I found this really informative article online today...

It's on the web site "Interesting Thing of the Day" and I highly recommend it for people who have ANY questions about Cochlear Implants.

Enjoy!

Trickling...?

While perusing the Christmas Tree Shoppes last night (a *great* place, by the way), I heard what sounded like water trickling. When I looked around & didn't see anything, I figured I was having a CI moment in my head.

Then the sound started again -- like a slow stream of water, dribbling between pepples. I thought that maybe it was one of those doohickeys that people have in their offices. You know, that bowl of rocks that gets plugged in so the water drips around them.

But NOPE! That's not what it was.

The sound was starting to drive me batty, so I stood there all alert, waiting for the trickle again...

And then I saw the source: a shopping cart! The wheels of the cart on the store's tile floor were making the liquid dribbling sound.

It was the weirdest thing, but I felt better that I wasn't going crazy... not yet, anyway!

:-P

Vibrating Tea?

When I was making myself a cup of tea this weekend, I noticed that a strange buzzing sound was coming from the mug after I poured in the hot water. I didn't think anything of it (maybe that's the sound it's supposed to make?) & forgot about it.

Well, hubby just approached me with a freshly brewed cup of tea and said, "Listen to this!"

Before I even tilted my CI towards the mug, I asked, "Let me guess -- the tea is vibrating."

His eyes bulged & he said, "Yeah! What's up with that?!" I, of course, had NO idea & neither did hubby.

On the one hand, I was relieved that this buzzing/vibrating tea sound wasn't in my head, but on the other hand, I was confused because not even my perfect-hearing husband could figure it out.

Any suggestions out there?

I hope out tea cups aren't radioactive or anything!

Bubbly!

Hubby & I were having a glass of champagne to "celebrate" the end of a nice 4-day weekend.....

When I poured the fizzy drink into the glasses, the sound was so whimsical and delightful!

I stood there a few seconds longer just to hear the lovely sound the champagne was making as it bubbled towards the top of the glass.

"How cute!" I thought, before I gladly consumed said noisy beverage. Who knew alcohol could be so entertaining with a CI!

;-)

Sometimes...

...I wish I didn't hear so well.

There are noises I don't really *need* to hear:

- the fan blowing in my laptop as it cools off;
- my co-worker sniffling constantly not realizing she JUST. HAS. TO. BLOW. HER. NOSE!
- family members farting;
- my neighbor downstairs blasting her radio w/ Polka music.

But, then again, I guess these sounds aren't all that bad...

:)

Naked!

I'm on my way 2 work on this drizzly Friday morning...and my hair is pulled back into a twist & clipped away from my face.

And...

MY EARS ARE SHOWING!

I haven't worn a hearing aid in my right ear for a few months now (it broke & I've been too lazy 2 get it repaired).

BUT!!!

My left ear with my CI processor is exposed in all its vulnerability for all the world 2 see. If you look closely enough, you can see the thin cable that leads 2 the magnet that is attached 2 my head underneath my hair.

<shudder>

I *never* wear my hair back because I am EXTREMELY. SELF. CONSCIOUS. about my ear(s) being "naked." Being the neurotic person I am, I assume everyone will stare at me, at my head, at my ear & at the magnet. The horror!

What's the worst thing that can happen? If people stare (without saying anything), I will TRY 2 ignore them. If they ask, I'll proudly declare, "It's a cochlear implant!" :-D

The reason I chose 2 blog about this is so I don't chicken out & take my hair down. Besides, I didn't wash it this morning, so...yuck.

Wish me luck.

What's that sound?

I'm sitting in my living room, watching TV & knitting a scarf when I hear this constant "whooshing" noise. It ebbs & flows, very quietly & then stops. I look around all confused: what could it be?

*The neighbor downstairs vacuuming? Nah.

*The baseboard heating up in our condo? Nope.

*The dishwasher washing the dishes? Not possible -- it's not running.

Then I turn around & look out the window & see it: THE RAIN! It's pouring outside & the wind is battering the rain against the windows.

THAT is the sound I've been hearing all afternoon? Wow. Mother Nature sure can unleash her fury when she wants to!

Hi! Ba ba! Ma! Huh?

i just had the most wonderful day today visiting some friends whom have i haven't seen in YEARS and am still floating from all the love and happiness they shared with me...

[...happy sigh...]

aaanyway, one of the CI moments i had today was when their ADORABLE daughter was babbling and chatting and being all sorts of talkative. amazingly, she's only 13 months old and she's already saying simple words and making a lot of consonant sounds. naturally, this really piqued my auditory interest.

AND even though i was having a tough time understanding what she was saying (which apparently is normal when it's not your own baby you're listening to), the fact that i HEARD her was incredible... and quite entertaining!

thank you, B & L, for letting me experience your precious daughter and for patiently "translating" her words for me...

i LOVE you guys!!!

:)

Chirping!

THIS is what makes me happy in the morning:


On the left: Kiki (the boy); Zazu (the girl) is on the right.


(BONUS: A video clip of my parakeets devouring some millet spray.)

Lost Advertising

Whenever there is a commercial on TV that isn't close-captioned, I feel "gipped" (for lack of a better word).....

I'm not sure how advertisers decide if/when to provide captioning with their commercials, but when they don't, they must lose out on thousands (maybe millions?) of Deaf & hard of hearing people who may benefit from the product they're trying to sell.

Wouldn't it make more sense to shell out the extra $ for closed-captioning with the hope of earning more $ when a larger demographic can read the said captioning???

Or am I over-reacting here?

I know I am fortunate enough to sometimes be able to hear what is being said on television & don't need to always read the captions, but what about the people who can't?

Just some food for thought.....

I love NPR except when...

...I can't understand the people talking. You're probably thinking, "duh!" right?

Well, what I mean is when the program is broadcast from the BBC or some european dignitary is talking or even when a foreign reporter is adding to the story, I have the toughest time making out what they're saying.

Heavy accents are difficult for me to follow. Maybe my hearing has nothing to do with that...?

Anyone else (hearing or not) have this "problem" with accents?

Comments are welcome!

ShopRite CI Moment

Last night I went grocery shopping & while I was standing in the rice/beans isle, one of my all-time favorite songs started playing over the loudspeakers: Natalie Merchant's "Wonder."

The best part? I recognized the tune within SECONDS & was so delighted that I stood there singing along to it until the song finished playing...

I must've looked pretty silly just standing there, but I didn't care... It felt 'wonder'ful!

:-D

1st attempt @ this mobile update thingy

My CI continues 2 be wonderfully amazing.

I shall post actual CI moments shortly.

Thanks for all ur patience!

:-)

Mobile Updates

since i've been so busy lately, i decided that it might be more convenient to update this blog via text-messaging...

for those of you who have been following My CI Story with such loyalty all these years, i will do my best to provide more frequent updates.

welcome back!

=o]