Wonderful Surprise

Just before Bible study, a young man and his family introduced themselves to me.

When he did so, I realized that I had known him for a few years. He was one of my first students when I was teaching Professional Ethics for Family Life Educators at Concordia University, Nebraska.

While I do pray for the students I had in my classes, I never expected to meet any on this side of eternity. It was a wonderful surprise and delight.

Finding a favorite old tool again: PaintShop

I did not know that PaintShop still exists! I used the Jasc versions in Windows 95 and XP.  Granted, I didn't use it particularly well. Using speech recognition to draw is… INTERESTING. Still, I could do what I wanted to do for the most part.

Then Jasc was sold to Corel. I could not afford the next upgrades, so I made-do. It worked. I could still do what I wanted to do for the most part. It was really getting clunky to use software that was designed for Windows Xp on a Windows 7 machine, but I've always been the slowest part of my computer.

I've tried installing on Windows 8. Yeah… It was time to find ANYTHING Else. I knew that Photoshop prices were way out of my league and I want all legal software. Besides, my niece showed me her copy. It didn't do anything that PaintShop used to do at well under $100, it just was slicker…

I tried GIMP, and did not like it. It was well worth the price. Other people swear by it, but I would wind up swearing at it.

Aviary had some interesting online editors for a while. SUMO Paint is really good for what it does and has an inexpensive desktop thingy. It just doesn't quite work with my brain.

My nieces and nephews still think that PHOTOSHOP is the gold standard. Next time I win two or three lifetimes worth of Publishers Clearing House, I will think about thinking about trying that overpriced bit of fluff.

For now, this fits my budget:

Help and Kudos for Caregivers

From the gentleman who invented "Granny Pods" so we can keep our elders out of nursing homes comes another Tool. It is an app called MyPart. For the most part, one or two members of the family tend to have most of the caregiving duties when there is a need. This seems to be true whether we are talking about Elder Care or a family member with a long-term disability or a catastrophic illness.

MYPART tries to spread the caregiving among a greater number of families and friends. This is a KICKSTARTER project that I would love to see funded.

I am MOST DEFINITELY in the wrong line of work!

In November, I will be speaking to Texas Occupational Therapy Association. While I am a little bit nervous, it is a good kind of nervous-the kind that is exciting and makes you try to do a good job.

Of course, I turned to the Internet to find more information and sharpening my speech. I went down all sorts of rabbit trails, because it was fun. My sense of self-discipline took the back seat and everything.

Then I accidentally ran into this website.

The pitch is absolutely irresistible. It makes me want to plunk down $2600 instantaneously. I would love to make speeches for $3000 a pop!

For now, it simply isn't in my budget.

  I will have to make do with:
http://www.learningforlife.org/exploring-resources/99-720/y10.pdf

http://www.speechtips.com/how-to-write-a-speech.html

http://www.fastcompany.com/3026982/work-smart/10-lessons-every-presenter-should-learn-from-americas-most-iconic-speech

and

http://www.toastmasters.org/

Next week…

Sometime next week, I will begin learning something new. :-)

:-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will see what kind of student I will be.

My head hurts

I don't know how I did it, but I managed to flip the display on my monitor go upside down and backwards. While it is POSSIBLE to read a computer screen that way, it gives me a headache. It is particularly difficult to figure out the difference between "b" and "d" and "g" and "p" and "q"…

I tried everything I thought of. I asked a few friends. Nobody knew what to do… Until I called my favorite computer repair dudes. The answer was quite simple [alt] [ctrl] [up arrow].

It's quite nice not having to use the computer standing on my head!

Who knew? ReelAbilities Film Festival

My occupational therapist at the Methodist Hospital, Judi Joseph, happened to mention something that is starting this weekend. To be specific: February 9-13 is Houston's ReelAbilities Disabilities Film Festival for 2014. I had never heard about this! It looks intriguing, maybe even beautiful.

Here is Monday's listing:

How to Train Your Dragon Rated: PG
Metropolitan Multi-Service Center, 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION
Registration not required

My Spectacular Theater Rated: PG-13
*Special appearance by Christine Ha, winner of MasterChef Season 3!*
Chinese Community Center, 5:30 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION
Register online here

Getting Up Rated: PG-13
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 7:00 p.m.
In collaboration with Houston Cinema Arts Society
$10/Non-MFAH & HCAS Members, $8/MFAH & HCAS Members
Tickets available for purchase soon!

