Life's mysteries

Isn't it wonderful that in life, we are handed an unique road that we just don't have the ability to foresee the road ahead, the sharp curves, falling rocks, whatnots. I just admire how people handle their paths with grace, humility and I also admire how others handle their paths with raw emotions.

It is how I learn and truly appreciate people for who they are. I also learn more about myself through people I meet in life. I would love to share this spotlight on my favourite readers. It is you all - DeafReaders.

It is how you post your stories, your life experiences and the amazing diversity I see in DeafRead.

The broad range I learn in DeafRead ranging from ASL, BSL, Deaf Culture, CIs and their stories, accessibility and the DeafRead's gem (for me personally) the extra.

It was from the Extra, I met a wonderful and beautiful blogger named Paotie! Ohhh he totally brought out my pink! Never have I encountered such a wonderful gentleman like this one. Such titillating stories and this one leaves his pink harem hanging for more!! (Stick a fork in me! This girl is already pink done!) LMAO!

A beautiful and relaxing mystery I'll never solve to this day.. my handsome furbaby relaxes me as much as I put him to sleep. Why he kneads me and why I hum to him at the same time? I'll never know. Why my boy sits by the fridge and paws at it when he knows I will only give him the best smoked ham, it's simple. He has me whipped. Yes, it's true, his Mummy orders the best ham at the deli, 1/4 lb and hides it from DH just so Mosey has it. Can we say spoiled?

As I mentioned about the neurologist's visit, my personal goal for the longest time was to be weaned off the Divalproex (epileptic medication)and it's coming true! I am just so thrilled! It does feel good to take care of my own body, temple and mind.

As of April, I will be seizure-medication free and it will be 8 years grand mal seizure free. Just feel elated for this! I have been making this my personal goal to take care of my body, temple and mind.

Taking good vitamins does help. Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Folic Acid and a multivitamin are what I take daily. It helps a lot especially in the dark days of winter.

Hugs to good friends and family!
Tactile smile and love to all,
Patty ox

Children Learn What They Live

If children live with criticism,
they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility,
they learn to fight.

If children live with fear,
they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity,
they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule,
they learn to be shy.

If children live with jealousy,
they learn what envy is.

If children live with shame,
they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with tolerance,
they learn to be patient.

If children live with encouragement,
they learn to be confident.

If children live with praise,
they learn to appreciate.

If children live with approval,
they learn to like themselves.

If children live with acceptance,
they learn to find love in the world.

If children live with recognition,
they learn to have a goal.

If children live with sharing,
they learn to be generous.

If children live with honesty and fairness,
they learn what truth and justice are .

If children live with security,
they learn to have faith in themselves and in those around them.

If children live with friendliness,
they learn that the world is a nice place in which to live.

If children live with serenity,
they learn to have peace of mind.

With what are your children living?

Dorothy L. Nolte

I just wanted to share this strong poem with my friends in the blogosphere because as of late I've seen quite a bit of riff-raff over issues that I personally feel we could agree to disagree.

Next entry is going to be a very detailed and long one about the neurologist's appointment, so sorry for procrastinating! Silly pilly me!

Tactile smile with love,
Patty oxox

CSI tonight!!

Oh my, I've been waiting too long for Grissom! Just can't wait until I see him tonight, just don't tell DH I'm seeing him on the sly! ;)

Weather, body pains

I just wish the weather wouldn't wreak so much havoc on my body these days. It's been awful with the sudden weather shifts these days, warm one day and then a huge cold dip into the -0 with wind chill factors as well. It really throws my whole body for a loop.

I usually feel it worst in the bones and end up taking a narcotic when I don't want to. If it wasn't for the narcotic, I wouldn't be able to pull myself out of bed and move around. It is extremely hard as I have rheumatoid arthritis as well. RA, folks.. sucks and it never takes a holiday.

Today I woke up feeling like a Mack truck ran me over, just took a Tylenol sinus and crawled back into bed. I slept until 1 pm, thank heavens for Mosey, my sweet furbaby. Lately, he's been forced to sleep with me whether he likes it or not. I grab him and snuggle with him. Just something about his body and the warmth he has and it does soothe myself off to sleep. Who knew a 8.5 lbs British Shorthair cat would really help me a lot with stress?

Next entry will be about my neurologist's appointment and if I'll be reduced from the medications - Topomax and Divalproex.

