet and the vet found cuts on his front paws and only his front paws. That is why I was not sure if it was from the beach or not. Well Greyson got some time off and medicine to help him threw the time. Now he is healed up and working as intently as always. I am actually allowed to go on my college campus once a week to attend a blended course and I am excited to get out the house. Not much else is going on with me but I did get a new phone at the beginning of August and have had lots of problems with it since. 

Craziness and some updates....

Hi everyone. I know there has been  a lot of craziness happening in this world. There are no words that can explain the heart ache and worry some have gone threw. When this pandemic shut down started in our country I was about half way threw with my spring semester and getting ready for spring break. I know I have not updated you guys or even made a silly post in a while but I was having some accessibility issues with my laptop. During the time I was going to start spring break I found out that my classes would be turned into online only. I also did have the fun of having an extended spring break for a few days. This was mainly because it gave the professors some time to figure out how to change their classes to online format. All the updates I gave in my last post was some what true. I did become apart of my local Student Division of the National Federation of the Blind. Unfortunately, though I was not able to attend anymore meetings for the Learning Differences Club. The Ohio Student Division has been meeting every few weeks though over the phone. It has to be that way no matter if there is a pandemic because all of us are all over Ohio. I did end my spring semester on May 15th. I ended the semester with very good grades for not being in the school swing for a while. I did also start my summer semester on June 8th and will finish August 2nd. These summer classes are totally online and have been interesting. I am taking Introduction to Mythology and I changed my communication class to Interpersonal communication. I have also recently received an email that one of my fall classes have already been changed to online. I am waiting to hear about the other class. Not much else is going on here though. Greyson and I did celebrate our 2 year anniversary of being a team and there are no words to explain how he has changed my independence. I would like to remind everyone though that you can still email me suggestions to write about just not political posts. lol. My email is wolf.t.manor@gmail.com

How my life is going....

I have had a pretty busy life lately. I thought I would let you know how everything is going. Greyson is doing very well with our new adventures and I think some days I tire him out. In the middle of January I started college. I am studying Sports and Fitness Management and may decide to go into the partnership program my college offrers to earn my Bachelor's of Exercise Science. I have not made that decision yet but I think I have plenty of time before I have to make it. I am also considering taking summer classes to hopefully earn my degree a little faster. I still have to meet with my advisor to talk about which classes are available for me to take. I will be using the first degree to hopefully get a career in the wrestling field. I am wanting to be a coach but I do not know where everything will take me yet. I have also been in the process of job searching. I have been to two interviews already but have not had any feedback from them yet. I have mainly been filling out applications for customer service but have also checked out some applications for fitness centers. I have filled out some applications for dispatching positions but also have not gotten any feedback from them. I am also apart of the Student Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and have been enjoying building up the membership. I was actually voted in as one of the officers so I will be having some strong responsibilities for this. I have also joined a club that is on my college campus  called Learning Differences and this club is just for students with disabilities. This club is kind of  like the Student Division but it is for all students with disabilities not just visual impairments. I will try to keep up a better schedule of posting and keeping everyone updated on how my life is going. Remember you can always email wolf.t.manor@gmail.com if you have an idea of a post I should write.

