[stylist] Phyllis Campbell in editor's columnFW: Blind Post for May part two

Mon May 12 02:22:24 UTC 2014

Hi Friends,
Thought you'd like to know that our own Phyllis Campbell's books were
featured in this month's issue of The Blind Post. It's the first column, but
it's down a ways and there aren't any navigation markings. You can use Jaws
Find (F4) and copy the following line:

** Books, books, and more books

Congratulations, Phyllis!
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: lorimotis at theblindpost.com  [mailto:foodlady at theblindpost.com]
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 12:54 PM
To: dwhill at epix.net
Subject: Blind Post for May part two

The Blind Post for May 2014 Part Two

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** Contents for this issue:
Note from the editor
Books, books, and more books
Global Cane Outreach update
New! From the pages of Donna's travel diary Yarn, hook, and needle Blind Man
Walking Tips and tidbits from Food Lady Living with low vision Links of
interest:

** Note from the editor:
We have a new column starting this month. Her exciting new section  will
provide some informative travel experiences as a blind person.
Be sure to let folks know that you enjoy their columns. They do an awesome
job, and I appreciate them all very much.

I am a bit slow at getting some items uploaded to the website before sending
the emails. I have almost everything posted, but still have some finishing
work to do. I wanted to get part two emailed out this morning, and then get
my home ready for my company.
Enjoy!
Lori AKA Food Lady

 ** Books, books, and more books:
By Lori Motis
Did you know that Phyllis Campbell is a published author? I have recently
read a wonderful book that she wrote  about her life growing up, and I
absolutely loved it.
It is available from theNLS Talking Book Service, and is on the BARD website
for download.
Friendships in the dark: a blind woman's story of the people and pets who
light up her world DB47056

Campbell, Phyllis. Reading time: 5 hours, 32 minutes.
Read by Mimi Bederman.

Disability

Totally blind since birth, the author tells of growing up on a small
Virginia farm and going away to a residential school with her older sister
(who is also blind) and becoming a church organist. She describes in loving
detail the animals and other friends she meets along the way.

I look forward to reading more books by Phyllis. Here is her most recent
book:

Out Of The Night
By Phyllis Campbell

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/405450
Available formats:
epub, mobi, pdf, rtf, lrf, pdb, txt
RTF and TXT both work nicely with speech as well as with Braille aware
devices, Braille-Note etc, Victor Stream, Book Sense, PC, and with Apple
devices.  Available on Amazon, Sony, Barnes And Noble, many more as well as
Smashwords.

Two women, two centuries, and one man determined to destroy them even from
the grave.

Long Description
Chris has faced many challenges  in her twenty-one years of life, a mother
more involved with her career than with her daughter, a father who deserted
his family also to pursue a career, and the loss of her sight. Nothing,
however, has prepared her for the challenge faced by her and the four other
clients attending an independence living center held in a historic building
on the campus of the school for the blind.
Determined to achieve her goal of concert pianist, Chris feels a kinship
with those women who have once lived in the old building, only to realize
that the past is surrounding her and the others in a real and dangerous way.
Walk with her as she struggles not only to achieve her career goals, know
herself as a whole woman, and uncover a secret over a century old.

	I sit in the chapel as the night approaches on quiet feet of memory.
They are here, my sisters who have loved, and hated, laughed and cried,
hoped and despaired, for over a hundred years, leaving a part of themselves
in this place for those who have come after them.
	Each has her story, her dreams, her nightmares, and I realize that
each of them is a part of me as surely as I will become a part of those
blind women who will follow me. I am what I am because of the path they have
walked, and I must leave my own path for others, many yet unborn, to follow.
	"Write," they say, "write and tell of our world, tell of our
triumphs, our failures, our joys, our hidden sorrows. Write so they will
know."

Happy reading!

** Global Cane Outreach update:
Just a quick update. The little boy in South Africa, that we mentioned last
month, is doing very well, is enrolled in his new school, and is very, very
happy!
Beverly is going to another mission in Peru this fall. She has been told
that slates and styluses’ are needed, as well as canes.
The two schools in Sout Africa need canes and other items. If you have any
of these, please send them to Veverly and you can ship them Free Matter for
the blind, and she will take them or send them on to the schools.
Visit the Global Cane Outreach website for pictures and information on this
wonderful mission.
www.globalcaneoutreach.com

Below, you can find her contact information, and address.