Topomax works for my migraines and I haven't had those blinding migraines for the longest times, w00t! Divalproex, I'm being kept on it for preventative measures for epilepsy.

Face your pockets!

Hat tip to Deafutahhiker for this website "Face your pockets"

"Face your pockets" is an unique website! Mein bruder gave me this link and I love it already. I can spend hours looking at the faces and putting things that they have in their pockets/backpacks/purses.

DeafBlindness Forum

Tactile smile!

I just created a simple DB forum this evening for my fellow DB friends. Please feel free to join us at DeafBlindness and share experiences with others.

This is a site that I hope to learn from others and have others learn more as well.

90 love,
Patty

Good news for DH!

The title says it all! I'm thrilled to pieces for my DH! He finally has his job training since moving to Canada. First of all, let me give you some information about DH. We were actually good friends, online and then took it from e-friends to dating. We both were actually burned out from "e-love" because physically we wanted companionship and love but from the e-love perspective, we had enough.

DH was from Dayton, OH and I was from Kitchener, ON. We chatted hours and hours about all kinds of topics and it was straight from the heart. I was burnt out from men.. basically. To the point where I was hating them.. sad to say. Chris was telling me not to give up on men and lo & behold I didn't realise I was falling for him, hard.

We met and knew that e-love for us was worth the wait and distance between us. We dated for a good year and married in an intimate ceremony at my parents' house. A beautiful ceremony, we chose the vows, we prepped the food and everything was so cosy. Just what we wanted. Families flew in from four corners of the Earth and we were just humbled to have them witness our union.

Shortly after the wedding, Chris got his landed immigrant status papers and he moved here. I was just so happy. It was hard to find employment for DH, I knew DH was frustrated at times not being to find employment. He is extremely qualified with CGI and he has oftentimes applied for manual work like McDonalds, only to be told he is overqualified and turned away.

A big blow to his ego but he keeps taking those blows and doesn't give up. My heart breaks but DH perseveres until the job training he had been needing and wanting finally called. I was thrilled and still thrilled that he has the resources necessary and important to help him.

Yippee!!

Big hugs and love goes out to mein bruder and Kim!

Tactile love and smile to all!
Patty oxox

Deaf Blind Necessities

Things you would find in my backpack that I must have as Deaf Blind necessities, some define me as my character, some necessities for my RP and some for my deafness. All in all, Deaf Blind necessities that you may or may not relate with.

I carry the items in my backpack- relating to my RP.

Hat- I have to wear a hat because the sunlight does hurt my eyes.

1X - 3X magnifier - they are very important for reading menus and other small prints

hand sanitizer - nothing worse than smelling foul odour as I tactile and sniff other foul odours

gum/breath mint- my sense of smell is heightened so I do get headaches smelling bad breath and I admit I offer those to others


hand cream - I need to have soft hands because tactiling with others, tactiling with rough/chapped hands is like tactiling with sandpaper.

eye drops- I am so prone to dry eyes that I have to use them often.

appointment cards- It makes it easier to give to secretaries the cards of which doctors I have.

Sharpie/paper and mini dry erase board with dry erase marker - those are fantastic for communicating! Pen and paper don't work anymore for me. I need the thick and darker fonts.

White Musk oil from Body Shop- It's my signature scent and my nose picks up other scents so I sniff myself so I don't have to constantly smell other overwhelming scents.

Starbucks coffee covers to protect against heat.. I grab extra of those for other places that don't provide them. They are helpful when I can't afford to juggle both hands for one cup.


Blistex- my lips are constantly chapped from myself biting my lips from nervousness, fear of falling or tripping.

binoculars - they do help with viewing during road trips

gift cards to coffeehouses/shops(Tim Hortons/Starbucks/Second Cups)- I don't have to handle my wallet and the hot coffee. It's hard sometimes to place an order on my dry erase board, handle my wallet and my hot coffee, so I place my order on the dry erase board, put in backpack and use the gift card and then wait for my coffee with double coffee covers so I don't have to drop it from the heat. I also go to the same coffeehouses because the baristas know who I am and they put the coffee in a much bigger cup for me so I don't spill my coffee.

I have been checking around for a BlackBerry and text plan but there isn't a plan for the disabled consumers. I contacted around with Bell Canada and Rogers Canada as well. Both major companies don't carry a plan for the disabled. I even expressed my disappointment to both companies because they are actually doing a disservice to their disabled consumers as the Deafblind and Deaf community actually uses the BlackBerry a lot to communicate. They are charged the same rate and plan as the hearing consumers are only a rate more for "unlimited texts". I specifically asked if there was a flat rate just for texts and was told there was no such thing.

