Hell's Gate opens at 5:30 tomorrow

That's right, you heard me! Hell's Gate opens at 5:30pm tomorrow.
I return to the fitness center for training. All that slacking has come to an end. The demons will greet me at the entrance tomorrow holding billy clubs and whips. They will roll their eyes if I even mention pain or shake. They are evil but I love them and they make me a better man. I will sweat so bad that I'll fry my hearing aid and CI... and then I'll smile because I have coverage!

I've got that Coldplay song "Clocks" stuck in my head again... goes right along with the feeling of the night before training starts...
Lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
You've put me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead (singing)
Come out of things unsaid, shoot an apple off my head (and a)
Trouble that can't be named, a tiger's waiting to be tamed (singing)
You are, you are

First order of business is a spin class at 5:30 tomorrow. Those will be Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Tuesday and Thurs and maybe Fridays will be core training. I will be told to walk around with a bottle of water and cut the crap food. You know that stuff I've been eating for the past 3 months. I will be the first to admit I did not train as I should have last year for my cycling. Don't get me wrong at all here... I had an awesome coach (Mark)last year and he pushed me but I should have stayed on the core training as I did when I looped the state tour. Man, I wish I had time to pull another one off those tours.

Saturday may find me heading back to the farmlands for a building base miles ride. Temps are going to nose dive then come back to normal by the weekend. Of course Friday they are using that "freezing rain" word. In my mind, I tell myself to use the word "commitment" again and again and again.

Big news.... Arkansas Children's Hospital made the Forbes TOP 100 Employers in the US to work for! As a recruiter that's like the gold card! By the way, we had almost 10K applicants apply last year. Gee after this I wonder how much that will jump?

Life is good... r.e.a.l good

Just too cold

Just too cold to do anything right now. **BUT** The weather for Sunday is 60!!
Thinking about watching the weather for a bit and taking a day off when it is going to be 60 or higher with a light wind and go out and spend the day on the bike. I need to do at least a 50 miler. I'm planning to grab my first century of the year in April so I better get on the stick.

The Rock Racing crew are all out at camp this week. Rashann has some great photos of the team including Tyler Hamilton. Can't wait to see these guys in May! Fun spring coming!

CI stuff: We had a "songbook" service at church and I was actually sitting in the crowd since it was Sunday night and I had set it up to work on auto pilot. The song leader said the numbers of the song and I heard and understood all but one. Usually I flip pages real slow and peak to see what age the person sitting on either side of me turned to then I turn to that page. You would not believe what all tricks hearing impaired folks know to do to make it look less painful than what it is.

Emmy is sick with that stomach stuff... n.a.s.t.y

Other than that... life is good.

Midweek... snow? No Snow?

It's midweek... that's right kids... I took out the trash this morning to the curb so that means only one thing... the weekend is coming!

First off congrats to Wes and his wife DeeDee for conquering the Disney Marathon last weekend. Those two ran 26.2 miles around Disney with hundreds of others. What to read the write up? Click over to your right on the link for Code Geeks Tail. It's a great write up.

Rumor has it there could be some snow during the night. I hope it plays nice and no ice. I can work from home so that part is not a big deal. Since Emmy is a senior, they don't have t make up any snow days so she is hoping for a blizzard. HA!

Dad is scheduled to FINALLY be released to go home from the hospital Saturday! I had a guy go to their house today and flip the doors on the bathroom to open out rather than in. That way if Dad ever gets in a jam in the restroom someone can get him out. Peace of mind. I drove down and hung out with him after work last night and had to to myself (rare!). We laughed a lot and had a good time.

Not much else going on. CI is doing great and I'm used to it now. I got to speak with a guy who is a big time water skier today in the Audiology center and he is considering a CI. Super nice guy. He and his wife asked questions and the wife said she didn't even notice mine! Mine is dark gray to match my hair. Fashionable man that I am! HA! Still need to work with the music program more. Practice practice.

Life is good!

Saturday

Had a blast today! Rode 24 miles and even snuck in the back of DWonn's noon ride and rode with them from the sub to the golf course. I dropped off and did my own thing when they turned I knew I couldn't keep up with a group in mostly Carve jerseys on the hills. Spotted JBar on his bike and also spotted Mike Mitchell out getting a run in.