Beverly Crook
444 #44 Whispering Pines Drive
Scotts Valley, CA. 95066
831-588-8776
bevie28 at gmail.com

Come join us in providing mobility canes and audio bibles to those in need
around the world:
www.globalcaneoutreach.com

** New! From the pages of Donna's travel diary The hotel that got it just
right By Donna J. Jodhan

As a regular traveler I am always happy whenever I can stay at a hotel that
has gone out of its way to be accommodating to me as a blind customer and I
am always more than delighted to put in a plug for said hotel.

In late April 2013 I had the pleasure of staying at the Cambridge Suites
Hotel on Richmond Street in down town Toronto.  I was there to attend the
2013 AGM of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians and I stayed from
April 25 to April 28.

This hotel went out of its way to accommodate our group and their facilities
and amenities were extremely accessible.  They went out of their way to
ensure that Blind persons were made comfortable.  Their elevator buttons
were well labeled in Braille.  The doors of our luxurious suites were also
labeled in Braille and guess what!  All of the bottles containing the
various liquids in our bathroom were also labeled in Braille.  The shampoo,
body wash, body lotion, and conditioner bottles were all labeled.

This hotel really got it when it came to accommodating us as a group of
Blind persons.  Their conference rooms were also very accessible and their
waiters and waitresses were absolutely top class when it came to serving the
meal.
Give them a try the next time you visit Toronto and tell them that I sent
you!
Kudos to the Cambridge Suites on Richmond Street in down town Toronto
Canada.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan enjoying my travels.
On your next trip you could enrich your down time with some of my audio
mysteries. Take them with you wherever you go!
In the car, on the plane, on the bbus or train, at the beach, anywhere!
Affordable, portable, (computer or i device) and you could either purchase
or Subscribe for unlimited access to my library at
www.donnajodhan.com/store.html

** Yarn, hook, and needle:
ALL ABOUT CRAFTS
By Phyllis Campbell

Of all the wraps we have discussed the stole is the most versatile, and the
easiest to make since it requires no shaping.

You can change the width by adding more patterns or inches, being careful in
the case of more patterns to remember your stitch multiple.  For example if
your pattern multiple is five stitches to the inch and you want to add two
more inches to your stole's width you must add ten stitches since your
pattern won't come out right if your number of stitches isn't divisible by
five, which is the multiple of stitches your pattern calls for.  What about
that pattern which says a multiple of five or whatever stitches plus two.
This means that your multiple must be five for each pattern in the row plus
an additional two stitches.  Example:  Five stitches plus two is what your
pattern calls for.  Let's say you want your stole to measure twenty inches
in width.  Five times twenty is a hundred.  You cast on one-hundred and two
stitches, multiple of five plus two.  Want your stole to have an additional
inch.  Just cast on another five stitches, the plus two has already been
taken into consideration.  You'll want the stole to be twenty-one inches.
Cast on 105, plus two.

Want your stole to be longer?  Just knit until it's the length you want, but
remember to finish the pattern before casting off.  Of course there may be
places within the pattern where you can cast off without it looking strange,
but the pattern will usually tell you in this case.

Want just a little more width, not as much as an inch or so?  This may well
happen in the case of patterns that have a lot of stitches when your stole
might become several inches wider by the addition of only one pattern
multiple.  Simple!  Just add a few stitches at the beginning and end of the
row, and do them in garter stitch, knitting each border stitch.

Those of you who are relatively experienced can check out books of pattern
stitches, such as Barbara Walker's "Golden Treasury" collection available
from your regional library, and create your own stoles.  For the slightly
more timid, and trust me, I was once among you, you can use patterns already
done, and waiting for you, or use a simple stitch pattern, even plain old
garter stitch, (knit each stitch and each row) satisfying your creativity
with various yarns and needle sizes.  When you do this, you may want to do a
gauge swatch, to see just how many stitches you need to cast on.

