Bob, Over the years and several trips to Costa Rica I've become friends with a guy who drives an accessible van. It has a 4-point tiedown and heavy duty WC lift. He has regular tours he gives but we've dragged him all over the country! If you ever consider going I can try to hook you up. In the meantime, he has a website at www.gowithwheelchairs.com . At one point, Sherry and I were his background "models" on some pages.
Best regards! --Tod On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 3:25 PM, bob quinn <r...@sockets.com> wrote: > Hi Tod, > > You're adventurous spirit and (even more important) actions are inspiring! > I love the idea of going to Costa Rica, and the fact you've done it outside > the typical tourist realms makes it seem a LOT less crazy an idea than I'd > imagined. > > As for the Kindle, I don't like it. Tried one and sent it back! Needs too > much hand/finger dexterity and I thought the screen lacked sufficient > contrast. > > But, coincidentally, I just came from Barnes&Noble, where I tried out the > Nook Color and LOVED it. The size is great, touch-screen responsive, screen > is hi-rez and browsing websites was a pleasure, they were so much more > readable than on my computer! That surprised me. > > Its not at all as versatile as an iPad (no camera and no apps) ...but, it > runs Google's Android OS under the hood and I've rumors that B&N is planning > to create a Developers' program and App Store. In the mean-time, there is > http://nookdevs.com for the more adventurous willing to void their > warranty to unlock the device (and its potential). > > I didn't buy one today, but I came close! I have other stuff on my plate > right now and didn't want the distraction. Also want to see if the price > goes down soon ...though at $249, it is already a bargain. > > At 12:35 PM 12/22/2010, Tod Santee wrote: > >Hi Lori & Everyone else, > > > >I must say that when we travel we really go out of our way to avoid > "posh." Neither of us likes going somewhere where many people live in very > basic homes but then finding all our places to be "all the comforts of > home." If that's what we liked we'd probably just stay in the US and get > rooms in the Marriotts and Hiltons. No, we prefer to be somewhat immersed > in the true culture. We eat at local markets and restaraunts intended for > "locals." Example: At one market in Bali we were served rice with chicken, > veggies and spices packed in a banana leaf by hand (bare hands!) We > definitely took the roads less traveled (especially in Thailand!). > > > >At one time, early in our marriage, I thought I wouldn't be traveling like > this if I hadn't married Sherry but then realized I had it backwards... I > doubt Sherry and I would have been together if she didn't like traveling > like this. > > > >It's great that she can help and loves exotic places "on the cheap." But > then I think back to when I moved to AZ... it was just as much a challenging > adventure. I had things set up such that someone I never met would be doing > my PCA care (at least at first). I packed up in PA, had my parents drive me > out and unload. They stayed for 4 days and left on schedule even though the > guy I had arranged had been arrested and was in jail for some non-violent > offense by the time I got here. I never did meet him but I managed to > scramble to find somebody else. > > > >I've always had that daring and adventurous spirit. That's how I talked > Sherry into taking Scuba classes and getting our certifications. We can > scuba anywhere in the world now! (And after her first time, she LOVES IT. > She's been looking for new places to vacation AND dive ever since we got > home!) I think it's that spirit that gave me the ability to survive after > my accident when I lived in such a "closed" community and wsas rarely able > to go anywhere due to cold and weather issues. (Thank God I had a computer > and 2400 baud modem!! Haha!) > > > >Now, as for the Kindle -- It looks like they aren't a good option. That's > probably why I didn't get many responses. On the other hand, the Nook (from > Barnes & Noble) looks more promising with its touch screen rather than tiny > buttons. Plus it has a web browser. I'm going out to check them out today. > > > >But then, if the Nook looks like a good option, I have to decide between > WiFi vs. WiFi+3G. And how much are Nook eBooks compared to Kindle's? I'm > also wondering how much the 3G will be of use. Can I use its WiFi when I'm > out of the country to browse the web and newspapers back home? Or do I need > the 3G for that. In fact, I have to find out if the 3G for a Nook even will > connect outside of the US (out of AT&T's main Nook market). And finally, I > know the 3G connection for Kindle has no monthly fee but I haven't heard the > same --or had it verified-- about Nook's 3G connectivity. > > > >Oh so many things to consider. And I thought shopping for computers was > difficult! > > > >Best to All. And a Merry Christmas to everyone I don't connect with > before then! > > > >Sincerely, > >-- Tod > > > >On Sat, Dec 18, 2010 at 5:40 PM, Lori Michaelson <<mailto: > lorilivin...@gmail.com>lorilivin...