Although I have them cut my meat fr me and bring it out for me.  Not that I 
can't, but it's cumbersome to me at times to have to cut it in public.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "MV" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: A New Twist on Handling Sightlings; Greg Brayton Sent This


>I use to have a worship/music leader who was very cool about my blindness,
> and just treated me like anyone else and I think found it odd others
> sometimes didn't. contrary to that, I use to have a fellow worship team
> member sort of act a little higher than I, we were both guitar
> pickers/singers, although he led services at this church sometimes and I
> "only" did special music hahaha. He'd always say stuff like "Hi Brad! This
> is Reese talking!" Ummm yah Hi Reese, was my usual reply.One day I was
> sitting waiting for service to start and I must have been less patient and
> he said something to me and forgot to do his trumpeting identification
> announcement.  I acknowledged him by name and whatever else was needed to
> answer him. He said "Wow!" Hahaha, you're pretty good with voices aren't
> you?" I said... "Yeah. Well, pretty much, although I have trouble doing
> John Wayne sometimes!" He didn't say a word, but my music director was
> walking by about the time I smarted off and he got a big chuckle out of
> that. For the most part, I do understand folks. We get pelted at times 
> with
> this stuff and it is mostly from different people so I try to exercise
> patience. but when it is from the same people and you've proven you are 
> not
> an idiot, I will tend to turn on the lessons *smile*. I had a waitress ask
> if I wanted my meat cut up for me one day. I looked a bit dumbfounded but
> she must have gotten that from someone asking I don't know if she'd 
> thought
> of that on her own.
> Mime-Version: 1.0
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed; 
> x-avg-checked=avg-ok-2DF85321
>
> Brad
>
>
> At 07:39 PM 2/10/2007, you wrote:
>
>>Agreed John.  However, it's kind of fun to look at and osme of them are
>>not bad.
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "John Schwery" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 12:46 PM
>>Subject: Re: A New Twist on Handling Sightlings; Greg Brayton Sent This
>>
>>
>>>Although I understand the humor and frustrations, I don't agree wit the
>>>approach.  Our speech should always be with grace, seasoned with salt.
>>>
>>>earlier, JULIE MELTON, wrote:
>>>
>>>>Lyn,
>>>>
>>>>Hahahahahahahahah! I love it!  WHen dealing with sighted folks, a little
>>>>humor often helps.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>JulieMelton
>>>>visit me at
>>>>www.heart-and-music.com
>>>>or subscribe to my podcast at
>>>>http://feed.feedburner.com/hmradio
>>>>Keep smiling!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>From: Lyn Latham <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>Reply-To: The Electronic Church <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>Subject: A New Twist on Handling Sightlings; Greg Brayton Sent This
>>>>>Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 11:06:18 -0500
>>>>>
>>>>>Hey, I wanted to share this with all of you.  It's fantastic.  If
>>>>>anyone knows either Greg Braton or Duncan Holmes, you can see this
>>>>>being something they would know about.  Have fun.
>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>>From: Duncan Holmes
>>>>>To: gil tolan
>>>>>Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 9:13 AM
>>>>>Subject: A New Twist on Handling Sightlings; Greg Brayton Sent This
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I really like this.
>>>>>
>>>>> > I'm blind, but there's no need to talk to my dog
>>>>> >
>>>>> > By IAN HAMILTON
>>>>> > The Herald, Scotland (UK), February 06, 2007
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I'm utterly exhausted with people constantly asking how I became >
>>>>> blind.
>>>>> > Considering that I'm 42, and blind since birth, it could be
>>>>> imagined > that
>>>>> > by
>>>>> > now I would be familiar with this question.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > On the contrary, if anything I'm getting more impatient with the
>>>>> same > old
>>>>> > questions day after day. "Have you been blind all your life?" To
>>>>> this > I
>>>>> > always respond: "Not yet".
>>>>> >
>>>>> > "Your hearing must be so much better than mine?" Answer: "Pardon?" >
>>>>> "That's
>>>>> > a
>>>>> > lovely Labrador you have there." Answer: "Labrador? My dog is a >
>>>>> Shepherd."
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Not original answers, but they always make me and Moss, my black >
>>>>> Labrador,
>>>>> > chuckle.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > It always happens when I'm trapped and unable to escape. When I'm on 
>>>>> > a
>>>>> > bus,
>>>>> > train or taxi. People are naturally curious; I understand this.
>>>>> But > they
>>>>> > can't resist going that little bit too far if you show any glimpse 
>>>>> > of
>>>>> > being
>>>>> > generous with your responses.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > "Couldn't you get an operation to get your sight back?" Answer: "No! 
>>>>> > I
>>>>> > like
>>>>> > walking into bus stops."
>>>>> >
>>>>> > "My auntie was blind. She had to stay in bed. You're so brave
>>>>> going > out
>>>>> > and
>>>>> > about." Staying in bed. Umm, now there's an idea. That was one smart
>>>>> > auntie.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > "How do you find your mouth when you eat?" Answer: "In the same
>>>>> way > you
>>>>> > find
>>>>> > your bum when you wipe it."
>>>>> >
>>>>> > "If I was blind I would have to kill myself." Answer: "Why wait?"
