[nagdu] Going Downhill

Fri Apr 22 20:31:54 UTC 2011

Dar,

I'll keep that in mind.  About the shoes.  I was wishing for a skateboard so
I could get down the hill and home to a nice cuppa tea and bedrest without
having to stand up to do it.  /lol/  Since I was too proud to make myself
call for a ride, I did scoot a bit, until a car went past and I realized how
incredibly foolish that had to look.

At a certain point in my vision loss, I became an absolute nut about finding
exactly the right shoes to walk in...  I actually remember asking somebody
of and O&M instructor variety over here (I was still out in the sticks) by
phone about the matter, and that person seemed to think I was crazy for
asking and profess to understand the question at all.  This was before I had
had enough contact with the agency to figure out that that is how they
respond to all questions, just as a matter of practice.  There are a couple
of individuals who will simply give you an answer involving accurate
information relevant to the question, but I always worry someone's going to
over hear them and they'll get in trouble.  Some of the information has been
given with a pause to listen for eavesdropper and a drop in volume that
would indicate they have the same suspicions.  Which is really scary, if you
ask me.

Anyway, it took a bit to convince my current personal shoping assistance
that my nitpicky insistence about tiny details that must be or not be in any
pair of shoes I might decide to try on or not was because those things
actually matter, but now that he's figured it out, shopping for shoes is a
whole lot easier.  /grin/

Oddly, he's also figured out that he has reached a point in life where he
needs to picky about shoe construction for his own reasons.  Shoe
salespeople beware!  We are coming your way and we are picky!  /grin/

The shoes I'm pickiest about are my poodle shoes, which others would
consider everyday sneakers or even just dog park shoes.  I tell you what,
though.  I would rather buy the right shoes than just slow her down.
Walking the poodle walk and dancing the poodle dance in the right shoes is
just way too much fun!  /lol/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of d m gina
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 12:34 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Going Downhill

Ahem maybe one needs a skate board for the bum rite Tammy?
Giggle hehehehehe.
You know, with a wide width shoe you have better balance, I know, I wear
them.
It is the diabetic shoe.
I put in my own inserts, but the wide width helps me with the different 
level changes in the side walk and on floors.
Plus you don't twist your ankles with them as bad.
Just wanted to share.

Original message:
> Thanks!  I will need that once I figure out how to stay on my feet long
> enough for my poodle to drag me back down the hill.  /lol/  So far, I've
> been using the method of sitting on my bum so as not to fall literally
flat
> on my face.  Slows the dog right down.  /giggle/

> Tami Smith-Kinney

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of d m gina
> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 9:04 PM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Going Downhill

> Ah yes that word called vertigo.
> Oh how I know that word well.
> It has to do with one of the medicines I take.
> I would put the leash in one hand and gently pull back three times stop
> and keep doing the same thing.
> An instructor showed me how to do this, it is called speed control.
> Hope this helps.

> Original message:
>> Hey!  How do all of you go down hills with your dogs without getting, you
>> know, seasick?  Or is that just me?  /lol/

>> Now that I don't have rain as much for an excuse not to get my lazy
> backside
>> out with my dog, I'm looking for a route to walk on this side of the Road
> of
>> Certain Doom.  The best and safest route to get some decent walking
> exercise
>> -- with sidewalks part of the way! -- is up a fairly steep hill.  Good
>> exercise for the dog, too, since she has to drag me up the thing once I
> wear
>> out.  There's even a little spot where I can let her have some run play
>> before we turn around to come back down...  Supposing I don't break my
> neck
>> falling on my nose.  /lol/  How I didn't literally fall on my nose the
> first
>> time -- when the effect was a real surprise -- is beyond me.  I  had to
> sit
>> down right where I was while the whirling sensation just kept building
and
>> building...  So I couldn't get up.  I've experienced the minor version of
>> that on gentle downslopes, but never like that!  The only reason I didn't
>> end up calling DD to come pick me up because I was too seasick to get
home
>> is because I am just too dang stubborn and have way, way too much pride.

>> So.  By this spring, it seems I can think about taking the hill on again
>> with getting seasick in advance, and I think this time I'll have a
> strategy.
>> /grin/

>> So here's my plan, in general:

>> 1.  Take dog on leash, use cane going up and coming down for added
> reference
>> point for balance to learn to maintain balance and proprioception on
steep
>> grades.

>> 2.  When ready, use guide dog to go up the hill.  Take cane out before
>> turning around, to use as reference point to judge grade.  Use cane to
> come
>> down.

>> 3.  Repeat as necessary, removing cane tip from ground periodically to
> build
>> up number of steps to walk without reference point before falling on
nose.

>> 4.  Gradually build up until the cane on the ground is no longer
> necessary.

>> 5.  Start using guide dog to come down and see what happens.  /smile/

>> Any comments, helpful hints, strong advice, smart remarks about what a
> dolt
>> I am?  /lol/

>> Thanks!

>> Tami Smith-Kinney

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> --
> --Dar
> skype: dmgina23
>   FB: dmgina
> www.twitter.com/dmgina
> every saint has a past
> every sinner has a future

-- 
--Dar
skype: dmgina23
  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future

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