John Knows The Meaning Of Memorial Day

This blog post came to a friend of John’s today via an audio email. John is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder where all of the residents have access to an audio email system that allows them to send and receive audio emails.

Hey, this is your buddy John speaking. I was wondering if you want to come to visit any time you like, but I have softball on Tuesday so I play at 5:00. I know that this is really important to know if you want to come to my game, that’s OK. But, otherwise I’ll be thinking of you.

How was Memorial Day? I hope that you had a good time remembering the soldiers and to pray for them on Memorial Day. I was wondering if you could tell me a newer joke.

This is John working at his job at In Clover,
a Boulder company that makes pet supplements.

Here is the reply from John's friend.

Hi John,

Thanks for taking the time to send me the audio email. I also play softball on Tuesdays over at Stazio Field, but I just checked our schedule for next week and my game is not until 7:00 so I will come to Mapleton Field to watch you play at 5:00 next Tuesday, June 4th. 

I appreciate how you and all of your housemates and the staff make me feel so welcome whenever I visit. It means a lot to me when I am greeted with such enthusiasm, and I don't take it for granted.  I remember back in March when I had a concussion and I had to take some time off work but I came by one night just because I knew that seeing you and the rest of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome gang would pick up my spirits, and you all did, so thanks. 

I enjoyed Memorial Day and the entire weekend.  At church they had all of us who are veterans (I was in the Army for four years) stand up to be recognized.  It was nice but a little embarrassing because I never had to go to battle like all of the soldiers who died and what Memorial Day is about. I'm really happy to know that you are so aware of the meaning of Memorial Day, and yes, I did remember the soldiers and prayed for them.  My Uncle Louie, who I never met, died in World War Two.  My aunt gave me his Purple Heart award because she said I reminded her of Uncle Louie.  I pray for all of his buddies who died that day, January 15th, 1945, in Belgium.  I even pray for the German soldiers who killed him because everyone needs prayers.

So, here's a joke for you, I hope it's a new one for you.  "What did the water say to the boat?  Nothing, it just waved."  I'll see you Tuesday at your softball game, and thanks for letting me know what time you play. 

Jessica Talks About The Bolder Boulder

This blog post came to us Tuesday in a phone call from Jessica. Thanks to Tim Nielsen for providing us with the photo.

I walked the Bolder Boulder yesterday, and I made it through the whole race. I think I might have got myself on TV or in the newspaper. I got up at 4:30 am, and I rode the RTD bus to the race. My wave stated at about 9:15.

I had fun, but I wasn’t crazy about those sprinklers. When I came up on them I went off to the side to avoid them. I walked pretty fast, and my knee brace was helpful for the most part. I liked seeing people that I know. I enjoyed the hot weather. There was a lot of good music. I got to shake Elvis’s hand and he patted me on the head. I did some Irish dancing with other people who were walking.

It was fun riding the RTD bus, seeing places I used to work or live as we rode by them. During the race I passed the time thinking of friends at Labor Source, Yankees, my family, New York, certain sport teams, my church friends, and several other things. All in all it was a good day.

Jessica enjoying Monday's Bolder Boulder

Gabe's Creative Writing Story

This blog post is a story written by Gabe in a Creative Writing class offered by Imagine!'s CORE/Labor Source department. Gabe's Instructor, Meagan, sent us the story and photo below. Gabe's story is a wacky article titled Mushy Untrustworthy Baby Stomps Flowers. Writing this story presented challenges to Gabe, who has difficulty seeing and steadying his hand, so he worked with an adaptive keyboard with large keys over a period of several weeks to get it typed.

Note: Usually, we correct misspelled words or grammar errors we find in submitted stories, but they were intentionally left here to demonstrate how few errors there are in this story and to acknowledge Gabe’s typing ability.

Mushy Untrustworthy Baby Stomps Flowers

Recent sightings of an enormous 50-foot mushy, untrustworthy baby have citizens Italy on edge and nobody’s flowers safe describes his experience with this monster baby, “I was standing in my yard working very hard on my flowers and the baby just came over and stomped my garden. Now all of my flowers and some of my shrubs are dead! I was very upset!” Reports coning in suggest that Gabriele isn’t this mushy baby’s only victim 200 people have complained about their flowers being stomped. What are the people if Italy going to do about this gigantic baby? How did it get so big? What’s more, who is going to change its diaper?

After doing some investigating, it was discovered that mad scientists at Rainbow Lab were trying to make a formula to help babies stop sucking their thumbs. In their experiment, something went terribly wrong and they accidentally turned the baby into a giant. Scientists are working feverishly to create an antidote for the baby and the community came together to build a giant crib to keep the baby contained. This newspaper will keep you updated on any developments with the giant baby. Your flowers are safe…. For now….

Gabe typing his story.

Mandy Witnesses A Collision

This blog post was written by Mandy and was sent to us in an email by Ian, an Instructor in Mandy’s Creative Writing class at CORE/Labor Source.

The On the Air Incident

by Mandy 

      We were on our way home from KGNU, driving down Iris. We were about three blocks away from my house. A lady (we suspect, but don’t know for sure) was texting while driving. We all said, “Oh my gosh!” when the lady drove onto the sidewalk and ran into a telephone pole.

      We drove around her (she was right in front of us) and parked on the street. Ian ran back to see if she was O.K. Both of her airbags had deployed and her whole front bumper was in someone’s yard. Her windshield was broken.

      Thank goodness we weren’t involved. Another woman on the scene called the cops. I wonder if the woman lived at the house where the bumper slept. I imagine that whoever lived there said, “What the heck?!” when they saw the bumper.

      The driver stood to the side of her damaged car, holding her iPhone and wiping away her tears. We are now more aware of something that can happen if we text and drive. I’m just glad we weren’t involved in the accident, especially since Yeti (our van) is finally fixed.

Mandy writing a story in her room at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.

Donna Says Losing Weight Is Awesome

This blog post was sent to us last Saturday in an audio email from Donna, who is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome. Donna can send audio emails completely independently.

Hey people, this is Donna. I was just wanting to let you know that I went down to Pearl Street today and had my ring resized, and I got down to a size 6 and I’m pretty happy about that. It was really an awesome thing to find out, that I’d lost the weight in my finger. And I got to cruise down Pearl Street while I was doing that, and it was fun. Talk to you later. Bye bye.



Donna's housemate John congratulates Donna after she successfully
sent an audio email to her husband Gerald.

This is a photo of the computer screen as Donna was sending an
audio email to her husband Gerald.

Robert Writes About Bowling and Singing

This blog post came to us today in an email from Robert, who wrote this in an Assistive Technology class through Imagine!'s CORE/Labor Source department.

Dear Gary,

I went bowling and received a score of 177! I was very proud of myself for going that high. We went to a place called chippers lanes then came back to have lunch. We had Circle of Song class. (with CORE/Labor Source). My favorite song was “I’m Henry the 8th I am.”

Robert Strieby

This photo of Robert was taken today at a rehearsal for the
upcoming CORE/Labor Source performance on June 21. Robert
is singing John Denver's "Sunshine On My Shoulders."

Chris Had A Good Time At The Zoo

This blog post came to us Saturday night in an audio email from Chris, who is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.

Hey people, This is Christopher. I just want to let you know that I had a good time with Joan today. (Joan Handley is the founder of “Just for the Fun of It!” which offers tours and trips for people with special needs). I went to the zoo. I had a good time but got home a little bit late. OK, goodbye.