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So...it's been forever and a day since I've put an appearance in this thing, let alone putting anything in writing up here. That's what happens sometimes, I guess. Let's see if I even remember how this works...
Things as of late have been going fine enough. Since I last wrote, I attended the American Idol Tour concert with friends in Baltimore, ate at the Cheesecake Factory beforehand, and also attended a crab feast that same weekend. All were really fun times, and I'm glad I went.
Regarding the AI concert, I now understand what all the hype was over Chris Allen winning the show and not Adam. I fully agree that Adam should have won. His vocal range and skill is simply amazing! The shover overall was an amazing show, and everyone did a good job.
The Cheesecake Factory was another equally amazing experience. Their Braille menus are seriously the size of phone books! I opted to get the Oreo cheesecake for dessert, and even split two ways, I was incredibly full afterword. The mall around where I live is going to get a Cheesecake Factory sometime next year, and I can't wait for that! Regardless, though, it's worth the trip to Baltimore. In all reality, the line at the one here will most likely be ages long, and so driving to Baltimore and back to eat there might be the faster way of doing things, at least until the newness of the restaurant dies down some. When Olive Garden and Red Lobster opened up here, I think my mom told me that it was something like six months before there were reasonable wait times because everyone and their bird wanted to eat there. Ah well...
The two times that I've been down to Baltimore recently, I've attended one of the Unitarian Universalist churches, and I find that community so welcoming and amazing and I really think it's where I belong spiritually, socially and belief wise. The people there are so openly nice, it really is somewhat surprising to me, even though it probably shouldn't be. It's just nice to be part of a community that doesn't judge and is accepting of everyone no matter what. I hope to possibly attend the UU church near where I live and see what it's like.
After going here and there and everywhere and not really being home for more than a few days at a time for the past month, I finally went in to help with the Braille class I help with this past Monday. There was only one student this class, and the progress she's making is really encouraging. I just wish there were more people in the class. Maybe more people will join soon, I have no idea.
Aside from that, I've just been hanging out. I've started looking over the GRE Braille practice materials I was sent. I'm really grateful that they sent me a print and Braille copy that match, so it'll make things easier, especially when it comes to the math sections. Speaking of that, I really hope I can find a tutor as otherwise I think I might just fail that portion of the test. I think once I get a refresher as to what things are, I'll be fine. I'm pretty okay at math, it's just been five or so years since I've had any kind of formal instruction in the subject, and so I've lost a lot of it. I'm pretty good at the verbal, though. Regardless, though, if I'm suppose to be at NIU for grad school next fall, I will be. That's at least how I see it. Positive energy and thoughts won't go unappreciated or unnoticed, though.
On Thursday, Peter and I went to the mall around here and we both purchased iPhones. I have the newer iPhone model with VoiceOver on it, which is a screen reader that Apple developed first for the Mac, and which is now on the iPhone. My experience with said phone so far has been amazing. It astounds me that an off-the-shelf product is as accessible as this one is. Apple wasn't kidding when it said that all of the on-phone applications were accessible. There are even a lot of applications out there to download, free or paid, that are accessible, too. For anyone reading who is curious as to how to make iPhone applications accessible with VoiceOver, This link tells you how. I really do commend Apple for their work on the iPhone. They seem to be listening to user feedback, too. Other companies should take a lesson from them. Maybe then accessibility wouldn't have to be so dang expensive on the large scale.
Wow, this entry is longer than I originally thought it would be. That's what I get for not writing in eons, I guess. Haha! I think that's about all for now, though. I'm probably forgetting something, hoever, and I'll remember it as soon as I post. I'm slightly bummed, because I was supposed to go on a fishing trip today with the local blind athletes association, and Hurricane Bill messed up those plans. It's better to be safe and not out in the water, though, than out in the water and caught in crazy weather. I'm hoping the trip will be rescheduled, but I wasn't told that it would be. I guess I'll find out either way.
