Postcard Fairy

About twice a month we continue to enjoy fun postcards that arrive anonymously.   Eagerly we look at the quote on the back and what is the picture.   Always postmarked in Portland they depict mainly sites in this area.   A few have been from other areas of Oregon.   I know the person reads my because the most recent had something besides the quote.   It was a request for more sailing stories.  

A wise friend started saving all the stories we had emailed from the boat so I will be reviewing some of those to see what the rest of the story might be.  

The postcard stack is getting big and I am trying to think of a way to have them out so visitors can enjoy both the picture and the quote.   Thank you postcard fairy.  

A Perfect Phrase

Everytime my caregivers need to transfer me to or from chair, toilet or bed they need 4 hands.   First challenge is preventing my head from flopping around.   Next problem is my hands.   Not only do they flop down but when moved they tend to go right back where they were.   Other times they insist on getting caught in the sling or straps.   When doing all that caregivers also are pushing the buttons on the control.   Oh they also have to guide the sling.   My head and hands refusing to cooperate often reminds me of a phrase and situation a few years ago.  

A friend came to the house to take me somewhere.   After putting on the cape that covered me and the batteries I asked for gloves.   My left hand wore my sailing gloves because they are fingerless so I could push buttons.   He helped me get it on than looked at the mitten for my right hand and said I don't think I know how to do this...   I replied think about an uncooperative two year old.   Being a good grandfather Roger said I know how to do that.   

The phrase?   That is it.   You are

Technology is wonderful?!?  

Yes I know I would not be alive and writing this without technology but there are times I just want to scream or throw something.   Good that I can not do either.  

So Dynavox finally sends my communication device aka computer back after installing a new hard drive.   Fantastic! I am excited to see the new system that lets me compose everything on the main screen.   This is so much better because there are commonly used words that only take one keystroke.   In addition the word anticipation feature will often display the word I want after a few keystrokes.   That really helps my leg.  
Just to be on the safe side I decide to wait until the communication specialist comes out.   Excitedly we put on the zip drive that has all my backed up information.   Bad idea.   Yes it had the data but it also had the operating system.   Once more called Dynavox.   Tech can go right in and restore program but will take about 45 minutes.   That is okay and it is fun to watch the cursor move and screen change.   While that is happening we work on selecting the pieces of information I want to move and sending to email.  However now that computer does not want to send or receive email in dynavox.   It will work with comcast so will do that for now.  

To make a long story short, I have my dynavox back and have been successful in a few areas.   Kari and Garrett were here for a short visit and he was able to get most of the tv controls to work.   Why I did not think about all the other difficulties is beyond me.   I am sure there will be other times.   

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With just one more week in the class Judith created a new prompt. We had shared our big documents and some pictures she had asked us to bring. During our discussion we all realised we needed time and place. This led to our assignment. In fact we could see the wheels turning as she said it. We were to pick one of our pictures and create a scene including date. We could make up a date if we did not know it but the scene was to be one day. It was interesting as I worked on mine how it did help to have a context. The exercise also made a big difference in how I edited my major story. Below is my scene. I choose not to include the picture so your mind could draw it. At least I hope your mind can.
 
  It was a warm spring day in May when we left Puerto Villarta on a 4 day trip heading north. Our plan was to spend some time in the Sea of Cortez before leaving Reaching Deep in La Paz for the 2005 hurricane season. May 5 found us in the rhythm of over night sailing. Dinner time was before dark. With just enough wind to sail we had a peaceful dinner in the cockpit while Auto pilot steered our coarse.

 Following our usual routine Dave participated in the evening radio group, called a net, on the single sideband radio while I stayed at the wheel. Sometimes Auto did not like it when we broadcast so I gave him a break and hand steered. The net always started with vessels under way. Each vessel gave their position and current weather information. One frequency was used at night at a set time and another in the morning. Real time weather was very useful along with the prediction. Also it was always fun to see if there was anyone else nearby.

 Then the night routine started. One of us would put on light weight all weather gear, inflatable life jacket, sailing gloves, hat and harness while the other prepared for bed. This started our watch routine of 4 hours on and 4 hours off.

 Dave knew that I would often stretch my watch so I could see the sunrise. It is magnificent during a new moon and tonight with a sliver of moon and no clouds should be a good one. I took the first watch starting about7:30 thinking it should work out perfectly. About midnight we switched places. It took a few minutes to take off the gear but well worth it because of the dampness settling in as the temperature dropped.

 Back on watch about 4 I knew it would be a magnificate sunrise. First the stars in the east start to fade. Beind the fading stars the sky starts to change from black to navy blue. Gradually the deep blue gets lighter until it is almost white. Then a glow appears at the horizon. As the glow increases it becomes orange and I know the sun will soon pop up above the horizon. A blink and there it is. Now a line of light glows across the water.

 Joyfully I start the morning routine as Dave wakes up. As the sun starts to warm the air and dry the dew as we enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Auto does not object to the morning frequency so we join the morning net while clearing up from breakfast. Feeling content with the start of May 6th, I settle in for my morning nap.

More writing class

Another class Judith shared a book called I remember by Joe Brainard. The idea here was to provide just enough information to allow the reader to be drawn in and form a picture in their mind. To little and the reader cannot get an understanding of what is being said. To much and the reader does not get drawn in. We took about 10 minutes to write a list and then shared them. Apparently I did not keep my list but it gave good insight as we shared and decided about pictures in our head.

 A fun prompt was: You never knew but.

 Kari the first time Nana came to see you was an interesting day. She was still as fascinated with breast feeding as she had been with Todd. Everyone had been holding you and after I changed your diaper Nana wanted you again. She had to shuffle you around and decide how she held you. It was all to much. You spit up your entire meal all over her. I was so embarrassed because I had tried to limit all the handeling. Part of me was glad because I had said you did not like a lot of handeling.