Outdoor Adventures

A while back I wrote a post about the seasons but today I will write a post about how there are so many ways to experience the outdoors with other senses. I think I will start with smell. There are many bad smells that can become too much sometimes. They can be: exhaust fumes from cars and other such transportation. Garbage smells in some cities can also be overwhelming to the nose. Despite these disgusting scents though there can be beautiful smells such as the clean scent of ozone after it rains. If you are near trees you can also smell the scent of growing things. Trees, bushes, flowers, brambles, and almost anything that grows outside has such different smells and it can also be relaxing. Just walking threw a forrest brings so many experiences. You can smell all the growing things and maybe even be able to tell the difference between them. If you are walking on a dirt trail you may be able to hear small dead leaves and twigs snap beneath your feet. You can touch all the different plants just be careful of poison ivy and poison oak. Some plants are sharp and others are so soft and fragile. You may also be able to hear a stream, creek , or river depending where you are walking. You can listen to how the water flows over the rocks and other debris that may be in it. If you wanted to you can also throw a rock to skip it over the water and listen to each splash. Lets say you are actually on the water. Many things that you can tell are the bobbing of the boat and even the smell of the water. You can tell if the water is flowing fast or slow and maybe you will even fall asleep. If you put your hand in the water you can tell if its cold or warm and if its warm maybe you can find out if its fed by an underwater source. Now lets say you are in a boat and you are fishing. You can feel the pole in your hand and feel if you catch something from the tug of the line. When you get the fish out of the water you can feel the weight of the fish and the strangeness of its scales. Once you pull the hook out of it you can toss the fish back and let it live another day. Maybe you want to climb a tree you will smell the bark and maybe even sap if the tree has it. You can feel the bark against your hands and tell weather or not its soft from earlier rain or its dry and hard from a drought. Maybe you will even scrape your self on the bark. Well maybe its not a good idea to climb the tree without climbing gear. What if while you are exploring the forrest you hear animals. You can probably hear squirrels, birds , and other small animals. If you want maybe you can even find out what some of the birds are and tell just by there call. You may be able to hear deer moving around but this one is very difficult because they are very quiet and most of the time you may only be able to see them. Lets think of other weather elements that can make our senses have different experiences. If there is a light rain you may just hear a pitter patter on the leaves above you. If there is a harsher rain though maybe you should leave the forrest. There are many bad things that can happen in a forest when there is a storm. Old large trees can fall over from the wind, the river may flood, and there can also be mud slides. So even in this beautiful environment there can be beautiful destruction that can pave the way for new growth. What if you are walking in snow. The snow can be cold but also refreshing. You may be able to feel the snow flakes fall on your face and hands. The smell of ozone is also strong with snow. You may be able to hear the crunch of ice beneath your shoes. There are so many ways to experience the world with other senses other than sight. How do you experience the world with other senses

Personal Space...

Google defines personal space as a noun. The definition is: the physical space immediately surrounding someone, into which any encroachment feels threatening to or uncomfortable for them. Normal people respect this understanding most of the time. There are many situations where personal space is not respected. Sometimes this can be do to violence or just plain accidental. Which ever this might be most people do not think of just violating someones personal space. Now I want you to think of what you would do if you saw a disabled person minding their own business walking or going in their wheelchair to some destination. If it looks like that disabled person needs help would you go over and ask if they need help. Or would you just assume and grab them to steer them where you think they want to go. This is what most of society does actually. they see a disabled person and assume they can help and so they do. This is an extreme violation of personal space. You may not think so as the helper but just think for a moment. Would you like some random person coming up to you and grabbing your arm or wheelchair. How does the disabled person know that you are trying to help them not hurt them. THEY DO NOT!!! Why does society constantly think that they can just grab someone to help them. This is very very wrong. the right way to approach someone with a disability is to walk with in a few feet and ask if they need help with something. If you are on a bus, train, or subway maybe this is not possible but you should not just drag the disabled person to where you think they are going. Most of the time you will actually be wrong and can cause safety problems without realizing it. If you grab a blind person they may not see that you are pulling them towards a drop off and they will trip and all that is your fault. If you just start pushing a wheelchair in a direction where you think they want to go you can actually cause the chair to malfunction. you do not know how that specific chair may work for the individual person. It may cost thousands of dollars for that chair to help that person. With one disrespectful gesture and violation of personal space you have damaged that chair. Now how will that person who uses it get around safely and afford a replacement. If you simply ask if the disabled person needs help and they say yes they will most likely direct you how to help them and where they are going.If the disabled person says no they do not need help then do not force help on them they know what they are doing. People with disabilities are people too and they should have the same rights to personal space as any other person. 