Of course, when it came out, I thought that "How to Train Your Dragon" was about learning to use Dragon NaturallySpeaking. ;-) People still say that hearing from me is sort of like receiving messages from the Oracle at Delphi. It's a matter of interpreting…

"Getting Up" is another one that looks terribly intriguing. TEMPTONE is a graffiti artist (OK, not exactly the center of my art tastes, but…) with Lou Gehrig's disease.

I think I want to see this

This story was familiar to me. Tempt1 was my introduction to KickStarter. I heard about his desire to keep his artistic efforts alive in 2010.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/571943958/tempt1-and-eyewriter-art-by-eyes

It's funny how things sometimes cycle back…

NOT keeping up with my New Year's Resolutions…

My goal was to post here for days per week. I think I have met that goal twice this year.

And it's already Friday this week!

Updates on my Tobii PCEye…
From Channel 11

Feb 4, 2014

Disabled woman: ‘I have always known that Houston is a city with a lot of heart’

Donations are coming in for a disabled woman we profiled last week in Spring named Lisa Stapp. She has Spinal Muscular Atrophy or SMA, a disease that breaks down muscles. Lisa spent most of her waking hours on a computer, but that computer crashed.

http://www.khou.com/community/Disabled-woman-I-have-always-known-that-Houston-is-a-city-with-a-lot-of-heart-243621981.html

So many people are emailing and calling with words of encouragement. It's delightful and awesome. I decided that there would be a better way to keep this information together than simply blogging, although I am continuing to do that.

I created a page to let everyone know where things stand: "Funding my Tobii PCEye Go"- http://joyfullyrollingalong.blogspot.com/p/funding-tobii-pceye.html

 

I guess this is CROWD-FUNDING. I've heard of it, but didn't know anything about it. It kind of reminds me of KickStarter…

What an encouragement to keep working on writing!

  One of my favorite web sites, PositiveWriter.com, sent this wonderful and reflective image with some essential advice.  I cannot begin to tell you how much I needed this!  I find it easy to confuse "trust in God" and "waiting for someone else to do my work."

It is not exactly "being lazy," in my case.  I do not always know exactly what I should be doing.  I also am nervous about earning anything…  I cannot afford to jeopardize attendant care and Medicare/Medicaid.

Still, I'm working on preparing to teach that online ethics class again this year.  I have the opportunity to freelance again for Internet Toolbox for Churches, my first paid writing gig last year!  I'm still working on that collection of short stories and outlining that book.

At friend of mine, Deborah, just left.  We have had a wonderful visit today.  I have not seen her since…  Thanksgiving?  We talked about family.  We talked about computer stuff.  We talked about all the changes in our lives.

Friends are SUCH BLESSINGS!  I highly recommend having at least one or two…

I'm very distracted today, so I'm going to cut it way short of 500 words.

Another goal to be accomplished… ATTENDANT SEARCH

Those who have known me for any length of time know that I require help with the physical aspects of daily living.  Yes, I am another person who uses attendant care.
Whether they are called "PCAs," or "Nurses Aides", "Attendants", or simply "helpers" -these folks (the good ones) deserve the name "HEROES!" They are often paid by the state, minimum wage.  They do unpleasant tasks at inconvenient hours.  They place themselves at the beck and call as another human being.
For the past seven years, my morning helper has been Kathy.  In her previous jobs, she has been office manager at several places, and sound man for a band in the eighties.  She is normally the last person who would have applied.
But…
Health issues, and the emotional side effects hit her family.  She needed something different for a few months, and I was that difference.  I helped her.  She helped me.  Our friendship keeps deepening…  She is my other sister from another mother and father.  Her family is part of my extended family.
Logic would have dictated that she would as moved on several years ago.  She easily could have gone back to her normal and successful world…  But she cared.
She's still cares!
But…  She has given me her 30 day notice.  It's time to begin looking for…  Not a replacement.  A new beginning.  So…

Caregiver needed in Spring (near Cypresswood and I-45) area for quadriplegic woman.  Part-time: 7:30-11:30 AM, M-F. Must be 18, have valid Texas Drivers License (or ID), and pass a background check.  No experience necessary.  Personal care, food preparation, and other assistance as needed. To apply, e-mail to: lisastapp82@yahoo.com

Hello, I am Lisa.  I consider myself reasonably intelligent, quirky, joyful, and kind.  So far, I have earned 55-or-so years on planet earth.  Physically, I am limited.  I can wiggle my thumbs and talk.  I tend to get cold easily, probably because I don't move around a lot.  My breathing isn't what I wish it was – I have a tracheostomy to remove excessive mucus.