Take care all. I hope you enjoyed this entry. I tried to play catch-up as best I could. Hopefully I'll be writing in here more often. I would like to, anyway. More soon.
Things as of late have been going fine enough. Since I last wrote, I attended the American Idol Tour concert with friends in Baltimore, ate at the Cheesecake Factory beforehand, and also attended a crab feast that same weekend. All were really fun times, and I'm glad I went.
Regarding the AI concert, I now understand what all the hype was over Chris Allen winning the show and not Adam. I fully agree that Adam should have won. His vocal range and skill is simply amazing! The shover overall was an amazing show, and everyone did a good job.
The Cheesecake Factory was another equally amazing experience. Their Braille menus are seriously the size of phone books! I opted to get the Oreo cheesecake for dessert, and even split two ways, I was incredibly full afterword. The mall around where I live is going to get a Cheesecake Factory sometime next year, and I can't wait for that! Regardless, though, it's worth the trip to Baltimore. In all reality, the line at the one here will most likely be ages long, and so driving to Baltimore and back to eat there might be the faster way of doing things, at least until the newness of the restaurant dies down some. When Olive Garden and Red Lobster opened up here, I think my mom told me that it was something like six months before there were reasonable wait times because everyone and their bird wanted to eat there. Ah well...
The two times that I've been down to Baltimore recently, I've attended one of the Unitarian Universalist churches, and I find that community so welcoming and amazing and I really think it's where I belong spiritually, socially and belief wise. The people there are so openly nice, it really is somewhat surprising to me, even though it probably shouldn't be. It's just nice to be part of a community that doesn't judge and is accepting of everyone no matter what. I hope to possibly attend the UU church near where I live and see what it's like.
After going here and there and everywhere and not really being home for more than a few days at a time for the past month, I finally went in to help with the Braille class I help with this past Monday. There was only one student this class, and the progress she's making is really encouraging. I just wish there were more people in the class. Maybe more people will join soon, I have no idea.
Aside from that, I've just been hanging out. I've started looking over the GRE Braille practice materials I was sent. I'm really grateful that they sent me a print and Braille copy that match, so it'll make things easier, especially when it comes to the math sections. Speaking of that, I really hope I can find a tutor as otherwise I think I might just fail that portion of the test. I think once I get a refresher as to what things are, I'll be fine. I'm pretty okay at math, it's just been five or so years since I've had any kind of formal instruction in the subject, and so I've lost a lot of it. I'm pretty good at the verbal, though. Regardless, though, if I'm suppose to be at NIU for grad school next fall, I will be. That's at least how I see it. Positive energy and thoughts won't go unappreciated or unnoticed, though.
On Thursday, Peter and I went to the mall around here and we both purchased iPhones. I have the newer iPhone model with VoiceOver on it, which is a screen reader that Apple developed first for the Mac, and which is now on the iPhone. My experience with said phone so far has been amazing. It astounds me that an off-the-shelf product is as accessible as this one is. Apple wasn't kidding when it said that all of the on-phone applications were accessible. There are even a lot of applications out there to download, free or paid, that are accessible, too. For anyone reading who is curious as to how to make iPhone applications accessible with VoiceOver, This link tells you how. I really do commend Apple for their work on the iPhone. They seem to be listening to user feedback, too. Other companies should take a lesson from them. Maybe then accessibility wouldn't have to be so dang expensive on the large scale.
Wow, this entry is longer than I originally thought it would be. That's what I get for not writing in eons, I guess. Haha! I think that's about all for now, though. I'm probably forgetting something, hoever, and I'll remember it as soon as I post. I'm slightly bummed, because I was supposed to go on a fishing trip today with the local blind athletes association, and Hurricane Bill messed up those plans. It's better to be safe and not out in the water, though, than out in the water and caught in crazy weather. I'm hoping the trip will be rescheduled, but I wasn't told that it would be. I guess I'll find out either way.
Take care all. I hope you enjoyed this entry. I tried to play catch-up as best I could. Hopefully I'll be writing in here more often. I would like to, anyway. More soon.
