Happy Thanks Giving and What I’m Thankful For Part 3

by Chelsey Zumpano

I’m writing this while the delicious smell of turkey fills my house. Here’s another list of what I’m thankful for.

1 I’m surrounded by a loving family. My family is all healthy and happy.

2 My animals may drive us all crazy sometimes, but I love them anyway.

4 That I have a ruth over my head and food to eat.

5 I’m thankful for this Blog and YouTube and that I’m able to educate and help people with every new post.

6 I’m thankful for every new follower, like, subscriber, comment, and share.

7 I’m thankful for my vision and the fact that being legally blind means I get to help others in our community.

8 My cane helps me get around and for people to recognize me as blind.

9 My coping skills for my anxiety is something I’m extremely grateful for.

10 The fact I will be applying for a guide dog very soon.

Tell me what your thankful for in the comments.

If you would like to be interviewed or otherwise contribute to this blog or YouTube send an email to:

viblindresources@gmail.com

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Preparing For Thanks Giving and Some Blind Shopping Tips

by Chelsey Zumpano

Thanks Giving is tomorrow and so I have a few things to prepare. I have to figure out what dessert I’m making. I used my Amazon Alexa to tell me a crackle cookie recipe. I also found a simple chocolate pie recipe. All I have to do is get a graham cracker crust, (already made) and some chocolate pudding that I have to whisk together. I don’t even have to bake it. Then I’m going to help make mash potatos.

Some tips for when your feeling overwhelmed with people.

1 Wait in a quiet room until everyone else gets there.

2 Eat in a room with less people.

3 Enjoy yourself and have things to help calm yourself down.

here are some tips for you brave souls going out on Black Friday.

1 Take pictures of the things you are looking for and save them in your notes with what the thing is written above it.

2 Take a friend with you, it works best if they are tall so they can reach over heads to grab things.

3 Don’t be afraid to use your cane to make people move out of your way!

4 Bring a backpack to put all your items in.

5 Have your wallet already out as your in line to pay.

6 You can also ask Alexa for shopping deals and just have them delivered to you.

7 You can also look on Cyber Monday, which is on the Monday after Thanks Giving. This is only online and so you can shop from home.

Let me know what your plans are for Thanks Giving in the comments.

If you would like to be interviewed or otherwise contribute to this blog or YouTube send an email to:

viblindresources@gmail.com

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A Day Of Not Looking At My screen!

by Chelsey Zumpano

As a Blogger and YouTuber: I spend a lot of time looking at a screen, but this isn’t good for my eyes, (or anyones really). I read that your supposed to spend twenty minutes looking at your screen and twenty minutes looking away from it, but I did one better and didn’t look at my screen at all for two days! It really helped my eyes feel good. What I did was turn on VoiceOver and then I turned on the screen curtain. I read with my BrailleNote and listened to VoiceOver talk. It’s something I want to do all the time now.

I want to work staying off my Ipad all together and doing more things that don’t involve looking at a screen. Here is a list of hobbies to get myself off the screen.

1 walking the dogs

2 playing with the dogs

3 sewing

4 painting and drawing

5 reading on my BrailleNote

6 listening to an audio book

7 writing on my BrailleNote

9 dancing

10 learning guitar

11 doing craft projects

12 going on a bike ride

At least three of these are still on my Ipad, but the others involve me doing something else. If you have anymore ideas for me or want to share some of your own hobbies, tell me in the comments. If you would like to be interviewed or otherwise contribute to this blog or YouTube send an email to:

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What I’m thankful For Part 2

by Chelsey Zumpano

Today I’m thankful for nice people and my cat.

Yesterday I hung out with my brother’s girlfriend and she painted my nails and we made dinner. My nails look awesome!

Chelsey's nails painted two shades of pink, (a sparkly pink and a bright pink), and with pawprints on her thumbs

When we went to the store to get food: I didn’t hold on to her at all because I’m trying to be more independent, but she did tell me that I could hold on to her if I needed to. She’s very good at helping me. We made turkey meatloaf and she taught me how to make mash potatoes, (which is awesome because mash potatoes are my favorite food).

Meatloaf, mash potatoes, and a roll on a red plate.

My cat Audrey has been sleeping in my room the past two nights and its nice to have her lay with me. Last night she was attacking my feet and hands, (it’s not something she usually does), because she doesn’t like being around people. She will let me pet her sometimes, but she’ll run away when she doesn’t want to be touched. She slept by me all last night. I tried to take a picture of her, but she moved. I did get a cute piture of her in the morning though.

If you would like to be interviewed or otherwise contribute to this blog or YouTube send an email to:

viblindresources@gmail.com

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A Twilight Adventure

by Chelsey Zumpano

If you clicked on this thinking it was a fanfiction: well I’m sorry to disappoint. LOL I’ve never wrote a twilight fanfiction, yet, but anyway on to today’s post.

Last night at twilight me and Mom went on a walk to practice my first rout. We hadn’t intended to walk that late, but it was a great experience! We walked to the park with me leading the way, Mom would remind me how many streets to cross. I only held on to her shoulder once on the way back because I wasn’t sure if I could walk a strate line with out being able to see the crosswalk, but I realized I could see the lines with the help of the street lights.

I’ve never done mobility at night before and it really helped me put my skills to the test. I did pretty well, but I don’t walk a very straight line and I hesitate when I think there’s going to be a corner. I’m good at street crossing, but I could be better because I do hesitate. I rely a lot on my vision, (which isn’t a bad thing), just something I noticed.

Mom and I decided that I’m not aloud to hold on to her unless there’s a crowd or we are going into a store and my eyes need to adjust. This way I become more independent.

If you would like to be interviewed or otherwise contribute to this blog or YouTube send an email to:

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An orange, blue, and yellow cane leaning against a wall that is white on the bottom and blue on the top.

An Interview with Meghan the Cane

by Chelsey Zumpano

An orange, blue, and yellow cane leaning against a wall that is white on the bottom and blue on the top.

(Picture credit goes to Chelsey Zumpano).

In honor of white cane day being on October 15th: I decided to interview my cane.

1 Welcome, Meghan tell me a little about yourself?

I’m a Seeing Eye Cane and my name is Meghan. You can also call me Meg, or Cane, but never Stick! To me being called stick just sounds disgusting and that’s just not what I am! I’m only a few months old, but that doesn’t mean I don’t move as fast as Chelsey’s previous canes, ′Fred and George′.

2 What’s your favorite part about working with me?

I get to be on camera and I love that we can go anywhere, also that I help people notice you more.

3 What’s your favorite place we’ve gone so far and where would you like to go?

I loved going to the pumpkin patch and seeing all the animals. I would really love to go skate boarding.

4 What do you think about the fact that you’re colorful?

I love it! It means I’m more noticeable and little kids love me. I think we cane’s should be able to be whatever color our humans’ want’, ′not just the traditional white′, because everyone is different and our inside’s should match our outside’s.

And there you have it strate from a cane herself! You will be seeing more of Meg because I wrote a book about her. It’s going to be called “Meghan the Seeing Eye Cane,” But we aren’t sure of the release date yet.

If you would like to be interviewed or otherwise contribute to this blog or YouTube send an email to:

viblindresources@gmail.com

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