Been sick as I've been in a looooong time folks. It was nasty to say the least. From Tuesday night until Sunday night I was toast....burnt toast....
On the good side... I lost the 10 pounds I needed to loose.
I could nvever be a supermodel... I hate to throw up!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Getting a little antsy
I'm starting to get a little antsy these days. I dressed out for spin class and noticed after Juli (spin instructor) tried her very best to kill us all that it was still daylight outside and it was 6:15! I was happy as a loon! I checked email and noticed a few friends got spring fever and ducked out of their offices to grab an afternoon ride. But at least I got in a spin class today. Stu, one of the new instructors is heading over to Tulsa for his spin certification and then he will jump on board the "let's kill the students" wagon. Rance, my first coach, was tough on spins then we lucked out and had Melissa and she was easy on us most of the time. Now we have Juli and she runs the spin class like she runs the boot camp class she teaches just before the spin class. But even though she is trying to whip us she is still by far the best spin coach I've had. Always motivating the class to take it up a level when she drills us with sprints.
Not a lot of CI stuff going on right now. I still love the way it sounds in spin classes because the music is so loud and my hearing aid picks up part and the CI picks up part so I get a really nice stereo effect. I just hope I don't fry the things from sweating like I do in spins.
I haven't looked at the weather for tomorrow but I'm thinking a quick after work ride would be nice. I can get dressed in my office and to the start point by 5 and on the bike by 5:15 and the ride down and back will hit right at 45 minutes if the wind doesn't blow headways. Tuesday nights are usually big nights on the river once the weather and daylight are good.
Oh we have our reservations for Florida vacation! The whole family, almost, is going! I hope I can take the bike and get some early morning rides in before traffic picks up. I'll have to wait and see if the bike fits or not.
Man, life is so good these days... really it is!
Not a lot of CI stuff going on right now. I still love the way it sounds in spin classes because the music is so loud and my hearing aid picks up part and the CI picks up part so I get a really nice stereo effect. I just hope I don't fry the things from sweating like I do in spins.
I haven't looked at the weather for tomorrow but I'm thinking a quick after work ride would be nice. I can get dressed in my office and to the start point by 5 and on the bike by 5:15 and the ride down and back will hit right at 45 minutes if the wind doesn't blow headways. Tuesday nights are usually big nights on the river once the weather and daylight are good.
Oh we have our reservations for Florida vacation! The whole family, almost, is going! I hope I can take the bike and get some early morning rides in before traffic picks up. I'll have to wait and see if the bike fits or not.
Man, life is so good these days... really it is!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Cochlear Implant stuff
Brrr weee it's cold outside! In the summer we have heat then we have the humidity which makes the heat worse. Today we have cold then it's a wet cold from the thunderstorms that came through last night and it's a wet cold tonight!
We just got in for a banquet honoring the PTA presidents and volunteers. Our school district smoked the awards! Every other award given was to "Sylvan Hills". Terri won Volunteer of the Year! WAY TO GO TERRI! She works so hard for that school.
Ok, the CI stuff. The music is still not where it should be. ITune music through the laptop just doesn't cut it. I'm planning to return the jack to get a different one. It's lose and I have to get it just right but it shorts and it's going to bite my computer. I just use my Unitron cord to my hearing aid. If you are considering a hearing, Unitron is the way to go. Love those things! If it's a CI you are after, consider Advanced Bionics.
Saturday night Dan was at the building working on the sound system for the auditorium at church while I loaded and ran through the visuals. He installed a different sound board and needed some sound to come through so I rolled over a countdown that had music in the background. I was blown away how crisp the sound was and I was only receiving it through the CI. The speakers are Frazier. Unbelievable!!!! I hope I can find some of these someday. I had crank it up and down really soft. I was in awe! It was the first time I had heard sound through a electronic format that clear!
I turn off my hearing aid and listen just through the CI on the way to and from work so I will say the radio is getting better. I try and listen to stations where I don't know the songs so I can work on listening better. To me when you know what the words and the tune is then it's sort of cheating because you already know. With songs you don't know, it's a learn a new song lesson.