I just don't know that I have a disability.  I earned my B.A. in Psychology and my M.A. in Deaconess Studies.  (That is a theological degree for women within my church body.  It combines elements of a theologian, teacher, social worker… and a partridge in a pear tree.)

Currently, I am an adjunct instructor at Concordia University, Nebraska.  I teach Ethics in an online format.  I'm also working on that upcoming book, "God's Own Child: Even With Spinal Muscular Atrophy."

I'm not nearly as fragile as I seem.  I do need to remember though, I'm not nearly as tough as I think I am!

The BEST "Earworm" I have had in a while…

Ever so often a song gets stuck in my head and will not leave.  Often, it is a commercial for something I don't even like.  Usually, it is annoying.

This time, I am thoroughly enjoying myself!

During the night I woke myself up singing and humming…  Something.  It was majestic and beautiful.  It was familiar, but I don't remember it recently.  It's entirely possible that I sang it in church last Sunday, it just didn't register until today.

I had to look it up!

My favorite earworm…

Turns out it is from our hymnal.  LSB 336

The words are by Charles Wesley, the melody is by Thomas Olivers. 

Lo, He comes with Clouds Descending

Lo, he comes with clouds descending,
Once for ev'ry sinner slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ the Lord returns to reign.

Ev'ry eye shall now behold him
Robed in glorious majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall their true Messiah see.

Those dear tokens of his Passion
Still his dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshipers.
With what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, amen, let all adore thee,
High on thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the pow'r and glory,
Claim the kingdom for thine own.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou shalt reign, and thou alone!

I am GUILTY! I want this robot!

I was just sitting here minding my own business and reading my email, when I got a link from TED Talks.  I should NEVER have clicked on that link!  You see, it showed me a control device to connect to the computer (and, by the way, an Assistive Robot Device) that I deeply desire.

We are not just talking, "O, that's cute.  I'll put that as item 420,612,008 on my list of things I might like someday…"

I

WANT

THIS control and robot!

I have to find what this guy uses for his "minute movements" for control.  I don't know that head movement trackers are the answer for me, but I'll bet these people know how to to be creative. http://www.ted.com/talks/henry_evans_and_chad_jenkins_meet_the_robots_for_humanity.html

In some ways, it's an even more creative approach than makeymakey.com, although I often prefer the DIY approach.

Even bigger mistake…  Now ANOTHER short story is forming in my head.  I need to get off this fairly quickly…

But here is the link for "Robots for Humanity" <http://www.willowgarage.com/blog/2011/07/13/robots-humanity> before I go.

I participated in my first "tweetchat" last night

I participated in my first "Twitter/Tweet-chat," and I'm still decompressing.  Twitter and TweetDeck were the tools.  It was a gathering of Lutheran Educators talking about "Digital Citizenship."

Information about the group that gathers is at:

• Research in Lutheran Education
• LutheranTech 
• https://twitter.com/LuthEd

Here is what the most recent conversation looked like.  It is in reverse order: oldest messages at the bottom.   On Monday the 18th, the event should be

11/18/2013

Leveraging technology in faith development projects and curriculum

What are some ways we can model effective faith development in the digital world? What tools have you used to leverage faith building activities with your students? What do you see as the strengths of digital technology in faith dev? Draw backs?

Rob Jacklin @rjacklin

I have to admit that my "Fuddy Duddy" side is definitely showing.  I felt like I was at a really loud and crowded cocktail party where every one was trying to be heard over everyone else.  Since Twitter only allows 140 characters per Tweet AND some of those characters have to be used for the tag #LuthEd, complex ideas do not come across well. After my first adventure in TweetChatting, I sort of fell like I needed about 30 minutes in a sensory-deprivation tank to decompress from the chaos. I will be at tomorrow's event, DV…

Catching my breath

I'm not really in the mood to post today.  I will, mind you.  If nothing else, I am practicing regular posting instead of waiting until I feel like it.