After that I cleaned the garage. All Christmas junk is finally back in the attic. Oh geez, only about 10 months and it comes back down.

We then went to see National Treasure. Movie was supposed to start at 4:20 but after all the trailers then a stupid Goofy movie we finally got to see the feature. It was a good movie but to me not as good as the first.

Then we drove down to see Dad in the hospital a little bit. He was doing really well and seemed to be having a good day.

Then we went to Colton's for dinner. Prime Rib was some of the best I've ever had.

Busy day and more of the same tomorrow...

Life is good!

Maps and rides

I go in for my CI mapping tomorrow. I think I'm going to see if I can get Jordan, my audio guru to play music and map to that some. It's weird, I can hear radio/CD music and the bass is one thing then the high pitches are like a completely separate thing. Got to figure this out. Sort of like part is far away and part is in my ear. I did a speech exercise tonight and it was easy at first then I moved on to listening to answering machines and had to understand and answer questions at the end. Details details... there are words like shutter and shoulder and shimmer. Serious. It's crazy but fun at the same time.... solve the puzzle!

I'm really still having moments everyday where I just stop in awe and listen. So far one of my favorites have been cracking my office window and hearing the birds. Yesterday I had to walk across the parking lot to the main hospital and it was raining and I asked a coworker if the rain was always this loud. She just laughed and said this was a quite rain. We have a lot of construction going on and I have finally learned to tune out the beep beep beep of the heavy equipment backing up. And how many car alarms go off everyday? Geez louise!

Tomorrow I think it's going for a warm 58 degrees so I'm thinking an afterwork ride might be in the picture. It will turn dark on my while I'm riding but I'll be on a bike trail with no cars really to worry with.

Speaking of bikes get this... Rock Racing has invited Landis to come hang out at camp starting the 18th. The director has left the building. I liked Frankie. He was really a personable and approachable guy. I jut hope Ball doesn't think they are too good for the Joe Martin Stage races in Fayetteville this May and not show. Makes me think, I wonder what is going on with Healthnet and United-Toyota teams these days? All are in the hills of CA getting whipped and ready for the spring racing season.

I'm planning to head down to Ridgeland, MS on April 12th for a ride on the Natchez Trace Parkway. I'm going to try some new rides this year. I saw one the first week of Feb in Longview TX called "Freeze Your Fanny" ride. Bet the t-shirts are funny!
May be missing the Carti Tour de Rock this year since I'll be in FL in mid June. Bummer.

Yep, everyone has begun to ask me what "epic" ride will I do this year. Honestly I don't know. I would love to do a fundraiser for the Audiology group of the hospital again this year but it takes so much time to train ...plus... do the fundraising. I was a bit bummed last year when I started because I had a good base of corporations in the NW part of Arkansas but the Foundation worked them for another event so I couldn't approach. I came in short for what I really wanted. There is one piece of equipment they need down there and it's a newborn hearing analyzer. Price tag is about $28,000. My fundraising for them has been in the 10-12 thousand dollar range. I had a crazy idea about riding the river trail loop for 24 hours and that would be such and easy gig to set up... not to ride... to set up. I wouldn't have to worry with driving and hotels and the hospital is just a few blocks from the river trail. Oh well, we'll see. I'm just getting back out to ride and have a good time right now.

Oh yeah, I will add photos back to the blog. I didn't realize you guys liked those that much. Guess it does make it more interesting than just a bunch of text.

Well I'm outta here folks... life is good!

Monday

Yep, just plain ole Monday.

Yesterday I did get out and ride in yet again windy conditions. the nice part was that the temps felt like spring! It's been so warm the past couple of days that a neighbor down the street has a forsythia bush starting to bloom! Next weekend it will be back to winter I hear.

Speaking of hear... I wanted to wear the CI and helmet without a cap but my helmet knocked off the connection magnet several times before I even got started so I just wore the hearing aid. Oh yeah, love that deafening roar! The CI is so much quieter with the wind roar. I'm going to have to find some sort of headband to wear to hold the mag in place.

