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An Informal Update
by Raul Gallegos on Saturday, February 2 2008Hello everyone. It's been a long time since I've posted anything and well, what can I say? I have no excuse. I'm sitting here at my PC at home right now, enjoying some Internet radio and I figured since I'm not doing anything else, why not post something.
What has happened since I posted last? Well, a great deal I'm afraid. I've been very busy at work with Braille Sense, Voice Sense, and GPS stuff mainly these last several months. Just when I thought I was going to get some rest after we released SenseNav in December 2007, I quickly discovered that the work continues. It's non-stop, but I love it. We are already ready for a new update to the Voice Sense and this time, the update will include one for the Braille Sense as well. One of the biggest changes is that the Braille Sense will have the same software capabilities as the Voice Sense. This means that with a Bluetooth dongle, you will be able to purchase SenseNav and use it on the Braille Sense. Yes folks, traveling with a GPS receiver will now be possible with either Note Taker. I'm not hear to talk about just the Sense Note Takers however, we also have some other neat things going on with Window-Eyes and the next release. As you all know by now, one of the new features it will have is scripting capabilities. I won't say more than that because I'll wait for Doug to post on it since he can better talk about it. Hint Hint Doug, here is your hint to post something <smile>.
Aside from working many hours, I do have a personal life and so I figure I'll share some of that here. Let's see, well, my daughter is now seven years old, my oldest son is still eleven, and my youngest is now three and in pre-school. I'm very proud of all three of my children and I don't even know what all I can say other than they definitely make me very happy. I know it probably sounds lame, but words just cannot express how I feel. Probably sounds corny, but if you are a parent, I'm sure you can understand. Heck, if you are not a parent, it's possible you too will understand <smile>. I can't risk offending anyone here now. Even though Matthew (my youngest) has some usable vision, we are still going to push for him learning Braille. Every day I work with him, exposing him to it and he's definitely understanding that Braille is cool. I also let him play with an abacus and he loves it because counting is one of his current favorite things to do. I cannot wait for him to be old enough to use an actual note taker when he goes to school and starts writing down assignments. He's already liking the Voice Sense very much which is of course a big plus.
Eponine my daughter is a Girl Scout Brownie for the first time this year and so far, she is number one in her troope for the Girl Scout Cookie sales. If you want to help her sales even more, please contact me and we'll make arrangements to ship out some cookies to you so you too can enjoy them. As of today, she has sold around 325 boxes which equals more than one thousand dollars of cookies. Even though I am no sales person, I helped her with her sales script and it has proven to be a success. If you want to hear it, contact me, and agree to buy a cookie box or 4 and I'll let her read you her sales script.
Tristian my oldest boy is as talented as ever with piano playing, drum playing, and trumpet playing. Now that he's older, he's definitely keeping himself busy with school projects, home work, and band. In case you did not know, he's been playing piano since before he was three years old, and I'm not exagerating. Since he lives in Washington state, I don't get to see him every day, but I will see him during his spring break as well as the whole summer, so that will be a nice time for everyone.
Who else? Oh yeah, there is Shannon who is my lovely wife. I suppose I can't go on about my life update without mentioning her. She is just great. In fact, just the other day she reminded me of all the things she does in the house. Let me just say that the list of things she does is longer than the things I do. I tried using the excuse that I work full time and then some, but she quickly reminded me that her list has not changed even since the time she too worked full time, so I really have no excuse. Oh well, you cannot win against a wife like her.What else can I say other than she definitely puts me in my place. It's like the man song goes. Let's see if I remember the line. I can do anything that I want..... Until you get home. And, I'll come home when ever I want ...... To get in trouble.
OK, well, that about does it for me. I'm just winging it here, no spell checker, no fancy highlights, links, blocking, centering, etc. So, hopefully it will work out good.
Cheers, take care, cya, good bye. Until next time. All the best, Sincerely,
Raul A. Gallegos