I did have a mapping the other day. I pushed a few more mid tones. I seemed to have freaked out my Audio (Jordan) because I love the program where both mics are on because I hear in surround sound. They advise to have the CI set at the 12 o'clock setting and I usually have mine at 8 or 9 o'clock. 12 was too loud. So now it's set for my 9 o'clock to be the 12 o'clock. They say it's to be able to turn it down. Ok CI guys, what do y'all do when something is too loud... yep, me too... we reach up and push the magnet off and no sound. (Jordan and Krista are rolling their eyes right now... money is on that one!) HA!
They did give me a test in the booth with the sentences. Aced that puppy! 100% Then she gave me one with one syllable words and wind noise. Hated it and bombed! She told me beforehand that it would be hard and it was. Sort of driving with the windows down. Ticked me off to no end but then she explained that she had to make it really hard so when I come back in 3 months we can see how that has improved.
To me it's so hard to believe that it continues to get better. Better than this? Cricket!!!
There are so many times a day that I am still blown away by this Advanced Bionics product. One of the favorite sounds is a walk in the rain and listening to the rain hitting the umbrella. It's a magic sound. And anything with a high pitch I love! I've missed those sounds for over 5 years and it's so nice to hear them again. Still in awe over being able to hearing birds while riding at bike at 18 mph.
Oh yeah, speaking of bikes, actually helmets, does any of my CI blog readers have any suggestions on how to keep the mag in place with a helmet? Does that toupee tape really work? I'm good to go when I wear a cap or toboggan but if I wear just the helmet it's a pain. I heard it go off the other day while riding and when I finally stopped the thing was hanging on the chin strap. Gee whiz, I could have lost it then would have had to retrace 7 miles.
Well, I've bored you enough tonight....
Life is soooo good!!
We just got in for a banquet honoring the PTA presidents and volunteers. Our school district smoked the awards! Every other award given was to "Sylvan Hills". Terri won Volunteer of the Year! WAY TO GO TERRI! She works so hard for that school.
Ok, the CI stuff. The music is still not where it should be. ITune music through the laptop just doesn't cut it. I'm planning to return the jack to get a different one. It's lose and I have to get it just right but it shorts and it's going to bite my computer. I just use my Unitron cord to my hearing aid. If you are considering a hearing, Unitron is the way to go. Love those things! If it's a CI you are after, consider Advanced Bionics.
Saturday night Dan was at the building working on the sound system for the auditorium at church while I loaded and ran through the visuals. He installed a different sound board and needed some sound to come through so I rolled over a countdown that had music in the background. I was blown away how crisp the sound was and I was only receiving it through the CI. The speakers are Frazier. Unbelievable!!!! I hope I can find some of these someday. I had crank it up and down really soft. I was in awe! It was the first time I had heard sound through a electronic format that clear!
I turn off my hearing aid and listen just through the CI on the way to and from work so I will say the radio is getting better. I try and listen to stations where I don't know the songs so I can work on listening better. To me when you know what the words and the tune is then it's sort of cheating because you already know. With songs you don't know, it's a learn a new song lesson.
I did have a mapping the other day. I pushed a few more mid tones. I seemed to have freaked out my Audio (Jordan) because I love the program where both mics are on because I hear in surround sound. They advise to have the CI set at the 12 o'clock setting and I usually have mine at 8 or 9 o'clock. 12 was too loud. So now it's set for my 9 o'clock to be the 12 o'clock. They say it's to be able to turn it down. Ok CI guys, what do y'all do when something is too loud... yep, me too... we reach up and push the magnet off and no sound. (Jordan and Krista are rolling their eyes right now... money is on that one!) HA!
They did give me a test in the booth with the sentences. Aced that puppy! 100% Then she gave me one with one syllable words and wind noise. Hated it and bombed! She told me beforehand that it would be hard and it was. Sort of driving with the windows down. Ticked me off to no end but then she explained that she had to make it really hard so when I come back in 3 months we can see how that has improved.
To me it's so hard to believe that it continues to get better. Better than this? Cricket!!!