I did spot the club and rode to their regroup area and got caught up on some friendships. It was good to see the guys. There were several others out I hear but never spotted them. Saw DWonn doing his run. He rode the day before. Yep, he is one of the Ironmen guys. Super nice.

I got on the scale and I'm down 2lbs. Need about 14 more to get where I really want.

Oh I did the media at church and it was fine. We had several things going on but everything went like clockwork and I sat there enjoying the service.

life is good....

I thinking I'm having an affair... again!

That's right folks. I thinking I am getting dangerously close to falling in love again. She's one fast chick. Yep, I rode my bike again today! It was one of those Arkansas sort of days where you didn't know what to wear on the ride. You don't want to dress to warm but then I'm not one to ride if I'm too cold. Today was one of those rare days I got it just right and I enjoyed the ride along the river like none other. I knocked off a tad over 25 miles of pure enjoyment. Saw a couple of folks and said howdy. If all goes well I'll get to go back out there tomorrow afternoon and see a bunch of the gang. There is a ride at 1 tomorrow. Of course they will drop my lard butt but just riding with the Fast Girls Slow Guys for a few will be fun.

Thanks to everyone for the comments and the emails regarding Dad. He is doing a lot better and will more than likely be moved to rehab tomorrow. Last year he was in rehab and it did him wonders. He was able to walk a lot better with his walker and he just had a better quality of life. I'm hoping for that again.

Tomorrow starts my month back in the media control tower at church. I'm looking forward to being back. I put the program together but stayed out of the controls except for one evening while I was getting used to the implant. It's going so much better than I ever expected! I kept hearing this "3 to 6 months". If it's that much better in 3-6 months then man oh man... Jordan told me that some folks are making progress up to two years. I will say I had a CI Moment today while riding. I kept hearing something buzzing and kept thinking it was a car far off but none around. Come to find out it was the golf cart on the course I was riding by. I love hearing the gears clicking and he whiz of the tires on the road. Love it love it love it!! Also hear a funny CI story the other day. Man was on his front porch and he realized his CI wasn't working and then realized it was gone!! He and his wife were sitting on the front porch and come to find out when he sat down he got too close to a wind chime and the magnet jumped and stuck the the chimes!!! I laughed when I heard that.

Well, I'm done with this computer today... by y'all

Thursday night thoughts

Just got back from visiting my dad at the hospital. Seems to be doing better but he's going to be there awhile. My mom, bless heart heart, insists on staying there every night. Dad is in a semi-private room but there's not another patient in there so they have given mom the other bed to sleep on at night and they have brought in nicer more comfortable chairs. He said four good looking nurses came in today and gave him a bath. Oh the thoughts of turning older... HA!

I had mapping number 3 on the CI today. Jordan gave me more mid and high ranges. At first I really couldn't tell that much but I can tonight. I'm still bummed that I'm not getting the radio music in good yet. I did figure out that the car heater fan blocks a lot of the radio sound so if I turn down the fan then I can hear the radio a lot better. I have to not try to listen to the music so much and that's when I can hear it best. I've also noticed that the bass and the high notes seem like they are be processed by 2 different processors. Strange.

Sunny and 62 for Saturday and Sunday has a whooping 68 degrees... and it's about 30 out there right now. This much temp swing is going to continue to cause folks to get bad colds. Terri is feeling better by the way! She went to the doc and Bryon gave her a shot and meds.

As promised here are some more folks who have inspired me:
Huck (Yes, The Huckabee -- yes the Iowa caucus guy) He was our Gov and he got into running and lost a massive amount of weight. Vote for him. He really is a good normal ole guy.
Paul Creel -- always fun to ride with. Best hand therapist in the state.
Kyle, Doug, Rick and Mike -- they got me back on the back a couple of years. They are good as gold.
Paul Britt, Michael Mitchell, Jon Van Pay, Robb Carr -- Still cherish our long ride that day! HA!
Jason Gates -- Awesome rider, true gentleman, kick butt US soldier
Jason Ketcher -- He tells me like it really is. Makes me laugh so hard my tummy hurts.
Charlie Woods -- knocked out over 10K miles on the bike the past 2 years.
Many more to come!

Not much else going on. Speech therapy tomorrow. Counting down to the weekend!

Quick hit Wednesday

Got to do this fast... I'm at work and it's not lunch...

