[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Mon Oct 18 14:30:17 UTC 2010

I agree with positive comments about the Victor stream.  I also use the 
recorder in the stream to record phone numbers, lists of things for future 
reference, and even guitar lessons and fine that feature invaluable.

Michael
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 6:13 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

> 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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