my latest PLS induced crisis

[Guest guest]

Thuza,

Good suggestions but hope there won't be a next time and hope that you did

get to the concert was able to relax and enjoy it!!!

Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.

Helen Keller (1880-1968)

[Guest guest]

Last evening I was home alone, methodically loading everything into

my car to join my daughter's family for a jazz concert. The stuff

included my cane, my walker, my purse, and my enkidu talking

computer. I loaded most stuff from the passenger seat since it's

easier to get to for loading than the driver's side. To further make

my life easier, I laid my keys on the center console.

But (and isn't there always a " but " with PLS?) I hit what I thought

was the lock button on my key chain as I set down the keys. Being

what I thought was alert, I hit what I thought was the same button

again, to unlock. WRONG.

I shut the passenger door (keys still on the console) and went to the

driver's side and . . . you're right, car was totally locked.

Great!

No other keys in house, as Jim is away.

I finally made myself understood to on the phone what I had

done and that we had OnStar in the car.

By the time she had gotten here, I had looked up OnStar's # so she

could call them. After their verifying everything, they had the car

unlocked within 5 minutes!!

Lessons learned:

1. always keep your keys in your hand

2. OnStar is worth every penny since I do make mistakes

3. be thankful when someone who can speak is available to call for me

4. request that OnStar update their website to include an

emergency " help " button. (I did that this morning. I'll let you know

if they understand the challenge for a non verbal person.)

5. that goodness I can think crises through

Lesson still to figure out:

Where to keep OnStar numbers and auto vehicle ID in case my next auto

crisis doesn't occur at home. Remember, while helping me figure this

one out, that my purse and Enkidu were also locked in. And before

clever types suggest tatooing the numbers on my hand. . . don't go

there.

I hope I manage to get through the day without another PLSmoment!

Thurza

[Guest guest]

One thing that has worked for me is that I have a separate set of keys

(just house and car) tied to my pants by a " decorative " string. If I

didn't almost always wear my pants I'd wear the keys around my neck like

dog tags or some really strange " love beads. " I have never been locked out

of the house or the car but I can't begin to count the times I have locked

my " usual " set of keys inside and have had to go for the keys on the

string.

>Last evening I was home alone, methodically loading everything into

>my car to join my daughter's family for a jazz concert. The stuff

>included my cane, my walker, my purse, and my enkidu talking

>computer. I loaded most stuff from the passenger seat since it's

>easier to get to for loading than the driver's side. To further make

>my life easier, I laid my keys on the center console.

>

>But (and isn't there always a " but " with PLS?) I hit what I thought

>was the lock button on my key chain as I set down the keys. Being

>what I thought was alert, I hit what I thought was the same button

>again, to unlock. WRONG.

>I shut the passenger door (keys still on the console) and went to the

>driver's side and . . . you're right, car was totally locked.

>Great!

>No other keys in house, as Jim is away.

>I finally made myself understood to on the phone what I had

>done and that we had OnStar in the car.

>By the time she had gotten here, I had looked up OnStar's # so she

>could call them. After their verifying everything, they had the car

>unlocked within 5 minutes!!

>

>Lessons learned:

>1. always keep your keys in your hand

>2. OnStar is worth every penny since I do make mistakes

>3. be thankful when someone who can speak is available to call for me

>4. request that OnStar update their website to include an

>emergency " help " button. (I did that this morning. I'll let you know

>if they understand the challenge for a non verbal person.)

>5. that goodness I can think crises through

>

>Lesson still to figure out:

>Where to keep OnStar numbers and auto vehicle ID in case my next auto

>crisis doesn't occur at home. Remember, while helping me figure this

>one out, that my purse and Enkidu were also locked in. And before

>clever types suggest tatooing the numbers on my hand. . . don't go

>there.

>

>I hope I manage to get through the day without another PLSmoment!

>

>Thurza

Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA ghekhuis@...

We are the CroMagnon of the future

[Guest guest]

Thurza,

I have heard a lot about the Onstar. I dont have it, but I am sure it is worth

it. Did you have a nice time at the concert after your ordeal? Sandy

my latest PLS induced crisis

Last evening I was home alone, methodically loading everything into

my car to join my daughter's family for a jazz concert. The stuff

included my cane, my walker, my purse, and my enkidu talking

computer. I loaded most stuff from the passenger seat since it's

easier to get to for loading than the driver's side. To further make

my life easier, I laid my keys on the center console.