Dreamers

We dream while we are asleep. we dream while we are a wake. The dreams that we have while we are asleep are pictures are mind comes up with. Sometimes it can be similar to what we did during the day but other times it can be something we have to remember to do. Even other times a small few of us have dreams that tell us a little bit about the future. Dreams can also be things that we want to do in life and set as a goal. some of those dreams are just dreams though that no matter how hard we want to do them it never comes to be. Each and every one of us have a dream. Some dreams can be simple like finally getting to cleaning the garage or organizing the house better. Dreams do not always have to be simple though they can be almost an impossibility. Some large dreams can be becoming a motivational speaker in the community, earning a college degree, or even creating a group of people that go out and help the less fortunate. We are all dreamers in one way or another. We can dream small or dream big but as long as we have a dream we have a goal to do something. Even the disabled community have dreams that they want to accomplish one day. It may take them a little longer to complete their dreams and they may have more challenges but they will get to completing their dream. Just because someone looks like they cannot complete their dream does not mean they are unable to . There is no need to put someone down just because you do not think their dream is a good one or you think it is too impossible for them to complete. we all need a group of people or even just one friend that will cheer us on towards our dream. those people can also participate along side us with our dream. Dreams are important to have because it is a goal that someone may have. they can also be something just to think about while life goes on around us. Our dreams may not turn out the way we imagined but that does not matter. Just think of it as an accomplishment because the dream was fulfilled. Not everyone just has one dream though. Some people may have multiple dreams that are interconnected or even not related. It is great to have multiple dreams because once one is completed there is another to think of. the effort put into a dream does not have to be tiresome it can be enjoyable because the thought of getting closer to completing the dream is the best feeling in the world. While completing a dream we can meet other people along the way that have the same dream and will help getting yours completed. We may also just meet good people along the journey and make life long friends that will be by our side forever. the best thing to do while going on the journey to complete a dream is do not push people away that are willing to help. That person could be the person that helps you complete that dream or can help you with a different dream you did not even know you had. Life will pull us in different directions so one dream may change into another. this is not a bad thing because we could learn to experience things in a different way then we ever thought. the new dream may even feel better to have then something that we dreamt of before. the new dream may have more meaning to us then the one before. What is your dream? What kind of a journey do you have to insertion point at end Use t

Daily Life

Our lives are filled with daily chores and responsibilities. Some of us have children to take care of, some of us have pets to take care of, and others have jobs to go to. Everyone needs something though to just relax and enjoy. That may b going outside for a walk, it may be staying outside to garden, or it could be many other things. Someone may enjoy using good smelling lotions, perfumes, or other skin care products. Some people may even do a workout to feel good about theirselves. Yoga is a good option or maybe rock climbing. Some may enjoy swimming or running or even hiking. With the daily tasks of life everyone needs something that they can look forward to doing and enjoying. Lives can also become boring and repetitive. People need freedom time away from daily activities. A vacation, a date night with a partner or friend, a day at the spa, or even just taking a road trip can change the boredom of regular lives. People need to know how to relax and take time out of their lives to do something different and maybe even exciting. We are all human beings that get used to doing the same thing over and over without a change. Some of us need change so we do not get into boredom and start getting angry with life. this may even be a good way not to get depressed with the way life may be going at the time. Starting a group that meets every so often, signing up for a race with some friends, or even starting a volunteer position are good options to have something to look forward to. Doing things like this nay also help build better friendships with people that will be their when you least expect it. Friendships are one of the best things in life and if we do not have some we will most likely have a harder time with life. Friends can help with just wanting someone to talk to about how good a recipe is, talk to about what new movie is coming out and they want to see, talk to about the best way to find clothing stores, or friends can just be their to vent to. We all need activities to do to keep life enjoyable and having good friends will really help with this. I hope you can find something you enjoy to do for yourself. What kinds of interesting activities do you do to keep enjoying life?

