Illinois Hands & Voices presents:

Mom’s Night Inn

Saturday, February 20^th and Sunday, February 21^st
(an overnight retreat!)

Holiday Inn Select Naperville
1801 Naper Boulevard
Naperville, Il 60563
(630) 505-4900

Event begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 20^th
and ends at Noon, Sunday, February 21^st

“Making Connections”

• Educational
• Technology
• Family
• Community

Dinner provided: Snacks, crafts, massage and so much more!
Sunday, February 21^st; Will include a breakfast buffet and panel of deaf and hard of hearing adults sharing their life and work experience.

Remarks from last year’s participants at Mom’s Night Inn:

“It was great having time to relax and getting to know the Mom’s”

“I liked the small group activity; it was a good way to meet new people.”

“Meeting other parents, having an idea of what to expect and look forward to was my favorite part.”

“Now I know what to fight for.”

“Loved meeting the deaf and hard of hearing panel, their stories were inspiring.”

We hope you can join us, space is limited so register soon!

To register: www.ilhandsandvoices.org

Photos from past Mom’s Night Inn:

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Judy took a little time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions and share some photos of her barefooting.  Enjoy!

Judy with her biggest fan and supporter, husband Casey

You started waterskiing at the age of 53 – tell me what it was like.

Actually I was 48 when I started waterskiing.  We had gotten out of Dune Buggies and decided to buy a boat (A big boat with a giant wake). We invited friends to come out for the day and they use to water ski when they were younger so decided to bring along their old (wooden) skis. We had a ball but the next day we were so sore even our hair hurt!! I was hooked.  I have always been around or on the water and really liked sports so this was perfect for me. I attend clinics, ski schools and skied a lot.  I became a good recreational slalom skier and really enjoyed it.

How did you get into barefooting? How old were you? What was that first experience like?

I was 53 and went with a group of girls to “The River” (meaning the Colorado River in Yuma AZ). One of the girls (much younger than I) barefooted and decided we should all try it.  The first gal scooted out on the boom and immediately flew off ripping off her barefoot suit and losing her bathing suit top in the process, the second girl did pretty much the same thing but first managed to hang on long enough to almost beat herself to death.  It was my turn and after watching what went on before me I almost changed my mind thinking I was much too old for this.  I told them they had one chance and that was it.  I scooted out, put my feet on the water and again was hooked on a new sport – BAREFOOTING! What a rush to be actually walking on water! That moment literally changed my life!!

How did your barefooting evolve over the years? How did you get into competing? What was your first competition like?

My barefooting started out as just being a recreational sport and has gone from that to I now work at World Barefoot Center with Keith St. Onge and David Small each spring.  While there I do the office work and lunches but the reward is I get to ski every day with two of the nicest and best in barefooting in addition to “Swampy” Keith’s coach.

When I first started skiing I went to FL for lessons as being an “old” Physical Education teacher I wanted to learn the proper way and save myself injury.  I went to Ron Scarpa’s and it was Ron who convinced me to compete because of my age. It was here I also picked up the name “Old Lady”. Women tend to leave barefooting for various reasons and we felt it may help women realize they could stay in the sport, compete and have fun. After all that is what life is about – having fun and enjoying it to the fullest. 

My first competition was in 1999 at the Western Regional’s at Cheyenne Lake in New Berry Springs CA.  I did not have a clue about skiing a tournament and what one even had to do.  When I arrived the skiers took me under their wing and went out of their way to get me ready!! They realized I needed to score a specific number of points in order to go to Nationals so while waiting for my turn were teaching me things I could try.  Dawn Farrell was awesome as was Gina McKee and then my slalom mentor Theresa Hoffman.  I had never even attempted to cross the wake before then and Theresa made sure I was going to succeed!

Needless to say with their support I managed to do what I needed to do in order to move on.

Since putting my feet on the water for the first time and falling in love with the sport, I have skied all over the country, made friends all over the world, skied as an independent in the 2003 Worlds, been honored with the Western Region Barefooter of the Year award, had various magazine articles published about me, was in the MSNBC “Fit TO Boom” video, been on the “Today” show and the highest honor of them all was to win the 2009 “Banana George Blair Award for Barefooter of the Year. What an honor! I was speechless and those that know me know that is next to impossible!

What is a typical day of training like?

Usually we get up very early, do some stretching and go out and ski a couple of sets in the morning and again in the afternoon along with dryland practice.  When I am at the World Barefoot Center with KSO and Swampy they work with me trying to improve my abilities (I tell KSO I am his project). I will say age has a little drawback here as it does take me longer to “get it” but I am willing to try and give it my all.  I have had a few set backs this past couple of years – torn hamstring and then knee surgery but I am working hard in the off season to get in shape and am getting ready for the up and coming “Spring Training”. 

