John Wishes Us A Happy Easter

This blog post was sent via an audio email from John, who lives at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome. 

Hi, This is John wishing you a Happy Easter. I had fun in cooking class today, and I just want to say hello and to say thank you for the pictures.  I enjoyed looking at the pictures from my job (at the Hungry Toad) and at Imagine!’s John Taylor building (for the Spread the Word to End the Word event).  I had a great time coloring my poster. Have a great Easter, and I hope that you have fun.

I have a joke that I always like to tell. “Where does the Easter bunny eat breakfast?” “At IHOP.”

Gerald Asks "What Are You Doing For Easter?"

This blog post was sent to us via an audio email from Gerald. He used his Dynavox computer/communication device to wish us a happy Easter and to ask us what we’re doing for Easter. If you want to leave a comment here or send a comment through an email to gstebick@imaginecolorado.org I will make sure Gerald gets your comment. Gerald also indicated he has some plans for April Fools Day but we won’t ruin any surprises.

“Happy Easter. What are you doing for the Easter Holiday?”

At the end of the audio email, Gerald gave a clear, vocal, “Bye.”

This is Gerald watching his wife Donna play a video game at the Bob and Judy
Charles SmartHome.  On the wall over Donna's computer you can see a Longmont
Times-Call article that was published after their wedding in September, 2009.

Photos From Today's "R Word = Respect" Event

March 6th, 2013 was National Spread the Word to End the Word Awareness Day (the “R” word is a hurtful, derogatory word that some people use). Today, Imagine!’s Innovations department hosted a gathering encouraging people to create a poster or piece of artwork in honor of this event and to bring it in to Imagine!’s Coal Creek office to share with everyone. There was a banner signing and information available about how you can support this movement. Below are pictures from today’s event.



Rae with a poster created by the residents of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.



Mandy's poster has an ice cream cone and cupcake on it. With Mandy is
Chantelle, site supervisor at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.

Gerald displays the poster created by residents of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.

John and Lana show the posters they created.

Rebecca Is Ready For Spring

This post was sent to us via an audio email from Rebecca, who is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder. The message was sent last Saturday afternoon while Boulder was in the process of getting ten inches of snow. It appears that Rebecca is ready for spring. She sent two audio emails, both expressing her displeasure with the snow and the television weather reports. In spite of her frustration she was civil while speaking her mind.

Hi, I’m a nice lady, but I don’t like this snow, it’s the pits. I don’t like the news at all today. Channel 2 and Channel 4 have stupid weather reports. I want hot weather, sunny and warm. Hot weather! See you later.

A happy Rebecca, taken last fall before the snow started flying.

Jody And Tessa Show Their Handmade Valentines

These photos were sent to us by John Woodling, who is a Day Habilitation Counselor for Imagine!’s Core/Labor Source department. The photos were taken last month during Explore Ability class, where the class plays lots of sensory games and tests the motor skills of some of the people Imagine! serves. The pictures are of Tessa and Jody with valentine cards with heart shaped oragami envelopes they made in the class.

Tessa shows valentines she made in the class.

Jody gets ready to hand out some of her valentines.

We Enjoyed The Mountain Air

This blog post was sent to us via an audio email by Donna. Donna is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder where all the residents have access to an audio email program that allows them to stay in touch with their friends and families.

Hey guys, we just went on a mountain trip for the day and we were gone for a while and away from home. We drove up through Nederland, and we enjoyed the mountain air, and seeing a lot of mountain forestry. We drove all the way back on the same road we went up on, and it brought us back home. It was nice to get out of the house for the day. Bye for now.

 Donna at the Flatirons Church prom on March 1st.

John Takes Pride In His Jobs

This blog post is from a conversation with John this morning after he finished his shift as a member of a CORE/Labor Source work crew at the Hungry Toad Pub in Boulder where John vacuumed and mopped.

“After we eat lunch, this afternoon I will be at Timberline doing a bit of cleaning. We clean the kitchen area, things like that.” When asked what he does with the money he earns at his jobs, John replied, “I save some in the bank, and I keep some so if I go bowling I can buy a snack. I’m going bowling tomorrow with CORE/Labor Source at Coal Creek Bowling Alley.