For those experimenting with different stitch patterns, don't forget that
some pattern stitches look the same even when viewed up-side-down, where
others have a definite appearance if turned around.  It certainly isn't
written in stone, but these patterns look a bit better if worked in two
pieces, and sewn together.  If you decide to do this, remember to be sure
that both pieces are the same length by counting patterns.  A good example
of this is feather and fan sometimes called old shale.  This pattern is also
a good example of one that in order to add just a bit of width where you'll
want to put on border stitches.

Garter Stitch Stole

Using worsted weight yarn, and size 10 or 10.5 needle, cast on 60 STS. And
knit until it's as long as you want, somewhat over 60 inches.  Remember,
though, it's your stole, so make it as wide or as long as you want.  Since
garter stitch requires no multiple you can easily add or subtract stitches.

Now for something equally simple that does really look a bit more difficult.
STOLE IN EYELET BAND

Pattern stitch, an odd number of stitches

Let's use a size 10.5 needle here, since we want it to look nice and drapey,
but suit yourself.
Let's cast on 61 stitches.

Row 1: K1, *o, (o means to bring your yarn over the needle) K2 together, and
repeat from the * across the row.
Rows 2 and 3: K.
Row 4: P.
Rows 5 and 6, K. Repeat these rows until you reach the desired length.
 Cast off.  You will probably want to count on something like 16 Ounces of
yarn for this project, but this will depend on how long you want it, and
whether or not you want fringe, which is optional for both of these stoles.

Stole in Dede

Here you have a multiple of 11 Stitches

Using needle of your choice depending on how you want your stole to look,
cast on 77 STS.

Row 1:  * K2 together, K3, O, k1, o, K3, K2 tog, *.  Repeat between stars
across the row.

Row 2: K.
Row 3: K.
Row 4: P.
Row 5: K.
Row 6: K.
Repeat these six rows until desired length.  Cast off.

Stole In Old Shale

You may want to do this one in two pieces.  Simply knit until half of the
desired length.  Let's say thirty inches as an example which, of course,
will mean that your stole will be a finished length of approximately sixty
inches.  When you've reached half the length, bind off, and count the number
of patterns, and be sure the second half is the same.

Pattern Stitch multiple of 11 stitches

Cast on, as many pattern multiples as you want your width, 66 for a
moderately wide stole, 77 for a wider one.

Row 1:  *K2 Tog, K2 Tog, O, (K1, o), 3 times, K2 Tog, K2 tog *.  Repeat from
* across the row.
Row 2: P across the row, being careful to work each over as a stitch.
Row 3: K. across the row.
Row 4: K across the row.

Repeat these four rows for desired length.  Bind off, and sew pieces
together, so that pattern stitches for both ends are facing the same way.

Wishing you all the best for the coming summer if it ever gets here.  See
you next month.

Phyllis
pcampbell16 at verizon.net

** Blind Man Walking by Joshua Loya
Less than a week ago, in celebration of Star Wars Day, May the fourth,
Andrea and I watched the original 1977 theatrical cut of the first film. In
this film, we see the beginnings of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi training, and the
patient mentorship of Luke by Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke’s world crashes down
around him within short order, and it is Obi-Wan who helps him overcome his
despair. Obi-Wan’s guidance of Luke frequently reminds me of another movie,
in which a young man is trained by an older father figure in a form of
combat harkening back to an earlier time.

I remember seeing The Karate Kid when I was 6. I might have seen it earlier,
but I remember the movie playing a lot on one of the movie channels, and I
would become instantly absorbed in the film. In the most meaningful scene
for me, Daniel, who has had a rough transition to life in Southern
California, destroys his bike, throwing it in the dumpster. No matter how
many times I see this scene, I cannot stop crying. Later, it is Mr. Miyagi
who not only repairs Daniel’s bike. Mr. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing,
teaching him karate, and the life lessons found in it.

I always yearned for a mentor like Obi-Wan or Mr. Miyagi. I love my dad.
Unfortunately, there were a lot of periods where I didn’t have his guidance
or support. My parents split up when I was 2, and I often only saw him on
the weekends. I hoped for a long time that I would soon find my Mr. Miyagi
or my Obi-Wan. I yearned for someone to guide me... to patiently instruct me
in some secret discipline, so that I would no longer be a target for
bullies. I wanted somebody to teach me how to stand strong, even when I was
punished for the misdeeds of other, more mischievous children.

