Kind of a boring entry…
Hello. I know it’s been over a week since my last entry, but you know what? I’ve been busy.
I’m officially 18 now, and home for the weekend. G, Kaitlin, and Mary all came to visit me yesterday along with my parents (Amber’s in South Carolina at the moment so she couldn’t come, but it was really fun anyway). Then I slept like 9 hours last night. That was the longest time I’ve slept in aaages!
Pink Panther came out last week, and I wanna buy it. I also wanna buy the money reader from MaxiAids I wrote about a looong time ago, which still isn’t in stock.
I’m really rambly today, aren’t I? I’m still a little tired, so that might have something to do with it.
Also, my grandma went through surgery and is looking great! I saw her yesterday and held her hand, as hugging someone who recently had heart surgery isn’t the best idea in the world.
Anyway, I’m going to go and browse the internet. I feel ever so lazy today. Maybe I’ll play a game with Mom later. Parting thought: COME AWAY WITH MEEEEE IN THE NIIIIIIGHT… (Norah Jones lyrics)
KD
A post-Drop entry
Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!!! I had my first Drop today and I survived!!!!
OK, what’s a Drop, you ask? It’s where they drive you around in circles and make you get out of the car at a random spot. I made it back to the Center building! Yay for KD! I told Jeff, my travel instructor, that he should buy me a Reese’s peanut butter cup. I think I actually have him halfway convinced…
OK, here’s my training schedule for a normal day at SISTA. Today isn’t a normal day ’cause we had Drops, but yeah.
From 8 to 9 I have computers. This is where newly-blind people learn how to use JAWS with the internet and documents and things. I obviously have those skills mastered since I’m, er, writing in an online journal, so instead I’m learning PowerPoint. I have this tutorial CD, and my invisible teacher has a kind of annoying voice.
From 9 to 10 I have Braille. I pretty much know all there is to know about that, but I’m learning a kind of shorthand for notetaking in college, which is useful.
From 10 to 12 I have home management. That’s the cooking, cleaning, sewing, knitting, etc. Right now I’m on the easy stuff like scrambled eggs and cake mix cookies. I, by the way, make killer cake mix cookies. Of course, that’s not saying much since anyone can make them ’cause they’re so dern easy, but still. Actually, some people who come here don’t know how to microwave at first. There’s nothing wrong with that if they’re willing to learn, but I’m proud to say that I’ve been doing that for quiiiiite a while.
Anyway, then I have shop from 1 to 3, after my hour-long lunch break. Right now, my teacher Mike is making sure I can measure accurately with the little special ruler thingy. It’s so much fun to play with that I’m bound to annoy him soon because of not staying on task. Anyway, after I pass the measuring test, I’ll get to the cool stuff. Kim, who’s also in my class, is using an electric saw. She gets all the fun.
From 3 to 5 I have travel. That’s kind of self-explanatory, but it’s basically where Jeff hammers cane skills, listening skills, and other such stuff into your brain so you can travel efficiently. Right now I’m still trying to figure out how to get from the Center to the bus stop. It’s harder than going from the bus stop to the apartments, which I have down already. There are so many twists and turns! But I’m getting better.
Anyway, right now I’m in the client lounge, waiting for Jess, Laura, Kim, and Henry to get back from their Drops. I really don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing at the moment, so I decided to update my diary.
Oh! And I listened to Beyoncé’s new single, and it’s. Freaking. Awesome. That girl rocks my sandals off. I can’t say “socks” ’cause I’m not wearing any.
Anyway, I think I’ll go find Jeff and make him buy me chocolate. Or I suppose I could go get some myself… Parting thought: HOLY CRAP!!!! IT’S A HISSING BEETLE PRAYING MANTIS COCKROACH-LOOKING CRICKET THING! WITH FRICKIN’ WINGS! (Quote from J)
KD
First entry at the Center!
Well hello there! I’m officially moved into my new apartment. It’s quite nice. I’m sitting at a desk right now, typing on my laptop, and yes I do have internet access! And it’s free, because this is an open-access wireless connection! So KD is pleased.
