What I’m thankful for!

By Chelsey Zumpano

I hope everyone had a happy and safe thanksgiving if you don’t celebrate or if you didn’t have a good day: try to think of some things that you’re thankful for!



• my family are healthy

• Hazel did not try to steal the turkey

• we played Monopoly

• going on walks with Hazel and my family

• Lucy and Hazel will cuddle sometimes

• I made it to over 100 posts on this blog

•  I learned how to make green bean casserole

•  cuddles with Audrey

• texting my friends

• I have 169 subscribers on YouTube

• cuddles with Pixie

I had a nice Thanksgiving: we just relaxed and played Monopoly. We also had some yummy food. Let me know some things that you’re thankful for down in the comments. 

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I Took An Intro To Dog Training Class! Was It Accessible? #DogTraining&Blind

by Chelsey Zumpano

I started taking a intro to dog training class on New Skills Academy. It’s a website to take courses and you get certificates. I saw an add on Facebook talking about the intro to dog training course and it was only $25! So I took my chance because all those other dog training courses are thousands of dollars. (you are not required to be certified). Taking a course for me makes me feel more productive than just reading a book because you can interpret books anyway and I like the idea of taking tests and quizzes because it shows me what I’ve learned.

The website is accessible, (for the most part), I was able to read all the articles for my classes and take notes. The one thing I had trouble with was finding the text box to take notes and the fact that sometimes it randomly go to the notes and start reading them to me. I was able to answer the quizzes and the test at the end. I wasn’t however able to fill out the worksheets because they were not accessible at all! (Thankfully the worksheets were not required).

Taking the class makes me realize I knew lots more about dog training than I thought. It makes me feel more confident in my dog training ability and has taught me some new things. I got a certificate for completing the course I’m going to frame it and put it on my wall! 

(Also I’m sorry if this post sounds a bit weird because I had to use the Tatian to write it, since my orbit reader 20 didn’t charge!).

If you also want to take a course here’s a link to the website:

https://newskillsacademy.com/

If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see next for Nanowrimo, please let me know in the comments or send me an email to: viblindresources@gmail.com

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Thankful My Dogs Have A Better Relationship!

by Chelsey Zumpano

So my little dog Lucy did not get along with my Husky Hazel. She growled, barked, and showed her teeth. Hazel just jumped around her and wanted to play. It wasnt that big of deal when my Ginger was still alive because Lucy had her Mom to hang out with, so we just kept them seperated. We did try to introduce the three of them, but Ginger would growl at her and all that stuff. I don’t blame her because if I was a Chihuahua, (who was old and not feeling well), then I wouldn’t want a puppy to be bugging me either.

Then when Ginger past away; Lucy didn’t, (and still doesn’t), want to be alone! She cries and won’t stop scratching at the door, if we put her outside to run around, (we can’t even let her out to go potty. I’m not going to lie, but it was extreamly stressful, (especially because Lucy only wanted/wants to only be with me or my Mom), so it meant that it was harder to split my time between the two dogs.

So how did I get them to get along? By using calming signals! You might be wondering what that is? Calming signals are how dogs communicate with each other and us humans can use some of them too. Dogs will use calming signals to to calm dogs down and to let them know, “Hey, it’s okay.” Dogs will also use calming signals at us if they are being yelled at and want us to calm down. Some examples are licking their lips, yawning , sighing, and slow blinking. You can learn more about calming signals by reading the book, “On Talking Terms with Dogs,” linked at the bottom of this post.

The other thing that helped was to be relaxed and not panic when the dogs were together because they can sense that and sometimes feed off it. Now Lucy and Hazel can be in the same room together. Lucy will still get agitated by Hazel, but it’s getting better. I think the reason why it worked for my dogs is because Hazel just wants to play and wasn’t trying to fight Lucy. So please talk to a trainer if your dogs are full on fighting. It’s one of thoughs things that will take time and won’t work for all dogs, but I’m extreamly thankful it has helped my dogs.

Let me know what things have helped your dogs have a better relationship in the comments!

http://a.co/gQxxsGS

If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see next for Nanowrimo, please let me know in the comments or send me an email to: viblindresources@gmail.com

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My Favorite LGBTQ Books

by Chelsey Zumpano

Since pride month is going to be over tomorrow; I figured I’d give you some of my favorite LGBTQ books.

1 Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan

I had to put this one first on the list because although it’s not an LGBTQ centered book; it does have Alex Fierro. She/he is my all time favorite character ever! She’s gender fluid and transgender; she mostly uses she/her pronouns, (until stated otherwise). When Alex first meets Magnus and the others; she just comes out and it’s not a big deal.

“I’ll admit that I was staring. Suddenly my whole perspective had flipped inside out, like when you look at an inkblot picture and see just the black part. Then your brain inverts the image and you realize the white part makes an entirely different picture, even though nothing has changed. That was Alex Fierro, except in pink and green. A second ago, he had been very obviously a boy to me. Now she was very obviously a girl.”

