Cathy, Ken, Stripes, and Herman

I am hearing, my wife is deaf. Still, myself, and many other hearing folks, I know, also enjoy captioning with our video programs. It helps us “hear” better, when folks whisper, or speak with strong accents, or when there is other noise interference, either in the program, or from our listening environment (noisey neigbors, noisey machinery, noisey airplanes, etc.)

Both, Cathy and I have signed the petition “Subtitles on all Aircraft Carriers.”. We ask you to sign this petition to help reach the goal of 10,000 signatures. We care deeply about this cause, and hope you will support our efforts.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/subtitlesonairlines

Target: Airline Companies

Sponsored by: Kenny DeHaan

Several people within the Deaf Community have brought up the issue that airlines do not put subtitles on TV shows and movies. Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing people make up a great number of the Airline’s customers. We travel a lot so we should be given the same consideration by the airlines as hearing customers. Is it fair, ethical that we have to sit through our long flights, unable to understand whatever is on while hearing customers are able to enjoy the services to the fullest. We have waited a long time for this change to happen and now it is time to become proactive. Sure the ADA law has taken care of us in some situations, but shouldnt ADA Title III: Public Accommodations apply to this situation also (http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm)? Why not be heard, Im sure I speak on the behalf of the Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing community when I say that we would love to have subtitles on all Aircraft Carriers. I welcome not just the United States but the world, people who fly need subtitles, come and sign this petition.

5930 Warner Avenue
Huntington Beach, Ca 92649
714-840-6400

The Good Mood Food restaurant at Warner and Springdale in , Huntington Beach, Ca has reassigned the lease to Good to go Restaurants.

Just got lunch there to go today, and asked new management if Barefeet were OK, and was told, “yes”.

3801 Warner Ave Ste B
Huntington Beach
562-592-4494

Barefoot VERY friendly

“No Shoes, No Shirt, NO PROBLEM!”

This establishment, under the previos ownership, as “Juice for You”, was the very first participant in the Society for Barefoot Living, Barefoot OK! campaign.

16563 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, California
714-418-0658

Vegetarian/Vegan/Raw

Au Lac website

Bodhi Tree Vegetarian Cafe
714-969-9500
501 Main St
Ste E
Huntington Beach, California (92648)

3 blocks from the pier

16446 Bolsa Chica
Huntington Beach, Ca.
714-840-7374

Vegan/vegetarian freindly (just ask to subsitute meat and cheese for other ingredients)

Cathy, Ken, and Herman arrived home on 2008 July 27 Sunday. Yesterday, Tuesday, we were officially welcomed back home by an earthquake. It was one of those long rolling sensations that lasted a few seconds, and rattled the dishes in the cupboards (but the dishes did stay in the cupboards). I was watching Herman eating his food on the tile floor, so when the house began to shake, Herman slid sideways across the floor. Hmm.. He didn’t seem to happy about that, so he ran into the carpeted living room where he had better footing.

 We have been graciously hosted by friends in Golden, for our stay in Colorado. We even have the priviledge of sleeping in the basement, the very same basement where, the great girl band, Valet Park This sometimes rehearses.

My 10-month young grand-nephew took his first steps (barefoot, naturally) yesterday, and his parents are keeping his feet out of shoes as much as practical to prevent shoes from deforming his feet, and also to allow him to use his own sense of touch to help learn how to walk, and eventually run, naturally, smoothly, and gracefully. Maybe without the “advantage” of shoes, he will be able to match the running performance of others in this world, who grew up without the advantage of shoes - like Kenyans and Ethiopians…

Buddha and Herman

Arrived at my sister’s home yesterday in Grand Ledge, Michigan. Herman was greeted by Rodney, my brother-in-law, and a “Furmanator” comb. Herman and Budha are now enjoying a friendly fur mountain competition.

Hairball competition

Well, we’re starting to wrap things up, here in West Palm Beach, Florida. Cathy’s brother-in-law is making excellent progress (he had a severe stroke back in December), he’s about 100 pounds lighter than before his stroke, and the past couple of weeks has been walking a couple of blocks, a few times each week, with his quad-cane.

A couple of days ago, he was able to get into his Mazda Miata, and we cruised down the coast to visit his office, and co-workers. Since we couldn’t fit the wheelchair in the Miata, he had the opportunity to walk some more.

Then we met his physical therapist, and he worked out on a stationary bike, and then, barefoot, in the pool. With a “jog” belt, he was able to walk back and forth in the pool several times without a cane, or anyone holding him up. He will be doing this more often now.

 Cathy, Herman, and I will be packing up the bug on Sunday (2008-07-13) morning and heading for Palatka, Florida. Followed by a longer drive to Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Monday (2008-07-14). Followed by a drive through Barefoot Todd’s home turf (and possibly a visit with Barefoot Todd himself) on Tuesday (2008-07-15) or Wednesday. Our ultimate destination for Wednesday (or Thursday) is Jasper, Indiana and a visit with my long lost cousin, Chris, who was last seen by us, shortly before he moved from California several years ago.

On Thursday, we should be heading up to my sister, Adreah’s in Grand Ledge, Michigan, where we’ll stop to catch our breath, for a day or so, and figure out when to head over to western Michigan to visit a couple of other barefoot runners, and up north to visit my parents, older sister, and a few old friends in the Traverse City, Michigan area.