My desire for guidance and strength kept me fascinated with the martial arts
and with warrior traditions in general. I was one of millions of kids in the
late 1980s and early 1990s who was obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles; though, some might suggest I was more fanatical than most. It’s
hard to say, but I held a secret hope that an elderly rat would teach me
ninjutsu.

Now, I am the sensei. I already have some students who are younger than the
number of years I have been training. Admittedly, they aren’t very old; I’ve
been studying with Soke Conway since 2005. It still gives me pause. Many of
them are at the age I was when I discovered Star Wars and The Karate Kid.
All of them, regardless of how old they are, deserve a good teacher.

When I reflect on Mr. Miyagi… When I remember Obi-Wan and Splinter and all
of the other mentors from countless books, comics, movies, and television
shows which kept a spark alive in me… When I remember these, it reminds me
of the opportunity I have now. I am by no means done with my martial arts
journey. In some ways, I am barely beginning. Still, I have walked a bit
down the path, and I have an opportunity to be the teacher and the mentor
that I wish I had when I was a young scared, shy, and awkward kid. I have an
opportunity to be the help along the path these students need, no matter if
they are 9 or 99. What opportunities do you have to be a Mr. Miyagi? An
Obi-Wan Kenobi? A Master Splinter? You may not be a martial artist, but you
can still be a mentor to someone.

** Tips and tidbits from Food Lady:
Due to my hands and wrists being extremely painful, I do not have an article
for you this month. If you have and tips or recipes you would like to share
with the Blind Post’s readers, please send them to me.
Thank you.
Food Lady

foodlady at theblindpost.com

** Living with low vision:
I Can Do It!  Almost.
By Donna Williams

For years my Mom would hold a yard sale in the spring and fall.   It’d
always be the same. She’d ask us girls to go through our stuff and sell
those items we no longer wanted or felt we had a use for.

One year just before our usual spring sale my Mom approached a very sticky
topic with me.  She wanted to sell my bike. I hadn’t ridden it in years, and
I had no idea what kind of shape it was in, but there was no way I was quite
ready to give it up yet.  We talked things over and my Mom kept insisting
with my new limited visual abilities I probably couldn’t navigate safely and
I kept insisting that I could.  We were at a stalemate and the day of the
sale came.    My bike wasn’t going to be sold since my Mom and I had made an
agreement finally just before people began to arrive.  “She would not sell
the bike this time, but I had to show her that it would be worthwhile
keeping it by demonstrating that I could still ride it successfully and
safely.

Sometimes my stubbornness can get me into trouble and this particular day
was no exception.  Not only was I going to show my Mom I could still ride my
bike, but I intended doing it right in front of all the other neighbors who
had chosen to set up their stuff and join in the yard sale. Oh and did I
forget to mention the customers too?

I think at times we are all guilty of not using our “God-given” brains we
possess in a proper way.  At least I know I am.  As I pondered the plan in
my mind anger began to rise up within and a deep resentment took hold.  This
caused me to make one of the worse decisions I’ve ever made.  I decided to
wait until after lunch when the sale would most likely be at its peak.  Then
I would go in the garage get my bike and ride out of the driveway onto the
street.  I’d ride up one side and down the other before coming to a stop
just in front of my Mom.  Then I’d say with as much pride as possible “see I
told you I could do this.”  That is not what happened because we all know
pride cometh before a big fall.

My plan started out fine.  I went into the garage hopped on my bike and rode
out of the driveway. As I waited to turn onto our front street however
family members began to ask me what I was doing.  I answered them with such
joy in my voice that they decided to leave me alone.   I rode up one side of
the street as I’d planned and had just turned around when a car came out of
nowhere.  I quickly jumped off my bike   and waited for it to pass before
continuing.  Once that car was gone I was rolling again and everything went
smoothly until I missed seeing my neighbor’s parked car on the side of the
road.  Not having vision in my right eye caused me to cut myself off and
what happened next should have been recorded and played on funniest home
videos.  My bike slammed into the back of my neighbor’s car and it did so
with such momentum that I flew off and landed right in the center of the
trunk.  Reflex action caused me to reach out for something to grab onto, but
there was nothing there.   The remaining momentum caused me to slide
backward and I landed on the street sitting on my butt.