I did ride yesterday! It was crazy stuff! The temp was 39 with 19mph wind and 32 mph gust and all of that along a river! No wind blockage hardly at all.

... but it felt REALLY good to be back out there riding. I mean r.e.a.l.l.y good!

Had a CI moment. When I was riding back to the car with the wind to my back it was like the day I got my new hearing aid and I could her the whizz of the tires on the pavement and the gears clicking but with the CI the wind noise to me is much less! I could hear something behind me that sounded like a wave and it was a gust of wind coming across the field toward me. Unbelievable how cool that was to hear.

Saturday forecast is showing 62 for the high that afternoon with sun! I'm am so gonna be there riding! Yea-izzzz!

Funny story right quick: Ok, who all said no eating in 2008? Well we had a meeting this morning and some fool brought donuts! I passed... ohhhh weee, that's serious!

Card on the table true confession moment: Terri bought some fancy schmizing Weight Watchers scale and I got on it. Poor digital thing didn't know what to do with me. Told me to get off and come back in a couple of weeks. Y'all wanna hear something really sad... 10 lb gain since the CI surgery. Yes, that's why I rode in a freezing hurricane yesterday. I'm sure in the docs notes it prescribed for me to sit on the sofa and eat holiday foods for 3 weeks... I know i saw that somewhere... didn't I?

Hope you are off to a great 2008!

...and then it becomes Oh-Eight

What a year! It ended quite but you know that's OK. My dad has been in the hospital since Friday night. ICU at first but got to downgrade to a regular room. He has blood clots in both lungs. Doc says his body is going to have to dissolve them on their own because the meds didn't work. He was in good spirits yesterday when I when down to sit with him while the others went home to rest. He should be able to go home in several days.

Terri has the crud so that's not a lot of fun either. We did manage to eat out last night, drove around a little bit then back home for the evening. We had a nice fire in the fireplace and watched TV. The new year was sort of,"Happy (cough cough cough) I'm sorry (cough) New Year (cough cough)". Some years are like that.

It's been funny reading Aussie Rodney's blog lately. Downunder is having summer right now so it's summer temps and they are talking shorts and sweating. That sounds nice right now.

I pulled all of my bike gear out and plan to head back to the river for a ride. It's in the upper 40's with some stiff wind but you have to start somewhere. My daughter asked if I wanted anything from Sonic and when I said no she sort of looked at me like one of those curious puppies. I told her I was planning to skip Sonic as much as I could this year. Just not the best stuff for someone trying to hold down weight and save a little dough.

CI stuff: Just getting a little better each day. Nothing really new to say except I have gone dining 2 times and did fine with the CI only.

Well, happy oh Eight y'all!!

Just keep it going

I wish this holiday break would just keep going! Since Christmas hit on Tuesday I think 75% of the workforce took the rest of the week off and that was fine with me! I've gotten so much work done this week. I even answered the phone once with just the CI on. Nope, still need to practice that one.

Not really a lot going on so I'm not going to bore you.

CI mapping is tomorrow so got my fingers crossed that I'll dial into hearing a female voice better. Right now most sound a bit like they have a cold. Some really do. After an hour of that then I cross the hall and have speech with Krista.

I did daydream a moment today. Well, I had eaten lunch and the office was warm, which is rare. Also it was very quite. One moment I was working away and the next moment I was snapping out of it. HA! I was thinking about all the people who helped me along this past year and so I'm going to name some names. (If your name isn't on here, don't worry, it'll show up in a later blog).

Non-Family inspiration:
Wes (Man, you have rocked this year! It has been an inspiration watching you heading toward Ironman!)
Boomer (Ironman who carried our hospital Cancer Center name with him while doing the Ironman! Thanks Boomer -- always our hero)
Chris and Rebecca -- Friends just don't get any truer (is that a word?) than this. Always there for me!
Chris and Jen -- Shawdawg and Shawkitty. You know those folks you just plain enjoy being around... Dawg and Kitty are those type folks.
Yale -- I just laughed out loud thinking of all the crazy fun times. One of the generous kind hearted guys you'd ever meet.
Aussie Rodney -- Always inspiring me to do better spiritually.
Aussie Chris -- Always inspiring me to take photos like he does and ride outside the lines.
Ed -- dropping 140 lbs and kicking it on the bike now!
Jenn, Abbie and Jeff -- CI friends who are getting me through this thing.
Robb -- He's up there with Yale. Laughing thinking about the crazy times. "The faster you pedal the sooner the pain stops."