Besides, it is probably time for another cluster of random things that I find interesting.  Your mileage may vary.

• http://ohlife.com/  

I keep hearing about the benefits of journaling.  Writers are among the first that I've learned of how use this tool.  People who are working on emotional change seemed to benefit.  Gardeners…  People who love trying new recipes…  Pretty much everyone but me.  I'm already trying to start so many new habits, I don't need another one!  If I did, I might start here  http://ohlife.com/
Of course, before I started, I would ask about how Security Works.  Still, this sounds like it would work for me.  It is a journal and not a blog.  It is done via email instead of going to yet another website.  They e-mail a daily question, I answer when I feel like it.  RATS!  I'm almost talking myself into doing this!

Steadfast Lutherans posted an article, "When Life Throws You a Curveball" at http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=26007
With the rash of friends and family facing real struggles right now, maybe it would be useful for me to share this more widely

• I liked Paul McCain's posting, "The Secret to Getting People to Come to Church—Shocking and Amazing!!" http://cyberbrethren.com/2013/01/11/the-secret-to-getting-people-to-come-to-church-shocking-and-amazing/
  It even suggests one simple tool.  It may not be as up to date as some of the things at http://www.internettoolboxforchurches.com/   , but it trusts God's Word to be Performative.

On the Date of the Eve of the Celebration of Christ's Birth

I enjoy discussions of "how things came to be the way they are today."  It is fun to ponder and reflect on the possibilities.  Sometimes it even can suggest ways to behave for the future.

Paul McCain, in his CyberBrethren blog, recently posted "Why Christmas is on December 25." This December 22 posting is at http://cyberbrethren.com/2012/12/22/why-christmas-is-on-december-25

In it, he references Gene Edward Veith's posting "Christmas was NOT based on the Roman Juvenalia." He discusses some programming on the History Channel, and that posting of located here http://www.geneveith.com/2012/12/24/christmas-was-not-based-on-the-roman-juvenalia/

Both the blogs refer to an article in Biblical History Daily, "How December 25 Became Christmas," located here http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/how-december-25-became-christmas/#location1

I enjoyed reading these immensely.  I commend them for your reading pleasure, education, and encouragement.  Christmas Blessings to you…

I forgot to product title here, but "Latin Books that surprised me" will do…

Sometimes the things that I see make me want to scratch my head.  (Not that that is a realistic option…) I was surprised about some of the books that have been translated into Latin:

[embedit snippet="latin-books"]

Don't get me wrong, it makes perfect sense.  You take a familiar story and work through it in an unfamiliar language.  Your language skills are tested and strengthened, AND you get to enjoy a book that you've already enjoyed.  It especially makes sense to use children's books.

I still was surprised at these choices.

A Little Bit Of Everything - 11/30/2012

I run across interesting things as I wander around on the Internet.  Granted, some of these may only be interesting to me.  Granted, there are many better uses of my time.

That's OK, this is my personal blog.  I'm free to post what I want to.

• *- From one of my favorite blogs, comes a discount on an annual subscription to Prey Pro.  I had been wondering how to protect devices like laptops from being… err…  "Permanently Borrowed." Anyhow, here is the link  http://lifehacker.com/5964028/get-an-annual-subscription-to-prey-pro-for-72-off-and-protect-up-to-10-devices-from-loss-and-theft     (Yes, I am protected…)
• *- Are you struggling as much with your writing as I am?  KM Weiland tells us "Tempted to Give up on Your Story?  Don't!" http://www.kmweiland.com/video-never.php
• *- From Pastor Harrison's "Mercy Journeys" blog is a reprise of Hermann Sasse's sermon, "All People Are Equal," based on Romans 10:1-13.  When you consider that this was written in NAZI Germany, it is even more powerful than it would be if it was written today.  http://mercyjourney.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-people-are-equal-interesting-sasse.html
• *- My friend, Donna, has a great way to send Christmas cards. You choose the card you want to send, or create a card using your own photo on the cover. Then personalize it with your message (and more photos if you wish!) and click SEND. SendOutCards does all the printing, stuffing, licking, stamping, addressing and mailing - all for about $1 per card! 

Talk about simplifying your life this holiday season. Try it and you'll see what I mean. Check it out at www.sendoutcards.com/kuper.  Your first two cards are on her!


•  
• That's all for this week…