"Yesterday, we had our (Innovations) Advocacy Council meeting and we discussed National Siblings Day, which is April 10th. I have two brothers and two sisters so we have a lot of us in our family.”

John vacuuming at the Hungry Toad Pub.

Breadworks In Boulder Displays Imagine! Artists' Work

Breadworks Bakery and Cafe in Boulder (2644 Broadway, between North St. and Alpine Ave.) is currently displaying artwork created by members of CORE/Labor Source art classes. The art will be up for two more weeks so please try to find the time to stop in and check out the artwork and thank the store employees for displaying the art. Breadworks is open Monday - Friday 7 am - 7 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 7 am - 6 pm. Here are some photos taken earlier today at Breadworks.

This is some of the art currently on display.

This piece of art was created by Rebecca.

If you're not familiar with the area this might help you to locate Breadworks
on Broadway between North St. and Alpine Ave.

Gerald Shares Two Of His Favorite Fishing Holes

This blog post was sent via an audio email by Gerald, who is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder. Gerald used his Dynavox computer to provide this variety of comments.

“Some of my favorite ponds are Golden Ponds and Coots Lake. I am ready for summer to be here so I can go fishing again. My favorite TV show is Walker, Texas Ranger. My birthday is February 10. I am 51 years old. We got married on September 12, 2009.”

“Bye.” (this was verbal).

This is Gerald with his Dynavox computer that he used to provide this blog post.

John Has A Packed Day Next Tuesday

This post was provided in person by John on Wednesday evening.

I am really looking forward to next Tuesday. In the morning I’ll work at the Hungry Toad, and then in the afternoon I have the Advocacy Council meeting and right after that I go to East Boulder Rec Center for a sports ceremony. It should be a fun day.

John during a basketball game at East Boulder Recreation Center.

Tessa's Moose Impression

Today’s blog post was sent to us via a flashdrive from John Woodling, a Day Habilitation Counselor who works at Longmont’s CORE/Labor Source department. This picture of Tessa doing a moose impression was taken during an Explore Ability class. In this particular class, people play lots of sensory games and test the motor skills of some of the consumers. Some recent class activities include passing a ball, stretching out on yoga balls, making valentine cards with heart shaped oragami envelopes, and impressions.  

Tessa does a good impression of a moose.

Gerald Writes More About His Birthday Party

This blog post was sent via email from Gerald, who wrote the post at his CORE/Labor Source Creative Writing Class.

I had a great birthday! All of my roommates were there as well as my house staff and of some of my staff from CORE. We had mashed potatoes and spaghetti, cake and ice cream. I got a fire truck and police car that light up and make noise. Everyone wore silly homemade party hats. We all had a fun time only 342 days until my next birthday!

This photo is from Gerald's birthday party last month.

Meagan with CORE/Labor Source and her son
at Gerald's birthday party.

Lana Had A Good Time At Flatirons Church Prom

This blog post was sent Saturday, March 2nd via an audio email from Lana, who is a resident of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder. All the residents at the SmartHome have access to an audio email system that allows them to send audio emails.  When someone replies to the audio email with a typed email, the resident's computer reads the written response aloud so the residents do not need to be able to read or write to be able to communicate with their friends and families.

Hi, This is Lana, I went to a dance last night (Shine Prom at Flatirons Church in Lafayette). We had a good time. I had a glass of water, and I didn’t eat any sweets. I hung out with Brent (a counselor at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome).

Does An Egg Float In Salt Water?

This post was provided to us by Donna in person. Donna is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.

Residents at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome have been conducting science experiments. This experiment involved asking the question, “If you put an egg in salt water, will it float?” The following information was taken from Donna’s worksheet on the experiment. Her notes are in bold.

1. Ask a question: If you put an egg is salt water what happens?
2. Make a prediction: It will float.
3. Make a plan and follow it: Add salt to water and then put an egg in salt water.
4. Observe: The egg floated.
5. Record the results: Egg floated in the water.
6. Draw a conclusion: Salt water is more dense than water.

Editor's note:  A fresh egg will usually not float in plain water.