There are so many times a day that I am still blown away by this Advanced Bionics product. One of the favorite sounds is a walk in the rain and listening to the rain hitting the umbrella. It's a magic sound. And anything with a high pitch I love! I've missed those sounds for over 5 years and it's so nice to hear them again. Still in awe over being able to hearing birds while riding at bike at 18 mph.
Oh yeah, speaking of bikes, actually helmets, does any of my CI blog readers have any suggestions on how to keep the mag in place with a helmet? Does that toupee tape really work? I'm good to go when I wear a cap or toboggan but if I wear just the helmet it's a pain. I heard it go off the other day while riding and when I finally stopped the thing was hanging on the chin strap. Gee whiz, I could have lost it then would have had to retrace 7 miles.
Well, I've bored you enough tonight....
Life is soooo good!!
Saturday, February 09, 2008
The big secret
Don't you hate it when you have to keep a big secret and keep quite a week? We had to do that this week. Emmy found a car she fell in love with on Sunday while we were out looking. The car lot was closed so no chance of a test drive. On Monday I drove over to the lot during lunch and drove it, looked it over, talked price and bought it. The hard part was that when I walked back into my office Emmy called and asked if we could go test drive the car. I told her," Oh I'm sorry sweetie but they have aleady taken it off the lot. Someone bought it." I didn't lie... they had taken it off the lot and someone had bought it...me! I could really hear the diappointment in her voice. She looked for others on line all week and I told her we could go looking today after her ACT test. Little did she know! HA!
Then we had to wait until today to give it to her. She had ACT test and we knew she would not continue to study if we gave it to her before. The orignal plan was to give it to her next Sunday when she returns from a trip but she isn't supposed to get in until about 8 so she would only have 2 hours of night time driving. Today was a beautiful day here with temps in the low 60's so it was the perfect day to give our daughter her Honda Accord. It's a used one but looks close to showroom nice and is loaded to to brim with leather, sunroof, seat warmers, etc etc.
So Terri and I drove over to the lot this morning and brought it back to the house and parked it crooked in the drive and a coworker had made a big red bow for it. It was really funny because neighbors would drive by and slow way down to see who was getting the new car. Emmy was just about a couple miles down the road at school and I called and left her a voice mail telling her that I was running errands and to call me. It was really just to find out where she was so we could watch for her....
She came down our street then she totally malfunctioned. She was driving 2 mph and looking at us then she stopped IN THE ROAD and got out. She was freaking out. We laughed and laughed. She was not expecting it at all. She was shaking and laughing and kept saying over and over, "I don't know what to do". It was a classic moment that will be in our memory forever.
After a little while I told her and Ty to take off and go for a drive. It was nice knowing her big brother was with her for the maiden journey. She came back and we all hung out a bit then off she went with her pal Melissa. Sean her friend who happens to be a boy was a complete jerk to her. He was saying now that she got a new phone and now that she got a new car to match (I kid you not... both a black pearl) and she is tanning so now guys will start hitting on her. The way he has treated her the past months... I don't mind if they part ways. He is a good kid but just not to her. Just watching out for my girl!
On a lighter note, I did get to go for a ride today! Short sleeve jersey and shorts! Had a BLAST! Lots and lots of runners and cyclist and tons of families. We had an awesome wind. Well awesome going one way but not the other. There were several families that had riden with tail wind for a long time then when it was time to go back they had to fight the headwind. Kids don't usually do really well in that stuff.
Then we had to wait until today to give it to her. She had ACT test and we knew she would not continue to study if we gave it to her before. The orignal plan was to give it to her next Sunday when she returns from a trip but she isn't supposed to get in until about 8 so she would only have 2 hours of night time driving. Today was a beautiful day here with temps in the low 60's so it was the perfect day to give our daughter her Honda Accord. It's a used one but looks close to showroom nice and is loaded to to brim with leather, sunroof, seat warmers, etc etc.
So Terri and I drove over to the lot this morning and brought it back to the house and parked it crooked in the drive and a coworker had made a big red bow for it. It was really funny because neighbors would drive by and slow way down to see who was getting the new car. Emmy was just about a couple miles down the road at school and I called and left her a voice mail telling her that I was running errands and to call me. It was really just to find out where she was so we could watch for her....
