[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Mon Oct 18 02:56:26 UTC 2010

Gary and Dave,
What type of portable reader do you all use. I have been wanting one for
years. I don't know how to read braille, although, I really do wish I did. I
want to read more but I only get to when my kids will allow me to sit on my
front porch swing. I take out a small, easy to carry-up to my nose-book that
I can use my magnifier with. But sadly it takes me so long to read with the
magnifier that I only get about 2-3 pages read if even that much. Do you all
use the Victor Reader Stream? I have been thinking about getting me one.
What is your opinion on that.
Thanks,
Mari Hunziker

On Sun, Oct 17, 2010 at 9:39 PM, David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com> wrote:

> Gary you are right!  I have a long commute, an hour 45 minutes each way.  I
> skim half a dozen newspapers a day, on my stream, and read an average of a
> book every day and a half.  I love to read, and wouldn't want to give it up
> -- the commute is the perfect opportunity.
>
> Dave
>
> At 10:14 AM 10/12/2010, you wrote:
>
>> I read a most interesting article several years ago and the thesis was
>> that
>> many of us would have an easier time with public transportation, where
>> available, if we would see the time we spend in transit as a plus rather
>> than a minus. The article noted that many people who drive long distances
>> to
>> and from work complain about their inability to read, and yet writing
>> while
>> somebody else does the driving is a perfect way to have that time. I don't
>> think anything we can say will do away with the frustration that occurs
>> when
>> we realize some people can easily run to the store, but for most of us it
>> takes more planning. Still, I have to tell you that I have been much more
>> peaceful about late cabs, buses, and airplanes just by having a portable
>> reader in my pocket.
>>
>> Gary
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Cindy Handel
>> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:44 PM
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>>
>> Yes, it could be said that time is money. But, I don't think they would
>> accept "time" to pay for groceries!
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:54 PM
>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>>
>> > Because you spend a great deal more time on parra-transit.  Time is
>> money!
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Bryan Schulz" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
>> > To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:37 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>> >
>> >
>> >> if a place is at least a 20 minute drive and by cab would cost about
>> >> $25 each way and the dor-door or para trans bus is $4, why throw away
>> >> the extra money?
>> >>
>> >> Bryan Schulz
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
>> >> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 5:02 PM
>> >> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation
>> >> questions
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> Get a cab!
>> >>> ----- Original Message -----
>> >>> From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>> >>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> >>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 6:43 PM
>> >>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>> Hi All:
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I have some more questions about grocery shopping and transportation.
>> >>>> Instead of making two separate posts, I figured I'd just put all my
>> >>>> questions in one post...they are somewhat related to each other.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I'll start with the grocery shopping questions.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> In the apartment building I live in, there is no elevator.
>> >>>> Unfortunately I live on the third floor, which is up four flights
>> >>>> of steps. What is the best way to carry lots of groceries up the
>> steps?
>> >>>> Would it be okay, when having lots of groceries to set some of the
>> >>>> bags on the floor in the hallway by the door, go up with as much as
>> >>>> I can carry, then come back for the rest? Is there any better way
>> >>>> to carry groceries than in the plastic bags the grocery bagger puts
>> >>>> them in? I've been told about burlap sacks that you can carry on
>> >>>> your shoulder...does this reduce the load much? I want to make this
>> >>>> as easy as possible.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> How often do you usually go grocery shopping? When you go, do you
>> >>>> just get the things you absolutely need, and keep the load as
>> >>>> little as possible or do you usually take advantage of the fact you
>> >>>> are at the store and get lots of stuff?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> My next questions are about transportation. I live in a college town.
>> >>>> I guess it's your typical college town. It's big enough to be
>> >>>> considered a small city or large town...we have five Krogers, four
>> >>>> or more Walmarts...tons of restaurants and bars, two malls...two
>> >>>> movie theaters. It isn't a major city though.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> We do have a bus system but I've never been encouraged to use it.
>> >>>> I've just been expected to take cabs everywhere.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> One of the problems though is that the town is not really a walking
>> >>>> town...there are parts of it you can walk in but not very many.
>> >>>> When things/places are built, often pedestrian accessibility is left
>> out.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> There doesn't seem to be any blind people; there is no NFB chapter.
>> >>>> So, naturally the majority of the people, including most of the
>> >>>> students drive. From what I've read on their website, the bus
>> >>>> covers many areas, but usually until only 6 o'clock, unless it's
>> >>>> downtown where the students are. I don't live downtown though.
>> >>>> Because of this, I find myself having to take cabs almost
>> >>>> everywhere. Cabs here are about $5-6 each way. Is this normal for a
>> >>>> college town? Is this expensive for a cab?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Are my only options to either take the bus when it is available or
>> >>>> take cabs?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Should I just not worry about the expense and take cabs when and
>> >>>> wherever?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Is learning to use the bus hard or is it as simple as calling and
>> >>>> asking the right questions?
>> >>>>
>> >>>>>From what I can tell, from where I live, in order to take the bus
>> >>>> again since I'm not in the downtown student area I will have to
>> >>>> take two buses to get anywhere and it usually takes about two
>> >>>> hours. Is this normal for a large town/small city?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> The closest major city to me is Pittsburgh. There is a bus that
>> >>>> goes there twice. In order to take a grayhound bus, or AM track
>> >>>> train you have to somehow get to Pittsburgh. Is the bus going twice
>> >>>> daily reasonable?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> For those of you who live in college towns similar to this how do
>> >>>> you find a balance between taking cabs, using family and friends,
>> >>>> and taking the bus?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> What is the cost monthly of owning a vehicle compared to taking
>> >>>> cabs all the time? I'm sorry to ask this...I've never been told.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I guess I am just asking these questions because I want to make
>> >>>> sure I'm not getting screwed so to speak. I don't mind taking cabs,
>> >>>> but sometimes I feel like I'm just automatically expected to spend
>> >>>> the money just because...if you know what I mean by that! I've been
>> >>>> told owning a vehicle is several hundreds of dollars a month when
>> >>>> the cost of maintaenance, car payments, insurance, and gas is added
>> >>>> up but again these have just been from sighted people who don't
>> >>>> take cabs. It seems like most other blind people I know don't take
>> >>>> cabs unless they absolutely have to and I hate having to do it all
>> >>>> the time. In one sense I feel like I'm being told to go ahead,
>> >>>> don't worry about it, owning a vehicle is expensive too...but then
>> >>>> on the other hand so many blind people don't seem to like doing it.
>> >>>> I know each town is different...but if I want to go somewhere and
>> >>>> it's after 6 and the bus doesn't go are cabs or family/friends my
>> >>>> only options? I've never gone completely broke or run out of money
>> >>>> by taking cabs but again...I feel as if I'm getting mixed messages
>> >>>> and I want to make sure I'm doing the right/best thing. From where
>> >>>> I live you can't walk anywhere as there are several things across
>> >>>> the street but it's not actually a street but a major six-lane
>> >>>> highway...so walking is out. I'm not married and live alone. Do
>> >>>> those of you who live in towns like this find yourselves having to
>> >>>> also take cabs more frequently than other blind people? I know my
>> >>>> questions seem a little crazy but I thought I'd ask them all in one
>> post.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Thanks so much!
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Kerri
>>
>
>                        David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
> Follow me on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920
>
>
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