Shoot... I'm out of time... more later!

Hello, I'm Dasher

Took a little survey tonight...

width=350 align=center border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2>You Are Dasher
You're an independent minded reindeer who never plays by the rules.

Why You're Naughty: That little coup you tried to stage against Santa last year

Why You're Nice: You secretly give naughty children presents.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Up for air...

I'm coming up for air for just a moment. Walked into the office and it was weekend type quite. No cars on the roadways this morning. Hope my luck runs good on that all week. Love how it's Monday -- I mean Wednesday already!

Christmas was a lot of fun. Terri and I "promised" we would not get each other anything this year and we ended up getting each other more than in past years. It was funny. I woke and went into the den before anyone else got up and spotted a huge box... to me... from Santa! Ok, I became a kid at the moment! I was so excited and so surprised because I wasn't expecting anything. Turns out to be a ready nice office chair for the home office. I love it love it love it! Thanks Terri!

Ci Stuff: Ok, I've learned not to take this think off. I got lazy and just didn't want to deal with it so I wore only the hearing aid during Christmas morning (Yes, I just heard the collective gasp for all of you!). We then headed to my folks house and I put it on. I had to get used to the sound again. Seems like it took forever for my brain to process the sound on that side of my head again. I stayed CI only the rest of the day. I keep hearing stories about how folks with hearing aid on one side and CI on the other how they come to realize how nice the CI really is. I'm turning into one of those people. I still haven't plugged the CI into the IPod since music s-t-i-l-l is funky sounding. It's getting there.

I have a new love of baseball caps! They keep the mag on the CI in place when I work in the yard.

New Years stuff: Oh this is gonna hurt! I know I have got to get this "extended off season" gut off of me. Really guys, it's just plain bad. I'll be the first crazy person and throw my resolution out there. I've not seen any blogs putting their cards on the table for this yet.
Not in any sort of order... just random thoughts coming out here...
1. Drop the gut.
2. Get the fat gut and butt back on the bike and push off to a new adventure.
3. Get back to your 2-wheeled family. You miss them! You n-e-e-d them!!
4. Use the term "all learned up" this year in honor of Boomer.
5. Stop with the Java City... doesn't matter if it's a skinny latte, just cut that crap out.
6. Plan something big this year. Big enough to make friends say, "Are you serious?!"
7. Take church media to the next level and don't take credit for it either.
8. Spend a week on the beach with the family.
9. Give Emmy her new car when she least expects it. Yep, she's getting one and everyone knows it but the big question is when??? Buh ha ha ha!!
10. Meet Tyler Hamilton! He has signed with Rock Racing and should be racing in North Ark this spring. I know he had some issues but just the thought of seeing this guy race is just mind blowing. Now to think of Rasahann, Austin and Tyler all racing on the same team... oh man!

Used to I would make a list of One hundred and... whatever the year was, list of things to do during that year. Think I may do that again this year. 108 things to do in 2008.

Later folks!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Beautiful Christmas eve here in Arkansas! The temps are just right... cool enough to feel like the holiday but with tons of sunshine to keep me outside!

Woke up and spent some time reading by the fireplace early this morning. Reading a lot of Christmas humor stuff this week. The full moon lit up the neighborhood like it was daytime. Even with the bright moon I could see the stars with ease. That was out on the deck. Now on the other side of the house (looking out the kitchen window, the sun was starting to light up the horizon. Beautiful light blues and orange.

Headed out to get a few stocking stuffers and back to the house by 10. My yard was calling me. I cranked the lawn mower and cleared the leaves, hopefully for the last time, off the lawn. The back still had some wet leaves from the rain a couple of days ago so it made for a heavy tarp-o-leaves to drag to the curb. We have a leaf sucker truck that comes by about once every other week and sucks all he leaves that you can put down at the curb. For a couple hundred bucks you can buy them back this spring as mulch. Serious.