I just got done unpacking my millions of bags and am now quite exhausted. I’m listening to Natalie Imbruglia, contemplating my next 3 months. The Center is said to be intense and demanding training. I hope I don’t get totally lost on travel routes…
Speaking of which, G says “the Center” makes it sound like I’m a criminal or something. Its actual name is the Orientation Center, but that’s too long to write out every dern time. Yet if I shorten it to the O.C., it becomes a TV show and creates confusion. My friends also came up with Blind Boot Camp, but that’s also too long to write out. J abbreviated it to BBC, but that’s an actual radio station, which incidentally has an awesome interview with DC that y’all should check out. Mwahaha. Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that I need a name to refer to what I’m doing all summer without confusing people and making me type extra letters. Do you guys have any ideas?
OK, my back is hurting and I’m tired, so I’ll end it here and hit the sack. Parting thought: ARE THOSE SHARKS WITH LASER BEAMS ATTACHED TO THEIR HEADS? (Quote from Austin Powers)
KD
Very long entry
OH MY GOD! THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!!!
Don’t ask. I just thought I’d start this entry with something different. Did ya like it?
I know I haven’t updated in foreeeeever and I am profoundly sorry. Here are some of the things that have been happening.
I GRADUATED!! I am now done with high school and enjoying my week off before I go to the Center. I had a sleepover with G, Kaitlin, and Mary last night. Kaitlin was the first to fall asleep at about 1:00. Mary, G, and I stayed up until 4:00, then Mary went to sleep. But G and I stayed up until past 5:00. Needless to say, I just woke up about an hour ago.
I went to Chicago for a band trip! It was so much fun! Did you know Chicago’s translation is “land of the smelly onion?” Anyway, since Mary requested an account of what I did there, I’ll do my best. But it’s not like she’ll be reading it anytime soon. Unless she buys that cable so she can access the Internet with her cell phone…
Anyway, we left last Wednesday at 10:30, traveling by bus. We watched Rent, but I wasn’t paying attention to it at all and eventually fell asleep.
On Thursday we went to the zoo, which was really boring for me in parts for obvious reasons. I did like the gift shops though.
That night we ate at this neat little barbecue cafe. We got like half a chicken, ribs, beans, salad, and cornbread. I couldn’t eat it all.
Then we went back to the hotel and had trouble finding me a bed. The pull-out beds in 2 of the rooms we tried were broken. I was very distressed, thinking I wouldn’t get to sleep at all, but then we found a room with 2 king-sized beds. That was more like it!
On Friday, we went on this boat thingy for a view of the city. This was not only pointless for me, but for everyone else as well since it was too foggy to see anything. I told them, “Welcome to my world.” They were not amused.
After that we went shopping and stuff, then ate at the Hard Rock Cafe. I looove that place! I told Mom I wanted to get married there. She was not amused.
Then we went back on the bus for a tour of all the historical places in Chicago that involved gangsters. This was very interesting, which made up for the violence.
On Saturday morning, our band performed and got a pretty trophy! Yaaaaay! Then we spent 8 hours at Six Flags. This was my favorite part of the whole trip because I very much enjoy rollercoasters. We went on 10 altogether, not including some I went on twice. There was this one called Superman, where you went through the ride on your stomach, then turned upside down! That was one of my favorites. I also went shopping there, and we ate funnel cakes. If you have never experienced funnel cakes, they are highly recommended by KD. Mmmmmm…
On Sunday we went to a museum exhibit, and I bought some headphones that described stuff to me so I wasn’t bored to death. Then we went to an aquarium and I bought very pretty wind chimes. I collect wind chimes. And music boxes. And neat magnets.
Anyway, then we went home and I listened to Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce almost the entire way, until I fell asleep about 3 hours away from home.
So there. That was my trip. Nothing else has really happened since then. I’ve just been writing thank-yous for graduation gifts and stuff. By the way, I haven’t forgotten my promise of posting the File. I just need to find the time to translate it into text and stuff like that.
And no, Mary, I’m not discussing that annoying Trace Adkins song. I’ve already complied with one of your requests in the comments, and that’s quite enough.
Oh, and guess who’s turning 18 in exactly 3 weeks???
OK, I’ll go now. This entry is probably my longest ever. Parting thought: CHIVALRY IS DEAD BUT YOU’RE STILL KINDA CUTE!!! (Lyrics to the new Nelly Furtado song, “Promiscuous”)
KD