She came down our street then she totally malfunctioned. She was driving 2 mph and looking at us then she stopped IN THE ROAD and got out. She was freaking out. We laughed and laughed. She was not expecting it at all. She was shaking and laughing and kept saying over and over, "I don't know what to do". It was a classic moment that will be in our memory forever.
After a little while I told her and Ty to take off and go for a drive. It was nice knowing her big brother was with her for the maiden journey. She came back and we all hung out a bit then off she went with her pal Melissa. Sean her friend who happens to be a boy was a complete jerk to her. He was saying now that she got a new phone and now that she got a new car to match (I kid you not... both a black pearl) and she is tanning so now guys will start hitting on her. The way he has treated her the past months... I don't mind if they part ways. He is a good kid but just not to her. Just watching out for my girl!
On a lighter note, I did get to go for a ride today! Short sleeve jersey and shorts! Had a BLAST! Lots and lots of runners and cyclist and tons of families. We had an awesome wind. Well awesome going one way but not the other. There were several families that had riden with tail wind for a long time then when it was time to go back they had to fight the headwind. Kids don't usually do really well in that stuff.
WOW! What a great day!!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The morning after
A sad day around Arkansas. The tornados really did a number about 30 minutes north of here. As daylight broke is was one of those things you sit and look at the TV wondering if this really happened. A few minutes ago we heard that one of the employee just found out a family member had been killed last night. Last I heard it was 13 passed away in last nights storms.
On the strange but positive side I did have a stormy CI moment last night. I had not heard the howl of the wind coming from far away nor the thunder from far off in a long time. I stood on our front porch... it's the Arkansas thing to do... they say tornado and everyone goes to the front porch to listen for the train. Anyway, I really did go out there but we didn't have tornado warnings at the time. I could heard a howl and just sort of stood there like a curious puppy. I could HEAR the wind but not feel it. Very bizarre! Then a moment later I felt it! I love this CI!
When the wall came it was like a 2 minute hurricane. Winds topped 67 mph according to TV. Our lights went out for a moment and it was really funny because Emmy was acting all excited and I said yep, I want to hear that same excitment when they are still off 24 hours from now. Then I walked to the restroom to get a candle and lighter and wasn't thinking about the lights being off and I reached up and flipped on the lights and they all came back on. We all just laughed.
Oh, my pal Brandon and his wife Hannah had a baby boy. Ben arrived and the family looks great in all the photos. If you've read my blog for long you know Brandon is a great guy and super cyclist. His whole family is a super group of folks.
My heart goes out to everyone who lost family and possions last night.
Life is sort of good...
On the strange but positive side I did have a stormy CI moment last night. I had not heard the howl of the wind coming from far away nor the thunder from far off in a long time. I stood on our front porch... it's the Arkansas thing to do... they say tornado and everyone goes to the front porch to listen for the train. Anyway, I really did go out there but we didn't have tornado warnings at the time. I could heard a howl and just sort of stood there like a curious puppy. I could HEAR the wind but not feel it. Very bizarre! Then a moment later I felt it! I love this CI!
When the wall came it was like a 2 minute hurricane. Winds topped 67 mph according to TV. Our lights went out for a moment and it was really funny because Emmy was acting all excited and I said yep, I want to hear that same excitment when they are still off 24 hours from now. Then I walked to the restroom to get a candle and lighter and wasn't thinking about the lights being off and I reached up and flipped on the lights and they all came back on. We all just laughed.
Oh, my pal Brandon and his wife Hannah had a baby boy. Ben arrived and the family looks great in all the photos. If you've read my blog for long you know Brandon is a great guy and super cyclist. His whole family is a super group of folks.
My heart goes out to everyone who lost family and possions last night.
Life is sort of good...
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Tornados
In Arkansas it's now being called Super Cell Tuesday. Tornados are at this moment touching down in several places. I-40 has CLOSED due to the overturned trucks and cars. Several cities and town have been hit. It hit one of the hospitals. Terri came back here and said it will be over and passing us in 45 minutes. Never have I wanted time to pass quick. I love the thrill of a tornado but hate what it does. Several people have been killed. More later.
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