How has barefooting changed your life?

Barefooting has made me realize that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.  It has helped keep this 66 year old woman - soon to be 67 -  young in  heart and spirit and has made me keep myself in good shape and strong.  I cannot imagine my life without this!

Can you see why I’m fired up and inspired? 

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Fast forward to fall of 2009, and the hubby sent me an email with a link to Judy Myers, the 66-year-old gal who was featured in a Subway video, Fit to Boom and on the Today show.   The videos aren’t captioned, but go take a look.  That’s right, that 66-year-old is skimming along the water on her bare feet.  She looks pretty darn good, doesn’t she?

That video got me all fired up.  If a 66-year-old can barefoot, then I surely can do it again.  Heck, Banana George didn’t retire from barefooting until he was in his 90’s!

So I decided that 2010 was going to be the year of getting back on my feet on top of the water.  That’s right, I’m going barefooting again.  I got in touch with Judy Myers and we started chatting back and forth via Facebook.  She will be in Florida in the spring and I’m going to join her for a day of barefooting in March.

The last time I barefooted was about ten years ago– I lasted about one minute on the water.  I attempted to barefoot last summer but sank in both times.  So the last time I was really in shape and able to skim on the water was about 20 years ago. 

Last week, I had a dream, and in the dream, I did a deep-water start with my legs wrapped around the rope– skimmed on top of the water on my butt and got up barefooting.  The last time I did that was in 1984.

Stay tuned to the end of March to see if I can do that again.

Karen at seventeen

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That’s right.  I’ve joined the 2nd Loser Mom contest, thanks to Devra Renner, who made me realize that I really couldn’t continue to hide my spare tire under those sexy Lanz of Salzburg nightgowns.

The contest is a timely one, as I’ve been so tired of carrying around 60 pounds of unhealthy weight.  With my son’s friend Aubrey as a witness, I’ve climbed on the scale and registered it at two hundred and one pounds.  Yes, I’m almost ashamed to say it.  I’m packing some major flub on my 5′ 4″ inch frame.  What better way to be accountable than to blog about it for the whole wide world to see?

At least I have a bunch of other Loser Moms to hang with during the next couple of challenging weeks.

And look at my skinny Mom– doesn’t she look sexy in that flannel?

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We connected with Natalie from Florida via the Z-340 and had a blast sharing the party with her. It’s hard to believe that yet another year has flown by.

Here are some of the posts from 2009 that have stood out:

Chicago Moms Blog, Behind Barbed Wire

Chicago Moms Blog, Deaf on the Field

Chicago Moms Blog, Embracing my Deaf Self

Chicago Moms Blog, Messy Houses (syndicated in newspapers)

Chicago Moms Blog, The Honor of Attending a Birth (syndicated in newspapers)

Chicago Moms Blog, Life is too Short to Pout All the Time

Deaf Mom World, The Older I Get, The More Adventure I Want

Deaf Mom World, Fashionable Hearing Aids

Deaf Mom World, Dad Beats Cancer!

Deaf Mom World, What I Learned from Laughter

Deaf Mom World, Lessons from a Sea Doo

Deaf Mom World, Zvrs, The Next-Best Thing to Being There

Deaf Mom World, Are You In the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Closet?

Enjoy!

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Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Putz family!

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I had the honor of attending the birth of Diego Ruben, who entered this world on Monday evening at 9:40 p.m. in a beautiful homebirth.  Congrats to the Martinez family!

Diego’s Birth Story: The Honor of Attending a Birth

Syndicated in newspapers:

News Observer

Scramento Bee

Idaho Statesman

Fresno Bee

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Me, Tracy and Tammy

I’ve got an itch.  I don’t know what it is. 

Last week, one of my co-workers picked me and another co-worker up from the Tampa airport in a convertible and we zipped along the highway with the wind whipping through.  Along the way to headquarters, the two guys talked about their upcoming plans for the afternoon.  One of them had a Harley and the other was going to rent one.  They were going to ride the hogs around Clearwater and up to St. Petersburg after they dropped me off at headquarters.

And dang it, I wanted to go with them.  I wanted to ride a motorcycle on a clear Florida day.

Like I said, I’ve got an itch.  Forget the usual mid-life crisis solution of having an affair.  I don’t want an affair.  I want an adventure.  I’ve done 15 years at home raising my kids and now I want more.  The problem is, I can’t quite figure out what “more” is.  Over the weekend, I met a deaf barefooter down in Florida and I learned about Judy Myers, the 66-year-old gal who took up barefooting in mid-life.  I wanna be like her when I grow up.  So barefooting again is on the list.

