[nagdu] Second trip out with cane, and more questions!

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Tracy,

I finally figured out that one reason I get uncharacteristically yappy when
I'm feeling a bit disoriented and/or anxious about my environment is because
I am, in fact, talking to hear the sound of my own voice.  The echoes help
me figure out the environment.  D'oh!  So now I'm working on developing a
better way so that I'm not always standing around looking lost and talking
randomly to my poor guide dog about nothing.  /grin/

Hm...  Maybe I'll try the horsey click.  Never thought of using it that way
before, but it makes sense.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 6:05 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Second trip out with cane, and more questions!

Hi Gail.
Listening for poles when there aren't any cars passing to make them echo
is where the metal cane tip comes in.  Tap it on the sidewalk, and it
should make a noise to create the echoes you want.  Or, if that's not
satisfactory, you could do like I do.  I tend to click my tongue when I
want to hear a pole, even sometimes when I'm using a cane.  Someone asked
me once if I worked with horses, because of the way I clicked my tongue, I
guess.  Kinda funny.
I've heard that other people snap their fingers.  "I got rhythm..."


I thought Julie J's advice was very good.  Do what is comfortable for you,
pushing your comfort zone just a little bit each time.  That way, you
don't get overwhelmed trying to do it all at once.

Good luck with the doctor visit.
Tracy

> Hello all!
>
>
> Ok, second day, and thought I would see if I could line my Cocoon
> sunglasses
> with dark polarfleece, to take the place of sleep shades (plus look more
> normal' to people in our nosy little town!). Walked a lot slower, but did
> a
> lot more listening to what was going on around me, and checking out
> landmarks. Funny thing was, I wasnt catching the tip in things even a
> third
> as much as I was yesterday. But I must have looked silly sometimes, when I
> would stop to listen for a telephone pole I knew was near the corner, so I
> would stop, feel with the cane on the grass for it, then, frustrated,
> slowly
> waved it though the air like a demented orchestra conductor! <grin>
> Finally
> gave up and cheated, lifted up my shades enough to look for it.....was
> just
> about 3 feet away from the end of the cane's reach, grrr. Put shades back
> on
>  and stood and listened for it for a while, but no cars came by to make it
> make sounds.
>
> It was funny, when I came back in, my kids were like, 'MOM, what are you
> doing?!' I took off the shades and plopped them on my daughter, and she
> goes
> 'you walked all the way to the corner like this?!" Then I gave shades and
> cane to my youngest son, and told him to Braille the room. Guess who has
> more respect for the trips I take now? <grin>
>
> Ok, here come the questions: being alone in my learning, should I use
> sleepshades when I am out training? Or is that too dangerous? And do I
> wear
> them just when I am training at home, or also when out and about with my
> husband, when we go to town while I'm still learning? Thats the only time
> I
> leave our town-Topeka is our nearest decent town.
>
> Well, tomorrow will tell the tale-thats when my appointment is with that
> State doctor. Please God, things work out...
>
>
> Gail
>
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