 

Blind Technology

.There has been a meme going around lately that shows a blind person holding a white cane and a cell phone. The caption says something like what is wrong with this picture.I went blind almost 5 years ago and before I went blind I would have wondered how the person used their phone. I would not have been mad because the cane shows the person is blind and cannot use a phone. Blind people use their phone because now the phones can talk with a screen reader or even use some other kind of accessibility. Blind people are not as helpless or clueless as most of the general community thinks. Blind people can use a phone, a computer, a stove, and almost anything a visual person can use. There are blind people who take care of their own children without visual help. There are blind people who take care of their own selves and their pets. There are blind people who travel the world without assistance. I do not understand how a simple picture can make so much of a fuss with visual people. Maybe I can understand though because I have actually had a few people take my phone out of my hand and yell at me your phone is off. I keep what is called a screen curtain on because the brightness of my phone will hurt my eyes after using it for awhile. Technology is apart of most blind people's lives because without it some stuff will be difficult. There are apps that help us tell what color something is. There are apps that can help blind people tell what a food is by scanning the bar code. There are apps that can tell a blind person what a peice of clothing is by taking a picture of it and describing it. There are even apps that can scan a document and read it out to the blind person. Blind people even play games on their phones because they are based on sound. There are so many advancements in this world with technology so why do people still think that if someone is blind that person is unable to do anything. Visual people carry their phones with them all the time so why can't a blind person figure out how to use a phone. This world can be so ignorant and unwilling to learn when it comes to something they think is impossible. Just because a visual person cannot imagine doing something does not mean someone else is not doing it at that moment. Some people were not even born blind so they had to go threw the difficulty of re learning how to live being blind. I want to make a challenge to any perfectly sighted person reading this post that next time you may meet a blind person ask them how their day is going. Also have a real conversation with them because they are human beings too. I would advice though do not bring up how amazing they are for doing daily tasks you do everyday. Blindness has become normal to them so doing what they do on a daily bases is just the way they live. O by the way I made this blog post on my phone with a bluetooth keyboard. 

A New Year.....

Well, this is another year for us all. this is another year to have love and another year to have friendships. this is another year to enjoy life with all of its trials and tribulations. this is another year to be strong and face challenges head on. This is another year to fall down, but get back up. Last year was troublesome for me,but also great because I got my beautiful guide dog Greyson. This year will be my year. I will focus on myself and my partnership with Greyson. this year I will do my best to get in the job field and even get back to Jiu Jitsu. I was not able to continue it because I made a mistake that took me out of it. I do not regret that mistake though because I got to make it and learn from it. This year I will walk many miles with my boy Greyson and if someone wants to join me they have to keep up. I know there are many people out there who will make resolutions and most likely not keep them threw out the entire year. Some of those resolutions could be losing weight, getting a better job, or even having good friends to depend on. Make this year your year and keep those resolutions and if you need help find someone else who has the same resolution and do it with them. this year has just begun so don't give up yet. Some of us may even find that someone who will stay at our side forever. Some of us may have the most heart ache pain that is almost unbearable. Some of us will fall into a hole that seems endless. Some of us may have a child that will give us the most joy we will ever experience in our lives. This is another year for anything to happen. Make your choices, face your challenges head on, stand up when you fall, and always remember to be who you are and don't let someone else tell you different. If a new experience comes up try it, it may open new doors for you. If you are a reader read as many books as you can and take new genre suggestions. If you are a writer write as many poems, short stories, or even blog posts that you can think of. If you are a runner run as many miles as you can. If you are a singer sing as many songs as you can. Don't say I can't do it that will only make your year terrible.this is another year to do your best and to see how strong you can be. How will you make this year yours?

