Long time no see

So, I have been gone for quite a long time. I promise I have not forgotten you! You guys are awesome, amazing, incredible… Totally and freaking great!

The problem has been with me, not you. So I know that people say things like that, and don't really mean it. In this case however, I totally mean it. Problem number one, my computer… It is an amazingly wonderful laptop that I received for Christmas last year. It is wonderful, amazing, incredible, fantastic, stupendous… All of those things. The only problem is, the talking software.  For me personally, it totally blows. I will not name names here though however. The reason being, is it is quite possible that is simply an operator error.  You see, I am a creature of habit. Therefore, I have been using jaws for so long, maybe I am just having an possible time adjusting to the new program. That being said, I don't want to talk trash about a potentially good product.

So for now, I am using my iPhone to blog. I've tried the blogger app for iPhone before. It didn't work for me back then. So far, so good. Hopefully this will work for a while until I can get some things situated with my computer. I will keep you updated on this progress. I do hear that this way is easier to post pictures. That would be a new interesting dynamic for the blog. I know that not all of you can see, but for those of you can, I will try and post pics now and then

The other issue I've been having is more of a life situation. Is something personal to do with my family life. I cannot go into it here as it is too private. However, I am trying to get it all sorted out. I think we've made great progress. I'm hoping things will be back to normal soon.

Do you ever feel like you were outside your body? Simply a spectator? Well, that is how I have felt for the past few months. I am working on it. It's going okay. I hope everything will work out. In fact, I'm confident that it will. I am too stubborn for it not to

Unfortunately, my writing, my blogs, and my Facebook for writing and blogs, has suffered. I hope that with this new app, and the new cool dictate feature on my iPhone, I will be able to keep up with you guys better. There is no app that I have found yet for my writing. I hope maybe one will come up someday. Until that happens, I am in a little bit of a standstill with that. However, I would like you to know that divinity is done. I am just in the process of trying to get the second half edited. I am also working on a short story for an anthology to be published soon. Also clandestine's audiobook is in production as we speak. The new narrators are awesome! Absolutely wonderful! They are working diligently to get the book done so that you guys can enjoy it like everyone else. There's great music wonderful narration and I am lucky enough to have two different readers a male and a female. This will make The story come alive to your ears. I am so excited! I can't wait to see what you all think

Another new situation has come alive in my life. This one though, is a good one! I have a new relationship! Believe it or not, he is a BL IND why just like us! He is seriously one of the coolest people I have ever me. So, I just discovered one problem with this app. When you make a spelling error, it doesn't let you go back and fix it. It just makes a crashing sound. Therefore, apparently, when there are errors I just have to let them go. I do not like it I was trying to give my new boyfriend the nickname that I give all of us blind people. It you haven't guessed yet he is blind just like me. Unlike me, he was born blind. That is been a little different, but not all bad. It is been interesting to see the differences between the way the two of us do things. I hope to blog about some of that soon. I will also be checking in with you now and then to let you know how the other things in life are going. Providing this app continues to work, there won't be as long in between posts anymore. I will try and post pictures. I will try and be more diligent in my ability to stick with you and to talk to you about what is happening with everything. However, there is a lot going on, things are hectic… So, it's possible there will be gaps.  This of course is not because I don't love all of you. Because of course, I completely do! You guys are awesome! If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be on this blog and published and being sold to the masses. I just don't want to bombard you with postings that are interesting. I don't want to ramble about dryer lint or anything else that you won't find to be worth reading. So when I have something to say, I promise I will jump on here and say it.

So I was always, keep it real… Be yourself. And above all else make sure to love one another.

Insane Questions For The Blind

In talking to new friends in the blind community, I've come across some funny questions asked by the uninformed. These are just some of the few that I thought would make you smile.

1. How do you eat?

2. How do you have sex?

3. How do you go to the bathroom?

4. More specifically, how do you wipe your butt?

5. Are you just faking for attention?

6. How do you parent your child if you're blind?

7. Where are your sunglasses?

8. Do you know Steevie Wonder?

9. How do you walk?

10. How many fingers am I holding up?

11. What color is my hand?

12. Can you see me?

13. How do you read?

Though I could pick apart all of these for a million paragraphs, diagraming exactly why they are rediculous... I won't, at least not right now. That would be for another post on another day. For now, just join me and laugh at some of the silly things that blind people have been asked.