— Magnus Chase, The hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

The thing I love about Alex is that even though she’s a shape shifter his gender doesn’t change like that. Alex’s gender identity isn’t the only part of her character, she likes hiking, books, and he’s the love intrest for Magnus. The thing I love about Magnus’ crush on Alex is the fact he likes her when she’s a girl and when he’s a boy. Magnus never says what his sexuality is and he simply likes Alex. It isn’t until Alex kisses him at the end that he thinks, “Alex is a boy right now and I’m okay with that…,” or something along those lines.

This is one of those book series I can find myself living in and coming back to again and again.

2 Carry On

It’s one of those books where boy likes boy who thinks he’s ploting to kill him. Yeah, enemies to lovers aren’t my favorite type of story to read because the realationship isn’t the healthiest out there. But Baz and Simon’s relationship isn’t that bad. A lot of people say “Carry On” is the gay Harry Potter because it’s got magic and war and a big prophecy. I like the magic system and will probley make a blog or video more about it. For right now the thing I really love about this book is that even though Baz is supposed to hate his roommate and his family has tried to have him kill Simon; he still has a crush on him from when they first meet at 11. Even though Simon believes that Baz is out to get him he still helps him find his mother’s killer. At the beginning of the book Baz gets kidnaped and the only thing that helps him through it was thinking of Simon; like that’s how far gone in love with this boy he is. Simon’s love for Baz comes into prospective slower. But the one thing I love about this book is that at the end Simon’s therapist says that it’s okay if he doesn’t figure out his sexuality and that he doesn’t have to.

“I let myself slip away… Just to stay sane. Just to get through it. And when I felt myself slipping too far, I held on to the one thing I’m always sure of – Blue eyes. Bronze curls. The fact that Simon Snow is the most powerful magician alive. That nothing can hurt him, not even me. That Simon Snow is alive. And I’m hopelessly in love with him.” 
― Rainbow Rowell, Carry On

3 Annie On My Mind

I love the fact that the two girls are best friends who slowly fall in love. It does talk about coming out and others reactions to their relationship, but it’s mainly about them falling in love. I just find this book beautiful and messy.

“There’s a Greek legend—no, it’s in something Plato wrote—about how true lovers are really two halves of the same person. It says that people wander around searching for their other half, and when they find him or her, they are finally whole and perfect. The thing that gets me is that the story says that originally all people were really pairs of people, joined back to back, and that some of the pairs were man and man, some woman and woman, and others man and woman. What happened was that all of these double people went to war with the gods, and the gods, to punish them, split them all in two. That’s why some lovers are heterosexual and some are homosexual, female and female, or male and male.” 
― Nancy Garden, Annie on My Mind

4 Symptoms of Being Human

This is about a teen who is gender fluid, (I’m not sure of what pronouns Riley uses, for now I’m going to use they/them), and they are dealing with trying to except themself. I do want to add a trigger wornning for sexual assault. It’s probably one of the first books I read where a character has anxiety and Riley just is very relatible, (even though I’m comfortable in the body I was born with), they just speak to me as a character.

“As for wondering if it’s okay to be who you are–that’s not a symptom of mental illness. That’s a symptom of being a person.” 
― Jeff Garvin, Symptoms of Being Human

5 The Trials of Apollo

I love Apollo because he really grows as a character. I have major feelings about this book series and specifically “The Burning Maze”, it just mest me up! (I’ll probably do a whole video on all the books at once. Apollo is Bisexual and makes no secret about it. Then there’s his son Will and his boyfriend Nico, (they are so adorible and it’s great to see Nico happy). Then there’s Emmy and Joe, (probably spelt their name’s wrong), but they are Lesbians and they have a kid together.

“Nothing is more tragic than loving someone to the depths of your soul and knowing they cannot and will not ever love you back.” 
― Rick Riordan, The Hidden Oracle

Here are some videos of mine about some LGBTQ characters.

1 Percy Jackson and the Olympians/heroes of Olympus review

2 WHY I ADMIRE ALEX FIERRO!

3 https://youtu.be/JZI2ql1PBWY

4 Book review of the ship of the dead By Rick Riordan

5 Love Simon versus Simon versus the Homo sapiens agenda

6 Book review of I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

If you would like to be interviewed by me or otherwise contribute to my Blog and YouTube; please send me an email to the following address. viblindresources@gmail.com

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How my Dog Has Effected My mental Health!

by Chelsey Zumpano

A close-up picture of a black and white husky with blue eyes. The picture is taken from the side and her nose is pointed to the right and her ears are up.(Picture of Hazel and picture credit goes to Chelsey Zumpano).

If you’d been following me on YouTube; you’d know that I got a puppy back in December and I’m training her to hopefully be my service dog. She does take up a lot or all my time somedays. She gives me something to do and that keeps my mind busy. She’s helped me to realize that I want to be a dog trainer.

She can be really hyper and have to find ways to keep her busy. I let her run around in the back yard, play fetch, tug of war, I take her on walks, give her bones, and puzzle toys. It took me awhile to figure those were the things that helped her. But before then she was kind of overwhelming and now she’s better. Giving Hazel a job has helped.