A Day of Greyson

Hi, My name is Greyson and I will try to put my day down into words for you. I help my Mom get to places she wants to go safely. I protect her from going into the road I think she calls it.All I know is that I keep her from going towards those big, strange metal things. I help her get around things that may be in our way while walking like trees, metal things in the sidewalk, or something else that may be in our way. My day starts with food and water. Then I get to go to the potty because I have had to go all night, but I know if I go where I sleep I will make my Mom mad at me and I never want that. Sometimes there is wet stuff falling from the sky and I really don't want to be out in it, but I have to go potty before my mom lets me go back inside. My mom has to say bye to the guy I like so much and my friend Chance I think his name is goes and stays outside for a long time. Sometimes my mom will let me go back to sleep after I go potty in the morning, but other times we may go out doing something with the man I like so much. Other times she may have me practice sitting, staying when I can't see her which is really hard, or even laying down which I love. I don't understand why she makes me do this over and over because I already know it, but I don't mind so much because she gives me lots of petting. So now it may be another time for me to go potty which is good because I really have to go. I get water after this time, but I don't always want it so I have to tell my mom no I don't want it. Sometimes my friend will come in and we can play for a while. I love these times because I can rough house with him and he does not mind. Sometimes he will get tired so he may need a break then I try to get my little friend to play, but she just looks at me and goes back to cleaning herself. I think my mom calls her Jazmine and she smells different than my big friend. By this time my mom is getting my stuff to go out on a walk and I am happy to do this. My big friend has to go back outside and I have to go potty again before we go. She puts on my outfit and we go. I love these times Sometimes on walks there is other friends I want to say Hi to, but my mom reminds me I have to keep her safe so I do. there also are little people like my mom, but they smell really good and make loud noises that make me want to play. Again my mom has to remind me to protect her I think I do a good job most of the time because she gives me petting and tells me I was a good boy. Finally we get back home and I get food and water again.I am very hungry from walking so fast and much so I gobble up my food and then water. I get to go potty again and I really have to go because I drank so much. Most of the time I get to rest the rest of the day while my mom does stuff. I try to get my little friend to play with me again but she won't I don't get it. All she does is clean herself and steal petting from my mom. Soon the man I like so much comes home and we may go back out in his metal thing. I have to curl up by my mom's large funny looking paws so we can go . Finally I get to go potty again for the last time of the day so it makes me feel good for the sleeping time. I almost forgot the man I like so much has this other little friend, but I don't think she likes me so much.When I first met her she hurt my nose and now she makes strange noises at me when she sees me. I think my mom calls her Sheba. She is not like my other little friend that allows me to give her kisses and nudges. this little friend will run away if I try to smell her. It makes me sad. My day is just about over if my mom does not give me a brushing which feels really nice.she may also put this really good tasting stuff on my teeth. well I think it is time for me to go to sleep. I have my own bed, but I like to sleep with my mom so I get in her bed.she does not mind most of the time. Good night all my friends and lay like I do on your back it is very nice.

