Kaetlyn Patnaude’s Blog

If 5-Minute Crafts were a blog, this would be pretty similar…with this in mind, I invite you to continue reading…

Have YOU ever been ankled by your scooter? These pesky occurrences usually happen while you are trying to make a swift turn to keep up with your friends…but it does not have to be this way. 

Introducing the Ankle Saviors. Ankle Saviors are a sort of padding that creates a barrier between the edge of the scooter and the ankle. They would be made of rubber or some sort of cotton, that could be easily inserted on the last 1/4 of the deck. Very simple. 

                                                                                (side view)

Now, when the edge of your scooter comes into contact with your ankle, it just bounces off, and you can continue on your way. No more pain, no more ankle scabs, and no more falling behind. 

Some may say “just wear ankle pads!” However, this solution is not realistic, as when you and your friends decide to ride your scooters to the park on a whim, who has time to put ankle pads on? Ankle pads reduce mobility, are uncomfortable, and inconvenient. I would rather be grazed in the ankle occasionally by my scooter rather than wear ankle pads every time I want to go for a ride. With the Ankle Saviors, they look cool and you never have to worry about putting them on, as they can be taken on and off quickly and easily. 

Ankle Saviors are great for parents who are worried about their kids’ ankles, as well as kids who do not want to be slowed down for anything. If I was a  kid and I saw one of those flashy commercials promoting this, I would be sold. Designs would include glitter, flames, and light up. 

Now, in this world of ever-growing consumerism, an Ankle Savior for some of our less pain-tolerant citizens may seem like a waste of time. I was doing some research on scooter ‘accessories,’ and what I found astonished me. Amazon offers a range of scooter accessories: scooter bags, scooter phone mounts, scooter LED light strips, scooter shoulder straps, scooter rear racks, and LED disco lights for the handlebars. So, if finding an investor that is willing to put down a few hundred thousand dollars for the Ankle Saviors is not possible, I have a DIY option you can try out. 

You will need an old t-shirt, pillow stuffing, hot glue, string, and paint/accessories. First, cut two 5×4 inch rectangles out of the T-shirt. Then, hot glue three of the four sides together. Now, you should be left with a pouch, fill that with pillow stuffing, and hot glue that is closed. Now, you can paint, bedazzle, or decorate the mini-pillow any way you want. Now repeat so you have two mini ‘pillows.’ Then, cut two 1 ft pieces of string (make sure your string is not too thin). Finally, hot glue the pillows onto each string longways, then tie the string onto the last ⅓ of the deck. (see diagram for finished result)

With the Ankle Saviors, you will say “OUCH! My ankle!” no more.

The earliest book I remember reading is a book about cats. It was one of those books with interactive finger puppets. I can’t even remember the name, all I know is there was a family of cats and you could make them come alive as the words guide you through their story. This experience was the first time I discovered that reading allows you to explore different worlds. This mindset also comes through some of my passions, such as art and spending time outside. Specifically, snorkeling/scuba, one of my favorite activities, symbolizes my love of immersion. Immersion in a world that is not your own allows one to gain new perspectives, feel empathy, and explore new ideas. 

My parents read to me often. There is something special about being read to by someone you love. Even after a long day at work, they harnessed their last parcels of energy to explore books with me. The books they read were ones that I could not understand alone. For example, I have vivid memories of my mom reading Harry Potter to me when I was seven.  Although I could not understand all of the complexities, I would beg for “just one more chapter.” During this time I was also reading the “Who Was” series, which sparked my interest in science, art, and history. 

Then, summer reading began. Oh, how summer reading was not something I enjoyed. I was under the impression that sitting inside reading would take away from time outdoors, and anyways, I could never finish the books fast enough (years later found out that I needed glasses, but not because of blurry vision, instead because of my eyes don’t track together naturally). This ruined my relationship with books until I was around twelve.  

At this point, I picked up Percy Jackson. This opened up my eyes to how compelling books could be, and I have not stopped reading since. The Percy Jackson series was the first time I felt genuinely sad when I finished. I felt like something was missing from my life and I needed to get it back as soon as possible. That seems to be the cycle I’ve been in since then. 

Whenever I begin to feel disconnected or burnt out, I find that reading usually brings me back to earth and puts me in a good mindset. Recently, I’ve been reading the first Sherlock Holmes book, “A Study in Scarlet.” I’m fascinated by the detailed descriptions, the diction and syntax, and the sequence of how Doyle presents the plot, bringing us into the world that is Sherlock Holmes’s mind. I also enjoy reading self-improvement books on work ethic and spirituality, such as “The Power of Now” and “Think and Grow Rich,” as well as documents of people’s adventures, my favorite is “Swell” by Liz Clark.

I always have a stack of 6-8 books on my nightstand at any given time. Around four of them have been read and are still there because I am either looking back at them or have not bothered to walk over to my bookshelf. One or two are in progress (I try to only read one at once, but sometimes I get too curious). Then, two or three books are lined up for my next read (currently consisting of “Sense and Sensibility” and “Oliver Twist”). 

I always learn something from books, whether that’s from the story, content, or structure. Recently, I have been trying to focus on appreciating the beauty in the writing as well as how the story makes me feel. Diving deeper than just the initial emotion, and uncovering deeper messages. 

I like to compare reading to trying new foods or traveling to new places. Except for reading, it is all in the mind. I’m always looking to immerse myself in new ways. Yet, the finger puppet cats will always influence my belief that to read is to immerse oneself into different worlds.