Sadie (family dog) loves it when I work outside because she will be out there running and playing. She doesn't seem to like to really hang out by herself out there.

OK, ok, here are the CI stories... Church was really nice. The songs really sounded nice and I flipped the hearing aid on just a tad to get it in 7.1 Surround Sound. HA! Greg asked me from where he was up front how the second service was sounding. Embarrassed I said, "You guys are rocking!" Then after the sermon he walked up to were we were sitting and handed me a mic and asked me to tell the church what I thought about my hearing. First thought was ,"Man, would you cut this stuff out!" I just told everyone how grateful I was and how nice it was to hear so many voices in song. It really was. One of the things that did really surprise me was when everyone turned pages in their bibles. I could hear hundreds of people doing this.

Well, the gifts are all wrapped, I can smell the girls starting Christmas Eve dinner (wife's family all come to our house), sun will be starting to set behind the hill in about an hour and the outside lights will all come on. Yup, life is good!

Have a merry Christmas everyone!

Day 5

We went to a BBQ place last night with extended family and the place is awesome to eat at but not the place you want to be as a new CI user. The floor is concrete and the chairs are wooden. Add that with your usual happy Friday night holiday crowd and I lasted about 5 minutes and I had to switch to hearing aid only. Sliding chairs are not a sound you want to hear at increased volume. (Note to slave driving Audios: Yes, I turned the aid off and returned to CI the minute I walks out... y'all can ask Terri if you don't believe me! HA!). The strange thing was that when I took the CI off in Whole Hog I got really tired and was actually missing the sounds I had gotten to enjoy all day.

I chilled this morning and was a slug until I went to a family gathering this afternoon. I didn't put the CI on until we got ready to go but I've had it on since and it's been a good day. We did get good rain and it's so pretty to listen to. I cringed a bit as we drove the 20 minutes to the place of the gathering. Every time our Odyssey hit a water spot it sounded like someone hitting a cymbal.

I got to play with ALL my great nephews and niece. I am lucky enough to have 4 great nephews and 1 great niece (she is part of a twin set). Oh goodness, Elliott is a doll! She walked in with her big purse and was a sweetheart the whole time. All the kids were great actually. She curled up on my lap and had her sippy cup and got really still. Someday years from now I hope I get one just like her!

Day 4

It just continues to be awesome!

Had my first speech therapy today with Krista. She gave me the 6 sounds on a dry wipe board in front of me. You know the oo ee ah m s and sh sounds. Then we went through some words that sound alike. I crashed on the difference between boot and book. All in good time... all in good time. I also got a page long list of homework... who on earth gives homework over Christmas break? HA! No, serious, I'm glad to have these projects to work on.

I felt good about the speech therapy session. One of the other speech/audio guru's (Anna) came in and there was something about her voice that I wasn't picking up on. I kept catching myself not quite understanding her. There have been a few women that have the same pitch that I'm just not getting yet. It bugs me... I want it to process now. HA!

I'm telling you, this is the best Christmas present ever. What I'm about to say, I kid you not is the truth. I love the Porsche Boxster and this morning there was one parked right outside my office. A fine black on black number. As I was heading to Java City I looked it over then I asked myself the ultimate "Loaded Question"... which would I rather have this Christmas? A 50 grand CI or a 76 grand car? The choice was so easy... it was the car! HA! I'm kidding. Now that I have a CI, I couldn't live without it.

Met with Greg last night to do the run through for all the Sunday's holiday service media. Video's, special music, overlaid songs, you name it and it's part of the service. I'm glad that Scott is going to be in the control sit this week. This will be the first Sunday to check out my CI in a auditorium full of people.

Well, now it's just doing my speech homework and learning to live with the implant for the next week. Tonight will be my first experience dining out with it on. Fingers crossed that it's Roma in J'ville but I think it may be Whole Hog for BBQ.

For all of you folks heading out for the holiday... have a safe trip and laugh a LOT! It's good for the soul!

Day 3 -- Led Zeppelin

It was Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven. Yep, that was the first song I've recognized on the radio. A good friend of mine is the morning DJ on the Point 94.1 (Classic Rock) and I knew he was talking after the song then it was cool how suddenly his laugh came processed in!