Leader Dog

I traveled by plane for the first time to get to class and I did not even realize when the plane took off until the flight attendant said over the speaker we were now 10,000 feet in the air. when I arrived it was a Sunday so not much was done but unpacking and socializing with others who got there, On Monday we did something called Juno walks.A Juno walk is the trainer holding the harness that will go on your dog. The point of these walks is to learn the commands and corrections if they need to be made to the dog. I got my new guide dog the next day because it was a short class and all the trainers thought we should get extra time since it was a short class. I was presented with a yellow lab named Greyson. A awesome fact is Greyson was raised in the prison system not with a family. So for his first full year of life he stayed with this person and they taught him basic commands and things that may be strange to the dog. The first week went by very quickly and before I knew it Sunday was there. Sundays are the days Greyson gets to just be a dog they are for play, lazing around, and recouping from the week. The second week also went by very quickly but we learned many more things together. Greyson and I went along busy roads and longer routes where there were many obstacles. When there may be a ground or just an obstacle in the sidewalk Greyson stops to let me know something is there and I should check it out. Once I do so I take a step back and give the command forward and he has the responsibility to take the safest way around the obstacle. On Saturday I was not feeling Greyson and I were progressing well but in the morning we took an independent walk with just trainers at certain points just in case we needed help. That walk made me feel better on how we are working together but in the afternoon my feelings were in a way I could not describe because we did a very busy mall. To go into a busy mall and not run into anything was amazing. Greyson easily guided me around people and obstacles smoothly and with grace. I found out many people are not expecting to see a dog in a place like a mall so they can get startled.I had that happen Greyson and I passed a woman and she dropped all her stuff because she was not expecting to see Greyson the next day was Father's day and my dad came to visit me for a couple hours. He had some trouble getting there because a belt broke on his vehicle so he had to have a friend bring him another one. Greyson met my dad and he likes him so that is very good. Then was the last week. the last week I really enjoyed because we went and did a route in Detroit and I got to go on a people mover for the first time. I also learned if Greyson and I are on a platform like for a train or the people mover and I try to tell Greyson to go forward and nothing is there he will actually turn the other way and not go off the drop off. We also walked a trail the last week which was very nice because I like to go hiking and I was wondering how Greyson would handle that situation. Thursday came around and I signed the papers that made Greyson and I an official team. We also got an I.D that has our picture on it and it says we are a Leader Dog team on the back of the I.D there is the ADA law. I went home on Friday with Greyson. It was an interesting experience going threw security and riding on a plane with him. Greyson got very stressed after security and he threw up but after that everything went well. I was very surprised when I was told only 40% of all the puppies that are born make it threw to class and graduate with a handler.Some dogs may not like the responsibility of the job, some dogs may be too hyper, some dogs may even be too lazy. These dogs are called career change dogs. Leader Dog does its best to put the career change dogs in a position somewhere else like working with a person in a wheelchair or even in the airport. If there are any questions I can answer just put them in the comments.

Animals and Us

We have all had or wanted a pet in our lives. The people who have had animals or pets know the feelings they give to us. We get unconditional love, peacefulness, and care from a creature that does not know how to hate. We can own all kinds of animals like, dogs, cats, horses, pigs, or even hedge hogs. Some of these creatures do not like to cuddle a lot but we love them to bits and feel heartbroken when they may pass. The people who have not had a pet I think you are missing out because animals give such love and caring without even asking for it. All these types of animals have all different types of personalities which make our relationships with them so interesting. Some can be quieT AND really independent but some can also be hyper and playful. Families with kids really do benefit from having a pet because I believe it teaches the kids responsibility and how to take care of a creature that may not take care of theirselves.People who get their pet qualified for being a therapy animal I believe they are doing a benefit for the community because they may bring them to hospitals, nursing homes, or homeless shelters. These places do well with these animals because people who may be in the hospital for a while gets hope and a brightness in their spirits that can not be explained.Bringing a therapy animal into a nursing home brings happiness and joy back again into those peoples hearts. Homeless shelters also benefit because showing those people the happiness that an animal may bring to them helps with maybe one day an animal will be adopted by them. I personally own a cat, a dog, and soon a guide dog. What kind of animal do you own? Do you own a weird animal you love to bits?

Blind Troubles...

