[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Mon Oct 18 23:03:42 UTC 2010

So cool,Thanks, Mari Hunziker

On Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 5:51 PM, Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi,
> For Gary: there is now the Bookport plus.  My friend has one.
> For Mari: you can also play mp3 files on your Victor Stream.  I have put
> audio described movies on mine before, and it's great to listen to on a car
> or plane ride.
>
> HTH
>
> Danni
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Constance Canode <satin-bear at sbcglobal.net
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:05:50 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>
> I have a Book Sense and Rick has the Victor Reader.  The Sense is
> smaller.  They both have good points.  I love the Book Sense.  You
> can get the deluxe one with a radio in it, but I didn't get that one,
> just got the plain reading machine.  You can also put music on either
> device.
>
> Connie
> At 06:13 AM 10/18/2010, you 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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