It rained but it was about 4 this morning so I missed the big sound but I did get to hear it a little this morning. Cars on wet pavement with water spray have a "reeeeeessse" sound.

While walking back into the office I kept hearing a do-it, do-it, do-it. What on earth??? It was water drops in the downspout on the corner of my office.

Oh and several cars starting their engines at the same time is weird. I could pick up on one car at pretty close range but hearing several at once and being no where near them is sweet!

I'm hearing all sorts of sounds far way that I have no clue what they are. I did figure out one was a printer at the other end of the building.

If someone walks down the hall and coughs it scars the hibby gibby's out of me. That sudden burst of sound s something else.

I'll try and update more tonight... lunch is over.

More cochlear implant activation day video -- Arkansas Children's Hospital

More activation day video.

Day 2, Part 2

It's so funny how I can hear things that are "far away". That's as in a couple of rooms away. I hear people cough, drawers closing. Tonight was funny because I kept hearing something that sounded like someone sanding something. It was Terri walking in house shoes on the kitchen floor. I did finally pick up a little music while driving today. Actually I was sitting still waiting for traffic to move (don't you love rush hour) and I could hear music. The radio was only on level 2. I've never heard it on level two.

The washing machine is another thing that is deafening to me. Oh and hangers in my closet. If I slide a hanger and it makes that metal scraping noise -- ugh! And the dryer with blue jeans banging around while it tumbles. But you know what... I'm excited to even hear that.

I did notice a couple of folks looking at it today and even though I've seen people looking at my hearing aid, it didn't bother me. This is a bit different with it's wire and magnet. I want to say, "It doesn't go in my head and it doesn't hurt."

In laws made it in safe from Florida. Tons of gifts and homemade goodies. I'll do my best to not eat a bunch of it. Now if she makes her famous Key Lime pie, well, there will be no turning back.

Once again, I am tired from all the new sounds today. It's been a blast but it's at time overwhelming. It's so funny to get excited over simple sounds. I think the number of coworkers I've made cry is up to 3 or 4 now. When I tell them things like I heard keys or I can't wait for the rain, it seems to hit home that everyone takes the simple sounds of life for granted. We do. Even with my pre-CI hearing I took sounds I could hear for granted.

New count down started and that's to Saturday. I get to see the twins and all the other little tots in one room at one time. (Make a Little Richard style Whoooooo here! HA!)

I called my sister yesterday and we had a 20 minute laugh session Every time we get together we seem to get the silly's and that's what makes her great. Now, what I was saying about the tots all together. Well, my sisters will be all together Saturday and I will leave with a tummy so sore from laughing. It's Arkansas style version of Steel Magnolias. Insanely funny stuff. You'll hear (you have to say this with a slow southern accent) "Now, y'alllll..."

Oh, family funny.... While I was talking to Sherry, her husband had made some candy (it's really good too). I asked her if she ate it all and she stuttered around and said "Yes... I mean, no... well... uh... I mean I ..." I got so tickled and I laughed and laughed.

Day 2

Finishing up lunch...
Spent part of the morning hanging out in Audio with Jordan while she did some more programming. Everyone told me that each day sounds different and to be honest, I HATED it when I turned it on this morning. OK, here's a clue for folks like me... yes, you can turn it down. I was so set on working through the 3 programs yesterday.

Today I got a different sound coming through. This sounds so much more like my hearing aid on steroids. Much more easier to live with. (Note to the audio guys... yes, I have my hearing aid turned off). Voices are much better today. Still sounds grungy when people who talk loud talk. I love folks with soft voices now. Trust me, it's so easy to hear them now. Never thought I would ever type those words.

I did plug the IPod into the processor while in the clinic this morning. I'll have to work on that one awhile. It was a Beatles tune and I couldn't have told you that at all. that's one of the unusual things about this journey. I can hear my car keys jingle but I can't process music yet.

Note to CI users: Have you tripped a store thief alarm? I'm not looking forward to that day at all. I suspect I'll just shout, "Put your guns away, I'm bionic!" Oh that will scare them huh? HA!

Am I still blown away by this product... you bet! Blown away 10 times over!

Back to work... more later.