But (and isn't there always a " but " with PLS?) I hit what I thought

was the lock button on my key chain as I set down the keys. Being

what I thought was alert, I hit what I thought was the same button

again, to unlock. WRONG.

I shut the passenger door (keys still on the console) and went to the

driver's side and . . . you're right, car was totally locked.

Great!

No other keys in house, as Jim is away.

I finally made myself understood to on the phone what I had

done and that we had OnStar in the car.

By the time she had gotten here, I had looked up OnStar's # so she

could call them. After their verifying everything, they had the car

unlocked within 5 minutes!!

Lessons learned:

1. always keep your keys in your hand

2. OnStar is worth every penny since I do make mistakes

3. be thankful when someone who can speak is available to call for me

4. request that OnStar update their website to include an

emergency " help " button. (I did that this morning. I'll let you know

if they understand the challenge for a non verbal person.)

5. that goodness I can think crises through

Lesson still to figure out:

Where to keep OnStar numbers and auto vehicle ID in case my next auto

crisis doesn't occur at home. Remember, while helping me figure this

one out, that my purse and Enkidu were also locked in. And before

clever types suggest tatooing the numbers on my hand. . . don't go

there.

I hope I manage to get through the day without another PLSmoment!

Thurza

[Guest guest]

Thurza,

Here comes the broken record. over and over and over. Relay. The computer can

be set up to make relay calls or you can go to www.consumer.att.com/relay/ and

follow the on screen instructions. Just one more life saving gadget available

for our use. And I also thought while I was reading your message that those who

are speech disabled should perhaps arrange some signals with those whom they may

call. If you are not panicked the callee should understand that there is a

problem but not an emergency. If your are highly agitated, loud and panicky

then they should forget trying to figure out what you are saying and just get

some help.

I can relate to your story because my keys also have the remote and I only have

the one set. I am fortunate to have a friend whose husband does car work. He

has the second set of keys. He just comes to the bank, gets my car, does what

ever service is needed and returns it to the bank by the time I am ready to

leave. I have not asked, but wonder what will happen if I am shopping out of

town and lose my keys or lock myself out. I know. I know. Get an extra key

made. Someday. I just seem to keep having more important things to do with

what little energy I am allotted each day.

Glad it turned out well. Consider it another learnig experience and since you

shared we probably all learned something.

Ronnie

my latest PLS induced crisis

Last evening I was home alone, methodically loading everything into

my car to join my daughter's family for a jazz concert. The stuff

included my cane, my walker, my purse, and my enkidu talking

computer. I loaded most stuff from the passenger seat since it's

easier to get to for loading than the driver's side. To further make

my life easier, I laid my keys on the center console.

But (and isn't there always a " but " with PLS?) I hit what I thought

was the lock button on my key chain as I set down the keys. Being

what I thought was alert, I hit what I thought was the same button

again, to unlock. WRONG.

I shut the passenger door (keys still on the console) and went to the

driver's side and . . . you're right, car was totally locked.

Great!

No other keys in house, as Jim is away.

I finally made myself understood to on the phone what I had

done and that we had OnStar in the car.

By the time she had gotten here, I had looked up OnStar's # so she

could call them. After their verifying everything, they had the car

unlocked within 5 minutes!!

Lessons learned:

1. always keep your keys in your hand

2. OnStar is worth every penny since I do make mistakes

3. be thankful when someone who can speak is available to call for me

4. request that OnStar update their website to include an

emergency " help " button. (I did that this morning. I'll let you know

if they understand the challenge for a non verbal person.)

5. that goodness I can think crises through

Lesson still to figure out:

Where to keep OnStar numbers and auto vehicle ID in case my next auto

crisis doesn't occur at home. Remember, while helping me figure this

one out, that my purse and Enkidu were also locked in. And before

clever types suggest tatooing the numbers on my hand. . . don't go

there.

I hope I manage to get through the day without another PLSmoment!

Thurza