By this time everyone had gathered around to see what all the commotion was
about.  My neighbor asked me if I was all right and I told him I was.  Then
I asked about his car to which he replied that it was old anyway and it
looked fine to him.
I then began looking for my bike which had propelled itself around the car
and was now lying in front of it.  I picked it up and headed for home.
Even though I am able to laugh about this incident the day it happened was a
hard one for me.  I had to finally admit that it was time to give up bike
riding independently.  It is one of the things I miss about being outdoors
in the spring and summer.   However two things help me cope with this loss
and bring me great joy.  The first is that I was blessed to be able to ride
my bike until I was in my late twenties which is when the incident mentioned
above happened.  The second is living in a neighborhood where there are
decent sidewalks, not many busy streets, and there are several wonderful
places to walk to around here.  And I guess I have something else   to add
to this list. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to attend that summer
camping program last year my ability to bike safely has been returned to me.
No, I may not be the pilot and it may only happen once a year, but it fills
my soul with the same joy and anticipation that Christmas does.

I’d love sharing in your experiences of living with low vision.  If you wish
you may contact me at:
livingwithlowvision at gmail.com.

** Links of interest:

Visit Global Cane Outreach to hear more about Bevie's trips:<br>
http://www.globalcaneoutreach.com/<br>

Listen to a humorous song about making braille signs calledBrailling
Signs Is Cool to Do :<br>
http://www.hadley.edu/braillesong<br>

Please check in with Blind Access training for our latest updates and
available training opertunities here: <br>
http://www.blindaccesstraining.com/training_opportunities/#main<br>

AppleVis<br>
A community-powered website for blind and vision-impaired users of
Apple devices.<br>
http://www.applevis.com/<br>

New Visions Network, Bible studies, games with chat:<br>
http://www.talkingcommunities.com/communities/NewVisionsNetwork/indexcompany
/<br>

Meet other blind friends at For The People .com:<br>
http://for-the-people.com/homepage.php?promo=ftp%20singles%20promo.mp3<br>

Bill Brown's Music by Ear homepage<br>
http://www.musicvi.com/<br>

for spine chilling old time radio free for the blind, visually
impaired and disabled.<br>
http://fearyoucanhear.com/<br>

Purchase a wonderful E-book about applying for, obtaining or owning a
guide dog, along with other great articles and information, at: <br>
http://guidedogmanual.weebly.com<br>

One of Food Lady's favorite places to shop for health food and
supplements, and this link will help you save $10 on your first
order:<br>
https://www.vitacostrewards.com/6YHjgo<br>

Talks for Growing Christians: Daily Devotions with audio and study
guides<br>
http://www.growingchristians.org/<br>

Build your own E-commerce website easily:
(If you sign up, please include your friend, Lori Motis from
theblindpost.com, on the order form, and I will get a free month of
service.
)<br>
http://www.siterightnow.com/<br>

Create newsletters using an accessible Email server:<br>
http://www.ymlp289.net?a=46N68Z<br>

Dress up a room with a Scentsy Warmer, add one of 80-plus fragrances,
and enjoy! Shop here for all the latest styles and scents:<br>
http://www.warmupscents.com<br>

Play games for free at:<br>
http://www.rsgames.org/<br>

A free voice chat site for the blind<br>
www.Out-Of-Sight.net<br>

Gianfranco Di Cosmo's Home Page<br>
http://dicosmo.ifreepages.com/<br>

Ólafur Þór Eiriksson  sent in this link to share:<br>
www.netsagas.com<br>

Talking MP3 Players, accessories, and bluetooth devices such as
transmitters, receivers, headsets, and speakers found at:
http://www.talkingmp3players.com/

** This ends part two of the Blind Post for May 2014.

Lori Motis
Publisher and Editor
foodlady at theblindpost.com

http://www.theblindpost.com/

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