With 5 days left:

"Create a Professional Bucket List"

A Professional Bucket List:

• Be a hired writer for an online magazine or news site
• Cultivate experience as an ASL Tutor (new job now)
• Publish a Novel

If I get over my stage fright and this is more "wishful thinking" than goals:

• Travel as a Motivational Speaker on Deafblindness
• Be an ASL Instructor
• Be a "One Woman Show" or part of a Troupe on Deafblindness

It's not a large list, I've pretty much given up on a "Professional" life due to so many letdowns from Human Resources. I have enough rejection letters to wallpaper our whole house. Even from jobs at Deaf or Blind Agencies that it seemed like I was a "perfect fit". Yet when rejected they cannot tell me why.

It's gotten to the point where I'm apprehensive to even apply to some jobs because of my own sour outlook of the professional public. "Involves phone work.....why bother applying, they won't accommodate me".

So now I'm just doing what I can and enjoying where I am while at it.

For some of these, I wouldn't even know where to start.  I'm open to suggestions and advice, !

Today's writing challenge is:

"Five Fears that you Have"

If you talk to my relatives or friends, they'll tell you one word to describe me would be "fearless". So this writing challenge is a hard one for me. So here goes:

1. Worms
This is more a "phobia". I just can't stand 'em and I have no explanation why.

2. Losing my Family
I think this is a reasonable fear, losing my husband and kids. I think every sensible, married parent has this fear. It's not that I fear being all alone, but losing those I cherish would be heartbreaking.

3. Ending up Somewhere Else
This is more of an anxiety than a fear, I get anxious while travelling either with a new SSP, a driver service or at airports. I start fretting wondering if  I'm at the right gate, or when the driver goes a different route than one I've mapped out in my head, or similar situations. It just comes with being Deafblind. I "know" I'll be alright and be able to work things out if something went wrong, but my overactive brain won't rest.
​
I know there's supposed to be two more, but I can't think of any at all.

Today's writing challenge is:

"Three Pet Peeves"

1. Able Bodied People Complaining

It really irks me when people who can see & hear and have perfectly fine hands and legs complain about how hard it is to do something. Suck it up Buttercups! You don't see me complaining when I go about my life.

I once worked at an injection molding factory which was a fast paced job: loading and unloading the parts, trimming the burrs and properly packing them. There was a quota of boxes to meet by the end of the shift. I struggled through it but still managed to complete my shifts. There was a woman who started the job, she complained to everyone within earshot about how hard it was, then she quit by the first coffee break (an hour and half into the shift). That pissed me off.

​2. Ignorant People

Y'all see me write about this often. People who ask stupid questions or have stupid assumptions about people with disabilities. 

There's a difference between not knowing and asking questions to learn something new, and assuming things and not using common sense when asking questions. There's a difference between "How can I help communicate with you better?" and "Where's your caretaker?"

3. Political Correctness

Political correctness is another pet peeve of mine. Who the hell comes up with ridiculous terms like:
"non-hearing" - WTH?
"have hearing and sight issues" - Nope I don't have any issues with them, maybe you do.
"lookism" - Judging someone on how they look. Well shit, we all do that! Some people just take it too far, yes, but it 's still there.
"Hearing/Sight Deprived" - Only mentally deprived people come up with this, oh sorry....only idiots come up with this.

So instead of coming up with moronic terms in fear of hurting someone's feelings, why don't you ASK them what they'd like to be called? Everyone will have a different opinion and feelings, not just about what word to use, but feelings about themselves with that disability. Some think it's impeding them, others like myself, think it's just a part of us as a whole.

So those are my three pet peeves. What are yours?

Day Six's Challenge is:

"Someone Who Fascinates You & Why"

Ignorant People.

​Ignorant people fascinate me, not in the definition of being attracted or enamored by them, but being transfixed by them. Usually because whatever they've said or done has shell-shocked me momentarily.

I encounter a lot of them just because I'm Deafblind. I understand that it may be the first time they've encountered a person with a disability, but I wish they'd use some common sense.

"Is this your daughter?"
"No she's my Support Service Provider, she basically works as my eyes and ears."
"Ah, so how old is your daughter?
*disdained stare*

"Where's your caretaker?" *looks around waiting room*
"I'm here by myself"
"oh....okay ^mumbles*"

"I'm deaf so could you please write anything you need down, and come get me when it's my turn"
*Secretary continues to talk*
"Didn't you hear me, I said I'm deaf and can't understand anything you're saying"
"But you speak so well"
"What does that have to do with hearing and understanding you?"
"Uh...."
​"I'm going to sit down now"

I guess common sense is a rare commodity these days. They say "ignorance is bliss" but it's pure hell for those they affect.