>>>>> >
>>>>> > These normal questions are the reason I've come up with a
>>>>> fantastic > plan.
>>>>> > For years, various organisations have been providing Blind Awareness
>>>>> > Workshops. In fact, I've had to deliver a few. These workshops
>>>>> show > the
>>>>> > public how they should respond if they encounter a blind person. >
>>>>> Topics
>>>>> > such
>>>>> > as, don't go up and shout at blind people, they are not deaf.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > ASK, if they want to cross the road? DON'T drag them across the
>>>>> road > by
>>>>> > the
>>>>> > ears. When you are giving directions, DON'T waggle your finger in 
>>>>> > some
>>>>> > vague
>>>>> > direction and say: "It's just over there next to the post office.
>>>>> SEE, > you
>>>>> > can't miss it." Wanna bet?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Many years ago I was waiting for a bus in Union Street in Glasgow, >
>>>>> when
>>>>> > two
>>>>> > little old ladies decided to lift me, from behind, on to the bus. 
>>>>> > They
>>>>> > proceeded to push, heave and shove me. Now, I know I'm not known
>>>>> for > my
>>>>> > speed, but I was heading in the right direction of the door under
>>>>> my > own
>>>>> > propulsion. You won't be surprised to hear that they failed 
>>>>> > miserably.
>>>>> > After
>>>>> > all, I'm 13 stone and 6ft. To get me safely aboard they caused 
>>>>> > mayhem:
>>>>> > pushing mothers and toddlers aside to get to their prey. The
>>>>> driver > had to
>>>>> > leave his cab to untangle buggies, shopping and various limbs and >
>>>>> walking
>>>>> > sticks.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I wonder if the ladies survived that day. I know I'm scared.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I've decided to call my new training course The Blind Person's
>>>>> Guide > to
>>>>> > the
>>>>> > General Public. Topics such as dealing with people who are giving
>>>>> > directions
>>>>> > to my dog while ignoring me. This did happen in Glasgow's Central >
>>>>> Station
>>>>> > by
>>>>> > a member of the railway police. I couldn't believe it. Was he having 
>>>>> > a
>>>>> > laugh? No, he really was under the misapprehension that my dog
>>>>> knew > what
>>>>> > he
>>>>> > was on about. Not once did he refer to me at all. Bizarre behaviour!
>>>>> >
>>>>> > My course will teach blind people how to cope when faced with this >
>>>>> kind of
>>>>> > attitude. When people come up and say: "You are a lovely boy" - when
>>>>> > talking
>>>>> > to the dog. Say, "Thank you very much but I'm spoken for."
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Another tip is always to have a pair of headphones in your pocket.
>>>>> It > is
>>>>> > awful to be trapped on a train with someone going through all
>>>>> their > fears
>>>>> > and traumas about being blind. Just say that you are going to
>>>>> listen > to an
>>>>> > audio book. Pop on the headphones and put the jack in your pocket. >
>>>>> They'll
>>>>> > never know the difference.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > When you get caught by someone asking silly questions, the answer
>>>>> is > to
>>>>> > turn
>>>>> > the conversation round at the first opportunity. The one main >
>>>>> conversation
>>>>> > that everyone likes to talk about is themselves.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Now this doesn't just apply to us blindies - the technique can be
>>>>> used > by
>>>>> > everyone. Let me give you an example. I was travelling on the 
>>>>> > Glasgow
>>>>> > Underground. Sitting opposite was a woman who decided to
>>>>> interrogate > me
>>>>> > about my then German Shepherd guide dog. "What's its name?" The >
>>>>> following
>>>>> > questions took that kind of line. Then she started to get a little >
>>>>> more
>>>>> > probing. "So how did you lose your sight?"
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Now in the correct circumstance that is a perfectly reasonable >
>>>>> question.
>>>>> > However, not on the underground when surrounded by ear-wigging >
>>>>> passengers.
>>>>> > I
>>>>> > had a number of options. One is telling her to mind her own
>>>>> business > (or
>>>>> > words to that effect). I took a different tack. This was the first >
>>>>> time I
>>>>> > had put the technique into action.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > It worked a treat.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I ignored her question. Then I asked her some questions of my own, >
>>>>> such
>>>>> > as,
>>>>> > "Where are you off to today?". By the time she got off three stops >
>>>>> later,
>>>>> > I
>>>>> > knew that she had just broken up with her boyfriend, she was
>>>>> looking > for a
>>>>> > flat and was thinking of moving south again! But she left the tube >
>>>>> feeling
>>>>> > happy. I hadn't been rude, and the only thing she found out about
>>>>> me > was
>>>>> > the
>>>>> > name and age of my dog.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > A good result, I would say. I'm not a reporter for nothing.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Ian Hamilton reports on disability issues for BBC Scotland.
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>>http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/features/display.var.1173810.0.0.php
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>>Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.19/663 - Release Date: 
>>>>>2/1/2007
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.30/674 - Release Date:
>>>>2/7/2007 3:33 PM
>>>
>>>John
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>No virus found in this outgoing message.
>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.30/674 - Release Date: 2/7/2007
>>>3:33 PM
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.19/663 - Release Date: 2/1/2007
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.33/678 - Release Date: 2/9/2007
>
>