When living in Ottawa, ON, I did a short stint on an deaf advocacy board, we would advocate for our communication rights and so on. Since I am now Deafblind and experience a much more different life as a DB, I feel the "advocate" in me coming out again. However the "advocate" in me is rearing her head only just for me, mine and myself. I admit I sound selfish when I feel the need to advocate for my rights, it is for a good reason. I have to establish myself and my independence.

Oh yes, I am meeting with Beverly on Jan 24th and I am thrilled to pieces! She is going to answer a lot of my questions and concerns. There goes the self-advocate in me!

Tactile smile with love,
Patty oxox

CNIB

Hi all!

Hope this finds you in good health and spirits, smile! :) Tomorrow my sweet baby will be off to the veterinarian to be neutered, *sniff sniff*. My sweet baby will be aching, I'll be asking the vet if he can keep the manbits intact so my Mosey won't licking his wounded ego. I just only want Mosey sterilised, not his manbits chopped off.

I got info from the CNIB and I will be meeting a very nice lady very soon! We have already gotten my case file with CNIB started and I already have a lot of questions and concerns to ask her. Safe to say, I am excited, nervous and overwhelmed all over again to meet her. It's just like the very same emotions all over again at the U of W Ocular Health appointment. Beverly, her name, she knows ASL very well and she does tactile as well. I'm just thrilled to pieces because I can get to ask her directly all the questions I have been wanting to ask.

I will be able to ask her all the questions that I need answers to without worrying that I am being paranoid over.

She has also acknowledged that I put in a request for an intervenor for my appointment at the Ivey Eye Institute which she'll search for one. I'm very thankful to get my file started at the CNIB.

I also wanted to let you all know that when you go in for your new prescription glasses, don't throw out your old prescription glasses. Donate them. They are so important to be donated to another country that cannot afford good eye care. Almost all of opticians will gladly accept your old prescription glasses and send it to an agency that sends it over to a "third-world" country and fits other people with your old glasses.

I have donated my old glasses for the longest time and I wanted to remind you to donate if you have done so, I appreciate it very much.

Out with the old.. in with the new.

Happy New Year's to you all!

So sorry for the very tardy entry in this blog as I've had such a busy Christmas and New Year. It was an amazing Christmas, very relaxing and busy at the same time. Christmas just passed on by so quickly until New Year's. DH and I stayed home and enjoyed movies. We both just love foreign movies a lot. I actually prefer foreign movies because subtitles are so much easier for me to read on the laptop. The colours are so much different than the CC (closed-captioning). Subtitles are usually yellow and at the bottom of the screen whereas CC is white and at the top of the screen.

We've been borrowing foreign movies from the public library a lot lately and I like their selections. They had one movie in particular and it made a huge impact on me.. emotionally. The movie is called "Quill". I really recommend you to watch this one. You can rent it from your local BlockBuster but you will have better luck loaning it out from your local library.



"Quill", covers a lot about the emotional and intimiate relationship between the guide dog and his/her guide from the puppyhood until death. There were scenes of DB actors and it was unique to see them tactile.

Over the holidays, I have been extremely blessed by beautiful and good friends sending me amazing cards. Knowing how much I love scrapping, they sent personalised scrapping cards that I have kept in a box so I can take out and read & re-read often.

Daisy, the sweet munchkin, got a lot of Christmas presents over the holidays. Her sweet boyfriend, Stetson, sent over a humongous box and let me tell you this, Daisy has a better wardrobe than I do. The BT is such a fashionasta already! She has a mink coat! o_O Not only the mink coat but she also got fancy toys as well! *woau*

Daisy not only squired a mink coat with fancy toys, she as well squired another suiter, Max. He sent over a very lovely and festive bandana. His mum is an amazing scrapper that I adore exchanging cards with her. Sharon sent over loads of her own cards and I admit I'm jealous of her skills!

I must tell you something about this amazing artist, Barb Krause. Just as we moved into our flat, she drew an oil painting of Daisy for us for our flat. I was really honoured to have her draw Daisy again because I commissioned her to draw my 4 dogs earlier. Barb does amazing artwork. Here's the link to her website and if you ever commission her to do your painting, you will never be disappointed.

Click on her banner for her website.



Tactile love to all!
Patty ox