PS... please keep in mind that these questions were mostly asked by full grown adults... and then laugh a little harder

Great Deal Alert!

Hey everyone:) I just wanted to drop you all a little not about a totally great deal I just learned about from a group on Good reads for audio books.

A great publisher named Tantor is offering audio books for as low as $6.95. This is for books that you download and also for books on CD! Please keep in mind however, the price listed above is if U.S. dollars, so prices may be different if you live outside of the United states.

All you have to do to take advantage of this great offer is visit Tantors website.

As I said, this is just a short little note. I just had to pass along this deal for all of you audio book lovers. Happy Reading :)

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Moments That Leave You Speachless

1. When a child innocently asks you "did you just see that?" You want to be polite so you just smile and say yes. Without hesitation they utter their confused responce, "But you can't see."

2. When you tell the store clerk you need help with your debit card because your blind. Instead of acting normal, they panic and start yelling "OF ... COURSE... I... CAN... HELP... YOU!!!" They speak loud, slow and with far two much lip action because of course you are blind, so you must be deaf too.

3. When you five year olds draws a picture of you and makes sure to draw you with glasses so that you will be able to see.

4. That moment when your sitting in an appointment, realize you have to pee something fierce, excuse yourself, then jump up and rush out of the room forgetting you're blind. By the way, this is usally followed by a trip and stumble over a chair or other object. Not to mention the all too mortifying slam into the wall.

5. When driving with your Gram, someone jumps out of their car to charge at beloved Gram on a road raging rampage. Again for getting your blind, you in turn jump out of the car to rush at him and handle the situation. (This actually happened to me and will be explained in a future "Did That Really Just Happen?" post)

These are of course just a few speachless rendering little moments. I have tons and will continue to share them with you. I would love to hear yours. Please leave them in the comment section or shoot me a private email. I will collect responces and add them into future lists.

How Do You Like To Read?

Many people whether they are blind or sighted have different theories on the best way to read. I myself have grown acustomed and to love audio books. I love the freedom of downloading them from audible (dot) com. I just download all the books I want to my iPhone and listen to my heart's content.

I have heard that some blindy's like to read eBooks. In order to do this I hear that they use the talking software in their device to read them the material presented on the screen. While I have never tried this method, I'm not totally sure it would be for me. I personally prefer to have the narration come to me in dramatic acting style rather than a computerated voice.

This is not to say that it is not a perfectly wonderful way to enjoy reading. I'd like to sound off to my readers on this. What do you think? Whether you're blind, sighted or anything else, how do you like to read? If you are a fellow blindy, do you read eBooks? Let me know what you think in the comment section of this post.

16,500 Page View Party!

Holy cow guys! The blog has reached 16,500 page views! Can you believe it? Right? Me either:)

I just wanted to drop you all a quick note letting you know how much I appreciate all of you. You guys are why I keep this going.

That being said, if there are any topics you would like to see discussed in future posts, don't be afraid to let me know. How do you do that you ask? I will tell you. First you can put your idea in the comment section of this post. Or if you are not comfortable doing that, please feel free to send me a message using the contact form. You can also post ideas, suggestions and random comments on the blogs Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/playingtheblindcard

I would also like to take this opportunity to plug my other blog in hope that you will all check it out and decide to sign up to follow that one too. Signing up is easy. Just a few clicks and you're done. There you will receive the same easy going banter as you enjoy here. You can find it at http://www.authornicolerae.blogspot.com

You can also visit the Facebook page for this blog at http://www.facebook.com/authornicolerae

Thanks again for all your love and support. You encourage me every day to keep going and keep writing.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

5 Reasons I'm Glad I Can't See

1. Some things are better left unsean... which will of course be explained further in the following entries.

2. The crack-heads that walk or ride their bikes around town toting their metal finds for their scrapping pleasure.

3. The guys that think it's sexy to expose half their butts to the world.

3. By contrast, those girls that think it's sexy and flattering to expose more skin than covered.

4. The dog that feels it necessary to poo in my front yard without my permission

5. Those people that think exceptable PDA is malling each other as heavily as they would do in a bedroom

There are of course many more and I will address them in future posts. If there are any you would like to add please feel free to leave them in the comment section of this post.