@gmail.com> wrote: > >Hey Tod! > > > >Holy crap! I had no idea that you had/have been able to travel to so many > distant faraway lands! In the 1994/1995 school year my ex and I hosted a > foreign exchange student from Indonesia. He mentioned Bali and said it was > a really, really nice area for vacationers, etc.! And how "posh" it was, > etc.! > > > >And you're so lucky to have Sherry to be able to be so healthy to help you > in all of your travels especially involving flying and personal care, etc. > Just by you having a little bit lower injury than mine... it is just enough > to allow you to move around easier and do a little bit more (or quite a bit > more) that I am able to do. Not to mention me acquiring Posttraumatic > Syringomyelia and just the simplest little wrong movements put me in pain > for days and days. > > > >Anyway, consider yourself so fortunate!!! Gosh, especially traveling to > the exotic places... what a wonderful, relaxing getaway to feel and be more > EROTIC! :-). > > > >Well, regarding a Kindle... not too long ago I was wondering the exact > same things about it that you are. And I simply couldn't imagine WHO would > want to read a book on the screen of the little gadget INSTEAD OF just > reading a hardcover or paperback. Because, yes, it's only for book reading. > > > >I have a passion for the printed page (reading a regular book the regular > way) and really do not like to read things online or on a screen. But even > though my wound has completely healed (and I am back to sitting up in the > chair for 5 or 6 hours a day now without repercussions) I am still in bed > for quite a bit of the rest of the day... mostly the very late afternoon and > evening. And when I used to read a regular book... it was always more > comfortable to read it sitting up in my hospital bed. But after I get in > bed to purposefully get pressure off my butt ... sitting back up (even then) > kind of defeats the whole purpose of staying/getting off of my butt. > > > >Besides that, over the years it has been more of an inconvenience to do > that anyway for both my husband and myself. So.. > > > >I found out there was/is a Kindle application that can be downloaded for > free off the net and I (or anyone) can read books on it using my computer in > the bedroom while still laying back with my head elevated around 30°. A > relaxing position. > > > >Back in April when I found out I was going to be bedridden 24/7 for > several months ... audio books and movies just were not enough and so in May > of this year my husband purchased me a tablet kiosk computer (Sahara Slate > PC) that is 12" x 12". And I can use it in this very reclined position > USING ALL VOICE. And, of course, have access to the net by wireless > networking. > > > >I really wanted to start reading again and when I came upon the > information that Kindle can be used on a PC (and therefore bigger print) we > downloaded the free application and I am actually enjoying reading books > this way! Although, because I did not download the application until > semi-recently I am still on my first book. But the font is such a perfect > size and so comfortable to read... that it is really like reading the > printed page. > > > >Friends can share downloaded books (by e-mailing them) also so I actually > have two other books already downloaded (for free from other friends) to > begin reading next. So I haven't spent a penny of my own yet on it. > Although I have noticed that Kindle downloads are not expensive at all. > Most often, cheaper than the book itself! > > > >You are also correct by saying that a person has to already have the book > downloaded into memory to read it. > > > >So for my personal reasons of not being able to read the usual way > anymore... it actually has benefited me and my life! And I would have never > dreamed I would be saying that more than a couple months ago!!! But for > other people, I don't know if they have a fascination with the gadgetry or > what but if it were not for my situation I think it is a silly product > overall. > > > >Did you retire from teaching before the school year started or why did you > stop teaching? Please don't leave me hanging on that! > > > >Lori > > > >On Sat, Dec 18, 2010 at 11:31 AM, Tod Santee <<mailto:mr.san...@gmail.com > >mr.san...@gmail.com> wrote: > >Hi Everybody out in the Land of Q's! > > > >Many of the old-timers here probably remember me. I kept getting kicked > out by <http://eskimo.com/>eskimo.com because my email was listed as a > spammer (?? NO Idea why!) so I decided to re-join a while back using Gmail. > So far-So good (fingers crossed). > > > >My info... My name's Tod, age 43, C5-6, 27yrs post from falling from a > tree. I moved to Tucson, AZ, after 6 unhealthy years in the cold PA > climate. AZ's warm, dry weather helped a lot but as I get older it seems to > be getting cooler here (just getting spoiled, mostly). LOVE to travel! > Been to Costa Rica 4-5 times, took public busses and ferrys to get from > Seattle to the Olympic Penninsula to Victoria and Vancouver and an > accessible Amtrak back to Seattle (interesting with no scheduled > transports), and this summer I got my SCUBA certification and used frequent > flyer miles/points (mostly from strategic credit card spending) to go to > Thailand and Indonesia for my first ocean dives while touring around Bali > for 3 weeks!! DAMN COOL! > > > >I taught high school biology from '96 to 2010. (Curently deciding whether > to continue or change course.) > > > >Now I'm thinking abouta Kindle and decided to come out of lurking mode to > get the advice of those I consider Experts... You All. > > > >I'm wondering how many of you use them. Are they useful for anything > besides just "book reading" without the book? Also, I notice they have Wifi > or Wifi/3G... is there a major benefit to the 3G if al you can do is load > books and/or newspapers? Wouldn't you already have what you're reading > loaded to memory? Or is there a web surfing capability I haven't heard > about? > > > >So... It's good to see so many friends still hanging around! And I'm > happy to say Hi to the "new" folks in the past year/year-point-five I > haven't yet met. > > > >And Thanks A Bunch to anyone who might be able to offer Kindle insights or > answers! > > > >Best wishes & Happy Holidays, friends! > >--Tod Santee > > > > > > > > > >-- > >Lori > >Age - 46 > >C4/5 complete quad, 31 years post > >Tucson, AZ > > > >