I thought I solved my mid-life crisis by buying a jet ski.  But the problem is, there’s snow on the ground outside right now.  The jet ski is packed away in a shed. 

When I look back at my youth, I have to blame my Dad for this.  You see, one day, he came home with a boat.  He didn’t even ask my Mom if it was ok.  He just drove home with the yellow boat that was nicknamed “The Bumblebee.”  We took it out to Fox Lake and I learned to water ski in the polluted lake when I was nine. Then he bought mini-bikes.  One of the mini-bikes was missing a cover over the motor.  I remember one day, me and my friend Lisa took off in the mini-bikes up at the lake.  “Watch your legs!” my Dad hollered before we took off.  We were halfway around the lake when I hit a hole and my calf brushed against the spinning motor.  I dripped blood for a good two miles before we arrived back to wash up with the garden hose.  The mini-bikes disappeared shortly after that.  Then Dad came home with two snowmobiles.  Somewhere, down in the basement, is a photo of my brother Kenny taking off from a three-foot snow ramp that we built in the middle of the yard.  I have memories of a caravan of us snowmobiling up to the restaurant by I-94 and having breakfast there.

Then there were the ATV toys that the Kronewitters brought into the picture.  They had two ATVs and a Dune Buggy.  The very first day that we unloaded the brand-new ATV off the truck, the youngest Kronewitter rode it into a tree and bent the foot rest.  That didn’t stop us. Tammy, Tracy and I would pack a lunch and hit the roads around the lake.  We explored abandoned houses and got lost a couple of times.  We built a dirt ramp in a field and borrowed Tim Brown’s dirt bike to add to the mix.  At one point, I had to go to the bathroom, so I rode the dirt bike home and headed inside.  Mom stopped me at the door.  “Whose motorcycle is that and why are you riding it?”  She was not pleased.

Fun was the operative word of my childhood.  Tammy, Tracy and I often came up with crazy ideas to pass the time.  We did an all-girl pyramid with me at the top.  We did three of us on two pairs of skis, with me riding in the back binder of each.  We tied ropes around black truck inner tubes which folded practically in half when pulled, but we hung on.  We boat jumped (don’t even ask).  We attempted to jump over each other with kneeboards–which ended right after I knocked Tammy in the head.  We settled for pulling up on the rope and jumping over the rope instead.  And one day, we had a competition with another boat on the lake, to see which boat could pull the most skiers.  We won, with eight.

Is it any wonder that I’ve got an itch?  And my Dad, he didn’t stop when he got older.  In his late seventies, he bought himself an ATV. 

I wonder if I can con my Dad into buying a motorcycle this summer?

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Indeed, as a Sales Manager for Zvrs, I shared that same frustration as this customer.  Several times, I would see a missed call from an 866 number and I’d have no way of calling that person back.   The 866 numbers no longer function, except when a caller uses a VP-200 to call another VP-200.  When a person uses a videophone from a different company, the call is automatically routed to a relay interpreter.

I also learned that Sorenson customers automatically have their 866 numbers displayed as the default setting.  This is the reason why the 866 number is showing up in the caller ID instead of a local number.  However, Sorenson customers can change the way the caller ID number is displayed and set it so that the LOCAL ten-digit number is displayed instead. 

How to change the 866 number to display the new local number:

Go to Settings > Personal > User and then select “Local.”

Fo more information about calling 800/866 numbers, read the two editorials by Dr. Z and You:

The 800/866 Fiasco

The 800/866 Fiasco, More Information

Update:

The FCC has temporarily reinstated the 800 numbers and ordered the 800 numbers to be put back into the national database so that they can function from one provider to the other.  This means that for the next four months, the 800/866 numbers will connect properly between videophones.

Ed’s Telecom Alert shares more on this issue: VRS 800 Issue.

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I was browsing through my camera and came across a few photos taken at the Zvrs booth at the recent Deafnation Expo. I first joined Zvrs during last year’s Expo, and this year, I ended up running the booth with the local Z team. We had fun, despite a hectic, very busy day!

After the clean up, the Z Team took a moment to pose for a picture:

After dinner, we were walking back to our cars when Mike Aubry spotted a “Z” high up on a building:

What a cool way to end the day with the Z Team!

Stay tuned to www.zvrs.com and watch for the release of the upcoming Z4 software! This software can be downloaded to a Mac or PC for FREE– and you can have a three-way conversation with the Z4. Check out the new video for more information on the Z4 (with captions):

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