Some ways Hazel has helped me with my anxiety!

1 She will lay on my legs at night and that helps if I’m having a bad anxiety day.

2 She’s helped me to learn more about dogs.

3 She gives me more of a reason to go on a walk.

4 She’s helped me to not be so anxious about going to the vet.

If you want to see some more of my new coping skills; please go watch the video below.

If you have a dog tell me a funny story about him/her in the coments. If you would like to be interviewed by me or otherwise contribute to my Blog and YouTube; please send me an email to the following address. viblindresources@gmail.com

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Review Of Postmates!

by Chelsey Zumpano

Food delivery apps are all the rage right now. They are especially great for us who can’t drive! It gives me more independence and the ability to order food when I’m by myself!

The app I used is called “Postmates,” and I used it for the first time by myself today! I used VoiceOver on my Iphone to make the order and I was able to click and read all the opptions. I ordered me a sandwich from Subway and everything was correct. The only problem that I’ve found is the app won’t let you do anything if you didn’t leave a tip and the opption won’t go away unless you click on a tip.

It’s great feeling to be able to do something by yourself that you would otherwise need someone to do for you.

I’m sorry it’s been way to long sense I’ve updated the blog, Hazel has kept me busy. I also want to let you know about a new series here and on my YouTube channel. The series is about stopping stereotypes for us who are blind, so send me some in the comments and I’ll do a video or blog about it.

If you’d like to be interviewed or otherwise contribute to this Blog or YouTube send an email to:

viblindresources@gmail.com

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Review of Computer Glasses!

by Chelsey Zumpano

I recently got some new glasses to protect my eye from the harsh light of my Ipad and over the past week I’ve been wearing them.

The glasses have a yellow tent that dols the harsh light from my eye. I’ve been getting less headaches with them on. They don’t change the color of pictures or anything like that, but it does make everything a little yellow and a little less bright when I first put the glasses on. My eye feels a little less straind.

I still do a day with out looking at my screen, but sometimes that turns into more because My new puppy keeps me busy. I even just use them when I’m only watching videos.

Over all they work great for me and I wear them all the time, (even when I’m not on my Ipad). I do think more people need to wear glasses like these because how much everyone spends looking at a screen. If you want to try them for yourself go to the following link. https://www.amazon.com/TIJN-Blocking-Glasses-Eyeglasses-Computer/dp/B07G2CLMJN

If you’d like to be interviewed or otherwise contribute to this Blog or YouTube send an email to:

viblindresources@gmail.com

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Learning What It’s Like to be a Mom!

by Chelsey Zumpano

If you watched my most recent vlog, (https://youtu.be/uuxluBohc5M), you’d know I got a new puppy. Her name is Hazel and She’s a husky/pit mix. She’s a sweetheart, she wants to play with all the cats and my other two dogs. She’s great with little kids and babies. The only thing is she cries when I leave the room and when I put her in the cage.

Having a puppy is a lot like having a baby. I have to get up with her in the midle of the night, potty train her, wake up when she does, feed her on schedule, and right now I have to watch her 24/7. I don’t have any free time to myself unless she’s sleeping or chewing on her bone. I love training and playing with her. She’s great and has taught me to be responsible.

I haven’t had a baby animal in my room sense Katniss and Audrey were kittens and they lived in my room for the first few months. Having a puppy is a lot different because cats are more independent and could be left alone for short amounts of time. I can’t leave Hazel alone at all. At the moment I have someone watch her when I go places or take her with me.

But It’s all worth it! She gives me something to do every day and she brings more joy to my life.

Hazel has taught me a lot about what it’s like being a mom; it’s hard work, but I know I can do it!

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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Feeling Accomplish!

by Chelsey Zumpano

I DID IT! I wrote a blog for every day in November! It’s a great feeling to set out to do something and actually accomplish it! I’m so proud of myself and I think it really helped me with writing. Now if you give me a writing prompt, I’ll be able to write a blog about it. I’m hoping this will help me write stories.

Now for the month of December: I’m going to do a quote and draw/paint/take a picture of something to go along with it. I’m also going to do some baking videos. You can find today’s picture on my instagram @VIBlindResources and if you like what you see there give me a follow. Thank you to everyone who has followed me this month and the months before! I’ll be going back to once a week Blogs and Vlogs/videos will be twice a week. (They’ll be some random posts throne in there).

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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Teaching Braille

by Chelsey Zumpano

I have now taught two people braille: my sister’s friend, (which you can watch on this video: Teaching Unified English Braille), and my brother’s girlfriend, (Dana). She’s a very fast learner and with in one night she could recognize all the letters. I taught her by using my copy of ‘Unified English Braille for everyone’ and showed her the alphabet,I told her what dots were for what, then I had her tell me the dots as I typed them on my BrailleNote. First I had her type on my BrailleNote, but that was hard for her, so I switched to my Braille Writer, and she did much better. I can’t wait to teach her more!

I love that Dana just simply wanted to learn because she likes learning. I think more people need to learn braille because it’s a great skill to have. If anyone else I know wants to learn braille just ask or leave a comment below.

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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