[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Mon Oct 18 11:26:57 UTC 2010

Sounds like I'll be saving up for a Victor Reader Stream. Thanks. Mari

On Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 6:13 AM, Cindy Handel <cindy425 at verizon.net> wrote:

> Mary,
>
> For reading books, I would highly recommend the Victor Reader Stream.  It's
> small, can be worn with a shoulder strap, and you would read books while
> doing other tasks, during the day.
>
> Cindy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mari Hunziker" <marihunziker at gmail.com>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2010 10:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>
>
> 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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