​It'd be awesome to be able to bottle common sense, I'd name it "Guérison de la Stupidité". I'd franchise it out to to other people with disabilities and we'd all be in the top 1% earners. There will be varieties available such as "Cállate", "Va Via" and "Gehirn Saft"

There's no way to avoid them, I've met all kinds of ignorant people from all walks of life, seen and heard a lot of crazy comments, and they still fascinate me with new obtuse statements.

Day Four's Challenge is

"Ten Interesting Facts about Yourself"

1. My Balance Sucks

I can't walk straight. The only time I walked in a straight line was when I was drunk. My guides know that I occasionally "veer off" and they know to give me a firm tug back on track.

It's even worse on the beach. I can't walk on sand! I end up looking like a damn newborn foal stumbling all over the place.

2. I'm a "Momma Bear"

When my kids were younger you don't dare get in between me and my kids.  If I can't see my "babies" you're in trouble! I once shoved a cousin's boyfriend out of the way at a family reunion when I couldn't see around him to see kiddies playing.

Now that they're teenagers it's like:

3. Wanted to own a Pet Store when I Grew Up

Loved animals growing up and kept bugging parents for different types of pets til my mother said "when you grow up you can have a herd of cattle if you want!".

Have owned dogs, cats, gerbils, Guinea pigs, a ferret, fish and rats.

4. Have a "Phobia" of Worms

Can't stand 'em, won't go near 'em.

Which is stupid 'cuz I grew up in a Fishing family and that was bait. I rather use minnows.

5. Has Never Had a Cavity

 Still have all my original teeth (except 4 wisdom teeth surgically removed)

6. Has Never Broken a Bone

I've just a "hairline" crack on shoulder bone when I fell off a slide at camp when I was 11. I was running up the slide part and a playmate was sliding down and knocked me off. Mind you this wasn't a wimpy slide like today's, this was a huge 12 foot metal slide.

7. Loves Finding the Irony in Things

The easiest way to make me laugh is to show me an irony.  

Like the closed Weight Watchers store right next to the Dairy Queen, or an AA meeting being held in a former bar.

8. Loves Trying New Foods

I've eaten stuff that might freak some people out, like Calf Fries (that's Bull Testicles BTW).

I watch "Bizarre Foods" on the Travel Channel and go "Hmm that looks interesting".

9. Gets Cold Easily

I guess because my sense of touch is the only "good" sense I have left I get cold easily. Which is ironic because I'm a native Canadian and have been teased for it down here in Oklahoma.

10. Has Never Been in Trouble with Authorities

I've never been in trouble with the Law. I've only gotten Detention once in High School when I left the premises for lunch which I didn't know you couldn't do.

NOTE: Y'all are NOT allowed to use any of this against me!!

Day Two's Challenge is:

​"Your Earliest Memory"

My earliest memories are from our old house in Vancouver, B.C.

I don't remember much of it, but I do remember my old white rabbit lamp. It wasn't exactly like the picture, but I couldn't find one closer to its resemblance.  The lamp was a rabbit up on it's hind legs, wearing a blue vest and a red bow tie and it's head was cocked sideways with a big smile.

​It looks pretty and innocent during the daytime, but it turned into something else come bedtime.

When my folks tucked me into bed and turned on that nightlight it transformed from the happy, innocent, playful rabbit into a creepy, evil, glowing creature!

Most nights I faced away from it and could sleep.

Other nights my imagination runs wild and I swear that damn thing moved! Mind you I had 20/200 vision at the time so I was susceptible to visual illusions.

When my poor little mind couldn't take it anymore I'd scramble out of bed and run down the long hallway to my folks room and crawl in with them.

Most of the time this run was successful. Other times it wasn't.

This was back in the '70s when kids had the one piece pajamas that had one zipper running up one leg all the way up to the chin. These jammies also had plastic soles. Combine that with hardwood floors and the house layout of my room being across from the basement stairs.

So you can imagine a small blonde toddler ripping out of her room, trying to swerve around the corner, sliding across the hardwood floor and tumbling down the stairs.

(I think I even rode my tricycle off those stairs once too).

I have no recollection of falling down the stairs, just from what my folks have told me. But I still remember that damn lamp....

That eerie yellow glow and the horrible evil snarling grin as it stares at me while I try to sleep.....