Each and every day I have many troubles and a lot of them are due to being blind. I never let these troubles keep me down though, I push past the difficulties in life to live a normal life like everyone else. I have the troubles of running into garbage cans, cars, and every once in a while into someone. Running into the garbage cans and cars are due to me walking along the curb to get out to the street so I can get on the bus. I can not walk on any sidewalks until I get to a busy street because either there are none or they cut off randomly which is very weird.I use the bus system to get around most of the time and they are great. At times though they do not announce the stops so I have to depend on the driver to tell me when my stop is coming up. At other times the bus I need just passes me up without even stopping so I have to wait for the next bus depending on when the next one comes. I am getting a guide dog next month so running into things will no longer be an issue. I love to inform people on how I do everything being blind but a lot of people are so rude when they see me walking around. Some people like to grab me to try and guide me to where I may be going which is completely wrong and rude. I do not know any blind person who likes to be grabbed and drug around because that person does not know how to guide. Another rude gesture is when people call my cane a stick I understand it looks like a stick but it is a cane just like the one elderly may use. One personal thing that bothers me the most and I have heard this one from other blind people to is when other people with vision move everything around and do not tell me where it was moved so it takes me a long time to find it. One thing I want to challenge anyone who is reading this post is to try and eat food with a blind fold on, walk around your house with no lights on , take a shower in the dark, or get dressed in the dark. You do not have to try it I just think it will open many eyes to how blind people live their lives everyday. Blindness is not something that can cause someone to have no life and do nothing because it seems so impossible. I had sight for many years and actually going blind has been a eye opener for me because now I see the true way people are when it comes to differences in people. I actually tend to forget that I am blind because I have adapted to living blind very well and truly excepted going blind. Try my challenge and you can see too.

The White Cane

A lot of blind people use a white cane that helps them navigate and avoid obstacles in their path. A visually impaired person also benefits from using one if they are night blind which means even though they can see during the day they are not able to see at night. Another reason for sometimes needing a cane is if a person is not able to walk on very bright days when there are not many clouds. For a person who has some remaining vision, an identification cane is useful as it lets them know if something is in their peripheral vision or right in front of them - in the case that they have a central vision loss. An identification cane also lets the public know that the individual using it may have some degree of vision loss. A totally blind person needs a cane to detect cracks in the sidewalk, find and use grass lines, and to help with finding where stairs are, to name a few. The white canes are not just white, they are red and white because it helps someone with sight notice the cane. It is also possible to specialty order canes for the visually impaired and different colors. The white cane may also be made out of aluminum, fiberglass or graphite. There are many different tips that may come with a white cane. They are called marshmallow, pencil, ceramic, or flat tip. There are straight canes, folding canes and telescoping canes. A folding cane and a telescoping cane are a lot easier to break at the joints, but the straight cane will break if there is not a proper place to store it. there are two ways to use a cane the techniques are constant contact or two touch . Constant contact is when the tip of the cane stays on the ground and is rolled the persons shoulder length. The two touch is when the user steps with the left foot and the cane is on the right where the shoulder would be the opposite happens when the user taps the cane on the left side on the ground. Some users use a mixture of both while walking.Personally I like the folding cane with a pencil tip and I use the two touch technique unless I need to switch to constant contact for one or more reasons. Some of those reasons can be to find truncated domes to cross a sidewalk. These are the bumpy things most people have no idea what they are for. I have had many interesting times with my cane. Many times I was walking down the hallway in school and got my cane caught in between someones legs while they are walking and my cane snaps in half. I have also had times that a mobility specialist is trying to show me something on the ground I may come across at times and I completely miss it. I have also gotten a graphite cane stuck straight which I was told is nearly impossible with a crack along the side. I have dropped my cane many times while walking around because I catch cracks and my cane gets caught and I let go. Other times I have someone accidentally kick it out of my hand. Some funny moments are when I am trying to get on the bus and while the doors are opening I get my cane caught on the opening door.. I have also gotten my cane caught in bushes when they are really close to the sidewalk. The most fun is when I am walking close to another person with a white cane and their cane hits mine over and over it seems like we are having a sword/cane fight.I am willing to answer any questions about the white cane or otherwise.

From Winter to Spring

This year has been full of two bad storms where many people were injured or killed due to car accidents. This year has also been filled with terrible stories of people freezing in the cold. Well the time has come that it is spring. In many areas it does not seem so though. It becomes warm and cozy like spring is then the snow comes upon us again. Even in the states that are known for their warmth have gotten cold beyond what is the normal. I have heard too many people say when will the snow stop this is spring. I have also heard many people say I believe it when the weather man says there will be snow tonight.I am one person who likes the cold weather or not its bitter but even I am not liking the cold to hot cold to hot pattern. Easter has passed with snow in the night when this holiday is known to celebrate the growth and rebirth of life. The nice day turned into snow in the secret of night destroying the beauty of the growing flowers. When will this cold stop destroying the life held in spring? How do you feel about the spring not really being what spring is supposed to bring?

FreeLance Inquiry????

As everyone already knows I love to write and am looking to create it into something more. I am trying to start up some freelance work to continue my writing. Does anyone know of any newspapers or magazines wanting to take on a new freelance writer? I am willing to write almost about anything for an article or personal essay. I would love to be able to write about my wrestling experience and wanting to continue something in the wrestling field. I am not fond of politics because I do not understand most of them. I have already sent out two query e-mails but I have not gotten any response back right now. I wold also enjoy any e-mails from people about some ideas or critiques on writing.Any e-mails towards personal queries are to be sent to asiaevans102897@gmail.com with the subject line WM so I can know what the e-mail may be about. I also enjoy writing poems and short stories with almost any subject.

Questions??????

Bring it on! Ask me anything! Stolen from a couple friends. Friends, what are some things that you wonder about Blind People, that you have been too afraid to ask? Please ask even the most potentially offensive or sensitive things that you want to, on this thread. (personal attacks/insults not allowed though)

Blind Friends, lets do what we can to help educate. Please, if you the time, and the ability, join me in answering! 

GoalBall: a blind sport

Most people do not think a blind person can do any kind of a sport. Well I would like to tell those people that they are wrong and there are actually sports just for the blind. Goalball is one of them. Goalball can be described as either blind soccer or reverse dodgeball. It is kinda wrong to describe it like blind soccer because there is a such thing as blind soccer. I recently went to a tournament of goalball and it was very fun even though the girls did not win any games but the guys did. To explain it right there are three people on each side of the court and they can either be standing or on hands and knees. Each player is wearing blacked out goggles and the referee checks them before the game starts and when each player may be substituted out. There is a right wing, a left wing, and a center player that each time the ball comes towards them they do something called laying out to block the ball from going into the goal. The referee asks the audience to be quiet because there is a type of noise maker in the ball. This is only one blind sport that is apart of the Para Olympics. A blind person can do any sport a sighted person does yet most people do not even consider it a possibility. A blind person can even go to the Para Olympics for sports like Wrestling, swimming,soccer, basketball, and sports just for the blind. So if you think that just because you are blind or have a visual impairment you can not do sports or have to quit them you are mistaken. If anyone wants to look up more information about blind sports you can go to usaba.org you can look up some games that weekend on this website too.  

Reading and Writing

I have always enjoyed reading novels and trying new author's. since I went blind I have read more than most people would in a year. I have read series of 15 books and I have just read novels for an author.I choose a book to see if I like the author if I do and I suspect the book I read is part of a series I look it up. Eventually if I like that author I end up reading all the audiobooks that author provides. I truly enjoy when an author has an active series and is continuing to publish stories. I put the date in my calendar and get really excited when the book comesout. The only thing that sometimes gets me sad is when the audio version of the book does not come out the same day as the ebook comes out. I have many authors I love and am excited when their books come out in each series that author may have that is active. If an author has more than one series that is publishing books that means to me that more than one book from that author is coming out in one year. I also really enjoy writing these blogs and maybe I could go somewhere with it but I am not sure how. When I make my blogs all I do for the moment while I am writing them is let my mind go free and allow me to write about the subject I am thinking about. I have been told that I could write a biography about myself because I have an interesting story I just would not know where to start. In school when the english teacher wants a short story, poem, or summary written I am very good at it. I truly enjoy writing the short stories and poems that tell a story within them. Do you like reading or even writing? Maybe both?